The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-31

Baron Dieskap's defeat; Q third, the attack
upon the French Nova Scotian forts, by the
regiment then raising in Massachusetts,; the
fourth and last, an attempt TO dislodge the
French from their fort at Niagara, by an
armed force commanded by Shirley himself
Thus tAe expedition which resulted in the re
moval of the Neutral French is not to be looked
on without considering its connection with the
other military movements Of the campaign. II
was only one link of q great chain of opera.
lions the object of them all being the reduc-
ton Of the line of French pests on the frontier
| On the goth of May, 1855, Moncton and
Windows regiment sailed from Boston, and
entered the basin Of Annapolis Royal Eve DAYS
after. On the lst of June, they sailed from
this basn--tbeir fleet numbering forty-one
email vessels-a and on the All commenced their
operations against the fort of Beau Sejour
This fort and also that at Bay Verto, and the
French stations at the mouth of the river st
John, were soon captured, and many Acadi.
ans We're taken In arms among the garri-
sons. BY this time, the summer was far ad-
vanced. The news of Braddock's defeat on
July 9Th, reached Boston on the 23i, and was
Immediately transmitted 10 Halifax. Its effect
on the people there was very disheartening.
They despaired of the accomplishment of any
important object of the campaign, and their
anxiety as to their own safety was aroused
when they reflected on the effect which this
great disaster to the English arms might pro-
duce upon their neighbors, the Neutral French.
The English Nova Scotian settlements were too
recent to have yet acquired power for self de-
| fence; their only security, in case of attack.
was in the British feet which lay at anchor in
the harbor Of Halifax, and in the powerful
body of troops which Moncton and Winsloy
commanded. The Neutral French were near
ly Is 900 in number, and, although disarmed,
and to oil appearances pacific, still might be
stirred up to insurrection, should any vigorous
attack be made upon the English by the French
| from Louisburg.
| AT this stage Of affairs Governor Lawrence
and his Council consulted with Admirals Bos-
cawen and Meystyn, who commanded the feet,
as to the proper course to be pursued towards
the Acadians; and it was determined 10 expel
them all from their country, and scatter them
among tho other British C0lonies Notice was
accordingly given to the Governors of the diff.
terent Provinces to prepare for their reception.
The manner in which the removal was ac-
compfshed is well known. The execution of
the work was intrustod to Winslow and the
Massachusetts regiment. By @ proclamation.
issued on September I'd, 1855, all the men of
the Acadian districts on the basin of Minas
were ordered to attend at the church at Grand
Pre-, on the afternoon of Friday, the 5th inst,
the purpose of the asscmblage being concealed
under ambiguous language. Winslow COM
mandcd in person at Grand Pro. Annapolis
the French Port Royal and Fort Cumberland
were also fixed upon as the principal points for
the assemblsge of the inhabitants of other dis
tricts. AT Grand Pre-, more than four hundred
men gathered, coming mostly from the districts
of Minas and Canerd. After their entrance,
the doors Of the church were closed and guard.
ed. Winslow, surrounded by portion of his
troops, who had been previously stationed
within the church, addressed them, declaring
his Msjesty's final resolution to the French
inhabitants of his Province of Nova Scotia"
We quote portion Of his address:
" The part of duty ! am now upon, though
necessary, is very disagreeable TO my natural
make and temper, as know it must be grievOus
to you who are of the same species but it is
not my business to animsdvert but to obey
such orders as | receive, and therefore, with.
out hesitation, shall deliver you his Msjesty's
orders and Instructions, namely-that your
lands and tenements, cattle Of all kinds, and
live stock Of all sorts, are forfeited to the
Crown; with ell other your effects, saving your
money and your household goods and you
yourselves to be removed from this, his Prov
ince. Thus it is peremptorjly his Msies.y's
orders, that the whole French inhabitants of
these districts be removed and am, through
hs Majesty's goodness, directed to allow you
liberty to carry off your money and household
goods, as many as you can, without discommo-
ding the vessels you 60 in. shall do every
thing in my power that all these goods be Sc
cured TO you, and that you are not moleSted in
carrying them off; also, that whole families shall
60 in the same vessel, and make this remove,
which | am sensible must give you q great
deal of trouble, as easy as his Msjesty's SER
vice will admit; and hope that in whatever
part of the world you may fall, you may be
faithful subjects, peaceful and happy peo-
ple.n
The prisoners upon consultation, drew up
petition, and presented it to Colonel Win
slow, entreating him to detain part of them as
hostages for the return Of the remainder, whom
they besougbt him to allow to proceed to their
families, and prepare for their removal. This
proposition was not agreed to- but on each
day, till the 10Th of September, the time fixed
for their embarcation, twenty were allowed
leave of absence for the day only. In the
mean time, detschments of the troops were
employed in ravaging the country.
On the morning of the 10Th the prisoners |
left the church, and were formed into divisions.
according to their age, the old men being
placed last. The five transports which were |
to receive them were anchored at the mouth |
of the Gaspereaux. The road from the church |
to the sea shore, mile in length, was lined
with women and children, who, stationing |
themselves by the few household goods which |
they had collected and transported thither, in |
hopes of being permitted TO take away, wait |
ed for the procession to pass, that they might |
see again the father or brother, or lover, or |
ST. bn hod Ieff her, hrsa &C ha
fore, little thinking that when they were TO |
meet again, it would be in the midst Of such |
i,tress The young men were then ordered |
forward to the ships, the intention being TO |
cause them to embark before the others. They |
resoiutely refused to proceed, reminding Win
slow of the promise he had made, that fami-
lies should not be separated, and expressing
their entire willingness to obey, provided that
this promise should be fulfilled. Force was
then resorted to, and the troops were ordered
to advance, and drive them to the landing.
Finding remonstrence Of no avail and know
ing that resistance would be worse than use
less, for they were unarmed, they submitted,
and began their march, the older men follow
ing; and it is recorded that they passed,
" weeping, praying and singing hymns" over
the long road to the sea shore" crowded with
women and children, who, on their knees,
greeted them with their tears and their bless
ings"
An interesting account of this scene is to be
found in Judge Haiburton's History Of Nova
Scotia. Colonel Winslow himself in his jour-
nal which has been preserved, and is in the
of the Massachusetts Historical So
ciety, has recorded many incidents connected
with it.
One of the most affecting occurrences in
French history was the passage of the Gron-
dists to the scaffold, chanting the Marseilaise
as the tumbril rumbled through the streets of |
Paris In the plaza IA 10 Dovob,s,<x, ot.V