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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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112 LOUISBOURG BESIEGED. [1745.It is said, <strong>in</strong> pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the orderly conduct <strong>of</strong> themen, that not one <strong>of</strong> them was punished dur<strong>in</strong>g allthe siege; but this shows the mild <strong>and</strong> conciliat<strong>in</strong>gcharacter <strong>of</strong> the general quite as much as any peculiarmerit <strong>of</strong> the soldiers. The state <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong>about the camp was compared by the caustic Dr.Douglas to "a Cambridge Commencement," whichacademic festival was then attended by much roughfrolic <strong>and</strong> boisterous horseplay among thedisorderlycrowds, white <strong>and</strong> black, bond <strong>and</strong> free, who swarmedamong the booths on Cambridge Common. Thecareful <strong>and</strong> scrupulous Belknap, who knew manywho took part <strong>in</strong> the siege, says ": Those who wereon the spot have frequently, <strong>in</strong> my hear<strong>in</strong>g, laughedat the recital <strong>of</strong> their own irregularities, <strong>and</strong> expressedtheir admiration when they reflected on the almostmiraculous preservation <strong>of</strong> the army from destruction."While the cannon bellowed <strong>in</strong> the front, frolic<strong>and</strong> confusion reigned at the camp, where the menraced, wrestled, pitched quoits, fired at marks, —though there was no ammunition to spare, — <strong>and</strong> ranafter the French cannon-balls, which were carried tothe batteries,to be returned to those who sent them.Nor were calmer recreations want<strong>in</strong>g. " Some <strong>of</strong> ourmen went a fish<strong>in</strong>g, about 2 miles <strong>of</strong>f," writes LieutenantBenjam<strong>in</strong> Cleaves <strong>in</strong> his diary: "caught 6Troutts." And, on the same day, "Our men wentto catch Lobsters: caught 30." In view <strong>of</strong> thisour ma<strong>in</strong>stay for gunnery s<strong>in</strong>ce Capta<strong>in</strong> Rhodes's misfortune "(also caused by tlie burst<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a cannon). Waldo to Pt}iiierrcll,\QMai/, 1746.

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