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

1745.] THE ATTACK. 119are at work mending whale-boats and making paddles,asking at the same time for plenty ofpistols and onehundred hand-grenades, with men who know how touse them.^The weather proved bad, and the attemptwas deferred. This happened several times, tillWarren grew impatient, and offered to support theattack with two hundred sailors.At length, on the twenty-third, the volunteers forthe perilous enterprise mustered at the Grand Battery,whence the boats were to set out. BrigadierWaldo, who still commanded there, saw them withconcern and anxiety, as they came dropping in, insmall squads, without officers, noisy, disorderly, and,in some cases, more or less drunk. "I doubt," hetold the general," whether sti-aggling fellows, three,four, or seven out of a company, ought to go on sucha service." 2 A bright moon and northern lightsagain put off the attack. The volunteers remainedat the Grand Battery, waiting for better luck."They seem to be impatient for action," writesWaldo. " If there were a more regular appearance,it would give me greater sattysfaction."^ On thetwenty-sixth their wish for action was fully gratified.The night was still and dark, and the boats put outfrom the battery towards twelve o'clock,with aboutthree hundred men on board.* These were to be1 Vaughan to Pepperrell, 12 May, 1745.2 Waldo to Pepperrell, 23 May, 1745.8 Ibid., 26 May, 1745.* " There is scarce three hundred men on this atact [attack], so