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

1747.] A WINTER MARCH. 189BoisWbert and his party rejoined them, and broughta reinforcement of sixteen Indians, whom the Acadianshad furnished with arms. Provisions werefailing, till on the eighth, as they approached thevillage of Pisiquid, now Windsor, the Acadians, withgreat zeal, brought them a supply. They told them,too, that the English at Grand Pr6 were perfectlysecure, suspecting no danger.On the ninth, in spite of a cold, dry storm of snow,they reached the west branch of the river Avon. Itwas but seven French leagues to Grand Pre, whichthey hoped to reach before night ; but fatigue compelledthem to rest till the tenth. At noon of thatday, the storm still continuing, they marched again,though they could hardly see their way for the drivingsnow. They soon came to a small stream, alongthe frozen surface of which they drew up in order,and, by command of Coulon, Beaujeu divided themall into ten parties, for simultaneous attacks on asmany houses occupied by the English. Then,marching slowly, lest they should arrive too soon,they reached the river Gaspereau, which entersMines Basin at Grand Pr^.They were now but halfa league from their destination. Here they stoppedan hour in the storm, shivering and half frozen, waitingfor nightfall. When it grew dark they movedagain, and soon came to a number of houses on theriver-bank. Each of the ten parties took possessionof one of these, making great fires to warm themselvesand dry their guns.