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

1747.] PLAN OF ATTACK. 191party was toattack a stone house near the middle ofthe village,where the main guard was stationed, — abuilding somewhat larger than the rest,and the onlyoneat all suited for defence. The second party, offorty men, commanded by La Come, with Rigauville,Lagny, and Villemont, was toattack a neighboringhouse, the quarters of Colonel Noble, his brother,Ensign Noble, and several other officers. The remainingparties, of twenty-five men each accordingto Beaujeu, or twenty-eight according to La Corne,were to make a dash, as nearly as possible at thesame time, at other houses which it was thought mostimportant to secure.All had Acadian guides, whoseservices in that capacity were invaluable; thoughBeaujeu complains that they were of no use in theattack. He says that the united force was aboutthree hundred men, while the English CaptainGoldthwait puts it,including Acadians and Indians,at from five to six hundred. That of the Englishwas a little above five hundred in all. Every arrangementbeing made, and his part assigned to eachofficer, the whole body was drawn up in the storm,and the chaplain pronounced a general absolution.Then each of the ten parties, guided by one or moreAcadians, took the path for its destination, everyman on snow-shoes, with the lock of his gun wellsheltered under his capote.The largest party, under Coulon, was, as wehave seen, to attack the stonehouse in the middle ofthe village ; but their guide went astray, and about