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

"196 ACADIAN CONFLICTS. [1747.when a Frencli officer, carrying a flag of truce, cameout of La Gome's house. The occasion of the overturewas this.Captain Howe, who, as before mentioned, had beenbadly wounded at the capture of this house, was stillthere, a prisoner, without surgical aid, the Frenchsurgeon being at the houses on the Gaspereau, incharge of Coulon and other wounded men." Though,says Beaujeu, " M. Howe was a firm man, he beggedthe Chevalier La Corue not to let him bleed to deathfor want of aid, but permit him to send for an Englishsurgeon." To this La Corne, after consultingwith his officers, consented, and Marin went to theEnglish with a white flag and a note from Howeexplaining the situation. The surgeon was sent,and Howe's wound was dressed,Marin remaining asa hostage. A suspension of arms took place till thesurgeon's return; after which it was prolonged tillnine o'clock of the next morning, at the instance,according to French accounts, of the English, and,according to English accounts, of the French. Ineither case, the truce was welcome to both sides.The English, who were in the stone house to thenumber of nearly three hundred and Mty, crowdedto suffocation, had five small cannon, two of whichwere four-pounders, and three were swivels; butthese were probably not in position, as it does notappear that any use was made of them.There wasno ammunition except what the men had in theirpowder-horns and bullet-pouches, the main stock