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

1747.] DEFENCE OF NUMBER FOUR. 225though clouds of smoke drifted over the fort, andburning cinders showered upon it, no harm was done,and the enemy was forced to other devices. Theyfound a wagon, which they protected from waterand bullets by a shield of planks, — for there was asaw-mill hard by, — and loaded itwith dry fagots,thinking to set, them on fire and push the blazingmachine against a dry part of the fort wall ; but thetask proved too dangerous, "for," says Stevens,"instead of performing what they threatened andseemed to be immediately going to undertake, theycalled to us and desired a cessation of arms till sunrisethe next morning, which was granted, at whichtime they said they would come to a parley." Infact, the French commander, with about sixty of hismen, came in the morning with a flag of truce,whichhe stuck in the ground at a musket-shot from thefort, and, in the words of Stevens, "said, if wewould send three men to him, he would send as manyto us." Stevens agreed to this, on which two Frenchmenand an Indian came to the fort, and threesoldiers went out in return. The two Frenchmendemanded, on the part of their commander, that thegarrison should surrender, under a promise of life,and be carried prisoners to Quebec ;required that Stevens should give hisFrench officer in person.and they fartheranswer to thehundreds of barrels of water ; and to undergo all this hard servicethere were but thirty men." — Stevens to Colonel W. Williams,April, 1747.VOL. II. — 15