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

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

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248 FORT MASSACHUSETTS. [1746.able terms <strong>of</strong> capitulation.^ The sergeant promisedan answer with<strong>in</strong> two hours ;<strong>and</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g back to thefort with his companions, exam<strong>in</strong>ed their means <strong>of</strong>defence. He found that they had left but three orfour pounds <strong>of</strong> gunpowder, <strong>and</strong> about as much lead.Hawks called a council <strong>of</strong> his effective men. Nortonprayed for div<strong>in</strong>e aid <strong>and</strong> guidance, <strong>and</strong> then theyfell to consider<strong>in</strong>g the situation. " Had we all been<strong>in</strong> health, or had there been only those eight <strong>of</strong> usthat were <strong>in</strong> health, I believe every man would will<strong>in</strong>glyhave stood it out to the last. For my part, Ishould," writes the manful chapla<strong>in</strong>. But besidesthe sick <strong>and</strong> wounded, there were three women <strong>and</strong>five children, who, ifthe fort were taken by assault,would no doubt be butchered by the Indians, butwho might be saved by a capitulation. Hawks thereforeresolved to make the best terms he could. Hehad defended his post aga<strong>in</strong>st prodigious odds fortwenty-eight hours.Rigaud promised that all <strong>in</strong> thefort should be treated with humanity as prisoners <strong>of</strong>war, <strong>and</strong> exchanged at the first opportunity. He alsopromised that none <strong>of</strong> them should be given to the Indians,though he had lately assured hissavage alliesthat they should have their share <strong>of</strong> the prisonei-s.At three o'clock the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal French <strong>of</strong>ficers wereadmitted <strong>in</strong>to the fort, <strong>and</strong> the French flag was raised^Journal <strong>of</strong> Sergeant Hawks, cited by William L. Stone, Life <strong>and</strong>Times <strong>of</strong> Sir William Johnson, i. 227. What seems conclusive isthat the French permitted Norton to nail to a post <strong>of</strong> the fort ashort account <strong>of</strong> its capture, <strong>in</strong> which it is pla<strong>in</strong>ly stated that thefirst advances were made by Rigaud.

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