guns went off, and they fired every man, as I thoug! t, and most towards that place where I left the guard with Monsieur Gourdan. I had much ado to stop the firing, and told them, I thought they were mad; and [that] I believed they had not killed and wound ed less than forty or fifty of our own men. And I asked them what they shot at? they answered, ‘At a Frenchman that ran away.' But to admiration no man was killed but he, [the Frenchman] and one of our men wounded in the leg. And I turning about, a Frenchman spoke to me, and I gave him quarter.

Daylight coming on, and no discovery made of the enemy, I went to the place where I had left Monsieur Gourdan, to examine him and his sons, who agreed in their examinations; told me two of their Inen were abroad. It proved a damage. And further told me, that Monsieur Sharkee lived several leagues up, at the head of the river, at the falls, and all the Indians were fishing, and tending their corn there; and that Monsieur Sharkee had sent down to him, to come up to him, to advise about the Indian army* that was to go westward. But he had returned him answer, [that] his business was urgent, and he could not come up; and that Sharkee, and the Indians would certainly be down that day, or the next at the furthest, to come to conclude of that matter.

This was a short night's action, and all sensible men do well know, that actions done in the dark, (being in the night aforesaid) under so many difficulties, as we then laboured as before related, was a very hard task for one man, matters being circumstanced as in this action, which would not admit of calling a council; and at that time could not be confined thereunto. At which time I was transported above fear, or any sort of dread; yet, being sensible of the danger in my army's crowding so thick together, and of the great duty incumbent on me,

* See note 2, of page 259,

to preserve them from all danger [that] I possibly could, for further improvement in the destruction of our implacable enemies, am ready to conclude, that I was very quick and absolute in giving such commands and orders, as I then apprehended most proper and advantageous. And had it not been for the intelligence I had received from the French, we took at Penobscot, as before hinted; and the false report [that] the French women (first took) gave me, I had not been in such haste.

I question not, but those Frenchmen that were slain, had the same good quarter of other prisoners. But I ever looked on it, a good providence of Almighty God, that some few of our cruel and bloody enemies were made sensible of their bloody cruelties, perpetrated on my dear and loving friends and countrymen ; and that the same measure (in part) meeted to them, as they had been guilty of, in a barbarous manner at Deerfield; and, I hope, justly. I hope God Almighty will accept hereof, although it may not be eligible to our French implacable enemies, and such others as are not our friends.

The foregoing journal, and this short annexment, I thought it my duty to exhibit, for the satisfaction of my friends and countrymen, whom I very faithfully and willingly served in the late expedition. And Ï hope will find acceptance with your excellency, the honourable council and Representatives now assembled, as being done from the zeal I had in the said service of her Majesty, and her good subjects here. I remain your most humble and obedient servant, BENJAMIN CHURCH."

This night's service being over, immediately Colonel Church leaves a sufficient guard with Gourdan and the other prisoners, moved in some whaleboats with the rest; and as they were going, spied a small thing upon the water at a great distance, which proved to be a birch canoe with two Indians in her

The Colonel presently ordered the lightest boat he nad, to make the best of her way, and cut them off from the shore. But the Indians perceiving their design, ran their canoe ashore and fled. Colonel Church fearing [that] they would run directly to Sharkee, made all the expedition imaginable. But. it being ebb, and the water low, was obliged to land, and make the best of their way through the woods, hoping to intercept the Indians, and get to Sharkee's house before them, which was two miles from where our forces landed.

The Colonel being ancient and unwieldy, desired Sergeant Edee to run with him. And coming to several trees fallen, which he could not creep under, or readily get over, would lay his breast against the tree, the said Edee turning him over, generally had catluck, falling on his feet, by which means [he] kept in the front. And coming near to Sharkee's house, discovered some French and Indians making a wear* in the river, and presently discovered the two Indians aforementioned, who called to them at work in the river, [and] told them, [that] "there was an army of English an Indians just by." [They]' immediately left their work and ran, endeavouring to get to Sharkee's house. [He] hearing the noise, took his lady and child and ran into the woods. Our men running briskly, fired and killed one of the Indians, and took the rest prisoners.

Then going to Sharkee's house found a woman and child, to whom they gave good quarter. And finding that Madam Sharkce had left her silk clothes and fine linen behind her, our forces were desirous to have pursued and taken her. But Colonel Church forbade them; saying he would have her run and suffer, that she might be made sensible, what hardships our poor people had suffered by them, &c. [He] then pro1 [who] 2 [who]

* Or, wier, a rack to catch fish in.

ceeded to examine the prisoners newly taken, who gave him the same account [that] he had before, of the Indians being up at the falls, &c. It being just night, prevented our attacking them that night.

But next morning early, they moved up to the falls, which was about a mile higher. But doubtless the enemy had some intelligence by the two aforesaid Indians, before our forces came, so that they all got on the other side of the river, and left some of their goods by the water side to decoy our men, that so they might fire upon them; which indeed they effected. But through the good providence of God, never a man of ours was killed, and but one slightly wounded. After a short dispute, Colonel Church ordered that every man might take what they pleased of the fish, which lay bundled up, and to burn the rest, which was a great quantity. The enemy seeing what our forces were about, and that their stock of fish was destroyed, and the season being over for getting any more, set up a hideous cry, and so ran all away into the woods. They being all on the other side of the river, ours could not follow them.

Having done, our forces marched down to their boats at Sharkee's, and took their prisoners, beaver, and other plunder which they had got, and put it into their boats, and went down to Gourdan's house, where they had left Lieutenant Colonel Gorham, and Major Hilton, with part of the forces to guard the prisoners, (and kept a good look out for more of the enemy) who upon the Colonel's return, gave him an account that they had made no discovery of the enemy since he left them, &c.

Just then her Majesty's ships and transports arriving, the commanders of her Majesty's ships told Colonel Church, that they had orders to go directly for Portroyal gut, and wait the coming of some store ships, which were expected at Portroyal from France.

*No ships arrived, or at least, we have no account of any. Holmes, II, 65, mentions, sub anno 1705, that a rich ship

And Colonel Church advising with them, proposed that it was very expedient and serviceable to the crown, that Captain Southack in the Province galley should accompany them, which they did readily acquiesce with him in.

Upon which, the Colonel immediately embarked his forces on board the transports, and himself on board Captain Jarvis, ordering the commissary of the stores, the minister, surgeons and pilots all to embark on board the same vessel with him. Ordering all the whaleboats to be put on board the transports, and then to come to sail. The ships standing away for Portroyal gut, and Colonel Church with the transports for Menis. In their way the Colonel inquired of their pilot, Fellows, what depth of water there was in the creek, near the town of Menis? he answered him, that there was water enough, near the town, to float that vessel, they were in, at low water.

So, when coming near, Colonel Church observed a woody island between them and the town, that they ran up on the back side of, (the said island) with all their transports, undiscovered to the enemy, and came to anchor. Then the Colonel and all his forces embarked in the whaleboats. It being late in the day, [they] moved directly for the town; and in the way asked for the pilot, who, he expected, was in one of the boats; but he had given him the slip, and tarried behind. The Colonel not knowing the difficulties that might attend their going up to the town, immediately sent Lieutenant Giles, who could speak French, with a flag of truce up to the town, (with a named the Siene, was taken, the preceding autumn, by the English; and that she was bound to Quebeck, with a cargo amounting to nearly a million of livres. But this was in June, hence it does not agree with the supposition that said ship was taken by Church's convoy. He cites Charlevoix, and the Universal History. Dr. Douglass, I, 557, in this, as well as many other cases, comes happily to our relief. He informs us, that this ship 66 was taken by an English Virginia Fleet."