Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

Records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, 1714-1768


JOURNAL OF COLONEL JOHN WINSLOW. 155


was by us Determind That as Major Handfield Could Not begin his Embarkeation of the Inhabitants of the River of Annapolis, til he had a Large Detachment from me as he Informd Me by the return of the Party Sent to Convey the Deputys, who belonged to that River, and my officer in Passing up and Down the River Says, that all the men Left their Habitation on his approch.
 
      And Such a Detachmnent in our apprehention in our Present Scituation Cannot be Spared, and that the Transportes Intended for the removing the People there are & will be Idle, Concluded it Proper to Propose to your Excellency, wither or not, it would be best that these Transportes now at Annapolis Joyne us as Soon as Possible and we Go Throh with Shiping the Inhabitants here and at Piziquid & that Others Might be proveded to replace those those allready there while we were a Going throh this part of Duty, which when over I Should be able to Send a Sufficiant Force to assist Major Handfield, or if your Excellency thought Necessary the whole Party might be ordered to his assistance, your Excellency will Give me Directions in these Points, for as maters now are, the Season Growing Every Day worse and we Gaine Nothing Forward for want of Vessels am Greatly Mortifyed that we Loose Time. I have advise from Capt Lewis of the 25th Instant, that the Inhabitants of Cobequid have Entierly Deserted that Country and that he began to Burn and lay waste on the 23rd and Intended to Finish as This Day. the Boat that Brought this Express Brought one of our Party who had the Misfortune to be Shott Throh his Sholders by a Brother Centry when on Post taking him to be an Enemy. The Vessel that Carryed Capt Lewis party was Drove out from Cobequid Bay and arived here this morning without a Boate & Left the Party Destitute (& by whome I have this Verbal Intellegence) I have ordered her to Depart for that Place as Soon as the Tide will admit having a Good Deal of Concern for that Party.  
      as to that part of your Excellencys Letter that refers to Capt Goreham, I Know No Gentelman whome I would Sooner Serve than him & would Cheerfully Come into the Scheem as by him proposed were it in my Power and belive Could it be obtained would be of Good use, But as I have here with me four Companys only & not one Indian in three of them and in my own but Two or Three it Cant be Done from this party, as the Indians that belong to the Regiment belong to Capt Cobb Lamson & Stertevants Companys of ye First Battallion and Major Bourn Capt Brentnal & Capt Perrys of ye Second all at Chignecto and Gaspereau. I have wrote Capt Goreham upon it, we have Reced Six Hhds Molasses from Mr. Winslow have now about Three weeks Good but our old arears are yet Due. I have Certain Intelligence that partys of the French Do Pass & repas acrose from Shepody Side over to ours & that they hold rendevouzes &c about the River Pero. as Soon as Capt Lewis returns Shall Make a Thoroh Vissit to that part and the old River Habitant where are Villages I have but Lately heard of and none of their Inhabitants Come in.  



Selections NSHS II ~ Brown NSHS III ~ Winslow NSHS IV ~ Winslow
               

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