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In June 1745, its few inhabitants were aroused one evening by the arrival of a mixed force of armed Hurons, Micmacs and French, whose numbers far exceeded the population of their little settlement. All told there were about three hundred French and about the same number of Hurons, and a larger number of Micmacs. The entire force was under the command of a noted French partisan officer, Lieut. Marin. The month before Marin had led this force in a futile effort to capture Annapolis Royal . On May 17th , he however enjoyed a minor success off Goat Island when he surprised and captured two New England schooners, which had been sent to the relief of Annapolis Royal .Captured aboard the "Montague" was its captain, William Pote, Jr. For him, the day was the beginning of a two years captivity, which was eventually to take him to the City of Quebec, where he was released on an exchange of prisoners in 1747. A mariner and surveyor by occupation, he was far above the average in intelligence and shrewdness. Each day he accurately recorded its events in a diary which he smuggled out of Quebec when he was exchanged. This diary was found in Switzerland in 1890 and to it we are indebted for the details of the episode which we are now to relate.* *"The Journal of Captain William Pote, Jr." ibid Back |
