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Willard’s chief claim to notice from the historian of today is from the fact that from April 9, 1755 till January 5th, 1756, he kept a journal of his military happenings. This diary was preserved in the Willard family till 1908, when it was sold at auction and purchased by the Henry E. Huntington Library, California. Its unique value is that through it we have first hand knowledge written by an eye witness of the measures taken by the British after the fall of Beausejour, against such French villages as Tatamagouche, Remsheg, Cobequid and other larger ones on the Isthmus of Chignecto. The thanks of modern scholars and lovers of history go to Dr. J. C. Webster of Shediac, who recognizing its historical value in this respect, had it edited and published. Due to it, and to it alone, are we now able to relate the sad story of the last days of the Acadians at Tatamagouche. In pursuance to Monckton’s orders, Willard on the morning of August 6th, paraded his men with Lieut. Tapely of the 1st Battalion and Ensign Willard of his own Battalion as his officers, marched with three sergeants, three corporals, two drummers and one hundred privates from Fort Beausejour on his way to the Cobequid villages. Themselves, entirely unacquainted with the country they secured the services of two Acadians as guides. Their route lay by River Herbert and the West branch of the Maccan River. There Willard was overtaken by an express from Monckton bringing him sealed orders, which he however, was not to open till he had come up with Lewis, who as we have seen, had left Beausejour four days prior to Willard’s leaving for Cobequid. The orders were delayed evidently as an unusual precaution lest the errand of the expedition should become known, for like many measures of the Expulsion, its success depended upon secrecy. Back |
