按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were forfeited； they themselves were to be kept in prison。 Not
yet； however； was made known to them the decision that they were
to be treated as traitors of whom the province must be rid。 No
attempt was made anywhere to distinguish loyal from disloyal
Acadians。 Lawrence gave orders to the military officers to clear
the country of all Acadians； to get them by any necessary means
on board the transports which would carry them away； and to burn
their houses and crops so that those not caught might perish or
be forced to surrender during the coming winter。 At the moment；
the harvest had just been reaped or was ripening。
When the stern work was done at Grand Pre； at Pisiquid； now
Windsor； at Annapolis； there were harrowing scenes。 In command of
the work at Grand Pre was Colonel Winslow； an officer from
Massachusettssome of whose relatives twenty…five years later
were to be driven； because of their loyalty to the British King；
from their own homes in Boston to this very land of Acadia。
Winslow issued a summons in French to all the male inhabitants；
down to lads of ten； to come to the church at Grand Pre on
Friday； the 5th of September； to learn the orders he had to
communicate。 Those who did not appear were to forfeit their
goods。 No doubt many Acadians did not understand the summons。 Few
of them could read and it hardly mattered to them that on one
occasion a notice on the church door was posted upside down。 Some
four hundred anxious peasants appeared。 Winslow read to them a
proclamation to the effect that their houses and lands were
forfeited and that they themselves and their families were to be
deported。 Five vessels from Boston lay at Grand Pre。 In time more
ships arrived； but chill October had come before Winslow was
finally ready。
By this time the Acadians realized what was to happen。 The men
were joined by their families。 As far as possible the people of
the same village were kept together。 They were forced to march to
the transports； a sorrow…laden company； women carrying babes in
their arms； old and decrepit people borne in carts； young and
strong men dragging what belongings they could gather。 Winslow's
task； as he says； lay heavy on his heart and hands： 〃It hurts me
to hear their weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth。〃 By the
1st of November he had embarked fifteen hundred unhappy people。
His last ship…load he sent off on the 13th of December。 The
suffering from cold must have been terrible。
In all； from Grand Pre and other places； more than six thousand
Acadians were deported。 They were scattered in the English
colonies from Maine to Georgia and in both France and England。
Many died； many； helpless in new surroundings； sank into decrepit
pauperism。 Some reached people of their own blood in the French
colony of Louisiana and in Canada。 A good many returned from
their exile in the colonies to their former home after the Seven
Years' War had ended。 Today their descendants form an appreciable
part of the population of Nova Scotia； New Brunswick； and Prince
Edward Island。 The cruel act did one thing effectively： it made
Nova Scotia safe for the British cause in the attack that was
about to be directed against Canada。
CHAPTER VIII。 The Victories Of Montcalm
In France's last； most determined； and most tragic struggle for
North America； the noblest aspect is typified in the figure of
Montcalm。
The circle of the King and his mistress at Versailles does not
tell the whole story of France at this time。 No doubt Madame de
Pompadour made and unmade ministers； but behind the ministers was
the great administrative system of France； with servants alert
and efficient； and now chiefly occupied with military plans to
defeat the great Frederick of Prussia。 At the same time the
intellect of France was busy with problems of science and was
soon to express itself in the massive volumes of Diderot's
Encyclopaedia。 The soldiers of France were preparing to fight on
many battlefields。 The best of them took little part in the
debilitating pleasures of Versailles。
Louis Joseph； Marquis de Montcalm； was a member of the ancient
nobility of Languedoc； in the south of France。 He was a scholar；
a soldier； and a landowner。 He could write a Latin inscription；
fight a battle； and manage a farmall with excellence。 His was a
fruitful race。 His wife had borne him ten children； of whom six
had survived。 He was sincerely religious； a family man； enjoying
quiet evenings at home。 In his career； as no doubt in that of
many other French leaders of the time； we find no lurid lights；
no gay scenes at courtnothing but simple and laborious devotion
to duty。 Though a grand seigneur； Montcalm was poor。 His letters
show that his mind was always much occupied with family affairs；
the need of economy； the careers of his sons； his mill； his
plantations。 He showed the minute care in management which the
French practise better than the English。 In 1756 he was
forty…four years of age； a soldier who had campaigned in Germany；
Bohemia； and Italy； had known victory and defeat； had been a
prisoner in the hands of the Austrians； and had made a reputation
as a man fit to lead。 He lived far from court and went to Paris
only rarely。 It was this quiet man who； on January 31； 1756； was
summoned to Paris to head the military force about to be sent to
Canada。 Dieskau was a captive in English hands； and Montcalm was
to replace Dieskau。
Thus began that connection of Montcalm with Canada which was
destined three or four years later to bring to him first victory
and then defeat； death； and undying fame。 On receiving his
appointment he went to Paris； thanked the King in person for the
honor done him； and was delighted that his son； a mere boy； was
given the rank and pay of a colonel； one of the few abuses of
court favor which we find in his career。 On March 26； 1756；
Montcalm embarked at Brest with his staff。 War had not yet been
declared； but already Britain had captured some three hundred
French merchant ships； had taken prisoner nearly ten thousand
French sailors； and was sweeping from the sea the fleets of
France。
Owing to the fear of British cruisers； the voyage of Montcalm had
its excitements。 As usual； however； France was earlier in the
field than Britain； who had in April no force ready for America
which could intercept Montcalm。 The storms were heavy； and on
Easter Day； when Mass was celebrated； a sailor firm on his feet
had to hold the chalice for the officiating priest。 On board
there were daily prayers； and always the service ended with cries
of 〃God save the King！〃 Some of the officers on board were
destined to survive to a new era in France when there should be
no more a king。
Montcalm had with him a capable staff and a goodly number of
young officers； gay； debonair； thinking not of great political
designs about America but chiefly of their own future careers in
France； and facing death lighthear