Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/385

1922 IN THE 'FORTY-FIVE' 377 you, too well.' At reveille-beating they began with red shot from the Burying Ground and with grape and round-shot, from their other batteries fired grape-shot at our watering party, which we brought in notwith- standing their opposition. This morning we were obliged to bring our watering over the wall by ladders. Towards sunset they fired very fast. We plied them pretty well with great shells and now and then a 6-pounder loaded with shell splinters. 31 March. At one in the morning the rebels set fire to the Governor's brew-house, out of the walls in Maryburgh, and under the light of which they fired very smartly at our working men, and at our Fort in general, both with round and grape shot, old nails, iron, &c., which lasted a couple of hours till the brew-house was burnt down. At daybreak sent out a watering party, which according to custom had a bustle-fight skirmish without much hurt on either side ; one of our men contused on the knee and a Maryburgh woman shot through the arm. One of our spies came in and told us they were 1,500 strong round us, and great disputes between the Clans and French. After dinner we saw some extraordinary motions amongst the rebels, and their drums were heard beating to arms in Glenavis, which made us conclude they were either going off all together or to a general review ; and we fired swivells and small arms, grape shot, coehorns, &c., wherever we thought to get reach of them. And finding them going off in clusters Capt. Scott ordered out a sergeant and twelve men to go towards the south, a sergeant and twelve men towards the Crags, to be supported by Lieut. George Foster 1 and twenty-four men, who was to be supported by the piquet and to be followed by a party with pioneers tools to level their works in case of need, also spikes and hammers for disabling their guns. All hands did their duty. Lieut. Foster advanced briskly on the French, who were behind the Crags, surprised them, drove them off, sent three French 4-pounders, a forge- cart, a 6-inches mortar and bed, a 6-inches mortar without its bed, all to garrison, with rammers, sponges, ladles, &c. ; burnt their matches, nailed two 6-inches mortars and a 6-pounder up, which 6-pounder was brought within 150 yards of our guns and afterwards dismounted by our own shot. After this they advanced up to their 4-guns battery on the hillside. But the rebels calling and shouting to get their people together, Captain- Lieutenant Paton was sent out to reinforce our people and they drove the rebels up hill. But several hundreds appearing about a mile off, and others coming from Glenavis Capt. Scott caused to beat a retreat, which not being heard by our people he sent out Ensign Whiteway to order Capt. Paton home, which was done without any loss and all our wounded men brought in, and Mr. Whiteway brought the 6-pounder open to our own guns. We lost 2 killed on the spot and 9 wounded. We took a French gunner, and a fellow who says he belongs to Barrell's Eegiment, was taken at Falkirk and listed with them. What damage we did the rebels is not yet known. But many of them dropped, if by shot or fear we cannot tell. This gave us all great spirits, and our men would willingly try fortune again if they could get leave. But time and place shall be watched for the next sally we make. 1 Or Forster.