the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第8章
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A。； 〃Commanding Officer at Fort Cumberland。〃
The following is Colonel Eddy's own account of the first attack on Fort Cumberland； given in 〃Eastern Maine〃 （Kidder； p。 69）： 〃Upon Colonel Gorham's Refusal to surrender we attempted to storm the Fort in the Night of the 12th Nov。 with our scaling Ladders and other Accoutrements； but finding the Fort to be stronger than we imagined （occasioned by late Repairs）； we thought fit to Relinquish our Design after a heavy firing from their Great Guns and small Arms； with Intermission for 2 Hours； which we Sustained without any Loss （except one Indian being wounded）； who behaved very gallantly； and Retreated in good Order to our Camp。〃
Previous to the first attack on the place； Eddy had arranged with an Indian to sneak into the fort and open the main gate； he would have his men ready to rush in and take the place by assault。 While the attack was in progress the Indian got into the place and was in the act of unbarring the gates when he was discovered by Major Dickson。 The major spoiled the little scheme by slashing the Indian's arm with his sword； which left him maimed for life。 The assailants soon after this retreated without any very serious loss。
In another attack； made a few days later；the large barracks on the south…east side of the fort were set on fire； in the hope that it would communicate with the magazine。 It is said a traitor in the rebel camp warned the English of the second attack。 This also failed； but the barracks and a number of houses near the fort were burned。
Before the rebels had a chance to make a third attack； a sloop of war arrived in the Basin with four hundred men to reinforce the garrison。 Colonel Eddy seems not to have heard of the arrival of these troops。 Their presence； however； enabled Col。 Gorham to take the offensive； and the rebel camp was attacked。 Eddy did not wait to try the mettle of his men； but got away with the loss of one man。 With as many of his followers as he could hold together he hastened toward Bay Verte。 A short distance beyond the Inverma Farm； a squad took ambush in a thicket near a bridge； and when the regulars in pursuit were crossing the bridge the party fired a volley； killing several of the soldiers and wounding others。 This so incensed the troops that they returned and set fire to Sheriff Allan's house； which was burned to the ground； together with a number of other buildings in the neighborhood。 Mrs。 Allan and her children escaped to the woods； where they remained until hunger compelled them to come out。 She was found some days after this by her father； Mark Patton； having lived for some time on baked potatoes picked up around the burned dwelling； and was taken to his home not far from the fort。 Mrs。 Allan was not allowed to remain long with her father； but was carried a prisoner to Halifax。 She remained only in Halifax a few months when she was given her liberty and rejoined her husband at Machais。
Eddy； after going in the direction of Bay Verte for some time； finding he was not pursued； turned his steps toward Point Midgic； where he had called while on his march to Chignecto。 From there he made his way back to Machais。 Just what route he pursued； or how great the difficulties he met with in this long； tiresome journey； has never been given to the public。 Machais； until the close of the war； was the rendezvous of privateers and all manner of adventurers； both before and after the arrival of Eddy and Allan。 Colonel Eddy's escape from Chignecto ended the rebellion in that district so far as any hope remained of a successful attempt to hand over the government of the country to the New Englanders； but the differences of opinion among neighbors； the raids of rebel bands in the district； together with the burning of a number of buildings； created a strong feeling that it took years to allay。
Mr。 James Dixon； in the 〃History of the Dixons；〃 speaking of this period says：
〃The rebels found more congenial employment in raiding the homes of the loyal and peaceable inhabitants； plundering them of such articles as they were in need of； and destroying or carrying away any guns or ammunition they might find。 Mr。 Dixon's home did not escape their unwelcome notice。 His house was robbed of many valuable articles； some of which he kept for sale。 For a considerable period the loyal inhabitants； notably the English settlers； were subjected to a state of anxiety； and lived in dread of a repetition of such unwelcome visits。 On one occasion； when some of these people were approaching the house； Mrs。 Dixon hastily gathered up her silverware and other valuables and deposited them in a barrel of pig feed； where they quite escaped the notice of the visitors。 On a later occasion； when somewhat similar troublous times existed； Mr。 Dixon； with the aid of his negro servant； Cleveland； hid his money and other valuables in the earth； binding his servant by a solemn oath never to divulge to anyone the place of concealment。〃
Nor was all the destruction of property chargeable to the rebels。 At this time a number of the loyal settlers； who； it is said； had been drinking freely； surrounded the house of Mr。 Obediah Ayer； who was in sympathy with the rebels； and set fire to his place； intending to burn the inmates。 Mrs。 Ayer was warned by her neighbors and escaped to the woods with her baby in her arms。 After the raiders departed she with her children found a temporary home with a neighbor。 Her husband did not dare appear for many days； but hid in the woods by day and visited his family at night。
The raid of Allan on the St。 John gave the Government uneasiness in that quarter for some time longer。 As mentioned before； there were two Eddys； Jonathan and William。 They owned adjoining farms in Fort Lawrence。 The upper road leading from Fort Lawrence to Amherst still bears the name of the 〃Eddy Road。〃 It was probably made through the Eddy grant； and the Eddys may have been instrumental in its construction。
It is related that William Eddy； after the rebellion； came back to Fort Lawrence to settle his business and take his wife and family out of the country。 To escape being made a prisoner at that time he kept hid in a hay…stack in the day…time and visited his home during the night。 One night the soldiers who were watching saw him enter the house and at once surrounded the place； sending in two of their number to bring out the prisoner。 Mrs。 Eddy would give no knowledge of her husband's whereabouts。 The house was thoroughly searched； but the man could not be found。 The soldiers were dumbfounded。 The fact is； that when Mrs。 Eddy saw the soldiers coming； she told her husband to cover himself in a bin of grain in the chamber and place his mouth close to a crack on the side of the bin over which had been tacked a piece of list to prevent the grain from coming out。 She would tear off the list and that would give him air to breathe。 Her husband did as directed。 When the officer who was making the search came to the grain…bin he thrust his sword into it； and said； 〃He is not there。〃 Mr Eddy said afterwards that the sword went between his body and arm； so near was he being made a prisoner。
Inverma； the home of Sheriff Allan； is now owned； in part； by Councillor Amos Trueman； and is still called by that name。 It consisted at that time of three hundred and forty…eight acres of marsh and upland and was no doubt part of the Allan grant of 1763。 Besides the Sheriff's own house there were six or seven small houses occupied by Acadian families as tenants； also two large barns and four smaller ones。
Allan's wife was Mary Patton； the daughter of Mark Patton； who was at one time a large property…owner on the Isthmus。 Patton Point； in the Missiquash valley； still goes by his name。 His home farm joined the glebe lands of the parish； and was afterwards bought by William Trueman and given to his son； Thomas。 I find the following entry in William Trueman's journal； referred to elsewhere：
〃Old Mrs。 Patton was buried at the burying…ground by Thomas Trueman； July 31st； in the 92nd year of her age。〃
This lady was no doubt Mrs。 Allan's mother。 She had continued to live at the old place after Thomas Trueman had taken possession； and as this was in the year 1808； she had lived thirty…two years after her daughter left the country。
The question has been asked； would it not have been better for the northern half of this continent if the Eddy rebellion had succeeded and what is now Canada had become one country with the United States？ The name Americans could then fairly have been claimed by the citizens of the great Republic and a people whose interests and aspirations are identical； and whose religion； language and customs are the same； would have been united in carrying out the destiny of the Anglo…Saxon in America。 This may sound very well； but events have transpired in the last hundred and twenty…five years that point unmistakably to the conclusion that the God of history intended this northern land called Canada to work out its own destiny independent of the southern Republic。 At the period of the Eddy rebellion Nova Scotia was still in the cradle and had no grievances to redress。 New Brunswick as a Province had no existence。 Never in all history had a conquered country been treated so justly by the victors as had Quebec。 Ontario at this time was but a western wilderness。 It will thus be seen that there would have been no justification for the new settlers in this northern land to have joined hands with the thirteen older colonies。
Another preliminary objection can be found in the situation of the Loyalists of 1783； from the fact that one of the grandest band of exiles that was ever driven from fireside and country would have found no place on the continent to make new homes for themselves。 This would have placed them in infinitely worse circumstances than that body of noble men and women of another race that twenty…eight years earlier in the century had been driven out as exiles to wander in hardship and want on that same New England coast。 These Loyalists brought to Canada the sterling principle； the experience in local Government； the sturdy； independent manhood and business experience and energy which this northern land needed to make it one of the most prosperous and best governed countries in the world。 To think what Canada would have been without the Loyalists helps one to see more clearly how fortunate it was that the Eddy rebellion was crushed。
The British Empire may owe more to the loyal Yorkshire emigrants than has ever been fairly accorded to them。 Canada as a coterie of colonies furnished Great Britain with a training school for her statesmen that she did not otherwise possess。 In this way British North America has been the prime factor in placing Great Britain first among the nations of the world in the government of colonies。 It is true English ministers and English governors made mistakes and had much to learn before the present system was fully adopted； but the descendants of the Loyalists and those who remained true to the Crown during the stormy years of the Revolution were not likely to stir up strife without a just cause。 And is it claiming too much to say that to Canada's remaining loyal in 1776 is due to a very large extent the proud position Great Brit
