The Acadian Exiles : a Chronicle of the Land of Evangeline eBook

The starving inhabitants petitioned Subercase to give up.  He held out, however, till the cannonade of the enemy told him that he must soon yield to force.  He then sent an officer to Nicholson to propose the terms of capitulation.  It was agreed that the garrison should march out with the honours of war and be transported to France in English ships, and that the inhabitants within three miles of the fort should ’remain upon their estates, with their corn, cattle, and furniture, during two years, in case they are not desirous to go before, they taking the oath of allegiance and fidelity to Her Sacred Majesty of Great Britain.’  Then to the roll of the drum, and with all the honours of war, the French troops marched out and the New Englanders marched in.  The British flag was raised, and, in honour of the queen of England, Port Royal was named Annapolis Royal.  A banquet was held in the fortress to celebrate the event, and the French officers and their ladies were invited to it to drink the health of Queen Anne, while cannon on the bastions and cannon on the ramparts thundered forth a royal salute.

The celebration over, Subercase sent an envoy to Quebec, to inform Vaudreuil, the governor of New France, of the fall of Port Royal, and then embarked with his soldiers for France.  A few days later Nicholson took away most of his troops and repaired to Boston, leaving a garrison of four hundred and fifty men and officers under the command of Colonel Samuel Vetch to hold the newly-won post until peace should return and Her Majesty’s pleasure concerning it be made known.

As far as he was able, Vetch set up military rule at Annapolis Royal.  He administered the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants of the banlieue—­within three miles of the fort—­according to the capitulation, and established a court to try their disputes.  Many and grave difficulties faced the new governor and his officers.  The Indians were hostile, and, quite naturally in the state of war which prevailed, emissaries of the French strove to keep the Acadians unfriendly to their English masters.  Moreover, Vetch was badly in want of money.  The soldiers had no proper clothing for the winter; they had not been paid for their services; the fort stood in need of repair; and the military chest was empty.  He could get no assistance from Boston or London, and his only resource seemed to be to levy on the inhabitants in the old-fashioned way of conquerors.  The Acadians pleaded poverty, but Vetch sent out armed men to enforce his order, and succeeded in collecting at least a part of the tribute he demanded, not only from the inhabitants round the fort over whom he had authority, but also from the settlers of Minas and Chignecto, who were not included in the capitulation.