"From the Commencement of these Contest I have felt for my deluded Brother Subjects and Countrymen of America, and for the many Innocent people they have wantonly Involved in the Horrors of an Unnatural Rebellion, and entertain every humane principle as well as an utter aversion to the Unnecessary effusion of Christian Blood.Therefore Command you in His Majesty's name to disarm yourself and party Immediately and Surrender to the King's Mercy, and further desire you would communicate the Inclosed Manifests to as many of the Inhabitants you can, and as Speedily as possible to prevent their being involved in the Same dangerous and Unhappy dilemma.
"Be assured, Sir, I shall never dishonour the character of a Soldier by Surrendering my command to any Power except to that of my Sovereign from whence it originated.I am, Sir, "Your most hble servt, "JOS.GORHAM, "Lt.-Col., Com'at, R.F.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.Ashort 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.
