The Burning of Ste. Anne's Point
Letter from Colonel Robert Monckton, Fort Frederick to Colonel John Blackstone, Boston. March 1759
Col. Blackstone
Lieutenant Hazen and his Rangers returned today from their fortnight scouting trip to Point Ste. Anne some hundered and forty miles up river. It was expected to find a French garrison of fifty men. I am told by our records that a man named Bellefontaine is in charge of the militia there. It was much to his surprise as well as my own to find a large undefended town of some 147 buildings, horses, livestock and provisions nearly devoid of inhabitants. It appears they have fled.
In the beginning, Lt. Hazen postulated that news of his Rangers traversing the river Saint John had reached the settlement and the inhabitants fled to the north. Yet, they left behind much of their livestock including twenty one horses, fifty six herds of cattle, grain, food and other provisions. Surely such a large town with a militia would not flee a scouting party of just sixteen men.
All was not lost however. Lt. Hazen in his fortunate opportunity burned the provisions and buildings and put an end to the livestock. In his duty he found six Acadiens and managed to collect their scalps. Six more were captured as they fled burning buildings. None of the prisoners would reveal to us where the others fled. They shall be sent back to England at the first opportunity to be held as war prisoners indeed they seem to relish the idea. These French are rather odd.
I would suggest that we make haste to take the initiative and settle St, Anne's point now that we have driven their much exaggerated resistance out of the area. The area is valuable to securing the river against the French and in advancing the Empire further inland from Nova Scotia.
~ Colonel Robert Monckton, Fort Frederick