After giving this advice, Allan himself set out to show what could be done by raiding the loyal settlers on the River St.John.This expedition was not very successful, and Colonel Allan was glad to get back to Maine, and take up the duties of his new position as Superintendent of the Eastern Indians.He made Machias his headquarters, and to the end of his life, which came in the year 1805, he remained a resident of the State of Maine.
Beamish Murdoch, the historian of Nova Scotia, in a letter to a relative of Colonel John Allan, says: "If the traditions I have heard about John Allan are correct, he could not have been much over twenty-one years old in 1775.As he had no New England ancestors, his escapade must be attributed to ambition, romance, or pure zeal for what he thought was just and right.For the feelings against the Crown in Nova Scotia in 1775 were confined to the Acadian French, who resented the conquest, the Indians who were attached to them by habit and creed, and to the settlers who were emigrants from New England."Mr.Murdoch was mistaken in the age of Allan.John Allan was born in Edinburgh Castle at about "half after one" of the clock, on January 3rd, 1746 (O.S.), and was baptized on the 5th by Mr.Glasgow.He thus must have been in his 30th year when he joined the Eddy rebels.
After Colonel Eddy's interview with Colonel Allan in Machias Bay, he pushed on to Cumberland, and landed in Petitcodiac.His little army had increased considerably since he left Machias.At the mouth of the Petitcodiac River he stationed a small force to watch for any reinforcements that might be coming to Fort Cumberland.With the main body of his followers he started overland for Chignecto, after he had supplied his commissariat from the loyal settlers along the river.
They crossed the Memramcook well up to the head of that river, and took a straight course for Point Midgic.Then going through the woods above the Jolicure Lakes, they came to the home of Colonel Allan, in Upper Point de Bute.Mrs.Allan and her children were still there, and there was no disposition on the part of the inhabitants of Jolicure to interfere in any measure against the rebels.
At Allan's it was learned that a vessel with provisions had been seen in the bay, heading for Fort Cumberland.Eddy sent a number of scouts down, with instructions to capture the vessel.Under the cover of darkness and a thick fog,they were able to locate the sloop in Cumberland Creek without being seen by the men on the look-out.In the early morning, when the leader of the scouts suddenly levelled his gun at the one man on deck, and called out, "If you move you are a dead man," the surprise was complete, and the man obeyed orders.The rebels boarded the sloop, and soon had all hands in irons.As it grew lighter, and the fog cleared away, Captain Baron and missionary Egleston from the fort came down to the vessel, suspecting nothing, and were both made prisoners.Egleston was taken to Boston, and remained a prisoner for eighteen months.As soon as the tide turned the vessel floated out of Cumberland Creek, and headed for the Missiquash.The Union Jack was hauled down and the Stars and Stripes run up in its place.
This capture greatly elated the rebels, furnishing them, as it did, with supplies, of which they probably stood in considerable need.The sloop could run up the Missiquash near to the farms of the Eddys, Jonathan and William, who at the time owned most of the upper part of Fort Lawrence.
Colonel Eddy now decided to lose no time, but attack the fort at once.
His army camped at Mount Whatley, near where the residence of David Carter now stands.Mount Whatley was called Camp Hill for a number of years after this.
While these things were being done by the rebels the English were not idle.A hundred and fifty regulars, under Colonel Gorham, had been sent to assist the garrison and strengthen the defences of the fort.When all was ready in the rebel camp, Colonel Eddy sent the following summons to Lieutenant-Colonel Gorham, demanding his surrender:
"To Joseph Gorham, Esq., Lieut.-Colonel Commandt.of the Royal Fencibles Americans, Commanding Fort Cumberland:
"The already too plentiful Effusion of Human Blood in the Unhappy Contest between Great Britain and the Colonies, calls on every one engaged on either side, to use their utmost Efforts to prevent the Unnatural Carnage, but the Importance of the Cause on the side of America has made War necessary, and its Consequences, though in some Cases shocking, are yet unavoidable.But to Evidence that the Virtues of humanity are carefully attended to, to temper the Fortitude of a Soldier, I have to summon you in the Name of the United Colonies to surrender the Fort now under your Command, to the Army sent under me by the States of America.I do promise that if you surrender Yourselves as Prisoners of War you may depend upon being treated with the utmost Civility and Kind Treatment; if you refuse I am determined to storme the Fort, and you must abide the consequences.
"Your answer is expected in four Hours after you receive this and the Flag to Return safe.
"I am Sir, "Your most obedt.Hble.Servt., "JONA EDDY, "Commanding Officer of the United Forces.
"Nov.10, 1776."
He received the following reply:
"SIR, "I acknowledge the receipt of a Letter (under coular of Flagg of Truce)Signed by one Jonan Eddy, Commanding officer, expressing a concern at the unhappy Contest at present Subsisting between Great Britain and the Colonys, and recommending those engaged on either side to use their Endeavors to prevent the too Plentiful effusion of human Blood, and further Summoning the Commanding officer to surrender this garrison.
