THE THE AUTHOR OF "HOCHELAGA." RICHARD BENTLEY. Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. THE CONQUEST OF CANADA. CHAPTER I. IN May, 1691, the Iroquois, to the number of about 1000 warriors, again poured down upon the settlements near Montreal, and marked their course with massacre and ruin. Other bands, less numerous, spread themselves over the fertile and beautiful banks of the Richelieu river, burning the happy homesteads and rich storeyards of the settlers. At length, the Sieur de la Mine, with a detachment of militia, surprised a party of these fierce marauders, at Saint Sulpice, and slew them without mercy. Twelve of the Iroquois escaped into a ruinous house, where they held out for a time with courage and success; but the French set fire to the building, and they were obliged to abandon it: some were killed in their efforts to escape, but five fell alive into the hands of their exasperated enemies, and were burned with a savage cruelty, such as they themselves would have exhibited. 1691 VOL. II. 251908 B Intelligence now arrived that a formidable force of English, Iroquois, and Mahingan Indians were advancing upon Montreal by the River Richelieu or Sorel; 800 men, led by the Chevalier de Callières, were sent to oppose their progress, and encamped on the Prairie de la Madeleine,' by the borders of the Saint Lawrence. Before daylight the following morning, the invaders carried an important position by surprise, slaying several of the defenders, and finally retreated in good order and with little loss. On falling back into the woods, they met and destroyed a small French detachment, and boldly faced a more considerable force under M. de Valrenes. For an hour and a half these formidable warriors withstood the fire, and repelled the charges of the Canadian troops; but, at length, they were overpowered and dispersed, not however before inflicting a loss of no less than 120 men upon their conquerors. An Englishman captured in the engagement declared that the invaders had purposed to destroy the harvest, which would have reduced the colony to the last extremity. The design, in a great measure, failed, and an abundant crop repaid the industry and successful courage of the French. At the first news of this alarming inroad, M. de Frontenac hastened to the post of danger, but tran 1 "Vis à vis de Montreal, du côté du sud est un endroit qu' on appelle la Prairie de la Madelaine."-Charlevoix, tom. ii., p. 233. "Le Cap de la Madelaine a eu son nom de l'Abbé de la Madelaine, un des membres de la Compagnie des cent Associés." The name of the Prairie had probably the same origin.-Charlevoix, tom. v., p. 167. |