unmolested. It was perhaps singular, and certainly
contradictory, that an officer of the acknowledged prudence
and forethought ascribed to the governor--qualities
which in a great degree neutralised his excessive severity
in the eyes of his troops--should have hazarded the
chance of having his garrison enfeebled by the destruction
of a part, if not of the whole, of the company appointed
to this dangerous duty; but with all his severity, Colonel
de Haldimar was not without strong affection for his
children. The feelings of the father, therefore, in a
great degree triumphed over the prudence of the commander;
and to shield the corpse of his son from the indignities
which he well knew would be inflicted on it by Indian
barbarity, he had been induced to accede to the earnest
prayer of Captain Erskine, that he might be permitted to
lead out his company for the purpose of securing the
body. Every means were, however, taken to cover the
advance, and ensure the retreat of the detachment. The
remainder of the troops were distributed along the rear of
the ramparts, with instructions to lie flat on their
faces until summoned by their officers from that position;
which was to be done only in the event of close pursuit
from the savages. Artillerymen were also stationed at
the several guns that flanked the rear of the fort, and
necessarily commanded both the common and the outskirt
of the forest, with orders to fire with grape-shot at a
given signal. Captain Erskine's instructions were,
moreover, if attacked, to retreat back under the guns of
the fort slowly and in good order, and without turning
his back upon the enemy.