Monckton to Abercrombie. A. Draft. Continuing the narrative begun in his letters of the 15 and 17 October. On September 30, having got all the vessels above the falls, with the loss of the Ulysses, which struck a rock and sunk, and the troops, numbering about 1,200, all embarked, they set sail, but owing to contrary winds and tides, they did not reach Grimrose until the 3rd. This settlement of 40 or 50 houses and barns was made by the inhabitants who were driven from Beauséjour in 1755. The inhabitants having all retired into the woods, he caused all the houses, barns, grain, etc., to be burned. They found over 50 hogsheads of lime, the cargo of a schooner taken by a privateer fitted out by the inhabitants of this and other rivers. The vessel itself could not be found. From appearances, they concluded that the inhabitants had not long retired. Two or three canoes were seen at a great distance with men. They got the canoes, which were laden with corn. This was destroyed. On the 5th, they weighed anchor to proceed up the river, but on nearing the Island of Metis, the guides refused to go on, alleging that the water was too shallow for the vessels. However, they continued, being preceded by a small schooner, the pilot on which had been taken prisoner two years before and carried up the river. After a short run, the schooner ran aground. Monckton, who was on a sloop following the schooner, tried another channel but with no more success, and several others shared the same fate. They all got off without damage, but as neither channel showed more than six or seven feet, which was less than the draught of the vessels and as they had consumed half their fortnight's provisions, and there was some danger of ice in the river, he decided to return, and to destroy all houses, cattle, etc., they came upon, on their way down. At Jemseg, an old French fort, they destroyed some houses and cattle, as well as at some other places. He got back to the fort on the 8th, but the last of the vessels returned only on the 11th. On the whole he destroyed about 70 houses and barns, and killed about 40 head of cattle. A French guide, who was captured and who was in St. Ann's (Fredericton) in June, told him that there was only a cadet and about 20 men there; that there was no fort, nor any indication that a fort was ever intended; and that the soldiers were quartered in the village, which consisted of about 40 houses. As far as this as man could learn, the French people were going to Canada, as soon as they could. As for the Indians, they were disposed to get terms from the English when the latter established a fort. Failing that, they too would retire to Canada, as their fishing and hunting would be cut off. Monckton was rather relieved that he had not got farther up the river, as he would not have known what to do with the inhabitants of St. Ann's. To have destroyed their houses without taking them away would have been cruel, and he lacked both provisions and the means of conveyance. The people could see for themselves that the English can get up the river, when they choose. The country is quite flat. Nerepis is an older fort, but now quite destroyed. "The river after passing the falls is as fine a river as I ever saw, and the land above Robicheau's flat and capable of producing anything. The wood is chiefly oak, beech, birch, and walnut, and no underwood, so that one may walk through it with ease and for miles without meeting with a stone. The islands in particular are very fine. But any post that may be thought necessary to be established up there must be a very strong one as the water, being quite fresh and the river still, it must freeze very soon which makes the communication easy."
The day before Monckton sent Major Scott up the river Petcoudiack where he was informed the privateer and one of its prizes were, and where there were some houses they had never been able to destroy. Major Morris arrived on the 6th. He got no more inhabitants than those mentioned in the letter of October 15, whom he sent to Halifax, destroying their habitations. The priest says there still remain on the Cape Sable shore about 130 souls, who are all willing to be sent away in the Spring, as they now despair of remaining on their lands. The only expense to the soldiers in building the fort, excepting such as were artificers, has been half a gill of rum a day for each man. For some weeks he had 600 men a day employed. The return he encloses shows a great deal of sickness among the soldiers, from a fever brought by some French that were enlisted at Louisbourg. Since the return of August 24, he has lost over 50 men, and has now nearly 150 sick. Owing to a deficiency of officers - Captain Oswald, Captain Wettestroom, Captain Gually, and Captain Lieut. Hollandt being all that are with them - he has been obliged to leave the 35th Regiment. He leaves three companies under Major Morris at St. John; Colonel Fletcher with five companies goes to Annapolis; and Captain Fletcher with two to Fort Edward. He expects to sail with his regiment for Halifax in a few days. He has sent to Boston for garrison necessaries, and Lawrence has let them have four 24 pdrs and fourteen 12 pdrs, with ammunition, etc. He will order the Rangers to Boston on their return from Petcoudiack, and their completion of their job of laying in the garrison's fuel. Captain Dank's Rangers are being sent back to Chignecto. He recommends to the General's attention, Captain Lieut. Hollandt, and Lieut. Brigstock, and one Mr. McDougal, a volunteer, who has been with the battalion for two years.