Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/100
the former war [Fort Frederick], the position of the latter being low and commanded, and not so well situated for the protection of the houses built in the cod of the bay, where two or three persons lived of a company to whom a large tract of land had been granted and who carried on a considerable trade with the Indians and persons settled up the river. The ridge upon which the new fort stands was offered by them and a work in which there are eight pieces of cannon, barracks for 100 men, and a small block house was accordingly erected together with a larger blockhouse at the other end of the ridge. The block houses remain, but the work, which was composed of fascines and sods, is falling down and the ridge on which it stands is too narrow to admit of any useful works being constructed upon it."
Colonel Morse's report states the armament of Fort Howe comprised two five and a half inch brass mortars, and eight iron guns, viz., two eighteen-pounders, four six-pounders, and two four-pounders, with a fair supply of ammunition. In the barracks were twelve rooms for the officers and accommodation for 100 men.
The old iron guns at Fort Howe would be no better than pop-guns for defence against a modern warship. They were never called upon for service against an invader, but on Royal anniversaries and in honor of national victories they thundered forth a salute from their iron throats, and we may believe that on the memorable 18th of May, 1783, they gave a right royal welcome to the Loyalist founders of the City of Saint John.
Scarcely had Major Studholme got his post in order, when A. Greene Crabtree, the miserable old privateer, again appeared upon the scene. Having disposed of his former booty, he designed now to complete the work of devastation, and for that purpose landed a party from his eight gun vessel at Manawagonish to proceed over land and surprise the settlers at Portland Point. But the surprise was his own. When he learned of Studholme's presence and saw the British flag waving from the summit of Fort Howe, he retired in short order.