Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/31

settlers at St. John during the American Revolution. Most of their misfortunes might have been avoided had a proper garrison been maintained at Fort Frederick, but the troops were withdrawn from that post in 1768 and sent to Boston in consequence of some disturbances there, and for five or six years the care of the fort and barracks was entrusted to James Simonds. A non-commissioned officer and six privates were placed in charge in 1774, but so small a party was of no practical service for defence. It was not until the autumn of the year 1777 that adequate steps were taken for the protection of the settlers. Most of the people at Portland Point were loyal to the crown during the war but the attitude of many of those in Maugerville and the other townships up the river was not so satisfactory. Perhaps this is not to be greatly wondered at. By birth and early associations they were New England Puritans and therefore inclined to sympathize with their old time neighbors and relatives of Massachusetts. Some of the settlers on the river in the early stages of the war were such warm partizans that they went with Colonel Jonathan Eddy to attack Fort Cumberland. The failure of their expedition and the absence of their leaders, who were obliged to flee the country, cooled their ardor, and they remained tranquil until the close of the war. Whatever may have been the natural inclination of the majority of the people, they were content to act in accordance with the motto "self preservation is a law of nature." On no other theory can we account for their contradictory action in first signing a resolution declaring "it is our minds and desire to submit ourselves to the government of Massachusetts Bay," and a few months later taking the oath of allegiance to King George III; but of this more anon.

In the year 1775 armed vessels were fitted out in some of the New England ports to prey on the com-