Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/98

not the brave and unfortunate André she carried, but Benedict Arnold the traitor.

While the Vulture was stationed in the Bay of Fundy she rendered importaant services in the protection of the coast, but the smaller piratical craft not infrequently managed to elude her vigilance. Their hardihood at length became insufferable and the settlers at St. John clamored for protection. The government of Nova Scotia, learning of the probability of an attempt being made by the Machias rebels to establish a fortified post there, determined to forestall them by taking possession with a sufficient garrison to defend the place against all comers. Undoubtedly the two men to whom the settlers on the river were most indebted for security during the remaining years of the war were Gilfred Studholme and Michael Francklin. The latter was at one time Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia; he was appointed Superintendent of Indian affairs early in the year 1777, and his services in that capacity up to his death in 1782 were extremely valuable.

Gilfred Studholme had at one time commanded the garrison at Fort Frederick, and was an experienced officer. He received a captain's commission in Governor Legge's regiment of Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers^[1] but soon after was transferred to the command of a company in the Royal Fencible Americans under Lieut. Col. Joseph Gorham. The men of this corps had not been long enrolled and were badly armed and poorly clad when they were called upon to defend Fort Cumberland against Jonathan Eddy's attack. Their commander, however, says that during the siege they were alert at their posts and their conduct better than could have been expected in a newly raised corps. The