out 700 Men on
Shore, we march to the further end of the Village, being about a
league. From whence, by the tracks we found, we judged that the
Inhabitants had but lately retired and drove off their cattle.
Here we found the Lime that had been taken in a schooner in the
spring, which they had landed as our Pilots supposed to lighten
the schooner, to get her higher up or to hide her in some
Creeke--as they supposed that they would certainly have carry'd
the Lime up to St. Anns would the depth of the River have admitted
of it.

"It being late in the day I gave orders for Burning the Houses &
Barns, being in all about 50, and for destroying all the Grain, of
which there was a good deal, and everything else that could be of
the least service to the Inhabitants hereafter. Having Burnt and
destroyed everything we marched backe and reimbarked.

"As we were disembarking in the morning some canoes were seen
crossing the head of Grimerose River [Gagetown Creek], and near
where we landed there had lately been some Birch canoes made. Much
cleared Land here--Fine Country. This Village was settled by the
Inhabitants of Beausejour, when drove off from thence in 1755."

The day following the expedition continued up the river to Isle
Mettis, or Grimross Island. The pilots now refused to take charge of
the vessels any higher, as they did not think there was sufficient
water to pass. The accuracy of their judgment was soon evident. In
attempting to proceed Capt. Cobb ran his sloop aground, and several of
the transports had a like experience, but the bottom being sandy all
soon got off again without damage. Monckton sent Capt. Rogers, late of
the sloop "Ulysses," and a mate of the man-of-war "Squirrel," who had
accompanied the expedition, to take soundings but they could find no
practicable channel.

The commanding officer now reluctantly abandoned the idea of
proceeding on to St. Annes. He might perhaps have attempted it by
means of whale boats if the season had not been so far advanced and
his provisions so nearly expended. After enumerating in his journal
the difficulties that confronted him in the event of proceeding
further he writes, "I therefore determined to return and destroy
everything we could on our way down." Meanwhile, by Monckton's orders,
Captain McCurdy had been scouring the country with his rangers and had
succeeded in killing some cattle which were divided among the
transports.