, gave
the first notice, which the inhabitants had of the presence of an
enemy, by a discharge of his cannon. He then sent in a flag, demanding
the immediate surrender of the place. Knowing that it was impossible
to defend the station against artillery, Captain Ruddle consented to
surrender it, provided the inhabitants should be considered prisoners
to the British, and not to the Indians. To this proposition Colonel
Byrd assented, and the gates were thrown open. The savages instantly
rushed in, each laying his hands on the first person with whom he
chanced to meet. Parents and children, husbands and wives, were thus
torn from each other; and the [214] air was rent with sighs of
wailing, and shrieks of agony. In vain did Captain Ruddle exclaim,
against the enormities which were perpetrated in contravention to the
terms of capitulation. To his remonstrances, Colonel Byrd replied that
he was unable to control them, and affirmed, that he too was in their
power.

That Colonel Byrd was really unable to check the enormities of the
savages, will be readily admitted, when the great disparity of the
Canadian and Indian troops, and the lawless and uncontrolable temper
of the latter, are taken into consideration. That he had the
inclination to stop them, cannot be [215] doubted--his subsequent
conduct furnished the most convincing evidence, that the power to
effect it, was alone wanting in him.[5]

After Ruddle's station had been completely sacked, and the prisoners
disposed of, the Indians clamoured to be led against Martin's station,
then only five miles distant. Affected with the barbarities which he
had just witnessed, Colonel Byrd peremptorily refused, unless the
chiefs would guaranty that the prisoners, which might be there taken,
should be entirely at his disposal. For awhile the Indians refused to
accede to these terms, but finding Colonel Byrd, inflexible in his
determination, they at length consented, that the prisoners should be
his, provided the plunder were allowed to them.--Upon this agreement,
they marched forward. Martin's station, like Ruddle's, was incapable
of offering any available opposition. It was surrendered on the first
summons, and the prisoners and plunder divided, in conformity with the
compact between Colonel Byrd and the savages.

The facility, with which these conquests were made, excited the thirst
of the Indians for more. Not satisfied with the plundering of Ruddle's
and Martin's stations, their