elusion lulled them into fancied security, and their
hardened hearts became steeled to the advice of reason, and our offers
of compassion in favour of their mothers, wives, and babes. We soon
convinced them that our guns were not so much to be despised as they
imagined; but, before we opened our batteries on them, one effort more
was made by us to prevent the destruction of life, by another offer of
mercy, accompanied by the most earnest entreaties that, if their own
hearts still continued hardened and obdurate, and they were resolved to
resist the dictates of reason, they would, at least, not imbrue their
hands in the blood of their families. These messages of mercy were
treated with contempt, and spurned with indignation. Every effort that
the feeling mind could suggest, or humanity dictate, was resorted to, to
induce these deluded people to listen to our proposals; and every kind
of forbearance was shown to them, up to the last moment. On the
following morning our guns opened, which drove their priests early to
the temple, to solicit protection and aid from the dumb objects of their
idolatrous worship. The warrior was now seen putting on his coat of
mail; all was bustle, consternation, and confusion. When our cannonading
commenced, the birds, scared, soon got on the rapid wing, and sought
shelter in the distant woods, and the deer fled with the quickness of
lightning across the plain, bending their way towards the dreary forest.
The enemy returned our fire, and hoisted their colours as a proof of
earnest and total defiance of our power. We had not as yet completed our
shelling-batteries, and therefore, before these magazines of death were
finished, we once more called upon the inmates of the fort to send their
families out, with an assurance that we would guarantee their protection
and safety; that they should have a safeguard to whatever part of the
country they wished to proceed; and that they should not be deprived of
any of their private property. We could not make up our minds to fight
against women and children. Our humane general begged most earnestly,
that this, his last entreaty, might be attended to, as he should, on
their refusal, commence his shelling, which would bereave them of many
of those dear objects whom he now, for the last time, gave them an
opportunity to save. A certain time was given for an answer. They knew
that the guarantee proffered for the safety of their families was
inviolable. On this po