Page:Historical records of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) regiment.djvu/31

 settlers there were, were clustered. The rest of the population through-out the country, French and natives, were all averse to English rule. In this condition of affairs, towards the end of the year 1720, the governor, Colonel Philipps, left for England, to lay the state of the country before the king, and Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong acted in his stead.

During the succeeding two years no serious outbreak seems to have occurred, but in February, 1723, the Indians, encouraged by the French at Louisburg, and receiving every help from the French inhabitants, had the temerity to attack the garrison at Annapolis, burned two houses situated at a little distance from the fort, killed and scalped a sergeant and a private of the regiment, and took several prisoners.

On the reduction of the works at Placentia, four of the companies of the regiment there stationed were removed to Canso, to prevent the encroachments of the French, who, from Louisburg, had long looked upon that place with an eye of covetousness, on account of the growing importance of its fishery.

For the security of the garrison, the Governor (the senior officer of the detachment) caused to be erected at his own expense a small fort and battery of guns, which battery during the season of the fishery was mounted with the guns out of the shipping. The four companies of the regiment garrisoned the fort, with three pieces of cannon. 1727.

In the year 1727 we find the establishment of the regiment was fixed as follows : —

1736.

In the autumn of the year 1736, the acting governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong, despatched an officer and party of the regiment from the fort to the harbour of Chebugue to bring to Annapolis a deserted ship, which they succeeded in doing.