63. TO A CORRESPONDENT IN SCOTLAND
In this, his first letter on the Concert for Prayer, Edwards gives the movement his enthusiastic endorsement. It was a cooperative effort begun by ministers in Scotland to enlist all Christians in active intercession before God. Edwards recounts promotional efforts he has already made for the Concert and pledges more. He heralds revivals elsewhere, hoping that the Concert will increase them.1
Edwards and all New England were preoccupied at this time with the English military campaign against Louisburg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Reports by church members who were on the scene enable him to supply graphic details. He sees every event as a sign of divine guidance and protection.
(Published in CMH 8 [1745], 234—54; Works, 5, 444—60. The recipient was probably Rev. John MacLaurin of Glasgow, an initiator of the Concert.)
∗ ∗ ∗
I am greatly obliged to you for your large, friendly, profitable and entertaining letter of February last. I esteem my correspondence with you, and my other correspondents in Scotland, a great honor and privilege; and hope that it may be improved for God's glory, and my profit. The church of God, in all parts of the world, is but one; the distant members are closely united in one glorious head; this union is very much her beauty, and the mutual friendly correspondence of the various members, in distant parts of the world, is a thing well becoming this union (at least when employed about things appertaining to the glory of their common head, and their common spiritual interest and happiness), and therefore is a thing decent and beautiful, and very profitable.
When the day is so dark here in New England, it is exceeding refreshing and reviving to hear, by your and other letters, and Mr. [James] Robe's History,2 of religion's being to such a degree upheld in the power and practice of it, in those parts of Scotland that have been favored with the late revival, and of such a number of the persevering subjects of it and of the works now going on in the north of Scotland, under the labors and conduct of such pious, solid, judicious and prudent instruments, that Christ there makes use of; and one thing that has been very joyful to me, that I have been informed of in the letters I have received from you, and my other correspondents, your dear neighbors and brethren, is that Concert that is come into, by many of God's people in Scotland and England, for united prayer to God, for
the pouring out of his Holy Spirit on his church and the world of mankind.
Such an agreement and practice appears to me exceeding beautiful, and becoming Christians; and I doubt not but it is so in Christ's eyes. And it seems to me to be a thing peculiarly becoming us, in the state that things are in at the present day.
God has lately done great things before our eyes, whereby he has shown us something of his wonderful power and mercy; but has withal so disposed things, that events have tended remarkably to show us our weakness, infirmity, insufficiency, and great and universal need of God's help; we have been many ways rebuked for our self-confidence and looking to instruments, and trusting in an arm of flesh; and God is now showing us that we are nothing, and letting us see that we can do nothing.
In many places where God of late wonderfully appeared, he has now in a great measure withdrawn; and the consequence is, that Zion and the interest of religion are involved in innumerable and inextricable difficulties. And it is apparent that we can't help ourselves, and have nowhere else to go, but to God. 2 Chronicles 20:12, "We know not what to do; our eyes arc upon thee."
Now how fit is it that God's people, under such circumstances, should go to God by prayer, and give themselves more than ordinarily to that duty, and be uniting with one another in it, agreeing together touching what they shall ask, taking some proper course to act in it with a visible union, tending to promote their offering up their cries with one heart, and, as it were, with one voice.
Oh that this duty might be attended with real meekness towards our opposers, lifting up holy hands without wrath; and that we may go to God, self-empty, brokenhearted, looking to God only through Christ, and without making any righteousness of our performances, or any exalting thoughts of ourselves for our secret or social religion, or our differing from others, in being either friends or partakers of the late revival of religion.
I have taken a great deal of pains to promote a falling in with this Concert in New England, at least so far as relates to the quarterly seasons agreed upon. I read those passages of your and your brethren's letters, that relate to this affair, publicly in my own congregation, using many arguments with them to comply with the thing proposed. And many praying societies here have complied. I gave an account of the affair to several of the neighboring ministers, that I thought most likely to fall in with it: two of them seem to like it very well, and to determine to propose it to their people; but one of them [Stephen Williams], who seemed very much to approve of it, the next week was
called away to serve as chaplain to the soldiers at Cape Breton, and is not yet returned, and so I suppose nothing is done there.
When he was here, I talked with him about this affair, showed him your letters, and urged, wherever he went, to give an account of this Concert to the people of God, and to press their coming into it. He seemed forward to do as I desired; but I have not heard what he has done. I wrote to–––3 about it, who was then in Connecticut, giving him an account of the proposal, desiring him to mention it to other ministers, that they might promote it among their people. He wrote me word back, that he had mentioned it to several ministers, and desired them to speak to others; but whether anything is done, I have not heard.
I hope, dear Sir, that you will do what in you lies, still to uphold, promote, and propagate this Concert. I should be very sorry to hear of its sinking. I don't think it ought to be let fall, though you should meet with considerable difficulties and discouragements in the affair.
Jacob and the woman of Canaan, met with great discouragements, while they were wrestling for a blessing: but they persevered, and obtained their request. I should have more hope from the union, fervency, and unfailing constancy of the prayers of God's people, with respect to the religious affairs of the present day, than anything else; more than from the preaching and writings of the ablest and best friends to the work of God's Spirit.
For my part, I am not disheartened with respect to this Concert, though I have met with great discouragements in my endeavors to promote it hitherto: I shall not cease still to do what in me lies to promote and propagate it, according as favorable junctures and opportunities do present. Please to remember me to the correspondent meeting in Glasgow, that you speak of, as one whose heart is with them, particularly in the business of this Concert. Oh! that our hearts, and the hearts of all God's people everywhere, might be united in such an affair, that we might be assisted to be in good earnest in it, and give God no rest, till he shall establish, and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. I desire you would mention it to this meeting, as my desire, that on the times agreed on for this united prayer, they would pray for America and New England, and (if it be not too much to ask) that they would sometimes think of me in their addresses to heaven.
I am sensible it would be too much for me to expect, that they should commonly mention me in particular in their prayers; it would be impracticable for such societies, in all their prayers, to pray particularly for every
minister, that is sensible of the worth of the prayers of God's people, and would highly prize them. But I should esteem it a great privilege, to be sometimes thought of by the Christian people there, in their prayers to God. I hope the time is hastening, when God's people in all the different parts of the world, and the whole earth shall become the sensibly, as it were, one family, one holy and happy society, and all brethren, not only all united in one head, but in greater affection, and in more mutual correspondence, and more visible and sensible union and fellowship in religious exercises, and the holy duties of the service of God; and so that in this respect, the church on earth will become more like the blessed society in heaven, and vast assembly of saints and angels there.
I am persuaded that such an agreement of the people of God in different parts, to unite together, to pray for the Holy Spirit, is lovely in the eyes of Jesus Christ the glorious head of the church. And if endeavors are used to uphold, and promote, and enlarge such a Concert, who knows what it may come to at last?
Who knows but that by degrees, it may spread all over the British dominions, both in Europe and America, and also into Holland, Zeeland, and other Protestant countries, and all over the visible church of Christ, yea, far beyond the present limits of the visible church? And how glorious a thing will this be, to have the people of God everywhere thus agreeing together, touching such a thing that they would ask!
And what blessed fruits and consequences might reasonably be hoped for, from such united prayers! Might it not be hoped, that they would open the doors and windows of heaven, that have so long been shut up, and been as brass over the heads of the inhabitants of the earth, as to spiritual showers; and that God, in answer to such prayers, would speak the word, and say, Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness"? [Isaiah 45:8].
As there is a great need of God's people's uniting their cries to God for spiritual blessings at this day, so I can't but think that there is much in the present aspects of divine providence to encourage them in it. For although there are many dark clouds, and God's Spirit is greatly withdrawn from some places where it has lately been remarkably poured out, and Satan seems at present greatly to rage and prevail; yet God is still carrying on his work, if not in one place, yet in another.
Though it seems in some measure to cease in the west of Scotland, yet it is carried on in the north, and breaks out in some parts of the United Netherlands. And since the work has ceased very much in New England,
it has broke out wonderfully in Virginia, and has prevailed there, for, I suppose, more than a year and half. The work that is lately broke out among them, was begun by the labors of one Mr. [William] Robinson a young minister that went down among them from Pennsylvania, the last year, and spent much time in preaching there, with great success, multitudes being greatly awakened as he preached from place to place, a great thirst appearing in the people after the means of grace, and eagerness to hear the Word preached, and fondness to wards the instrument of their awakening.
This Mr. Robinson, by all that I can learn of him, from those whose intelligence and judgment I rely upon, is a man of sprightly abilities, fervent piety, and very solid, judicious and prudent.
The governor [William Gooch] encouraged Messrs. [Gilbert] Tennent and [Samuel] Finley to preach in Virginia and invited them to make his house their home, when it was in their way. Accordingly they continued preaching for some time in the country with great success; and, by the last accounts that I heard, the work continued to go on wonderfully there. Mr. [Samuel] Buell, I hear, is gone down into those parts, designing to continue there this winter. He is one that you have probably heard of, has been a zealous and successful preacher in New England.
Besides the work in Virginia, Mr. William Tennent in the Jerseys, has lately had great success among his people; a greater work having been lately carried on among them than at any time these seven years past. And the above-mentioned Mr. Robinson, besides his success in Virginia, has lately had great success in the parts below Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. The provinces of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, are become exceeding populous; and there are great numbers in those provinces that show a forwardness to hear the Word preached; but there are few ministers. "The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers few" [Matthew 9:37].
The ministers of the three forementioned presbyteries, that are friends to the late work, who have lately formed themselves into a new synod, who had their first meeting September last, at Elizabeth, in New Jersey; I say these ministers, taking into consideration the very calamitous circumstances of those provinces, by reason of the scarcity of ministers, have formed a design of erecting a college there, for the educating young men for the ministry, hoping, through the influence of some particular gentlemen, to obtain a charter for the establishment of such a society from the king. I think the design to be very
glorious, and very worthy to be encouraged, and promoted by all the friends of Zion.
In the meantime, these ministers have determined that private academies should be kept in certain ministers' houses, for the instructing and educating young candidates for the ministry, till this design of a more public school can be ripened. Accordingly they have determined that such academy should be kept by Mr. [Jonathan] Dickinson, Mr. [Aaron] Burr, Mr. [Samuel] Blair, and Mr. Finley; all of them excellent men, well capable of, and fitted for such business.
Besides those things that have a favorable aspect on the interest of religion in these parts, among the English, and other inhabitants of European extract, Mr. [David] Brainerd, a missionary employed by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge to Breach to the Indians, has lately had more success than ever. This Mr. Brainerd is a young gentleman of very distinguishing qualifications, remarkable for his piety, and eminent zeal for the good of souls, and his knowledge in divinity, and solidity of his judgment, and prudence of conduct. And I hope he will be improved to be a great blessing. 'Tis [fitting] that he should have all the encouragement from those that employ him, that shall put him under the best advantage in his work.
While I am speaking of the late wonderful works of God in America, I cannot pass over one, which, though it be of a different kind from those already mentioned; yet is that wherein the Most High has made his hand manifest, in a most apparent and marvelous manner, and may be reckoned among the evidences of its being a day of great things, and of the wonderful works of God in this part of the world.
What I have reference to, is the success of the late expedition, from New England, against Cape Breton; a place of vast importance, and a place from whence New England, and all the English colonies on the American continent, have been chiefly, and almost only infested by our French enemies since the beginning of the war. I have had much opportunity to be well-informed of the circumstances of this affair, about twenty of my parishioners being present at the siege and surrender of the place: and among others, a major of one of the regiments [Seth Pomeroy], and the general's chaplain [Joseph Hawley], both worthy pious men.
There was very discernibly an extraordinary spirit of prayer given the people of God in New England, with respect to this undertaking, more than in any public affair within my remembrance; and many praying pious persons were immediately concerned in it; others, several of the chaplains and principal officers.
Some of the chief officers that I am well acquainted with, and conversed
with a little before they embarked, seemed to have special and extraordinary assistance, to commit themselves to God in the under taking, to resign their lives to his disposal, and trust in him; and I was informed of the same in many others. Providence made provision for the expedition, by giving us an extraordinary plenty the summer be fore; and they were remarkable providences that led us into the design.
The state of the place was strangely concealed from us, which if it had been known, would have effectually prevented the design. We seem to be under great advantages to be informed; for we had many that very lately had been prisoners there, and others that had traded, and been very conversant there, and some that had dwelt there a considerable time, and our governor [William Shirley] and General Assembly were very diligent in making inquiry, and all seemed to be well satisfied that we had full information; and yet the representations that were relied upon as true, were exceeding wrong.
It was unaccountable that so many that had been conversant there, should be kept in such ignorance. If one half of the strength of the place had been known, the expedition had never been thought of; or if they had imagined the number of soldiers and inhabitants there, or if the expensiveness of the undertaking had been conceived of, it never would have been meddled with; for it soon abundantly exceeded the expectations of our General Assembly.
After all, when the affair was first proposed to the Assembly, it was not fallen in with; it was thought too great an undertaking. But afterwards, the affair was unexpectedly reconsidered, and then it was carried by a majority of one single vote among fourscore representatives; and such a majority would not have been obtained, had not several of the members of the House, that were against it, been at that time providentially absent; nor yet would it have been, had it not been so ordered, that one of the voters present, that had been against it on a committee, changed his mind and voted for it in the House.
After the affair was determined, it was surprising to see how the people were spirited to offer themselves. When the determination of the General Court was first noised abroad, it was not known but that men would be impressed into the service; and many, through fear of being impressed, hid themselves, particularly there were many in a neighboring town, viz. Westfield, that were so afraid of being obliged to go in the expedition, that they ran away, and hid themselves in the woods; and yet afterwards, when orders came for enlisting volunteers, eleven of those same persons that had hid themselves, came and voluntarily offered their service.
There were also such in stances in other towns.
We were marvelously smiled upon in our preparations for the expedition; so that within two months, from the resolution of the government (which was
Some who have preserved an account of the Weather for more than twenty years, have been surprised to behold the difference between the months of February and March this year, and the foregoing ones; this a continued course of good weather, those as continually intermixed with storms of snow, or rain, or severity of cold. And we seemed in other respects to be strangely succeeded in our preparations.
Some have been heard to express themselves with wonder, how things would happen; just as they wanted some kind of materials or provision, an unexpected vessel would come in, and bring them.
It was strange, that while this affair was managing in New England, and the whole country full of the noise of it, it should be concealed from our French enemies, in Cape Breton and Canada. It was very early known in Albany, a place where the Indians that live in Canada are abundantly conversant; so that it was very much concluded by some of the most discerning and judicious of our rulers, that they had notice of our design in Canada, long before our forces embarked; which, if it had been, would in all probability have frustrated the whole design. But it proved afterwards, that it was wonderfully concealed from them, not only till our forces sailed, but a long time after, till it was too late for them to send any succors to their friends.
And the design was also kept wholly concealed from the French in Cape Breton; which was in some respects more wonderful; especially considering how many friends they had, French and Indians in Nova Scotia, on the borders of New England; and not only so, but the Indians in the eastern parts of this province, that have always been friends with the French, and have since openly sided with them, and must needs know of our design.
'Tis unaccountable, that none of these should inform our enemies.
Our soldiers were wonderfully preserved from the smallpox, which is a distemper very fatal to the people of New England, and was in
Boston, as our troops were gathering there, both by land and water, and continued all the while they were quartering and anchoring there, very few of the officers or soldiers having had it.
And 'tis thought the time was never known, when so many persons, in so many different parts of the town, were ill with this distemper, and it was notwithstanding stopped in its progress. If it had prevailed, and got among the soldiers, it would unavoidably have put an end to the expedition.
When the expedition was first determined by our authority they were not sure they should have the assistance of one man-of-war; without which our forces would (as it proved by what appeared afterwards) [have] been easily swallowed up by their enemies.
Indeed the governor, soon after the expedition was fully determined, dispatched a packet for England, to the Lords of the Admiralty desiring their assistance. And it was so ordered in providence (which was perhaps much in favor to the design), that there had been a change made a little before in the Board of Admiralty, and such commissioners introduced, that were thought to be much spirited for the interest of the nation, and sincerely to seek the success of the war against the French.
However, if we had no assistance of men-of-war, till those arrived that the Lords of the Admiralty sent, it would have been too late (as events proved), to have saved our forces from their enemies. Our governor at the same time that he sent a packet to England, sent another to the West Indies to Commodore [Peter] Warren, in hopes of persuading him to send some assistance of men-of-war; but the Commodore sent back the packet-boat with a denial, thinking himself not warranted to come without orders from England.
But so wonderfully was it ordered that within a few days after messenger was sent back with his discouraging answer, the Commodore received express orders from the Lords of the Admiralty, forthwith to come to Boston, to act in concert with our governor, for the defense of these northern English settlements; not that they knew anything of the intended expedition against Cape Breton, but only expected, that the French would that spring make an attempt on Annapolis, and would endeavor extraordinarily to annoy our seacoasts.
Thus the designs that our enemies were forming against us, were made an occasion of their ruin, and our great advantage. They were taken in the pit that they had digged; for had it not been for their extraordinary designs against us, Commodore Warren would not have had orders at that time to come hither, which if it had not been, our forces must have fallen a prey to the French, and Cape Breton not have been taken. The Commodore having received
these orders, with all speed sent the news of it to Governor Shirley; which, when it arrived was like life from the dead to him and others, that were ready to sink in distress and discouragement.
Commodore Warren, after receiving the forementioned orders, soon set sail, with three ships from the West Indies, for Boston. But still if he had not been prevented from coming to Boston, as he intended before he went to Cape Breton, he would have been too late there, to have prevented the Vigilant (a strong ship from France of sixty-four guns, with all manner of warlike stores) from getting into the harbor, which if it had done, would (as is judged on all hands) [have] prevented the taking of the place. But so wonderfully was it ordered, that Commodore Warren in his voyage hither, near Cape Sable on
On which information, and being now furnished with a good pilot, so wonderfully thrown in his way, the Commodore dropped his design of coming to Boston, tacked about, and went directly to our forces to Canso, to their great joy; and then without stopping there, went on to his station before Louisburg, to block up that harbor. The Commodore also, by the said fisherman, sent his order for the king's ships that should be found in these ports, forthwith to follow them. The order came to the Eltham, a forty-gun ship at Piscataqua, after she was actually got to sea, having set sail for England, as convoy to the mast-fleet. The order reached her by a boat, sent after her from the shore, before she was got quite out of call, on which she bore after the Commodore, and quickly joined him; so that now our army had four men-of-war, under God, to protect them.
It was remarkable, that when so many vessels sailed from this province, New Hampshire and Connecticut, being in all about eighty sail, in a time of year that used to be the most turbulent and tempestuous of any, all arrived safe (through a course of five or six hundred miles on the ocean) at Canso, the place of concourse, a place about sixty miles on this side Cape Breton without the loss of more than one soldier, and three seamen, and fifteen sick.
And 'tis to be observed, that the Connecticut forces very narrowly escaped being taken by a French ship of force, that came in sight of them in their voyage; but were kept in play by some vessels of ours, of inferior force, till the fleet of transports got out of reach. And 'tis remarkable, that of all the vessels that have been employed in this affair (who had their voyages at a very difficult time
of year), transports and vessels of force from New England, packet boats to and from England and the West Indies, men-of-war from the West Indies and England to Cape Breton, not one of them failed in any of those voyages, either by being cast away or taken.
It seemed to be ordered wholly in favor to the design, that our forces that went from this government were detained by contrary winds for near three weeks at Canso. If they had sailed before, as appeared they would have found the harbors and bays full of ice, and could not have landed, so that they would only have discovered themselves to the enemy, and given them timely notice to prepare for their defense, without being able to come near them, which (as after-events confirm) would wholly have defeated the design; and besides, the weather, while they lay in Canso harbor, was exceeding bad, being very cold, with storms and snow; so that if the wind had been fair, and they could have landed at Cape Breton, they could not have lived ashore so ill provided as they were with tents.
By this means the enemy would have had a vast advantage against them; but God held them at Canso, till the Connecticut forces and Commodore Warren were come up, and till the bays were clear of ice, and till the time was come that he intended the weather should be good, so that our men could live ashore, and then the wind sprung up fair to carry them to Cape Breton.
While our forces lay at Canso, their cruisers were succeeded to intercept and take many French vessels that were coming to Cape Breton, and in them to take some things that the army greatly needed; and particularly it is judged by some of the officers that were there, that are persons of good judgment, that the army could not have subsisted (so exposed as they were to cold at that time of year in that cold climate) without the rum they took from the enemy.
It was very strange, that when our army lay so long at Canso, within sight of the island Cape Breton, they should be wholly concealed from the French on that island; so that the people of Louisburg had no notice of the expedition against them, till they were surprised with the sight of the fleet coming upon them, and entering the bay where they landed.
Our forces, when they went from Boston, had orders to land in the night, and go upon a certain plan of operations, established on the false representations we had had of the state of the place. Accordingly they set sail from Canso, with a design to land in the night, and prosecute their plan; which if they had done, it is judged it would have proved fatal to the design; therefore divine providence prevented it,
by causing the wind suddenly to die away, in the midst of their way from Canso to Chappe-rouge Bay, where they intended to land; so that they could not land in the night, but were obliged to land in the daytime which proved greatly for their advantage.
When they came into the bay, about five miles from Louisburg, in the daytime, in the sight of their enemies, the French were seized with such surprise, that they seemed hardly to know what they did, and were left to act very foolishly.
They sent out eighty-eight persons to resist their landing, when, if they had consulted their interest, they should have sent seven or eight hundred, which might have rendered the landing of our men extremely difficult. These eighty-eight men were left to discover themselves, and appear openly; whereas if they had concealed themselves, and lain in ambush, as there were places enough convenient for their so doing, they might have cut off many of our men.
Our men were, on this occasion, wonderfully animated with courage, and between twenty and thirty that first landed, boldly encountered those eighty-eight of the French, and killed eight of them, without the loss of a man on their side, and drove the rest back to the town in a great fright, setting all the city and garrison into a terrible consternation; so that in their fright they immediately deserted the Grand Battery, a fort about a mile and half from the city, on the other side the harbor; a fortress of great strength, and the principal fortification that defended the harbor, furnished with thirty-two great cannon, thirty of them forty-two-pounders; a fortress which might have maintained itself alone against all our army.
Our men soon perceiving the fortress to be deserted, took possession of it the next morning; and without this, none imagines that ever the city would have been taken.
It was principally by the weapons the French left there, that our army annoyed their enemies; and all say they could have done nothing without them. And if the French had kept this fort, they would have had the advantage vastly to have annoyed our army in their siege, and kept them at a distance from the city.
'Tis not imagined, that the French would ever so foolishly have left this fortress, had it not been for their surprise, through the unexpected arrival of our forces, and those that came out to resist our landing, being driven back in so great a fright: so that here appeared the advantage of the above-mentioned concealment of the expedition; and also hereby it appears, how it was in favor to us, that the French came out to oppose our forces at their landing as they did.
The enemy spiked up their cannons before they left the fort, but did
not do it effectually. Our men soon got them all clear again. They carried away most of their powder, or threw it into the sea; but left what was much more needed by our men, viz. their balls, suited to the bores of their huge pieces (for our army had none such) and shells, that happened to be suited to the bores of our mortars; and did not knock off the trunnions of their cannon, nor destroy the carriages.
It was a remarkable favor of providence, that our men discovered that the Grand Battery was deserted, and took possession of it, just as they did; for if this discovery had been delayed but an hour or two longer, the enemy would have repossessed themselves of it, and so our whole design probably have been defeated. For just after our soldiers had taken possession of this fort, the enemy, being on consideration aware of their fatal error in leaving of it, were coming out in great numbers in many boats to recover it, but were repulsed by a handful of our men.
Soon after the siege began, the officers of the army, in a council of war, had determined a general assault to be made by scaling the walls; which, though it appeared to be a very adventurous and dangerous attempt, yet was thought necessary to hasten the taking of the city, because, from what they had heard, they were in daily expectation of a strong French fleet, greater than our naval force before the harbor could resist. (The Commodore also was in expectation of orders from England, sending him elsewhere.)
But just as they were going to put this in execution, the officers, unexpectedly, changed their minds, and presently after several men-of-war arrived from England, to add to our naval strength (with orders to the Commodore to continue in his present station, at assisting in the siege of Louisburg), and put the army out of fear of the French fleet; and so this desperate attempt was prevented, which if it had gone on, would have proved fatal to our army, as all are sensible since the strength of the city is fully known.
When the army began to fall short of ammunition, and were like to be run out, God sent the Vigilant, the strong French ship from France before mentioned, with all manner of warlike stores, and plenty of ammunition, which fell into the hands of our fleet, and so our army was supplied with what they wanted, to enable them to carry on the siege, which otherwise they could not have done. (And the ship itself was added to our fleet, and was the strongest and best ship in the whole fleet.) This ship, and her warlike stores, was intended to be improved against the English settlements.
Thus again our enemies fell into the pit which they digged.
Another remarkable incident, by which that which our enemies had done, was an occasion of a great advantage to our army against them, was this: the French, for some reason or other, had sunk a number of cannon in the sea by the Lighthouse Point, over against the Island Battery (a strong battery that defended the mouth of the harbor). These cannon were providentially discovered by our men, which gave them the hint of erecting a battery on the Lighthouse Point.
Accordingly they got up these cannon out of the water; and though while they were at work at it, they were right before the mouths of the cannon of the Island Battery, within about half a mile, yet they went through with the business, without the loss of a man.
The enemy in the city also seeing what they were about, came out a great number of them in boats to resist them; but after they were landed, our men ran between them and their boats to hinder their return. Upon which the French immediately fled to the woods, and so the town was weakened; and then our men erected a battery on the Lighthouse Point, which being higher ground than the Island Battery, they had a great advantage to annoy them from thence, and did greatly annoy and distress them, which was one of the chief means of their being brought to capitulate.
Our soldiers seemed to be inspired with resolution, eagerness and activity, in a kind of miraculous manner, greatly to the surprise of their enemies, and were marvelously supported, during the long siege of seven weeks, under their extraordinary and Herculean labors and fatigues–in carrying stores, drawing cannon by their own strength over hills and valleys, among rocks, and even drawing great forty-two-pounders for two miles, through morasses, up to the middle in mire, and in digging trenches, and erecting batteries, and watching continually against the enemy, not only in the town, but the French and Indians from the country, in the woods, that were lurking about them seeking advantages against them–our men being unexperienced in war, having never seen a siege before in their lives, and very few of them ever before engaged in any warlike enterprise of any kind, and a great many of them never heard the report of a cannon before.
But the miracle of their preservation, in the midst of so many continued great dangers, was yet greater. Our nearest batteries were erected within thirty rods of the town-wall; and the enemy were constantly, day and night, discharging their cannon and small arms from the town-wall, and their mortars from the many strong fortifications in and about the town; and the air was, as it were, continually full of bombs, and other instruments of death, and our soldiers were abundantly
exposed at their batteries, and moving from place to place.
But yet the whole number that were killed by the enemy's fire, from the town and forts, during the whole siege (excepting what were killed at an unsuccessful attempt, made in the night, on the Island Battery), did not amount to twenty. Our men at length were so used to their bombs and cannonballs, and found them harmless for so long a time, that they learned at length but little to regard them; so wonderfully did God cover their heads.
Things were wonderfully ordered from time to time, so as tended to keep up the courage of the army, during this long siege, and to revive their spirits, and give new life to them, when their spirits and courage began to fail; when they were very much beat out, and things looked dark, something new that was prosperous or promising would happen to encourage them, either some additional force would arrive, some men-of-war would be added to the fleet, or some new prizes would be taken, or some remarkable advantage gained against the enemy.
And as was observed, that such things happened from time to time, at critical seasons, when most needed to encourage the army. Once in digging a trench, our men came upon a rock, which they fatigued themselves in vain, in endeavoring to remove, and labored till they were quite discouraged; and just as they had left it, there came a bomb from the enemy, and fell under that very rock, in the most suitable spot, so as at once to do their work for them, and cast the rock quite out of the way; so that then their work lay fair before them, and they went on with digging their trench.
There once happened something very discouraging to the army, and that was, that they split their large mortar, that they chiefly depended on, and had none but small mean ones left. But it so wonderfully happened, that a mortar of just the same size, was that very day put on board at Boston, to be sent to them, without the people at Boston knowing anything of this special need; which mortar they soon joyfully received; and it was with that mortar, that they afterward chiefly distressed the enemy, from the battery they had erected at the Lighthouse Point, and drove them from the Island Battery, that defended the mouth of the harbor.
God's providence in disposing the circumstances of the surrender of the place, was wonderful. There was an army that had gathered, and laid siege to Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, the last spring, in expectation of a strong naval force from France to assist them, as had been before determined by the French. This army was made up partly of French
and Indians from Canada, and partly of the Indians of Nova Scotia, that are at war with us. This army was disappointed of the expected ship from France; some of them were taken by our squadron, under Commodore Warren (the Vigilant forementioned was one of them), others were driven away.
And the French at Cape Breton sent for this army come to their relief; so that siege was raised, and Annapolis and Nova Scotia saved, and the army were on their way to Cape Breton, and if they had arrived before the surrender of the city, they had, in all probability, disappointed our enterprise.
But our fleet and army before Louisburg, being wearied with the length of the siege, the sea and land officers met in council, and determined, without further delay, to make a general assault upon the city, and attempt to take it by storm. But this desperate attempt was wonderfully and happily prevented; for just as the council of war was broke up, before Commodore Warren was gone off the ground, came out a flag of truce from the city, desiring a cessation of acts of hostility, till they might meet together, to consider what proposals to make to the English, as terms of the surrender of the city; and the consequence was, that they soon agreed to give up the city, and all its fortifications, and king's stores, and the whole country depending, on condition of their being transported, with their movable effects, to France.
Thus God gave into our hands the place of greatest importance of any that the French have in North America, the principal fountain of the king of France's wealth, from these parts of the world, and the key to all his northern colonies, and the chief annoyance of the British colonies.
When our men entered the city, they were amazed at the strength of it, and to see how they should have been exposed, if providence had not prevented their design that was resolved upon, of scaling the walls. The walls, which were of a most prodigious thickness, they found to be about twenty-five foot high, very much higher than they had imagined, by reason of a trench, of about twelve foot deep, and a vast wraith under the walls, that they were not aware of; so that their ladders would have proved vastly too short; and it would have been a wonder if so much as one of the land army had got into the city.
And, besides the strength of the place, it was found, that there were many more soldiers, and others, capable of bearing arms, in the city and country about, than in our whole army.
Another wonderful circumstance of the taking of this place, was this, that during this long siege, our army had almost a constant series of fair good weather, there being scarce any rain, so as to incommode
our army during the whole time, which was to the amazement of the French; for it was a time of year, wherein, in all former years, used to be almost perpetual rains and fogs. And the French inhabitants agreed, that there never had been any instance of such weather at that time of the year, since the place was settled. And it was apparent to the French, by this and other things, and much taken notice of by them, that God fought for the English, and some of them said, "that their God was turned an Englishman."
Though it was constantly such good weather, during the seven weeks of the siege, yet (as the major general of the army told me)4 as soon as ever they had entered the city, before the general had reached his quarters, it began to rain, and continued raining almost constantly for eight days together, which, if it had been before the surrender of the city, would have filled our trenches with water, have stopped all business, and extremely incommoded and distressed the army (who were very ill-provided with tents, and very many of them at that time sick), and must have confounded the whole affair.
Some of the French took notice of this, and said one to another, "If we had held out a little longer, we should have done well enough"; but others replied, "No; for if the English had continued in the siege, it would still have been fair weather." Thus the clouds and winds, and sun, moon and stars in their courses, from the beginning, fought for us.
While we were preparing in New England, for two months, was a constant series of good weather, in February and March, such as was never known at that time of year. And the winds and weather favored us in all our voyages, that were made about this affair; while God detained the army for three weeks at Canso, till the harbors at Cape Breton were cleared of ice; when good weather was not needed, then was a constant series of bad weather, but after they landed at Cape Breton, till the city surrendered, was again constant good weather; but as soon as they entered the city, and did not stand in need of good weather any longer, then they had no more of it.
This place, since it has fallen into our hands, has proved a snare to our enemies abroad; for they not knowing that it was taken, nor imagining that it could be taken, have resorted thither, as they used to do, with their wealth, from the East and West Indies; two East-India ships and one South-Sea man, immensely rich, besides several other vessels, have come there, into our mouths. And now we are freed from the
noise of the archers, or gunners, on board their ships of war, that infested us, and made havoc on our coasts the last year.
Thus, Sir I have given you a particular account of this affair, it being perhaps a dispensation of providence, the most remarkable in its kind, that has been in many ages, and a great evidence of God's being one that hears prayer; and that it is not a vain thing to trust in him; and an evidence of the being and providence of God, enough to convince any infidel; and a great argument with me, among other things, that we live in an age, wherein divine wonders are to be expected; and a dispensation wherein God has so apparently manifested himself, that it appears to me it ought not to be concealed, but to be declared in the world amongst his people, to his praise.
We have lately heard of the Pretender's eldest son5 his entering Scotland, and being joined there by a number of Highlanders. How far God may punish the nations of Great Britain by him, we cannot tell. We have not yet heard of the rebellion's being suppressed, but are ready to hope, by the aspect of affairs, from what we hear, that it is done before this time. It is a day of great commotion and tumult among the nations, and what the issue will be we know not: but it now becomes us, and the church of God everywhere, to cry to him, that he would overrule all for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, and the bringing on the expected peace and prosperity of Zion.
I desire, honored Sir, that you would favor me with some further accounts of the progress of religion in the north of Scotland, and in the Netherlands, and in general of the state of things on your side the world, relating to late revivals of religion. And please send me a particular account of things relating to the Concert for joint prayer, whether it be like to be upheld, how far it is spread, etc. And remember in your prayers, dear Sir,
