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September 3, 1812-Journal of Lt. John LeCouteur-Fort Erie

Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:04 pm
by pud
"I left St. John on of the 3rd of September very grateful for much kind hospitality. The Gun boat, under the command of a provincial officer, was the slowest conveyance that could be imagined. We were four whole days getting up, against the Stream it is true, where our Can you had been paddled down by ourselves in Two!
On our passage up we paid a visit to General Coffin, a fine old Veteran who owns a large estate on the Lake shore. He was noble in his hospitality and as the wind was foul, or we fancied it so, we staid to dinner and slept at his house. He would have detained us for a week if we had yielded.
His daughter Sophie is a splendid girl. She and her Father were crossing the Lake one morning when a great Bear attack to them, and would have swamped the boat if Sophie had not stood by the General with discretion and courage. For, while the General was battering Bruin with the But end of an oar, Sophie pushed the point of the boat hook into his Eye which made Bruin scratch it and retreat. If I had been a rich Captain I should certainly have tried to captivate, if not capture, such a brave girl!"