SOME OLD FORTS BY THE SEA. 75 
more energetic element which presses upon them from all directions, and forces them out 
of their isolation. 
None of the French forts of Acadia has a more interesting history than that erected on 
the banks of the St. John River, by one of the most courageous “ gentlemen adventurers ” 
who ever sought to establish homes for themselves and families on this continent. As 
we review the incidents of the eventful career of Charles de St. Etienne, Seigneur de la 
Tour, we see him often a wanderer with the savages in the depths of the forest,—anon 
determinedly defending the French ports on the Atlantic coast and on the River St. John, 
anon arraying his retainers and battling for his rights like some old chief of feudal times. 
When Biencourt, Baron de Poutrincourt’s Son, died in 1623, he bequeathed to LaTour 
his rights in Port Royal, and nominated him as his successor. LaTour, however, for some 
reason or other, removed to Cape Sable, where he built a fort which he named St. Louis. 
Subsequently he deserted the fort at that point and moved to the entrance of the River St. 
John. A new fort was built under his directions during the year 1627, on the extreme 
end of a large point of land on the western side of the harbour. It was an earthwork of 
some eighty paces, diameter, with four bastions, on each side of which six large cannon 
were mounted. By this time the colonies of Virginia, New York and New England were 
making rapid headway, compared with the French settlements in Acadia. The indomitable 
commercial enterprise of the early British colonists was already bearing rich fruits through- 
out New England particularly. The total population of Quebec did not exceed 500 souls, 
and it was still a very insignificant place. The towns—or villages rather—next in impor- 
portance were Three Rivers and Tadousac, both of them extensive trading posts. In Nova 
Scotia, Port Royal and the St. John Fort were the only posts occupied by the French, 
while Cape Breton was inhabited by a few fishermen. 
The history of this fort, for many years, was the history of the feud between Charles 
de LaTour and Chevalier D’Aulnay Charnisay, both of whom claimed the same rights in 
Acadia, and fought out the dispute to the bitter end. Then LaTours wife appeared on 
the scene, and proved herself, all through that critical period in the history of the country, 
a fit helpmate for her husband; for she displayed an amount of courage and resolution of 
character of which we have few instances on record. She undertook important missions 
to England and Massachusetts, and did her husband good service ; but she will always be 
best remembered for her heroic defence of the fort on two occasions against D’Aulnay, 
who attacked it during his rival’s absence. On the first occasion, Madame LaTour rallied 
the defenders and succeeded in beating off the assailants. At a later time, however, 
D’Aulnay was successful, and Madame Latour was forced to agree to terms of capitulation. 
D'Aulnay then sullied his reputation by breaking his pledge in a most disgraceful manner, 
for he ordered all the garrison to be hanged—with the exception of one man, who acted 
as executioner—in the presence of the unfortunate lady, who was forced to stand by with 
a halter around her neck. These occurrences naturally broke the poor lady’s heart, for she 
died a few months later. 
LaTour LS a received a new commission from the King as governor of 
Acadia, ‘y—married the widow of his old rival, who was 
drowned in fhe Bay of andy ie during 1650. Then, Acadia having fallen into 
the possession of the English, in 1654, LaTour succeeded in obtaining from Cromwell a 
grant of considerable land, and retired from the fort. 

