196 The French in Prince Edward Island

scalps were not taken by the Acadians of Isle Saint Jean but by the Indians. The only Acadian from Isle Saint Jean who can be definitely connected with the Indians in their scalping raids was Gauthier whose exploits are commended in the journals of both The Formidable and The Inflexible. The Chevalier Barbier de Lescoet, Second Captain of The For- midable says, September 22, 1757: “Last evening, the Acadian Gautier, and 4 Indians who had left on the 1st of the month for Halifax, returned... . The object of the party was to capture prisoners, but they did not succeed in doing so; they only killed two men whom they scalped.”*’ The diarist of The In- flexible says: ““A man named Gauthier, resident of Louisburg, a sworn enemy of the English, did not neglect to tell us what was going on in their ports, although 60 leagues distant. Our general detailed him on several occasions to go there with some In- dians, who never returned without bringing scalps and prisoners, secured even at the foot of the ram- parts, and I must say that Gauthier received a well deserved reward from the general.’*

Apart from Gauthier, the Indians of Isle Saint Jean joined with their brothers of the mainland in many scalping raids that were applauded by de Vaudreuil in a letter to the Minister dated August 6,

7 Can. Arch. Report, 1905, Vol. I, Part VII, p. 8.

8 [bid., Part VIII, p. 6. This Gauthier was a son of Nicolas Gautier and moved about from Isle Saint Jean to Louisburg. He with his father was familiar with all parts of Acadia. After

being transported to France he and his brother fitted out priva- teers for preying upon English commerce,