anchored there. The people of Falmouth had mixed reactions to the presence of the British fleet. Some recognized the Canceaux and believed that there was no danger, but militia members remembered Thompson's War and were more suspicious. The next day was windless, so Mowat kedged the ships into the inner harbor and anchored them near the town. He sent one of his lieutenants ashore with a proclamation stating that he was there to "execute a just punishment" due to the inhabitants being "guilty of the most unpardonable Rebellion". He gave the townspeople two hours to evacuate. As soon as they received this ultimatum, the townspeople sent a deputation to plead with Mowat for mercy. He promised to withhold fire if the town swore an oath of allegiance to King George and surrendered all their small arms and powder, along with their gun carriages. In response, the people of Falmouth began to move out of the town. No oaths were sworn; a small number of muskets were surrendered, but no gun carriages. Attack Mowat had set a deadline of 9 am on October 18 for the town's response. By 9:40, the town appeared to be deserted, so he ran a red flag up the Canceaux masthead and ordered the fleet to begin firing. Incendiary cannonballs set fire to the harbor installations and most of the town's houses and public buildings. One witness reported: The firing began from all the vessels with all possible briskness, discharging on all parts of the town… a horrible shower of balls from three to nine pounds weight, bombs, carcasses, live shells, grapeshot and musketballs.… The firing lasted, with little cessation, until six o'clock. When the bombardment appeared inadequate to Mowat, he sent a landing party to set fire to any buildings that had survived. The town militia offered little significant resistance, as most were helping their families to safety. In spite of this, some of the landed British marines were killed or wounded. By evening, according to Mowat, "the body of the town was in one flame". Mowat's bombardment of the town lasted for nine hours in which 3000 projectiles, or one every eleven seconds, was fired at Falmouth. Aftermath Following the bombardment, Mowat went on to Boothbay where he set fire to a few houses and raided for livestock, but his expedition was faltering to an end. The decks of some of his ships had