Details
Although Dominique is a character in the novel who determines events, it is Bateese who is first introduced to the reader although not by name. Bateese is heard singing by John à Cleeve on the morning of 7July, 1758, shortly before the battle for Fort Carillon (Chapter I). The impression is that he was acting as a guide to Langy’s Rangers. He appears in Chapter IV as ‘Chameau’ or Camel, a nickname given to him by Sergeant Barboux on account of his bent back. He is the bowman of the canoe conveying John à Cleeve, two wounded highlanders and two Indians from Fort Carillon to Montreal (Chapter IV).
Bateese is an innocent who is humane to the point of being unable to kill animals. Yet he is the cause of two deaths through persuading Sergeant Barboux to take an Indian track from the Richelieu to the St. Lawrence rivers in the face of wiser councils by Menehwehna (Chapter VI). Following an encounter with Iroquois Indians, the party separates, with Bateese and McQuarters returning to the Richelieu and proceeding to Montreal via Sorel (Chapter XVI). Subsequently, he explains his own escape and provides information about the death of M. Armand (Chapters XI and XVI). Then under orders from Diane he arranges for the escape of John à Cleeve and Menehwehna from Fort Carillon (Chapter XVI).
Towards the end of the novel the world of Dominique and Bateese Guyon falls to pieces. The British advance on Fort Amity, Diane gives Dominique a final refusal, Boisveyrac is occupied and Montreal stands exposed. New France is in its death throes. With the surrender of Fort Amitié, M. Etienne offers General Amherst the services of Dominique and Bateese as pilots for his advance on Montreal (Chapter XXIV). Parkman informs us that to obtain pilots was one of the reasons why Amherst invested the fort (1884, p. 370). On 1 September, Dominique and Bateese guide the flotilla as far as Boisveyrac, where John à Cleeve is recognised by Diane and their love by Dominique. Dominique realises that everything has been lost.
Of the two leading boats on the St. Lawrence River, carrying the British to Montreal, the first is occupied by Dominique while the second is occupied by Bateese, M. Etienne, Diane and John à Cleeve disguised as an Indian. As they approach the Roches Fendues Bateese strikes up the song previously heard by John à Cleeve, two years before, in the British camp outside Fort Carillon (Chapters I and XXV). The two lead boats make for the left channel, with the intention of ensuring the destruction of the British force in the rapids. John à Cleeve takes the tiller from Bateese and steers to the right, thus saving some of the following boats from destruction. According to Parkman 46 boats were lost on the Grand Bouilli on 5 September, 1760 (1884, p. 371).
The last reference to the brothers comes in Chapter XXVI. We are given the tragic picture of Bateese looking for the body of his brother along the banks of the St. Lawrence River below the camp of the 17th Regiment of Foot, Richard Montgomery’s regiment. No scene shows more poignantly the pity and tragedy of war.