On the appointed day the men gathered in the church and heard the Mandate directing that all their property, excepting household goods and money, should be forfeited to the Crown and they with their families should be transported to other lands.

They were held prisoners until the time of sailing, the women and the children gathering their belongings on the beach.

The expected transports failed to arrive on time and fear of trouble led the English to hurry their prisoners aboard the few ships in the harbor.

These were so crowded nearly all the goods had to be left behind, and in the haste of embarking many families, lovers and friends were parted, being carried aboard different ships bound for different ports.
On October 29th, 1755, the Acadians sailed away into exile, an "exile without an end, and without an example in story." There is a considerable difference of opinion as to whether such extreme measures were justified.

The English Colonists evidently felt that it was a necessary act, an act of self-preservation.