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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| 42ndNCO |
Posted - January 17 2004 : 9:02:09 PM
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Note: The story below reflects a modern hunt placed in the eighteenth century. The actors and situations are real, just "out-of-time".
The week prior I had entreated upon my Captain, one Thos. Graham, to give leave of me for one week's time to hunt a bear. I was told that the tribute for my leave, if successful, would be the pelt, for the use in regimental bonnets*. If unsuccessful, the Cap't. would determine an additional duty. Departed the fort Nov 21. Stayed at the home of a gracious Christian family, the McDenehy's near Shade's town.
Nov, 23 1764 -- Arrived at our encampement, an abandoned log-hewn structure, some 40 miles west of Raystown in the early evening just before dark. In attendance were one Patrick Cooper, a provincial of Irish descent and questionable occupation and his wife's father, one Joseph McSamuels. Along with myself, Cpl. Fergus Mcmillan, clerk of Graham's Company, 1/42 Royal Highland Regiment, we had agreed to congregate west of the fort at Raystown where travelers had told us of plentiful bear there.
Nov, 24 1764 -- The weather was fair, but we have come to expect sudden changes in this area. Mr. McSamuels elected to stay behind and promised us a good meal upon our return in the evening. We departed afor' dawn armed with muskets. Mr. Cooper carried with him a tomahawk and I my Backsword We arrived after an hour or so atop a ridge with a good view of a creek bottom. Mr. Cooper settled himself against a large stump and I about 150 yards hence, against a large rock. We then committed ourselves to the resign of hunters since pre-history-- waiting.
Presently we heard a shot fired behind our position. As we had not met with any other parties and knew of none, I shifted slightly so as not to have my back exposed to anyone who would do us harm. Despite the treaty of 1763, prohibiting European settlement west of the Alleghenies, it was commonly known that many were venturing over the mountains to claim lands between Cumberland and the Ohio. Therefore, neither disaffected savages nor trespassing provincials would probably look upon my companion and I with much favor. I also doubted that the status of my regimental (coat) would carry much authority this far from an outpost despite any future consequences which would surely result from my failure to return from leave.
Soon after the gunshot, I heard the crisp of leaves and faint voices. I pulled my blade slightly from its scabbard and shifted my musket around towards the visitors. A man and an older boy were making their way up the narrow trail behind my position down over the hill from the large rock. After they passed by several yards I called out to them.
Startled, they both turn'd round. I asked them what they were doing here and they replied they were hunting as were we. We spoke for a moment. I reminded them of the treaty and bade them well on their hunt. During our conversation, I was pleased to see Mr. Cooper secret himself behind a large oak, placing our unknown conversants between he and I, should trouble have arisen. Cooper nodded towards the men as they went by.
...more to come!
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| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| 42ndNCO |
Posted - January 31 2004 : 07:42:15 AM
...continued....
We returned to our positions. Presently I heard a dove call from Mr. Cooper that something else was coming down the trail. I watched as four doe wandered down the ravine, led by their patriarch. He appeared to carry 8 points atop his roan-colored head, but as we were hunting bear, I let him pass. Recent rations at Raystown have included much venison and while Penn's woods has plenty in this regard, it lacks in variety. I longed many times for the fish and beef of New York or the clams I gathered as a youth on the banks of the ocean back home. It was lunch by this time and Mr. Cooper and I dined on the afore-mentioned jerked venison, Dutch rye bread and some dried berries.
We decided to move across the hill to gain a better view of the valley below. We observed track and bear sign, but naught of the originators. We placed our selves above a laurel thicket and again settled to wait.
Suddenly, a crashing occurred and I observed a dark shape loping out of the forest. I settled my bayonet lug on his shoulder and pulled the trigger. The King's arm echoed across the valley and smoke rose from the musket's muzzle. Not waiting for the haze to clear, I began running forward down the hill and through an opening in the vinery. As I ran, I began reloading my firelock on the move as I had seen provincial lads do. One of a family named Wells had shared with me a tale of his brother killing 3 Mingoes in this manner while being chased by the same-- but that will be a tale for another day.
Into the opening, I saw a heavy laying of brush, but no bear. Mr. Cooper arrived from the opposite side of the clearing and suggested we attempt locating a blood stain in order to track him. After about 10 minutes of searching, we located a fist-sized red patch astride a path returning up the other side of th'ravine from whence we had come. We checked our musket primes and began ascent of the hill. We observed several more traces of blood and a track or two, but it looked as though the hunted had evaded the hunters for now….
As it was growing dark, and as we had not found our quarry, I suggested we camp overnight in the shelter of a large oak, located near a spring part-ways up the hill. We re-filled our canteens and Mr. Cooper began gathering firewood whilst I cleared an area for a lean-to shelter and prepared a fire. When Mr. Cooper returned with an armload of wood, he commenced to cutting down several young saplings with his 'hawk, while I placed water near the fire to boil. We lashed the boles to a large overhang of the oak and began to fill in the gaps of our humble structure with cut grapevines and moss found nearby.
With the back of the lean-to facing towards the fire which was situated against a large rock, we were quite comfortable in our repose. We dined on jerked venison, black bread and parched boiled corn. I shared with my companion a bit of rum I had saved from my daily rations and hidden away in my father's ancient flask. Thus refreshed, we talked for a bit before I volunteered first watch.
Nov. 25, 1764 -- The night passed uneventfully as Mr. Cooper and myself took several turns at watch through the night. Dawn's gray haze saw large flakes of snow float to the ground as the air had got considerab'l colder o'er the night. Our goal was to continue tracking our furr'd quarry, but we both expected nothing from the pursuit as we did not perceive his wounds to be mortal. As we climbed the mountain, the snow began to cover the ground, obscuring any blood trail from our view. I only wished to crest the top of the peak and survey for another site in which to wait for another bear. This we did presently and decided to separate as before and descend the hill part ways to assess our fortunes.
I had descended the slope several hundred yards when I heard a most desperate cry from my hunting partner. Moving quickly over the slippery wooded hill, I hear |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - January 18 2004 : 11:29:10 AM
Excellent start, Ensign Sir, just what were those colonials doing on the King's Land without proper pass. Now that you have got my attention, please continue....
Your Most Humble Servant,
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| Highlander |
Posted - January 18 2004 : 05:07:27 AM
Great Story! I look forward to many more. |
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