| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - January 23 2004 : 5:55:28 PM
“Guard Mount and the Morning Report” by Sgt. Munro
Fort Pitt, The Ohio Country – 31 October 1763 / 0400 Hours
(Author’s Note: This is a minor detour from the main story, meant to introduce some of the characters of the story to the reader)
As Sergeant Munro stepped from the warmth of the barracks, the autumn chill greeted him like a bayonet through the midsection (a sensation that he was quite familiar with). It was still dark; the sparsely set post lanterns, kept lit through the night by the roving provost patrol, poorly illuminated the parade ground in front of the barracks. In front of him stood the men of Number One Section, Graham’s Company of the 42nd Royal Highlanders. Corporal MacIntyre greeted his sergeant at the ‘recover arms’, after salutation was returned, Duncan told his corporal to take his post in the formation.
A cursory glance revealed that the men had turned out in the proper uniform-of-the-day; regimental and waistcoat, belted plaid (aka-the great kilt), caddis hose, polished uniform shoes, bonnet and a white linen ‘roller’ worn cravat-style completed the authorized formal guard uniform. They were also formidably armed as well; Land Pattern Firelock, bayonet and cartridge box containing eighteen rounds ball cartridge worn on a waist belt, a gunmetal stocked ‘dag’ or pistol worn on a leather shoulder strap and a basket hilt broadsword carried on a wide leather shoulder belt ensured that these were some of the most heavily armed men at the fort. Sporrans and dirks were also worn, but varied in size and style, since both of these are authorized non-issued items.
“Good morning, men” Duncan started, “As soon as Ensign MacMillan arrives, we shall receive word of our day’s tasking.”
“Section! Take Care! Prepare for inspection” Corporal MacIntyre barked.
“Section will port their firelocks for inspection. Inspection, arms!” the sergeant bellowed.
In unison, the men brought their firelocks from the shoulder, positioning them at a 45 degree incline a crossed the chest, this was followed by the metallic “click” of all the hammers (‘frizzen’ to you 21st century types) snapping open simultaneously. Every movement performed with ‘parade ground’ precision, Duncan was rightfully proud of his men; in his opinion they had no equal, they were simply the best in the regiment. Such comments were usually reserved for the grenadier company of any given regiment, but time and time again this battalion company had shown it’s courage and professionalism to be at least on par, but usually greater than, the 42nd’s ‘tow-row-row’ boys. As if a switch was turned on, Duncan then became Sergeant Duncan Munro ‘Soldier of the King’. Executing his turns, ‘at the square’, he began his inspection of the troops. They were all good men, experienced soldiers, and with the respect earned of such people, there was always room for a little good-natured chiding.
“Good morning, Corporal”, Duncan said as he inspected MacIntyre’s firelock.
Corporal Ian “Ian Mohr” MacIntyre, was truly a big man. One of the tallest in the company, he along with Ensign MacMillan and Private MacIntosh, are jokingly referred to as “Graham’s Grenadiers”. Sergeant Munro, at six feet in height, is no small man either, but even he is dwarfed when in the company of these three. Ian enlisted in the 42nd in 1747, a man of good education who was a private tutor prior to his soldiering. His reasons for ‘taking the shilling’ are manifold and somewhat complex.
It was rumored that his father forced him to enlist, as a condition of paying his somewhat immense debts to the local gaming parlors and ‘stewhouses’. Another rumor, and one not so kind, was that he was a former Jacobite who had fought at Culloden, and that his father, who is a staunch loyalist, made him enlist as a penance for his ‘sins’. His gaming, dueling and womanizing reputation, gained him great respect amongst his new peers, the Jacobite rumors |
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