| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - January 26 2004 : 10:30:18 AM
“Monongahela Patrol” by Sgt. Munro
Fort Pitt, The Ohio Country – 01 November 1763 /0600 Hours
The Second floor of MacKenzie Barracks was a bustle of activity this morning. Corporal MacIntyre, playing the role of ‘mother hen’ to his squad, had his hands full making sure that his men were prepared for this ten day patrol. Three days fresh rations were cooked and stowed in each mans haversack, and an additional seven days worth of dried beef, parched corn and ‘soldiers bread’ (hardtack) was carried within their knapsacks. Ian was also able to induce, some say threaten, the fort’s quartermaster into issuing additional new blankets to his squad members.
Ensign MacMillan had procured shot bags and powder horns for issue to the company. This would augment the eighteen rounds ball cartridge already carried by each man with an additional thirty rounds loose ball and powder. Fergus reasoned that the men could ‘load loose’ for patrol/foraging, thus allowing the pieces to be pulled and cleaned each evening, while reserving the ball cartridges for emergency combat use. MacMillan also procured Light Infantry Pattern Axes, to be carried in lieu of the more cumbersome broadsword. Both of these new issue items would prove most useful for the current assignment.
Sergeant Munro was at work in the company arms room, seeing that each man of MacIntyre’s Squad marked the sign-out log before drawing their firelock muskets and pistols. Pilferage of the King’s Arms has been something of a problem at Fort Pitt; usually the missing weapons absconded in the hands of deserters. Most of the deserters of late were men from Captain Eucyer’s Company of the 60th Royal American Regiment, but the missing weapons were from all over the post. This is why Captain Graham ordered that all firearms in barracks be secured, when not in use, in an arms room located across the hall from Sergeant Munro’s quarters, and that keys to said room were to be carried by the captain, ensign and sergeant only. So far, this system has worked, for none of the arms of Graham’s Company have yet to be ‘misappropriated’.
Once the last of the men were issued their firearms, Sergeant Munro signed out one of the two Land Service Blunderbusses, an eighteenth century combat shotgun, issued to the company for use primarily as a night sentry weapon. Once the room was secured, Duncan entered his quarters, in order to finish getting his own gear together. During this time, he tucked a small packet, secured with a string of wampum, into the pocket of his regimental coat, and said a quick prayer for the success of his plan.
“Corporal MacIntyre, have your squad assemble in front of the barracks immediately.”
Duncan knew by the Ensign’s announcement that the time has come, and now he must place his own life at risk in order to save the lives of his Shawnee family. He was very well aware that if his plan was discovered, even his captain could not save him from the firing squad. Treason is still treason, regardless of the motives, and giving word of an impending attack to the enemy, most certainly qualifies. Duncan finished securing his kit and weapons, and then exited to join the squad outside.
“Men, I cannot go into all aspects of our present tasking.” Duncan hesitated, “You will be briefed on the march, as you are required to know.”
Sergeant Munro quickly scanned the assembled soldiers, not one facial expression but that of trust, was to be found among them. What he was about to do today was violate that trust; and if his packet fell into the wrong hands, put them all at risk.
The packet itself was not written ‘in the open’, it was written in Spanish and used allegory to convey the message. Not many English Officers or Ohio Country Natives were fluent in Spanish, unlike French or English. However, the threat still exists that the wrong person could understand its contents. The string of wampum securing the packet was the sign |
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