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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Videos: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message Icon:                             Message: Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by SgtMunro[/i] [br][b]“Saying Goodbye To A Friend” by Sgt. Munro[/b] [b]Fort Burd, The Ohio Country[/b] [b]07 November 1763 / 1330 Hours[/b] [i]The last four days march was interspersed with periods of rain, snow and sleet. This day, the sun was allowed to penetrate the gray overcast and somewhat ease the discomfort of the patrol. Two hours past lunch found them at the terminus of the western spur from the Braddock Military Road, the protective walls of Fort Burd were just ahead. The sentry at the main gate, a private of the 60th Royal American Regiment of Foote, was somewhat disheveled in appearance, and he looked as if he was leaning on his firelock rather than being ‘at the order’. The sentry could not even be bothered with bringing his firelock to his shoulder, the proper salutation when a sergeant approaches; instead he just nodded and waved the patrol through the sally port. This show of un-soldier like conduct was more than Sergeant Munro could bear; he ordered a halt and turned to address the sentry. “Private, were you not instructed on the duties, and proper conduct of a sentry at his post?” “I know my duties well enough.” The private responded, in an uninterested tone of voice. Sergeant Munro was about to explode; this was just too much insult after such a grueling march. Corporal MacIntyre, knowing his sergeant very well, hurriedly reminded him of the importance of getting the men billeted and fed. Munro chose to ignore the slovenly soldier, for the time being, and ordered his men to continue into the fort. Turning to his corporal, Sergeant Munro said, “Ian, they can dress them as soldiers, provide them with the King’s Arms, Ration and Bounty, but they still behave as if they are peasants with pitchforks.” The Lieutenant then stated, “Sergeant, I am going to secure my prisoner in the post gaol. I will then report to the post commander and get quarters for your men, I will also announce that you await him with dispatches.” “Aye sir.” With a salute, Sergeant Munro then turned to his men, “Stand easy lads and take refreshment.” A short while later; a serious looking soldier, the first that Duncan had seen at this fort, approached him. “Gentlemen, I am Sergeant Günter Boehm of Captain Schloser’s Company, 60th Royal Americans Regiment and I am at your service.” He said, with a very heavy German accent and snapping to attention. Sergeant Munro replied, “It is an pleasure to meet you Sergeant Boehm, I am Sergeant Duncan Munro of Captain Graham’s Company, 42nd Royal Highland Regiment; my men require dry quarters and a hot meal.” Looking over to MacLeod’s body, he added, “We also require entrenching tools and permission to intern our friend in the post cemetery.” “Ja, you have my sympathies sergeant, and you shall also have my full cooperation.” Sergeant Boehm finished with, “Your requests shall be carried out immediately, I shall show your men to their barracks and you are to report to the commandant with your dispatches.” “Thank you Sergeant Boehm.” Munro then turned to MacIntyre, “Corporal, see to the men, I shall join you after a while.” The commandant of the fort, Lieutenant Peregrine Wilkes, was not at all pleased with his current assignment. Banished to this remote corner of His Majesty’s Colonies, with a command that was best described as half lame, half drunk and all mutinous. His only confidant in this colonial backwater was Sergeant Boehm, a kindred spirit of professionalism. The current compliment under his command numbered twenty. Fifteen men, from his own company of the 60th Royal American Regiment, and a five-man detachment from the Royal Artillery. Lieutenant Wilkes military career started well enough, gazetted in 1757 as an ensign in the 8th Regiment of Foote. It was the same regiment in which all of his family has served in one capacity or another, since 1685. His father had died at Culloden, while serving as a lieutenant in a battalion company of [/quote]    Upload an Image File From Your PC For Insertion in Your Post    -  HTML is OFF | Forum Code is ON   Check here to include your profile signature. Check here to subscribe to this topic.