| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - February 04 2004 : 1:37:17 PM
“Rangers, Lead The Way!” by Sgt. Munro
Fort Pitt, The Ohio Country
14 November 1763 / 0815 Hours
Three days after the arrival of Fort Pitt’s newest ‘guest’, two canoes arrived from up the Allegheny River. The craft pulled up to the boat launch near the King’s Garden Wood Redoubt, and twelve soldiers in green uniforms exited. Once formed up, the section marched up to the East Ravelin where the sentry directed them to the duty officer.
This morning Captain Thomas Graham of Duchray, 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, was busy trying to compose a letter to Private MacLeod’s parents. His mentor, Sir Robert Munro, once told him that one never truly gets familiar with this aspect of an officer’s duty. “God, how the blessed old man was right” Thomas thought to himself. His reminiscing was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Wondering who could have business with the duty officer, now that the morning guard had been turned out, he answered “Enter”.
A tall man; who wore a uniform of green, brown marching gaiters and a jacked leather light infantry cap emblazed with the motto ‘Per Sylvas’ (Translated, “By Way of the Woods”), cut an impressive figure as he approached the captain’s desk. He halted, and handed his dispatch case to Captain Graham.
“Sir, Sergeant Thomas Thacher, Queen’s Royal American Rangers.”
Captain Graham returned the ranger sergeant’s salute, and said, “Take your ease, Sergeant Thacher. What news of the communication between here and Fort Niagara?”
“Sir, we departed Fort Niagara on the 2nd of November, we traveled the standard military convoy route in two of the King’s Canoes. We arrived at Fort Presque Isle on the 9th, and confirmed Lieutenant Cuyler’s earlier report that it had been destroyed. We then transported our canoes, via the corduroy portage road, to the headwater of French Creek and found that Fort LeBoeuf had met a similar fate. Continuing down French Creek, toward its junction with the Allegheny River, we came upon Fort Venango.” The ranger sergeant paused, as if he was trying to compose what he witnessed into a logical report, “Sir, what we found at Fort Venango… Sir, I was quite aware of the reports, but it did not prepare my men for what we found there. The bodies, now decomposed after so many months, were quite gruesome indeed. What they did to Lieutenant Gordon… sir, I am not new to the horrors of war and I have taken part in many campaigns, but this is beyond what people should have to endure. We were obliged to give all of their remains a proper Christian Burial.”
“Go on with your report, Sergeant Thacher.”
“Yes sir, from Fort Venango we continued down the Allegheny River and intercepted a war party near Buffalo Creek. I realize that direct combat action was not part of my orders, sir, but I believed that if we did not engage them at that time, they would have most certainly staged an ambuscade for our return voyage.”
“Understandable sergeant, I would have arrived at the same conclusions.” The captain finished reading the dispatches, and said “Sergeant Thacher, you and your men are to rest here today, your escort detail shall be ready for transport in the morning.” Placing the dispatches back inside of the case, “I shall see that these are taken to Colonel Bouquet, personally. Take your men to MacKenzie Barracks, there are adequate billets there for them.” Then, handing the ranger sergeant a folded document, “Give these instructions to Sergeant Munro, he will see that your men get food and bedding.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“That is all, sergeant” Captain Graham returned the ranger sergeant’s salute.
Captain Graham exited the Duty Officer’s House, directly behind Sergeant Thacher, and walked toward the Post Commandant’s Quarters. Entering, he approached the colonel’s secretary and said, “Lieutenant, notify Colonel Bouquet that I bear dispatches from Fort Niagara.” Watching the lieutenant hurry through the inn |
|
![The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]](images/wwwboard.gif "The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]")
