| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - May 11 2004 : 8:53:48 PM
“Forbes Road Patrol” By Sgt. Munro
Fort Pitt, The Ohio Country
23 February 1764 / 0620 Hours
With the safe departure of Lieutenant Patarcity and his rangers, things at Fort Pitt seemed to be settling back into the regular routine. The repair and maintenance of the fortifications occupied a good part of the garrison’s time. The completion of the last of a series of blockhouses that ring the outer-works was marked with a dedication ceremony that included the installation of a commemorative sundial and the unveiling of a stone tablet set into the redoubt’s masonry over the door, on which was inscribed ‘A.D. 1764 Coll. Bouquet’. Also, with the ‘regular routine’, came the scheduled patrols and inspections of the two military roads servicing Fort Pitt.
Captain Graham’s Company drew the duty for the Forbes Military Road Patrol, the longer of the two details. The patrol would start at Fort Pitt, and continue east toward Fort Ligonier. After a short stay at that fort, where the company would assist the garrison with area patrols while the officers assisted with administrative matters, the company would then continue to Fort Bedford.
Once at Fort Bedford, the company is to stay in garrison for a period of two weeks, where area patrols as far as the abandoned fort at Juniata Crossing would be performed. During this time, they were also to take ‘onto strength’ the additional eight private soldiers as replacements. After the required time at Fort Bedford was complete, the company would march due west back to Fort Pitt. If all went well, the men could expect to be back in their own billets by mid-April.
Captain Graham looked at Ensign MacMillan and said, “They look ready Fergus, lead them out.”
“Aye sir.” Ensign MacMillan replied, and then addressed the men, “From line into column of twos, by the right, by the right-wheel…march!”
Captain Graham and Ensign MacMillan led the company, with Corporals MacIntyre and MacLean directly behind them. The twenty remaining private soldiers of Graham’s Company followed the corporals. Behind the main body marched Drummer Stewart and Private MacIntosh, the company bagpiper. Sergeant Munro assumed his place to the rear of the main body, where he could watch for stragglers and monitor the packhorse team following the soldiers.
As the rising sun was starting to warm their faces; Captain Graham ordered the drummer and bagpiper to play ‘Hill of Perth’, the unofficial march of Graham’s Company. It was an unusually warm February day, and the men could feel that spring was soon to arrive.
…At Fort Augusta on the Susquehanna River, another man also noted the weather:
From the River Bastion, Captain Michael Schloss, commander of the First Company (Burd's Own) of the 3rd Battalion of the Pennsylvania Provincial Regiment, also known as 'The Augusta Regiment', was watching with disgust as the last of the ice on the Susquehanna River broke up. He also knew that spring would be here soon; and with it came the raiding parties, leaving death and burnt remains in their wake. His steely blue eyes focused on the northwest, where the trouble always seems to come from.
"Mein Captain!" Shouted Corporal Dammer, "A distressed woman is at the
gate!"
"Gott in Himmel!" The Captain muttered to himself, as he descended the
ladder. Crossing the parade ground, he met the disheveled woman inside of the sally port, tipping his hat as he bowed slightly in greeting.
"Herr Schloss, I am Frau Oberst." She said, barely catching her breath. Continuing her story, "My husband's farm is five miles upriver near Bull Run... we were attacked by savages, Herr Oberst... my husband... is dead, and they stole my daughter!"
Turning to Corporal Dammer, the Captain said, "Alert the Company! We
march immediately! Schnell!"
"Ja mein Captain!" Dammer answered with a sharp salute.
With that, the Captain took the arm of Frau Oberst and gently walked her |
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