All Forums  BUMPPIN' 'ROUND BUMPPO'S  In The Tavern ... Wenches, Wahoos, and Girty!  Blue Bonnets O'er The Border - 06 March 1764

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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]“Blue Bonnets O’er The Border” By Sgt. Munro Fort Dewart, Pennsylvania Colony 06 March 1764 / 1810 Hours[/b] With the small arms ammunition delivered to Fort Ligonier, and a week of instructing the garrison of its patrol duties, the men of Graham’s Company continued their patrol eastward. This evening found them near the crest of the Allegheny Mountains, at the cantonment redoubt known as Fort Dewart. As the men were erecting their tents, Ensign MacMillan and Captain Graham returned from hunting with some fresh meat for the camp kettles. “Leave it to some ‘cearnch derg’ (Translation: [i]‘Red Soldier’, Gaelic derogatory term of address for any non-highland British Soldier[/i]) to call four dirt walls on top of a wooded mountain a fort.” Private Stewart grunted as he drove the last of the tent stakes into the hard ground. “Aye Charles, they are a strange lot.” Private MacDonald the Elder replied, as he erected the upright poles within the tent. “Aye lads, but they are damned entertaining at times. Are they not?” Private McKendrick said as he stacked more firewood. “Hector, are ye ready with that wood?” Private MacDonald the Younger called from over at the crude stone bread oven. “I’ll be right over your lairdship.” Private McKendrick chided his messmate. “At least it has the right name.” Corporal MacLean added, in reference to the Clan MacLean’s ancestral home of Duart Castle in Scotland. Corporal MacIntyre then said, “Ah… Gordon, it is spelled D-E-W-A-R-T, lad.” “Thank you Ian, you really know how to make someone feel special.” MacLean replied as he finished with the corporal’s tent. “All right lads, the evening guard schedule is posted.” Sergeant Munro announced, “I do not want any man standing watch for more than one hour. First rotation begins immediately.” With that, the men finished their company street within the redoubt and settled down to evening meal. Afterwards, Sergeant Munro and Corporal MacIntyre filled their pipes and drew their pint of spruce ale. They then walked over and taken a seat on top of the eastern wall of the redoubt. This was a time of day that both men enjoyed, a time of camaraderie and reflection. Sergeant Munro started the conversation, “Ian, ‘tis hard to believe that we have been in His Majesty’s Colonies for almost eight years now.” “Aye Duncan, I still remember Ireland like it was yesterday.” Ian replied. “Ireland…” Duncan said whimsically, “Aye, those were fine times old friend.” Ian smoked his pipe a bit, and said, “I remember the day I first arrived to the regiment. You were a newly promoted corporal, and my squad leader.” “1749…” Duncan said, “Macroom Barracks in County Cork.” “Aye Duncan, the same year you lost your Uncle John… I mean Colonel Munro, and met Eliza.” Ian paused to re-light his pipe, “When I first arrived to the company, word of my ‘previous service’ had spread throughout the regiment, and you were the only warrant man who would talk to me.” “I was the junior corporal, and nobody else wanted you Ian.” Duncan said with a mischievous grin. Continuing, Duncan added, “The previous uprisings, like the ’15, always made folks choose sides. The ’45 was different, there you had highlanders killing their own in large numbers, and such animosities do not die easily.” “I always wanted to thank you for giving me a chance, Duncan.” Ian started, “I am not ashamed of the choices I have made, but I am honored to be wearing the red coat because of you.” Duncan tamped his pipe and said, “Ian, the Munroes and MacIntyres have been serving alongside of each other for many generations. Going as far back as mercenary service in the Thirty Years War, and beyond.” Duncan then paused to re-light his own pipe, and continued with, “Before I even knew you personally, I was honor-bound by my own clan to reach out to any MacIntyre.” “Aye Duncan, but it was during the English Civil War that our families had their fines [/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.