| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - August 25 2004 : 07:54:03 AM
“Too Close To Home” (Part One) By Sgt. Munro
Fort Bedford, Pennsylvania Colony
24 March 1764 / 2320 Hours
Sitting in his office, the commandant of Fort Bedford, Captain Lewis Ourry of the 60th Royal American Regiment was trying to compose his thoughts to paper. So much had occurred the previous day, and he needed to follow-up on his hastily scribed note to Colonel Bouquet. He thought to himself, “God help us! Captain Schloss was correct, it was happening all over again!” Taking another drink of Madeira, he dipped his quill and started…
Fort Bedford March ye 24th 1764
Dear Sir,
Last Night I wrote you in a hurry by a Pack Horse Man going down; And gave you an Account of an Express being pursued by five Indians; which Same Party, /I believe/ has this Evening killed & Scalped a Man of this Town, /George Dobson/ between Bedford Bridge & Croghan’s Place /upon the very Spot where I met you last Summer with the Convoy/
On being informed that Some Shot had been heard, I immediately Sent out Ens Hutchins with 20 Men, who Soon brought in the Dead Body Shot through the Breast. They found a Death Hammer lying near his Head. As it was Dusk…
…The preceding day, east of Fort Bedford on the Forbes Road:
Just after noontime meal, the men of Graham’s Company continued their march toward Fort Bedford, with traders and prisoners in tow. The gentle rain that had plagued them all morning finally abated, and the sun made its appearance to warm the marching soldiers. This made the men extra watchful, since now the surrounding foliage was wet enough to mask the approach of any enemy. Captain Graham ordered a halt, just before two o’clock, so that the men could rest and inspect their cartridge boxes to insure that the ammunition within was dry and serviceable.
After the checks were completed, Sergeant Munro reported to Ensign MacMillan, “Sir, the ammunition has been inspected and redistributed. Each man now has fourteen rounds ball cartridge for their muskets, in addition to eight rounds loose ball and powder for their pistols. Canteens have been refilled, equipment checked, and there are no additional casualties.”
“Very good, Sergeant, carry on.” Ensign MacMillan then turned to Captain Graham and asked, “How long till we arrive at Fort Bedford, sir?”
“I estimate our arrival to be no later than five o’clock, Mister MacMillan.” Captain Graham then said, “Let’s get the men moving again.”
…Two hours later, a dispatch rider is trying hard to reach Fort Bedford:
Civilian Dispatch Rider Caleb Kennedy was pushing his horse, ‘Ahab’, as hard as the old gelding could run. Both his fowler and pistol were empty, and he dare not slow to reload. Arriving at the fort, fifty minutes after the first shot was fired, both rider and horse collapsed as they entered the gate. Sergeant Boehm summoned the orderly officer, who in turn alerted the garrison.
The five Mingoes had given up on the pursuit, and were once again following the road eastward, in search of easier prey. They decided to turn northward, and once again west, in order to avoid a large group of soldiers who were escorting some traders, marching toward the fort.
“Did you hear something?” Ensign MacMillan asked, as Captain Graham halted and scanned the tree line bordering the road.
“I do not know… for certain.” Graham replied, as he strained to listen. After a few minutes, he said, “It was probably nothing, let us move on.”
The men of Graham’s Company arrived at Fort Bedford, roughly on schedule. They were looking forward to an evening of down time, but that would have to wait. Once they stowed their field gear, and replenished their cartridge boxes, they were detailed to augment the alerted garrison.
“Bluidy hell, Ian, do you think that they could spare us some dinner?” Corporal MacLean asked.
“I don’t know about you, Gordon, but I am not that hungry right now. I woul |
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