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SgtMunro
Soldier of the King
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
September 23 2002
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 Posted - February 10 2004 : 08:44:39 AM
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“The Way Of The Warrior” by Sgt. Munro
Fort Pitt, The Ohio Country
11 December 1763 / 0730 Hours
The first winter snow arrived on the 1st of December and it made travel difficult; this was not good news to the men of the 77th Regiment who were destined for Carlisle Barracks. Orders for the reduction of the 77th Regiment/1st Highland Battalion of Montgomery’s were to be carried out, and the march was to be completed regardless of the weather. The men of the 77th faced one of three possible destinies; discharge and return to Scotland, discharge and acceptance of a land grant in His Majesty’s North American Colonies or transfer to the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment. Some of the men longed to see the skies of home and opted for transport, others decided to take the generous land grant, and some wished to continue ‘following the drum’ and transferred to the 42nd.
Sergeant Malcolm MacWilliam fell into the last group, for he was a soldier born and bred and knew no other trade. Returning to the ‘Forty-Twa’ was something of a homecoming for Malcolm, for it was where he started his soldiering career. Major Allen Campbell was ecstatic at having a veteran warrior like Sergeant MacWilliam return to the regiment. He immediately assigned him, with Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Graham’s blessing, to a sergeant’s billet in the regiment’s grenadier company. The 42nd’s Grenadier Company was a mere shadow of its former self, the grenadiers themselves had become complacent in their duties and standards.
Major Campbell warned Sergeant MacWilliam that his tasking might prove impossible. Malcolm, who was never shy about accepting a challenge, replied with “Sir, the impossible, is the duty of a grenadier. Miracles just take a wee bit longer to accomplish.” With that, Major Campbell knew he had the right man for the job.
Major Campbell advised the Grenadier Company Commander, Captain Archibald Campbell, not to interfere with Sergeant MacWilliam while he performs the needed ‘adjustments’. After observing the conduct and behavior of his new company, Sergeant MacWilliam decided that an inspection and introduction was in order. Having the men assemble in front of Braddock Barracks, in full kit, Sergeant MacWilliam started his job of returning honor to these men.
“Good morning men, I am Sergeant Malcolm MacWilliam” he started, then pointing to the man next to him, “And this is Corporal David Gunn.”
Corporal David ‘Davey’ Gunn, formerly a private in the 77th Regiment’s Grenadier Company, wished to continue his soldiering but was not at all pleased with the promotion. Malcolm requested that Davy be made his corporal, so that the two of them could work together in making the 42nd’s Grenadiers a formidable fighting force once again. Corporal Gunn accepted the promotion, but requested that he might be returned to the ranks once the company was ‘up to standards’.
“Some of you men know us, and some of you do not.” Malcolm continued, “We were both with the 42nd, years before we agreed to help form the training cadre for the newly formed 77th in 1757. Now we are back with our old regiment, and I have been hearing some disparaging news concerning you lot.”
“There are those in other regiments who claim the best of the 42nd’s ‘tow-row-row’ boys lie dead at Ticonderoga.” Allowing this to sink in, the sergeant continued, “From what I see here, I fear those rumors may be right. Fear not lads, for like a broken or bent sword I shall immerse you into the fires of rebirth. I shall hammer you into your destined form. I shall sharpen you, until you men are once again a deadly weapon to be wielded by our officers, in the name of The King. I shall mold you into my own image, and with that you shall once again earn the coveted title of Grenadier.”
Then Sergeant MacWilliam and Corporal Gunn conducted their inspection. After chastising the men for rusty firelocks, filthy uniforms and missing or broken acc
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Serjeant-Major Duncan Munro
Capt. Thos. Graham's Coy.
42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foote
(The Black Sheep of the Black Watch)
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit"
-Or-
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The Way Of The Warrior - December of 1763
