A Meeting with Colonel Bouquet

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: 24th Day of June, 1758
: Fort Lyttleton, Colony of Pennsylvania

: Journal Entry:

: I take quill in hand to impart several items for future reference.  Brother Gunn and I received, a few days ago, a message from our cousins Many Flags and Three Tales.  It was delivered by a Native by the name of Keeper of Beech Lodge.  A very cryptic message, indeed, a very depressed message, and I believe we will hear little of our cousins for several weeks.  I have enclosed said message with this entry.

: Two days ago, Colonel Bouquet left with much of this expeditionary force to reach the Fort at Reastown.  He expected it to take several days and was planning on camping along the river named Juniata before arriving at the Raystown Fort. Captain Gordon had preceded the Colonel to lay out a camp. I was fortunate to be with Capt. Croy and the other officers when he spoke his farewell.  The Colonel is requesting fresh troops from St. Clair at Carlisle and also more supplies.  Calsius Shattoe, in charge of the packmen, was also present at the meeting, information was relayed concerning supplies, baggage, and wagons.  Of the 73 wagons which brought supplies to Lyttleton on our march from Loudoun, 33 need repair.  Shattoe reported that unless oats and other foods are supplied soon from Carlisle, the pack animals will be near death of starvation.

: Since the wagons are in such bad repair, Col. Bouquet is recommending that pack horses are used primarily for the remainder of the expedition.  Each horse can carry upwards of 200 pounds, so many more horses have been requested.  Furthermore, the Colonel requested food stuffs of cattle, live hogs, and sheep.  This was a very interesting meeting for one such as myself, who deals mostly with the drill and care of the soldiers.

: On final interesting note, Colonel Bouquet, stated that he may be interested in infiltrating the Native camps with our own provincial soldiers, to gather information.  I am not sure this was all said in jest, but his comment was that the provincials need only remove their coats and breeches (which would delight them!), give them moccasins and blankets, cut off their hair and daub themselves with paint. He commented it would be difficult for the enemy to distinguish them from their own.

: Our Grendier company has been left at  Lyttleton as a rear guard and we expect Bouquet will send us the word within a few days to move west to the camp on the Juniata.  Other Highland troops are to arrive here soon from Carlisle to take our place as we move up.  We have not heard from cousin Seamus for a fortnight.  We are craving news of his safety.  Uncle Quasi has not been seen for a few days.  After the news of the terrible defeat at the French Fort Carillon, he seemed as if in a daze, then, a few days later, disappeared, his baggage carts and women with him.  We pray that St. Andrew will protect him wherever he may be roaming off to.

: God Save the King and this Regiment!

: M.A.  MacWilliam 


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: