Seamus is Gone!

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Posted by Corporal Malcolm MacWilliam on October 21, 2000 at 14:13:50:

21st October, 1758
Highland Camp at the Loyalhanna
Fort Ligonier

Journal Entry:

This morning, just before dawn, I entered the Death Watch shelter to take Uncle Quasi some broth, and, in the darkness as I
approached the cot where Seamus has been lying for the last week something did not look right. Then I realized it! Seamus was gone and Uncle Quasi was nowhere to be seen! The bowl of broth dropped from my hands and spilled into the trampled, bloody earth under the canvas fly.

My heart leapt into my throat, and I cried out, "No, St. Andrew, my dear cousin can't have died!" For I believed that Seamus had died and Uncle Quasi had removed the body. The tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. My loud cry brought Brother Davey, JohnsTon and 1st Sgt. Campbell running to the shelter to find the cause of such a mournful disturbance. All I could do was point to the empty cot and weep. Davey also began to weep at this point, crying, “Oh, it
cannot be!“ and the others placed their arms about our shoulders, consoling us.

After a few moments, 1st Sgt. Campbell said, “Come, Lads. There is no more for us to do here. Let us see where the hunchback has taken poor Seamus's corpse."

As we turned to go, I stooped to pick up the bowl I had dropped earlier, bracing myself on the cot where our dear cousin had so recently lain. As I reached for the cot, I laid my hand on something, and soon discovered it was a musket ball! A bloody musket ball...lying
there where Seamus’s head had been. How did it get here? Was some kind of clandestine failed surgery performed last night
when no one was here? After all, Calsious Shattoe and the Surgeon have been having heated arguments on this.

Did it fall from the wound when he was taken from here? HOW? I gathered it in my hand and squeezed it, wondering at this
mystery, and then I placed it into my sporran. And where is Uncle Quasi? Why did he not come to us last night? My mind
was filled with questions...

JohnsTon reached to pick up the bowl, and as he did so, he let out a shriek. “St. Andrew preserve us!!” he cried. ”Look!”
he shouted as he pointed to the bloody ground around Seamus’s cot. There, in the soft earth, were hundreds of hoof prints
and two sets of human footprints, one with the unmistakable out-turned right foot of Quasi, the hunchback, and one
accompanied by the mark of a shepherd‘s staff! We followed the tracks out of the shelter and towards the Loyalhanna Creek
and the forest beyond.

Seamus is gone, to be sure, but not in the way we had envisioned. We all hugged and pounded on each other and the tears of
sorrow quickly turned into tears of joy!! We now knew what happened to Seamus, and that he would certainly live in the
hands of Uncles Angus and Quasi, his father, and the loving care of the sheep.

Our only hope is that we will hear word of Seamus's complete recovery and we will be reunited with him soon. May St. Andrew protect him.

PAX AYE!!!

Cpl. Malcolm MacWilliam

77th Highlanders, Gren Coy

Follow Ups:

Re: Seamus is Gone! Jeri 18:11:51 10/21/2000 (1)
- Re: Seamus is Gone! Kate 20:19:52 10/21/2000 (0)
Re: Seamus is Gone! Rich 15:34:44 10/21/2000 (0)

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: 21st October, 1758
: Highland Camp at the Loyalhanna
: Fort Ligonier

: Journal Entry:

: This morning, just before dawn, I entered the Death Watch shelter to take Uncle Quasi some broth, and, in the darkness as I
: approached the cot where Seamus has been lying for the last week something did not look right. Then I realized it! Seamus was gone and Uncle Quasi was nowhere to be seen! The bowl of broth dropped from my hands and spilled into the trampled, bloody earth under the canvas fly.

: My heart leapt into my throat, and I cried out, "No, St. Andrew, my dear cousin can't have died!" For I believed that Seamus had died and Uncle Quasi had removed the body. The tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. My loud cry brought Brother Davey, JohnsTon and 1st Sgt. Campbell running to the shelter to find the cause of such a mournful disturbance. All I could do was point to the empty cot and weep. Davey also began to weep at this point, crying, “Oh, it
: cannot be!“ and the others placed their arms about our shoulders, consoling us.

: After a few moments, 1st Sgt. Campbell said, “Come, Lads. There is no more for us to do here. Let us see where the hunchback has taken poor Seamus's corpse."

: As we turned to go, I stooped to pick up the bowl I had dropped earlier, bracing myself on the cot where our dear cousin had so recently lain. As I reached for the cot, I laid my hand on something, and soon discovered it was a musket ball! A bloody musket ball...lying
: there where Seamus’s head had been. How did it get here? Was some kind of clandestine failed surgery performed last night
: when no one was here? After all, Calsious Shattoe and the Surgeon have been having heated arguments on this.

: Did it fall from the wound when he was taken from here? HOW? I gathered it in my hand and squeezed it, wondering at this
: mystery, and then I placed it into my sporran. And where is Uncle Quasi? Why did he not come to us last night? My mind
: was filled with questions...

: JohnsTon reached to pick up the bowl, and as he did so, he let out a shriek. “St. Andrew preserve us!!” he cried. ”Look!”
: he shouted as he pointed to the bloody ground around Seamus’s cot. There, in the soft earth, were hundreds of hoof prints
: and two sets of human footprints, one with the unmistakable out-turned right foot of Quasi, the hunchback, and one
: accompanied by the mark of a shepherd‘s staff! We followed the tracks out of the shelter and towards the Loyalhanna Creek
: and the forest beyond.

: Seamus is gone, to be sure, but not in the way we had envisioned. We all hugged and pounded on each other and the tears of
: sorrow quickly turned into tears of joy!! We now knew what happened to Seamus, and that he would certainly live in the
: hands of Uncles Angus and Quasi, his father, and the loving care of the sheep.

: Our only hope is that we will hear word of Seamus's complete recovery and we will be reunited with him soon. May St. Andrew protect him.

: PAX AYE!!!

: Cpl. Malcolm MacWilliam

: 77th Highlanders, Gren Coy

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