Red Lines in the Snow.....

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Posted by Sgt. Malcolm A. MacWilliam on March 05, 2001 at 06:54:23:

5th March 1759
Fort Bedford on the Juniata

Journal Entry:

Having had several weeks of boredom, constant drill, shining muskets until we dirtied them just to be able to clean them again, and so on....the last 24 hours has had some activity.

Yesterday, during Divine Worship which I was conducting, a large man dressed as a longhunter approached and fell in line with our lads. His "Amens" were loud and sprinkled with a bit of an accent. So, after the service I went to him. It was then that I recognized him, having met this man last year at Fort Frederick when we had gathered to aid the Patuxents in that southern area. It was the good friend of Many Flags' and Three Tales' nephew Halfbreed - this man was called Parson. A true parson he is not, but a Godly man and one who never speaks in obscenities or takes the name of God in an oath, so he is called Parson.

He had come with a message from Halfbreed, who was on his way with other Patuxents. It seems that all we had feared and thought these last few months was true. Parson shared with us and Capt. Croy the story of Redleaf's brother, this cursed Redbud, and his description was disgusting. This half creature, yet obsese, painted all in red, running naked through the forest, and his objective is to kill all those who had a hand in his brother Redleaf's death. Redbud has sworn to kill all the MacWilliam clan. At first this did not strike any fear in us, and Davey and I laughed aloud. However, when Redbud's deeds of death, his dangerous antics of clumsiness and his pure evil was revealed, a silence of fear settled over us Grenadiers.

Captain Croy ordered us to our posts, for we feared that in this area, where still some of the hated Shawnee, Ottawa, and Huron still lurk, that Redbud might muster other Savages against our troops. The word was spread through the public in Reastown, and all were on the alert. Later in the day, it began to snow, and some of our troops were brought in. I was still on watch with my section, the 1st Sgt. having taken his section of the Grenadiers in for some warmth, when I saw several men, of the German population, running toward the stockade, screaming "Rett Butt, Rett Butt," and then some other German words which we did not understand.

The troops were mustered, the guard on the gate was doubled and with 1st Sgt. Campbell's permission I led my section to the place where the sighting had occurred. It was at the edge of the forest about a tenth of a mile from the stockade, and visible from there. The German had been out gathering some fallen wood for fire since the weather has turned cold again, when he saw a red line in the snow, and smelled a foul odor. Being curious and calling a few of his comrades, they followed the red trail just a few paces, when they saw, sprawled in front of them, the evil fat and stinking Redbud, he had fallen in the snow, wallowing in a few inches of white which was quickly turning bloodred! The German men had turned, ran, and went to the stockade to get us.

My troops and I followed the red line and came to the spot where Redbud had wallowed, a huge dip in the fallen snow, now being covered a bit by fresh white. We followed another league into the forest, when a hush overtook us. There, about 50 yards off we could see movement. Several tall black figures moving among the trees and with them, shouting, cursing, falling, was the short, fat, red beast. He had gathered other savages with him, all them painted black, all of them six feet or more tall. With my command of, "Grenadiers! Form ranks!...Grenadiers! Recover your firelocks! Make ready! Present!", I had the men wait a few seconds until Redbud had gained his footing again. The others with him, had moved behind trees in anticipation of the command, "Fire"! But, Redbud was in full sight.

"FIRE!" I commanded...all ten muskets of the section having fired a nasty volley. As the smoke cleared, the men already, by my command, had primed, loaded, and were at the "Up" position. And as our eyes could discern through the dissipation of the smoke, we saw that Redbud had slipped and fallen at the exact moment we had fired. He was crawling through the snow, like a lizard in mud. Before I could fire the men again, he had grabbed hold of a sapling, pulled himself up and waddled off to disappear with his tall black comrades.

We returned to the Fort. With our volley, the alarm had been raised and through this past night, the guard was kept on watch. We now await the arrival of Halfbreed and the Patuxents. We have had word that others will be gathering here. Rumour is that Flags and Tales may be on their way, that Uncles Quasi and Angus are coming also, with Uncle Angus rallying the sheep, and that Seamus is also moving to us quickly. To be sure, a showdown is expected between this Redbud and his black horde and our own MacWilliam clan, supported by our troops, of course. In fact, Captain Croy spoke to me this morning at 1st formation (as we stood ankle deep in snow and sleet, it having pelted down all night), and the Captain explained that this was not to be a personal fight between the MacWilliam Clan and an enemy, this was not the Highlands, we are soldiers of the king and will conduct ourselves in such a manner.

I must close. Calsious Shattoe approaches. On a different matter, there is something strange going on with our friend Shattoe, the master of the horse for Colonel Bouquet. A few days ago, Col. Bouquet arrived with Shattoe, spoke some words in an aside to Capt. Croy, whose look was a bit astonished. Col. Bouquet left, but leaving Shattoe here. Although I have asked our comrade Shattoe what this was all about, Shattoe having been through much with us in the past year, he would only smile and reply, "I canna say!" In fact, strangely enough, Shattoe was allowed to fall in with us this morning in formation, standing in the 1st Sgt's section. Never has a master of horse stood in formation with foot soldiers. We fear that Shattoe has been released by Bouquet for some infraction and must now serve in a Regiment of Foote. However, if this be so, we welcome this man who has had so many years of experience, he having served on the Continent several years ago, in the capacity of a Sargent.

Enough writing. I must see to my men. The impending danger of Redbud is still about, and we are to await the arrival of Halfbreed and others.

God Save the King! Pax Aye!

Sgt. Malcolm A. MacWilliam, 77th Regiment of Foote, Grenadier Company

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: 5th March 1759
: Fort Bedford on the Juniata

: Journal Entry:

: Having had several weeks of boredom, constant drill, shining muskets until we dirtied them just to be able to clean them again, and so on....the last 24 hours has had some activity.

: Yesterday, during Divine Worship which I was conducting, a large man dressed as a longhunter approached and fell in line with our lads. His "Amens" were loud and sprinkled with a bit of an accent. So, after the service I went to him. It was then that I recognized him, having met this man last year at Fort Frederick when we had gathered to aid the Patuxents in that southern area. It was the good friend of Many Flags' and Three Tales' nephew Halfbreed - this man was called Parson. A true parson he is not, but a Godly man and one who never speaks in obscenities or takes the name of God in an oath, so he is called Parson.

: He had come with a message from Halfbreed, who was on his way with other Patuxents. It seems that all we had feared and thought these last few months was true. Parson shared with us and Capt. Croy the story of Redleaf's brother, this cursed Redbud, and his description was disgusting. This half creature, yet obsese, painted all in red, running naked through the forest, and his objective is to kill all those who had a hand in his brother Redleaf's death. Redbud has sworn to kill all the MacWilliam clan. At first this did not strike any fear in us, and Davey and I laughed aloud. However, when Redbud's deeds of death, his dangerous antics of clumsiness and his pure evil was revealed, a silence of fear settled over us Grenadiers.

: Captain Croy ordered us to our posts, for we feared that in this area, where still some of the hated Shawnee, Ottawa, and Huron still lurk, that Redbud might muster other Savages against our troops. The word was spread through the public in Reastown, and all were on the alert. Later in the day, it began to snow, and some of our troops were brought in. I was still on watch with my section, the 1st Sgt. having taken his section of the Grenadiers in for some warmth, when I saw several men, of the German population, running toward the stockade, screaming "Rett Butt, Rett Butt," and then some other German words which we did not understand.

: The troops were mustered, the guard on the gate was doubled and with 1st Sgt. Campbell's permission I led my section to the place where the sighting had occurred. It was at the edge of the forest about a tenth of a mile from the stockade, and visible from there. The German had been out gathering some fallen wood for fire since the weather has turned cold again, when he saw a red line in the snow, and smelled a foul odor. Being curious and calling a few of his comrades, they followed the red trail just a few paces, when they saw, sprawled in front of them, the evil fat and stinking Redbud, he had fallen in the snow, wallowing in a few inches of white which was quickly turning bloodred! The German men had turned, ran, and went to the stockade to get us.

: My troops and I followed the red line and came to the spot where Redbud had wallowed, a huge dip in the fallen snow, now being covered a bit by fresh white. We followed another league into the forest, when a hush overtook us. There, about 50 yards off we could see movement. Several tall black figures moving among the trees and with them, shouting, cursing, falling, was the short, fat, red beast. He had gathered other savages with him, all them painted black, all of them six feet or more tall. With my command of, "Grenadiers! Form ranks!...Grenadiers! Recover your firelocks! Make ready! Present!", I had the men wait a few seconds until Redbud had gained his footing again. The others with him, had moved behind trees in anticipation of the command, "Fire"! But, Redbud was in full sight.

: "FIRE!" I commanded...all ten muskets of the section having fired a nasty volley. As the smoke cleared, the men already, by my command, had primed, loaded, and were at the "Up" position. And as our eyes could discern through the dissipation of the smoke, we saw that Redbud had slipped and fallen at the exact moment we had fired. He was crawling through the snow, like a lizard in mud. Before I could fire the men again, he had grabbed hold of a sapling, pulled himself up and waddled off to disappear with his tall black comrades.

: We returned to the Fort. With our volley, the alarm had been raised and through this past night, the guard was kept on watch. We now await the arrival of Halfbreed and the Patuxents. We have had word that others will be gathering here. Rumour is that Flags and Tales may be on their way, that Uncles Quasi and Angus are coming also, with Uncle Angus rallying the sheep, and that Seamus is also moving to us quickly. To be sure, a showdown is expected between this Redbud and his black horde and our own MacWilliam clan, supported by our troops, of course. In fact, Captain Croy spoke to me this morning at 1st formation (as we stood ankle deep in snow and sleet, it having pelted down all night), and the Captain explained that this was not to be a personal fight between the MacWilliam Clan and an enemy, this was not the Highlands, we are soldiers of the king and will conduct ourselves in such a manner.

: I must close. Calsious Shattoe approaches. On a different matter, there is something strange going on with our friend Shattoe, the master of the horse for Colonel Bouquet. A few days ago, Col. Bouquet arrived with Shattoe, spoke some words in an aside to Capt. Croy, whose look was a bit astonished. Col. Bouquet left, but leaving Shattoe here. Although I have asked our comrade Shattoe what this was all about, Shattoe having been through much with us in the past year, he would only smile and reply, "I canna say!" In fact, strangely enough, Shattoe was allowed to fall in with us this morning in formation, standing in the 1st Sgt's section. Never has a master of horse stood in formation with foot soldiers. We fear that Shattoe has been released by Bouquet for some infraction and must now serve in a Regiment of Foote. However, if this be so, we welcome this man who has had so many years of experience, he having served on the Continent several years ago, in the capacity of a Sargent.

: Enough writing. I must see to my men. The impending danger of Redbud is still about, and we are to await the arrival of Halfbreed and others.

: God Save the King! Pax Aye!

: Sgt. Malcolm A. MacWilliam, 77th Regiment of Foote, Grenadier Company

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