A Letter to Frau Magdalena

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Posted by Many Flags on April 08, 2001 at 04:46:30:

10th April 1759
Camp at Fort Bedford, Reastown

My dearest Magdalena,

Much has occurred here at Bedford since I left you several weeks ago.I know that you were heart-broken and also angry that I had to leave with brother Tales in such a rush, that we had to enter once again the battles against enemies. But, our cousins MacWilliams were in danger, and yes, we were also, from the meance called Redbud. He has been destroyed and when I return I shall relate that story to you, fantastic as it will sound.

Although the evil Redbud was destroyed other events of intrigue and strangeness began to take place. Thanks to cousin Seamus and Drummer Armstrong, another menace was caught (red-handed they call it!), the Major Grant of Ligonier infamy was found and jailed. This is another tale to tell when I return. The latest event has been cousin Malcolm's sickness, an ill which is called the Dutch Fever, for the person goes into delirium and speaks a thick tongue similar to our own native Deutsch. AFter last night's escapade, I believe it to be ended, the bubble burst, so to say.

Cousin Malcolm had been heading toward a climax with this Dutch Fever in the last several days, babbling all sorts of fantastical stories of another place with witches, winged creatures and answering only to the name of Dorothea. I could only think of your very large Tante Dorothea, dressed in her black, with her hairy upper lip, and looking at Malcolm, I would begin chortling with laughter. But, this fever is no laughing matter. Several times, Malcolm's brother Davey Gunn had to call on a local townsman named Matthias Goersch, to interpret what Malcolm was speaking of. This Deutsch tongue he spoke was so thick with Platt Deutsch, I could not understand it.

But, in the middle of last night, as I said, the fever bubble burst and a climax was reached. After putting Malcolm to bed, William JohnsTon agreed to keep watch over him, so Malcolm would do no harm to himself. LIttle did we know that it was harm to OTHERS, that we need to worry of. Around 2 AM this morn, Tales, Seamus and I were awakened by shouting and ranting on the parade ground. We had bedded down inside one of the cabins next to the barracks, so we grabbed our rifles and stepped quickly to the parade. There, we were astounded with the sight.

It seems that SGT. Malcolm, feeling the fever had passed, decided that his men had not been drilled enough. All energy which had been pent up in our cousin for the last few weeks, as he was ill, came out in a burst, which swept away the fever, but meant harsh discipline for the 77th Grenadiers. Malcolm had jumped from his cot, ordered all the men onto the parade ground, he had put on his kilt belt only with his sporran, dirk, and bayonet, clutching his musket he had marched the men onto the parade ground NAKED, NAKED AS THEY WERE BORN.

Seamus, Tales and I bent over in laughter, as the SGT. in Malcolm came out in full force. All the bottled up drill and discipline from the last few weeks, while he was sick, had rushed out all at once. There were JohnsTon, MacGregor, MacFarlane, Stewart, well, all the lads, with Drummer Armstrong carrying his drum only (the only one with his privates covered because of the instrument he was carrying), all these braw lads standing in formation, naked but with smiles on their faces, for they knew that their dear Sgt. MacWilliam was back in health. Malcolm berated each one, asking if they were "braw lads", if they were the toughest regiment in the British army, and so on. Ahhh, Magdalena, you would have blushed, but then laughed aloud.

After about 30 minutes of this, 1st Sgt. Campbell came out of his cabin. He took one look at this formation, fell backwards laughing, regained his composure, took Malcolm aside, spoke to him quietly, and Malcolm dismissed the formation. As he walked past us, Malcolm winked and stated, "There, cousins! That'll show that I'm back, no more fevers for me. God save the King and the 77th Grenadiers!"

It is now early morning and I see through Malcolm's window that he is studying his prayer book. I expect him to have services this morning for the regiment. It has been three weeks since he has had Divine Worship.

My love to you, Dear Magdalena. My work here may not yet be over, hearing words of a move to Fort Frederick in MaryLand within a few weeks.

Many Flags

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: 10th April 1759
: Camp at Fort Bedford, Reastown

: My dearest Magdalena,

: Much has occurred here at Bedford since I left you several weeks ago.I know that you were heart-broken and also angry that I had to leave with brother Tales in such a rush, that we had to enter once again the battles against enemies. But, our cousins MacWilliams were in danger, and yes, we were also, from the meance called Redbud. He has been destroyed and when I return I shall relate that story to you, fantastic as it will sound.

: Although the evil Redbud was destroyed other events of intrigue and strangeness began to take place. Thanks to cousin Seamus and Drummer Armstrong, another menace was caught (red-handed they call it!), the Major Grant of Ligonier infamy was found and jailed. This is another tale to tell when I return. The latest event has been cousin Malcolm's sickness, an ill which is called the Dutch Fever, for the person goes into delirium and speaks a thick tongue similar to our own native Deutsch. AFter last night's escapade, I believe it to be ended, the bubble burst, so to say.

: Cousin Malcolm had been heading toward a climax with this Dutch Fever in the last several days, babbling all sorts of fantastical stories of another place with witches, winged creatures and answering only to the name of Dorothea. I could only think of your very large Tante Dorothea, dressed in her black, with her hairy upper lip, and looking at Malcolm, I would begin chortling with laughter. But, this fever is no laughing matter. Several times, Malcolm's brother Davey Gunn had to call on a local townsman named Matthias Goersch, to interpret what Malcolm was speaking of. This Deutsch tongue he spoke was so thick with Platt Deutsch, I could not understand it.

: But, in the middle of last night, as I said, the fever bubble burst and a climax was reached. After putting Malcolm to bed, William JohnsTon agreed to keep watch over him, so Malcolm would do no harm to himself. LIttle did we know that it was harm to OTHERS, that we need to worry of. Around 2 AM this morn, Tales, Seamus and I were awakened by shouting and ranting on the parade ground. We had bedded down inside one of the cabins next to the barracks, so we grabbed our rifles and stepped quickly to the parade. There, we were astounded with the sight.

: It seems that SGT. Malcolm, feeling the fever had passed, decided that his men had not been drilled enough. All energy which had been pent up in our cousin for the last few weeks, as he was ill, came out in a burst, which swept away the fever, but meant harsh discipline for the 77th Grenadiers. Malcolm had jumped from his cot, ordered all the men onto the parade ground, he had put on his kilt belt only with his sporran, dirk, and bayonet, clutching his musket he had marched the men onto the parade ground NAKED, NAKED AS THEY WERE BORN.

: Seamus, Tales and I bent over in laughter, as the SGT. in Malcolm came out in full force. All the bottled up drill and discipline from the last few weeks, while he was sick, had rushed out all at once. There were JohnsTon, MacGregor, MacFarlane, Stewart, well, all the lads, with Drummer Armstrong carrying his drum only (the only one with his privates covered because of the instrument he was carrying), all these braw lads standing in formation, naked but with smiles on their faces, for they knew that their dear Sgt. MacWilliam was back in health. Malcolm berated each one, asking if they were "braw lads", if they were the toughest regiment in the British army, and so on. Ahhh, Magdalena, you would have blushed, but then laughed aloud.

: After about 30 minutes of this, 1st Sgt. Campbell came out of his cabin. He took one look at this formation, fell backwards laughing, regained his composure, took Malcolm aside, spoke to him quietly, and Malcolm dismissed the formation. As he walked past us, Malcolm winked and stated, "There, cousins! That'll show that I'm back, no more fevers for me. God save the King and the 77th Grenadiers!"

: It is now early morning and I see through Malcolm's window that he is studying his prayer book. I expect him to have services this morning for the regiment. It has been three weeks since he has had Divine Worship.

: My love to you, Dear Magdalena. My work here may not yet be over, hearing words of a move to Fort Frederick in MaryLand within a few weeks.

: Many Flags

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