Re: Letter to Seamus ....he replies...

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Posted by Seamus on April 21, 2001 at 04:34:21:

In Reply to: Letter to Seamus MacWilliam posted by Pvt. Chauncey Goodrich on April 17, 2001 at 06:31:01:

April ye 21st, 1759

Pvt. Chauncey Goodrich
Rogers’ Rangers, Rogers’ Own Coy.
Fort Edward
Province of New York

My dear friend Chauncey!

What a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to receive your letter of the 17th inst.! I have been wondering, as have Flags and Tales, how you have been, or, what became of you. We had heard nothing for so long, and truthfully, my friend, we feared you might have become a casualty. We hear of Major Rogers’ exploits on occasion here and there in our travels, mostly by reading it in Mr. Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette or from a deserter we might run across. They are the scourge of an army, and the Pennsylvania Regiment Battalion Commanders, Col. Armstrong and Col. Burd, have been placing advertisements in Mr. Franklin’s paper about those who desert their Regiment, offering rewards for their capture. I must say, it has been met with amazing success.

Chauncey, I...we...are so glad to hear that you have faired well. I am pleased that you have taken to the life of a Ranger so wonderfully. It is not an easy life, being a soldier, but being a Ranger even is more difficult, as you are keenly aware. I can picture in my mind the young, inexperienced lad we were quartered with on Rogers’ Island, and on the Ticonderoga debacle, and especially your feelings afterwards. You have done well, dear friend, very well...

Timothy is no longer with us. He married Gloria after our return settled in, and they have a son, Benjamin. Timothy is working in the Commissary at Ft. Augusta and is doing quite well. Nancy, the dark-haired lass and I have been together since my return and we expect to marry, likely fairly soon. Flags married last fall, and he and Tales are well.

Now, Chauncey, I must tell you.........Cousins Flags, Tales, Malcolm, and Davey, and I were involved in a terrible fight at Loyalhanna last fall. This is the “massacre” of which you spoke. Major Grant, of the 77th Highlanders, Montgomery’s, led his men and some Provincials in an ill-advised attack (sound familiar??) against DuQuesne and was hammered. He was captured, and we were pursued back to Loyalhanna where we dug in and drove the French and their Indians off, but with terrible loss. Red Leaf led the Indians, and was killed by Wee John MacKay, who in turn, was killed himself. The Cousins and I charged his killers and....well...we were hit by a volley from a squad of French. We do not remember it at all. We can only say what we have been told. All of us....Flags, Tales, Malcolm, Davey, and I, along with a number of the 77th Gren. Coy. were wounded badly, with many of the 77th killed outright. The cousin’s wounds healed in good order. Mine was a severe head wound, right in the middle of my forehead. Why I was not killed, I do not know. That wound should have done the job. Perhaps when the Froggy loaded his musket, he spilled most of his charge when priming. You know how it can be in battle, particularly when you are new and scared. Many men will spill half or more of the charge when priming, you know. In any case, I was extremely fortunate to have survived, and it was the care of Uncle Quasi, Nancy, and Uncle Angus that saved me, but it took months. I am on my first campaign since it happened. I will tell you the full story when we meet next...and I hope we do!

We are on our way from Fort Bedford, (Your letter was forwarded to me here by a dispatch carrier from Ft. Augusta.) where the 77th wintered, to Ft. Frederick, to join with the Mary Land Forces again to be sure the country is clear of Indian or French dangers, as we do each Spring. This year we are to be joined by a Battalion of Pennsylvanians. I am anxious to see them. I heard Col. Armstrong might be among them. We expect to be at Ft. Frederick for about 4 days, and then I will return to Ft. Augusta, and then back to my mountain cabin. I have been away too long, and my fruit trees need attention if they are to bear this season.

I find Major Rogers’ experiment with the Stockbridge Mohegans interesting! The Pennsylvanians did just the opposite. They had troops dressed as Indians: leggings, breech cloths, paint...stripped for action, and used the on the Forbes Campaign against DuQuesne. Col. Bouquet rather liked it, and ordered others to do it, too. Now Rogers wants to use the real thing! Great! I am sure it will be a success.

There is some talk of an expedition to the Carolinas in a couple of months, and the cousins and I have been asked to accompany it. Nancy is none too happy about it, but I cannot let the opportunity pass. It seems I told her I was done with campaigning, but I just simply cannot totally drop it, now that I am well and strong again. I do, however, enjoy my time at home more and more!

Dear friend, if it at all possible, can you get leave to come visit us? It is not a difficult trip, and the country is free of savage influence most of the way. We all would love to see you! Maybe when this Great War for Empire is over, you can come join us here. I know you would like the Susquehanna Valley.

I must tend to business, now. Sgt. MacWilliam...yes, Malcolm got promoted!...is on his way over here. I would guess we are about to get on the trail again toward Fort Frederick.

Take care of yourself, dear friend, and give our best to the Major.

Pax Aye!!!

Seamus

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: April ye 21st, 1759

: Pvt. Chauncey Goodrich
: Rogers’ Rangers, Rogers’ Own Coy.
: Fort Edward
: Province of New York

: My dear friend Chauncey!

: What a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to receive your letter of the 17th inst.! I have been wondering, as have Flags and Tales, how you have been, or, what became of you. We had heard nothing for so long, and truthfully, my friend, we feared you might have become a casualty. We hear of Major Rogers’ exploits on occasion here and there in our travels, mostly by reading it in Mr. Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette or from a deserter we might run across. They are the scourge of an army, and the Pennsylvania Regiment Battalion Commanders, Col. Armstrong and Col. Burd, have been placing advertisements in Mr. Franklin’s paper about those who desert their Regiment, offering rewards for their capture. I must say, it has been met with amazing success.

: Chauncey, I...we...are so glad to hear that you have faired well. I am pleased that you have taken to the life of a Ranger so wonderfully. It is not an easy life, being a soldier, but being a Ranger even is more difficult, as you are keenly aware. I can picture in my mind the young, inexperienced lad we were quartered with on Rogers’ Island, and on the Ticonderoga debacle, and especially your feelings afterwards. You have done well, dear friend, very well...

: Timothy is no longer with us. He married Gloria after our return settled in, and they have a son, Benjamin. Timothy is working in the Commissary at Ft. Augusta and is doing quite well. Nancy, the dark-haired lass and I have been together since my return and we expect to marry, likely fairly soon. Flags married last fall, and he and Tales are well.

: Now, Chauncey, I must tell you.........Cousins Flags, Tales, Malcolm, and Davey, and I were involved in a terrible fight at Loyalhanna last fall. This is the “massacre” of which you spoke. Major Grant, of the 77th Highlanders, Montgomery’s, led his men and some Provincials in an ill-advised attack (sound familiar??) against DuQuesne and was hammered. He was captured, and we were pursued back to Loyalhanna where we dug in and drove the French and their Indians off, but with terrible loss. Red Leaf led the Indians, and was killed by Wee John MacKay, who in turn, was killed himself. The Cousins and I charged his killers and....well...we were hit by a volley from a squad of French. We do not remember it at all. We can only say what we have been told. All of us....Flags, Tales, Malcolm, Davey, and I, along with a number of the 77th Gren. Coy. were wounded badly, with many of the 77th killed outright. The cousin’s wounds healed in good order. Mine was a severe head wound, right in the middle of my forehead. Why I was not killed, I do not know. That wound should have done the job. Perhaps when the Froggy loaded his musket, he spilled most of his charge when priming. You know how it can be in battle, particularly when you are new and scared. Many men will spill half or more of the charge when priming, you know. In any case, I was extremely fortunate to have survived, and it was the care of Uncle Quasi, Nancy, and Uncle Angus that saved me, but it took months. I am on my first campaign since it happened. I will tell you the full story when we meet next...and I hope we do!

: We are on our way from Fort Bedford, (Your letter was forwarded to me here by a dispatch carrier from Ft. Augusta.) where the 77th wintered, to Ft. Frederick, to join with the Mary Land Forces again to be sure the country is clear of Indian or French dangers, as we do each Spring. This year we are to be joined by a Battalion of Pennsylvanians. I am anxious to see them. I heard Col. Armstrong might be among them. We expect to be at Ft. Frederick for about 4 days, and then I will return to Ft. Augusta, and then back to my mountain cabin. I have been away too long, and my fruit trees need attention if they are to bear this season.

: I find Major Rogers’ experiment with the Stockbridge Mohegans interesting! The Pennsylvanians did just the opposite. They had troops dressed as Indians: leggings, breech cloths, paint...stripped for action, and used the on the Forbes Campaign against DuQuesne. Col. Bouquet rather liked it, and ordered others to do it, too. Now Rogers wants to use the real thing! Great! I am sure it will be a success.

: There is some talk of an expedition to the Carolinas in a couple of months, and the cousins and I have been asked to accompany it. Nancy is none too happy about it, but I cannot let the opportunity pass. It seems I told her I was done with campaigning, but I just simply cannot totally drop it, now that I am well and strong again. I do, however, enjoy my time at home more and more!

: Dear friend, if it at all possible, can you get leave to come visit us? It is not a difficult trip, and the country is free of savage influence most of the way. We all would love to see you! Maybe when this Great War for Empire is over, you can come join us here. I know you would like the Susquehanna Valley.

: I must tend to business, now. Sgt. MacWilliam...yes, Malcolm got promoted!...is on his way over here. I would guess we are about to get on the trail again toward Fort Frederick.

: Take care of yourself, dear friend, and give our best to the Major.

: Pax Aye!!!

: Seamus

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