Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Passages of Arms

From an Ancient Archive:

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To: Captain Roger Roberts

From: Gen'l Jeffrey Amherst

Roberts,

You are hereby requested and required to assemble your Independent Company of Rangers at Fort William Henry.

You will there brigade your your Independent Company with the Light Companies of the 44th and 46th Foot. Upon doing so, you will set out North along the Western Shore of Lake George and Scout for the enemy in the vicinity of Fort Carillon.

In so doing, you will acheive two purposes.

The First - you will determine whether the French are attempting to descend the Lake upon it's Western Side.

The Second - you will impress upon the Officers and Men of the 44th and 46th your method of Ranging that they may become Proficient at the Art.

Should you contact the Enemy, you are to do so only on the most advantageous of terms; should it go Ill with you, I will not think the less of you should your troops break contact and return to Fort William Henry or what post soever you Desire for the security of your company.

I remain Sir,

Your Servant,

Amherst

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To: Chabert, Captain of Grenadiers

Captain Chabert,

I have this day decided to encamp My Regiment of Languedoc South of Fort Carillon for the next two days as we receive the supplies you are aware that are coming to us via bateaux from His Majesties' Fort of St. Frederic.

During this time, it is my desire that Captain Joincare watch the road south with his piquet for any activity on the part of the English.

It would greatly gratify me if with your company of Grenadiers you were to provide succours for Joincare should he require assistance. Rest assured, that the rest of the battalion would join you post-haste as soon as we are alerted to enemy activity.

I have the Honour to remain Sir,

Your Humble and Obedient Servant,

Poulain, Colonel

1 comment:

Martin said...

Why do I feel that there is trouble brewing between these two small groups of men, when they have a whole continent to wander around in?

I sometimes wonder if the native scouts on both sides didn't deliberately lead them into confrontations just to "see what would happen"?

Public Television is running a 5 part series on their "American Experience" show called, "We Shall Remain". The first episode covered the relations between the Pilgrims and the New England Indians (Wampanoags, Pequots, Narragansetts, etc.) and the outbreak of King Phillips War. Keep an eye out for it. The producers/directors/authors did an excellent presentation.