FARE WELL TO THEE

Image by L.S. King

ANT of time is, I think, the general complaint of all letter-writers, and it shall be mine upon this day as I depart from this land below ye Ohio to meet up with the Independent Company of South Carolina at Fort Niagara. My life of late has been little more than a perpetual hurry of doing nothing; and I think, I never had more business of that sort on my hands than in the past few weeks. But as I can generally find time to do anything I've a mind to do, so can I contrive to be at leisure to pay these final respects to you, my dear friends.

I shall not now pretend that our mission into the North, to lay siege upon a French held fortification, is not fraught with peril. War with ones neighbor is always a dangerous business. I suspect, as Chief Surgeon of the British Hospital, I shall be stationed in a place close enough to the front line to be of a convenient distance to the wounded. I have shared with Ensign Boggs my desire to have an armed guard placed at the hospital for our additional safety, and to keep the wounded from discharging themselves before Dr. Clift and I see fit.

As is my custom, I shall keep my journal whilst in the field, and transcribe it here for you, my dear friends, upon the occasion of my return. Should I not be so fortunate, I have left the blue box behind with my surgical instruments and an old suit of clothes. These can be sold to pay off my meager debts to Young & Erskine, Glasgow. I have it on good authority that Mr. Thomas Ruley, at Red River, would pay well for my wig if there is any thing left of it to sell. I would not settle for less than 10 shillings, 6 pence for it, if it is still wearable.

I have done the last of my packing and the baggage wagon awaits, therefore I will bid you all farewell, and know that I most sincerely wish you all health and success; and am, with great respect, dear Friends,

Your most affectionate & obt. servant,

The Doctor

N.B. Whenever your leisure will permit, it will always give me the greatest pleasure to be informed of your welfare.

THE DOCTOR'S JOURNAL

To you fair readers, I thought I would take a few moments to point out a few of the features of my journal here.

I have a published SCHEDULE for this present year, to give you an idea of where I will be over the course of the year. That link can be found along the left hand side of this page.

I have a listing of the PAPERWORK that I create and sell to other historical interpreters. Each is based on real historical documents. There's something about having the proper paperwork in ones pocket.

Become a READER of my journal, I love to know that there are people out there that actually read my scrawlings here. Find the READERS section on the left hand side of the page and select the FOLLOW button. I also love for you folks to make COMMENTS on my entries, feel free to COMMENT as often as you wish where ever you wish. I am always interested in finding out what you like, and what you are interested in.

Also, if you need an 18th Century Physician and Surgeon for your colonial event, please do favor me with your consideration. HIRE THE DOCTOR for your event, and HEAR WHAT OTHERS SAID about their experiences with the Doctor.

A MAP OF NIAGARA

A map of the fort with its Environ made by Mr. Google only days ago.

Fort Niagara by Mary Ann Rocque, Topographer to His Royal Highness

the Duke of Glouchester in the Strand, 1765.

My map, based upon the Rocque map above,

drawn & ink'd just last evening into my journal.

India ink on paper (and my kitchen) with an ink wash

at the shore lines.

NOW WE ARE TWO

received a correspondence today from Dr. Clift of the Maryland forces, Dagworthy's company, who will be joining me in the British hospital at Fort Niagara. I have had the opportunity to examine the good doctor's gear and it looks to be in order.

I wonder if we are to be the two sole surgeons in the Hospital? It concerns me that we might not be equipped or manned enough to tend what wounded will surely pass through.

I have been assured that "I have a number of volunteers interested in the hospital staff positions incl nurses and others" but still no specifics.

Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

This for the boys at Loudoun who mentioned they'd like to know the words to this song.

Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.

Safe and sound at home again, let the waters roar, Jack.

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Since we sailed from Plymouth Sound, four years gone, or nigh, Jack.

Was there ever chummies, now, such as you and I, Jack?

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

We have worked the self-same gun, quarterdeck division.

Sponger I and loader you, through the whole commission.

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Often have we laid out, toil nor danger fearing,

Tugging out the flapping sail to the weather earring.

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

When the middle watch was on and the time went slow, boy,

Who could choose a rousing stave, who like Jack or Joe, boy?

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

There she swings, an empty hulk, not a soul below now.

Number seven starboard mess misses Jack and Joe now.

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

But the best of friends must part, fair or foul the weather.

Hand yer flipper for a shake, now a drink together.

Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jack.

Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-eye-doe!

Lyrics found in the journal of Logan's Company

Special Guest Author: Lucy

I am going to go to Fort Niagara with my dad (the Doctor). It will be my first time on a plane, and I am so excited! And not only that but it will be just me and my dad not any of my little sisters. There will be about 2,339 men, women, and children. Which means that this is both me and my dad's biggest event ever! Plus the Doctor (my dad) is chief surgeon of a huge hospital. There will also be Friggets in other words huge boats that have a whole lot of sails. Its like 14 miles from Niagra Falls! I am so excited, and I can hardly wait any longer.

Lucy

IMAGES FROM LOUDOUN

Fort Loudoun has posted more images, the new ones fresh from the May garrison. There are several of my girls, and Rose in her new green dress purchased at Bledsoe's Fair.

View the images for yourself.

NIAGARA SPY REPORT

 SPY report from the Niagara siege has fallen into my hands and I must write it here lest I forget the numbers.

ANGLO-AMERICAN ARMY
TOTAL of 790 Soldiers & Sailors, 25 Drums, 492 Women & Children.

With... 5 Heavy Guns, 6 Battalion Guns, 18 Swivels, 4 Mortars, 5 Canoes & 8 Boats

FRANCO-CANADIEN ARMY
TOTAL of 522 Soldats & Matelots, 28 Tambour, 370 Femme & enfant.

With... 5 lourde Canon, 6 Bataillion Canon, 14 Petite canon, 3 Mortier, 3 Canoes, 1 Boat & 1 schooner.

NATIVE AMERICANS (Regardless of allegience)
TOTAL of 96 Warriors, 69 Women & Children

According to my sum, the total number of fighting men will be 1,408. This number doesn't include the women & children, which would seem to come to 931.

The combined total of men, women and children falls to a staggering 2,339! This easily stands to be the largest event of its sort I have ever taken part in.

THE DOCTOR AS CHIEF SURGEON

HROUGH a series of correspondence with Ensign Boggs at Fort Loudoun and the powers that be, I have been assigned to be the Chief Surgeon for the British Hospital during the coming siege at Fort Niagara. At this writing, I know few specifics about staff or numbers of other attending surgeons. The letter from the top indicated simply that they had "volunteers interested in the hospital staff positions incl nurses and others". Unfortunately this is not quite as specific as I would like it to be, ah the military life!

I barely slept last night, my mind afire with thoughts and ideas of how to run the hospital. By the time I finally dozed off, the sun had begun to rise and the birds had just taken to their morning song. Many of my ideas are dependent upon how many staff I have, and I find myself in a near panic about not having my clever blue box with me. I would take great comfort in working with my OWN instruments, familiar like extensions of my own hands.

More to come as I learn it.

THE DOCTOR'S SHIRT

HEN does one replace a linen shirt? My shirt is like an old travel companion that bears all the marks and color and scars from our adventures together. It also bears the stains from lack of washing and poor care that it has received whilst we have been about our business.

Thread-bare from travel through the woods, worn and patched from many an event and log hefted, soaked from a day's rain and laid out to dry in cabin windows at night, stained from walnuts as I dyed my suit of clothes over and over to keep them nice and dark. Bee's wax drippings on the cuffs, no two buttons match, patches on top of patches.

It even still bears the paint on the right arm from the young indian warrior I dispatched some years ago. I wear it with pride, and still show off the faded red and ebon trophy that nearly cost me my life.

It has come to my attention that my linen shirt requires a new collar. Now the poor old collar has grown thread bare, the linen rotting and falling away, and the stain on the back of the neck has become utterly unwashable.

A recent image of my shirt from the Raid at Martin's Station,

patches on patches & dirty collar.

An older image after a hand-to-hand battle with an indian.

Note the fresh red facepaint and hole in the shoulder.

I own other shirts mind you, better made, cleaner too, but I shall have none of them! I have always been of a loyal mind, and my old linen friend is no different. I shall have a new collar put into this shirt with a scrap of linen that came from the original piece the shirt is made from.

Did I mention, I never throw anything away?

PASSAGE BOOKED

ODAY I booked passage for my eldest, Lucy, and myself to fort Niagara. I am currently in search of a map of the area or the fort itself as close to the 1759 date as can be found, so that I might add it to my new journal as soon as I can. A map of this nature would be very valuable indeed, especially to the British officers that will be in charge of the British siege.

I have made a copy of the Timberlake map of the Cherokee Country from his survey in March of '62.

My copy of a piece of Timberlake's map.

In my search of the archives for maps, I did stumble upon an article about the coming siege.

My quest for maps and drawings continues.

Thrice Stung at Loudoun

HAVE time but for a brief report from my time at the garrison weekend at Fort Loudoun. I was coaxed into the mater red uniform of the Independent Company by Lieutenant Anderson.

I wore the wool breeches and waistcoat, I have not been that hot in quite some time. I have gained a new respect for the boys in their regimentals.

On Saturday, the girls and I took our trenchers and waited in line for the community meal. As I waited, a wasp flew up the back of my untucked shirt and stung me on the right arm thrice before I could snatch it off!

Needless to say, my arm is still quite swollen and painful. It has been a long time since I was stung by a wasp. As a boy, a cousin and I were playing and disturbed a wasp nest. We could not get away quickly enough!

After supper, the girls and I went down to the water and swam, accompanied by some of the boys. The cool water relieved my arm a bit and served to wash away the sweat of the day.

At the end of the garrison, I gathered the uniform together and marked it all to be placed on the baggage wagon to Niagara in July. I also left my blankets and two trenchers to be taken up as well.

I am very pleased that I did not have to leave the blue box to be placed on the wagon northward. Instead, Ensign Boggs assured me that they will pack the instruments from the fort infirmary.