June 7. My dearest friends, we beg your mercy and forgiveness for the lateness of our writings herein. The trail has been long and our travels far into the wilderness. As such; our time hath been otherwise spent in other endeavors.
The fortnight past; 29 May, found us encamped upon Wolf Creek. Our Governour, Patrick Henry, hath upon Monday the fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, and in the first year of the Commonwealth, made known to the public his acts for regulating and disciplining the militia.
The men of the Commonwealth mustered up with great zeal in the early hours, however with each passing hour, became most disenchanted with the Colonel in command; one Colonel S. Dennis. Sheriff C. Hodges, known by most as a bald headed prig, collected many a tariff for public lewdness, drunkenness and even thievery! Upon more than one occasion whilst we encamped in this place, men and even women were forced to be bound by hand and by foot to a post for the public to humiliate.
The Morgan Company, lead by Captain Dennis Morgan was found to be the most resourceful and ready of the assembled men and were therefore well rewarded for their service. Other companies, sadly were found insufficient in their tasks as set by Colonel Dennis and were often dressed down for any number of fractious causes.
Perhaps the men of the militia were granted their greatest desires, when t'was found the Colonel’s own wife had turned 'gainst him; found to be a wanton, thief and woman of much ill repute, causing the Colonel’s reputation much harm!
For his part, he acted fairly in that said woman was held to the same punishment of pillory and stocks as others accused of such atrocities. Her begging and pleading upon knees did nothing to warm the Colonel’s cold heart once the woman had proven her true nature. Regardless of this outlandish behavior, our belief remains true in the fine men of this commonwealth who remain steadfast to our cause and stand ready fight with moment’s notice the red skin devils and their red coated yellow bellied deceitful allies of Britton.
Our more recent travels, as of 5 June, brought myself and my companion Mr. J. Mains to the banks of the Licking River where we prevailed upon the mercies of a local inn-keep. T'was our great fortune to unexpectedly encounter Mr. M. Schwendau whom we had last met upon the battlefields of Koh-koh-mah. Further, it seems Mr. Schwendau shall be presiding as land steward over the entire encampment at Blue Licks and shall therefore be more often in our company.
For once having time to tarry about, Mr. M and I took great pleasure in walking the buffalo trace and the hallowed ground of Blue Licks. The spirits our forefathers reached out to touch our hearts and souls as we tread the very ground where Major Hugh McGary had leapt upon his horse shouting, "Them that ain't cowards, follow me." Tears for the men lost in less than 15 minutes welled within my eyes and made blurry all but the blue sky above.
As the sky was so blue, Mr. Mains and I determined to avail ourselves of the fish residing within nearlby Johnson Creek. Much to our regret, the fish remained most reluctant to become our supper, only permitting two of their kind, which were quite small, to be caught upon my line. Mr. M’s lines remained quite untouched by even the smallest nibble, which brought him no small level of disgust!
Our dining fortunes turned dramatically for the better as Mr. K. Stambaugh of Bee Lick, offered up to us as many roasted chickens as we were able to stuff within ourselves! Mr. B. vonDielingen joined us, as did other local inhabitants for an evening of much enjoyment. Mr. vonDielingen, who had been captured by the Shawnee, was much gladdened to have returned to his people and the land of his birth. Though much scarred by recent atrocities, Mr. v. did regale us with tales and many songs, adding much to the night’s entertainments. By my count, an excess of 15 long guns were close at hand to shoot marks both still and on the wing, with differing levels of success. Late into the evening the spark of our powder and the ring of our laughter filled the rolling hills.
‘Tis indeed time such as these which mark our hearts forever. Much gladdened are we for the warmth of friendship and love of dear ones. For, ‘tis these very moments which our fathers, brothers and country men die to protect; the twinkling eye, merriment, and song, all life’s simple and trifling yet most treasured moments.
Dear ones, I remain yours most truly and humbly,
Anne
