(1758)
There fell a war in a woody place,
Lay far across the sea,
A war of the march in the mirk midnight
And the shot from behind the tree,
The shaven head and the painted face,
The silent foot in the wood,
In a land of a strange, outlandish tongue
That was hard to be understood.
R. L. Stevenson.
The rivalry1 between our nation and the French died down upon the Continent, but burst into flame in North America, and it is to that wild and unknown country—for so it was in the year 1756—that we must follow the Black Watch.
The Expeditionary Force was under the command of a singularly incompetent2 General named Sir James Abercrombie, and landed at New York after many weary weeks’ journey. The appearance of the Highlanders created a tremendous sensation, particularly amongst the Red Indians, who displayed the keenest interest in their dress, and were ready to accept them as brothers-in-arms. It must also be recalled that many Highlanders had emigrated during the years succeeding 1745, so one can take it for granted that the Black Watch were warmly received by their kinsfolk in the New World.
The French forces were commanded by the gallant4 Marquis de Montcalm, who in 1756, acting5 with his usual promptitude, had captured Fort Ontario, a success clouded over by the ill-treatment of the British soldiers by the Red Indians. In 1757 the only incident worthy6 of note was the fall of Fort William Henry.
So far our enemies had succeeded, and the Government, irritated by this unsatisfactory state of affairs, fitted out a further naval7 and military force of some fifteen thousand men.
The British force in America was divided into three expeditions. We shall deal briefly8 with each in turn. But for fear that hard facts may obscure the romantic setting, it will be just as well to sketch9 the features of the country in which these undertakings10 played their part. It had all the wonder of a virgin11 land. It was there that—
Soldiers and priests in the grim bivouac—
A handful dreaming in the wilderness12—
In fancy reached Quebec and Tadousac
And told of great exploits, of long duresse,
Of Fort St. Louis’ graves, of sore distress13,
Of France’s venture in the southern land.[3]
Vast lakes and rivers, mountains and ca?ons, not unlike to the glens the Highlanders had left in Scotland, confronted them. In the deep stillness of the woods wild animals slipped into the darkness, and savages14 were a sleepless15 menace. In the dead of a summer night the long-drawn cry of an Indian brave would chill the blood of some straggling soldier, or from the thicket16 would fly the arrows of death. It was a country where one force could not hope to keep in touch with another nor guard its lines of communication: an army was swallowed up in a wilderness of forests and rivers. In such circumstances each man carried his life and the lives of his comrades in his hands, for defeat meant annihilation or capture, and it would be better to fall into the hands of the French than to be tracked down by their ruthless allies the Indians. “Here were no English woodlands, no stretches of pale green turf, no vistas17 opening beneath flattened18 boughs19, with blue distant hills, and perhaps a group of antlers topping the bracken. The wild life of these forests crawled among thickets20 or lurked21 in sinister22 shadows. No bird poured out its heart in them; no lark23 soared out of them, breasting heaven. At rare intervals24 a note fell on the ear—the scream of hawk25 or eagle, the bitter cackling laugh of blue jay or woodpecker, the loon’s ghostly cry—solitary notes, and unhappy, as though wrung26 by pain out of the choking silence; or away on the hillside a grouse27 began drumming, or a duck went whirring down the long waterway until the sound sank and was overtaken by the river’s slow murmur28.
“When night had hushed down these noises, the forest would be silent for an hour or two, and then awake more horribly with the howling of wolves.”[4]
We now come to one of those episodes of reckless bravery that have immortalised the Highland3 regiments—an engagement that was to ring throughout England, bringing a new renown31 to the Black Watch. It is associated with a place bearing the strange and musical name of Ticonderoga—‘the meeting of the waters.’ Many years before our story the famous Frenchman Champlain had nearly suffered defeat in that dreaded32 country of the Iroquois. Many years had passed since then, and now Ticonderoga was held by the French. How difficult a place it was to storm will be gathered from the following description:
“Fort Ticonderoga stands on a tongue of land between Lake Champlain and Lake George, and is surrounded on three sides by water; part of the fourth side is protected by a morass33, the remaining part was strongly fortified34 with high entrenchments, supported and flanked by three batteries, and the whole front of that part which was accessible was intersected by deep traverses, and blocked up with felled trees, with their branches turned outwards35, forming together a most formidable defence.”
It was rendered not less hazardous36 because Abercrombie did not take the trouble to employ ordinary precautions. He could have stormed the place with artillery37, attacked it on the flank, or cut Montcalm’s line of communications. He did none of these things. In other words, he trusted to the bravery of his soldiers to achieve what was practically impossible. Embarking38 his troops on Lake George, he made his way down the still and placid39 lake, landing without opposition40. The very silence was ominous41.
In the meantime Montcalm was straining every nerve to prepare for the coming struggle. With him were a comparatively large force of French and several hundred Canadians, while a further reinforcement was hourly expected. On the report that the defences of Ticonderoga were still unfinished, Abercrombie decided42 upon an instant attack. The English attacking force, composed of the Grenadiers with the Highlanders in reserve, advanced heroically to the assault, only to discover that the entrenchments were far stronger than had been anticipated. Montcalm waited until the English were within a close distance of the garrison43 before giving the order to fire. The British were mown down in hundreds. Again and again they charged, to fall in heaps at the foot of the stockades45. Even now Abercrombie would not give up the insane attack. So far the Black Watch had taken no part, but the time soon came when they could restrain their impatience46 no longer, and, gripping their broadswords and Lochaber axes, they broke into a charge. Madly they rushed at the stockade44, only to find, like their comrades, that it was practically unscalable. They were dauntless in their despair. By scrambling47 upon each other’s shoulders a few managed to enter the enclosure and were instantly killed by the French. After a forlorn struggle, in which the Black Watch lost some 300 men killed with over 300 wounded, Abercrombie resolved to retire. He had attempted to take a position impregnable without a bombardment. Well might the French commander remark: “Had I to besiege48 Ticonderoga, I would ask for but six mortars49 and two pieces of artillery.” Abercrombie had the artillery, but did not trouble to bring it up.
“The affair at Fontenoy,” says Lieutenant50 Grant of the Black Watch, “was nothing to it: I saw both. We laboured under insurmountable difficulties. The enemy’s breastwork was about nine or ten feet high, upon the top of which they had plenty of wall pieces fixed51, and which was well lined on the inside with small arms. But the difficult access to their lines was what gave them a fatal advantage over us. They took care to cut down monstrous52 large oak trees which covered all the ground from the foot of their breastwork about the distance of a cannon-shot every way in their front. This not only broke our ranks, and made it impossible for us to keep our order, but put it entirely53 out of our power to advance till we cut our way through. I have seen men behave with courage and resolution before now, but so much determined54 bravery can hardly be equalled in any part of the history of ancient Rome. Even those that were mortally wounded cried aloud to their companions not to mind or lose a thought upon them, but to follow their officers, and to mind the honour of their country. Nay55, their ardour was such, that it was difficult to bring them off. They paid dearly for their intrepidity56. The remains57 of the regiment30 had the honour to cover the retreat of the army, and brought off the wounded as we did at Fontenoy. When shall we have so fine a regiment again?”
Battle scene
The Black Watch at Ticonderoga
On Independence Day 1906, in the Carnegie Public Library at Ticonderoga, a tablet was unveiled commemorating58 the gallantry and the severe casualties of the Black Watch in July 1758, a calamity59 comparable to that of Magersfontein in 1899.
Here, as throughout our story, was displayed a reckless bravery under trying conditions, an uncomplaining heroism60 under fire, a simple pride in the honour of the regiment.
“With a mixture of esteem61, and grief, and envy,” says an officer, “I consider the great loss and immortal29 glory acquired by the Scots Highlanders in the late bloody62 affair. Impatient for orders they rushed forward to the entrenchments, which many of them actually mounted. They appeared like lions breaking from their chains. Their intrepidity was rather animated63 than damped by seeing their comrades fall on every side.”
It was following this gallant exploit the news came that for past valuable services the regiment was to be called ‘the Royal Highland Regiment of Foot.’ After Ticonderoga it was doubly worthy of such recognition.
The second expedition—that against Louisburg, in which Fraser’s Highlanders served—sailed from Halifax on May 28, 1758, and after a stormy passage effected a landing under General Wolfe.
The town surrendered after a considerable bombardment, great gallantry being shown by the Highlanders engaged.
The third expedition, against Fort Duquesne, was under the command of Brigadier-General John Forbes. The British force, amongst whom were Montgomery’s Highlanders, were confronted by almost impenetrable country, but that did not prove so great a danger as the foolhardiness that led the commander to belittle64 the strength of the enemy. It was rumoured65 that the French garrison was limited to 800 men, largely composed of Indians. A party of Highlanders, under Major James Grant, and a company of Virginians marched cheerfully ahead to reconnoitre. The honest strains of the bagpipes66 warned the enemy for miles around that the Highlanders were approaching. Instant preparation being made for their arrival, they walked into an ambuscade. A fierce fire from the dense67 undergrowth raked their closed ranks unmercifully. Major Grant, who appears to have taken no precautions whatever, was captured, while the ranks of the Highlanders were decimated. A retreat, humiliating though it was, was the only course, and this reverse so disheartening that the British commander determined to abandon any further advance. It fell to George Washington, at this time a young man of twenty-six, accompanied by Provincials68, and a detachment of Highlanders, to retrieve69 the failure of the former expedition. His march was a notable one. It was in dead of winter, and the hills were white with snow. Defeat, as always in that country, spelt ruin and death, but the little force pressed onwards, determined to succeed, and to regain70 the prestige of the British arms. Nearer and nearer they came to the enemy. Suddenly, one evening, a sullen71 glow of firelight shot up into the sky. The disheartened garrison had set fire to Fort Duquesne, and taken flight upon the Ohio. This was hardly a satisfactory conclusion for the British force, already short of provisions, but amidst the smouldering ashes Washington planted the flag of England, naming the place Pittsburg, after the Prime Minister.
The time had at last dawned for a decisive movement. Abercrombie had been succeeded by General Amherst, who planned a second assault upon Ticonderoga. To General Wolfe was allotted72 the almost impossible task of storming Quebec. General Prideaux was to advance against the French position near the Falls of Niagara.
General Amherst, with whom were the Black Watch, secured an easy triumph in taking possession of Ticonderoga, already deserted73 by the French, and thus obtained a naval security upon the lakes.
The expedition of General Wolfe deserves a separate chapter.
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1
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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2
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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3
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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5
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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7
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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8
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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9
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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10
undertakings
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| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
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11
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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12
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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13
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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14
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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15
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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16
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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17
vistas
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| 长条形景色( vista的名词复数 )； 回顾； 展望； （未来可能发生的）一系列情景 | |
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18
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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19
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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20
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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21
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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22
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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24
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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25
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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26
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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27
grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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28
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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29
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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31
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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32
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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33
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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34
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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35
outwards
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| adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形 | |
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36
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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37
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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38
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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39
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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40
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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41
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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42
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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44
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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45
stockades
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| n.（防御用的）栅栏，围桩( stockade的名词复数 ) | |
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46
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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47
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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48
besiege
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| vt.包围，围攻，拥在...周围 | |
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49
mortars
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| n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵 | |
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50
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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51
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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52
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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53
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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55
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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56
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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57
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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58
commemorating
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| v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 ) | |
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59
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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60
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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61
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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62
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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63
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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64
belittle
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| v.轻视，小看，贬低 | |
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65
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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66
bagpipes
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| n.风笛；风笛( bagpipe的名词复数 ) | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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68
provincials
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| n.首都以外的人，地区居民( provincial的名词复数 ) | |
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69
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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70
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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71
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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72
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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