Muskets & Arrows
Volume XI, No. 1
Save the Date
Winter 2016
2015 Summer Dinner Dance
Wednesday April 6th
Council Meeting - 11:30 am
Program/Lunch - Noon-1:00pm
The Casino
Sunday, May 15th
Summer Court - 10:45 am
Shoreacres
Thursday, May 19th-22nd
41st General Assembly
Philadelphia
Wednesday, July 6th
Council Meeting - 11:30 am
Program/Lunch - Noon-1:00pm
The Chicago Yacht Club
Saturday, July 16th
Annual Dinner Dance
with The Colonial Dames
6:30 pm
The Onwentsia Club
Saturday, September 10th
Colonial History Lecture Series
Speaker Patrick Griffin PhD
Newberry Library- 10am
Wednesday, October15th
Council Meeting - 11:30 am
Program/Lunch - Noon-1:00pm
The Casino
Thursday, December 1st
Winter Court - Stag Event
6:00 pm Black/White Tie
The Casino
Society of Colonial Wars
in the State of Illinois
P.O. Box 350
Kenilworth, IL 60043
847-251-1400
www.colonialwarsil.org
www.gscw.org
On July 18, 2015, the Illinois Society and
the Illinois Dames (NSCDA-IL) held
their fifth annual summer dinner dance
at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. We
were again blessed with excellent weather
and we were honored by the numerous
visitors from Warriors and Dames
societies around the country. The Illinois
Societies’ dinner dance is becoming a
destination party for the summer.
The event was co-chaired by our
Membership & Social Chairman Brian D.
White along with Priscilla Barlow of the
NSCDA-IL. After enjoying cocktails and
hors d’oeuvres served on the terrace
overlooking the golf course, guests were
treated to delicious food inside the
venerable club house. After Mr. White,
Mrs. Barlow, and Illinois Society Governor
Robert Burell welcomed the guests from
the podium, the guests danced to the
music of the Steve Biossat Trio. At the end
of the evening, many guests returned to
the terrace to enjoy the beautiful evening
as well as trays of champagne.
Dames and Warriors from Georgia, South
Carolina, Florida, California, Washington,
D.C., Massachusetts, New York and
Kentucky were in attendance. As the
years go by, this party becomes more and
more a destination party for the summer
season. Just as the Florida Society’s annual
party in early February brings Warriors
and Dames from all over the country,
perhaps fleeing winter’s winds and storms,
but nevertheless convening together for
fellowship and festivity, the Illinois Society
hopes to create a welcoming summer
celebration of the Dames and Warriors in
a relatively cool part of the country that
will build bonds of fellowship throughout
the country. This year’s party showed a
great deal of progress in that direction
pictures continued on next page
Summer Dinner Dance continued
Winter 2016  Page 2
The Governor’s Report
As the recently elected
Governor, I am both honored
and humbled by that which has
preceded and that which will
unfold in the future, A State
Society which other states now
deem ‘on a roll’.
That which has preceded: I
joined the Illinois Society in
1958 via my grandmother’s
line of genealogy. We lived
in Barrington, Illinois where
several neighbors were active
Governor John Harmon Strothman and they had all included their
sons in the process. From 1960
to 1970, I lived out-of-state (U.S. Navy Pacific, New York City,
St. Louis) while my father supported the Illinois membership.
Dana and I moved back to Illinois in 1970. I remained an Illinois
member yet participated infrequently and traveled frequently
until 2008-09 when the economy took its tumble and faithful
clients closed their contracts.
The Illinois Society was in transition then; senior membership
waning and younger interested members scarce. Senior
membership led by then Governor Bob Allen recruited
David Linville to be Governor in 2009 and I supported his
leadership as both Secretary and Treasurer. Governor Linville
encouraged his Lake Forest friends to join, focused on
developing junior recruiting leadership and in 2013, as Deputy
Governor General, brought the General Society’s Membership
Symposium to Chicago. Bob Burell, elected Governor in 2012,
strengthened the Society’s Chicago and Down-State presence
(Fort de Chartres), its attention to governance plus his touch
of Annapolis “Pomp” and Warrior “Circumstance”.
That which will unfold in the future: I hope to continue in the
footsteps of Governors Allen, Linville and Burell. I’m excited
about the Illinois Society playing host to the annual General
Court in 2022 and expect that some planning for that event
will take place in the next few years.
In the meantime, there are plans to improve the operation
of our Society. A new Membership Directory is in its editing
phase and I encourage your assistance on keeping it relevant.
As an example, the new directory will include improvements
to the ease of cross referencing members and locations to
assist in leveraging transportation needs or deleveraging leastconvenient facilities for activities. Further, we should recruit a
member Genealogist to assume that vacancy. Presently, while
this office remains vacant, we may continue to rely on the
knowledge and support from our previous Registrar, Jim Barr.
Jim brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to
our ranks.
Observation: the twenty-first century is mature and times
are a-changing! The American Colonial Period of Our Society
extends from May 13, 1607 to April 19, 1775. The Society’s
research, through Northwestern Professor T.H. Breen’s
outreach in1982, captured broad, then newer themes of
larger economic and political systems of the world that the
early settlers on the Atlantic Coast came to deal with. One
even newer theme that your Editor and Governor plan to
introduce in the next issue of Muskets & Arrows is a column
on technology in the colonial period. The column will be
entitled Orbis Spike after the name University College of
London professors Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin attached
to humanity’s first measureable, major impact on Planet Earth
recently dignified with a beginning date--1610. The column will
focus on aspects of technology that occurred in the American
colonies prior to 1775. For example, in the 1700s there
was an agricultural revolution that led to an unprecedented
increase in population. There are undoubtedly many significant
technological developments that occurred between 1607 and
1775 that we hope to explore in this column. If anyone is
interested in writing up a topic for Orbis Spike, please contact
the Editor.
And of course, the Illinois Society is also committed to our
continued festive enjoyments. We have many noteworthy
social ‘Spikes’ planned for this year and next and I hope to see
all of you there.
Did You Know...
If you are already or now listed in The Social Register
and you are a new Colonial Warrior you can add the Warriors
initials “Cw” among your listing of club memberships and
affiliations. The SR and Hereditary Societies go hand in hand
and many others are approved and listed as well. You can do
this in Jan/Feb as the renewals and updates are called for each
year. Our Governor and top officers are also listed in the back
of the book under “Clubs and Their Officers”. If you didn’t
also notice, our summer dinner dance was featured under
“Noteworthy Events” in the Winter 2016 Locator & Observer
pages 19,20 and 21.
Winter 2016  Page 3
The Officers & Gentlemen of the Council (above)
Winter Court 2015 The Casino
On December 3, 2015, the Illinois Warriors held our 122nd
annual Winter Court at The Casino Club in Chicago.
Attendees enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before
the meeting, which featured reports by Council Members.
Governor Robert Lee Burell chaired the meeting. Outgoing
Deputy Governor General David Linville spoke about the
progress that the Illinois Society has made in the last few
years and the good impression this progress has made on
the General Society. He spoke with pride of Illinois Society’s
designation as the host for the 2022 General Court. And he
praised and thanked outgoing Governor Robert Burell for his
efforts and success in moving the Society forward. He then
led the attendees in giving Governor Burell a standing ovation.
Incoming Governor John Strothman spoke to the assembled
Warriors about his recollections of the Society when he joined
and how it has changed. He spoke with eager anticipation
about his upcoming tenure as Governor and being able to
work with the other officers and former Governors who are
still involved in the Society.
It was announced at the meeting that the following new
members had been inducted into the Society: Mr. Donald
Kenneth Griffith, Mr. Thomas Eugene Leiter, Mr. John Walker
Barriger, IV and Geofrey Michael Euston. The following slate
of nominees for Officers and Gentlemen of the Council was
proposed and approved by the members:
Governor, John Harmon Strothman
Deputy Governor, Brian Darrell White
Deputy Governor General for Illinois, Robert Lee Burell
Lieutenant Governor, David Linville
Secretary, Philip R. May
Treasurer, Albert Earling Van Alyea
Historian, James Field Rudwall
Registrar, Allen Carter
Chancellor, Andrew Jackson Valentine
Chaplin, Albert Harris Tippens, Jr.
The slate of Officers was elected unanimously.
article continued on next page
Winter 2016  Page 4
The following special committees were also reappointed
for 2015: Investment Committee: Edmund Lester (chair);
Membership Committee: Ed Rutledge (chair) and Zack
Sudler; Social Committee:Todd Schwebel (chair); Muskets and
Arrows Committee: Aaron Barlow (editor) and Peter Mark
(photographer); Committee of Fort de Chartres James M.
Kinney (Commander of the Fort).
The Gentlemen of the Council appointed were as follows:
Samuel Badger, Renton Brodie III, John Adam Bross, Howell
Brown, Barry Carroll, Martinus John Dryud, Leland Hutchinson,
Rudolph Knepper, Louis Sudler and David Sweet.
Immediately following the meeting, the party adjourned for
dinner. Various toasts to the President of the United States
and The Queen were made. After dinner, the Honorable
Stephen Bridges, British Consul General, Chicago, spoke
on a number of topics. Mr. Bridges, who also spoke at last
year’s Winter Court, was again entertaining, interesting and
informative. He presented a discussion on Winston Churchill,
that quintessential Briton whose mother was famously
American and who was so honored in this country that John
F. Kennedy made him an honorary United States citizen. Mr.
Bridges’ entertaining and informative discussion was, of course,
accompanied by many digressions and special anecdotes of an
amusing nature.
Following Mr. Bridge’s stimulating lecture, the group adjourned
back to the cocktail lounge for champagne and backgammon.
Winter 2016  Page 5
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 1)
This is the fifth installment in a series of articles for the
Muskets and Arrows on the various colonial wars fought
in by our ancestors. This article concerns the start of the
last of the four French and Indian Wars. The British and
English-speaking Canadians call it the Seven Years War
because its European aspect lasted seven years. However,
for Americans it lasted nine years, so we have traditionally
called it The French and Indian War.
This war was very complex and involved fighting not only
in North America and Europe, but also in India, Cuba and
West Africa. This synopsis can only scratch the surface
of the interconnected causes and effects of this global
conflagration. Winston Churchill called it the first true
“world war.”
Prior War Left Unfinished Business
Unlike all previous French and Indian Wars, this war proved
to be decisive and radically changed the fortunes of England
for the better and France for the worse. The war began in
North America six years after the peace treaty that ended
the most recent war with the French and Indians. That
treaty—the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle—had restored all
pre-war possessions to Britain and France and thus failed
to address any of the underlying problems. Significantly for
the Americans this treaty restored to the French its Fort
at Louisbourg in Nova Scotia, which represented a major
threat to the English colonies and their shipping routes to
and from England.
Louisbourg was part of an arc of French fortifications
stretching along the Great Lakes through Detroit, into
Illinois at Fort de Chartres and down the Mississippi to
New Orleans. The colonists of 1748 felt threatened by
these forts. They feared the forts were the first step in
French efforts to penetrate further into the interior of
the continent and hem in English activity to the east of
the Appalachians. Both Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed
extensive lands in the Ohio River valley. Investors in
Virginia had recently formed real estate ventures which
had purchased the rights to develop thousands of acres of
this land.
French penetrate Ohio River valley
The French also viewed the Ohio River valley as a source
of riches and sought to exploit it. Almost immediately after
the conclusion of the Aix-la-Chapelle peace, the French
aggressively pursued claims to the Ohio River valley. France
contended its rights to the Ohio River valley were based
on longstanding ownership rights resulting from various
vague sources. For example, France claimed, erroneously,
that French explorers were in this are in the 1600s.
In 1749, the French governor of Canada sent an expedition
under Pierre Joseph Céleron de Blainville to explore the
region and strengthen French claims to the land. Céleron
traveled from around what is now Erie Pennsylvania to
the Allegheny River and down that river to where it joins
the Monongahela River at the site of Pittsburgh to form
the Ohio River. He then traveled down the Ohio to the
Miami River, up the Miami to a portage to the Maumee
River, down the Maumee and into Lake Erie at what is now
Toledo, Ohio.
Along the way, at he mouths of key rivers, Céleron posted
on the trunks of large trees copper or tin insignias of the
French royal arms. At each of these sites, he also buried a
lead plate engraved with an inscription setting forth French
claims to the entire Ohio River valley. The plates were dated
and asserted that France was “renewing” its possession of
these lands which had allegedly been granted by force of
arms and treaties. The plates claimed all lands on either side
of every river that emptied into the Ohio River. They also
contended that this claim “was enjoyed or was supposed
to have been enjoyed by the preceding Kings of France
and which they have maintained by arms and by treaty
especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix la Chappelle.”
The treaties of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix la Chappelle were
the treaties that ended the first three French and Indian
Wars. Not one of these treaties mentioned the Ohio River
or its watershed. Nor had France ever seized any part of
the territory by arms.
Céleron buried six lead plates in all along the Allegheny
and Ohio Rivers from present day Warren, Pennsylvania
to the mouth of the Great Miami River, which empties into
the Ohio near the present border between the States of
Indiana and Ohio.
The French also engaged in construction projects to
extend the French presence ever closer to the frontier of
English settlement. After Céleron’s expedition, the French
established several additional forts extending French
control deep into what is now northern New York State
and western Pennsylvania. These forts projected French
power down to the southern end of Lake Champlain and
Lake George, a little over 50 miles from Albany and less
than five miles from the Hudson River. In Pennsylvania,
France established a chain of forts extending from the
coast of Lake Erie at Presque Isle (near present-day Erie,
Pennsylvania) to Fort Machault on the Allegheny River,
allowing France to easily and quickly project its power
downstream into the Ohio valley.
Winter 2016  Page 6
article continued on next page
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 1) continued
Virginia tries a colonial response to French
gression
These actions alarmed both the colonists and the British
government at home, where many were beginning to realize
the importance of the colonies to Britain’s power. One
member of Parliament cautioned, “The French, Sir, consider
power as their ultimatum… They know that the source of
power lies in riches, and that the source of English riches
lies in America.” Consequently, the British government
authorized and encouraged an aggressive response to the
French encroachments.
By 1753, the Virginia colonists were sufficiently alarmed to
take action. Many Virginia colonists had invested in a real
estate venture, the Ohio Company of Virginia, seeking to
develop the lands on both sides of the Ohio River in what
is now Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The investment in
this company was worthless if French presence prevented
the settlement of these lands by English colonists. The
Governor of Virginia, an investor in the company, received
permission from London to build English forts on the Ohio
as a defense against the French. He was told, however,
that first he should send a stern warning to the French
trespassers, asserting “[o]ur undoubted rights to such
parts of the said river Ohio, as are within the limits of our
province of Virginia, or any other of our provinces.” If that
failed, he was told he could proceed with his military plan:
“If trespassers, European or Indian should fail to leave or
obstruct these orders, our will and pleasure is, that you
should repel force by force.”
Governor Dinwiddie sent the 21 year old Major George
Washington to deliver this message in October, 1753. On
December 11, Washington’s party reached Fort Le Boef,
about 15 miles from Lake Erie near present day Erie,
Pennsylvania. The French commander gave Washington a
written reply stating that France was the proper claimant to
the lands and that the governor of Canada had substantial
evidence supporting that claim. Washington returned to
Williamsburg, Virginia (Virginia’s capital at the time) on
January 16, 1754 with the French refusal, a detailed map
of French positions and a journal filled with useful military
observations.
The French refusal to withdraw from the Ohio River
valley gave Governor Dinwiddie the justification to
pursue his original goal—building English forts in the
valley. Accordingly, a team of workmen started building a
fort (to be called Fort Prince George) at the forks of the
Ohio—where the Allegheny and Monongahela join—in
February 1754. In April 1754, George Washington led 120
soldiers to the forks to protect the workman who would
become vulnerable to French attacks after the spring’s
thaw. However, the French had already arrived at the forks
before Washington. The French, with more than 1000 men,
on April 18 chased the Virginia workmen away, razed the
unfinished fort and began building a larger fort of their own
on the same spot—Fort Duquesne.
Washington hastily built a small, wooden palisade enclosure
southeast of the forks in what is now Fayette County,
Pennsylvania near present day US-40, which Washington
called Fort Necessity. Despite receiving substantial
reinforcements from Virginia, a French attack and short
siege forced Washington to agree to the terms offered by
the French commander, who pointed out that because “our
Kings” were not at war, they need not take prisoners and
if the Virginians went back to Virginia, the French would be
satisfied.
Britain sends some help
Having failed to deter the French using only colonial forces,
Dinwiddie asked for help from England. However, at this
time, the alliances that Britain had counted on for the past
75 years were falling apart. For years, Britain relied on a
coalition with Austria and the Dutch for protection against
the formidable military of Louis XIV and Louis XV. A key
to this protection was a chain of fortresses maintained in
the Austrian Netherlands (present-day Belgium) that the
British called “the Barrier Forts.” British concerns were
two-fold—first, Britain needed to keep France in check or
France would become the overwhelmingly dominant state
in Europe. Even though Britain was an island, she feared the
day when France was so free of continental concerns that
it could put its entire weight behind building a bigger navy.
Second, the King of England was also the ruler of Hanover, a
large German principality occupying most of north-central
Germany. A French invasion of Hanover would inevitably
require British wealth and men to be sent to its aid.
Until 1756, Britain’s alliance with Austria had served these
twin goals. However, in the previous war, Austria had lost
its vast provinces in Silesia to the aggression of Prussia’s
King Frederick the Great. Rather than help Austria regain
those provinces, Britain unilaterally agreed to terms for the
resolution of the war at Aix la Chapelle and Austria was
forced to accept. By 1754, the relations between Austria
and Britain were very poor indeed.
In fact, since 1754, Austrian had begun secret discussions
with France about a possible alliance. With such little
support, Britain was very concerned that going to war
against France would be an unmitigated disaster. In 1755,
Winter 2016  Page 7
article continued on next page
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 1) continued
the British Prime Minister, the Duke of Newcastle, wrote, “I
own I tremble, when I reflect that we shall begin a war in
Europe without one single ally.”
Thus, in response to Governor Dinwiddie’s request, Britain
sent a force to the colonies under General Braddock, while
continuing to act, in Europe, as though it were not at war
with France.
Braddock planned to attack Fort Duquesne at the forks of
the Ohio. He therefore sought the assistance of George
Washington, who had already led two expeditions in that
area. Braddock asked Washington to be his aide-de-camp
and offered him a British army commission. Washington,
however, had earlier resigned from the military in disgust at
the disrespect the British regulars treated even experienced
colonial soldiers. He agreed to join Braddock’s expedition,
but only as a civilian volunteer and refused to be paid.
The Braddock expedition of 1300 British and colonial
troops left Fort Cumberland on June 7, 1755. Braddock
knew nothing of colonial warfare. He made abysmally
slow progress and failed to take necessary precautions
against sneak attacks from Indians or French hiding in the
dense woods of southwestern Pennsylvania. As a result,
his spread-out force was pummeled ten miles east of Fort
Duquesne on July 9, 1755 by less than 290 French and 600
Indians. The battle lasted three hours during which French
and Indians, concealed in the woods, picked off hundreds of
exposed British regulars and colonial militiamen. Braddock
was seriously wounded. Washington rallied some of the
men into a rear guard that permitted the survivors to flee.
Braddock died four days later on the way back to Fort
Cumberland. More than 450 of Braddock’s men were
dead and another 400 were wounded. The French had
targeted the officers, killing or wounding sixty-three out
of a total of eighty-six. There were fewer than 60 French
casualties with only about 30 killed.
Other colonial efforts against the French in
1755
Meanwhile, William Johnson led a force of New York and
New England militias up the New York border lakes (Lakes
Champlain and George) towards a French fort at Crown
Point. Along the way, Johnson built three new forts, including
one at Fort Edward near Lake George. On September 1,
1755, Baron Dieskau, a German in French service, led a
force against Fort Edward. On September 8, he reached
the environs of Fort Edward and three engagements took
place. First, the English, underestimating the size of Dieskau’s
troops, sent a detachment out of the fort to attack the
French. The attack failed, the English leaders were killed,
and the detachment fell back to the fort. Second, Dieskau
attacked the fort, but the fortifications held and the English
were able to inflict significant casualties on the French.
The English then sent out a sortie, causing the French to
pull back four miles. In the process Dieskau was captured.
The third engagement occurred in the evening when an
English colonial militia on the way to the fort came upon
the French camp and attacked, driving the French away and
stealing their baggage. While the French lost the ground,
the English lost more men—262 English and 230 French
were killed or wounded.
A third English force active in 1755 was under the command
of Massachusetts Governor Shirley, who after Braddock’s
death was now the highest ranking officer on the English
side. His plan was to attack the French Fort Niagara. In
May he had sent a construction crew to the English Fort
Oswego on Lake Ontario to build four ships that would
carry soldiers down the lake shore to attack the French at
Fort Niagara.
At the end of July, Shirley led a force of 2400 men towards
Fort Oswego. Shirley reached Fort Oswego on September
2, 1755. However, due to rain, sickness and low provisions,
embarkation was delayed and on September 27, 1755
it was decided postpone the attack until spring. Shirley
returned to Boston and in March 1756 was summoned to
London and ordered to surrender his command of British
forces in North America to General John Campbell, the
Earl of Loudoun. Years later, after the next three British
commanders showed far less energy and military judgment
than Shirley had shown in his short tenure, Benjamin
Franklin lamented his dismissal and praised him as “sensible
and sagacious” and “capable of forming judicious Plans,
quick and active in carrying them into Execution.”
The Diplomatic Revolution
Meanwhile, in Europe, Britain was feeling more and more
isolated. Austria was obviously still angry over Britain’s
failure to show sufficient sympathy with Austrian desires
to recapture Silesia from its arch-enemy King Frederick of
Prussia. With no improvement in its relations with Austria
and fearing an attack on Hanover, Britain signed an alliance
with Prussia on January 16, 1756.
For some reason, the British leadership did not foresee
how much this treaty would offend Austria even further.
But the Austrian reaction was swift and devastating. The
British-Prussian alliance removed any Austrian hesitation to
Winter 2016  Page 8
article continued on next page
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 1) continued
abandon the more than two-hundred year enmity between
France and the Austrian House of Habsburg. On May 1,
1756, Austria and France concluded their until-then secret
negotiations and formed a new alliance. Britain, in each of
the last three major wars, had been able to rely on Austrian
armies to bear the brunt of France’s military attacks on
continental Europe. The realignment of Prussia with Britain
and Austria with France was so significant that historians
call it “The Diplomatic Revolution.” Now Britain was more
isolated than ever.
The French meanwhile relentlessly continued to send
ships of troops to North America to build up its North
American forces for more attacks on the English colonies.
The British declared war on May 18, 1756. Two days later,
the French attacked Minorca—a major British island base in
the Mediterranean. The French took the island and a relief
squadron under Admiral John Byng failed to dislodge them.
The whole British position in the western Mediterranean
was now at risk. The degree of British panic can be seen
by the government’s decision to court-martial Byng for not
“doing his utmost” against the French. He was executed by
firing squad the next year.
Things were hardly faring better in America. Loudoun, the
new commander-in-chief of British North American forces
did not leave London until May 20, 1756, accompanied by
three aides, seventeen servants and his mistress. He arrived
in New York on July 23 and decided it was too late in the
year to begin campaigning. The French, however, showed
far more energy. Their new commander, the Marquis de
Montcalm, arrived in Quebec in the middle of May. He
launched an expedition from Fort Frontenac (where
Kingston, Ontario now is) on the shore of Lake Ontario
and on August 13, 1756, captured Fort Oswego, where the
previous year Governor Shirley had hoped to launch an
expedition against Fort Niagara.
Back in Europe, Prussia’s King Frederick pre-emptively
attacked Saxony in August 1756. Britain’s January 1756
treaty with Frederick required them to join him if Austria
counter-attacked. There was a great deal of justification to
the argument that the treaty with Prussia was not triggered
because Frederick had precipitated the war. But Newcastle
was afraid that if Britain did not honor its alliance with
Prussia, Britain would be completely and utterly alone.
Even worse, after all the worrying about an attack on
Hanover, the French began to threaten an attack on England
itself. France built up forces along the English Channel to
over hundred thousand troops. This led to an unpopular
decision to bring thousands of German mercenaries to
England which triggered the traditional English fears of an
over-mighty government.
The rise of William Pitt
After so many disasters had befallen the British in 1756,
at the end of the year, the Prime Minister saw the writing
on the wall and realized he would have to turn over the
government to his most vocal critic in Parliament—William
Pitt. The King did not like Pitt because Pitt argued for using
Britain’s military strength in North America at the expense
of protecting the King’s German possessions in Hanover.
However, Newcastle reminded the King, “But unfortunately,
sir, he is the only one who has ability to do the business.”
Pitt himself, not one to lack confidence, told the Prime
Minister, “I am sure I can save this country and nobody else
can.”
The next phase of the war would be dominated by
William Pitt’s strategy. His focus on the colonies earned
him lasting popularity in America, so that when, eventually,
Fort Duquesne was captured from the French, the new
fort was called Fort Pitt—at first—and then Pittsburgh. He
continued to be viewed as a friend of the colonies through
the Revolution. As the second part of this article will show,
Pitt’s global strategic vision, focusing on ejecting the French
from North America, was a master stroke that changed
the balance of power between England and France forever.
Sources:
Anderson, Fred, “Crucible of War,” (New York 2000).
Peckham, Howard H., “The Colonial Wars, 1689-1762,”
(Chicago 1964.)
Simms, Brendan, “Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise
and Fall of the First British Empire, 1714-1783,” (New York
2007)
Yorke, Philip C. “The Life and Correspondence of Philip
Yorke Earl of Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of
Great Britain,” Vol. 2. (London 1913) available at www.
forgottenbooks.com
In need of help with a stumbling
block or your research?
We recommend Diane Rapaport a Professional Genealogist
located in Lexington, MA. Tel: 781.698.7884 Toll Free: 866784-5573 or e-mail: [email protected]. For more
information go to www.DianeRapaport.com; and also
locally, Victoria Flanagan Defty, Tel: 312.642.0457.
Winter 2016  Page 9
Warriors Weekend in Palm Beach - 2016
Another year has passed and it was time to head down to
Palm Beach for the Florida Societies annual Dinner Dance
at The Everglades Club. With close to 30 Illinois Warriors
& spouses (and 300 total guests) we were touted as the
highest attendance of any state society even surpassing
New York! The weekend starts with dinner at the famous
Renato’s on Worth
Avenue
with
their
amazing soft shell crabs
and dover sole- Friday
is usually a day off either
lounging by the pool at
The Chesterfield Hotel
(or Breakers, Brazilian
Court or The Colony
Hotel) or shopping
along Worth AvenueThat night a sea of white
tie, long gowns and
gloves and elegant guests of all ages descend upon the club
at precisely 7pm. A brief “Warrior Court” is held for about
10 minutes and dinner & dancing begin at 8. Then when you
least expect it the ceiling magically disappears and you are
literally dancing under the stars in the glamorous ballroom
of The Everglades Club to The Alex Donner Orchestra. It
is a night that once
you attend- you’ll
find
yourselves
coming back year
after year. One of
the special aspects
of this party is that
60% of the guests
are coming in
from NY, Boston,
Newport, CT, etc
and you are making
friends and re-connecting with old ones that you will see
around the country throughout the year. Immediately
following the dance many of our Chicago contingent head
back to The Leopard Lounge for more dancing with several
ending up in West Palm till about about 4am. The following
day is the Annual Court Buffet Luncheon held at the elegant
Bath & Tennis Club and that night we continue our tradition
with dinner at Ta-boo. Sunday this year we added a special
treat arranged through incoming Florida Society Governor
Joseph P. Meyer (avid polo player himself and President
of the National Polo Association) - with a full day of Polo
at The International
Polo Club Palm
Beach. Starting with
a sumptuous buffet
with
everything
imaginable to private
tour of the horses,
meeting the players,
special IL pix (shown)
and fabulous box
seats for the game. It
was a particularly exciting game this year ending in sudden
death with the “La Indiana” team winning 11 to 10. The
day ended with a post game pool party drinking Moscow
mules.
Save the date for
February 3rd, 4th and 5th 2017!
Winter 2016  Page 10
General Society of Colonial Wars Paraphernalia Order Information
Society paraphernalia is available to members in good standing. Please consult our Guidelines page for guidance on wear.
9mm Society Rosette in Scarlet & White $10
The Society Rosette is produced by Dexter Rosettes of
Gwyneed Valley Pennsylvania. All members are authorized
for wear.
Large Insigne $620 • Miniature Insigne $225
The Large Insigne and Miniature Insigne are produced by
Liberty Jewelry Company in Timonium, Maryland. Medals
are made to order and take 4-6 weeks. All members are
authorized for wear.
Miniature War Cross $50 • Large War Cross $30
The Large War Cross was produced by Balfour and the
remaining inventory dates from the 1970s and features
slightly different drape ribbon. The current Miniature War
Cross is of the 2013 production from the Liberty Jewelry
Company and reflects current market rates. Authorization
for wear restricted to veterans and current active duty and
reserve members of the United States military.
Bow tie $50 • Four-in-Hand tie $60
Produced exclusively for the Society by Ben Silver of
Charleston this 100% silk tie is made in England. All members
are authorized for wear.
Blazer Patch $70
Crafted by Ben Silver of Charleston the patch features a
5 pin stud back for a secure smooth fit and a wide border
perfect for sewing. All members are authorized for wear.
State Society Officers Neck Ribbon $40
Produced exclusively for the Society by Toye, Kenning &
Spencer of England the neck ribbon features an accessible
rear clasp and a secure clip for the large insigne. Authorization
for wear restricted to State Society Officers. Please note,
only the large insigne is permitted to be worn from the
neck ribbon. Items are sold separately.
General Society Officers Sash $100
Produced exclusively for the Society by Toye, Kenning &
Spencer of England the sash features a secure clip under
the bow that can be tucked away when not employed
with the large insigne. Authorization for wear restricted to
current and past General Society Officers including Deputy
Governors General.
Membership Certificate
Suitable for framing the measures 12 x 14 of heavy bond
paper and features embossed colored seals of the original
nine colonies and the raised stamp of the Great Seal of the
Society. Available to all members in good standing.
Ordering: To place an order mail your check to:
John Mealey, Executive Director
GSCW - Langsdale Library
1420 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201-5779
Please make your check payable to GSCW
Questions? E mail: [email protected] (Phone) 410-837-4266
http://www.gscw.org/
Society of Colonial Wars in Illinois Merchandise
Contact Quartermaster John Paul Beall at 909.709.3849 or [email protected] to order any ILLINOIS merchandise or rosettes.
Official Tie $70
Manufactured by Ben Silver Co.
Dress White Shirt $55
Dress white with IL SCW monogram on cuff in red
Golf Shirt $50
(choice of colors: white, black, light blue, burgundy, dark
green, gray, navy, court green, stone, light stone – All with
red IL SCW logo)
Golf Jacket $90
(choice of colors: white, black, light blue, burgundy, dark
green, gray, navy, court green, stone, light stone – All with
red IL SCW logo. Fleece-Lined, 89% polyester/11% nylon
peached microfiber, cell phone pocket)
For those looking to purchase “Black Full Dress Tails” please visit:
Formally Modern Tuxedo
2112 N. Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: 773.975.7700
web: www.formallymodern.com • Owner: Ask for Alex Tsebelis
If you are a “Colonial Warrior” there is a special price of $395
for new Tail Coat and Pants and $85 for the shirt/vest & tie.
Cuff links/gloves/shoes, etc., also available.
Order form: http://colonialwarsil.org/merchandise
Make checks payable to SCWIL, remitted to: Association Services, c/o Society of Colonial Wars, P.O. Box 350, Kenilworth, IL 60043-0350
Winter 2016  Page 11
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FOX VALLEY, IL
PERMIT NO. 363
Society of Colonial Wars
In the State of Illinois
P.O. Box 350
Kenilworth, IL 60043-0350
— Officers of the Council —
Governor..................................................................................................................................John Harmon Strothman
Deputy Governor...........................................................................................................................Brian Darrell White
Deputy Governor General for Illinois.................................................................................. Robert Lee Burell
Lieutenant Governor.................................................................................................................David Gilbert Linville
Secretary.............................................................................................................................................Philip Raymond May
Treasurer.....................................................................................................................................Albert Earling Van Alyea
Historian...............................................................................................................................................James Field Rudwall
Registrar.........................................................................................................................................................Allen G. Carter
Chancellor..............................................................................................................................Andrew Jackson Valentine
Chaplin........................................................................................................................................ Albert Harris Tippens, Jr.
Quartermaster.............................................................................................................................................John Paul Beall
— Special Committees Appointed by the Governor —
Membership & Social Committees
Social Chairman..........................................................Todd Schwebel,
Social Committee ............................ William Parke,Zack Sudler
.......................................................................................Thatcher Waller, Jr.,
Membership Chairman.......................................Edward Rutledge
Ambassador to the Societies
Ambassador............................................................James Falvy Barr, Jr.
Gentlemen of the Council New Members
Louis Courtenay Sudler, Jr.
Investment Committee
Chairman.........................................................................Edmund Lester
Gentlemen of the Council
Samuel Badger
Leland Hutchinson
Renton Kirkwood Brodie III
Rudolf Knepper
John Adams Bross
Louis Courtenary
Barry Joseph Carroll
Sudler, Jr
Martinus John Dryud
David Sweet
Committee of Fort de Chartres
Commander of the Fort...................................... James M. Kinney
Respectfully submitted,
Aaron Barlow, Editor, Muskets and Arrows
Muskets and Arrows/Gazette Committee
Editor..............................................................Aaron Abraham Barlow
Photographer.........................................................................Peter Mark
Telephone: 847-251-1400 • Fax: 847-256-5601 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.colonialwarsil.org
Winter 2016