Muskets & Arrows
Volume XI, No. 2
Save the Date
Summer 2016
General Society of Colonial Wars 41st General
Assembly Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, September 10th
Colonial History Lecture Series
Speaker Patrick Griffin PhD
Newberry Library- 10am
Wednesday, October 5th
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
Sunday, January 8th 2017
Colonial Dames Program & Brunch
“Appraisals & Stories from Leslie
Hindman’s Team”
10:30am- Indian Hill Club
Saturday, January 14th 2017
Colonial History Lecture Series
Speaker Jane Kamensky
Newberry Library- 10am
Friday, February 3rd, 4th &
5th 2017
“Palm Beach Weekend”
FL State Society
Dinner Dance FridayThe Everglades Club
Brunch SaturdayThe Bath & Tennis Club
Polo Sunday- Palm Beach
International Polo Club
Thursday, February 16th 2017
Annual All MemberMembership Event
5pm Quarterly Council Meeting
6pm Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres
7pm Dinner-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
IL Deputy Governor General Robert Lee Burell, IL Governor John Strothman, Governor General of the National
Society David Martin Trebing, IL Deputy Governor Brian D. White, James M. Kinney and Joe Scherberger- flanked by
Members of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Color Guard
The General Assembly was held May
19 through the 22nd in “The City of
Brotherly Love” with several Warriors
and their guests from Illinois in attendance.
A fabulous time of fellowship, touring the
historic city and dining was had by all.
The Welcome Reception was held at
Independence Seaport Museum adjacent
to the dock of the famous USS Olympia,
which was the flagship for the U.S. Asiatic
Squadron during the Spanish American
War. Commodore George Dewey led the
squadron aboard the Olympia during the
Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 in destroying
the Spanish Pacific Squadron. Friends
reconnected and viewed the nautical
exhibits throughout the most enjoyable
evening.
Friday morning the ladies toured Stenton
Mansion and enjoyed lunch at the oldest
club in the United States—the Acorn
Club. After a busy and fruitful morning
business session, Warriors lunched at the
Philadelphia Club. All convened on Friday
afternoon at the Andalusia estate (historic
home of the Biddle family circa 1830s)
on the Delaware River and enjoyed
the spectacular gardens, mansion and
native woodlands. With its soaring white
columns, the Big House at Andalusia is
considered one of the finest examples of
Greek Revival architecture in the United
States. Spending the afternoon there felt
like stepping back in history. The evening
festivities were held at the Union League
Golf Club as all enjoyed a delightful
cocktail party and dinner while the sun set
over the golf course.
article continued on next page
General Society of Colonial Wars 41st General Assembly
Philadelphia, PA continued
Private tour of “Andalusia” built in 1806 for the John Craig family and
many generations of the Biddle family of Philadelphia.
Saturday morning the ladies toured the beautiful Bartram
Gardens during the Warrior’s business meeting. Deputy
Governor General for Illinois Robert Lee Burell gave the State
Report for the Illinois Society highlighting the George Burditt
Memorial Education Fund and the high participation rate of
Illinois Society members in contributing to the fund.There was
much interest the partnership between the Illinois Society
and the Newberry Library on developing public educational
programs led by nationally known scholars of the colonial era.
A highpoint of the meeting was the election and swearing
in of the new Governor General David Martin Trebing, Jr.,
Deputy Governor General for Illinois Robert lee Burell and
the General Society
Officers. Afterwards,
all convened for a tour
and lunch at the First
Troop 23rd Street
Armory. The armory
includes a museum
with
an
extensive
collection of war relics
and fascinating works of
art. Saturday afternoon,
Warriors and ladies had
their choice of touring
Independence
Hall,
the Barnes Foundation,
and the Rosenbach
Museum.
(far right) Robert Lee Burell being sworn in as our IL Deputy Governor
General and member of the General Society Council, along with other
members of the Council.
The Saturday evening White Tie Gala was held in the Hilton
Grand Ballroom.The color Guard was composed of members
the First Troop, 23rd Street Armory troop. Each State Society
had an Honoree and flag bearer. Deputy Governor General
Robert Lee Burell was the Honoree and Commander of the
Fort Jim Kinney was the flag bearer in the flag procession. The
evening continued with dining and dancing to big band music--a truly magical evening in historic Philadelphia was had by all.
What a weekend!
The next general
Society meeting
will be in New York
City May 18-21
2017. Make your
reservations at the
University Club of
NYC and ask for
the SCW special
rate as rooms are
limited.
PA member William F. Forbes with IL members Joe & Eileen Scherberger
standing in front of Will’s Great Grandfather, Sergeant William Innes Forbes.
IL Governor John H. Strothman with his
wife Dana dancing at the 41st General
Assembly in Philadelphia.
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: 866-784-5573 or e-mail: [email protected]. For more information go to www.DianeRapaport.com; and also
locally, Victoria Flanagan Defty, Tel: 312.642.0457.
Summer 2016  Page 2
The Governor’s Report
A thumbnail overview of Illinois
Warrior activities fiscal year, to
date
THE Warriors fiscal year and
activities began in December
2015 with it’s Winter Court
held at Chicago’s Casino Club,
well attended by its members in
formal attire while participating
in it’s formal transfer of Officer
responsibilities. Since, a February
2016 ‘all members cocktail and
dinner event’ was also held at
Governor John Harmon Strothman The Casino to introduce eight
new Provisional members and
welcome newer Candidate members. 40 Warriors, Provisional
and Candidates attended, many staying for dinner.
The Illinois Society currently has 132 dues paying, 31
provisionals and 85 gentlemen on our Candidate list.
The Illinois Society’s ‘Summer Court’ was held on May 16
at Shoreacres, in Lake Bluff, overlooking Lake Michigan. A
Council meeting proceeded the lunch to discuss budgets,
a forthcoming 2016-2017 Illinois Directory, and Matching
Grants made to Uni. Of Illinois Dept. of History, Save Illinois
History, The Newberry Library, and the South Suburban
Genealogical Library; contributions totaling $3,750 ($3,150 in
FY 2015, 2,750 in 2014). Concluding the meeting, Warriors
discussed and were encouraged to attend next weeks’ 41st
General Assembly In Philadelphia.
Shoreacres’ Luncheon festivities began shortly thereafter with
a bagpiper greeting guests as they arrived; and lunch followed,
The Governor then introduced well known narrator, Barbara
Rinella, who proceeded to‘ perform’ a book dramatization of
Allison Pataki’s book “The Traitor’s Wife”.
89 Warrior and Dames attended this Warrior’s Summer
Court luncheon and we had over 100 attendees at our jointly
sponsored Dinner Dance with The Colonial Dames at Lake
Forest’s Onwentsia Club this past July 16th.
A thumbnail comment toward our future
Do we Colonial Warriors have new ‘bragging rights’ available
to us? Maybe so, the announcement that an ‘Orbis Spike’ in
1610 marks humanity’s first major impact on planet Earth is
worth our further attention:That, within our Colonial frame of
history, a foundation of human bonding and migration ‘stuck’
and began to flourish. Reading the book “1421” (Noodles at
the Casino?), the Chinese were here well before our ancestors
yet could not make it ‘stick nor bond’ and did not return.
Lessons from the past? Lessons for the future? I encourage
more dialogue and curiosity going forward.
Show your support for the
IL Society by attending our
upcoming General Society Events
F O R T I T E R
P A T R I A
SAVE THE DATE
Fellow Warriors are most respectfully invited to the
TH GENERAL COUNCIL AND 125TH ANNIVERSARY
•2017,108
New
York, 108th General Council / 125th Anniversary
18 TO 21 MAY 2017 – CITY OF NEW YORK
•2018, Cincinnati, 109th General Council
The SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK is greatly honored
to host the 2017 General Assembly, and encourages Fellow Warriors and Guests to mark their
•2019,
Florida,
42nd
calendars for this
auspicious
event. General Assembly
Our Committee
is planning an 110th
exciting, educational
andCouncil
entertaining program and we look
•2020,
South Carolina,
General
forward to welcoming you and your guests to our City. We will be hosting events at the historic
New York Yacht Club, the Racquet & Tennis Club, the University Club of New York, the Union
•2021,
Maryland,
General
Council
Club,
the Colony
Club and the111th
MoMA among
other locations.
We encourage Warriors to reserve early accommodations. We have blocked a number of
•2022,
43rd
General
Assembly
rooms
both atIllinois,
the University
Club
of New York,
which will be the central hub of our Assembly
activities, and at the nearby Warwick Hotel. When making a reservation, guests must identify
themselves
part of the SOCIETY
OF CGeneral
OLONIAL WARS
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Please
•2023,asDelaware,
112th
Council
share this information with any Warrior who wishes to attend.
University Club of New York
Reservations: (212) 572-3415
Email: [email protected]
Did You Know...
If you are an existing or new member 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
P R O
Warwick Hotel Reservations:
(212) 247-2700 / (800) 223-4099
Email: [email protected]
Or book our special rate of $325 online:
go to http://bit.ly/colonialwarsrate
And enter the code 0518SOC in the
IATA/CorpCode window, next to the word
Block-
for each year. Our Governor and top officers are also listed
in the
back of the book under “Clubs and Their Officers”. If
Please contact the New York office if you have any questions:
Diane E. also
Montgomery,
Executive
Director, (212)
755-7082,
[email protected]
you didn’t
notice,
our summer
dinner
dance
was featured
under “Noteworthy Events” in the Winter 2016 Locator &
Observer pages 19,20 and 21.
Summer 2016  Page 3
The Colonial Warriors in front of The Shoreacres Clubhouse (above)
Summer Court 2016 at Shoreacres
On a picture perfect “Bluebird” Spring day, Illinois Warriors
and Dames gathered Sunday, May 15th, 2016 for the Annual
Summer Court at Shoreacres. Commanding a high bluff on
Chicago’s North Shore, the club is celebrating its Centennial
in 2016.
Ably organized by Warrior Social Chair, Todd Schwebel, the
event drew a record number of attendees. Greeted with
silver trays full of drinks, guests took in a crystalline view of
the Chicago skyline out on the lawn before being piped into
a delicious lunch of tomato aspic, Colonial Campfire fried
chicken (complete with baskets of passed drumsticks), & a
strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Never far in spirit from our founders and ancestors, the day
was highlighted by a performance by Barbara Rinella who
vividly brought back to life Polly Shippen, Benedict Arnold’s
society wife, and her historic tale of intrigue, lust and money
that influenced the course of American history.
Summer 2016  Page 4
Registrar Allan Carter on Right
presenting the membership certificate
to our newest member Richard Spain.
James M. Kinney, Mary & Allan Carter, Ginny & Alby Van Alyea and Brian D. White
Our Bagpiper David Johnson
Oona Carroll, Bill Fox and Kathleen Fox
William Beggs IV, Carlyle Madden, Chris Straus
and Todd Schwebel
Ryan Ruskin, J.P. Beall, George Cleveland and Dwight Cleveland
Summer 2016  Page 5
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 2)
This is the sixth installment in a series of articles for the
Muskets and Arrows on the various colonial wars fought
by our ancestors. This article concerns the last of the four
French and Indian Wars, starting in the middle of that war,
at the rise of William Pitt.
This fascinating war is incredibly complex. Winston
Churchill called it the first truly world war. Most of the
world, including England and Canada, calls it the Seven Years
War. But it lasted nine years in the English colonies, so we
Americans typically call it The French and Indian War. This
article merely touches upon a few of the significant events
that occurred in North America.
The rise of William Pitt
The prior installment covered Part I of this war. It covered
up to the end of 1756, at a point where France had
outmaneuvered Britain and was threatening an attack
across the English Channel. This dire situation led King
George II and the Prime Minister to reluctantly give control
to their most outspoken critic in Parliament, William Pitt.
The King did not like Pitt because of Pitt’s criticisms of the
government’s support—financial and military—for the
defense of the King’s German lands. The King was also
Elector of Hannover. The various European entanglements
involving Hannover had repeatedly drawn Britain into
expensive European involvement since 1714, when the
Hannover dynasty succeeded to the throne in Britain.
Unlike prior British leaders, Pitt favored an aggressive—and
expensive—strategy in North America. However, Pitt did
not abandon European concerns either. He toed the line
of British foreign policy which was to keep the British “a
Protestant, free, and an independent people.” Thus, Pitt
supported Britain and Hannover’s only significant ally—the
Kingdom of Prussia. Even this strategy, however, helped
achieve victory in America because, as was argued in
Parliament, “supporting His Prussian Majesty, [would] divert
the French from pursuing those schemes that must infallibly
give them a superiority by sea” which would “provide the
most effectual manner for our settlements in America.”
The King’s Speech for the opening of Parliament in
December 1756, drafted by Pitt, promised “the succor
and preservation of America cannot but constitute a main
object of my attention and solicitude.”
Pitt’s first tries
At first, things went no better for Britain than before Pitt
took charge. Even though Pitt made it known in December
1756 that he considered capturing Fort Louisbourg a
priority, the British North American commander, John
Campbell, Earl of Loudon, waited until May 21, 1757 to leave
New York for Halifax for this expedition. And it was not
until on May 8 that eight regiments left Ireland for the same
expedition. The long delay gave the French ample time
to send more than twenty supply ships to Louisbourg to
prepare for a long siege. Then, after Loudon finally arrived
at Halifax on June 30, fog, unfavorable sailing conditions
and other maladies prevented Loudon from embarking for
Louisbourg until August 4. By then, the French had moved
eighteen heavily armed ships and five frigates into the fort’s
harbor. Loudon was advised by his naval commander that
the situation was hopeless. Loudon promptly called off the
expedition and returned to New York. Benjamin Franklin
summed up the whole campaign as “frivolous, expensive
and disgraceful to our Nation beyond Conception.”
Meanwhile, the commander of French forces in North
America, the Marquis de Saint-Veran, Louis-Josephe de
Montcalm, was beginning his siege of Fort William Henry.
The fort, located on Lake George south of Lake Champlain,
was the northernmost English presence in central New
York. Montcalm led six thousand French troops and
two thousand Indians—mostly Odawa and Ojibwa from
Michigan—against about 2500 English inside the fort under
Lieutenant Colonel George Munro. Both sides exchanged
cannon volleys on August 3. Munro somehow managed
to get a message to the nearby English Fort Edward asking
for reinforcements. The next day, the response from Fort
Edward, warning Munro that Fort Edward was powerless
to help and advising him to “make the best Terms in your
Power” was intercepted by the French. A few days later, on
August 7, Montcalm raised a flag of truce for the purposes
of having French officers ominously deliver to Munro the
opened letter from Fort Edward. While Munro had only
lost about 130 men, all of his cannon were out of operation
and the Massachusetts militia, feeling abandoned by Fort
Edward, was threatening to leave. On August 9, Munro’s
officers advised him to seek terms. Montcalm allowed the
British and colonists to keep their baggage and to leave on
their word to remain out of the war for eighteen months.
When the Fort William and Henry garrison left the next
day, the Indians expected plunder or prisoners, the only
ways they could be compensated by the French for their
part in the war. They were therefore furious at not being
allowed either. They began killing and kidnapping the
English. About two hundred were killed and another two
hundred taken prisoner before the French could shelter
the rest. Montcalm himself physically intervened in bringing
Summer 2016  Page 6
article continued on next page
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 2) continued
order to the situation. In the end no one was happy. The
British blamed the French for not controlling their Indian
allies to prevent the massacre, and the Indians felt they
were getting nothing in return for supporting the French.
Every Indian who died was an able-bodied man lost to his
tribe, whose labor in hunting and trading would have be
replaced. And the Indians’ absence from home meant that
there was little work being done on either of these tasks
while they were away. To compound matters, many Indians
returning to Michigan from Fort William Henry brought
small pox with them. The resulting epidemic decimated
the Indian population even more. For the rest of the war,
the French-allied Indians were reluctant to risk even more
men’s lives to help the French, when they received almost
nothing in return. France was dependent on Indian allies in
ways that Britain was not. For France, with its low colonial
population and weaker navy, providing troops in North
America was much more expensive than it was for Britain.
Professor Michael McDonnel, in his fascinating book Masters
of Empire, suggests that the erosion of Indian support after
the capture of Fort William Henry led directly to French
defeat in the war.
The Tide Turns
In December, 1757, Pitt replaced the lackluster Loudon with
General James Abercromby. Pitt also asked the Northern
colonies for 20,000 troops, at British expense, for an
invasion of Canada. His war plan for 1758 had three parts:
an invasion of Canada via Lake Champlain, an amphibious
landing at Louisbourg and an attack on Fort Duquesne in
western Pennsylvania. The plan required 22,000 British
troops and 25,000 colonials.
In January and February 1758, naval and land forces sailed
from England for North America. Troops for the Louisbourg
expedition from both England and New England gathered
in Halifax and on May 28, sailed for Louisbourg and met the
commander of the expedition, General Jeffrey Amherst, en
route. General Amherst was assisted by the thirty-one
year old brigadier General James Wolfe, who had proved
adept at amphibious landings in European engagements.
The approach to Louisbourg was once again delayed by
fog until June 8. But this time, when the fog lifted, Wolfe,
after several attempts, was able to force a beachhead with
his forces while two other squadrons drew off the French
attention by threatening to land on the other side of the
bay. The other two squadrons then raced to Wolfe’s landing
and quickly brought their men ashore.
The French pulled into the town and settled down for a long
siege believing they were well provisioned and could hold
out. However, the British progressively moved their front
lines closer and closer to the fort until they could easily hit
the town inside.The French knew that if Louisbourg fell, the
St. Lawrence and Quebec City would have no protection
against a British onslaught. So they attempted to hold out
as long as they could. As the siege went on, almost every
building was destroyed or had to be demolished, several
French ships were burned in a gunpowder explosion and
the French were running out of operable cannon. So on July
26, the French commander initiated surrender discussions.
While French Canada was now open to British forces
moving up the St. Lawrence, the French ability to hold
out until the end of July meant a waterborne attack on
Quebec would have to wait until the next year. Freezing
temperatures were possible in October and even if the
river itself did not freeze, frozen sails did not function
properly. With its dependence on its ships, even if the
British could organize an expedition and lead it to Quebec
City and begin a siege before the cold weather, the French
would need only wait a few weeks and the British would
have to leave.
Britain had two other notable successes before the end of
the year. First, Nova Scotia-born Colonel John Bradstreet,
ordered to build a fort in the Oneida Lake portage area
near the Mohawk River, asked for and was given permission
to attack Fort Frontenac,“if practicable.” Colonel Bradstreet
decided it was practicable and landed at the fort, which
lay where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence
River, on August 15. The next day Bradstreet and the fort
exchanged cannon fire to no effect on either side. But
Bradstreet spent the night of August 16 moving his cannon
into a better position. The next day, his bombardment
convinced the French to surrender. France now had no
way to prevent British action in Lake Ontario or to the
west.
Second, the British sent another expedition against Fort
Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio River. At first, the
French commander kept up the pressure on the British in
the realistic hope that the British would leave before winter.
However, despite several ambushes in the woods, the
capture and deaths of hundreds, and continual harassment
by the French, the English stayed and built Fort Ligonier
forty miles from Fort Duquesne. By November, the French
were also running out of supplies because of the fall of Fort
Frontenac. So on November 24, the French commander
blew up Fort Duquesne. The Ohio River valley was now
open to British advancement.
article continued on next page
Summer 2016  Page 7
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 2) continued
1758 and the Quebec Expedition
Pitt’s strategy was beginning to take hold. In December, 1758,
he drew up his war plan for the next year. He appointed
General Wolfe to lead an amphibious expedition to take
Quebec City. He tasked General Jeffrey Amherst with an
attack on Canada via the New York-Vermont border lakes.
He also ordered Fort Oswego be rebuilt with a possible
attack on Fort Niagara.
General Wolfe’s Quebec expedition wintered in Halifax.
After the ice floes melted in April, he moved to Louisbourg
now firmly in British hands. By June, the way was clear for
movement up the St. Lawrence and he set off with about
nine thousand British regular troops and four hundred
Rangers. His officers, who largely did not respect him,
included George Townshend, future Viceroy of Ireland, James
Murray, future governor of Quebec, and Guy Carleton,
another future governor of Quebec. They looked down
on Wolfe for being the lowly son of a vicar, fond of poetry
and sickly. He was also younger than each of them by at
least a few years.
However, Wolfe was supposedly a genius at amphibious
landings and that is what was needed at Quebec. The
city was located at the forks of the St. Lawrence and St.
Charles rivers on a very high bluff and surrounded by
extensive walls. The city was so high that that it could not
be effectively bombarded from either the middle of the
river or the opposite shore. And the French had time on
their side because it could snow as early as October. So
a strategy of simply cutting off French supply lines would
fail. West of the city were the Plains of Abraham, on top of
bluffs sloping steeply down to the St. Lawrence. A landing
force would be sitting ducks if it tried to run up those bluffs
under fire.
East of the city, downstream on the St. Lawrence, the north
banks were vulnerable to landing. They still had high banks,
but the slopes were not as steep as elsewhere. However,
before Wolfe arrived, Montcalm had heavily fortified these
banks for several miles. The British had to land on the south
side of the St. Lawrence or even further downstream from
the city than the French fortifications on the north banks.
Wolfe’s first three master plans involved attacking the French
forces on the northern banks of the river, downstream of
the city. He implemented one of these plans on July 31,
resulting in failure and 210 dead and 230 wounded.
At this point he became quite ill and despondent. On August
27, he asked his officers to design a plan. They suggested
sailing upstream 15 to 20 miles, landing on the north side of
the St. Lawrence and then marching downstream to attack
Quebec City from the west:
We therefore are of Opinion that the most probable
method of striking an effectual blow, is to bring
the Troops to the South Shore, and to direct the
Operations above the Town: When we establish
ourselves on the North Shore, the French General
must fight us on our own Terms; We shall be betwixt
him and his provisions, and betwixt him and their
Army opposing General Amherst.
While Wolfe agreed to the plan, he remained unsatisfied.
The plan would give the French two days to prepare for
the attack on Quebec from the west. If Wolfe could not
get close enough to the city to bombard it, he would run
out of time and have to leave with the cold weather. So
Wolfe, without consulting his officers, continued to search
for a better plan.
By September 5, the men were repositioned on the southern
shore and ready to sail up river. The next day, the men were
to be shipped to a point near present-day Neuville, Québec,
twenty-one miles upstream from the city. But on September
7 and 8 it rained so heavily that the plan had to be delayed
several days. On September 9, Wolfe, spent the day looking
at the cliffs closer to the city. He spotted a small bay called
L’Anse au Foulon that was below the Plains of Abraham, which
were right next to the western wall of Quebec. The cove had
a path suitable for pulling up wagons and cannon, which was
blocked but could be reopened if the British could control
the bluff above. The bluffs were steep, but not too steep for
soldiers to climb. The next day,Wolfe brought several officers,
an engineer and the admiral of his fleet to opposite shore
to view the cove more closely through a telescope. They
noticed the French had a post stationed at the top of the cliff,
but it appeared to have tents for only about a hundred men.
Wolfe decided to change his officers’ plan and land at L’Anse
au Foulon instead of 20 miles upstream.
The plan was executed at 2 am the morning of September
13. British had intelligence that a French shipment of
provisions from Montreal was expected to be traveling
downriver on that night. Wolfe loaded his men into
boats nine miles upriver from the cove and let them drift
silently downstream. At one point, when the ships passed
the French batteries at Sillery, about 5 miles from the city,
their shapes were visible in the darkness and a French
sentryasked for identification. An alert French-speaking
Highlander responded, “France” and told the sentry to be
Summer 2016  Page 8
article continued on next page
The French and Indian War of 1754-1763 (Part 2) continued
quiet because they were carrying provisions for Quebec
and were trying to slip past the British.
had fled the city. So on September 17, the Quebec City
surrendered to the British.
The boats began landing at the cove and twenty-four
volunteers climbed the 170 feet to the top where they
surprised the French guard post, capturing half of them.
They then cleared the blocked path and shortly 1800
troops were on the top of the bluffs. Ships kept arriving
until by 8 am Wolfe had 4500 men and two 6 pound
cannon on the Plains of Abraham.
Mopping up
The next year, a three-pronged attack converged on the
remains of the French army. General François Gaston
de Lévis, who succeeded Montcalm as French North
American commander, requested supplies and men from
France. But Versailles decided not to throw good money
after bad. French Canada had always been more expensive
to maintain than the revenue it brought in.
Meanwhile Montcalm received several reports that the
British were on the Plains but dismissed them as false. He
was sure that the British would attack downstream from the
city, and Wolfe had left behind a decoy force that appeared
to be doing just that. Starting at sunset on September 12, the
decoy force’s ships kept busy with unfurling sails, loading and
unloading troops, and sending light signals back and forth to
the British camps downstream from the city. After midnight,
the ships began bombarding the shoreline, a classic precursor
to an attempt to storm a fortified position. Montcalm
therefore kept his troops on the north shore of the St.
Lawrence downstream from the city. Finally at 7 am, the
reports of British on the Plains were verified and Montcalm
rushed upstream. When he arrived in the city, he was shocked
to see a sea of red coats in the Plains of Abraham.
Montcalm then decided he must give battle rather than
try to outlast the British bombardment until winter. At 10
am, Montcalm led 4500 French and colonials in a charge
on the British in the Plain. Some of the French fired too
soon, before the British were even in range, while the
entire British army following Wolfe’s precise orders, stood
silently with their muskets raised until the French were only
forty yards away. As 1,000 British muskets opened fire
simultaneously, the noise was so loud the sailors on the
ships in the river thought there had been an explosion. The
British then reloaded, walked forward several paces, and
fired again. The French turned and fled.
After fifteen minutes the battle was over. Wolfe had been
shot in the wrist, the groin and the chest. As he lay on the
ground bleeding, he was told the French were fleeing. He
ordered the 48th Regiment to pursue the French fugitives
heading towards the St. Charles River, said “Now, God be
praised, I will die in peace,” turned on his side and died.
Montcalm was also mortally wounded in the battle, dying
the next day inside Quebec City.
The French now faced heavy bombardment from the Plains
and were running out of food. Many of the defenders
The French heroically pressed on. An attempt to recover
Quebec City failed and various other strategems were
attempted. But by early September, the French were corralled
in Montreal. On September 8, a treaty was reached providing
for French surrender of the whole of Canada, which included
Michigan and Illinois. The war continued for three more years
with fighting by a French allied faction of Cherokee Indians in
western South Carolina. There was also fighting in Europe
and Asia. But in 1760 George III succeeded his grandfather as
King and wanted peace. He drove Pitt to resign in October
1761 and peace talks began in early 1762. Many in France
thought they would be able to negotiate a return of Canada
in exchange for concessions in Europe. However, the French
position was far weaker than it had been at the end of the
prior war. Consequently, the 1763 Peace of Paris confirmed
British possession of Canada as well as all of New France east
of the Mississippi except New Orleans, which went to Spain.
The colonists, after suffering almost 75 years of intermittent
warfare, intimidation and raiding, from 1689-1763, were
finally free of the French. For the first time, New Englanders
could sleep in peace without fearing raiders from the north.
Granted, the huge war tab racked up by Pitt had to be paid.
But that was a problem for another day.
This concludes this series’ discussion of the four French
and Indian Wars. In the next issue, the series will continue
with an installment on the earliest war between the English
colonists and the Indians.
by Aaron A. Barlow
References
Anderson, Fred, Crucible of War, (New York 2000).
Baugh, Daniel, The Global Seven Years War, 1754-1763, (London and New York 2011).
McDonnel, Michael A., Masters of Empire (New York 2015).
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)
Parliamentary History of England, vol. XV (London 1813)(available on google books)
at page 788. 3400
Summer 2016  Page 9
Members and Candidates Connect and Re-connect at Annual
Membership Event
February 18, 2016
The Illinois Society holds an event every year to promote
and expand its membership. Possible candidates for
membership are invited for an evening of cocktails. This
year’s membership event was held on February 18, 2016 at
The Casino Club in Chicago. About thirty-five gentlemen
attended, including two provisional members and nine
potential candidates for membership. New members
mixed with long-standing members, some of whom had
not attended a Warriors meeting for years--and loved the
event.
importance of our society and the process for submitting
an application. He encouraged candidates and provisional
members to hire a professional genealogist to speed the
process along. Membership Chairman Ed Rutledge then
provided more insight into the application process including
the roles he and Registrar Allen Carter play in both assisting
candidates and processing applications. Those who invited
potential new candidates then introduced their guests, who
spoke about how they came to be interested in the Society
of Colonial Wars.
After several rounds of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the
Drawing Room, Governor John Strothman welcomed our
guests and spoke briefly about how special our society is.
Deputy Governor Brian D. White then addressed the
Provisional members in attendance were Richard Spain and
Robert Faurot. Potential candidates in attendance Brian
Kearns, Robert Jackson, William Fox, Robert Rowley, Biz
Bracket, Erick Warden, Michael Hollo and Jay Vincent.
Summer 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 $15
The Society Rosette is produced by Dexter Rosettes of
Gwyneed Valley Pennsylvania. All members are authorized
for wear.
Large Insigne $535 • Miniature Insigne $140
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 $40
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 $75 • Four-in-Hand tie $85
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 $75
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 $50
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 $110
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 $70
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
Step it up and get your tails
if you don’t already own them!
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
Summer 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
Summer 2016