Aujourd’hui, j’ai assisté à l’un des plus troublants, et pourtant sites les plus fascinants que je n’ai pas encore vu de mon mandat à titre de chirurgien à la Société. Il m’a incité à prendre une pause grande, et de me retirer dans mon quartier seul ce soir, au lieu de profiter de la compagnie du reste des hommes, que je remets le récit de mon journal et de revivre le moment pour moi.

J’ai été le nettoyage de mes instruments quand un mouvement a été agité à la porte du fort. Curieux comme je l’ai été, j’ai mis le couteau, et a rejoint les autres pour observer les allées là-bas. Un groupe de nos alliés, le Deleware comme on les appelle, était descendu le fleuve dans leurs canots. C’était un groupe d’environ 15, la plupart des hommes. J’ai déjà vu des hommes en costume et les mœurs similaires dans nos voyages au sud de Québec, et les avait vus se battre avec une férocité inconnue à mes compatriotes à bien des égards. Il semble que cette guerre signifie beaucoup plus pour les sauvages, comme le fait toute la guerre. Les hommes racontent des histoires de voir les restes carbonisés, et les organismes scalpé le long des sentiers. Mais ce que je voyais venir me mettre mal à l’aise avec la pensée de ces alliés.

Led derrière l’un des guerriers de plomb de la troupe était une jeune femme, pas beaucoup plus vieux que je pense 20, vêtue d’une simple Lit Manteau de, et des jupons, à la fois marquée par de la saleté et les taches d’autres. En vertu de la saleté et la crasse, je pourrais dire que sa peau était d’un blanc laiteux, qui a immédiatement déclarer à partir de notre patrie européenne. Ses cheveux étaient en désordre, et elle n’avait aucune couverture pour elle. Il coulait noir dans son dos, et certains accroché au visage. Elle gardait la tête baissée et les yeux baissés, mais un bref aperçu je pouvais voir des lignes qui ont fait preuve faible de la douleur, des ruisseaux de larmes avaient coulé sur ses joues, ces derniers jours. Ses mains étaient attachées en face d’elle et autour de son cou a été placée une corde filetée, qui conduit directement aux mains de l’Savauge’s. Il est clair qu’elle était en captivité à cet homme, mais j’étais curieux et choqué par une telle situation. Comme il s’est arrêté avec le reste de sa bande, je regardais en état de choc, comme il lui prit la main et l’a poussée jusqu’aux genoux à côté de lui.

Notre commandant se dirigea vers eux, suivi de 2 autres Marines, leurs fusils sur leurs épaules.
“Hey”, at-il dit, que je pris pour un salut.

“Hey t-shin-ge”, l’indigène de la captive a dit. Sa voix était profonde, qui semblait correspondre à sa taille impressionnante. Il portait des plumes qui ornent sa tête, avec des leggings noir et parements d’argent autour de son biceps. Boucles d’oreilles en argent pendaient à ses oreilles et une bague de ses narines et qui brillait au soleil comme il se trouvait. Il portait des conceptions simples sur son visage, mais sur la base des manières de ceux qui l’entouraient, il a certainement été le leader de ce groupe.

Mon assistant est venu me le long de côté comme je l’ai observé la scène devant moi, et a commenté sur la présence de cette femme. Le Deleware tendent vers piller les fermes et les cabanes de ce qu’ils croient être leurs terres, et après avoir tué les hommes, ils prendront les femmes et les enfants en captivité. Il a également déclaré qu’elle avait l’air d’être un poisson frais, comme elle avait encore les vêtements de sa culture. Comme le temps passe, me dit-il, ils deviendront assimilées dans la tribu et bientôt oublier leurs maisons, leurs familles, et de la vie avant de la tribu. En vérité, nous ne pouvons pas rester ce type d’activité, je me suis dit. J’ai entendu parler d’histoires de soldats d’autres Sauvages brûler leurs ennemis, mais même cela, je crois que je pourrais gérer mieux que la captivité d’une femme sans défense.

J’ai continué à regarder que le sauvage a des tas de fourrures de leurs canots de la rivière aux échanges avec notre commandant. Soldats ont apporté des outils, des fusils, des couvertures et des boissons. J’ai regardé avec intérêt que chaque partie a pris un coup d’oeil à l’autre de marchandises, mais le chef de file, debout, observe, de manière similaire à notre commandant. Avec un clin d’œil et un murmure d’un de ses guerriers, le chef de file Savage crié ce qui semblait être une commande, et ses hommes se sont rassemblés place les biens et les fourrures a chuté de nombreux.

Mon regard errait un instant à ces faits et gestes, et puis de nouveau à la femme en captivité. Sa tête est restée basse, mais pour un bref instant, ses yeux verrouillés sur la mienne. Ses yeux étaient acte de procédure, si elles étaient effrayées jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient tira loin comme le leader s’éloigna et a tiré sur la corde autour du cou de son pull à se joindre à eux. Elle a lutté à ses pieds, puis a été conduit hors de la canots, qui étaient en charge vers le bas.

Comment est-il que nous pouvons simplement rester les bras croisés à ce comportement? Si un homme à Paris ont été à juste prendre une femme hors de cette manière, ils répondent à un châtiment le plus approprié. Je ne pouvais pas imaginer ce que mon Hélène ferait, si elle devait se trouver dans une telle position. Peut-être dans ces dames commun, il est quelque chose qu’ils sont plus habitués, mais une dame raffinée telles que celles de Paris périrait probablement dans ces moments-là.

Et maintenant, mon esprit vagabonde vers elle et les enfants, et je me retrouve mort dans l’âme de désir pour son toucher doux, sa belle voix, et ses bons yeux. Je devrais lui écrire de ma sécurité et aimables paroles de mon désir pour elle et notre maison.

–

Today I witnessed one of the most troubling, and yet most fascinating sights that I have yet seen in my tenure as surgeon with the Company. It has caused me to take great pause, and to retire myself to my quarters alone this evening, instead of enjoying the company of the rest of the men, as I commit the tale to my journal and relive the moment to myself.

And now my minds eye wanders to her and the children, and I find myself heartsick with longing for her soft touch, her lovely voice, and her kind eyes. I should write her of my safety and kind words of my desire for her and our home.

It was almost in a night, that the trees went from small buds to full leaves, the flowers went from small buds to brightly colored blooms, and the cold winter was rushed away by the warm spring sun.  The roads are open again and we are seeing movement- troops have started to arrive and fill the bunks in the main garrison buildings, and many of my previously ill patients have also regained their strength and are starting maneuvers with the men.  Hunting has restarted, and we have had fresh meat for several nights, which was a grand treat for us all after the cold, hard winter.

With the return of the troops, along came a new shipment of supplies from FrederickTowne, along with more supplies from my sister, and a beautiful new journal for keeping my notes and records in.  It is blue with calfskin, produced by the great bookbinder Mr. McClintock.  Charlotte sent it to me for my upcoming Birthday, and I am grateful for the new parchment to write upon.  With the new troops, and the new nurse, I should be more attentive to my supplies and the goings on around the hospital.

The widow Bain is working out well as the hospital nurse, and has even taken on some matronly duties.  She has currently gone to a nearby farm to help with the birth of a child.  I admire those women who have taken to those duties here in the wilderness.  While having brief training in womanly ways at the University, I feel fortunate as to never have had to be in attendance for the birth of a child.  I daresay that as much as I’ve done surgeries and seen men die under my ministrations and on the battlefield, I would imagine that the birth of a child would be much more frightening and daunting to my personal sentiments.

The evening meal is being served, and as my nurse is away I should deliver it to my patients before dining with the Captain myself this evening.

The post rider arrived today with some basic supplies to keep us through the rest of this winter.  Just these last few days has it been warm enough for the snow to abate on the roads, allowing for comfortable passage of the wagon and the horses.  In his supplies were additional bandages and some medicines I had requested this spring previous, but I am glad for them.  In addition to that, the post rider suprised me with 2 correspondences, one from my sister speaking about the state of my shop, and one from the Doctor from the Southern territories, with whom I worked with at the general hospital previous to my station here.  His letter asked upon the state of my sister, as well as offered his gratitude for the gifts I had my sister send from our last shipment from London.  Additionally, he too had recently received a collection of goods from a London supplier, and gifted me with 2 “French Raincoats” as they are called. These devices are made by a Mrs. Phillips in London, and seem to be all the rage there.  I had offered him one previously that had been given to me some many months ago, but could never see to use it because of its horribly offensive smell.  I have placed these in my case of medicines, for fear that should the common soldiers find that I have such a preventative device, they all will want a chance with it, and all the ladies in camp with them.  I have treated more cases of the pox recently than I feel is common, to the effect that the Captain is ordering inspection of the camp followers, and my own Nurse, to determine the culprit.  I fear no good shall come of it for the woman spreading the disease, especially as the cold winds are blowing and there is talk of a great snow about to come.  To lose the safety of the fort will not be to her liking, I am most certain.

The note from Doctor Roberts is as follows:

“My dear Doctor Clift,

Enclosed I trust you will find the return of the favour you paid me when we were encamp’d at Fort Niagara July last.  I found myself wanting during my amourous pursuits, and you came to my aid with on of Mrs. Phillip’s fine products.  I now repay that kindness with interest in the form of Two French Raincoats.

If you should require more, I have a reliable source that comes directly from the supply ship from London every three months, and it would be my pleasure to supply you.

Please give my respects to your sister and many thanks for the gifts you sent in your last package, and know Sir that I am,

Yr. Humble & obt Svt,

Dr. A Roberts”

I should write a return note to my sister and to Doctor Roberts in time to thank him for his generous gift, and to allow my sister to consider selling his items of Self-Preservation.  For now, however, the candle flickers as the wind draws under the door, and i must check the patients once again before I retire for the evening.

Over the last few weeks, I have been busy with the treatment of the men in winter quarters.  Great scores of snow have blanketed the land, preventing us from getting fresh meat and other provisions by hunting or by supply trains.  The air inside the fort has been very stuffy, which has also, I feel, attributed to the men’s fading constitutions.  We have lost 4 men to differing illnesses, and the numbers of those ailing grows by the day.  Scurvy, and cholera morbus seem to be some of the greatest of my challenges, however my greatest challenge seems to be keeping up with taking care of the daily upkeep.

I have been most fortunate to have the help of a woman from a nearby farm to keep dressings, medicines, and food about the infirm.  Her husband recently enlisted, and Natives had raided her farm, leaving little behind for her to subsist on.  So she has followed her husband here, and has been assisting me in the daily upkeep of running the small infirmary I am tasked with.  She has been a welcome addition, even though I feel as if I must keep a wary eye upon her.  I have heard from other Doctors at some of the out hospitals, and through my own experience at the hospital in Cumberland, that the Nurses there would provide liquors and spirits to the men against the advise of the surgeons or physicians,  as well as rifling through the effects of those men in the most dire of situations, or worse, dead, to either provide additional effects to their own husbands, or to sell them to make additional money.  They also seem unreliable in their daily duties, and many of the women given to the surgeons such a duty have also been known to despise the task.

The advantage to me at this time is that the woman who has been helping me has recently been tasked as the local Midwife to the farmers in this region.  She has some experience with the local herbs of the area, as well as an understanding of how to keep the men’s spirits and health in the best shape as we possibly can.  She has been a great assistant.

This is why today I have asked an audience with the Captain, to provide her a small stipend of 3 shillings daily for her services.  It seems only fair and proper, as she has spent many a night, sitting with some of the most ill men, and even myself, especially in the direst of situations.  She has also survived the Smallpox, so she may be of great import if an outbreak does occur here at the Fort.  I imagine that come spring, she will return to her Farm to attempt to subsist on that, however with her husband on the march, it is possible she may stay behind to make the small bit of money I can provide her.  The Captain has agreed to such a provision, on the condition that she keep to her duties, and be subject to Court Martial like any other member of the regiment, should she disobey my orders or be found in violation of any regulations.  The woman has been around the regiment and fort for several months now, so I doubt that she shall do so, however as stated previously, I have been keeping a wary eye upon her to ensure her obedience.

She is calling for me now to check on one of the patients, and so I must end this for now.  I will most definitely keep track of her progress, as I am to report to the Captain on such regularly.