Ranger Raid by Tucker Phillip Thomas

Author:Tucker, Phillip Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 2021-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

CONTINUING THE PUSH TOWARD ODANAK, OR ST. FRANCIS

Safely on the river’s other side, hidden in the timbered hollow, and still concerned that the enemy might still be in pursuit and appear on the opposite bank at any moment, the men enjoyed a short respite while eating what precious little rations remained. All the while, Rogers was anxious and impatient, anticipating the worst. Consequently, they were soon once again on the move, since Rogers knew that no time could be wasted and that it was too dangerous to remain stationary for too long.

In three separate files, with his vigilant flankers out to protect the forward movement on each side and in the rear to guard the backdoor, Rogers then hurriedly formed his much-relieved men, whose spirits were high. The major and his soldiers then headed at a brisk pace in a northwestward direction. As usual, Rogers led the way in following the course of the raging river that led straight northwest to St. Francis and a fatal reckoning with its inhabitants. The river’s cold and fresh waters had acted as not only a tonic but also a cleanser. As mentioned, some of the bog’s stench, scum, and dirt had been partly washed off in crossing the river, which was reinvigorating to weary men who had worn no clothing in the cold crossing.

By this time, everyone had uniforms that were tattered and in overall bad shape, which provided still another motivation for capturing St. Francis in one bold rush to catch the town by surprise: the securing of well-made and dry Abenaki clothing, especially deerskin moccasins, shirts, and leggings, to replace what was already worn out. Meanwhile, Rogers and his followers made good time over solid ground in the final trek northwest in following the river through the pine forest to reach St. Francis, which was just ahead downriver, while the sun dropped lower in a clear autumn sky that was about to bestow a red Quebec sunset over the land.

It was almost too good to be true, or so it seemed to Rogers. Thankfully for the men in the ranks and Rogers’s overall progress toward his target, no more spruce bogs were encountered along the entire length of forested and solid ground on the river’s north side. Still no war parties, scouts, or villagers were seen anywhere during the trek upriver and ever closer to St. Francis. As could be expected, this situation caused confidence to soar in the ranks for a successful operation, when this mission had so often recently seemed like folly under the most disadvantageous of circumstances.

Almost certainly, the most devout men in the ranks believed that a kind Providence had finally smiled and turned a kind eye upon what they knew was the most righteous of missions to destroy St. Francis. Major Rogers was extremely thankful that, against the odds, he had successfully dodged all enemy parties and still retained the element of surprise, after the most harrowing of ordeals. However, he was still wary and kept

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