"A Skirmish in the Wilderness" 1758 (2 Viewers)

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 11 2/29/08

"l'homme de canoë":

Another Algonquin on this patrol whom Gawasowaneh had known since coming to Canada was Etchemin whose name translates to “Canoe Man”. The Algonquins whose territory spread from the Atlantic Ocean in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West relied heavily on hunting, fishing, and gathering rather than agriculture due to the weather patterns characteristic of the Canadian north. Transportation was therefore vital to their sustenance and livelihood. They introduced their French allies to the canoe and the toboggan and were quite adept at the use of snowshoes. Etchemin was a valued canoe builder in his village learning these skills from his father when he was boy. He loved to test out the new canoes on the numerous waterways near his village. Since there were areas without water passage it was sometimes necessary to carry the canoes overland, a technique called “portage.” When the waters were not frozen, the French soldiers relied on Etchemin’s skills with the canoe to move men and supplies rapidly from place to place.

Etchemin:

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 11 continued

An Algonquin Canoe:

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 11 continued

A Woodland Canoe in action
(photo copyright March through Times)

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 11 continued

Woodland Indian "portage"
(photo copyright Frontline Figures)

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 12 03/04/08

The third woodland Indian with Gawasowaneh was not an Algonquin but an Abenaki named Wlowi (Blue) recognizable by the blue band that he wore on his head. Wlowi was from St. Francois du Lac in Quebec, Canada. His family had originally lived in northern New England but wars with the British and their Iroquois allies had forced many of the Abenaki into Canada where they eventually settled. Wlowi and the Onondaga Iroquois Gawasowaneh got along well despite being from tribes that had fought against each other. Now in this time of war between the European powers, they had cast their lot in with the French in a common hatred of the English redcoats who seemed to have an insatiable desire for their lands and often treated them as less than human.

Wlowi (Blue)

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 13 03/08/08

To hone their skills and check the condition of their weapons two French Marines, who are with the mixed patrol of soldiers and Indians searching for the British believed to be in the woods near Lake George, have tied a piece of red cloth on the trunk of a tree for target practice. The sounds of their muskets break the morning tranquility of the woods.

 

[mestell]

EPISODE 13 03/08/08

To hone their skills and check the condition of their weapons two French Marines, who are with the mixed patrol of soldiers and Indians searching for the British believed to be in the woods near Lake George, have tied a piece of red cloth on the trunk of a tree for target practice. The sounds of their muskets break the morning tranquility of the woods.

A red cloth - um . . . kind of like waving a red flag at a bull? Breaking the tranquility of the woods??? - Er, perhaps not a good thing. The anticipation heightens. I will stay tuned for the next episode.

Cheers - Mike

 

[PolarBear]

A red cloth - um . . . kind of like waving a red flag at a bull? Breaking the tranquility of the woods??? - Er, perhaps not a good thing. The anticipation heightens. I will stay tuned for the next episode.

Cheers - Mike

Hi Mike

The red cloth is a souvenir from the body of a dead redcoat and is to remind the men whom the enemy is.

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 14 3/13/08

"le chien anglais"

While the French Marines were checking their muskets, Gawasowaneh and Askuwheteau had gone into a denser part of the forest in search of signs of the British. They had taken with them a dog that had been captured in a raid on a white settlement in the northern part of New York. The dog and several white women and children had been taken back to the Algonquin village in Canada where they were integrated into the tribe (as was the custom) to replace warriors who had been killed in battle. The brown and white dog had been given the name "le chien anglais" (the English dog) or "Anglais" for short to indicate his origins. Anglais followed the Indians on their patrols and had adapted to his new life in the wilderness. The memories of his previous existence as a domestic pet were fading away. He had begun to heed the "call of the wild."

 

[kogu]

Great picture again, Randy,
is that the dog from K&C's D-Day "Beachmaster" Set?
Keep it up.
Konrad

 

[PolarBear]

Great picture again, Randy,
is that the dog from K&C's D-Day "Beachmaster" Set?
Keep it up.
Konrad

Yes it is that dog. It's hard to find dogs at that scale to work with the figures. He was happy to oblige, however

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 15 3/18/08

In the meantime about five miles away, Charles Pelham is taking point as his companions from the 27th Foot and members of Rogers Rangers make their way towards their fateful meeting with the French and their Indian allies. Charles is alert for hidden dangers and for the young Englishman the forest is charged with the excitement of what he and his patrol may encounter. The elements of the unknown and the unexpected trump being an apprentice to a blacksmith any day.

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 16 4/7/08

"la chaîne en bois"

While Charles Pelham and his comrades were moving forward on their mission near the shores of Lake George, French forces strung along a chain of wooden outposts (la chaîne en bois) from New York to Canada were awaiting word from the Marines and woodland Indians including Gawasowaneh on the location of British forces in the area. The French were on high alert for a possible attack or raid from the enemy.

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 16 4/7/08 continued

On the second floor of one of these outposts, French officers were examining maps of the area around Lake George in an attempt to determine the most likely place for a British attack.

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 16 4/7/08 continued

Examining a captured British map they debated where their forces could be most effectively deployed and hoped they would soon hear news from the Gawsowaneh's patrol.

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 17 4/15/08

"Crossing Lake George"

While the French and their Indian allies were trying to pinpoint the location of British forces in the area, Rogers Rangers had begun to cross the snow-covered frozen lake alert that they might run into the enemy at any moment.

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 17 4/15/08 continued...

By late afternoon both Pelham's men from the 27th and the Ranger patrol had traversed Lake George and now rested along its banks. Much to their surprise they discovered a stray dog near the shore. A leather band decorated with metalwork and colored beads circled its neck. Such a collar suggested that the dog belonged to Indians somewhere in the vicinity......

 

[Harrytheheid]

EPISODE 17 4/15/08

"Crossing Lake George"

While the French and their Indian allies were trying to pinpoint the location of British forces in the area, Rogers Rangers had begun to cross the snow-covered frozen lake alert that they might run into the enemy at any moment.

Randy,
You have posted some pretty amazing photos before, but I've just seen this one - and I would vote it as just about one of the absolute best I've seen so far.

Thanks
H

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Polarbear,
GREAT photos.
Benjamin

 

[PolarBear]

EPISODE 18 4/16/08

"The Game's Afoot"

Gawasowaneh was worried about Anglais. The dog often wandered in the woods following the trails left by a deer, moose or rabbit. But he usually returned to camp before nightfall. Today this had not happened and so the young Onondagan decided to investigate the frozen lake area, fearing that Anglais might have fallen through the ice or encountered some other danger. As he walked along the edge of the lake, he saw showshoe prints that did not appear to belong to the French or his Indian companions. He crouched near the edge of the lake and carefully studied the prints and where they led. All his senses were now alert for signs of the hated British. His heart raced to think that a battle might be near and that he would soon be able to return to his village with many scalps to prove his bravery in battle.