|
I have done one one-day trek with him, so that I could be comfortable with carrying my bedroll, shooting stuff and a couple of days' worth of food, with my canteen and musket, in preparation for the canoe trip. So I walked around all day with 13 pounds of stuff in my bedroll tied on my back with my tumpline, and carried my 9.5 pound musket in hand, viewing beautiful scenery. And we found two rattlesnakes.
Here's what Angus says about James Smith and his Black Boys:
"Smith was from the upper Conococheague settlements in the great Cumberland Valley of PA, present day Franklin County. He was captured at Braddock's defeat, and it is from him and his excellent writings that we have since come to learn much about that affair. He was a captive at the fort when the French Indians came in with their prisoners and loot when it was over. He wrote everything down. Anyway, the Indians kept him for a few years, then he escaped and made it back to PA, 1759. During Pontiac's war he organized a group of loosely knit woodsmen, dressed 'em all Indian style, and employed the Indian tactics he learned while a captive for use in patrolling the PA frontier. The Black Boys they were called on account of their painting their faces red and black. Of all the quasi-militia ranger units that scoured the PA frontier, the Black Boys were the most successful. They participated in some major campaigns during that time. After the war, they became sort of a vigilante unit. Seems they had a problem with all the traders sellin' guns and ammo to the redskins so soon after Guyashuta's horrible depredations on the PA frontier. So they kinda took law into their own hands. They would ambush supply trains on their way west, confiscate the goods and burn them after setting the waggoners free. Needless to say they were looked upon as heroes by many, and villains by others."
|
That's Angus shooting lunch. Just kidding. In case you are interested, he has a Pennsylvania Lancaster style longrifle, .50cal, fully swamped and stocked in curly maple. (Don't ask me to tell you want that means because I have no idea what "fully swamped" is; I'm still getting used to my own musket having "furniture".)
Also, Angus has provided some information about another one of his passions, closely related to trekking, the American longhunter. (Click here if you need the free Acrobat Reader to view the attachment). To find out more about trekking, visit my Introduction to Trekking.