The Misadventures of Captain Stobo

The

Misadventures

of

Captain Stobo

A novel by Ron Pearse

© Ron Pearse 2016

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CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter 1: Vale Dictum

Chapter 2: Captive of the French

Chapter 3: Wolfe meets Stobo

Chapter 4: Stobo’s Story

Chapter 5: Stobo finds a Friend

Chapter 6: Stobo’s Escape

Chapter 7: Allied Generals Confer

Chapter 8: Wolfe and Stobo Confer

Chapter 9: Montcalm Faces Famine

Chapter 10: Cook takes Soundings

Chapter 11: Emergency!

Chapter 12: The Anse au Foulon

Chapter 13: Montcalm’s Pride

Chapter 14: The Battle

Chapter 15: The French Give Up Canada

Chapter 16: Stobo’s ‘Vale Dictum’

Afterword

Foreword

The pages which follow describe the mishaps and exploits ie the misadventures of Captain Stobo and are drawn from his memoirs though the author has used his imagination to fill in the blanks. Also, Stobo’s language is somewhat deferential even obsequious which suited his purpose and his times.

Moreover he considered the Colonial Militia of Virginia and other militia of the other colonies as somewhat below par to the regular British Army as indeed was the case for many colonial officers including George Washington and Stobo’s ambitions reflect this view.

Yet he was a remarkable soldier and in resisting his captors’ ‘persuasive’ methods proved himself both loyal to his home state and towards the Mother Country, England. In the words of *Mark Antony: This was a man!

*Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act V, Scene V.

Chapter 1

Vale Dictum

Now, God be praised, I will die in peace.

Such were the last words of Major-General James Wolfe as he lay back on an improvised couch made up of the greatcoats, another coat his pillow, of fellow soldiers on the Plains of Abraham, Quebec on the afternoon of September 13th, 1759.

For twenty decades thence his name evoked the place, and the place his name, as this exploit echoed down the centuries ranking among that of Clive, Hood, Marlborough, Rodney in the illustrious epoch of the 18th century. Yet, in modern day Canada there is another viewpoint regarding this famous victory.

Among tour guides in Quebec the talk is of treachery, and, it is true that the Canadian officer placed in charge of the cove where Wolfe made his break-through was serving punishment for a previous dereliction of duty. On the other hand, it was the very seclusion of this cove that appealed to Captain Robert Stobo, a captive of the French for years, who chose it for his tryst with the daughter of an important French official in Quebec.

Wolfe’s epic feat has been celebrated for two centuries and a half; yet, there is a part of the story deserving to be told which has never reached the general public – until now.

Chapter 2

Captive of the French

Five Years Earlier:

Sometime in June, 1754, a military expedition had set out from Wills Creek in Virginia to survey a possible western route to the Ohio valley. The colonial governor had for some time been receiving reports of armed incursions by natives, but more often by Canadians and natives. Intelligence told him the source of these incursions was Fort Duquesne (the future Pittsburg). It was the British view that sooner or later this fort must be eliminated which was the purpose of this expedition to survey the territory through which it passed with a view to constructing a road to take military supplies including heavy cannon.

The expedition’s surveyor would be Captain Robert Stobo whose father, a retail entrepreneur and recent emigrant from Scotland, had been appointed to supply the military with provisions which included liquor. His son, the captain had won rather a reputation for his garrison parties and having been appointed to the expedition saw fit to provide himself with a covered wagon with all the necessary perquisites to make the expedition as less arduous as possible. Apart from wine he took along with him guns and ammunition for game which he foresaw as enriching the meagre diet provided by the army.

Unfortunately, the officer commanding the expedition had one objective to survey the route and return with plans for a route to lay before the governor. Anything which diverted from this purpose, or anybody, was likely to meet some disapproval. After three days out the expedition camped in open country later to be given the name of Great Meadows. After sundown with his work done, Captain Stobo relaxed in a way that reflected his life-style at home.

How far to go to the fort, Captain?

Lieutenant Eagleton drained his pewter mug as he put the question to the chief engineer who was sitting like himself on a collapsible chair around the dying embers of a fire shared with other members of the group whose faces reflected its glow. Around them the night had closed in. Getting no answer the lieutenant nudged his drinking companion who fell over on to his side.

There were titters of laughter and the lieutenant glanced up at one of the faces wreathed in broad grins. It was Serjeant James who told his neighbour, Corporal Fraser, being the nearest, to help him up; he leaned over to do just that then over-balanced himself tumbling atop of the captain. Loud laughter now broke out which galvanized the captain. Pushing aside his comrade he made an effort to rise and seeing the lieutenant’s mug looked round, declaring:

Where’s mine?

Here, sir! It was trooper Williams who placed an empty mug into his hands getting an earful:

An empty mug, ish nay use mon. Fill it up!

If there had been, old chap, don’t you think I would have filled mine. Look!

With that speech the lieutenant showed his upturned mug putting his original query to the captain:

How far to the fort, sir?

Heard you the first time, mon. How many kegs left? I’ll tell you. I brought a dozen of the best madeira so how many are left?

Serjeant, how many?

Corporal, how many?

Trooper, how many? Trooper!

Trooper Williams kicked the lifeless form of his comrade and turning to answer, said:

He’s not used to strong drink, corp. He falls over after a draught of piss-water, the QM doles out as beer.

Suddenly the sound of a bugle was heard.

Trooper Williams said matter-of-factly:

Lights out; but he’s gawn already. Indicating his comrade.

Captain Stobo!

Stobo looked around to find an ensign standing, bugle in hand:

What is it laddie?

Major Washington’s compliments, sir, would you join him in his tent.

Stobo got up and stretched to his full six foot plus height straightening his dishevelled tunic. He shivered slightly in the cold night air and joined the ensign, with the words:

Lead on Macduff!

The ensign stopped and said in puzzlement:

Ensign Macready, sir. You know me?

Go on with ye, mon. Said a chaffing Stobo, adding, at least you’re a Scot.

The ensign turned to say:

Irish, sir.

By now the two had reached the major’s tent and the ensign pulled back the flap to address the occupant:

Captain Stobo, sir.

Thank you ensign, that will be all. You played lights out. Off to your bunk. Goodnight. Come in, Captain!"

Stobo entered a candlelit tent, the sole illumination resting on the table. It was spooky and gloomy, and just as well for in the major’s voice was a hint of barely controlled rage. His opening words betrayed it:

Captain! For a member of the Royal Virginian Regiment you demonstrate a most unmilitary attitude. My ensign is no laddie, he’s not a Macduff; he is an ensign of his Britannic Majesties forces. Please remember that.

If that is your business with me, Major, I bid you goodnight.

Stobo barely had time to move a muscle as the major leapt from his chair:

No, it is not, sir. It has been reported to me that you have been drinking wine with your subordinates and common soldiers. I will not have it. Do you understand, Captain Stobo?

I do, sir. If, that is all?

Captain Stobo you will leave when I give you leave. I can tell you that had I not Governor Dunwiddie’s orders to follow and you, sir, not our only surveyor, you would be riding back to Wills Creek. Where are your survey reports?

In my saddlebag, Major. Did you want to see them?

Another time. At the start of this expedition, Captain, you allowed me to understand that you had but few kegs of wine. I was deceived. I am minded to destroy the remainder and shall do if your conduct does not improve. Well, sir?

You must do what you think fit, Major. But, if you do there will be a commensurate charge on the Commissariat.

Washington stared barely seeing him in the flickering light. He sat down and looked at the papers before him still trying to control his undiminished anger. Eventually he said:

"The object of this investigation, sir, is to survey a route through to Fort Duquesne in order that a suitable road can transport