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Arcer Bush Wars: Difference between revisions
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=== 1795 - The Arcer Militia take the Field === | === 1795 - The Arcer Militia take the Field === | ||
Over the winter of 1795 Crown-Governor Hughes organized two additional companies of militia in Kurst, bringing the total number of irregular soldiers in colonial capital to roughly six hundred. With the spring thaw quickly approaching, Hughes convened a War Committee, bringing in militia captains from Chester-on-Moore and Port Hughes. By Crown-Governor decree, he promoted Thompson to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of Militia in Arcerion, and with the Captaincy of one of Kurst's companies vacated, Thompson recommended an Ensign to fill the empty post. Hughes had been an infantry officer in Carna prior to his commercial ventures in textiles and shipping exports, giving him some understanding of the principles of warfare and the required level of command that he had to exert in such an austere and remote part of the Kingdom's colonial holdings. Hughes outlined the forces at their disposal, three companies in Kurst, one in Chester-on-Moore, smaller garrisons in Port Hughes, Loughton, and Bradford, with small forts and cannon in the two largest Arcer towns. He instructed Thompson to make provisions for inland raids during the Spring, with one company protecting each of the two major towns to prevent them from being destroyed. The War Committee adjourned, setting a date of 15 May for the expedition to begin, under the command of LCol Thompson, with two companies. | Over the winter of 1795 Crown-Governor Hughes organized two additional companies of militia in Kurst, bringing the total number of irregular soldiers in colonial capital to roughly six hundred. With the spring thaw quickly approaching, Hughes convened a War Committee, bringing in militia captains from Chester-on-Moore and Port Hughes. By Crown-Governor decree, he promoted Thompson to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of Militia in Arcerion, and with the Captaincy of one of Kurst's companies vacated, Thompson recommended an Ensign to fill the empty post. Hughes had been an infantry officer in Carna prior to his commercial ventures in textiles and shipping exports, giving him some understanding of the principles of warfare and the required level of command that he had to exert in such an austere and remote part of the Kingdom's colonial holdings. Hughes outlined the forces at their disposal, three companies in Kurst, one in Chester-on-Moore, smaller garrisons in Port Hughes, Loughton, and Bradford, with small forts and cannon in the two largest Arcer towns. He instructed Thompson to make provisions for inland raids during the Spring, with one company protecting each of the two major towns to prevent them from being destroyed. The War Committee adjourned, setting a date of 15 May for the expedition to begin, under the command of LCol Thompson, with two companies. | ||
==== Chester-on-Moore Attacked ==== | ==== Chester-on-Moore Attacked ==== | ||
[[File:1795 First Bush War.png|thumb|Summary of raids, battles, and new settlements during 1795 in the First Bush War.]] | [[File:1795 First Bush War.png|thumb|Summary of raids, battles, and new settlements during 1795 in the First Bush War.]] | ||
During the first week of May, with the two companies making preparations for the expedition, the Indigenous tribes under new leadership, Chief Tawaskame, launched a preemptive attack against Chester, as scouts had determined it was the lesser defended of the two towns. Attacking with what was estimated to be six hundred warriors, Tawaskame tried to lure the men of the Chester-on-Moore Militia out into battle by burning farms and outlying buildings of the town, but the militia, under the command of Captain Leighton Grey, were hesitant to venture past the town limits for fear of endangering the townsfolk, who had sought refuge in the pub and church. Tawaskame grew impatient, and sent several dozen of his warriors to attack the pub, which Captain Grey's men defended with continuous volleys of musketry. Between the early morning fog, and the heavy smoke from the muskets, and smoke from burning buildings, Tawaskame became frustrated that he was unable to see progress of the battle, and with a small band entered the town to press the attack and try and destroy more buildings. Upon entering the town, a sharpshooter in the Church steeple identified an indigenous man on horseback with considerable regalia, and shot Chief Tawaskame through the chest, mortally wounding him. The warband collected what dead and wounded they could, but left the field after suffering several dozen killed and wounded. | During the first week of May, with the two companies making preparations for the expedition, the Indigenous tribes under new leadership, Chief Tawaskame, launched a preemptive attack against Chester, as scouts had determined it was the lesser defended of the two towns. Attacking with what was estimated to be six hundred warriors, Tawaskame tried to lure the men of the Chester-on-Moore Militia out into battle by burning farms and outlying buildings of the town, but the militia, under the command of Captain Leighton Grey, were hesitant to venture past the town limits for fear of endangering the townsfolk, who had sought refuge in the pub and church. Tawaskame grew impatient, and sent several dozen of his warriors to attack the pub, which Captain Grey's men defended with continuous volleys of musketry. Between the early morning fog, and the heavy smoke from the muskets, and smoke from burning buildings, Tawaskame became frustrated that he was unable to see progress of the battle, and with a small band entered the town to press the attack and try and destroy more buildings. Upon entering the town, a sharpshooter in the Church steeple identified an indigenous man on horseback with considerable regalia, and shot Chief Tawaskame through the chest, mortally wounding him. The warband collected what dead and wounded they could, but left the field after suffering several dozen killed and wounded. | ||
The warband in full retreat, the Chester-on-Moore militia sent riders to Kurst to inform them that they were pursuing them inland. Thompson's column immediately set to march, and they linked up with the band Southeast of Loughton, where the Chester-on-Moore militia, ragged from over a week on forced march to keep pace with the tribesmen, handed off command of the pursuit to the Kurst militia. The combined forces finally caught up with the Indigenous tribesmen in the low foothills East of Loughton, deep in A'awaska territory. There they found the sizeable warband's warriors were drawn from two separate encampments, which had convened while the men were away fighting. A short skirmish ensued, where more A'awaskans were killed and both encampments were burned. The remainder scattering wildly in all directions, Thompson regrouped his forces and withdrew, towards Loughton. | The warband in full retreat, the Chester-on-Moore militia sent riders to Kurst to inform them that they were pursuing them inland. Thompson's column immediately set to march, and they linked up with the band Southeast of Loughton, where the Chester-on-Moore militia, ragged from over a week on forced march to keep pace with the tribesmen, handed off command of the pursuit to the Kurst militia. The combined forces finally caught up with the Indigenous tribesmen in the low foothills East of Loughton, deep in A'awaska territory. There they found the sizeable warband's warriors were drawn from two separate encampments, which had convened while the men were away fighting. A short skirmish ensued, where more A'awaskans were killed and both encampments were burned. The remainder scattering wildly in all directions, Thompson regrouped his forces and withdrew, towards Loughton. | ||
==== Battle of Loughton ==== | ==== Battle of Loughton ==== | ||
[[File:Battle of Loughton.png|thumb|250x250px|Mid-19th century artist's depiction of Thompson's column sneaking up on Tewekami's warband during the Battle of Loughton. ]] | [[File:Battle of Loughton.png|thumb|250x250px|Mid-19th century artist's depiction of Thompson's column sneaking up on Tewekami's warband during the Battle of Loughton. ]] | ||
Correspondence from Thompson's personal records in the [[Arcer National Archives]] highlights the arrival of a rider to the column informing them of an impending attack on Loughton. "''Upon reaching a small copse of trees, I ordered our number of men [400] to make camp and rest as we had been on the march for two nights since firing the native camps. A rider appeared on the horizon, and upon being hailed and recognized as Carnish, informed us of a local warband making for Loughton. I ordered the Serjeants Major to break camp immediately, and we set off again on the march for Loughtown."'' Heading this warband was Tawaskame's brother, Tewekami, who sought vengeance for his slain brother. | Correspondence from Thompson's personal records in the [[Arcer National Archives]] highlights the arrival of a rider to the column informing them of an impending attack on Loughton. "''Upon reaching a small copse of trees, I ordered our number of men [400] to make camp and rest as we had been on the march for two nights since firing the native camps. A rider appeared on the horizon, and upon being hailed and recognized as Carnish, informed us of a local warband making for Loughton. I ordered the Serjeants Major to break camp immediately, and we set off again on the march for Loughtown."'' Heading this warband was Tawaskame's brother, Tewekami, who sought vengeance for his slain brother. | ||
Thompson's column intercepted the tribesmen just a few kilometers from Loughton, catching many by surprise as they overran the sentries and pickets and plunged into a melee with the Indigenous warriors. In the ensuing combat, twenty men of the militia were killed, but three to four times that number A'awaskan warriors were killed and many more wounded. Thompson consolidated his forces and resupplied the garrison at Loughton, who were grateful that the Arcer Loyal Militia had headed off such a large contingent of Indigenous peoples. After burying their dead in Loughton Cemetery, the two militia forces parted ways, Thompson returning with his men to Kurst. | Thompson's column intercepted the tribesmen just a few kilometers from Loughton, catching many by surprise as they overran the sentries and pickets and plunged into a melee with the Indigenous warriors. In the ensuing combat, twenty men of the militia were killed, but three to four times that number A'awaskan warriors were killed and many more wounded. Thompson consolidated his forces and resupplied the garrison at Loughton, who were grateful that the Arcer Loyal Militia had headed off such a large contingent of Indigenous peoples. After burying their dead in Loughton Cemetery, the two militia forces parted ways, Thompson returning with his men to Kurst. | ||
Hughes saw the 1795 campaign as a success, and conveyed to Thompson plans for the following year. A ship bringing additional settlers and supplies, including more muskets and cartridges had arrived, and construction of a larger fort in Kurst began. The Carnish Crown also had seen fit to fund a road connecting Kurst to Chester-on-Moore, improving the existing dirt road used by waggoneers and caravans for the past five years. | Hughes saw the 1795 campaign as a success, and conveyed to Thompson plans for the following year. A ship bringing additional settlers and supplies, including more muskets and cartridges had arrived, and construction of a larger fort in Kurst began. The Carnish Crown also had seen fit to fund a road connecting Kurst to Chester-on-Moore, improving the existing dirt road used by waggoneers and caravans for the past five years. | ||
1796 | === 1796 - Expansion and Entrenchment === | ||
not a ton happens, limited skirmishes | not a ton happens, limited skirmishes | ||
fort established south of kurst to link it to chester-on-moore | fort established south of kurst to link it to chester-on-moore | ||