Those Intrepid Travelers Who Traversed the Vast American Wilderness

Whenever driving across sections of the country, I've always been fascinated to think of how the early settlers, explorers, adventurers, and armies traversed the rugged distances of the wilderness. Nowadays, we can hop aboard a plane and barely have time to finish reading a novella before we land a thousand miles away. Or we can get into a car and not quite finish a novel before driving the hours across a couple of states. We look at the hills and valleys, we imagine the vastness of the tangled forests that were riddled with narrow Indian trails at best. In a flash, we drive over rivers that took hours to ford.

Yet, the remarkable thing of it all, to me, is that the colonists and fur traders and who-not seemed to go back and forth across this land with great frequency. It seems, in reading historical accounts, that Daniel Boone tramped back and forth with great regularity, and the voyageurs paddled many thousands of miles across the great lakes and up and down the mighty rivers.

I recently read of a British attempt, during the latter part of the Revolutionary War, to thwart the spread of America's hold on the western lands--particularly hoping to stop the advancement of American General George Rogers Clark and decimate his army--by planning a 3-prong attack on St. Louis in the center of the continent. Now, consider the vastness of this three-prong approach:

1. One force was to march northward from the Gulf of Mexico.

2. The second force was to march from Fort Detroit to Cahokia (across from St. Louis).

3. The third force was to trek from Lake Superior to the Mississippi River, and then follow the river to St. Louis.

Each of these would be a momentous tour for anyone nowadays with modern equipment at their disposal. Can you imagine such an attack, with each prong thousands of miles distant from each other, working its way through unsettled wilderness territory? Incidentally, it failed. But only incidentally. The fact that such a task was attempted simply blows my mind.

While I've often thought about the difficulty faced by pioneers moving into the west, knowing they'd likely never see their families "back home" again, these men who trekked back and forth over mountains and rivers seemed little daunted by the magnitude.

These are the things I think about when I travel. Do you think about them too?

In Song for the Hunter, my new novel available for pre-order, I deal largely with the travels of the voyageurs and fur traders across the great lakes, the area known as the "Upper Country", and the western Lake Superior region, especially along the south shore lands of Ouisconsin (Wisconsin).

Endorsements for Song for the Hunter

"A few pages into Song for the Hunter, Naomi Musch earned a spot on my list of favorite Christian historical fiction authors. What a joy to find another writer who shares my heart for telling cross-cultural stories in a frontier/wilderness setting—and discovering that writer's gorgeous, evocative prose brought the setting to such vivid life that I found myself often lingering over the imagery conjured. Characters Camilla and Bemidii (and a large supporting cast) came leaping off the pages straight into my heart. I couldn't turn those pages fast enough to discover how they charted a course through desperately entangled paths to find a clear way forward. Hope triumphs in this latest offering from gifted wordsmith and lover of history, Naomi Musch."

Lori Benton, Christy-Award winning author of Burning Sky and the Kindred duology, Mountain Laurel and Shiloh

"This beautifully written and immersive story will transport you back in time and keep you turning the pages! Naomi Musch's voice and style is the perfect balance of lyrical combined with cadence and word choice appropriate for the time and setting. Fans of Lori Benton and Laura Frantz will find this story a perfect addition to their libraries! Highly recommend."

Carrie Fancett Pagels, Award-winning and bestselling author, Behind Love's Wall

"In Song of the Hunter, the long-awaited sequel to Mist O’er the Voyageur, Naomi Musch transports us back to the waters of Lake Superior during the height of the fur trade. Cultures clash as an evil man sends ripples across the waters that will touch the hearts of many. It took strong people to survive the wild and unpredictable environment, and it would take strong people to find the truth and reconcile with it. The story is beautifully presented in a setting rich in the heritage of the people and the grandeur of nature. A must read for those who enjoy the rugged landscapes and rich cultures of America’s northern shores."

Pegg Thomas, Award-winning author of Sarah’s Choice

Naomi Musch

www.naomimusch.com

Two Revolutionary War Era First-Hand Accounts

In the mid-eighties, I began writing what later became A Heart For Freedom, a story that centered around an eighteenth-century ordinary. Later, Setting Two Hearts Free would also take place at the same ordinary, Stewarts' Green.     Ordinaries were business establishments placed in towns, and on or near roads to accommodate travelers. They also often were located near river-crossings for the same reason. Rooms for sleeping, meals, and care for horses were all provided at a reasonable cost.

When I was researching for the story, I met a couple who lived in what was once an eighteenth-century ordinary only ten miles from where I lived in Loudoun County, VA. Visiting Cattail Ordinary was such a treat. It was located not far from what was a colonial thoroughfare as well as a ferry crossing. The owners generously lent me a book, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell: 1774-1777. He was a British traveler who stayed in the ordinary on more than one occasion. It detailed all of his travels throughout the colonies and frontier. The same journal has since been republished several times, more recently as A Man Apart.

Anyone who writes for or visits this site enjoys history, but reading a first-person account of an era gives the reader a greater insight into the attitudes and experiences of people at the time. Since this journal was written by an Englishman who visited the colonies from 1774 to 1777, his observations and understanding would be different than a participant in the war or from the viewpoint of a historian.  

Nicholas Cresswell sailed to Virginia, believing that “a person with a small fortune may live much better and make greater improvements in America than he can possibly do in England.” In his mid-twenties, he was seeking to independently establish himself in America but those plans would be thwarted by the onset of the Revolution. Though a subject of King George, Cresswell was by no means an advocate of the colonial Loyalists. He expresses some objectivity in the book for both the Loyalist and the Patriot causes. The diary he maintained covered his travels primarily in the mid-Atlantic region and the frontier, what is now Ohio and Illinois. His observations are interesting. His experience was certainly tainted by the timing of his visit, and would have been so different had he come at another time.

A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier by Joseph Plumb Martin provides an entirely different wartime experience not only because it is written by a man who enlisted as a Patriot at fifteen but it was written when he was a seventy-year-old man. It is believed that he based this narrative on journals he may have kept in his younger years. Time and maturity no doubt influenced the retelling of his experiences providing perspective. Had he written it during the war, he no doubt would have been less objective. The son of a “wandering clergyman” Joseph was raised by his grandparents in Connecticut. He details numerous battles he participated in and often endured extreme starvation and hardship. Among tales of friendship, he tells unflattering stories of hardhearted civilians and dishonest soldiers. He learned there were many Loyalists among his countrymen and discovered that the war was not only against the invading British army but was also a civil war often dividing neighbors and families. It’s a fascinating commentary by someone who was there.

Do you enjoy reading historical events by people who were present?

Jack Jouett, Jr. ~ A Little-Known Hero

There are times when people's actions or words have far-reaching and historic consequences. Such was the case in June of 1781 when a twenty-six-year-old resident of Charlottesville, Virginia made a heroic forty-mile ride that likely saved several of our nation’s founders.

That spring, the British Army was making raids along the James River. On June third, his last day in office, Governor Thomas Jefferson was with his family at his home, Monticello, near Charlottesville. Virginia's legislature had evacuated the capital at Richmond and was reconvening in Charlottesville. British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was sent by Lord Cornwallis to capture the governor and legislators. His 250-man raiding party hastily traveled that night to take the Virginians by surprise.

Jack" Jouett, Jr., son of a Charlottesville tavernkeeper, was at the Cuckoo Tavern the evening of June third when he observed the British contingent and guessed Tarleton’s destination. Jouett rode all night to Monticello to warn the Governor. Jefferson was preparing breakfast for several members of the legislature staying there when Jouett arrived. After warning them Jack continued his ride to Charlottesville to warn the remaining assemblymen. Thomas Jefferson and his family departed for their farm, Poplar Forest, near Lynchburg. The legislators met in Charlottesville, fled, and reconvened in Staunton on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While Tarleton caught seven legislators, most of the assemblymen escaped capture and probably execution.

Red line is Lieut. Col. Banastre Tarleton’s route to Charlottesville. Blue line is the path taken by  Jack Jouett from Cuckoo Tavern to Monticello and Charlottesville.  http://jouetthouse.org

Who were these men and why execution?

Several of these legislators were signers of the Declaration of Independence, all with death warrants.

Thomas Jefferson ~ held various influential offices including our third President.

Patrick Henry ~ Virginia’s first and sixth Governor

Benjamin Harrison ~ Virginia’s 5th Governor. He was the father and great-grandfather of two U.S. presidents.

Richard Henry Lee ~ Author of the Lee Resolution in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain

Thomas Nelson ~ the Fourth Governor of Virginia

Daniel Boone ~ frontiersman representing the Western territory of Virginia

The heroic ride of one young man incredibly impacted the course of American history.

SETTING TWO HEARTS FREE

 

SettingTwo Hearts Free, the third story of my Revolutionary War series releases October 6^th, 2020. For those who haven’t read A Heart Set Free or A Heart For Freedom, this is a stand-alone story. 

This story picks up in 1781 five years after A Heart For Freedom ends and focuses on the younger generation. The war is winding down but the danger and challenges the characters face haven’t—and some will last long after leaving the battlefield.

Emotional, psychological, and some physical injuries may not be obvious but they have been with mankind since the beginning of time. It took until the late seventeenth century for the invisible wounds of war to be identified and those names varied depending on the war.

What we now refer to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was eventually accepted as a diagnosis in 1980. It can result from any incidents that cause intense anguish. It can begin during or after the event(s), be of short, periodic, or long duration, and be triggered unexpectedly by a myriad of causes.

Those who suffer from it can experience various problems such as loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, insomnia, physical weakness, anxiety, apathy, heart palpitations, irritability, fever, and depression.

The two main characters, as well as others, experience life-changing trauma in Setting Two Hearts Free:

Donald Duncan joined the Patriot cause for noble reasons, battling the British while enduring deprivation and hardship on every side. The war has changed him, and now the battle is internal. Returning home to Virginia is in sight where a new life and his Mary wait for him.

Mary Stewart spends the war years with her family at Stewarts’ Green, helping them operate their ordinary. Daily, she prays for Donald’s safe return, eagerly waiting for him … until that day the evil side of war touches her.

Two hearts changed by a war that dragged on for six years. Two hearts left hurting and struggling to find the love and trust they once knew. Is there a path for them to rekindle what was lost, Setting Two Hearts Free?

Setting Two Heart Free is dedicated to all who suffer the invisible wounds of war and other trauma. And to their families and loved ones, sometimes struggling to best know how to help and cope.

A Heart Set Free ~ Selah Award for Historical Romance

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Set-Free-Janet-Grunst-ebook/dp/B01MQK0SXR/ref

A Heart For Freedom ~ Christian Inspy Award for Historical Fiction

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Freedom-Janet-S-Grunst-ebook/dp/B07FB5J172/ref 

Let Us Not Be Rogues or Fools - A Circumspect Anniversary Look at Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis"

Just as we remember Benjamin Franklin in part for his many wise sayings, the words of Thomas Paine, considered the Father of the Revolution, have also become timeless. Looking ahead toward a new decade, we would do well to look back on December 23^rd, 1776, which marks the 243^rd anniversary of the first in Mr. Paine’s series of published pamphlets entitled The American Crisis or simply The Crisis.

In our current political climate, it seems a good time to revisit this insightful essay of Mr. Paine’s that is at times convicting, sharp, and humbling. In reading Mr. Paine’s essay, I cannot help but feel its relevance for the present..

Ponder a few of these highlights from The Crisis:  

"These are the times that try men's souls." (Talk about an opening line! I feel this often. Don't you?)

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly." (I wonder if this isn't more true now than it was 243 years ago.)

"All that Howe has been doing for this month past, is rather a ravage than a conquest." (Ouch! He must have learned insults from Shakespeare.)

"I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretense as he." (I appreciate Mr. Paine's confidence in the Divine.)

"Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. ... Yet panic, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. ... They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. (Such eye-opening truth! Panic does achieve those things, and is one way in which "every secret thing will be revealed".)

"If we believe the power of hell to be limited, we must likewise believe that their agents are under some providential control." (A wonderful reminder of God's over-arching power and will.) 

"The period is now arrived, in which either they or we must change our sentiments, or one or both must fall." (I have to remind myself that Mr. Paine is speaking of the stark division between Tories and Patriots, and yet...)

"Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it." (Let the thwarting of evil ever be our nation’s unifying cause.)

"My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?" (An argument that still stands.)

"Howe's first object is, partly by threats and partly by promises, to terrify or seduce the people to deliver up their arms and receive mercy. The ministry recommended the same plan to Gage, and this is what the Tories call making their peace, "a peace which passeth all understanding" indeed! A peace which would be the immediate forerunner of a worse ruin than any we have yet thought of. Ye men of Pennsylvania, do reason upon these things! Were the back counties to give up their arms, they would fall an easy prey to the Indians, who are all armed: this perhaps is what some Tories would not be sorry for. Were the home counties to deliver up their arms, they would be exposed to the resentment of the back counties who would then have it in their power to chastise their defection at pleasure. And were any one state to give up its arms, that state must be garrisoned by all Howe's army of Britons and Hessians to preserve it from the anger of the rest. Mutual fear is the principal link in the chain of mutual love, and woe be to that state that breaks the compact. Howe is mercifully inviting you to barbarous destruction, and men must be either rogues or fools that will not see it. I dwell not upon the vapors of imagination; I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as A, B, C, hold up truth to your eyes." (And thus, the groundwork for our 2^nd Amendment rights was laid. What has changed? For we must still hold fast to those rights for which men laid down their lives.)

***

In conclusion, I think it circumspect to look back upon these documents written during our country's birth pangs. We have experienced many growing pains in the 243 years since, and continue to feel the agonies of a nation struggling to survive as it was formed. As we close out the year and prepare to step into a new decade, let us not forget the things we've learned, the wisdom that prevailed so long ago.

Merry Christmas, and may you be filled with God's peace as you walk with Him.

Naomi Musch

https://naomimusch.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Land of the Free Because of the Brave

On Veteran’s Day, we honor all who have served our country in the armed forces, past and present. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these men and women.

Coming from a military family, and with sons and a son-in-law who are career military officers, I’m well aware of the personal cost to the families. “They also serve who only stand and wait” to quote John Milton.

From the earliest days of our new nation, men left the comfort of home to take up arms to preserve the independence our founders envisioned and declared. People from all segments of society put aside their lives, activities, and obligations to train and fight for the freedoms we continue to enjoy.

Throughout our history, many service members lost their lives while others often came home with devastating injuries. Some returned with less obvious wounds facing challenges few understood.

The third story in my Revolutionary War series is now contracted. It deals with some of the invisible wounds of war.

It’s 1781 and the former colonies continue their fight to maintain their independence. Much of the action has moved into the southern states where Donald Duncan is serving with the Continental Army in the Carolinas.

Five years have passed since Mary Stewart last saw Donald Duncan. What impact will the long separation have on their relationship?

The horrors both Donald and Mary have experienced has changed them. Surviving the war and separation is half their battle. The invisible wounds of war will make facing the future an even greater challenge. Learning to live with trauma, and accept them in each other, will require humility and forbearance.

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, 

forbearing one another in love. ”

Ephesians 4:2

Who Were the Hessians?

Hessian hussars in America

The historical note in the back of a novel can only cover just so many topics, and I recently discovered a few holes in mine. A very “meh” review on my newly released title The Cumberland Bride (granted, it was a 5-chapter free preview) made me realize I’d never addressed a particular issue of the family’s backstory—that is, the heroine’s father, Karl Gruener, having been a Hessian in the employ of the British army during the American Revolution.

So who were the Hessians? Essentially, they were German mercenaries hired by Great Britain, and not just for the American Revolution. Surprising? Let's look at the details.

During the American colonial era, Germany was not one unified country. It was a collection of imperial states, each granted authority under the Holy Roman Empire, which included Prussia, Bavaria, Hesse-Hanau, and Hesse-Kassel. The troops of the last two in particular regularly hired out to other countries during the 1700’s, and in at least one case even fought on opposite sides, such as during the War for Austrian Succession, under Britain and Prussia. Because so many came from Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau, these troops were often referred to as simply “Hessians,” and so the term stuck.

The first German mercenary troops used during the American Revolution landed in 1776 and fought in many of the battles between British and Continental troops, including during the Southern Campaign. These troops were comprised of Jagers (infantry), Hussars (cavalry), artillery, and grenadiers. Jagers were the ones I’d heard most about, many of them sharpshooters and brought in as “anti-sniper” troops because they often carried German-made rifles that rivaled the ones carried by backcountry militia. Their skill could be as legendary as American riflemen, and the faith was attested to, albeit mockingly, by the British colonel Lord Rawdon, who had this to say about their behavior under pressure (in this case, at the prospect of being fired upon while crossing a river):

The Hessians, who were not used to this water business and who conceived that it must be exceedingly uncomfortable to be shot at whilst they were quite defenceless and jammed so close together, began to sing hymns immediately. Our men expressed their feelings as strongly, though in a different manner, by [cursing] themselves and the enemy indiscriminately with wonderful fervency.

And yes, for those who have read The Cumberland Bride, this event, from September 1776, is the one I reference in the opening scene.

The Capture of Hessians at Trenton

A large number of Hessians were taken captive in the Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, and farmed out along with British soldiers to the surrounding countryside. While the British-born reportedly did not take well to their captivity, many of the German prisoners wound up abandoning military service in favor of the American colonies. I’ve heard stories of the British deserting as well, but apparently Hessians did so in larger numbers. Maybe because the British felt they had a larger stake in the conflict?

 ~*~

Quote from Redcoats and Rebels: The American Revolution Through British Eyes, Christopher Hibbert. Also thanks to Wikipedia for an excellently footnoted article on the Hessians ... and to a particular group of reenactors I met years ago at the Battle of Parker's Ferry, whose name I've sadly lost track of.

A HEART FOR FREEDOM

My second novel A Heart For Freedom releases October 1^st, 2018, It takes place in Virginia during the first eighteen months of the Revolutionary War. While this is a stand-alone story, it picks up five years after A Heart Set Free ended. Heather and Matthew Stewart live on their farm and now also manage an ordinary, providing rest and food for hungry travelers.

The Revolutionary War was America’s first civil war. By 1775, the conflict in the colonies had escalated between Loyalists and Patriots. John Adams was known to have said that about thirty-three percent of the American populace supported the Patriot cause, thirty-three percent sided with the Loyalists, and thirty-three percent were undecided.

While many men and boys took up arms against the British, those at Stewarts’ ordinary and the surrounding Virginia countryside were not immune from the strife, pitting friends, neighbors, and families against each other.

Here is the blurb from the back of the book:

He longs for freedom, but he won’t risk those he loves.

Matthew Stewart wants only to farm, manage his inn, and protect his family. But tension between the Loyalists and Patriots is mounting. When he’s asked to help the Patriots and assured his family will be safe, he agrees.

She’s seen the cost of fighting England, and she wants no part of it.

In Scotland, Heather Stewart witnessed the devastation and political consequences of opposing England. She wants only to avoid war and protect the family and peace she finally found in Virginia. But the war drums can be heard even from home in the countryside, and she has no power to stop the approaching danger.

The consequences are deadly.

When Matthew leaves for a short journey and doesn’t return, Heather faces the biggest trial of her life. Will she give up hope of seeing him again? Will he survive the trials and make his way home? What will be the consequences of his heart for freedom?

I hope those who read the story enjoy it and consider writing a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Now, I return to my writing cave to finish the third story which focuses on the younger generation and takes place toward the end of the war.

Janet is a wife, mother of two sons, and grandmother of eight who lives in the historic triangle of Virginia (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown) with her husband. Her debut novel, A Heart Set Free was the 2016 Selah Award winner for Historical Romance. A lifelong student of history, her love of writing fiction grew out of a desire to share stories that communicate the truths of the Christian faith, as well as entertain, bring inspiration, healing, and hope to the reader. 

https://JanetGrunst.com 

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Independence Day 2018 by Carrie Fancett Pagels

If you're like many Americans then you'll be traveling this weekend for festivities related to our nation's Independence Day! Whether you live in a historic area like Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Yorktown where the last great battle of the Revolutionary War took place, Philadelphia, Washington DC, or points much further west in our great country, we at Colonial Quills hope you'll remember what our freedom means.

We're free to worship as we please. We don't tolerate taxation without representation. We're guaranteed certain rights. Like the choice to attend a small town parade to celebrate. To look up in awe as fireworks light up overhead, in my case over the Straits of Mackinac where within a short distance another country, Canada, has its shores. (Canada has a celebration July 1st, also sending up fireworks over the Great Lakes and elsewhere, but independence won without a war.)

Looking for some inspirational reading over the weekend?  Click here to read the full text of the Declaration of Independence.

Let freedom ring!

The Boston Massacre

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

On June 29, 1767, the British Parliament passed a series of taxes in the American colonies to recoup their losses from a costly war with France and to reestablish control over the colonies. These taxes called The Townshend Acts imposed taxes on common products imported to the colonies like paper, glass, and tea. Colonists protested these unfair taxes citing the British were enacting taxation without representation. Boston, Massachusetts led by men like Samuel Adams organized the protests.

British troops arrived in Boston in October, 1768 to squelch the protests and maintain order. The troops were considered invaders and taunted with name calling, spitting, and fighting. Bostonians kept the soldiers from carrying out their duties. Tension mounted. In March, 1770, the British sent more troops. The redcoats, led by Captain Thomas Preston, were met with a crowd chanting “Fire, and be damned”. Captain Preston was unable to disperse the crowds. He ordered the troops not to fire, but they probably didn’t hear and opened fire on the crowd killing five men.

Captain Preston was tried eight months later for murder in a Boston courtroom. He was defended by revolutionaries John Adams and Robert Auchmuty and acquitted. One reason he was acquitted was because of a deathbed account of one of the witnesses that the soldiers were acting in self-defense. Eight soldiers were also tried. Six were acquitted. Two were found guilty of manslaughter because of overwhelming proof that they fired into the crowd. They were branded on their thumbs with the letter M and released to return to their units.

The Boston public took the verdicts in good order. There were letters expressing outrage in the local newspapers, the work of Sam Adams and other disappointed agitators, but no public demonstrations. This calm reflected the feelings of many that mob action had gotten out of hand and that British soldiers, hated as they were, could not be blamed for defending themselves.

After the massacre, the Townshend Acts were partially repealed and a period of calm remain until the Tea Act of 1773 led to the Boston Tea Party.

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and was a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Her Novel, Alice’s Notions and her novellas Resurrection of Hope and A Christmas Promise are available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.