Coassement de la Grenouille

Journal of the Milice de Ste. Famille

Volume 13, No. 4, August 2001

Bon jour, mon amis –

I hope the summer has treated everyone well. It seems like only yesterday, we were basking in Fort de Chartres sunshine and waiting to pack out.

We had a great time at Fort Ticonderoga, this was my first trip. There were 14 of us there. The Milice made a good showing. It was great to see Nick Westbrook and Bob and Holly Bearor again. We took part in the battle commemorating the death of Lord Howe, and got coverage on CNN. This was a result of Bob’s latest book. He is working on another book, and is wanting to return to Frog Talk when it is ready.

Saturday’s battle at the Fort seemed like home. It rained. There were some 1200 reenactors there. It was quite an impressive camp.

On Sunday, Robert Ouie (Bob Gill) was promoted to Captain of Artillery. Your own Captain received a Royal commission as Capitaine of Troops.

Lynn and I went to Theatiki (first trip there also.) It is a very nice site, and the weather was wonderful. Almost got cold on Friday night.

The following weekend (pushed one too many), Ron Stellhorn, Dick Kroener and I went as Charleville’s company to an NWTA event in Shelbyville, IL. Now I remember why I don’t do July events. It was so hot --- (How hot was it??) It was so hot, they closed the event at noon. Fortunately, we were on the lake and got to swim and use the bathhouse.

With the end of summer, the season kicks off again. Don’t forget the Milice Meeting Sept. 8 at the Old Courthouse, 10 a.m.

Upcoming events are covered elsewhere in the newsletter, but – Make a special note of the Oct F&I at Fort de Chartres. John Francis is spearheading the event, and is trying to bring back some of the old flavor. He is in charge of the military portion. I am in charge of the officer’s duel. Also, there will be some run rations.

One other event of special note – The French and Indian War Grand Encampment at the Daniel Boone Homestead in Birdsboro, PA. August 2-4, 2002. I know, it seems a long way off. This event is looking to be a prime F&I event. It may rival Niagara and Ti. Mark your calendars and let me know if you will be attending. I need numbers by Nov 1^st of this year.

One personal note – Carol Luer is doing well and recovering from open heart surgery. Keep her in your prayers.

Until we meet, I remain your most humble servant,

Jean Baptiste Tavernier, Capitaine

John,

That event at the Oakland House was very nice. I called French dances for about an hour. Everyone had a nice time. The Milice did not show up; too bad. Biff and some of the English dancers came and they enjoyed the French dances. I thought the whole thing was a success.

The house is beautiful.

Carol

Carol,

Thank you again for bringing the musicians and your calling talent to the Benoist Bicentennial Birthday Bash! Even though there were only 3 other Milice members present, I enjoyed it immensely and would be happy to be involved as you explore more dancing with the group.

John,

Many, many thanks for passing the information along to the Milice. I personally am not surprised that more folks didn’t show up – people are busy! No need to send any of this to the rest of the Milice, just wanted to say thanks. :)

Merci merci boo coo ;) again to both of you!

Marie (Deborah Aubuchon)

Hi! I’m a new convert to the right side! I need a source for a first class buff Circ pre-1740 Marine belt, frog, cart box. Can you help with a name or number?

Thanks,

Ernie Berger dit Fountainebleau (Ernie3006@aol.com)

Schenectady NY

Hello All,

I’d like to ask your help on a matter.

We’d like to make sure that the Ft. Belle Fontaine Historical Encampment, September 21-23, north St. Louis County, MO starts off with a bang – and I mean that literally.

We’re looking for artillery pieces. The more the better. Please forward this to anyone who might fill the bill and be interested in coming. They’d be more than welcome.

Any questions, feel free to contact me, or Event coordinator Joe “Mutley” Mele, 314-837-5656, evenings.

Thanks for your time. Hope to see you there,

Phil Jose

President, Making Time Living History Reenactment Society, Inc.

314-524-6254

I know you are all familiar with a document that begins – “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation….”

However, this past July this document came to my attention---

RE: Declaration if Independence

The Court of King George III

London, England

July 10, 1776

Mr. Thomas Jefferson

C/o The Continental Congress

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dear Mr. Jefferson:

We have read you “Declaration of Independence” with great interest. Certainly, it represents a considerable undertaking, and many of your statements do merit serious consideration. Unfortunately, the Declaration as a whole fails to meet recently adopted specifications for proposals to the Crown, so we must return the document to you for further refinement. The questions which follow might assist you in your process of revision:

1. In your opening paragraph you use the phrase “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God”. What are these laws? In what way are they the criteria on which you base your central arguments? Please document with citations from the recent literature.

2. In the same paragraph you refer to the “opinions of mankind.” Whose polling data are you using? Without specific evidence, it seems to us the “opinions of mankind” are a matter of opinion.

3. You hold certain truths to be “self-evident”. Could you please elaborate? If they are as evident as you claim, then it should not be difficult for you to locate the appropriate supporting statistics.

4. “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” seem to be the goals of your proposal. These are not measurable goals. If you were to say that “among these is the ability to sustain an average life expectancy in six of the 13 colonies of at least 55 years, and to enable newspapers in the colonies to print news without outside interference, and to raise the average income of the colonists by 10 percent in the next 10 years,” these could be measurable goals. Please specify.

5. You state that “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government…” Have you weighted this assertion against all the alternatives? What are the trade-off considerations?

6. Your description of the existing situation is quite extensive. Such a long list of grievances should precede the statement of goals, not follow it. Your problem statement needs improvement.

7. Your strategy for achieving your goal is not developed at all. You state the colonies “out to be Free and Independent States,” and that they are “Absolved from All Allegiance to the British Crown.” Who or what must change to achieve this objective? In what way must they change/ What specific steps will you take to overcome the resistance? How long will it take? We have found that a little foresight in these areas helps to prevent careless errors later on. How cost-effective are you strategies?

8. Who among the list of signatories will be responsible for implementing your strategy? Who conceived it? Who provided the theoretical research? Who will constitute the advisory committee? Please submit an organization chart and vitas of the principal investigators.

9. You must include an evaluation design. We have been requiring this since Queen Anne’s War.

10. What impact will your problem have? Your failure to include any assessment of this inspires little confidence in the long-range prospects of your undertaking.

11. Please submit a PERT diagram, an activity chart, itemized budget, and manpower utilization matrix.

We hope that these comments prove useful in revising your “Declaration of Independence.” We welcome the submission of your revised proposal. Our due date for unsolicited proposals is July 11, 1776. Ten copies with original signatures will be required.

Sincerely,

Management Analyst to the British Crown