History - First Hand

[Cameronian]

As a Cameron of Loch Sunart descent, to read this first hand account of the Storming of Quebec in a letter written by the young son of John Cameron of Fassifern to his brother, (original document held in the National Library of Scotland)making mention of the fate of Glendessarie and Dungallon brings the reality of the history of that period after Culloden into some perspective

30 October 1759

My Dear Brother
This is my first letter to you since I left Greenock and the reason is because I had no other to say till now. We arrived at Virginia the
twentieth of June1759 after a long and tedious passage, and from
Virginia we moved to York, and from York up the River to Albonay,
where we parted with Captain Campbell’s company then we were ordered
down that same river to York again and from York to Louisburg and up
the river Saint Lawrence to the Stage of Quebeck. We arrived in Camp
before Quebeck September the 3 and we came time enough to see
everything that was done and one of the most glorious Battles that
ever was fought in America, General Wolf Commander in Chief of our
Army ordered us all up the river above the town for the town lies on
the side of a hill and close to the river and on the 13 we landed on
the other side and that with little or no loss after we landed we got
our men drawn up on the top of hill in the Order of Battle, General
Montcalm as soon as he heard of our landing told all his troops that
were encamped at Beauport to march and drive us of and he himself came along with them but great was his surprise when he saw us drawn up in the Order of Battle and ready to receive him upon which he drew up his men and began to attack. He gave us three full fires before we returned the compliment but our second fire broke the enemy and put in the greatest confusion imaginable. They advanced within bayonet length of us before they gave way, we pursued them up to the very walls and some of the men actually took prisoners from within the walls. The army in General behaved themselves with extraordinary spirit but without partiality our regiment did their part making with there broad swords and pursuing them into the very city.

You may consider with what pleasure we took in pursuing those rascals
a great deal more than a few (?) lads would talk about a dozen of
(?) and quarts of ale. But for our comfort after this glorious victory we have got Quebeck for our Winter Quarters and I assure you I would like as well to be on the top of Ben Nevis.

But I wish the following news was as good as the former, the very day
that I arrived here which was the 3 of September Dungallon died, I
came time enough to see him interred and that was all, Hugh Cameron
who is now Captain took care of all his things and saw every thing
roped but his Silver butted sword and gold watch and ring. I have his
ring at present till such time as Glendessary calls, but I hope I
will see Glendessary which if I do I will send it home to you.

I suppose Glendessery himself goes home this winter which if he does
you can see him yourself and perhaps get the gold watch.

There is a great deal of promotion now in our regiment Ronald Mcdonald Capock has got a Company and so has Hugh Cameron and Glengarry’s brother is Captain and I am now of Captain Cameron’s Company for the Officers have been put into different companies. I am very sorry that I’m obliged to trouble my father with that Bill of 40 pound but I assure you Dear Ewen, that I was obliged to do it or if I had not done it I would be obliged to sell out rather than to be put under stoppages at 18p per day when my whole pay is but 36p for we don’t get arrears in this country and if my father will be so indulgent as to pay I assure you that it will be the last of the kind that ever I will trouble him with and I believe after the first year is over that I can lay by a little money and I assure you that if it take 6 years to make up the sum to my father that I will do it.

P.S Captain Cameron desires to be remembered. My Dear Ewen
Your very affectionate brother…………Donald Cameron

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Val,

WOW! What a wonderful piece of Cameron history! Would you mind if we included it in the Cameron Archives? I'd like to make sure that it's preserved, and readily available to clansfolk... Thanks also for the photo work, which I've already e-mailed you in regard to.

[Cameronian]

Tom, there is a great deal of this Historic material lying in the vaults of the National Library in Edinburgh, it was passed in to the them for safe keeping after it was found during the refurbishment of Fassifern property. Even more of it awaits reading in the National Archives in Edin…..the Claims against the Forfeited Estates, the letters of regret for non ability to payment Tackmen who were placed in control of these properties, all poignant reading, just take the tissues along.

I was able to handle these documents some dating back to the 1600’s and some the staff were willing to copy for me…this is only the tip of the ‘berg and one wonders how many more were sent to the tip by new owners or demolition teams….hence we in Clan Cameron NSW are endeavouring to locate any material which may have come over to us with our Bounty Migrant Free Settlers in the mid 1800’s ,,success has been limited but some treasures have emerged like the Illuminated Address that was presented in 1938 to the then Lochiel Sir Donald Walter Cameron on the occasion of the first International Gathering at Achnacarry….the wording of the address composed by Mary Gilmore nee Cameron one of Australia’s finest poets.

Perhaps the words are more florid that we would use now, but the sentiments expressed may not have changed..............Val

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Val,

Thanks for the 1938 document, which is now up in the Clan Cameron Archives (www.clan-cameron.org/archives.html) for all to take a look at.

I had heard that someone (now I know who) from the NSW Branch had found a number of wonderful documents at the National Library. Any of those documents that you think might be of general interest in the Archives, we'd be pleased to include. In the meanwhile, would it be OK if we added the 1759 document into the Archives? I usually like to get a "go ahead" before adding anything, especially from the person who found the item!!

[Cameronian]

Aye Tom you may use whatever I have, though I do hope one day to have all this material re-copied onto parchment paper more representative to the period and have it displayed back in our Clan Lands so that it can be seen first hand, in the area it relates to, by those interested in our Clan History.

Until such a time arrises, we will keep the material as protected as we can and view it per medium of the screen through your excellent Archives.

Regards Val