Journal:
Whatever happens, I am sure that it will happen tomorrow or the day after and no later. We have struck camp and the entire army is once again on the march. We are headed west to seek out and destroy utterly the invader as long as they remain in our territory. The near annihilation of the Rangers has moved the General staff to seek out engagement. It seems that they are afraid of losing their army one piece at a time and have now resolved either to destroy our foe or to lose the army all at once.
When they marched out from Fort Samuelson the four companies of the Rangers numbered tw0-hundred and fifty each. We still do not know exactly what happened to them two days ago, but there are now only about one hundred left and most of those have been wounded too badly to keep fighting and have been sent back to Fort Samuelson to convalesce. Those capable of carrying on the fight have been scattered throughout the other light cavalry units of the army. Corporal Williams and Sergeant Solomon formerly of the Forrest company are now the newest additions to my troop. They are good men though they hold themselves apart from the rest of the troop and do not speak at all about the events of the previous days. We have issued them a full kit of 5th Cavalry tack for their horses and a set of fresh navy blue uniforms from our stores, but they have insisted on keeping the faded greens they wore as Rangers.
I feel great pity for these men as they very visibly bear the burden of survival. I fear for them that their mental and emotional condition is not in sufficient strength to endure another fight against this foe. They do not speak to the others of the troop and though they both assured me of their capability to fight with the strongest oaths, I am not so certain. I have done my best to make them feel at home and have even added, with the colonel’s approval, a auburn chevron to my troop’s guidon that all may fear the combined might of the Ranger Hussars. I dearly wish that I had come to know these men under happier circumstances as we would be best of friends.
~KRD
PS: I have not yet issued a decision on the ongoing drama of the name for Troop A, but am waiting to hear back about my suggestion. Davidson’s Devils.
