Sent to the labour camps

As he left Stonew on a cart Lieutenant Blanc, reflected on the last few days. They had been treated well, but how much of that was normal and how much due to the action of that lady he wasn’t sure. She had returned early the next day to assure them that they would be well treated while they were in the care of the garrison, which did give him cause to worry about the conditions they would find in the labour camp. A roster was taken and they were informed that a copy would be sent across to river to the French commander. Raymond hoped this was true and that the message that he was still alive would get back to his Fiancée Amelie.

The roster must have been used to call them out individually and gradually the numbers in the gaol dwindled. When it came to his turn he was taken before a couple of Officers and interrogated about his position and role in the French forces. One was the local Posts and Customs commander, which was strange and the other was dressed in an unusual red uniform with yellow facings.

At the end of the interview he was asked if he would volunteer for a mercenary regiment being raised to fight for the British. They would not have to fight their fellow countrymen, but they would be used to garrison British possessions outside Europe. Raymond declined, but appeared that many of his men had volunteered. There were only 37 of them on the road to the camps and 18 of them including himself were still recovering from wounds and travelling on a couple of wagons.