The SAMS Lyceum of Martial and Societal Antediluvian Chronicles An addendum to The SAMS Sporran For October 2020 American History The A​ llies, World War I and the Russian Revolution The soldiers came home from the war, unheralded, there were no adoring crowds waving flags and cheering, except for family, welcoming them home. There were no parades, no speeches or victory tours.Those were over a year ago. They received- Nothing. Their service was unappreciated. Their sacrifices were forgotten or largely unknown. Naturally the soldiers felt isolated and betrayed. They seldom, if ever spoke of their exploits. Naturally, they recalled their still fresh memories of: the bitingly bitter cold, the long dark winter nights, the deadly firefights and the almost constant questioning of the reason they were fighting. They experienced the absolute antipathy any soldier can experience - they were ignored, forgotten, lost to history. It was a war most people knew nothing about Many textbooks on American History seem to give short shrift to some parts of history, Like the First World War or the War of 1812. Some scarcely even mention at all the war with France we fought between the Revolutionary War and The War of 1812. Nor do they mention the war with the Barbary Pirates (part of The Ottoman Empire). But getting back to World War One, very, very few people are aware of the fact that American soldiers, 13,000 if truth be told, actually fought in Russia against the communists. During World War I the Allies were composed of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan and a host of smaller nations. The Americans joined the ranks towards the end of the war. The war had been raging since 1914 and in 1917 when a coup d’etat overthrew the Russian Tzar, Nicholas II, Russia withdrew from the war. This allowed thousands of German troops on the Eastern Front to be used on the Western Front against the Allies. The German High Command wanted to use those troops to break the stalemate (trench warfare) on the Western Front and win the war. Meanwhile a civil war was raging in Russia. On one side you had the Red Russian communist/socialists. Arrayed against them were the White Russians as an amalgamation of royalists, liberal idealistic students and soldiers of fortune. The Red Russians controlled much of the country west of the Urals (European Russia) while the White Russians controlled the areas east of the Urals (Asian Russia) much of which was Siberia. The Allies were desperate to reopen an Eastern Front. So the Allies sent soldiers to Russia to aid the White Russians. They also pressured Wilson to send troops to join Allied expeditions in northern Russia and far eastern Russia, to fight and ultimately defeat the Bolsheviks and return Russia to the war. That was the plan In July 1918, Democratic president Woodrow Wilson reluctantly agreed with his allies to send American soldiers to assist the White Russians in their fight against the Bolsheviks or the communist/socialist Red Russians. The Allies viewed the Red Russians as German puppets since it was the Germans who instigated the rebellion by sending Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky to Russia. Wilson, who campaigned on a platform to keep Americans out of the war, issued a carefully worded, diplomatically vague memo. “ First, the U.S. troops would guard the giant Allied arms caches sent to Archangel and Vladivostok before Russia had left the war. Second, they would support the 70,000-man Czechoslovak Legion, of former prisoners of war who had joined the Allied cause and were fighting the Bolsheviks in Siberia. Third, though the memo said the U.S. would avoid “intervention in [Russia’s] internal affairs,” it also said the U.S. troops would aid Russians with their own “self-government or self-defense.” That was diplomacy-speak for aiding the White Russians in the civil war. The primary reason the U.S. troops were sent to Archangel, Russia (to guard giant Allied arms caches worth millions of dollars from falling into the wrong hands, ie: the Red Russians.) was soon abandoned. The Americans at Archangel found themselves under the leadership of a British general. In Eastern Russia the American’s were nominally under the command of a White Russian Admiral. Finally, the memo said the U.S. would avoid “intervention in Russia’s internal affairs.” How we were to accomplish this sleight of hand he didn’t say. After all isn’t engaging in the Russian Civil War on the side of the White Russians intervening in internal affairs? At any rate 13,000 American doughboys suddenly found themselves knee deep in a war in the coldest parts of Russia. 5,000 troopers of the 339th U.S. Army regiment of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) were deployed near the port of Archangel, just below the Arctic Circle. They referred to themselves as the Polar Bear Expedition. 4,000 miles to the East were the 8,000 troops from the 27th and 31st regiments, who were arrived in the Pacific Ocean port of Vladivostok, probably the last “warm” place they would experience on their way to Siberia. They arrived in September 1918. You can’t follow the game without a scorecard, so here goes: In Western Russia,The Americans (Polar Bears) joined the Allied contingent consisting of: 6,000 British 1,000 Canadian 900 French 1,300 Italian and 1,000 Polish and Serbian troops.

The 339th Regiment- The Polar Bears In Eastern Russia (Siberia) there were The 4,000 White Russians, the 70,000-man Czechoslovak Legion, 72,000 Japanese, 12,000 Polish troops, 8,000 Americans, 4,200 ​ Canadians, 4,000 Romanians, 2,000 Italians, 1,600 British troops and 760 French ​ Colonial (Vietnamese) troops and a Chinese ( with a few Mongolians and Koreans thrown in for good measure) regiment in the region. When one considers the confused leadership and the vast collection of languages that probably hadn’t been seen since The Tower of Bable, the arrangement was doomed to failure from the start. Due to the vagueness of President Wilson’s orders and the chaotic situation in Russia very shortly the Americans found themselves in a convoluted political and military situation. A large part of the Polar Bears didn’t stay in Archangel to guard the Allied arms cache at all. The British goal was to reach the Russian city of Kotlas. There was a major railroad crossing there. The British commander hoped to use the railway to connect with the Czechoslovak Legion in the east. So British officer Lieutenant General Frederick Poole deployed the Polar Bears in long arcs up to 200 miles south of Archangel, to protect the railroad. The British never got to Kotlas. Instead, the Allied troops’ overextended deployment led to frequent face-to-face combat with the Bolshevik army. The Allies position deteriorated rapidly. The Polar bears were withdrawn beginning on July 15, 1918 and the last American left North Russia on August 5, 1918 Their nine-month campaign had cost them the lives of 235 men. “When the last ​ battalion set sail from Archangel, not a soldier knew, no, not even vaguely, why he had fought or why he was going now, and why his comrades were left behind -- so many of them beneath the wooden crosses,” wrote Lieutenant John Cudahy of the 339th regiment The American Legion in Siberia were part of a unique coalition of many nations nominally allied with the White Russian commander Admiral Kolchak.The Czechoslovakian Legion had fought for the Tzar and was opposed to the Bolsheviks. With the fall of the Tzar they became prisoners of war. Eventually they were allowed to leave Russia by way of Siberia. As they retreated along the Trans Siberian Railway they tore up the tracks ostensibly to slow the pursuit of the Red Russians. Ironically that was the same railroad the British commander in Archangel was trying to reach. Part of the American contingent was supposed to guard the railroad. Now the American commander was left to maintain a delicate balance: keep the Trans-Siberian Railway open to ferry secret military aid to Kolchak and keep the Bolshiviks in the dark without outright joining the Russian Civil War. Another part of the American force guarded The Suchan Coal Mines 75 miles north of Vladivostok The major source of coal. The coal was necessary for warmth and to fire the engines on the Trans Continental Railroad. The other form of transportation was horseback. However, the American horses were used to more temperate climes and were useless in Siberia.

Initially, the American contingent in Siberia did not fight the Bolshiviks and a formal sense of neutrality existed between the two. However, an unfortunate situation developed when some Red Russian partisans kidnapped several American soldiers. A battle ensued to rescue the kidnapped soldiers. The Bolshiviks took this as an act of aggression and the neutrality dissolved. For the next few months The Americans were involved in several battles with the Red Russian Troops. The Americans were withdrawn from Siberia on February 15, 1920. Followed shortly by the rest of the allies excerpt for the Japanese; who remained there until 1925. Veterans of the U.S. interventions in Russia wrote angry memoirs after coming home. One Polar Bear, Lieutenant Harry Costello, titled his book, Why Did We Go To ​ Russia? Graves, In 1929, some former soldiers of the 339th regiment returned to North ​ Russia to recover the remains of 86 comrades. Forty-five of them are now buried in White Chapel Cemetery near Detroit, surrounding a white statue of a fierce polar bear. Sources: The Polar Bear Expedition: The Heroes of America’s Forgotten Invasion of Russia, 1918-1919 byJames Carl Nelson American Armies and Battlefields in Europe and the US Army Official History of the World War Select committee on Pow/Mia Affairs AEF 100 congress National archives Scottish History The Scottish “Robin Hood” Rob Roy MacGregor th As was the custom in 17 ​ century Scotland, a new born was baptized within a month of ​ his or her birth. So, Robert MacGregor was baptised at Buchanan Parish, Glengyle at the head of Loch Katrine on 7 March 1671, the exact date of his birth was never recorded. He was the third th son of Donald Glas MacGregor and Margret Campbell. Donald was the 5 ​ Laird of the Clan ​ MacGregor whose motto was “Loyal Is Our Name.” Robert MacGregor was known as Raibeart Ruadh- (Row-bear Rue-ah)--Red Robert--for the color of his hair. He also was called “Red MacGregor.” He was introduced to us through Daniel De Foe's epic as “Rob Roy.” Rob married the love of his life, his second cousin Mary Helen MacGregor of Comar on 1 Janurary 1689 at Glemarklet. As the third son, Rob was raised to be the Cattle Worker. It was an important position in that cattle were the measure of wealth at that time. Rob was from the part of Scotland known as “The Trossachs,” an area that more or less separated the Highlands from the Lowlands. Today the area is also referred to as The Flanders Moss. Stretching from the upper strath of the River Forth just below the Highland Line, and ranging almost to Stirling and beyond Aberfoyle; it was the MacGregor stronghold. It was a wilderness of braes (steep hills),bogs, moss, lochans (a small inland loch) and scrub woods with little firm ground. It was virtually impassible to all except the MacGregors who knew every inch of every secret trail along which they drove their cattle. This area was such a difficult terrain that even the Romans, arguably the greatest of engineers, were defeated by it. At this time Scotland was divided by more than geography. The Highlanders still held to the Highland Code of loyalty and trust and their traditional way of life, while the Lowlanders were seen as surrendering to the English and adopting their “foreign” lifestyle. Each side viewed the other with animosity either as primitive barbarians or traitors. This area was the setting for Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake, and ​ ​ ​ also for cattle reiving (theft) (It should also be noted that Haggis originally was made from cattle ​ not sheep.) The Lowlanders wanted protection for themselves and their cattle, so “The Watch” was formed. The function of The Watch was simple--The Watch protected your cattle from The Reivers for a fee. This fee was passed down to us as “Blackmail”—“black” for the Black Angus cattle, and “mail” from the Gaelic word for tax. The MacGregors formed “The Lennox Watch” and protected the cattle south of the Trossachs. If you didn't pay your fee, you could be certain that one morning your cattle would be gone. You then contacted The Watch who would then “scour” the countryside for the “lost” cattle. In gratitude you would pay an inflated fee as a reward for their diligent work. If you had paid your fee and 30 cattle “wandered away” you could rest assured that before the day was out 30 cattle would once again be back in your fields. The Watch functioned for centuries providing security, of a sort, to Lowland farmers. It was the formation of “The Black Watch” (Am Freiceadan Dubh) to wage war on the Highland Clans that brought an end to this practice. The Black Watch was composed mostly of Campbells and Grants, traditional enemies of the MacGregors. In essence it legalized the murder and warfare that had been raging for centuries.. A little history is in order here. William of Orange deposed King James of Scotland and many Highland clans rose up in defense of their king. Following the first Jacobite Uprising under “Bonnie Dundee” (John Graham of Claverhouse, the Viscount of Dundee). As supporters of Bonnie Dundee Rob's father and older brother were imprisoned for treason. Rob assumed responsibility for the Clan. It should be noted here that following the insurrection of Alexander of Lochalsh, David II, son of Robert The Bruce, awarded Glanorchy in the Trossachs to the Campbells. The MacGregors refused to leave their ancestral home. The king then issued a “Fire and Sword” edict against them. This banned the use of the name MacGregor and for many years Rob went by the name Rob Campbell. It was illegal to give shelter or have any dealings with the clan. The clan was banned from church and any clan member could be “set upon, robbed, beaten or killed” without punishment. His lands could be confiscated and his family taken and used as “servants.” Later, the chief of Clan Campbell, with the approval of the king, offered safe passage out of the county to the MacGregors of Glenstrae. As soon as they arrived, however, they were arrested and hanged. In return, from their stronghold in The Trossachs, the MacGregors would attack Campbell lands in quick, deadly raids giving rise to their nickname “Children of the Mist.” Rob Roy quickly established himself as a very able leader and master swordsman, probably due to his tall stature and long arms, giving him a great reach with the broadsword. Soon, the MacGregors under his guidance became the foremost blackmailers in the area. It was at this time that the Campbells confiscated the Red MacGregors’ cattle as “payment” for the food his father was given while imprisoned. Rob Roy vowed to replace his “lost” herd. When Clan Livingstone was driving cattle through the village of Kibbie, Rob saw an opportunity for “replacement.” However, the villagers attacked the MacGregors without warning. Rob ordered his men to defend themselves, but to use only the broad side of the sword and not to injure any villagers. The attack was beaten off and no one was injured. Rob then seized the herd and went to ask the villagers why they had attacked him. He found the village deserted. So he took the herd and burned the village. This was Rob's “Coming of Age” act that solidified his role as laird. The MacGregors were so successful that Rob abandoned The Watch and became a full-time cattle trader. He quickly established a reputation for honesty, trust and shrewd dealings, and both Rob and his clan prospered. Soon they were the envy of many Lowlanders, especially the Duke of Montrose. At one time Rob borrowed money from the Duke of Montrose to expand his herd. He entrusted the money to his friend and chief herdsman MacDonald, who was then directed to buy the cattle. Something happened to Mac Donald--he disappeared along with the money and Rob defaulted on the loan. During a meeting between the two former partners, Rob Roy accused Montrose of the murder of MacDonald and the theft of the money. The Duke accused Rob Roy of fraud and declared him an outlaw and his lands forfeit. Rob went into hiding and the Duke sent his soldiers to settle the debt. Forewarned, Rob's wife, Mary, sent away her sons and locked herself within the safety of her house. The soldiers set fire to the house, and when Mary emerged she was attacked by every one of the soldiers with Montrose watching and making no attempt to intervene. In retaliation, Rob warred on the Duke for years by taking his wealth. Rob would take the cattle and grain and distribute it to those in need. He even collected taxes in the Duke's name, giving the people receipts as proof of payment signed by himself! He became a local hero. This continued for many years until he was finally caught and jailed. The same jail that had defeated his father could not hold Rob. One day his jailer “forgot” to lock the door and Rob simply walked away. It was suspected that the jailer was a fellow Highlander and owed a debt to the Clan. Later, Montrose offered Rob a pardon if he would implicate the Duke of Argyle as a Jacobite and thus give him an excuse to seize the Argyle lands. Still abiding by the Highland Code, Rob refused. His reputed response was two words in Gaelic (the last one was 'Off') and walked out. He now sought refuge with the Duke of Argyle for protection against Montrose. This was a strange turn of events since Argyle was a Campbell and an ancient enemy of the MacGregors. But, if truth be told, the Campbells had a lot of enemies. For whatever his reasons, Argyle offered Rob protection. Eventually, Rob wanted to return home, but his home was now in the area protected by the Duke of Athol. A meeting was arranged and the Duke of Athol offered Rob safe passage to and from his estate. However, as soon as Rob arrived Athol had him arrested and jailed. This time Rob befriended his jailers, who even allowed his clansman to bring him whisky. Following one such meeting, Rob and his jailers were sitting around drinking when Rob asked if he could send a message to his clan. While the jailers were occupied Rob slowly walked over to the other side of the room, out the door and mounted a waiting horse left there by his clansman and made his escape. Word spread of Rob's exploits, especially of his aid to the poor and his reputation for honesty. This inspired Daniel DeFoe to write “The Highland Rogue,” making Rob a legend in his lifetime and causing the king to issue a pardon. Rob returned home to live out the rest of his life peacefully. However, a controversy arose when the Duke of Argyle published a “confession” allegedly written by Rob saying he secretly aided the Duke in the Battle of Sherrifmoor. Much has been made about the accusation, but it is conceded that it was not written or signed by Rob. Towards the end of his life the chief of Clan MacLaren asked to visit Rob and put to rest old antagonisms. In all probability he simply wanted to gloat over Rob as he lay on his death bed. However, when the chief arrived he found Rob seated at the table holding his broadsword. The two sat for over an hour as Rob entertained him with stories and ale. After he left, Rob asked to be taken to his bed and the MacGregor piper called. In the presence of his beloved wife Mary, Rob asked the piper to play a tune his wife had written. Before the piper had finished Rob passed on to the next life. In the annals of Scottish legend Rob Roy MacGregor is revered in the same pantheon as Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. FROM THE MESS DECKS ​ ​ Microwavable Clootie Dumplings Ingredients:½ pint cold water 4 oz sugar 1 heaped tablespoon Cinnamon ​ 1 heaped tablespoon Mixed Spice 8 oz Margarine 8 oz Sultanas (Currents) 8 oz Raisins 1 tablespoon Treacle (Molasses)

Method: Put all the above ingredients into a saucepan and bring to the boil, simmer for five ​ minutes Assemble 8 oz plain flour 1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda 2 eggs Add the hot mixture to the flour and bicarbonate of soda, when well mixed add the two beaten eggs and mix well Pour the mixture into a cling film lined bowl and cook in the microwave for:- 650 Watt - 9 minutes 500 Watt - 12 minutes Leave in the bowl to cool and firm up then turn out onto a wire rack or plate. Millionaires Shortbread ​ Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1 3/4 cup flour ​ Caramel Filling: 14 ounces can condensed milk 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup butter 3 tablespoons golden syrup or corn syrup Topping: 8 ounces plain chocolate 1/2 cup heavy cream Method: Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 12 x 8 " pan. Beat butter and sugar until light and ​ ​ ​ fluffy. Add flour and mix to form a soft dough. Knead lightly then press into pan, smoothing base. Prick with a fork and bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool. Place filling ingredients in a saucepan and heat slowly, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil and simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring until it thickens. Cool and pour ​ over base and leave to set. Break up chocolate and add cream; place in microwave to ​ ​ melt 2 minutes. Spread over caramel and let set.

Scottish Pancakes Scots pancakes are cooked on a hot girdle and are entirely different to crepes (also known as pancakes in Britain) and American pancakes. Ingredients: 8 oz plain white flour 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda Large pinch of salt ​ 1 tablespoon castor sugar (superfine, baker’s or bar sugar 2 tablespoons oil 1 egg Milk to mix Method:Heat the girdle and grease lightly. Sift all the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a ​ bowl. Add in the castor sugar, oil, egg and a little milk. Stir into the flour and add enough milk to make a thick creamy mixture, approximately the consistency of very thick double cream. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the hot girdle and cook until they bubble on top. Turn and cook on the other side until golden brown. While cooking the rest of the mixture store the cooked pancakes between a small folded towel. Serve the warm pancakes with butter and preserves. Makes 12 pancakes Skye Marrocs ​ Ingredients:2 pounds of beef suet from around the kidneys. Ground (minced). ​ 2 pounds of lean beef, ground. 2 quarts of flour. 2 tablespoons of salt. 2 tablespoons of ground cloves or Allspice 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Optional: minced onion. Method: Mix well and steam/boil in a pudding tin or wrapped in cheesecloth for 3 hours. ​ Rob Roy ​ In keeping with our features Article ​ Ingredients:1 1/2 ounces Scotch whisky 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth ​ 1 to 2 dashes bitters (to taste) Garnish: maraschino cherry Method:Gather the ingredients. In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the whiskey, ​ vermouth, and bitters. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. Serve and enjoy! It’s Crackers Both Scottish or Military

Golfing Secrets Four men were out golfing one Saturday afternoon. Three of them were standing to the side waiting for the group ahead to move along so their partner could hit. While they were waiting, one of the three started grumbling, which prompted the others to question his sour mood. He said, "This golfing with you guys is costing me a fortune. This morning when you called, I had to ask my wife if I could go. When she said 'no', I practically had to bribe her. First I had to give her money to go shopping with her friends’ Then the second man said he had to buy a new pair of shoes because she threw the old ones out. The third one joined in I had to promise tom take my wife to visit her mother. When the three friends stopped complaining, the lad about to hit was laughing so hard that he started shaking and couldn't even hit. Slightly angry, the three asked him what in the world was so funny? When his laughing subsided enough he said, "This morning after you called, I went back up to the bedroom and snuggled right up tight to my wife. She glanced at me over her shoulder and said 'and what can I do for you mister?', I put my face right up to her ear and whispered in the sexiest voice I could muster, 'golf course or intercourse?'. She just turned away and said "You'd better take a coat, it looks to rain." The fellow started laughing out loud all over again. The other three started to cry. Good Olde Fashioned Scottish Wisdom

Be slow in choosing a friend but slower in changing him ​

If you have any questions about Scotland or the Celts to which you want and answer or you have a suggestion for an article or simply information, Please contact me at; [email protected] ​ Thanks .

nd Do a BUDDY CHECK on the 22 o​ f Every Month. ​