I am a French soldier in the French and Indian War

October 6, 1756


Dear Mom,
The war has really taken its toll on me, but I know it will be worth it when we win this war. We wouldn't even be fighting if it wasn't for George Washington. With them as their leader, the British have no chance to win. Hunting food in the Ohio River Valley is fairly easy because we soldiers are used to hunting. We have been using the furs from the animals to stay warm. Now that we are this far in the war though, wild game has been harder to find. There are rats in the fort as big as muskrats. We have to sleep in shifts so someone is ready and armed to shoot if a rat comes close. We have been eating rats for about two weeks now. How do you think boiled show level would taste? Honestly, it would taste better than it sounds. There have been many skirmishes with the enemy. We are running out of ammunition because the British have control of the oceans. They cannot send supplies ships to us. I can't wait until this war is over and i can come back to France. I have no interest in this land. I came here in the first place for the furs. I have done that, and now i want to come home. I know Father will want to know about the weather so:it is rainy all the time. Even though we have trees as cover, the rain still finds its way to us. The roof of the fort is leaking as I write this. The Indians have helped us so much. They thought of hiding in the trees when we are shooting. They have showed us new ways to cook our food and grow our own. We must trust them completely because they are our allies. By the way, I am writing in berry juice because we can only use black ink for special papers to the king and other war business. I cannot wait to see you again. Tell my sisters I love them and you and Father too.

Your son,
Don