Cougler holds forth on Loyalist experience
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The guest speaker at the November meeting of the Tillsonburg Military Club was Elaine Cougler, an author, who looked familiar, in a vague sort of way. Well, it turns out that Elaine is one of Woodstock’s musical Garner Family, some of whom were in Theatre Tillsonburg’s Man Of La Mancha, the first show presented after purchase and renovation the Otter Valley Playhouse, about 22 years ago. Knowing her, even slightly, heightened the anticipation of learning about her first publication, The Loyalist’s Wife.
The story takes place in a war that many of us think we know a something of, but in reality, most Canadians know little about the U.S. revolution. Yes, it started in 1776, when the rebels (or patriots depending on your point of view), seized control of the 13 colonies. Do you know when it ended? This war was not won in 1776 - it took until 1783 for the Treaty of Paris to be enacted!
This was not a war of two professionally-trained armies fighting on a large battlefield, winner take all. This was war of mostly untrained people, who once lived side by side in the towns, or were neighbours in the country, friends and family. You had to choose: would you fight for independence or would you remain loyal to the crown? Remember Britain ruled through the eastern states right up into today’s Maritime Provinces and north of the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes. This war would establish Canada’s south-eastern boundaries.
Men chose sides and began to fight. Loyalists were quickly identified and it didn’t take long before they had to change their loyalties to keep their possessions, lands and lives, or they had to leave. This all sounds the same as most wars, but what was it really like back then? In a town or city when your husband left to fight, you had family and neighbours to help with the heavy chores and food when the war lasted years instead of months. But what happened when you were out in the bush, with no roads and neighbours 10 miles away and your husband left to fight? Remember, no electricity, no tractors, no grocery stores, not even a mill for the grain.
This is what The Loyalist’s Wife is about. Lucy and John Garner start their married life, carving out a homestead in the bush near the finger lakes of New York State. As the rebellion carries on, even out in the middle of nowhere, sides had to be chosen. They are Loyalists and John joins Butler’s Rangers, who with the assistance of local Natives, fight against the revolution. Elaine’s research and story allows us to understand what this guerrilla warfare was like and how it affected the men who had left their families to fend for themselves.
What of Lucy? How does she plough, plant, weed and harvest the crop, when she is also tending the farm animals, making her own clothes, chopping wood, and tending the constantly needed fire used for cooking and warmth? This life was more difficult than any of us can imagine and Elaine allows us to share Lucy’s love, hardships, fears, frustrations, joys and terrors.
Oh yes, there were many terrors besides war. Don’t forget the wolves, cougars and bears. Were the Natives that showed up at the door friendly or there to scalp you? Were the men passing through just in need of food and rest or are they there to steal Loyalist lands for their own? It was a very lawless time.
As the war progresses the Loyalists realize they most move north where the British have more secure bases so, while John is still gone, Lucy, now with a baby, but also with the help of her father, head for Niagara. It is a devastating journey.
It is a journey that tens of thousands of families made, including Elaine’s real forefather, John Garner. Although the novel is fiction it is based on her family history. Are you a descendent of United Empire Loyalists? A branch of my family is and this book allowed me to better understand why and how they endured this horrific time.
In The Loyalist’s Wife, Elaine Cougler’s research, both military and domestic, provides a solid foundation on which she weaves a marvellous story in fact and fiction. It was a wonderful, entertaining read. Anyone of loyalist stock will be amazed of what their ancestors endured, and will look forward with anticipation for when John and Lucy start over again in Canada’s untamed wilderness in book number two The Loyalist’s Luck.
The Loyalist’s Wife is in print and e-book formats and are available at amzaon.com, amazon.ca and kobobooks.com. Now if you want to give this as a Christmas gift next week, give her a call 519-537-7371.