The West India Regiment, 1st Batt., formerly Malcolm’s Black Rangers; 2nd Batt., formerly The St. Vincent’s Black Rangers.
The Royal Marines, Royal Marine Artillery, Royal Marine Light Infantry.
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TICONDEROGA
Ticonderoga, familiar as the name of the historic fortress at Lake George, was written by Sir William Johnson, in 1756, Tionderogue and Ticonderoro, and in grant of lands in 1760, “near the fort at Ticonderoga.” Gov. Colden wrote Ticontarogen, and an Iroquoian sachem is credited with Decariaderoga. Interpretations are almost as numerous as orthographies. The most generally quoted is from Spofford’s Gazetter: “Ticonderoga, from Tsindrosie, or Cheonderoga, signifying ‘brawling water,’ and the French name, Carillon, signifying ‘a chime of bells,’ were both suggested by the rapids upon the outlet of Lake George.” The French name may have been so suggested, but neither Tsindrosie or Cheonderoga means “brawling water.” The latter is probably an orthography of Teonderoga. Ticonderoga as now written, is from Te or Ti, “dual,” two; Kaniatare, “lake,” and -ogen, “intervallum, divisionem” (Bruyas), the combination meaning, literally “Between two lakes.” Horatio Hale wrote me of one of the forms “Dekariaderage, in modern orthography, Tekaniataroken, from which Ticonderoga, means, simple ‘Between two lakes.’ It is derived from Tioken, ‘between,’ and Kaniatara, ‘lake.’ Its composition illustrates a peculiar idiom of the Iroquoian language. Tioken when combined with a noun, is split in two, so to speak, and the noun inserted. Thus in combining Tioken with Oneonte, ‘mountain,’ we have Ti-ononte-oken, ‘Between two mountains,’ which was the name of one of the Mohawk castles—sometimes written Theonondioga. In like manner, Kaniatare, ‘lake,’ thus compounded, yields Te-kaniatare-oken, ‘Between two lakes.’ In the Huron dialect Kiniatare is contracted to Yontare or Ontare, from which, with io or iyo, ‘great,’ we get Ontario (pronounced Ontareeyo), ‘Great lake,’ which combined with Tioken, becomes Tionteroken, which would seem to be the original of Colden’s Ticonderoga.”
(“Indian Geographical Names,” by E. M. Ruttenber, page 71 Vol. VI, New York State Historical Association).
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TESTIMONIALS TO THE BLACK WATCH.
The Virginia Gazette, July 30, 1767, published an article from which the following extracts have been taken:
“Last Sunday evening, the Royal Highland Regiment embarked from Philadelphia for Ireland, which regiment, since its arrival in America, had been distinguished for having undergone most amazing fatigues, made long and frequent marches through an unhospitable country, bearing excessive heat and severe cold with alacrity and cheerfulness, frequently encamping in deep snow, such as those who inhabit the interior parts of this province do not see, and which only those who inhabit the most northern parts of Europe can have any idea of, continually exposed in camp and on their marches to the alarms of a savage enemy, who, in all their attempts, were forced to fly. * * * And, in a particular manner, the free-men of this and the neighboring provinces have most sincerely to thank them for that resolution and bravery with which they, under Colonel Boquet, and a small number of Royal Americans, defeated the enemy, and ensured to us peace and security from a savage foe; and, along with our blessings for these benefits, they have our thanks for that decorum in behavior which they maintained during their stay in this city, giving an example that the most amiable behavior in civil life is no way inconsistent with the character of the good soldier; and for their loyalty, fidelity, and orderly behavior, they have every wish of the people for health, honor, and a pleasant voyage.”