Tags
American revolution, Anna Nichols, Count Rochambeau, de Ternay, de Vimeur, DeKalb County, Dutchess County, Ephriam Nichols, Jersey City, Monsieur de Ternay, Newport RI, Patriot, Poughkeepsie, Whig
The French connection continued to play in John Bessac’s favor. Another French fleet under Monsieur de Ternay had arrived at a safe port; Newport, Rhode Island. It was a troop fleet delivering the land forces of Count de Rochambeau.
The brothers Bessac were acquainted with several officers of Ternay and Rochambeau. During several conversations with these officers they asked about Rufus Bessac. They were interested in obtaining the skills of a physician to help handle the wounded who were sure to need help. When told that he had unexpectedly died in the hospital at Cadiz they discovered that John Bessac had some medical skills. They attempted to enlist him as a surgeon.
John was aghast at the thought of using what little surgical skill he had. He only watched and read about surgery. Surely there must be a surgeon with the correct skills available. John made them aware that he was not properly skilled. The French officers imagined that their needs would outstrip the surgeons available. They begged John to sign on.
A compromise was made. John would help if he would be allowed additional time to observe other surgeons at practice. Also, he would be allowed to act as stand-in and only do surgery on his own if a real surgeon was unavailable.
John Bessac received a commission as assistant surgeon on the staff of Count Rochambeau without exacting the performance of active professional duty.
John’s commission as assistant surgeon was not called upon. He and his brother Baptiste continued to obtain provisions for the Continental Army. Business in Jersey City was good.
During these dealings he met and formed a friendship with Colonel Ephriam Nichols. The colonel was an ardent “Whig and Patriot” of the American cause from Dutchess County, New York. The colonel was heavily engaged in waging war with his Mother Country. He supported the American cause with the time, money and talents that God had made available to him.
Colonel Nichols accepted responsibility for the payment of goods and provisions deemed necessary by the Commissary General of the Continental Army. Hopefully, repayment would be received at a later date. Of course that all depended on the Americans becoming victorious in their rebellion. If not, then Colonel Nichols would end up without so much as an acre of property or a penny in his pocket, not to mention the specter of jail.
John Bessac obtained the goods for the Continental Army. Ephriam Nichols paid for those goods. A close business relationship was established.
The relationship between John Bessac and Colonel Nichols had yet another turn to take.
waldotomosky 
You have such interesting stories! You and my son David would have much to talk about I think. He is a history buff. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in media production, but is thinking one day he may go back for a degree in history as well. He is always bringing home new history books from the bargain table at Barnes & Noble. Last night he came home with “Famous Battlefields” and was reading until late.
Sue, Thank you so much for your kind words. I have found, since starting these blogs, that people like real history. Not the history of famous people but the history of everyday people who have been forgotten in the written word. These are the people that made our country; maybe not by grand deeds but by their determination and numbers. I have had much enjoyment finding out and writing about them.
Please tell your son that he is gaining a two-fold education that should serve him well. If he uses his media and history skills in combination I believe he will find an audience in people who want to learn more about who made this country and what some of them have done. Not just the independence movement but also in each era that followed.
Ask him to take a look at MOA (The Making of America) an online digital library of periodicals, books, etc available through MOA at Cornell University. It is a great source of inspiration.
Wally
Once again, thank you for reading my posts.
Wow, awesome scalpel!!!
I can not imagine using such a thing or having it used on me. SCAREY STUFF.
The surgeon’s kit looks like it could also do duty as a murderer’s kit. lol
What strikes me is that this ancestor of mine had less medical training than I have… At least I had the “Combat Lifesaver” training at Ft. Polk before my time in Afghanistan.
That is why I titled that post “The Honorary Surgeon.” He didn’t really do much medical work asside from what he learned in Cadiz. Must be the French were desperate for medical help. Thank you for serving in Afghanistan.