Alfred F. Jones
I remember the fear in my parents eyes as well as my little brothers. My brother also wanted to join the malitia but thankfully he was too young. Its true he could've lied, but my parents already had one son leaving for 'slaughter' as my father says, there was no way they would allow him to leave even if he would only play the drums or tend to the wounded. Only fourteen that boy and he tries to have the heart of a lion.
They begged me not to go and fight in the war, but truley I didn't have much of a choice. If I didn't go with the militia then I would've become a wanted fugitive. I would rather die trying to gain freedom and protect my family than be on the run for the rest of my life. Its true that they don't exactly force you to fight, but it is a 'honor' to do so.
I didn't want to fight though. England is where my family is from. It is where some of my family still lives that I worry and care for. I have nightmares about all of the killing. My biggest fear is killing someone that shares history with me, someone that I care about. I wouldn't be able to handle it.
Arthur Kirkland
It is a great honor to serve England. I don't want to say that I am excited to go over the the American colonies to fight them because I'm not. I'm human. I'm afraid of going to war and dying, though I can not show that. I am not allowed to show fear. It is not a emotion fit for a British soldier.
They were shipping many of us soldiers over to the colonies. We have been told how important it is that we don't lose them. If we lose them it will be a big blow to the power of Great Britain.
I watched the families waved to their loved ones leaving for war as we set sail. I knew my family wasn't there. They had disowned me. Going to war. Fighting for my country. That's all there is left for me. I have nothing else. This is all I have left to live for.