Felicity: An American Girl Romance Part2--THE LETTERS OF FELICITY AND BEN 1777

Author's Note: I do not own any American Girl characters. Pleasant Company owns it all. Nor is this for profit. 'Tis for swooning over.

And now for Part 2 of the BEST FELICITY AND BEN FANFIC IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, EVER!!! Just kidding! It's passing fair.
Dedicated to everyone who read Part 1 and is still reading.

20th January, 1777
Dear Felicity,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. We are here in Philadelphia, but we cannot stay long, for already we are being ordered on to New Jersey. I have met General George Washington, Lissie! He shook my hand, and it was a good hard grip. He and Captain Lee get on very well. We are eager for action and I know we shall soon have it. I have made fast friends with a Private Joshua Davison, who is as fine a fellow as I have ever met. This is all I am able to write for now. I am thinking of you always. Wish me luck!
My love to all of you,
Ben

7th February, 1777
Dearest Ben,
So good to hear from you at last! We are well. We pray for you every day. Not much is happening here but we are always waiting for news from the North. Ms. Manderly has begun our French lessons and they are very hard. When I am not at lessons, I am either helping Father and Mr. Haverty at the store or I am sewing with the Patriot Ladies of Williamsburg, which I am proud to be one of. came home for Christmas to be with his family but he cannot stay. But he is taking Annabelle back to New York with him. Elizabeth wishes for me to tell you that it is now safe for you to come back to Williamsburg. Ha Ha. I know Elizabeth is sad to see Annabelle go, but 'tis not permanent. Arthur and I keep Elizabeth busy. The Pratts' goat chewed off his rope and they spent a day hunting him down. I know you are busy with your soldier-stuff, so I will close for now. Be safe, my brave soldier. My best to Joshua Davison.
Love,
Felicity

27 February, 1777
My Dearest Lissie,
Your father was right. When a man sees war for the first time, and killing, it changes you. We were involved in some skirmishes and I was almost too surprised to fire my pistol, and a musket ball embedded itself in the tree trunk next to where I was standing with Grover, and Captain Lee had to holler at me to move my (behind) and be a soldier for Christ's sake. I have fired my pistol many times now. I am a soldier. I killed a man, Lissie, a redcoat, and all I could do was just stare at what I'd done. I did not look too closely at the man becuase I did not want to see where I had shot him. Joshua tells me it will get easier. Captain Lee tells me it will get easier. I am still waiting for it to get easier. I think of you Lissie and it helps. I am so happy to hear bout what you have been doing. There is not much to tell in the way of news. We are doing a lot of foraging. It is cold, but it could be worse if it were not for wollen stockings. I am grateful. Give my love to Arthur and Elizabeth, and to yourself as well.
Yours truly
Ben
('Twas while reading this letter to her family that Felicity cried softly, for Ben had been shot at, and he'd shot a man to death. Apparently, it was colder up north, too. He had been shot at, shot an enemy, been surprised and probably terrified out of his wits, and thus was war.)

10th March, 1777
My Dear, Brave Ben,
I am so thankful that you were not shot! Please, Ben, take care, I beg you! I cannot lose you. Do not force me to have to come to where you are and steal you away from our dear Captain Lee, for I will surely do it, and there will be none to stop me. I love you and I will do what I must. Elizabeth says if you let yourself get k---- she will hate you forever and Arthur will cry. Mother and Father love you and Father says to be strong and remember what you are fighting for. Remember also that you have my heart. If you die, I die.
All my love,
Lissie

28th March, 1777
My Beloved Lissie,
I hope it will do you and your family well to know that I am getting stronger. Those weeks I trained and practiced have proven helpful now that I am actually doing what before was only practice. I am well. We are busy raiding British supply stores, and we are good at it. Having been an apprentice in a real store, I can recognize what containers are what, even in almost complete darkness. I want to prove myself to the Captain any way I can. Do not worry too much for me, pretty Lissie, I am doing better. I cling to what I'm fighting for. I hold to thoughts of you. Washington's men have had a horrible winter and so many good men have died. Lee is relentless in providing for us, and other men when he can. We are good foragers. I must close now, for duty calls. Tell Arthur to keep a stiff chin.
All my love,
Ben

24th April, 1777
Dearest Ben,
I miss you so much. News does not come often enough. William tried to climb the ladder to the hay loft in the barn and fell and broke his arm. He cried such a long time. Dr. Galt took care of his arm like he did mine when it got broke at the fair. He will be fine in no time. Father, Marcus and stay late at the store but will not say what they are doing. They look tired and dirty when they get home. I have sewn mayhaps fifty shirts. My French is frustrating, but Elizabeth does fine, even to her own surprise. Nan is desperate to learn the language and makes me repeat to her whatever I've learned (when I've managed to learn it). Arthur has enrolled at William and Mary, and says he will teach us girls whatever he learns because he believes knowledge is important for everyone. I think he just enjoys the way Elizabeth's eyes light up when he tells her things. Did I tell you that I missed you? Tis all too true.
Missing you desperately,
Your faithful Felicity

1st June, 1777
My Lissie,
I am so glad to hear about your doings at home. Aye, my patriot girl, I miss you as well. Tell William I hope his arm is healing well. I think of him often. Lee has purchased for us new saddles and pistols. We have done a great deal of fighting and have become quite a pain to the British, who find us annoying. We are continually patrolling enemy lines. It is getting hot and damp. A much belated Happy Birthday to you, Lissie. I thought of you on your special day. My love to all of you.
Your faithful Ben

10th July, 1777
Dear Ben,
Are you well? Mr. Haverty says this will be a difficult summer, and I pray you and the others will not suffer. Tis already hot here like the baking oven. William's arm is coming along nicely. He says he feels like a big man, now that he has suffered a broken bone. is giving us a break from French so that we may practice our instruments. Elizabeth has taken to the spinet, and I my guitar. Arthur is learning French at the collage, as well as science, mathmatics and latin. Now that he is catching us up on the French, we can discuss how hard it is in its own language. My news is not exciting, but there you have it. Be well, my soldier.
With love,
Felicity

1st September, 1777
Dear Lissie,
I am well. Despite the heat and thick air, we still patrol, but we have had lots of action. Apparently, I shoot very well, and that is all I shall say about that. Much has happened, my girl. We have been to Bristol, which is north of Philadelphia, and there we acquired fresh horses. I had to bid a fond farewell to Grover, but my new mount and friend is a buckskin by the name of Tom. He is simple-named but eager and fast. The Captain was court-martialed in late August by those who are jelous of his youth and successes. Thankfully he was acquited. I do not know all of the details of it, but it does not matter. Washington is an intelligent man, he knows how great an asset Harry Lee is to our cause. And just a couple of days ago, Lissie, we rode into camp with a group of redcoat prisoners, I would say about twenty and five. Then we went back and captured some more! They sure did not know what hit them! We are fast and efficient, and I am grateful for my training. Old General Howe will never have a moment's peace!
My saber has quickly become like an extension of my arm. Joshua and the Captain are right. It does get easier, slowly but surely. That is all I will say about that. Good luck with your French. If all goes well, you may need to use it before long. I must close now. I wish all of you well.
Your servant,
Ben

27th November, 1777
Dearest Ben,
I thought of you on your birthday. You are now nineteen, as I am twelve. We had chocolate cake in honor of you, but I could not enjoy it very much, for it tasted like salty tears. I miss you, Ben. There was some excitement earlier this month in Williamsburg. There was a parade to celebrate the defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. There were drums, the city militia marched and cannons were fired. Nan did not care for the cannons, but you know that I was very excited. There were plenty of huzzas, I can tell you, and Father said there probably was not a keg of rum left in all of Williamsburg. Bruton Parish rang its bell. General T. Nelson came into the store and chatted with Father and a bit, and called me a pretty little Miss. But I am not little! When I told Mother what the General said, she just laughed and said as a matter of fact it would be best if I quit growing now. How about that? Give my best to Joshua and the Captain, and Tom the Horse as well.
Your faithful Lissie

29th December, 1777
Pretty Lissie,
I wish I could see you for myself with my own eyes, and I could tell you if you are little or not! Tis your heart that is always growing. We are exhausted. Too tired to be cold. We must have crossed the Delaware eight or nine times. Perhaps twenty, it seemed. I lost count after five. We are at Valley Forge for awhile. We have captured I do not know how many redcoats, including a Captain of the Queen's Rangers. We had joined with good ol' General Greene for his aid and stayed at Haddonfield, which is close to Gloucester. On 23rd December we split up between Captain Harry and Captain Lindsay, who is quite skillful, but Captain Lee keeps me among his own men. But we captured ten redcoats and thirteen horses. We rescued two of our own captured men as well. It will be another hard winter. General Washington seems weary but determined. I miss you madly, Lissie. I hope there is more to celebrate soon. Eat all the chocolate you can for me, for I have had none in over a year. My God, tis been a year since I've seen you. Feels like longer. The rides are long and the horses are strong, but even they eventually feel the stress that bears on all of us. If not for the action we would think ourselves into a depression. But I think of you, and I am saved from that. Be strong for me, my Lissie.
Love,
Ben

Author's Note: According to my research, there really was a Joshua Davison in Lee's Legion. And get this: Joshua Davison is sometimes listed as Joshua DAVIDSON!