Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
Chapter 9
Washington waited for Generals Gage and Clinton sitting on his horse with Revere and Dawes beside him and Kelly and Amos on horses behind him. All had loaded pistols. They could hear the cadence of the drums coming closer and they could see Gage and Clinton followed by a line of soldiers.
Washington leaned on the horn of his saddle with a smile. "Here they come."
"I could never figure out why they make so much noise when they were trying to sneak up on the enemy," Amos said.
"Fear," Paul answered. "The sound of those drums used to send fear into the Indians who were loyal to the French because they knew hell was coming."
"General Gage was especially good at striking fear into the enemy …he always had the maximum number of drummers with him and he always punished the Indians aligned with the French brutally," Washington said.
As the British came closer, they could see there was a soldier riding in the front carrying a white flag of truce. Gage put up his hand and said, "Halt!" The command was passed down by General Clinton and the soldiers came to a halt. Gage rode forward and stopped. Washington urged his horse forward and stopped in front of Gage and put out his hand, "Thomas."
Gage smiled, removed his gloves, and shook Washington's outstretched hand. "George."
"Would you mind telling me why you are out here?"
"Can we talk somewhere private?" Gage asked.
"Yes, but I will ask you to leave your soldiers here."
"Fine." Gage turned and called back to General Clinton, "Stay back with the men, General."
"You men come with me," Washington said to the men waiting with him.
The General rode along side Washington as they headed for camp. Washington dismounted in front of his tent and Gage dismounted then looked around him. "How crude."
"Well Thomas, we don't force people to give up their homes for our comfort." Washington sat down and motioned to a chair across from him. "Please sit down and make yourself comfortable."
Gage sat down and crossed his legs. "The truth is I seem to be missing a captain and 200 or so of my men. I thought they might have come here."
"Did you check the ships in the harbor that are returning to England? Perhaps they are on one of them. I have not been told by my sentries of any movement by a large troop of men other than yours that is."
"The men would be the regiment commanded by the late Major Pitcairn and would now be commanded by Captain Marius Whiting."
"Major Pitcairn? I believe General Clinton mentioned him when he was my guest briefly. Killed at Bunker Hill, wasn't he?"
"Yes, a terrible loss of a good officer, but his men were too dependent on him and he should have been harder on them. And where would Dr Warren be?" Gage asked suddenly.
"I believe he was called away. Sergeant Kelly?"
Kelly appeared in the doorway of the tent and saluted. "Sir?"
"Did you not tell me that Dr. Warren was called away about an hour ago?"
"Aye, a baby comin'. No tellin' when he'll be back. Could be hours. My own Aiden took over ten hours to be born," Kelly answered without a hitch.
Gage changed his tactics suddenly. "I am having my men to search your entire encampment."
"No, you are not, General. This is not Boston and you have no search and seizure authority here." Washington replied calmly although he was furious at Gage's arrogance.
"And how do you propose to stop me, General?" Gage asked mockingly. "I have more men than you appear to have."
"Like this General," Paul said cocking his pistol. There was a sound of three other pistols being cocked behind him as Dawes, Kelly and Amos cocked their pistols.
"I suggest you mount your horse, turn your men around, and march back to Boston," Washington said. "And do not be fooled, General. I will have eyes on you all the way back to Boston and I will be informed immediately should you change your route."
Gage got up. "Well it seems I do not have another choice …this time."
"And don't attempt to send any spies here. That rise over there is still booby-trapped and some of them are anything but pleasant," Washington warned.
Gage went outside and mounted his horse. He looked down at Washington. "You do realize that there is absolutely no way in which you can win this war."
"I believe my men would disagree with you, General."
As they watched him ride back to his troops and the soldiers turn around and start the march back to Boston, Kelly asked, "Why didn't we arrest the bastard right then and be done with it?"
"It would have been dishonorable as they came under a flag of truce," Washington answered. "And that is of course what he was counting on." He turned to Paul and Dawes. "Spread the word to the men that I want eyes on him until he enters Boston again."
They both saluted and took off at a fast gallop. "Do you want me to go and let Joseph, the major, and the others know Gage is gone?" Amos asked.
"No not just yet. I want to make sure he's back in Boston before they come back."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Oliver sat on a fallen log holding Regina's reins. She kept nuzzling his neck for attention and then grabbed his tricorn hat off his head and let if fall to the ground. "Regina!" He said picking it up, but five seconds later it was on the ground again.
Pitcairn walked around the woods stopping at various points to talk to the men.
"It's good that your back Sir. We all saw you get hit and fall from your horse and thought you were dead for sure," one man said.
"I was very lucky," Pitcairn replied humbly.
"Are you going to be our commander again?" Another man asked.
"Yes and of the other men also when they return from their sentry duties. As I was with General Gage, I am General Washington's second-in-command."
"Captain Whiting told us how you stood up for us at the meeting before Bunker Hill," a third man said.
"I did try," he acknowledged. He noticed how some of the men seemed to be walking stiffly or holding themselves at slightly odd angles and sighed. He excused himself and found Joseph who was standing with Margaret.
"Dr. Warren …Excuse me Mrs. Gage," he said giving her a slight bow.
"What is it, Major?" Joseph asked.
"I wonder if you have time to do an examination of the men when we get back to camp. I suspect some of them may have been flogged and not given enough time to heal."
"Of course," Joseph replied.
"I will have a word with General Washington about it so he knows what is going on," Pitcairn said.
It was two hours later when Dawes rode into the woods. "General Washington says it's safe to come back now. Gage is back in Boston all tucked in for the night."
"Thank the good Lord," Pitcairn muttered as he mounted Regina and pulled Oliver up behind him. "Regina kept taking my hat and letting it drop on the ground," he complained.
"Yes, I recall she did that to me once when I first got her. It was quite embarrassing," Pitcairn said chuckling.
When they got back to camp, he dismounted and shouted, "Men! At ease." He walked in front of them, his hands clasped behind him. "Men, you are to line up here and wait so Dr. Warren can examine you. Dismissed."
Joseph nodded and said, "I'll let you and General Washington know what I find."
"Thank you," he said nodding.
Pitcairn led Regina with Oliver still riding to their tent. "I will be back shortly, but I must see General Washington first," he said to Oliver as he dismounted.
"Okay, I'll practice my letters while you're gone."
"Good," Pitcairn replied nodding. He tethered Regina outside his tent. "No more taking hats," he instructed her. She whinnied and tried to grab his. "And especially not this one," he said backing up, his hands holding his hat down. He walked into the main tent and saluted Washington and said. "I have asked Dr. Warren to examine the men. I suspect some of them have been flogged and not given enough time to heal. He will report what he finds when he is finished with the examinations."
Washington shook his head.
"I know it is a cruel practice and there are some people in England who are trying to change it, but the Royal Navy has the backing of the King and Parliament who do not think of the men as individuals or of feeling pain I suspect."
"That's what I meant when I spoke of hidebound traditions, Major."
"Much like commands insistence on having the men march into battle in formation rather than developing a different style of fighting based on the terrain."
Joseph came into the tent an hour later. "You were correct, Major. I found at least ten of the soldiers who are still suffering from the effects of the flogging they received. General, I am going to keep them in the hospital tent for a few days or until I am sure they are healed enough to go back on duty."
Washington nodded and Pitcairn said, "Thank you, Doctor."
"Well, it was you who noticed it first Major," Joseph pointed out. "I don't know your men as well as you do so I probably would not have noticed anything was amiss until it turned into a serious infection."
Joseph went back to the hospital tent and Pitcairn asked Washington. "And what did the general have to say?"
"He was his usual arrogant self, told me he was going to have his soldier's search the entire encampment and the four men with me drew their pistols on him. His parting comment was that there was absolutely no way we could win this war."
"It is exactly that arrogance that will cause them to lose it," Pitcairn answered.
He went back to his tent a couple of hours later and found Joseph helping Oliver with his letters. He looked up as Pitcairn came into the tent and smiled. "Joseph says my letters are improving all the time."
"They look good," Pitcairn observed looking over the sheet Oliver was working on. He laid his hat down on the table. "And where has Regina relearned the taking of hats? I thought I broke her of it four years ago. She attempted to take mine while I was tethering her."
Olive shrugged. "I don't know. She kept grabbing mine and dropping it on the ground. I thought she was just trying to get me to pay attention to her."
"I will need to keep an eye on her and make sure she does not continue it."
They had supper in the main tent. Pitcairn had to admit he enjoyed the warmth and the camaraderie. It had not been like this at all in the Marines where protocol was rigidly observed.
As Pitcairn and Oliver walked back to their tent after supper, Oliver asked. "Do you think General Gage will attack General Washington as soon as the reinforcements arrive?"
"I do not know. I suppose it might depend on how large the reinforcements are. Lord North may have decided to only send 5,000 instead of the 20,000 General Gage requested. We will not know for sure until they disembark."
"But you don't think it will be 5,000?" Oliver asked.
Pitcairn sighed and shook his head. "No, I do not. I think it will be at least 10,000 because neither Lord North nor General Gage wants to be responsible for losing the colonies and then having to explain to King George why they were lost."
"What will it mean?"
"It will mean it is going to be a long war."
"So you don't think there is any chance that the colonies might come back to England?"
Pitcairn shook his head. "I do not believe they would reconcile with England even if King George got down on his knees in front of the delegates and begged them to come back."
"But not everybody's in favor of independence are they?"
"No, but the ones who are in favor of independence outnumber those who are not."
"But I heard Mr. Revere telling Mr. Dawes that not all of the colonies are in favor of independence."
"I believe the delegates who want independence are having a hard time convincing the southern colonies of its advantages, but it is due to the fact that they fear losing what they already have under England and that is the ability to keep slaves and become wealthy in the buying and selling of them."
"Slaves?"
Pitcairn sighed. "I heard my father preach many sermons about the evils of slavery. My understanding was that he did not agree with the tacit consent of the British rulers towards slavery. People are forcefully taken from their country, bought to this country, and sold like cattle. Many die on the ships coming over because conditions are so terrible. Many of the wealthy own huge tracts of land on which they raise cotton, tobacco, and rice. These they sell to England. The slaves are bought to cultivate and later harvest it and many of the slaves are badly mistreated."
"What happens if the southern colonies don't vote for independence?" Oliver asked.
"Well, it would not be good, but from what Mr. Revere has said the Massachusetts delegates and Mr. Franklin, who was the former spokesman for the colonies to Parliament, are attempting to find a way to independence that will satisfy everyone. Now I think it is time you went to sleep as you have been up later than normal these past few nights."
Oliver yawned widely. "I am tired."
"We can talk of this more in the morning if you wish."
"All right," Oliver agreed. "Are you coming too?"
"Yes, I am feeling tired too," Pitcairn answered.
"Well, you better go to bed then before Dr. Warren decides to give you more of that bad tasting tonic of Mrs. Adams'."
"God forbid!" Pitcairn muttered, but he knew Joseph would do exactly that. He made sure that Oliver was covered with the extra blanket that he had asked Kelly for, before he went to sleep. He did not know how long he had been asleep when he woke up suddenly and wondered what had woken him. He realized that Oliver was moaning in his sleep, thrashing about, and mumbling incoherently obviously in the midst of a nightmare. He threw back his blanket and got up. He wrapped his cloak around himself, lit the lantern on the small table in the middle of the tent and went over to Oliver's cot. He did not know quite what to do so he gently laid his hand on Oliver's head and began stroking his hair and speaking to him softly. "You are having a bad dream, but you are safe and will always remain safe because you will always have a home with me no matter what."
Oliver began settling down and had soon fallen back into a natural sleep.
"John?" A voice called from outside his tent. It was Joseph. "Is everything all right?"
Pitcairn opened the tent flap and motioned Joseph inside. He came inside and said, "I'm sorry. I saw your lantern was lit and I wondered if everything was all right."
"Oliver had a nightmare, but it passed without him waking." Pitcairn replied. "I think I may have been expecting him to have one because of General Gage's visit. I woke up very quickly when I realized he was in the midst of a nightmare, but I was not sure what I should do."
"What did you do?" Joseph asked curiously."
"I stroked his hair and told him he was safe; he would always be safe because he would always have a home with me. The nightmare seemed to recede and he fell back into a natural sleep."
"I think you did exactly the right thing." Joseph said nodding. "Have you had any nightmares?"
Pitcairn shook his head. "I was expecting to have one for the same reason as Oliver, but I have not. Perhaps part of it was due to the worry and guilt I felt about Captain Whiting and our surviving men and now that they are safe, it has lessened the occurrence of nightmares."
Another voice interrupted them calling from outside the tent, "Major, are you all right?" Captain Whiting asked. His tent was next to Pitcairn's.
Pitcairn went over to the tent flap, lifted it and said, "I am fine, Captain Whiting. I am sorry if my lantern disturbed your sleep. Oliver had a nightmare, but he is fine now. Thank you for your concern."
"All right, Sir. Goodnight," Whiting replied.
"I'll return to my tent and allow you to get back to bed before you catch a cold," Joseph said nodding at Pitcairn's bared feet. His tent was on the other side and Mrs. Gage's was in back of Joseph's tent.
"Yes. Thank you for stopping by Joseph. I will see you in the morning."
Pitcairn fell back to sleep, but slept with one eye open in case Oliver's nightmare returned. He got up early as was his custom, but did not wake Oliver. He got dressed and decided this morning he would take care of Regina himself. He left his hat sitting on the table still unable to figure out why Regina had gone back to snatching hats again. As he fed her and got her brushed, he found he enjoyed doing it since he had turned it over to Oliver a year ago.
"How come you didn't wake me so I could do that?" Oliver asked from behind him.
Pitcairn turned to Oliver. "I thought you needed to sleep longer and I rather enjoy doing this myself from time to time."
"Oh," Oliver scuffed the toe of his boot on the ground.
"Something else you wish to tell me?" Pitcairn asked smiling as he threw Regina's saddle blanket over her and then the saddle, tightening it.
"I had another nightmare last night about Bunker Hill," he confessed. "It was strange. I was right in the middle of all the shooting, screaming, and cannon-fire at Bunker Hill when I thought I heard your voice telling me I was just having a bad dream and that I was safe."
"You did hear my voice. I woke up and saw you were having a nightmare so I spoke to you, telling you that you were having a bad dream and that you were safe and would always remain safe because you will always have a home with me." He opened his arms and Oliver went to him, hugging him tightly. "I'm so happy you're going to be my father."
"And I am very happy you're going to be my son."
Two weeks later Paul rode into camp from Philadelphia. He dismounted and went into the tent where Washington and Pitcairn were looking over topographical maps. Pitcairn had his pipe lit and was smoking it while he studied the maps. "General Gage may do what he did before," he pointed out. "Cross Boston Harbor, land here, and attempt to surround us especially if Lord North does send him the 20,000 reinforcements he requested."
"Yes I can see why he would do that especially if he thinks we will be entrenched at Bunker and Breed's Hills once again," Washington said. "We could meet them here in Charlestown, but if Lord North has sent the full amount of men the general requested; it would be suicidal."
"Probably the best idea then is your original one. To keep him bottled up so tightly in Boston that he cannot get out even with 20,000 fresh men," Pitcairn replied, puffing on his pipe.
"Sorry to interrupt your strategy session, but Congress did approve your request for an increase to cover the costs of the 200 or so men that came over from General Gage, but as John said not without a lot of grumbling," Paul apologized.
Pitcairn frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why is it that governments are so reluctant to supply their troops with the necessary equipment? I cannot even begin to tell you how many arguments I had with General Clinton because my men did not have the proper winter uniforms and other equipment when we first arrived in Boston."
Paul shrugged. "I don't know. I recall they were that way in the war with the French too."
"You are correct, Mr. Revere. I had to use my own money to outfit my men properly," Washington replied.
"By the way, Major. I have some papers from John for you that I'm sure you'll be very happy to see." He took some papers out of his pouch and gave them to Pitcairn.
"Oliver's adoption papers …" Pitcairn said. He looked at Paul. "Would you mind getting Oliver? He should be in Dr. Warren's tent and please ask Dr. Warren and Captain Whiting to come also."
Paul nodded and a few minutes later he was back with Oliver, Joseph, and Captain Whiting. Pitcairn smiled and said, "Oliver, these papers are your adoption papers that Mr. Adams has sent. I will sign them immediately and Mr. Revere can take them back with him on his next trip to Philadelphia." With that, Pitcairn picked up a quill, dipped it into the ink pot and signed his name with a flourish. The form also required two witnesses so Joseph and Washington signed the form as the witnesses.
Paul smiled. "General, if you're able to spare Major Pitcairn for awhile; I believe he and Oliver could go to Philadelphia with me safely and see John file these papers at the courthouse."
"I believe that would be possible," Washington said. "We've got General Gage trapped in Boston for the moment and his reinforcements are yet to arrive."
"If you are certain, Sir."
"I am, Major. Go and spend a few days with your son."
Pitcairn saluted and turned back to Oliver. "Well, it seems, young man that you will be getting out of camp after all."
They left three days later once Paul felt Brown Beauty was rested enough, early in the morning. Both Pitcairn and Oliver were dressed as civilians although he had brought his uniform along with him. It was unlikely they would run into anyone connected to General Gage, but why take a chance? When they arrived in Philadelphia, they immediately went to Franklin's residence.
"Major John Pitcairn," he said offering his hand to Franklin and John. He nodded at Hancock. "Mr. Hancock, it is nice to see you again and under much nicer circumstances this time. This is my son, Oliver."
"I figured they might like to see you file the adoption papers at the courthouse John," Paul said.
John and Franklin both shook his hand. "Abigail's written so much of you; I feel like I already know you," John said.
Pitcairn nodded at Sam who was lounging in an overstuffed armchair that Franklin seemed to favor. "It is nice to see you again, Mr. Adams."
Sam nodded. Even though General Washington had offered Pitcairn a position on his staff and then had chosen him as his second-in-command; Sam still had a hard time forgiving him for his part in the flogging of that man in the square or that he was in command of the soldiers at Lexington where Kelly had almost been killed and Concord.
"After you return from filing the adoption papers at the courthouse, supper is on me at City Tavern," Franklin announced raising his glass of Madeira Wine.
"Thank you Mr. Franklin," Pitcairn replied. "My son and I will enjoy that."
He and Oliver followed John outside. It was a short walk to the courthouse from Franklin's residence and they watched as the clerk signed the papers, dripped hot wax on them and then stamped them with the seal of the Pennsylvania colony.
"All finished," John said. "You are now legally father and son. Congratulations."
Pitcairn put his arm around Oliver. "Thank you for helping me with this, Mr. Adams."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
John Hancock was a bit put out with Sam about his attitude towards Pitcairn. "You can't keep being angry with everybody, Sam. It does no good."
"I have a problem that until recently he was second-in-command to General Gage. He announced that flogging in the square and he was in command of the troops that came to arrest us and then killed all those men at Lexington. Kelly was nearly killed there. He was also in command at Concord and would have killed Barrett if Paul and the others hadn't fired on them."
"But Mr. Kelly wasn't killed, Sam and he does not hold a grudge against Major Pitcairn for his actions. The major is a soldier and had to obey orders," Hancock pointed out.
"And what you choose to forget, Mr. Adams is that he turned of his own accord and at great risk to himself," Franklin said.
"Yes, he obviously did not agree with what General Gage was doing or he would not have come over to our side," Hancock added.
"And if he hadn't told us about the Gage's plans for Bunker Hill; we would have ended up losing a lot more men," Paul pointed out as they donned their coats and hats.
Sam frowned the entire carriage ride to City Tavern. He didn't want to admit the things Paul, Hancock, and Franklin had said were correct. John, Pitcairn, and Oliver were already there.
"What would everybody like to drink?" Franklin asked.
Everybody with the exception of Pitcairn ordered Ale. He asked for non-alcoholic Cider for himself and Oliver.
The meal for that evening was Beef Trencher consisting of Smoked Beef Brisket, Caramelized Onions, aged Cheddar Cheese spread, Horseradish, and Sour Cream.
Oliver enjoyed it. He had never had anything like it before, but he still thought Mrs. Adams' cooking was the best he'd ever tasted. "This was really good," he said. "But I think Mrs. Adams cooking is still the best."
"I agree also," Pitcairn said.
John raised his tankard and said, "I agree and even though the food here is very good, certainly much better than most tavern food; Abigail's cooking cannot be bested."
"You don't drink, Major?" Franklin said curiously.
Pitcairn shook his head. "No. My father was a minster and I grew up hearing about the evils of drinking alcohol and then I saw it for myself when we first came to Boston. Some of my men became addicted to the rum and I lost three men to it before I was able to break them of the habit."
"How did you break them of it?" John asked thinking of Sam.
"I spent about two months living in the barracks with them, but I unfortunately did have to resort to a disciplinary measure I would rather not have had to use before they were able to stop."
"Flogging?" Sam asked.
"Yes, on two separate occasions and with a limit of five lashes," Pitcairn replied. "It was something I decided on after a great deal of reflection. I felt it would get my message across and it was a better alternative than having more men die."
John Hancock shook his head and said sympathetically, "I wouldn't have been able to do that."
"No, you would have paid them to quit drinking," Paul said as everybody laughed.
"That I would have," Hancock admitted.
Sam narrowed his eyes at Pitcairn. "Maybe there is a way you can be useful."
"And how is that, Mr. Adams?" Pitcairn asked.
"Speaking in front of the delegates tomorrow," Sam said. He held up his hand as he saw the others were about to object. "You were Gage's second-in-command so you can relate first hand to the ones who are still reluctant about independence what Gage will do if he isn't stopped."
"I have never spoken in front of a governing body before, but if you think it may help," Pitcairn said.
"Just don't curse them," Paul said with a laugh, raising his tankard.
When they returned to Franklin's home and Pitcairn and Oliver were situated in one of the upstairs guest rooms. "I don't think I like that Sam Adams," Oliver said.
"He obviously is not a very happy man, but you should have sympathy for him rather than disliking him."
"I'll try," Oliver replied as he got into bed. "Aren't you coming to bed?"
"Not right away. I need to think about what I shall say to the delegates tomorrow."
"All right, but don't stay up too late. Dr. Warren charged me with looking after you because he said you don't."
"Did he?" Pitcairn asked amused.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Sam, John, Hancock, and Franklin stood with Pitcairn in the antechamber of Pennsylvania State House. The other delegates looked at him curiously as they passed. Pitcairn was in full uniform with his hat tucked under his arm. Hancock peered through the door and said, "I think we're ready."
As they entered, Pitcairn gave his hat to Oliver and walked up the center aisle between the tables where the delegates sat. Oliver sat down with the Massachusetts delegates.
"Good morning Gentlemen," he said. "I believe some of you recall me from my visit here in November to advise you on the setting up the Continental Marines. For those of you who were not involved with it, I am Major John Pitcairn formerly of His Majesty's Marines and second-in-command to General Gage." He looked around the room. He had decided last night that he would treat them the same way he treated new recruits. "I am currently second-in-command to General Washington." He clasped his hands behind him and walked down the aisle to the back tables and then turned around again. "With the exception of a few in this room; the rest of you do not know General Gage and you do not know what he is capable of. He has the full authority of King George to crush you in any way he sees fit and that includes shutting down the harbors, flogging, shooting on sight any civilian perceived by him to be helping the colonial army, and seizing or burning your homes and fields to the ground if he so chooses." Pitcairn paused to let that sink in then continued. "King George does not care if you cannot ship your cotton, tobacco, or rice to England because the harbors are closed. He does not care if you starve, your families starve, or if General Gage chooses to seize or burn everything you have worked a lifetime to acquire."
"Major Pitcairn?" John Dickinson rose.
"Yes, Mr. Dickinson?" Pitcairn replied. He had been given instructions that morning on the most reluctant of the delegates.
"You said you were formerly of the Marines …why are you still not?"
"I could not continue to serve under someone as dishonorable as General Gage especially as I was the face of some of his more unsavory, foul, or brutal acts such as bribing Mr. Adams, the flogging of the man in Boston for thievery, or being ordered to shoot on sight any civilian that was in any way helping the rebels. When he ordered the colonial forces be slaughtered at Bunker Hill no matter how many Regular soldiers died doing it; I voiced my objections to the strategy too strongly. One thing you need to understand is that officers of my rank are never sent out into the field because, whether it is true or not, we are considered too valuable. When the first charge of Marines failed and was for the most part destroyed by the Colonial forces, General Gage ordered a second charge and ordered me to lead it, knowing it would more than likely mean my death and even worse than that he sent a fifteen year-old out to die in a battle that the Regulars won, but only after close to a thousand Marines had been killed."
"I would say that was a good enough reason to abandon ship," Franklin said.
"Excellent analogy, Mr. Franklin as the Marines are part of the Royal Navy," Pitcairn said in amusement. He paused then continued in a serious tone. "I was badly wounded in the charge, but was saved by a combination of things; my son, Oliver, my horse, and the Colonials finding me and taking care of me when they came back for their dead. General Gage had ordered them mutilated and he also left all those Marines lying dead on the battlefield. It was General Washington and his men who finally gave them a decent burial."
Some of the delegates were white-faced, others were pale, and some looked plainly sick. "Make no mistake, Gentlemen," Pitcairn continued. "General Gage will not respect you or your wealth even if you still support the king."
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