Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
Chapter 11
Pitcairn went to the Adams' tent where Oliver was currently visiting the Adams' children. He was sitting between Nabby and John, talking about what he had been doing since they had left the farm while Abigail was getting Charles and Thomas ready for bed.
"Wow! Philadelphia sounds big!" John exclaimed. "I am hoping to travel there someday."
"And it's so wonderful that you have a family now too," Nabby said.
He nodded. "Thank you and it is wonderful." He turned back to John. "Philadelphia is big and it's on a big river, but it isn't a seaport like Boston," Oliver said. "I don't think I could live somewhere that wasn't close to the sea."
"Nor I," Pitcairn said. "Where I was born and grew up in Scotland is right next to the sea."
"Abigail!" A voice called outside the tent. It was Kathleen McKittrick's.
"Yes?" Abigail called.
She came inside the tent. "I'm sorry to disturb you when I know you're getting the children ready for bed, but I had to call Dr. Warren for Mrs. Parker. The poor woman became absolutely distraught at the thought of her home being destroyed and she and her husband having nowhere to live now."
"I'll go and assure her that she and Eleazar can stay with us until they are able to rebuild their house or find other accommodations," Abigail said. She turned to Pitcairn. "Major, can I impose on you to stay with the children until I come back?"
"You may, Madam."
Kathleen looked at him curiously. What on earth was a British soldier doing in the colonial army?
"This is Major John Pitcairn, formerly of the British Marines and now a valuable part of General Washington's staff and his second-in-command," Abigail said by way of formal introduction.
"Oh my goodness!" Kathleen exclaimed. "My father believes you to be dead, Sir. One of your men informed him you were killed at Bunker Hill."
'I am sorry for that, Madam McKittrick," Pitcairn said. "My adjutant was certain I had been killed and thus informed your father. He was unaware that I had been instead badly wounded at Bunker Hill, but I was saved by the colonials. Dr. Warren removed the musket ball and then I was taken to the Adams' farm to recover. General Washington visited me while I was recovering and offered me a place on his staff and the position of his second-in-command. I was happy to accept since I felt I could no longer serve under someone as dishonorable as General Gage."
"My father will be happy to hear that you are alive," she said. "He is greatly grieved by your death."
Pitcairn held up his hand. "If you would please not tell him until after we drive General Gage from Boston. I do not want to place your father in even the slightest danger."
"All right," she agreed. "I do owe you for giving my father a note for the sentries when I was ill."
"I was happy to do it as your father had been very good to me," Pitcairn replied.
Abigail and Kathleen left the tent to go to the Parker's tent. Oliver watched them go and then asked his father. "Will that lady be all right?"
"She will undoubtedly be sad for awhile, but I am sure Mrs. Adams and Mrs. McKittrick will help her get through it."
"Why did he do it, Major?" Nabby asked. "Why does he want to burn our farms?"
"It is a show of power, Miss Adams. He is showing Boston that he can destroy whatever he wants to and they cannot do a thing about it."
Abigail came back into their tent in about fifteen minutes. "Dr. Warren has given Felicity a sedative and she's resting comfortably at the moment. I assured them they were welcome to stay with us and so did Kathleen." She sighed. "I worry because something like this can have a detrimental effect on people of that age. I saw it happen with John's mother when his father died. His mother went into a decline and died three months later." She glanced over at Charles and Thomas as she spoke, but she could tell neither of them was asleep yet even though Thomas was hugging the brown bear Sam had given him, named Mr. Beery, to his chest.
"I am angry that General Gage has decided to wage war against the most vulnerable of people," Pitcairn said. "It is nothing more than dishonorable and cowardly behavior." He turned back to Oliver and held out his arm. "Oliver, it is time you are getting to sleep."
Oliver nodded, got up, and went over to Pitcairn. "I'll see all of you tomorrow then."
They went back to their tent. "I hope the Adams' farm wasn't burnt by General Gage," Oliver said.
"It is off the main road so they might have missed it, but General Gage is aware Mr. Adams has a farm near Braintree. It was in the report that Governor Hutchinson left about Samuel Adams."
Oliver went right to sleep. He had not had a nightmare about Bunker Hill since they had returned from Philadelphia.
Pitcairn woke up sometime later and looked quickly over at Oliver, but he appeared to be sleeping normally. He wondered what had woken him when he realized there was somebody else sleeping beside him and looked down to find Thomas and his bear. "God's blood!" Pitcairn swore under his breath. What on earth was that child doing here and how had he gotten here? He threw back the covers and got up. The child needed to go back to Adams' tent immediately as Mrs. Adams would undoubtedly be terrified if she awakened and found him gone. He threw on his cloak, pulled on his boots, and then shook Oliver awake.
"Wha …what's wrong?" Oliver muttered rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Please get your boots and your cloak on and light the lantern," Pitcairn requested. "Master Thomas apparently decided to take a walk in the middle of the night. I am taking him back to his mother, but I need you to hold the lantern to light our way."
While Oliver was doing as he asked, Pitcairn wrapped a blanket around Thomas and lifted him up. He tucked the bear into the blanket with Thomas and then shook his head and muttered an obscenity under his breath when he noticed the child's feet were bare. Thomas yawned and laid his head on Pitcairn's shoulder. "Is 'gina cold? Mr. Beery cold."
It took Pitcairn a moment to translate Thomas' question before he answered, "Some of the men have built a comfortable stable for her and the other horses. I will take you there tomorrow morning after breakfast unless your mother confines you to barracks until you are 20, young man."
Oliver had the lantern lit and they made their way to the Adam' tent. "Mrs. Adams?" Pitcairn called.
Abigail came to the entrance and lifted the tent flap. "What is it, John?"
"Young Thomas decided to take a walk in the middle of the night and I am returning him," Pitcairn explained.
"Oh My God!" Abigail exclaimed lifting Thomas out of Pitcairn's arms. "I didn't even hear him leave!"
"You had a very frightening and exhausting day so you probably were sleeping heavier than you normally do."
"Thank you for returning him," Abigail said giving Pitcairn an impulsive hug. "I'm sorry Thomas woke you in the middle of the night."
"I am a soldier and I am used to being awakened suddenly," Pitcairn replied.
He and Oliver started back. Oliver shook his head. "How did he know where our tent is?"
Pitcairn shook his head. "I do not know, Oliver. Children are most mysterious creatures."
The next morning Oliver got up early and went to brush, feed, and saddle Regina before breakfast while Pitcairn yawned, did his morning ablutions, and got dressed. His right shoulder was a bit achy and stiff, but Joseph had warned him he had bruised it very deeply when he had fallen off Regina onto it and it would take time to fully heal. He waited until Oliver was done with Regina and had washed up. They walked to the mess tent where breakfast was being served.
Joseph smiled as Pitcairn and Oliver sat down next to him. "I hear you had a visitor last night."
"Yes. I believe Thomas was concerned because he thought Regina had no shelter and would be cold. I told him I would take him down and show him the stable the men had built for our horses unless his mother has confined him to the barracks for the next 17 years."
"It's probably the best thing to relieve his mind and show him the stable so he doesn't go wandering at night again," Joseph said. "It's much too dangerous for a three year-old child to be doing that."
"How is Madam Parker this morning?" Pitcairn asked.
"She's still distraught, but I'm hoping she'll pull out of it though."
"Will Mrs. Adams and the children move back to their home in Boston if the general's raiders have burnt their farm?" Pitcairn asked in concern. "I would be very concerned as General Gage is aware of their home there also."
"They will have to, yes," Joseph replied. "It worries me also that General Gage may take out his anger at John on Abigail and the children."
"Their farm may not have been burnt as it off the main road and the raiders might have missed it. Oliver and I will pray it is so," Pitcairn replied finishing his breakfast. "I am riding out with Captain Whiting to check on the men this morning to make sure they have not shot each other. I told the general that if they could not find anything else in common; they could always trade stories about my cursing them."
Joseph grinned and then turned to Oliver, "I'm going to start you on Cursive lettering after breakfast. I'll write out the Alphabet in Cursive and you can copy and practice it while your father is out checking on his men."
"All right. Nabby was trying to show me how to write fancy last night, but it looks hard."
"It does look harder than it is. You will do fine," Pitcairn assured Oliver.
"I'll see you later then?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, I plan to be back around lunchtime." He gave Oliver a hug and walked to the Adams' tent. Abigail was just finishing up with her children's breakfast. "Good morning, Major. I hope you got back to sleep all right last night."
"I did, Madam. I promised to take young Thomas and show him where Regina stays at night. He seemed worried last night that she does not have shelter from the cold and that is only if you have not confined him to the barracks for leaving last night."
"I haven't, but I did warn him if he ever wandered off like that again I will take my wooden spoon to his backside."
"I think that should be enough to dissuade him, Madam as he seems quite fearful of it."
"Mama, may we go see Regina with Thomas," Nabby pleaded. John and Charlie added their pleas to hers.
"If the major doesn't mind all of you tagging along then you may go," Abigail said.
"Come along children," Pitcairn said. He picked up Thomas because he knew he would not be able to keep up with his stride.
"Nabby, John, please take Charles' hand," she called.
"Yes Mama," Nabby called back, taking her younger brother's hand.
They walked down to the stable. It was not anything elaborate, but it did have a fold down tarp that covered the entrance and would keep the wind, cold, rain or snow away from the horses. He explained the extra features to the children.
Regina nickered when she saw Pitcairn. "Hello Girl," he said running his hand over her forehead and down her mane. Thomas reached out and patted her nose then giggled.
"Oh! We forgot to bring apples or carrots for her," Nabby said.
"Oliver fed her a short time ago so she probably would not be hungry," Pitcairn explained. He opened her gate, took hold of her halter, and led her out of her stall. "I need to get you children back to your mother before I leave." He walked back up to the tents with the three children walking beside him, holding Regina's halter with one hand and carrying Thomas with his other arm. When they got to the tents, he set Thomas down and John took his hand. "Please move back away from Regina," he requested. Captain Whiting was waiting with his horse in front of his tent.
The children did as he instructed and he mounted her. "I will see you children later." He turned Regina and said, "Hiyah!"
"Bye, Major!" The children called as he and Captain Whiting galloped off. They went back to their tent where their mother was straightening things up.
"Mama!" Thomas yelled. "I pet 'gina nose."
"Did you now?" Abigail asked.
"The major was holding him up near her while he was talking to her," John explained.
After Abigail had found things for the children to do to keep them busy and out of mischief, she went to see Joseph who was helping Oliver with his lessons. She took him aside and asked, "Do you think Felicity is better this morning?"
Joseph shook his head. "She won't speak to Eleazar or anyone else and just sits and stares."
"It sounds like the beginning of what happened to John's mother when his father died. She went into a decline and died three months later. Do you think if the children visited her it would help?"
"I can't see that it will hurt," Joseph replied. "Nothing I'm doing seems to be working."
Abigail looked over at Oliver and then asked softly, "Do you think it was wise of General Washington to let Major Pitcairn and Captain Whiting to go check on the men without Paul or William going along with them?"
"John and Marius are smart. They both used to ride out in the middle of the night alone to check on their men in Boston without ever getting shot so I wouldn't worry, Abigail."
"I know, but the children would be devastated if anything happened to him or that horse of his not even mentioning what it would do to Oliver."
"I'm certain John, Marius, and Regina will be fine."
Lunch in the mess tent had already started when Pitcairn and Captain Whiting arrived. He sat down next to Oliver and then took off his hat, placing it on the bench beside him.
"How was the inspection tour, Major, Captain?" Washington asked.
"The men were keeping their eyes sharp as ordered. There were not having any problems that I could see even though they seem a bit wary of each other, but nobody has been shot," Pitcairn said.
"I did see a few of them sitting together and talking," Captain Whiting added.
"Tis' good to know that," Kelly said.
Washington nodded. "Yes it is, Sgt. Kelly. It might take time, but I believe they will come to trust one another."
The rest of the day went by fast. Pitcairn and Joseph were playing a game of chess after supper when Abigail and Thomas entered the tent. Thomas was holding Mr. Beery. "Thomas wants to say goodnight to you, Major," Abigail explained.
Thomas went over to Pitcairn and said, "Bend."
"Bend please Thomas," Abigail corrected him.
Pitcairn looked confused for a second then realized Thomas wanted him to bend down. He bent and Thomas gave him a big hug. "Mr. Beery won't go," the three year-old whispered solemnly.
"In case Mr. Beery has a change of mind; you may tell him he is confined to the barracks by order of Major Pitcairn."
Thomas giggled. "He won't like it."
Abigail smiled and took Thomas' hand. "Come along. It's time both you and Mr. Beery were asleep."
"Nite' Major," Thomas said waving.
"Goodnight, Thomas." He shook his head as Abigail and Thomas left the tent. "Never would I have imagined this life when I disembarked last year."
"Nor I," Joseph said.
"And who in the hell would name a child's bear Mr. Beery?"
Joseph chuckled. "Sam. He gave Thomas that bear for Christmas last year and when Thomas asked what its name was that's what Sam told him."
Pitcairn shook his head. "I have been meaning to ask you, Joseph. Whenever we retake Boston and force General Gage out; Oliver will be baptized at Christ Church and I would like you to be one of his godfathers. I have also asked the Adams' and I am going to also ask Captain Whiting."
"I would be honored, John. Are you planning on settling in Boston then?"
"Yes, as Oliver said and I agree that we could never live somewhere that was not by the sea. Dysart in Scotland where I was born is on the sea and that is why it seemed natural that I should join the Marines."
"I think it is a good place to raise a son," Joseph said. "There are good schools and universities here."
"I think I might direct Mrs. Adams' attention to Captain Whiting. Perhaps she can find him a wife. I believe he would be more amendable to the idea than I am."
"You don't want a wife?" Joseph asked.
"I always thought as a soldier I would not want to leave a wife and children without their husband and father if I was killed and as it turns out; it is a good thing I did not marry. My wife would have received word of my death at Bunker Hill," Pitcairn said quietly. "And I would be unable to inform her I was still alive."
"I can understand your reluctance," Joseph said.
The next morning Pitcairn rose at his usual time. Paul and Dawes had ridden out early to check on the McKittrick's and Adams' farms to see if they had suffered the same fate as the Parker's.
"If our farm has been burnt, we'll have to move into town with Papa until we can rebuild," Kathleen said.
"Yes and tis' sure I am that your father will welcome us, but there is no point in inviting gloom before we need to," her husband replied. "Our farm is off the main road so it might have been missed by the raiders."
Pitcairn stopped by the Adams' tent. "How is Madam Parker feeling today?"
"I think she's perked up a bit. The children spent some time with her yesterday and they're going over to spend time with her after breakfast. Thomas apparently told her all about your horse yesterday," Abigail said laughing.
"He is rather fond of Regina," Pitcairn said with a smile.
Paul and Dawes came back with good news. Both the McKittrick's and the Adams' farms had been left untouched. "The raiders obviously didn't bother going off the main road," Dawes surmised.
"I'll tell Eleazar and Felicity that they are coming home with us," Abigail said. "Children, gather all the things you brought with you. We'll be leaving as soon as Mr. Kelly brings the wagon around."
Thomas was pouting. He didn't want to go back to the farm."Mama, can my major and Oliver come?"
"No, General Washington needs the Major here and Oliver stays with him," Abigail explained. She sat down beside him. Thomas was their youngest and after Susanna's death, she had to admit that she and John had spoiled Charles and him more than just a little bit. "If I tell you a secret, can you keep it to yourself?"
Thomas nodded eagerly. "Okay, Mama." He liked secrets!
"When we can finally go back to Boston after General Gage is gone, your father and I want to have a Child Dedication ceremony for you as your sister and brothers did and we'd like to ask Major Pitcairn and your aunt, Thankful*, to be your sponsors. We haven't asked him yet so you need to keep this a secret, all right?"
"Yes Mama," he replied. He jumped up feeling much happier now.
As it turned out the Major came along on their trip back to their farm and the best part for Thomas was that he got to ride in front of his major on Regina. They rode along side of the wagon and Oliver rode on Pitcairn other side.
Dawes rode along on the other side of the wagon and kept a sharp lookout but saw nothing amiss, but there was no telling what Gage might try next.
Paul had left that morning for Philadelphia with a letter from Abigail to John describing what had happened and assuring him that she and the children were all right and their farm had escaped being burnt. She also told him about inviting the now homeless Parker's to stay with them.
Kelly and Amos followed in another wagon with the McKittrick's; Kelly still grumbling about the cow and the chickens. He and Amos had had to chase the chickens all over hell before getting them back into the crate for their trip back to their farm.
When they got to the Adams' farm, Pitcairn dismounted and then lifted Thomas off his saddle and set him down on the ground.
"Tank you Major," Thomas said grinning up at him.
"Thomas, please get your things out of the wagon and take them up to your room," Abigail said.
"Yes Mama," Thomas said.
"Now remember if Mr. Beery has any ideas about wandering at night again, you are to tell him that he is still confined to the barracks by order of Major Pitcairn," Pitcairn said to Thomas in a grave tone.
"I prowmise, Major!" Thomas said. He went over to the wagon where his sister handed him his pillow case to take into the house.
"Come along Children, "Abigail called to John and Charlie who were talking to Oliver.
Another wagon, driven by Joseph and carrying the Parkers arrived. Abigail went to help Felicity out of the wagon. Her husband got down and he and Abigail helped her into the house. Joseph jumped down too. "Tell General Washington I'm making sure Mrs. Parker is all right and I will be back shortly."
Dawes nodded and he, Pitcairn, and Oliver turned their horses to go back to camp.
The next morning found Pitcairn smoking his pipe as he studied the maps spread out on the table. He knew that earlier in the month Washington had dispatched Henry Knox, a 25 year-old former Boston book shop owner and strategic genius to Fort Ticonderoga with 35 men to bring back 59 cannons from the captured fort. Pitcairn had visited Knox's bookstore more than once and respected him. It was a long way from Boston to the fort and would be a most arduous journey back as Knox had said he would need to disassemble the cannons to bring them back. If Knox was able to get the cannons back before the reinforcements arrived, Joseph's plan might work. The soldiers would need to be trained on how to properly fire the cannons and do it quickly while possibly under attack. He looked up as Washington walked in.
"I was thinking, Sir that we should train the men on loading and firing cannons quickly before General Knox returns with the cannon. If we can get them trained and Mr. Knox gets the cannons here before the reinforcements arrive, Dr. Warren's plan may work."
Washington looked at the map and said, "You mean placing the cannons on Dorchester Heights?"
"Yes and training the men to rapidly fire them otherwise having a superior amount of cannons will not matter if the men do not know how to fire them rapidly and possibly while under attack."
"We may not even need to fire them. Just the appearance of all those cannons above them may scare them enough that they will want to leave Boston as quickly as possible or possibly we just fire one round from all of them one after another will be enough to convince General Gage we have him out-gunned."
"Rapid fire? That is the same tactic General Gage used to try and break the colonial defense at Bunker Hill before the first charge. He figured since they were not trained soldiers, the cannon fire would send them running from the redoubt in a panic. Needless to say it did not work."
"Yes, he had the same opinion during the war with the French," Washington answered. "All this of course is dependent on the troop ships being still held up by storms and General Knox getting those cannons to us as quickly as he can."
Pitcairn sighed. "In other words it is in the hands of God."
~*~* Page Break ~* ~*
Sam slammed his hand down on the table in front of him at City Tavern. "Why is Dickinson being so stubborn?"
John grabbed his hand and said, "Quiet down Sam! Some of the delegates are looking over here."
"The King didn't answer the last letter he wrote!" Sam hissed. "Why does he think he'll answer this one?"
"We still have to wait Sam," Hancock pointed out. "It takes three months for a letter to get to London and another three months for the answer to be sent back and that's only if there are no storms."
"So what?" Sam demanded. "We have to wait until March or longer to see if he answers the damn thing?"
"John is afraid of change," Franklin said. "He wants to rise in the mornings and have everything exactly the same as it was the day before."
"Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina and Mr. Penn of North Carolina seem to be leaning more towards independence," Hancock said. "I think if we don't bring up the slavery issue, they won't make any demands about it."
At that moment, Paul entered the tavern. He stopped at the bar to order whatever the special was for that evening and then pulled up a chair to the table where the Adams', Hancock, and Franklin sat. The waitress bought over a tankard of Ale, winking at him as she set it down.
He took a letter out of his pouch for John from Abigail. "Before you read Abigail's letter, John; Gage sent out raiders to burn farms and houses in the outlaying areas. When our sentries alerted us to it, me, Dawes and Pitcairn got Abigail and the kids and took them back to camp. Kelly and Amos brought your neighbors the McKittrick's in." Paul chuckled. "You should have been there to see how annoyed Kelly was because Mrs. McKittrick insisted on bringing their cow and their chickens with them so they wouldn't end up on Gages' dinner table." He stopped laughing and said. "Neither of your farms was burnt, but the raiders burnt the Parker's farm to the ground."
John's anger was palpable and he said said. "Gage is a vicious, tyrannical bastard! It will be very hard on the Parkers to have to start over." He opened his letter and began to read it then dropped it suddenly. "Thomas wandered off?"
"What!" Sam yelled.
"It's all right. He didn't go far, thankfully. Major Pitcairn woke up and found him and Mr. Beery sleeping peacefully next to him. He got up right away and took him back to Abigail's tent because he knew she'd be frantic if she'd found him gone. Apparently, Thomas was worried about Pitcairn's horse having to sleep out in the cold and was going to ask him where she slept, but he either couldn't wake Pitcairn to ask him or fell back to sleep before he could." Paul chuckled. "The next night Pitcairn told him to tell his bear that if he had any ideas about wandering away again, he was confined to the barracks by order of Major Pitcairn." Paul laughed again. "I swear Thomas worries about Pitcairn's horse as much as he does."
"Well, I'm relieved to hear that," John said. "But I will need to have a talk with him about his wandering the next time I am home. I am happy though Abigail invited the Parker's to stay with her and the children until they can rebuild or find another place," John remarked. "They can help her keep an eye on the children."
"What been going on here?" Paul asked. "Did Pitcairn's talk do any good?"
"With a couple of the delegates from North and South Carolina it did," Hancock said. "They have been talking regularly with John and I about the Intolerable Acts. I think as long as we don't bring up the slavery issue, they won't either."
"My fellow delegate is still resisting independence however," Franklin said. "He wrote King George another letter on July 5th and he's insisting we do not do anything permanent until we get a reply from the king."
"Even though he never got a reply from the king to the last letter he wrote," Sam said in disgust.
"And it will be March or longer even if the king does decide to answer," John said. "Other than what Abigail wrote me, what has Washington been doing?"
Paul took a long drink of his Ale and then said, "Washington sent Henry Knox with 35 men to bring back the cannons from the captured Fort Ticonderoga." He turned to Franklin and explained, "Before the war, Henry owned a bookstore which was frequented by both British officers and colonist. He's a genius on strategy and would talk to the officers and draw out their thoughts on various strategies."
"How many cannons is he bringing back?" Franklin asked.
"59 cannons are what I've heard, but he has to take them apart to get them back here so Washington figures it will be January before he gets back with them." Paul shook his head. "We could sure use them now. Joseph suggested mounting the cannons we have on Dorchester Heights and firing at the British warships as they come past, but Pitcairn said the ships have over 60 cannons and enough men to fire them continuously and can reload them in 90 seconds. It would end up a massacre."
"Sounds like good advice to me," Franklin said.
"It could work if Gage's reinforcements don't get to Boston before January and Henry can get back with the cannons," Paul said.
"Yes, but it sounds like it's a very big gamble," John said.
*Thankful Adams was married to John Adams youngest brother Elihu who fought at Concord and was Captain of the Braintree Company that fought at the Siege of Boston. He died of dysentery at the age of 34 on August 10th, 1775.
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