Ben, Nathaniel, John and Stephen sat with Zachary's body until the morning guard came for his rounds.

John held Zachary's hand until the guards carried him away, mumbling,


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The men bowed their heads in solemn reverence. They watched as the guards carried Zachary out, each bowing their heads in respect as his body passed. They knew that his body would be placed in the mass grave with the other men who had died while in prison.

"Tis unfair." Nathaniel finally said, his eyes focused on the doorway that Zachary had passed through. "He deserved better."

"I shall miss him." Ben added, his head bowed.

"We all will," John said, comforting the younger men, "he was much too young to die. Every night I lie awake praying that my sons . . ." he became too choked up to speak and Stephen placed his hand on John's shoulder. "I am forty-nine years old, I have seven wonderful children and a loving wife. Though I have so much, I would rather be the one than one so young who has so much ahead of them. I've experience life, but Zachary . . ."

Stephen nodded in agreement, as a parent he understood. When it came down to it, he would gladly forfeit his life so that the younger generation could live.

The rest of the day no one spoke, the cell seemed empty without their comrade. And they missed him terribly. It wasn't until two days later when Stephen said sadly, "We have to tell his wife."

Ben pulled out the letter Zachary had given to him and stared at it, turning it over and over slowly in his hands.

"What have you there?" Nathaniel questioned.

"A letter. A letter to Sarah."

&&&

On the 23rd a hundred men were released from their iron cages. Stepping outside for the first time in months, the men squinted their eyes, adjusting to the light and looked up at the beautiful sun overhead. Breathing in deeply they allowed the fresh air to fill their lungs.

"It is a sin that Zachary did not live to see this day." John said, looking up into the clear blue sky and shading his eyes from the sun's glare. The moment was bitter sweet to the four of them. They paused to remember their fallen comrade who had come so close to tasting freedom, but had perished at its gates.

Loyalist soldiers surrounded them, led by an officer and a drummer tapping out a beat, the haggard men marched in straight columns to the north field were they stood facing their own commanding officers, standing in front of their own ragged captives.

The commanding officers walked to the middle of the field and shook hands. Discussing the agreed upon terms they finally marched back to their respective sides and called orders for the drummers to strike up their tune. The captives obeyed and marched orderly to their respective sides. Finally in line under an officer clad in Patriotic blue, Ben smiled at his new found freedom. All around him men were crying "huzzah!" and throwing up their hats. Ben bent down to feel the soft, lush grass under his hands. Plucking a dandelion, he placed it in his button hole. The commanding officer called out orders and they followed the officers back to the encampment. Back at the encampment an officer called the hundred newly freed men around him.

"On the first of this month, General Cornwallis and about 10,000 troops settled at a small port in Yorktown, Virginia. The French fleet under Admiral Count de Grasse is making its way towards the Chesapeake. General Washington has coordinated with General Rochambeau to rush their best troops to Yorktown to destroy the British's position. Attack on Yorktown will not commence until at least mid-September, for that is how long it will take for General Washington and General Rochambeau's troops to get down there. I will allow you all two weeks leave to see your families and recuperate before battle. I need superior soldiers out there. Meet back here on the 6th of September. We will head for Yorktown on the 7th and arrive there approximately on the 19th. Any questions?" he bellowed the orders to the mass.

A few men raised their hands.

"Yes?" The officer called on one man.

"What be if our families are up towards Yorktown way?" he asked and a few men muttered their agreement.

The officer conferred with another officer standing next to him for a bit and then answered the crowd, "If you will be heading north of here towards the Yorktown area, met this regiment on the 19th. Remember you has freed you, I expect you all to return to this regiment and honor your commitment. Any many who does not return will be treated as a deserter of the American Army. You are dismissed to leave!"

The men scattered quickly, anxious for the chance to see their families for a short time. John looked at Ben, Nathaniel and Stephen who nodded at him in unsaid agreement. "We all miss our families, but we know what we must do first."