RAISING A COMPANY
That which Silas proposed startled and at the same time surprised me. Of
course there was no good reason why we lads should not be banded
together in the service of the colony, and yet it seemed a forward thing
to do, thus to ape our elders.
Archie, however, was greatly taken with the idea from the start, and
Silas had hardly more than finished speaking when he cried, incautiously
loud as it appeared to me:
"Well, and why shouldn't we raise a company of Minute Boys? What is
there to prevent, if so be we are minded to stake our lives for the
Cause, even as our fathers are doing?"
"It is for them to say whether we be permitted to bind ourselves
together," I replied, having a doubt as to the wisdom of Silas's scheme,
and yet wishing most fervently that it might be carried out.
"Think you your father or mine, Luke Wright, would set their faces
against our raising a company of Minute Boys after Doctor Joseph Warren
has seen fit to intrust to us a mission of importance? If we are capable
of doing Master Warren's work, then of a verity have we proven our
ability, if not our right, to serve the Cause as Minute Boys."
There was much of truth in what Archie said, and yet I could not bring
myself on the moment to believe we might do what seemed a most
venturesome thing. Since, however, I could not well answer the
arguments he brought up, I set about as if to throw cold water on the
scheme, by saying with the air of a lad who knows it all:
"I fear it would be a small company we could raise, if, peradventure, we
were forced to find all our recruits in Boston town. I believe truly
that I can count on the fingers of one hand, all whom we could trust. Of
course you would reckon on keeping the matter a secret if it so chanced
that we set about enrolling lads?"
"Why?" Archie asked hotly. "What reason might we have for striving to
keep secret the fact of having bound ourselves to aid the Cause as far
as lays in our power?"
Again had the lad put forth an argument which I could not answer, and
yet it seemed to me then as if we might better be able to aid our elders
in the coming struggle if we hid our purpose from the enemy, and by the
enemy, I mean such scurvy rascals as Amos Nelson, of whom we could find
many in Boston town without straining ourselves overmuch in the search.
"It makes very little difference whether you keep the matter a secret or
not," Silas interrupted, "if so be we can find lads who have sufficient
of courage to join us. We will choose only those who are to be trusted,
and, after consulting our elders, may, if so be they approve of the
enterprise, hold the matter private or make it public as they advise."
I was not minded to continue the discussion just at that time, for it
seemed to me we might better bring our mission to a successful end if we
held our peace. Water, as one well knows, will carry sound a long
distance, and we were now so near the Charlestown shore that there could
have been an hundred Tories or lobster backs hiding within the shadow of
the foliage without our being the wiser. It was, therefore, with some
petulance, mayhap, that I said:
"Whether we are to raise a company of Minute Boys or no, there is little
possibility of getting very far in the scheme until after having
returned to our homes. My idea is that, instead of speaking loudly of
what we would do, it is best first to finish the business upon which we
are embarked."
Then it was that Archie laughed heartily, and with great good humor, as
he said cheerily, but without intending to throw anything of irony into
his tone:
"There are times, Luke Wright, when you speak with much of good sense.
Silas is at fault, and I also, because of raising our voices when it
would have been better our tongues had remained quiet; but that which he
proposed was at the same time so surprising and so satisfying that I
forgot we were bound to carry out Master Warren's work before doing, or
even thinking of, anything else."
"I will say no more about it," Silas added with a laugh; "but at the
same time am bound to maintain that we can do as I have stated, if so be
the matter is gone about in proper fashion, and when we are at the
ship-yard once more I will lay before you lads the plan in something
approaching due order."
It was then we ceased speaking and gave all our attention to the task in
hand, as indeed we had need to, for no one could say how soon we might
come upon those who, mistrusting somewhat of our purpose and being
enemies to the Cause, would put an end to our share of the night's work.
My comrades, as well as I, understood that we had need to gain the
landing place as quickly as might be, for once on shore there remained a
dozen or fourteen miles to be traveled before we were come to Lexington.
It is not needed that I should make a very long story of what ought to
be told in few words, and therefore it is that instead of setting down
all which we said and did from the time of beginning the journey afoot
until we were come to our destination, I will content myself with saying
that Doctor Warren's message was delivered before sunrise, and we lads,
leg-weary and hungry, threw ourselves down upon the straw in Master
Hadley's barn to wait until Colonel Barrett should say we were at
liberty to depart.
Now all this had been plain sailing, and we should have found no reason
to plume ourselves upon having done anything deserving of credit, for
from the time we screened ourselves when the guard boat appeared, until
having come to Master Hadley's house, no man had placed aught in our
way. Yet I did feel somewhat of pride, thinking that we had done our
first work in behalf of the Cause, all of which was folly as you may
see, for surely three hulking lads need not carry their heads very high
because of simply having sailed a skiff two or three miles and then
walked a dozen more over a smooth highway.
I venture to say that Colonel Barrett did not hold us very high in his
esteem because we had succeeded in delivering the message. He acted, as
most like he felt, as if it was nothing of consequence which we had
done, save for the fact that he had received the information, and a
single lad a dozen years of age might have accomplished the same end.
I would have been well content to remain stretched out at full length on
the straw in Master Hadley's barn until another night had come, so weary
was I from walking and worn with lack of sleep; but when Colonel Barrett
summoned us to the house, evidently for the purpose of sending us back,
we could not well make protest.
He had prepared a written reply to Doctor Warren's message, and this he
handed to me as he said:
"You may return as soon as is your pleasure; it matters little whether
Master Warren receives my reply early or late."
"It will not be safe for us to make a try at getting into Boston until
after nightfall, therefore we may go our way leisurely," I said to the
gentleman, addressing him as I believed it was proper a soldier should
address his superior officer, which shows that Silas's idea of enrolling
a company of Minute Boys had found speedy lodgment in my mind.
"Set off when you will, and see to it that the paper is delivered
safely, although that which it contains is so worded as to convey little
of importance to an enemy," he added carelessly, and turned from us as
if to say that he was done with speaking, therefore we might go when it
pleased us best.
Now I had had in mind when we left Boston, that having once arrived at
this house of Master Hadley's as messengers from Doctor Warren, we would
be received with open arms and greatly praised because of the valuable
service rendered; but we were not even asked to stay our hunger, and at
that time I believe of a verity I could have eaten anything less hard
than a flint.
However, not for all the food in Massachusetts colony would I have
admitted that we stood in need of refreshments after so long a delay had
been made in offering us any, and without further words I led the way
down the lane to the road, Archie and Silas following close at my heels.
It was not until we had traveled a full mile that either of us ventured
to speak, and then Archie said as if there was much which was comical in
the situation:
"It seems that however highly we value ourselves, and whatsoever of
importance we may attach to carrying a message from Doctor Warren to
Colonel Barrett, no one else appears to be of our opinion. I had not
thought they would kill a fatted calf for us as if we were Prodigal
Sons; but surely some one might have asked, knowing we had traveled all
night, whether or no a bit of corn bread would go amiss."
When he thus spoke we were come opposite a small, rude dwelling situate
in one corner of a pasture wherein even a sheep would have found it
difficult to satisfy its hunger, and in the door of this building stood
a motherly looking old woman, her hands on her hips, and her eyes fixed
on us in curiosity, as I fancied.
"You children are looking weary," she cried, and mayhap I bridled
somewhat because she had called us who counted on soon being a portion
of the Colonial army, "children." "Will you not wait and rest a while?"
I would have kept on, punishing my own body because Master Hadley's
people had failed to show hospitality; but Silas accepted the invitation
without ado, and threw himself down upon the moss nearby the door as if
too weary to advance any further.
After this had been done Archie and I could do no less than follow his
example, at least so far as coming to a halt was concerned, and I soon
forgot the vexation in my heart because of what I counted as neglect,
for the old woman ministered to us in as kindly, generous a fashion as
our own mothers would have done.
That she was not well off in this world's goods might readily have been
told by her surroundings, yet did she give of what she had freely,
buttering the coarse food with so many kindly words that I believe of a
verity I shall never partake again of so appetizing a meal.
As a matter of course she asked many questions as to why we were in the
neighborhood, and perhaps there was no reason why we might not have
satisfied her curiosity without explaining everything; yet it did not
seem to me well that we should make any one acquainted with our mission.
Even after we were told that she had a son who was then in Cambridge
ready and eager to serve the colony as a soldier, we held our peace,
save in so far as we told her that we were bound on getting into Boston,
where were our homes.
It was natural she should ask many questions as to what the British were
doing; whether we were so shut in by the lobster backs that it was
impossible for any to get out save with a written pass, and equally
reasonable, since her son counted on becoming a soldier, that she
wanted to know if those who favored the Cause were ready to strike a
speedy blow against the king's officers.
On all these points we gratified her curiosity in so far as lay in our
power, meanwhile devouring her corn bread and fried pork without a
thought as to whether we might not be depriving the poor soul of that
which she absolutely needed to keep life in her shrivelled body.
We remained there an hour, and on taking our departure promised the good
woman that we would on the first opportunity seek out her son, in order
to tell him we had lately seen his mother.
Hiram Griffin was his name, so she told us, and I fixed it in my memory
with little thought that the day would soon come when, because of
keeping our promise to this old woman, we should be making the
acquaintance of one who would befriend us in our time of sorest need.
Mistress Griffin bade us adieu as if we were her own kith and kin, and I
for one felt the better for having come in touch with so kindly a soul
after the neglect, as it seemed to me, of Samuel Hadley's people to
minister to our needs.
During the remainder of the journey afoot we met, mayhap, a dozen
farmers who lived on our line of march, and it seemed to me much as if
they knew more concerning what the colonists would do in their own
behalf than did we, who were so lately come from town. I noted, as also
did Archie, so he told me later, that there was an air of anxious
expectancy about all these people when, judging from our dress that we
had come from Charlestown, or even Boston itself, they questioned us
concerning the doings of the Sons of Liberty, the enrollment of Minute
Men, and the smuggling of weapons across the Neck.
I said to myself that there was some movement afoot among these men
concerning which I had not heard, and then straightway reproved myself
for being such a simple as to believe they knew more regarding the
purpose of our friends than did I, who heard discussed every day
measures which would soon be taken to relieve ourselves of the burdens
which the king had put upon us.
As a matter of course we had no means of knowing, except through their
own speech, whether those we met were Tories, or true sons of the
colony, therefore it behooved us to be guarded in our words, putting
trust in no man however fairly he spoke us, and verily some of those
big-hearted farmers, who shortly afterward shed their blood so freely in
the defence of the colony, must have set us down as being woefully
churlish.
Now and then as we walked Silas would come back to the subject of
enrolling a company of Minute Boys, persisting in discussing the matter
whenever we were in the open country where it was possible to make
certain there were none lurking nearby who might hear us, and so eager
was he on the scheme, that before we were come to where the skiff had
been left, just below the ferry, it was already settled in our minds
that we would make the attempt on the following day, if so be we arrived
at our homes in safety.
We had even decided among ourselves as to which of our acquaintances
should be invited to share the glory that all felt certain would come to
us, once we had been allowed to join those who were to stand against the
king in defense of their homes, and there yet remains as vividly in my
mind as though it were yesterday that we walked from Master Hadley's to
the ferry above Charlestown, all the details of the conversation we had
concerning Seth Jepson.
We three knew the lad fairly well. He lived in Crooked lane, nearby Dock
square, and was seemingly a kindly hearted youth, ready to do a favor
for another even at his own expense; but yet I set my face against
admitting him into the ranks of our Minute Boys, for no other reason
than that I had often seen him in the company of Amos Nelson and two
other young Tories.
Archie said my suspicions were idle because they had no other foundation
than what I have set down, and that he might laugh me out of them he
said with a grin:
"I have seen Baker's old gray goose paddling around among the chickens;
but I never suspected him of being a rooster."
"Your wit is poor," I replied, nettled somewhat, "for there exists no
likeness between a lad who may plot, and a goose that simply flocks with
chickens to gain his food. I hold to it that we should have no
association with those who traffic among the Tories."
Unfortunately, however, as we afterward came to realize, my companions
over-rode my misgivings as to making him a comrade. Silas claimed that
he had known the lad in fair weather and in foul, finding him true, with
never a taint of Toryism, whoever his associates, and Archie declared
stoutly that Seth was as loyal to the Cause as either of us. What more
could I say? There were two opinions against mine, and I was not so
stiff-necked as to hold out against these lads who had as much right as
I to say who should or should not be allowed to join our company, if so
be we formed one. As a matter of fact, the scheme being Silas's, he was
the one who had the best right to decide any vexed question, and I felt
at the time that it was no more than my duty to set in the background
all the suspicions which I had formed against Seth Jepson, accepting the
word of these my comrades that he was a lad true to the best interests
of our colony.
We had so far decided upon this company of Minute Boys as to have set
down in our own minds the names of fourteen lads, including Seth Jepson,
whom we believed would be glad of an opportunity to join us, and it was
agreed, by the time we were come to the end of the land journey, that on
the following day, after having asked advice of Doctor Warren and if the
scheme met with his approval, to raise a company of Minute Boys, calling
upon those whom we had selected.
Then we were come to where the skiff had been hauled up on the shore. It
was long past sunset, for we had walked leisurely giving no heed to
making speed because of our desire not to arrive until after night had
shut down, and the gathering clouds in the heavens stood our friends,
inasmuch as they would serve to hide us from the view of General Gage's
men who guarded the waterways. As a matter of fact, now was the moment
above all others when we stood in danger, and I was more than willing to
fancy the peril greater than it really was, to the end that the work we
had performed might seem to be of some importance.
However, despite all my desire to make the service rendered appear
perilous, I did not neglect any precautions for our safety, although I
must confess to having been somewhat disappointed when, about midnight,
we pulled in under the tumble-down wharf without having so much as seen
the glint of a lobster back's belt buckle.
There is little need to say with what warmth mother welcomed me, after
much pounding on the door I succeeded in making her understand that I
was come home.
I fear that at the time I gave but slight heed to her loving words
because of being so weary that it seemed almost impossible to keep my
eyes open while standing, and tumbling, rather than laying down, upon
the bed, I was soon gone into the land of dreams. Until eight of the
clock I slept as only a tired boy can, and would not then have wakened
but for the fact that Archie and Silas were standing by my bedside, both
doing their best to arouse me into wakefulness.
I understood without being told that they were come to accompany me to
Master Warren's house so we might deliver the reply to the message sent
to Colonel Barrett, and promising my mother that I would speedily come
back to breakfast, I hurried away with the lads, wondering how it was I
could have slept so long when such an important question was to be
settled; for, if you remember, we had agreed to leave the matter of
raising a company of Minute Boys to Doctor Warren himself.
If at the home of Samuel Hadley we were treated with scant courtesy, and
if Colonel Barrett had seemed to believe that which we had done was
nothing remarkable when performed by three lusty lads, we surely had no
reason to complain when we met the doctor, for on the instant we
presented ourselves before him he exclaimed in surprise that we had
been able to return so speedily. It almost seemed as if he never would
have done with praising us for our industry in behalf of the Cause.
"It turned out a simple matter, which anyone might have worked out," I
said, striving to belittle our work even when believing it should be
praised. "We had no opportunity of coming to grief on the way, however
careless might have been our movements, for, except at the outset, when
the guard-boat passed just as we were getting under way, we have met
none who appeared friendly to the king."
"I shall remember the service rendered, and it may be that sometime in
the future I can repay you," the doctor said with one of his kindly
smiles which always went deep into my heart when bestowed upon me.
"You may repay us now in full, if it so pleases you," Archie made bold
to say.
"In what way, young master?"
"By deciding whether or no ten or twenty lads of this city by binding
themselves together under, perhaps, the high-sounding name of Minute
Boys, could be of service to the Cause?"
"And why might they not be of service?" the doctor asked quickly. "Think
you that if such a company was enrolled, composed of boys who were to be
trusted in every way, they could not do much in aid of the Cause? Even
though called upon to perform only such work as you have just finished,
they would be of valuable assistance, for now when Boston is in the
hands of the enemy, and, as I hope, may soon be besieged by our friends,
lads could come and go where men would be unable to move without
exciting suspicion."
"Then you would advise that we raise a company?" I asked eagerly, and he
replied "yes," so emphatically that there could be no doubt as to his
approval.
"And think you it would sound simple to call ourselves Minute Boys?"
"By no means, lads, for that is what you count on being, and I venture
to predict that in the days to come, when you are men grown old, such a
title will bring to your hearts more of pride than any which could be
bestowed by a king. The time is not far distant when this colony shall
be freed from British rule, and all those who have had a part in the
work may well give thanks because God allowed them such abundant
opportunity of serving their country."
Now after that think you we loitered in the work of enrolling the Minute
Boys? So eager were we to set about it that I believe we left the kindly
doctor with but scant ceremony, running into the open air like so many
sheep set free.
Chance, or some evil fortune, decreed that the first lad we should meet
after having left Master Warren's house, was that same Seth Jepson whom
I was opposed to counting as a comrade, and Silas, eager to gain the
first recruit for our company of Minute Boys, hailed him in a friendly
fashion.
"Should we not wait until deciding more fully whether it will be well to
let him come among us?" I asked, hoping even then that it might be
possible to shut him out; but Archie said with somewhat of impatience:
"If we are to quibble over the name of each fellow who is likely to join
our company, and strive to find in him ever so slight a leaning toward
the king, then we may as well give over the effort at once, for certain
it is we haven't enough time to raise recruits in such manner."
What could I have said after such a remark, which savored more of
irritation than I am able to make appear by words? Even though I had had
proof that Seth Jepson was not the kind of a lad we should take on as
comrade, that which Archie said would have silenced me.
Silas did not wait many seconds before plunging into the business he was
so eager to carry out, and in a twinkling Seth knew as much about the
scheme as did we who had hatched it. Search his face with my eyes as I
might, it was impossible to tell by any expression there whether the
plan seemed to him good or ill; but when Silas was come to an end of his
brief explanation the lad said, as if asking a question:
"And would you enroll me among your Minute Boys?"
"Ay, else why should I spend my breath in recounting the plan," Silas
cried impatiently. "Are you of the mind to join us, or is it more to
your liking to follow Amos Nelson and act as lickspittle to any lobster
back you chance to come upon?"
"I have never done so yet," Seth replied, and I waited in vain to hear
him declare that his greatest desire was the success of the colonies in
the coming struggle. "In case I set myself down as a member of your
company, what may be expected of me?"
Now according to my belief, a lad of Boston town who had such a
proposition made to him should, if he had been of the right metal, have
jumped at it eagerly instead of waiting to learn whether he would have
much or little work to perform, and I looked meaningly at Archie,
believing he would detect in this hesitation of Seth's, as I did, a
leaning toward Toryism; but he, thinking only of enrolling a sufficient
number of names to make our company of decent size, apparently gave no
heed to that which caused me so much of uneasiness.
Silas was at a loss to answer the question asked by Seth, for we had not
gone so far in our speculations as to say what our duties might be
before we could, and with truth, call ourselves Minute Boys; but finally
he made reply stammeringly:
"You will be expected to do whatsoever you may in behalf of the Cause.
Now we three lads have ourselves been sent to Lexington by Doctor Warren
to carry a message, and most likely similar work will fall to the share
of the Minute Boys."
"You have just come from Lexington?" Seth cried, looking up sharply, and
even Silas must have understood that he had been indiscreet, to say the
least, in thus divulging what should have been kept a secret.
"I only spoke of that to show you what the Minute Boys may be called
upon to do. As a matter of course, we will be under the command of
others, and bound to set our hands to whatsoever work is found for us."
Seth did not appear very eager to take advantage of this opportunity to
serve the colony. He stood there as if chewing it over in his mind until
I said with somewhat of impatience, and no little hope that he might
finally refuse:
"If the idea does not seem good to you there is no reason why you may
not refuse to join us. We want only those lads who are eager to aid the
Cause in so far as in them lies."
"I was only asking myself whether you might depend upon me to answer any
call promptly, for my parents do not leave me as free as are some of
you. However, I think you can reckon it a bargain, and I will do my best
to obey orders."
"We are to have a meeting to-night at the old ship-yard, near to Luke
Wright's home," Archie said, evidently thinking we had spent too much
time over the gaining of this one recruit, and as we hurried away Seth
cried, in what sounded to me like an odd tone:
"Don't fear but that I will be there."
I was so irritated because Seth had become our first recruit, and owing
to the fact that Silas had publicly spoken of our journey to Lexington,
that I could make no comment on what had been done, and as we walked on
with our faces set toward my home, where I counted on breaking fast,
Archie said laughingly:
"You are disgruntled because we chanced to run upon Seth."
"Whether I am or no makes little difference now, since he has agreed to
join us," I replied, and the lad, to win me out of what was very like a
sulky mood, continued:
"I am certain you wrong Seth, and you yourself can only give as a reason
for suspecting him that he has often been seen with Tory lads. Now it is
in my mind that if you and I had as our neighbors half a dozen of those
foolish boys who had rather serve the king than the colony, we would
often be seen in their company."
"There is no good reason why we should discuss the matter now that the
mischief, if any comes of it, has been done," I replied, and then eager
to be alone for the moment, suggested that I go home for something to
eat, meeting my comrades an hour later near the city dock.
To this Silas agreed quickly, for he was eager to continue the work of
gaining recruits, and had no stomach for idling the time away at my
home.
Therefore it was that we three parted company, and when at somewhere
near the time agreed upon I went to the rendezvous, neither Silas nor
Archie were to be seen.
Their absence gave me no uneasiness, for it was possible to guess
exactly why they had not come, and I loitered idly about, watching now a
squad of General Gage's lobster backs as they marched upon some duty
which was likely to be unpleasant to those who loved the Cause, and
again listening to snatches of conversation when two or three whom I
knew to be Tories passed in earnest converse. Without being able to give
any reason, I became impressed, as while returning from Master Hadley's
home, with the idea that something of moment was on foot--something of
which I remained in ignorance,--and that it was important such as Doctor
Warren should know of my suspicions.
It was not until the day had grown near to noon that I saw either of my
comrades, and then it was Archie who came up, looking thoroughly well
pleased as he said in a tone of triumph:
"What think you, Luke Wright, of our having enrolled fourteen lads as
Minute Boys, and without having spent half a day at the task?"
Archie gave me the names, and, except in the case of the first recruit,
I could find no fault with any.
Then the lad set about telling me how he and Silas had accomplished the
work, making of it so long a story, and with so much of detail, that I
gave little heed to anything he said, until from the opposite side of
the dock that Tory cur, Amos Nelson, shouted in a tone of derision,
speaking to one of his kindred spirits who was yet quite a distance
away:
"There are two who count on raising a mob of rebels to drive the king's
soldiers from Boston!"