The Minute Boys of Boston

by James Otis

  CHAPTER II

  RAISING A COMPANY

  That which Silas proposed startled and at the same time surprised me. Ofcourse there was no good reason why we lads should not be bandedtogether in the service of the colony, and yet it seemed a forward thingto do, thus to ape our elders.

  Archie, however, was greatly taken with the idea from the start, andSilas had hardly more than finished speaking when he cried, incautiouslyloud as it appeared to me:

  "Well, and why shouldn't we raise a company of Minute Boys? What isthere to prevent, if so be we are minded to stake our lives for theCause, even as our fathers are doing?"

  "It is for them to say whether we be permitted to bind ourselvestogether," 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 facesagainst our raising a company of Minute Boys after Doctor Joseph Warrenhas seen fit to intrust to us a mission of importance? If we are capableof doing Master Warren's work, then of a verity have we proven ourability, 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 bringmyself on the moment to believe we might do what seemed a mostventuresome thing. Since, however, I could not well answer thearguments he brought up, I set about as if to throw cold water on thescheme, 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, wewere forced to find all our recruits in Boston town. I believe trulythat I can count on the fingers of one hand, all whom we could trust. Ofcourse you would reckon on keeping the matter a secret if it so chancedthat we set about enrolling lads?"

  "Why?" Archie asked hotly. "What reason might we have for striving tokeep secret the fact of having bound ourselves to aid the Cause as faras lays in our power?"

  Again had the lad put forth an argument which I could not answer, andyet it seemed to me then as if we might better be able to aid our eldersin the coming struggle if we hid our purpose from the enemy, and by theenemy, I mean such scurvy rascals as Amos Nelson, of whom we could findmany in Boston town without straining ourselves overmuch in the search.

  "It makes very little difference whether you keep the matter a secret ornot," Silas interrupted, "if so be we can find lads who have sufficientof 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 theenterprise, hold the matter private or make it public as they advise."

  I was not minded to continue the discussion just at that time, for itseemed to me we might better bring our mission to a successful end if weheld our peace. Water, as one well knows, will carry sound a longdistance, and we were now so near the Charlestown shore that there couldhave been an hundred Tories or lobster backs hiding within the shadow ofthe foliage without our being the wiser. It was, therefore, with somepetulance, mayhap, that I said:

  "Whether we are to raise a company of Minute Boys or no, there is littlepossibility of getting very far in the scheme until after havingreturned to our homes. My idea is that, instead of speaking loudly ofwhat we would do, it is best first to finish the business upon which weare embarked."

  Then it was that Archie laughed heartily, and with great good humor, ashe said cheerily, but without intending to throw anything of irony intohis 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 itwould have been better our tongues had remained quiet; but that which heproposed was at the same time so surprising and so satisfying that Iforgot we were bound to carry out Master Warren's work before doing, oreven thinking of, anything else."

  "I will say no more about it," Silas added with a laugh; "but at thesame time am bound to maintain that we can do as I have stated, if so bethe matter is gone about in proper fashion, and when we are at theship-yard once more I will lay before you lads the plan in somethingapproaching due order."

  It was then we ceased speaking and gave all our attention to the task inhand, as indeed we had need to, for no one could say how soon we mightcome upon those who, mistrusting somewhat of our purpose and beingenemies 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 thelanding place as quickly as might be, for once on shore there remained adozen 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 tobe told in few words, and therefore it is that instead of setting downall which we said and did from the time of beginning the journey afootuntil we were come to our destination, I will content myself with sayingthat Doctor Warren's message was delivered before sunrise, and we lads,leg-weary and hungry, threw ourselves down upon the straw in MasterHadley's barn to wait until Colonel Barrett should say we were atliberty to depart.

  Now all this had been plain sailing, and we should have found no reasonto plume ourselves upon having done anything deserving of credit, forfrom the time we screened ourselves when the guard boat appeared, untilhaving come to Master Hadley's house, no man had placed aught in ourway. Yet I did feel somewhat of pride, thinking that we had done ourfirst work in behalf of the Cause, all of which was folly as you maysee, for surely three hulking lads need not carry their heads very highbecause of simply having sailed a skiff two or three miles and thenwalked a dozen more over a smooth highway.

  I venture to say that Colonel Barrett did not hold us very high in hisesteem because we had succeeded in delivering the message. He acted, asmost like he felt, as if it was nothing of consequence which we haddone, save for the fact that he had received the information, and asingle 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 onthe straw in Master Hadley's barn until another night had come, so wearywas I from walking and worn with lack of sleep; but when Colonel Barrettsummoned 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 hehanded to me as he said:

  "You may return as soon as is your pleasure; it matters little whetherMaster Warren receives my reply early or late."

  "It will not be safe for us to make a try at getting into Boston untilafter nightfall, therefore we may go our way leisurely," I said to thegentleman, addressing him as I believed it was proper a soldier shouldaddress his superior officer, which shows that Silas's idea of enrollinga company of Minute Boys had found speedy lodgment in my mind.

  "Set off when you will, and see to it that the paper is deliveredsafely, although that which it contains is so worded as to convey littleof importance to an enemy," he added carelessly, and turned from us asif to say that he was done with speaking, therefore we might go when itpleased us best.

  Now I had had in mind when we left Boston, that having once arrived atthis house of Master Hadley's as messengers from Doctor Warren, we wouldbe received with open arms and greatly praised because of the valuableservice rendered; but we were not even asked to stay our hunger, and atthat time I believe of a verity I could have eaten anything less hardthan a flint.

  However, not for all the food in Massachusetts colony would I haveadmitted that we stood in need of refreshments after so long a delay hadbeen made in offering us any, and without further words I led the waydown 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 venturedto speak, and then Archie said as if there was much which was comical inthe situation:

  "It seems that however highly we value ourselves, and whatsoever ofimportance we may attach to carrying a message from Doctor Warren toColonel Barrett, no one else appears to be of our opinion. I had notthought 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 allnight, whether or no a bit of corn bread would go amiss."

  When he thus spoke we were come opposite a small, rude dwelling situatein one corner of a pasture wherein even a sheep would have found itdifficult to satisfy its hunger, and in the door of this building stooda motherly looking old woman, her hands on her hips, and her eyes fixedon us in curiosity, as I fancied.

  "You children are looking weary," she cried, and mayhap I bridledsomewhat because she had called us who counted on soon being a portionof the Colonial army, "children." "Will you not wait and rest a while?"

  I would have kept on, punishing my own body because Master Hadley'speople had failed to show hospitality; but Silas accepted the invitationwithout ado, and threw himself down upon the moss nearby the door as iftoo weary to advance any further.

  After this had been done Archie and I could do no less than follow hisexample, at least so far as coming to a halt was concerned, and I soonforgot 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 asour own mothers would have done.

  That she was not well off in this world's goods might readily have beentold 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 averity 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 theneighborhood, and perhaps there was no reason why we might not havesatisfied her curiosity without explaining everything; yet it did notseem 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 Cambridgeready 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 weredoing; whether we were so shut in by the lobster backs that it wasimpossible for any to get out save with a written pass, and equallyreasonable, since her son counted on becoming a soldier, that shewanted to know if those who favored the Cause were ready to strike aspeedy blow against the king's officers.

  On all these points we gratified her curiosity in so far as lay in ourpower, meanwhile devouring her corn bread and fried pork without athought as to whether we might not be depriving the poor soul of thatwhich she absolutely needed to keep life in her shrivelled body.

  We remained there an hour, and on taking our departure promised the goodwoman that we would on the first opportunity seek out her son, in orderto tell him we had lately seen his mother.

  Hiram Griffin was his name, so she told us, and I fixed it in my memorywith little thought that the day would soon come when, because ofkeeping our promise to this old woman, we should be making theacquaintance 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 Ifor one felt the better for having come in touch with so kindly a soulafter the neglect, as it seemed to me, of Samuel Hadley's people tominister to our needs.

  During the remainder of the journey afoot we met, mayhap, a dozenfarmers who lived on our line of march, and it seemed to me much as ifthey knew more concerning what the colonists would do in their ownbehalf than did we, who were so lately come from town. I noted, as alsodid Archie, so he told me later, that there was an air of anxiousexpectancy about all these people when, judging from our dress that wehad come from Charlestown, or even Boston itself, they questioned usconcerning the doings of the Sons of Liberty, the enrollment of MinuteMen, and the smuggling of weapons across the Neck.

  I said to myself that there was some movement afoot among these menconcerning which I had not heard, and then straightway reproved myselffor being such a simple as to believe they knew more regarding thepurpose of our friends than did I, who heard discussed every daymeasures which would soon be taken to relieve ourselves of the burdenswhich the king had put upon us.

  As a matter of course we had no means of knowing, except through theirown speech, whether those we met were Tories, or true sons of thecolony, therefore it behooved us to be guarded in our words, puttingtrust in no man however fairly he spoke us, and verily some of thosebig-hearted farmers, who shortly afterward shed their blood so freely inthe defence of the colony, must have set us down as being woefullychurlish.

  Now and then as we walked Silas would come back to the subject ofenrolling a company of Minute Boys, persisting in discussing the matterwhenever we were in the open country where it was possible to makecertain there were none lurking nearby who might hear us, and so eagerwas he on the scheme, that before we were come to where the skiff hadbeen left, just below the ferry, it was already settled in our mindsthat we would make the attempt on the following day, if so be we arrivedat our homes in safety.

  We had even decided among ourselves as to which of our acquaintancesshould be invited to share the glory that all felt certain would come tous, once we had been allowed to join those who were to stand against theking in defense of their homes, and there yet remains as vividly in mymind as though it were yesterday that we walked from Master Hadley's tothe ferry above Charlestown, all the details of the conversation we hadconcerning Seth Jepson.

  We three knew the lad fairly well. He lived in Crooked lane, nearby Docksquare, and was seemingly a kindly hearted youth, ready to do a favorfor another even at his own expense; but yet I set my face againstadmitting him into the ranks of our Minute Boys, for no other reasonthan that I had often seen him in the company of Amos Nelson and twoother young Tories.

  Archie said my suspicions were idle because they had no other foundationthan what I have set down, and that he might laugh me out of them hesaid 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 nolikeness between a lad who may plot, and a goose that simply flocks withchickens to gain his food. I hold to it that we should have noassociation with those who traffic among the Tories."

  Unfortunately, however, as we afterward came to realize, my companionsover-rode my misgivings as to making him a comrade. Silas claimed thathe had known the lad in fair weather and in foul, finding him true, withnever a taint of Toryism, whoever his associates, and Archie declaredstoutly that Seth was as loyal to the Cause as either of us. What morecould I say? There were two opinions against mine, and I was not sostiff-necked as to hold out against these lads who had as much right asI to say who should or should not be allowed to join our company, if sobe we formed one. As a matter of fact, the scheme being Silas's, he wasthe one who had the best right to decide any vexed question, and I feltat the time that it was no more than my duty to set in the backgroundall the suspicions which I had formed against Seth Jepson, accepting theword of these my comrades that he was a lad true to the best interestsof our colony.

  We had so far decided upon this company of Minute Boys as to have setdown 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 wasagreed, by the time we were come to the end of the land journey, that onthe following day, after having asked advice of Doctor Warren and if thescheme met with his approval, to raise a company of Minute Boys, callingupon those whom we had selected.

  Then we were come to where the skiff had been hauled up on the shore. Itwas long past sunset, for we had walked leisurely giving no heed tomaking speed because of our desire not to arrive until after night hadshut 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'smen who guarded the waterways. As a matter of fact, now was the momentabove all others when we stood in danger, and I was more than willing tofancy the peril greater than it really was, to the end that the work wehad performed might seem to be of some importance.

>   However, despite all my desire to make the service rendered appearperilous, I did not neglect any precautions for our safety, although Imust confess to having been somewhat disappointed when, about midnight,we pulled in under the tumble-down wharf without having so much as seenthe glint of a lobster back's belt buckle.

  There is little need to say with what warmth mother welcomed me, aftermuch pounding on the door I succeeded in making her understand that Iwas come home.

  I fear that at the time I gave but slight heed to her loving wordsbecause of being so weary that it seemed almost impossible to keep myeyes open while standing, and tumbling, rather than laying down, uponthe bed, I was soon gone into the land of dreams. Until eight of theclock I slept as only a tired boy can, and would not then have wakenedbut for the fact that Archie and Silas were standing by my bedside, bothdoing their best to arouse me into wakefulness.

  I understood without being told that they were come to accompany me toMaster Warren's house so we might deliver the reply to the message sentto Colonel Barrett, and promising my mother that I would speedily comeback to breakfast, I hurried away with the lads, wondering how it was Icould have slept so long when such an important question was to besettled; for, if you remember, we had agreed to leave the matter ofraising a company of Minute Boys to Doctor Warren himself.

  If at the home of Samuel Hadley we were treated with scant courtesy, andif Colonel Barrett had seemed to believe that which we had done wasnothing remarkable when performed by three lusty lads, we surely had noreason to complain when we met the doctor, for on the instant wepresented ourselves before him he exclaimed in surprise that we hadbeen able to return so speedily. It almost seemed as if he never wouldhave done with praising us for our industry in behalf of the Cause.

  "It turned out a simple matter, which anyone might have worked out," Isaid, striving to belittle our work even when believing it should bepraised. "We had no opportunity of coming to grief on the way, howevercareless might have been our movements, for, except at the outset, whenthe guard-boat passed just as we were getting under way, we have metnone who appeared friendly to the king."

  "I shall remember the service rendered, and it may be that sometime inthe future I can repay you," the doctor said with one of his kindlysmiles 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 boldto say.

  "In what way, young master?"

  "By deciding whether or no ten or twenty lads of this city by bindingthemselves together under, perhaps, the high-sounding name of MinuteBoys, could be of service to the Cause?"

  "And why might they not be of service?" the doctor asked quickly. "Thinkyou that if such a company was enrolled, composed of boys who were to betrusted in every way, they could not do much in aid of the Cause? Eventhough called upon to perform only such work as you have just finished,they would be of valuable assistance, for now when Boston is in thehands 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 withoutexciting suspicion."

  "Then you would advise that we raise a company?" I asked eagerly, and hereplied "yes," so emphatically that there could be no doubt as to hisapproval.

  "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 ventureto predict that in the days to come, when you are men grown old, such atitle will bring to your hearts more of pride than any which could bebestowed by a king. The time is not far distant when this colony shallbe freed from British rule, and all those who have had a part in thework may well give thanks because God allowed them such abundantopportunity of serving their country."

  Now after that think you we loitered in the work of enrolling the MinuteBoys? So eager were we to set about it that I believe we left the kindlydoctor with but scant ceremony, running into the open air like so manysheep set free.

  Chance, or some evil fortune, decreed that the first lad we should meetafter having left Master Warren's house, was that same Seth Jepson whomI was opposed to counting as a comrade, and Silas, eager to gain thefirst recruit for our company of Minute Boys, hailed him in a friendlyfashion.

  "Should we not wait until deciding more fully whether it will be well tolet him come among us?" I asked, hoping even then that it might bepossible 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 joinour company, and strive to find in him ever so slight a leaning towardthe king, then we may as well give over the effort at once, for certainit is we haven't enough time to raise recruits in such manner."

  What could I have said after such a remark, which savored more ofirritation than I am able to make appear by words? Even though I had hadproof that Seth Jepson was not the kind of a lad we should take on ascomrade, that which Archie said would have silenced me.

  Silas did not wait many seconds before plunging into the business he wasso eager to carry out, and in a twinkling Seth knew as much about thescheme as did we who had hatched it. Search his face with my eyes as Imight, it was impossible to tell by any expression there whether theplan seemed to him good or ill; but when Silas was come to an end of hisbrief 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," Silascried impatiently. "Are you of the mind to join us, or is it more toyour liking to follow Amos Nelson and act as lickspittle to any lobsterback you chance to come upon?"

  "I have never done so yet," Seth replied, and I waited in vain to hearhim declare that his greatest desire was the success of the colonies inthe coming struggle. "In case I set myself down as a member of yourcompany, what may be expected of me?"

  Now according to my belief, a lad of Boston town who had such aproposition made to him should, if he had been of the right metal, havejumped at it eagerly instead of waiting to learn whether he would havemuch or little work to perform, and I looked meaningly at Archie,believing he would detect in this hesitation of Seth's, as I did, aleaning toward Toryism; but he, thinking only of enrolling a sufficientnumber of names to make our company of decent size, apparently gave noheed to that which caused me so much of uneasiness.

  Silas was at a loss to answer the question asked by Seth, for we had notgone so far in our speculations as to say what our duties might bebefore we could, and with truth, call ourselves Minute Boys; but finallyhe 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 Warrento carry a message, and most likely similar work will fall to the shareof the Minute Boys."

  "You have just come from Lexington?" Seth cried, looking up sharply, andeven Silas must have understood that he had been indiscreet, to say theleast, in thus divulging what should have been kept a secret.

  "I only spoke of that to show you what the Minute Boys may be calledupon to do. As a matter of course, we will be under the command ofothers, 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 toserve the colony. He stood there as if chewing it over in his mind untilI said with somewhat of impatience, and no little hope that he mightfinally refuse:

  "If the idea does not seem good to you there is no reason why you maynot refuse to join us. We want only those lads who are eager to aid theCause in so far as in them lies."

  "I was only asking myself whether you might depend upon me to answer anycall promptly, for my parents do not leave me as free as are some ofyou. However, I think you can reckon it a bargain, and I will do my bestto obey orders."

  "We are to have a meeting to-night at the old ship-yard, near to LukeWright's home," Archie said, evidently thinking we had spent too muchtime over the gaining of this one recruit, and as we hurried away
Sethcried, 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 owingto 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 onwith 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 tojoin us," I replied, and the lad, to win me out of what was very like asulky mood, continued:

  "I am certain you wrong Seth, and you yourself can only give as a reasonfor suspecting him that he has often been seen with Tory lads. Now it isin my mind that if you and I had as our neighbors half a dozen of thosefoolish boys who had rather serve the king than the colony, we wouldoften be seen in their company."

  "There is no good reason why we should discuss the matter now that themischief, if any comes of it, has been done," I replied, and then eagerto be alone for the moment, suggested that I go home for something toeat, meeting my comrades an hour later near the city dock.

  To this Silas agreed quickly, for he was eager to continue the work ofgaining recruits, and had no stomach for idling the time away at myhome.

  Therefore it was that we three parted company, and when at somewherenear the time agreed upon I went to the rendezvous, neither Silas norArchie were to be seen.

  Their absence gave me no uneasiness, for it was possible to guessexactly why they had not come, and I loitered idly about, watching now asquad of General Gage's lobster backs as they marched upon some dutywhich was likely to be unpleasant to those who loved the Cause, andagain listening to snatches of conversation when two or three whom Iknew to be Tories passed in earnest converse. Without being able to giveany reason, I became impressed, as while returning from Master Hadley'shome, with the idea that something of moment was on foot--something ofwhich I remained in ignorance,--and that it was important such as DoctorWarren should know of my suspicions.

  It was not until the day had grown near to noon that I saw either of mycomrades, and then it was Archie who came up, looking thoroughly wellpleased as he said in a tone of triumph:

  "What think you, Luke Wright, of our having enrolled fourteen lads asMinute 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 thework, making of it so long a story, and with so much of detail, that Igave little heed to anything he said, until from the opposite side ofthe dock that Tory cur, Amos Nelson, shouted in a tone of derision,speaking to one of his kindred spirits who was yet quite a distanceaway:

  "There are two who count on raising a mob of rebels to drive the king'ssoldiers from Boston!"