The Secret Letters of 75
Page 6
Jamie said, “Perhaps I should go with you sir. You may need more help-“
“No, not yet. You’re not old enough yet -“
“I was old enough to fight in the Royal Navy,” Jamie reminded him.
Jonathan scowled, “This isn’t the Royal Navy! And what can you do? Fire a rifle?”
The words stung because Jamie knew that it took two hands to fire one. Seeing the hurt in Jamie’s eyes, Jonathan’s face softened.
“I’m sorry, please forgive me. I know you want to help, but not this time. I hate to leave, but I would feel better about going if I knew you were with Sarah.”
Jamie felt his heart sinking with disappointment, even anger. He felt he deserved to be in on the action as much as any of the Sons of Liberty. After all, he had been the one to tell them the British were marching to Concord!
All through their dinner no one spoke, but when they finished, Jonathan said,
“I should be home by tomorrow. I doubt the British will try to use force. They’ll probably just turn around and march back to Boston, like they did in Salem, earlier. But we have to take a stand. The weapons should all be safely hidden by the time they get there.”
Both Sarah and Jamie were crushed at the thought of being left behind. After packing some clothes, Sarah and Jamie met in the upstairs landing.
“At least we’ll be in Boston and we can follow Dr. Church and that woman,” she conceded.
He nodded, “Unless they go to Concord, too.”
Paul and Rachel Revere welcomed them with open arms. The Reveres had five young children and two teenagers. Their home on North Square had a small barn behind the house, used mainly for storage. The place seemed crowded and noisy compared to the Harper’s home, but it was a happy noise, filled with excited children and a mother who took it all in stride.
Jamie was glad when Mrs. Revere asked him if he would mind sleeping in the barn. He would be on his own out there, and able to come and go as he pleased. Sarah would sleep upstairs in the house with Sara Revere, their thirteen-year old daughter. Sarah hugged her father before he left, and he promised to be home soon.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her, “everything will be all right.”
She kissed his cheek and promised to pray for his safe return. Jonathan spoke to Paul before he left, and Sarah went out to the barn. Jamie was arranging his blanket over a pile of hay.
“Do you think they will fight tomorrow, Jamie?” she asked.
“There were so many troops getting ready to march today. Hundreds. I don’t think they would be sending that many if they didn't intend to fight.”
Sarah shook her head and hugged her arms in a cold shiver.
“I’m so worried about Father! If there’s shooting, he could be hurt- or killed!”
Jamie understood her fear. He put a hand on her shoulder.
“Try not to worry. You father’s a sensible man. I don’t think he’ll be a target for the Redcoats. Maybe the people of Concord will let the soldiers search the town. After all, they’re probably warned by now, and most of the weapons will be well-hidden. I just wish I could be there.”
“At least we won’t have to go to school tomorrow.”
Mrs. Revere called from the house, “Sarah? Are you out there? It’s time for bed, young lady.”
Sarah replied, “Yes, I’m coming!”
She turned to Jamie and smiled, “Well, good night. I hope you sleep well in this musty old barn.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine!”
She picked up her long skirt and ran back to the house. Jamie lay down and pulled up the blankets.
He lay there in the darkness, listening to the mice scurrying around the barn and to the occasional meow from a neighbor’s cat. A dog barked in the distance and the sound of chirping crickets filled the air. His eyes became heavy as he slowly sank into sleep. Then in a pause of night’s litany, he heard the sound of footsteps running.
The footsteps grew louder and closer-then suddenly stopped. Jamie sat up in the darkness, his eyes wide, and ears straining to hear.
Someone pounded on a nearby door. Jamie peered through the barn door and saw light in the upstairs window.
Leaving the barn, he went into the house through the back door. A voice in the hallway spoke urgently.
“Dr. Warren begs you to hurry, sir! He must see you immediately!”
“Tell him I’m on my way,” Revere said, grabbing his coat and kissing Rachel. Jamie looked for Sarah, but all the others were all upstairs, in bed.
“Sir! Can I come? I can’t sleep and I may be of some use to you,” Jamie implored.
Paul Revere clapped him on the shoulder and smiled, “Come along!”
Scurrying like rats through the dark backstreets and alleys, they reached Dr. Warren’s house in a matter of minutes. They were quickly ushered inside.
Warren said, “I’ve just had word from Billy Dawes that the troops are taking boats up the river. It looks like they’ll be going by sea. I’ve sent Billy to ride on to Lexington. But just in case he can’t get past the guards at Boston Neck, I think it would be wise for you to go also, across the river to Charlestown.”
Revere nodded, “Good idea. One of us is sure to get through in time. I’ve made an arrangement with Colonel Conant in Charlestown. There will be one lantern hung in the belfry at Christ Church if the British cross the Neck, and two if they are going by water. That way, if I don’t make it across the river, they’ll have the signal in plenty of time to send out their militia.”
Jamie asked, “Can I go with you, sir?”
Revere smiled and said, “There's a long ride ahead of me and I only have one horse waiting in Charlestown. But I'll take you to Robert Newman’s house, and you may go with him to show the signal light in the church belfry. He'll need a sharp lookout to warn him if trouble starts.”
Jamie nodded gratefully.
“Let’s be on our way, then,” Revere said, and turned to shake hands with Dr. Warren before leaving.
“God be with you, Paul,” said Dr. Warren.
Revere smiled and replied, “May God be with us all.”
Table of Contents
Chapter 12: Two if by Sea
After they left Dr. Warren's home, they kept under the shadows and ducked down the alleys to keep out of sight from the crowds of soldiers that were moving toward the waiting boats.
Finally, they arrived at another house and went to the back.
Revere whispered, “There are British soldiers quartered here, so we won’t go to the front door. But I can call Robert.”
Revere cupped his hands together and gave a bird call, and then he tossed a pebble against an upstairs window pane. A moment later, a head popped out and a young man waved at him. He climbed out of the window and onto a branch of an overhanging tree and slid down, landing on the grass with a thud.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“The Redcoats are going by sea. Do you remember the signal I gave you?”
“Yes. Two lanterns in the belfry. Shall I go light them now?”
“Yes. Jamie here is one of us. He’ll go with you to keep a lookout for trouble. I’m taking a boat across to Charlestown. Good luck!”
“Thanks! Come on, Jamie,” said Robert, “We’ll have to go the back way. The streets are crawling with Redcoats tonight!”
Revere left them to go meet his boat. Robert and Jamie sneaked past patrolling soldiers and soon arrived at the church. Robert produced a key from his pocket and unlocked the side door. Inside it was as dark as a tomb until Robert lit a candle.
“I’ll get the lanterns from the closet,” said Robert.
Jamie nodded and followed him. Their footsteps echoed in the tall, cavernous church. Robert opened a small door and took out two lanterns.
“If you hear or see anyone coming in, come up quickly to tell me.”
Jamie nodded in understanding. Robert picked up the lanterns and began to climb the creaky,
narrow, wooden stairs to the belfry. Jamie turned back into the church. The only thing he could see in the darkness was the white box pews that were closest to him.
He heard noises from outside.
From a window, he watched a group of soldiers marching past the church, their boots pounding on the cobblestones. The men were loaded down with heavy backpacks, and rifles with bayonets. A voice yelled, “Sergeant!”
An officer on horseback stopped outside the church and dismounted. Jamie watched as he spoke briefly to the sergeant. The troops continued to march on, but the officer headed straight for the church.
Jamie headed quickly for the stairs to warn Robert. But before he reached them, the church door opened and the officer stepped inside with a protesting squeak from the wooden floor. Jamie ducked down behind a pew and held his breath.
The officer paused at the back of the church, as if listening. Jamie’s pounding heart throbbed in his ears. He reached down slowly and gripped the handle of his knife, sliding it out silently. He waited and listened, holding his breath, daring not to make a sound.
The officer took two or three steps down the center aisle of the church, just on the other side of the pew where Jamie was hiding. His heart beat faster as the boot steps reverberated up to the high ceiling and echoed through the church, the wooden floor creaking and groaning under his weight.
Had he seen the lanterns? Is that why he had come inside? Would he try to go upstairs? If he did, Jamie knew what he must do, even at the risk of getting caught. He balanced the cold steel blade in his right hand, ready to throw if the man came nearer.
The man took another step forward. The floor groaned. He paused.
During a long silence, Jamie could hear the man breathing as he held his own breath.
What should he do? Jamie wondered. If he ran to warn Robert, he would certainly be caught, and Robert would be trapped in the belfry. If he used his knife and disabled the Redcoat, he could escape, but Robert would be trapped. But if he killed the Redcoat, attacking him from behind, there might be enough time to warn Robert so they could both escape before someone came looking. His heart pounded in his chest like a sledgehammer, and he feared it would betray his hiding place. The idea of killing a man in cold blood terrified him. He thought of his own father, still serving in the British Navy. Was this Redcoat also someone with a family who loved him? Could he kill this man? Should he?
The footsteps started up again, heading away, towards the door. One, two, three, four, five steps and they stopped. Jamie heard the creak of the heavy oak door as it opened. The footsteps continued outside as the door thundered shut. A fading echo reverberated throughout the church.
Jamie let out a long breath and peered over the top of the pew. The man was gone, but he could still hear voices outside of the church. The soldiers continued on down the street.
Two lanterns in the steeple of North Church
Robert gave the signal, then picked up the lanterns and headed down the stairs. Jamie followed him to the rear of the church and up a flight of creaking wooden steps to the balcony where more pews overlooked the main floor below. Robert hid the lanterns behind the pews. He then pushed against one of the upstairs windows, which opened easily.
“There’s a tree outside this window,” he whispered, “We’ll climb down that and hide in the grave yard.”
Jamie nodded and watched as Robert grabbed onto the nearest branch and shimmied his way along the trunk. Jamie grabbed the branch with the crook of his left arm and swung out, holding onto the trunk with his right hand. He shimmied down the trunk after Robert, across another branch on the other side of the tree, and then dropped down onto the ground. As soon as he got up, he saw soldiers with rifles trotting along the side of the church. Robert quickly pushed him down and they rolled behind a grave stone for cover. The moonlight cast long shadows from the gravestones.
The soldiers called to one another, “No one here, sir!”
“Then search inside! And take a torch with you…it’s blacker than pitch in there!”
“Yes, sir!”
They waited until the soldiers had gone before crossing through the graveyard, weaving between the grave stones and heading for a row of bushes along the far edge. Robert disappeared through the bushes and Jamie followed as branches tore at his clothes and scratched his face. They came through the other side to the back yard of a house and then into an alley. They moved swiftly and quietly through dark alleys back to Robert’s house where he paused by the big tree in his back yard. Robert said,
“I’d better get back inside in case anyone starts looking for me. Do you have far to go?”
“I’m staying with the Reveres tonight.”
“That’s not far. If you cut through the alley back there, cross the street and go down the alley directly across, you’ll come out near North Square. But be careful crossing the streets. If the soldiers stop you, just tell them you were out with a girl. Act sorry and apologize, and they might let you go.”
Jamie smiled, “All right.”
“And thanks for your help tonight.”
“Sure,” Jamie nodded and ran back to the alley. He paused at every house corner to watch for soldiers. He waited until they passed before crossing the street, and once he was through the dark alley, he ran all the way back to North Square.
Safely back inside the barn, he latched the door securely before laying down. As he listened to sounds of troops marching out of Boston, he wished he could be with Paul Revere, riding to Lexington.
Where would it all lead, he wondered? Did the rebels in Charlestown see the lanterns in North Church tower? Would they be in Concord when the British arrived? Would they fight or surrender in the face of a well-trained, professional British army?
He sighed and turned over, wishing to be rid of those thoughts. But he recalled how he had played a small part in the events that were happening. He smiled in the darkness, and let sleep overtake him.
Table of Contents
Chapter 13: News from Concord
When Jamie and Sarah came to breakfast in the morning, the Revere children were all in an uproar about the latest news.
“There’s been a battle!” Frances declared.
“I heard there was lots of shooting!” John Revere exclaimed; his young eyes blazing with excitement.
Jamie asked, “Who? The rebels?”
“I don’t know! I only heard the rumors going round when I went out to fetch some milk at the market this morning,” said Paul junior.
“Was anyone hurt?” asked Sarah with a worried expression.
“I heard it was bloody,” Paul nodded, “but we don’t know what happened.”
Jamie looked at Sarah and sensed her alarm.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her, “Your father will be all right.”
“When is daddy coming home?” asked Joshua Revere, his head barely reaching the table. His sister Sara picked him up and put him into a high chair. Mrs. Revere set plates out of cheese and eggs next to the fresh bread and butter while Paul junior poured milk into tin cups for the children.
“I don’t know, children,” Mrs. Revere said. Instead of her usual bright self, she too looked worried. But she straightened herself up and said firmly, “But God is with him, and we must show our trust in Him. We must do everything to keep ourselves safe and to be ready for whatever comes.”
Paul Jr. sat down and said happily, ‘Well, at least there will be no school today. Our school master left for Concord this morning.”
All the children cheered and Mrs. Revere sat down.
“Then we shall spend the morning in prayer for your father and for all those men who are in Concord and Lexington today. Please pass the butter, Paul,” she said as the children groaned.
After breakfast, Jamie and Sarah helped to tidy the kitchen and then Jamie told Mrs. Revere that he had to go work with Mr. Roberts. Sarah said she wanted to go along to see how the painting was coming along.
Regiments of British soldiers were hurrying toward Boston Common, as riders headed for Boston Neck, moving swiftly with purpose.
Outside the governor's house were two armed guards. Jamie showed them the letter Mr. Roberts had given him, and he and Sarah were allowed through.
Inside the house there was a flurry of excitement. Mr. Roberts was mixing some paint at the entrance of the drawing room and looked at Jamie with an expression of surprise.
“I’m glad you came early,” he said, “There is much to be done today.”
Jamie nodded in understanding. He could hear the general shouting through the closed door, and he listened closely.
“Get those reinforcements out there now!” General Gates shouted, “If there must be more bloodshed, it will not be ours! And find that rebel, Robert Newman! As soon as you have him, arrest him! And find Paul Revere! He’s the one who alerted all the militia in three towns that our troops were on the march! Had he been arrested yesterday as I had ordered, then we would have had the advantage of surprise! And while you’re in Concord, arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock, and bring me that blasted trunk that they keep their traitorous documents in! It will make fine evidence at their trial! Get everyone out there now and find them and their weapons!”
“Yes, sir!” came the sharp reply. The door opened and Major Cane, the general’s aide, came flying out of the office. Jamie quickly picked up some paint and a brush and pretended to be busy. Sarah moved farther into the drawing room to avoid being noticed.
While Jamie began to paint some of the mural, Sarah whispered, “How did they find out about Robert Newman and about Mr. Revere alerting the towns?”