“What did Washington do?” Tommy asked. “I mean he can’t just walk into a weapons depot and say, hey, I need some grenades to help out my army.”
“No,” I said, laughing. “An easy-access weapons depot wasn’t an option, but Fort Ticonderoga was!”
“Oh no, are we going to another fort?” Freedom worried.
“No, don’t worry, we won’t be dodging any cannonballs this time! We are going to talk to George Washington and see how he went about getting more weapons for his army.”
“Okay, that sounds cool,” said Cam.
“Let’s get going, Rush Revere’s Crew,” I said, delighted with the club’s name. “Little Liberty is waiting.”
We went outside to our usual spot, where Tommy and Freedom climbed onto Liberty’s saddle. Cam and I followed close behind as Liberty said, “Rush, rush, rushing to history.”
I yelled, “Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 1775!”
* * *
We jumped through the time portal and landed between a tall hedge and a large two-story home. Everything around us seemed to be brick and cobblestones. No rushing traffic or honking horns, just some chickens, goats, and carriages clacking past. As we walked around to the front of the home I saw beautiful big windows, including attic windows near the roof. There were two large brick chimneys on top.
“That house looks ginormous,” said Tommy.
“Yeah, kinda like my house . . . ummmm, not so much,” added Cam.
Liberty cleared his throat and said, “As your time-travel tour guide I can offer you a bit of fun trivia.”
After a moment of silence I asked, “Let me guess, this bit of fun trivia isn’t free.”
“Hey, a time-traveling horse has to make a living somehow,” Liberty quipped.
I reached into Liberty’s saddlebag and pulled out a single sugar cube. I looked at the kids, who were all smiles. I said, “Let’s see if this was worth it, shall we?” I fed the cube to Liberty.
“Yummy,” said Liberty as he sucked on the cube. “That’s why you’re my favorite customers.”
“I’m pretty sure we’re your only customers. And we’re all waiting for you to bless us with your knowledge of history,” I teased.
“This is the headquarters for the Continental Army! General George Washington lives here,” Liberty said proudly.
Suddenly, I heard a high-pitched whinny come from behind us. Running and pouncing, Little Liberty made a beeline toward the five of us. He nearly bowled Tommy over but instead, the pony rubbed up against his back and waist like an affectionate cat.
“Hey, Little Liberty,” said Tommy. “I missed you, too!” He petted the pony with fondness. “He must still remember me saving him from the burning stables at Lexington.”
“Oh, that’s adorable. I love Little Liberty!” said Freedom as she watched the happy reunion.
“It’s a toss-up between adorable and annoying. I can’t make up my mind,” Liberty jabbed.
“Well, Liberty,” I said, “maybe spending more time with Little Liberty will help you decide. The rest of us are going to visit with George Washington. We’ll come back outside as soon as we can.”
“Oh, joy,” said Liberty with sarcasm. “I get to babysit the Oompah-Loompah.”
I was the first on the porch and quickly rapped on the door.
A man in a military uniform opened the door. I assumed he was a member of George Washington’s staff. “Do you have an appointment?” asked the man.
Before I could respond, George Washington appeared from a back room sorting through several pages of notes or maybe maps. As soon as he saw me he said, “Mr. Revere, glad you are back. I was just about to visit with my troops. Come walk with me and tell me your experience at Bunker Hill.” He walked like a true military man and he seemed even taller than before. Perhaps it was simply the idea that he was in charge of all of America’s military. He stepped outside and I quickly kept stride with him as the kids followed.
“Mr. Revere, look all around you: this is the new Continental Army camp,” General Washington said.
I noticed many tents set up in the spacious yard. There were lots of men roaming around doing different things. Some were sitting in a circle cooking while smoke rose around them; others were laughing, some more serious. Most of the men did not have uniforms and were dressed in all sorts of regional clothing.
“I expect to have twenty thousand willing soldiers here soon. More men are coming every day and God willing, we will prevail,” General Washington said as he continued our tour.
“Are they going to build forts?” Tommy asked. He must have been talking to Cam about Bunker Hill.
“Yes, I suppose they will in time. However, the men must learn how to build forts and really anything involved with battles,” General Washington replied. “Most have never fought before, nor do they have the first clue about discipline or what it means to be a part of a single army. Nevertheless, they have left their former lives behind and are here willing to fight for our lives and our freedom.”
Cam smiled and replied, “If anyone can get them to listen, it’s you. Even now I can see how your men admire you. They clear the path and straighten up when you walk by. I think they believe in you.”
“Thank you, Cameron,” said Washington. “Having the belief to win is an important part of my strategy. Equally important is getting these men to work together in one unified effort. If I can get them all doing the same thing at the right time, we may have a chance to win this war.”
I turned to Cam and said, “Sounds like the same strategy you used to beat Billy.”
“True,” Cam said. “I know what it’s like to have a team that’s totally disorganized and outnumbered. But I also know that learning to work as a team makes all the difference.”
George smiled. “It sounds like your team believed in you, too.”
“Yeah, I guess they did,” Cam replied.
“What are you doing to gather weapons and supplies?” I asked the General, knowing that was a weakness Washington had to overcome. I assumed he had a plan in place.
“That is something I am working on day in and day out,” Washington said. “We received funding from some wealthy Patriot merchants, and Congress gave some funding as well. But it is not enough. We need guns and cannons now, before it is too late.”
Liberty pushed his nose in between Washington and me as if to say, Remember me? The horse that got you here?
George smiled and touched his hand to Liberty’s nose and noted, “You have a magnificent horse. He looks strong and smart.”
I thought to myself, If you mean smart aleck, yes, he is. Smiling, I replied, “He’s been a faithful companion and a true Patriot.”
George raised an eyebrow and asked, “Perhaps you’d be willing to enlist him in the Continental Army? I’m looking for a good horse. Riding a true Patriot into war could make all the difference.”
Liberty’s eyes went wide.
Giving up Liberty to help George Washington wasn’t an option, or was it? I didn’t expect what happened next. Then again, with Liberty everything was unexpected.
Chapter 9
Suddenly, Liberty’s legs buckled and he fainted, falling straight to the ground. He looked like he was completely out cold!
“Liberty? Liberty! Are you okay?” Freedom cried, running over to kneel beside him.
Liberty was on his side with both eyes shut. I wondered if this was one of his attention-seeking stunts. I took a deep breath and tried to explain the situation. “Don’t worry, General Washington, please go on ahead. My horse was a little under the weather yesterday and probably just needs a little rest.” Gratefully, Liberty didn’t seem hurt, just fast asleep.
“All right, but please do let me know if there is anything our men can do to help. Poor fellow,” Washington said, looking kindly at Liberty before walking back toward the house.
“I think he was really scared about the idea of being enlisted into the army!” Tommy said, chuckling.
“Yeah, I bet he passed out when he realized he wouldn’t be getting six meals a day,” Cam said with a laugh.
“You guys shouldn’t be laughing,” Freedom said in a soft voice as she patted Liberty’s side. “Poor Liberty.”
Liberty slowly opened one eye and weakly said, “No energy. Need carrot.”
I was relieved that Liberty was waking up but I still wasn’t totally sure if this was a stunt.
“I’ll get one!” Tommy said, pulling a carrot from the saddlebag and waving it in front of Liberty’s nose. “Liberty . . . wake up!” he added.
Liberty grabbed the carrot in his mouth and chomped it down.
“Why isn’t he getting up?” Tommy asked.
“No energy. Need apple,” said Liberty, like he was on his deathbed. He was coughing and wheezing.
“He sounds awful,” said Cam as he reached for an apple and fed it to Liberty.
Liberty chomped the juicy apple with his eyes closed. “Maybe one more carrot. And a sugar cube would be nice.”
Freedom gave Liberty a big hug and said, “I’m glad you are awake and feeling better!”
“Okay, up and at ’em!” I said to Liberty. If he had truly fainted he was clearly recovered now. I couldn’t help but smile at him despite myself. “It looks as though General Washington has had second thoughts about recruiting Liberty as his warhorse.”
“Whewww,” Liberty said under his breath but loud enough for us to hear.
“Hey, where’s Little Liberty?” asked Tommy.
“He was with us when George Washington was here,” said Freedom.
“Liberty, do you sense him?” I asked.
“It feels like he’s nearby, yes,” said Liberty. “I think he was hungry and went looking for something to eat.”
“I’ll need some volunteers to track down Little Liberty,” I said.
“Not me,” said Tommy. “I’m sticking with you like glue, Mr. Revere.”
Apparently, the incident at the Battle of Lexington had left a lasting impression on Tommy.
“I’ll go,” said Cam. “Since this whole area is the Continental Army headquarters I doubt we’ll run into any Redcoats.”
“True,” I said, “but under no circumstances should you leave Liberty.”
“I’ll stick with Liberty, too,” said Freedom. She climbed onto Liberty’s saddle with Cam.
Liberty looked very content with the decision.
“Fair enough,” I said. “Once you find Little Liberty bring him back here.”
“You got it, Captain,” said Liberty. “Let’s go, troops!”
As we parted ways, Tommy said, “I never got a chance to talk with George Washington. I saw him at the First Continental Congress but he was with a lot of the other delegates.”
“Then I’m glad you chose to stick with me,” I said. “And you can help me explain what we learn to Cam and Freedom later.”
We walked back to the Continental Army headquarters, passing a guard to enter the home. As we walked through the doorway I noticed several senior military officers seated in ornate chairs in the large front room.
“How is your horse, Mr. Revere?” General Washington asked as he looked up from a large map on the table.
“He is much better, thank you. My other students are caring for him,” I replied. Just as I was about to ask about the map he was studying, a uniformed soldier briskly approached the General and said, “Sir, I apologize for interrupting, but Henry Knox says he has urgent news and wishes to speak with you immediately.”
“Please send him in,” General Washington said in a pleasant but firm tone.
In seconds, a large man came bounding down the hallway and right up to the General. He reminded me of Ed, talking excitedly about the plan to defeat Billy’s team. Henry Knox had chubby red cheeks and wore a big smile. His uniform looked a little small.
Before General Washington had a chance to make introductions, Knox blurted out, “I have a plan to get the cannons. I know it will work. I know how to do it!” He was full of excitement.
The two other officers in the room did not share the same enthusiasm. Honestly, they looked like they had too much starch in their shorts.
Washington held up his hand to calm Knox. He turned to me and said, “Rush Revere, meet Henry Knox. Henry has proven himself a true Patriot in the past several years. He is young and tireless. And I like the way he thinks.” General Washington didn’t smile but his eyes twinkled as he glanced at Knox. He continued: “Henry has a brilliant mind and I’ve been impressed with the fortifications he designed near Roxbury.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Knox.
“And this is Rush Revere. He is a friend and a Son of Liberty. He and I first met at the First Continental Congress. Samuel Adams and John Hancock told me that he risked his life in helping Paul Revere warn of the Redcoat invasion at Lexington and Concord.” General Washington gestured to Tommy. “And this young man is one of his students.”
“It is a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Knox,” I said, smiling.
General Washington turned to Henry and asked, “Now then, how are you coming with the artillery?”
Knox nearly jumped from his mud-crusted boots and said, “I have wonderful news! This morning when I examined the map an idea struck me on how to retrieve the guns. Let me show you.” He moved across the room like a bull in a china shop. Several vases nearly toppled to the floor by the time he reached the center table. He unfolded a large parchment and placed it on the table so everyone could see. As he smoothed out the corners I noticed it was a map of the New England states and eastern New York State. “Here!” cheered Knox. He pointed a chubby finger at New York, specifically at the southern end of Lake Champlain, at a place called Fort Ticonderoga. He practically screamed, “We can get them from Ticonderoga!”
Tommy whispered, “Hey, Ticonderoga! I remember you said it’s the next-best thing to a weapons depot, right?” Tommy smirked.
I nodded, impressed with Tommy’s memory.
Frowning, an older military man who was missing a finger said, “General Washington, this plan is outrageous. Ticonderoga is nearly three hundred miles away, through harsh terrain. It will take months and thousands of men to bring those guns back here. It is a fool’s journey to—”
Washington calmly interrupted: “I am interested to hear what Knox has to say.” He nodded for Henry to continue.
This is Colonel Henry Knox. Does he look like what you imagined?
“Sir, we can do it,” Henry said with confidence, still smiling. “I hope to bring back up to sixty heavy cannons down Lake George and the Hudson River to Albany, then pull them across Massachusetts.”
The military officer was laughing now and shaking his head. “An absolute impossibility,” he said.
“I concur,” said the other officer in the room, who had the shiniest boots I had ever seen. “The idea is utter nonsense. These cannons weigh up to three thousand pounds, some heavier.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Tommy. “Don’t even ask UPS to deliver something that heavy.”
“Who is UPS? Are those someone’s initials?” Washington asked.
Everyone stared at Tommy. Would he tell them the real meaning was United Parcel Service?
Tommy slowly replied, “Oh, um, yeah. UPS stands for . . .” He paused. But his thoughtful expression soon changed to a smile. “It stands for Unusually Powerful Storm-troopers.”
“Storm troopers?” asked Washington. “I have never heard of these troops.”
Tommy nodded. “Well, yeah. These troops specialize in delivering the mail, especially in storms.” Tommy looked my way and gave me an awkward grin.
“I see,” said George. “I may need to use these Unusually Powerful Storm-troopers someday. Now then, if no one else has a better plan, I’m inclined to support the mission to Ticonderoga.”
The senior officer with a missing finger replied, “Sir, this is ridiculous, and a waste of time. We should concentrate our limited energies elsewhere.”
&nb
sp; Ignoring the officer, General Washington stood with authority and said, “I have seen what Knox has done with our fortifications. He is loyal. He is smart. He is fearless. He witnessed the Boston Massacre and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. I have seen him take on challenge after challenge and rise to every occasion.”
The officer with the shiny boots was turning red. “But, sir, he is only twenty-five years old, not to mention he is overweight. And just look at the mud on his boots.”
Knox shifted in his muddy boots as he listened to the debate.
“He may be young, but these colonies are young. He may have mud on his boots, but we could all use a little mud once in a while,” said General Washington.
Exasperated, the older officer replied, “Yes, but this shows a lack of discipline. We will never win against the King’s Empire with disorderly conduct and delirious ideas. I strongly object to this plan, sir!”
The fire crackled and popped in the fireplace. Nobody in the room dared to move or say a word until George Washington broke the silence.
“Your objection is noted. Thank you,” said Washington. “But I believe we need more men like Henry Knox. Or should I say Colonel Knox of the Continental Army.”
Knox beamed at the promotion and bowed slightly to his commander in chief. “I will do you and this country right, sir,” said Knox. “See you soon with the guns of Ticonderoga.”
“Our freedom depends on it,” said General Washington.
Without another word, Colonel Knox gathered his map and bounded out the door, leaving a trail of dried mud. Even after he was outside I could hear his voice yelling for men to gather supplies. The other military leaders looked upset as they left the room and exited the house.
Can you guess the name of this fort? Hint—Henry Knox took the fort’s guns back to George Washington in Boston. It is Fort Ticonderoga. Henry Knox brought back these cannons hundreds of miles through the snow.
Rush Revere and the American Revolution Page 14