Katherine Kurtz by Two Crowns for America

Author:Two Crowns for America
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Justin likewise had succumbed to sleep, after being released by Saint-Germain. He remembered little of the later part of the session, for at the height of Andrew’s harangue in Congress, the Master had laid a hand atop Justin’s wrist and bade him close his eyes.

What followed had not been like sleep at all—rather, a faint, drawing sensation between his eyes that dizzied him and left him drained. Of what further transpired in the mirror, he had no idea; only that, when he regained his senses, slumped in his chair and with a crick in his neck, Saint-Germain was covering the mirror with its black silk drape, faintly smiling. He looked tired but satisfied and promised to convey details of the completed Work in the morning.

He was as good as his word. In the days that followed Justin availed himself of Saint-Germain’s briefing on the successful ratification of the declaration and learned more of his Master Plan for the now United Colonies. By mid-July, he was starting back for Boston with new instructions for Andrew, Simon, and the prince. He also, to his surprise, bore a letter for Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

Meanwhile, the American Declaration of Independence was being promulgated throughout the thirteen colonies, to almost universal acclamation and joy. On July 9, as Howe’s army continued to mass on Staten Island and the expected Hessians began to arrive, the Convention of New York formally adopted the declaration at White Plains.

Early that evening Washington paraded his regiments for a reading of the declaration and informed diem in accompanying orders that the true liberty of the new union now would depend “(under God) solely on the success of our arms.” Three huzzahs greeted the reading; and later that night local Sons of Liberty marched on the Bowling Green to pull down and behead the huge, gilded equestrian statue of George III—an act of riotous high spirits deplored by Washington, but he benefited in the end, for most of its lead was taken to Connecticut, where it was melted down and molded into more than forty thousand bullets.

He would need them. In early July, joining Howe’s army encamped on Staten Island, another British fleet arrived in New York, followed by thirty transports and men-of-war just come from attacking Charleston, South Carolina, though Generals Lee and Moultrie had repulsed them there. Very shortly Generals Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis joined Howe from the south.

From this position of strength, and with another fleet still to come, Howe felt justified in making one final attempt to negotiate a possible reconciliation—for neither he nor his brother the admiral were personally enthusiastic about fighting the colonies. Concurrent with their military brief to deal with the American rebellion, the Howes had been empowered to inquire regarding the causes of the colonists’ complaints and to act as peace commissioners—though they possessed no authority to offer any terms. Nor did they truly understand what was at stake, as was confirmed by their very approach to the intended parley.

On July 14, in pelting rain, Admiral Howe sent out a barge from his flagship, under a flag of truce.

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