The Drum of Destiny by Chris Stevenson

Author:Chris Stevenson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: N/A
Publisher: Permuted
Published: 2020-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

H 12 H

THE BATTLE

BEGINS

Over the next several days Gabriel covered many miles. His strength and resolve were renewed.

Having left New York in April, it was mid-June when he crossed the river into Springfield. He strolled into town in the late afternoon. The town’s main street was abuzz with activity. It seemed a bit unusual to him. Why would the town be so busy at this hour? he wondered.

Several men rode in on their horses and dismounted. The townsfolk swarmed around them, so Gabriel walked closer to see what the commotion was about. With so many people crowded tightly together, he couldn’t hear what the men were saying. He turned and walked away toward a modest wooden building with a sign out front that said, “Tavern.” When he turned back once more, he saw the riders mount their saddles and gallop off. He peered into the crowd, still trying to figure out what was going on, but he was too far away.

He walked over to the storefront of the tavern and went inside. The room was empty except for a stout, round man standing behind the bar. Gabriel set his things down in a corner and walked over to the man standing at a large wooden table. “I’d like something to eat, sir, and I have coin,” he said.

“Sure, anything you like, young man. I’ve got a fine piece of venison on the fire, and I’ll throw in a drink for free. I’m just glad to have someone here to talk with about the news in Boston. All the town has been clamoring for news and talking at the post office. I haven’t had but a handful of customers all day. Charlie’s my name. What’s yours?” asked the round-faced man.

“I am Gabriel. What news?”

“What news? Where have you been, lad? Why, the whole town is talking about it.”

“No, I haven’t heard, I . . . I’ve been away. What news?” Gabriel asked. Thoughts were flashing through his mind of the warships he had seen. Had they reached Boston? Had they blasted their cannons at the militia?

“Well, a couple of nights ago,” Charlie began, “the men of the village militias moved out onto Charlestown Peninsula, just a stone’s throw from the city of Boston itself. They dug trenches and made walls of dirt, all in the middle of the night. With the rising sun, the King’s troops saw what the militias had done but, by then, they were already dug in. Some Royal Navy ships spotted them, and they tried blasting their cannon at the men, but the militia had dug their trenches on top of a hill. Breeds Hill is what they call it. The Navy couldn’t get their cannon raised up high enough from the ships to reach the top of the hill. I guess they blasted away most of the morning, but they didn’t harm a hair on a single militiaman.”

“How do you know all this?” interrupted Gabriel in disbelief.

“I know it ’cause I heard it from Zachariah Smith.

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