The Secret Letters of 75

  She pointed to her own copy where she had written T_ _ _ _ _.

  “First I tried the vowels that have doubles and the only letters that come in doubles are ee and oo. I mean, you almost never see an aa or an ii, do you? So I tried T_ E E _ _, but I couldn’t think of any word that has six letters that is spelled that way, can you?”

  Jamie shook his head, “No.”

  “Then I tried T _ OO_ _ _ and I thought it could be the word TROOPS. That makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, if Dr. Church is giving information to General Gage, it most certainly might include information about our troops, wouldn’t it?”

  Jamie drew in his breath when the realization hit him, “Why, yes, it would!”

  “Now, if that word is correct, I now have the letters for the symbols R, P, and S. So I’ve filled them in on my copy here.”

  She showed him how she now had determined the words are and at because she had learned the symbols for R and T.

  “And look at this!” she cried, “Putting in all the letters I’ve figured out from those symbols, here’s a word I think we can guess at: _ OR_ _E_TER. I think it could be Dorchester!”

  Jamie silently spelled out the word with the blanks that were on her paper and declared,

  “Yes! It must be!”

  “And here’s another word: RO_ _ _R _. That’s a seven letter word that begins with RO, which could be Roxbury!”

  “And that could mean that he intended to tell General Gage all about our plans for building redoubts in Roxbury!”

  He looked at her in amazement, “Sarah! This is incredible! We’ve got to show this to someone! Someone who might listen to us and believe us! But who?”

  She paced up and down, then stopped.

  “I think Paul Revere may believe us,” She declared.

  He nodded in agreement and regarded her thoughtfully. As he studied her face, she saw something in his eyes.

  “Jamie, why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Like you just did.”

  He flushed with embarrassment, then stammered, “Oh, that, well, it’s just that I can’t believe it. I mean, you figured out the code! To me it just looks like a bunch of odd shapes with no meaning. But you did it! That’s amazing!”

  Warmed by his admiration and praise, she smiled.

  “Well, it did take me quite a long time. Hours and hours! And I only have a few words figured out.”

  “But you did it!” he insisted.

  Sarah's code decipher

  She simply smiled. He suddenly felt like he wanted to take her in his arms and hug her for what she had accomplished, but he remembered the night she had punched him painfully on his arm and had second thoughts.

  “We’d better go back inside now. It’s getting dark,” she said, breaking the moment of silence that had grown between them when neither of them knew what to say or do next.

  “Yes, I guess so,” he nodded and followed her back to the house. All the way back to the house, Sarah felt pleased that Jamie had appreciated what she had been able to do. Before going into the house, she said, “I’ll work on it some more tonight when I go to bed. I’ve been staying up late in my room at night, trying different combinations of letters to get words. It’s still going to take a lot more time, though.”

  He said, “Tomorrow when we show this to Mr. Revere, he’s got to believe that Dr. Church is a traitor!”

  Jamie was dreaming. He was back on board the H.M.S. Vengeance, carrying casks of gunpowder up from the magazine three decks below, and the cannon were exploding, rocketing balls across the water. He could not go faster, although he knew he must. His body felt as if he were running through waist-deep water. He broke out in a sweat, his heart pounding fiercely from the effort. A cannon ball whistled overhead, growing louder as it sailed through the air, directly at him. He tried to run away, but he fell.

  He suddenly bolted upright in his bed, gasping and sweating.

  Thunder echoed in the far distance and he wondered if he were still dreaming.

  Thunder? He thought. He knew the sound of cannon very well, and this was no dream. It was coming from outside the house, but far away. He leaped out of bed, pulled on his clothes, and dashed downstairs.

  Jonathan was standing by the table, hastily gathering supplies, musket and powder.

  He explained, “The British are attacking Bunker Hill, so I must leave.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Jamie said firmly.

  “No!” Jonathan said sharply, then softened his voice, “No, Jamie. You must stay with Sarah. I’m depending on you to protect her while I’m gone.”

  Jamie was about to speak, but Jonathan gripped his arms and faced him squarely.

  “I know this is a lot to ask of you. But she has no one else to turn to. I cannot be in two places, and since I must fight for the cause, I have no one but you to help me. Will you do as I ask? Stay with her? Please?”

  Jamie could not refuse the man who had saved his life a year ago when he had been carried into the house half dead.

  “Yes, sir. I’ll stay with her.”

  Jonathan smiled briefly, “Thanks. And if you should need any help, the Richardsons are close by.”

  “I’m sure we’ll be fine. But we must go to Cambridge and speak to Mr. Revere. I have a message from his wife.”

  Jonathan nodded, “All right. I don’t know if I’ll be home tonight or-“

  He paused and Jamie knew that he couldn’t say when he’d be coming home…if ever.

  Sarah came downstairs in her bare feet wearing her flannel night gown.

  “I heard voices. Father, are you leaving already? Have you had any breakfast?”

  “There isn’t time. I’ve packed some food for the day. I’ll eat later. I must hurry.”

  “I can hear gunfire. Has the battle begun?”

  “Yes,” he said, going to her. He looked into her eyes, searching for the words that wouldn’t come. Finally, he took her into his arms and hugged her tightly, stroking her soft brown hair. She was all that he had left, and he would do anything to protect her, even sacrifice his own life, if necessary.

  A year ago he would never have believed that such a thing could happen; that he would be shooting at his fellow countrymen. And all over the right to be free, which should be any man’s birthright, he thought. No one should have to kill another man just to be allowed to live in freedom, but too many people were suffering at the hands of the king and his army. Someone had to stop them.

  The sun would soon be blazing in the June sky. Instead of planting the newly-ploughed earth, Jonathan was heading off to take his place among the rows of ragged men defending their land. In his place, Sarah and Jamie would have to do all the farm work.

  Sarah knew that he was going off to war, and that anything could happen to him. Her throat constricted and tears sprang to her eyes. She threw her arms around him and held onto him tightly, as if she would never let him leave her.

  After a minute, he pulled her away gently, cringing at the sight of her tears.

  “I must go now, Sarah. I must. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she squeaked, as the tears slid down her cheeks, “But be careful, Father! I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you!”

  He smiled weakly. “I’ll try my best to come home as soon as I can. I’m leaving you in Jamie’s care. The neighbors have all offered to help you in any way they can. And trust in the Lord, Sarah.”

  “I’ll pray for you every day, Father, morning and night!”

  “If God is with us, then we have nothing to fear,” he smiled, as tears filled his own eyes. His lips brushed her cheek and he stroked her hair softly.

  She wiped away her tears, and tried to smile bravely as he went out of the door. Jamie and Sarah ran out to the front step to watch as he galloped down the rutted lane towards Charlestown.

  Sarah tried not to cry. Jamie remembered how he had felt the day he was taken
from his home in England, knowing that might never see his family again. He put his arm around her shoulders.

  “Don’t worry, Sarah. I’m sure your father will be all right.”

  She sniffed and stifled a sob, but could only nod her head.

  “Let’s get our chores done so we can go to Cambridge. We’ll find Mr. Revere and show him the code that you’ve figured out.”

  She smiled at him gratefully, “Yes! That’s a good idea. I’ll get dressed.”

  She ran upstairs while Jamie set about getting the fire started to make breakfast. He realized that he was the man of the house now, and it was up to him to see that things were done properly. Jonathan might return home by the end of the day if the battle ended quickly, but there would certainly be more battles to fight.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 21: Battle at Bunker Hill

  When cannon balls landed, Joshua felt the resounding thumps in his chest. He covered his head from the shower of dirt and rocks pelting his back and shoulders.

  “Hold your fire! We have no bullets to waste! Every ball must find a Redcoat and bring him down! Keep on digging, and when they get here, we’ll be ready for them!” shouted Colonel Prescott.

  They kept on digging as the cannon balls smashed into the earthen walls, stopping only to duck and cover their heads. Within an hour, boats filled with British Marines filled the harbor as the ships’ cannon maintained a steady barrage of fire. Barges towed heavier artillery to the shore. As the boats glided onto the shore, the men leaped out, splashing through the shallows and up onto Breed’s Hill. Boat after boat came upon the shore, until there was a mass of moving red bodies, all part of one monstrous and dangerous beast.

  Major Pitcairn led the British marines up the embankment, marching them in ranks, much the same as they had in Lexington. There were no trees to provide cover, only an open beach sloping up the hill to the rebels’ fort. So far, not a single shot had been fired at them.

  Behind the American trenches, Colonel Prescott was joined by another colonist on horseback.

  “Dr. Warren! Do not come so close to the trenches!” he warned.

  Just as he finished speaking, another cannon ball whistled overhead and smashed down just yards away, spooking their horses.

  Dr. Warren pulled in the reins and held up his pistol, shouting, “I didn’t come to watch, but to fight!”

  “Then help me spread the order to hold their fire!” shouted Prescott. The Doctor wielded his horse around and shouted to the men to hold their fire. Another horse pounded up the hill and someone shouted his name. Jonathan Harper joined him, shouting orders to the troops.

  Among the rebel fighters were Joshua LaBlanc and his tent mate, Peter. They were lying on their bellies in the soft earth, watching the Redcoats marching purposefully towards them, their bayonets gleaming in the morning sun.

  “I can shoot ‘em from here!” Peter protested, “I don’t need to hold my fire!”

  “Best do as the colonel says,” Joshua replied, “We got to make this powder last!”

  Joshua’s heart pounded fiercely as his sweating palms gripped the cold steel barrel of his musket. The Redcoats came nearer and nearer, hundreds of them moving up the hill. Joshua's musket was loaded and ready to fire, but his hands shook. Twenty feet…fifteen…ten…How much closer would they be allowed to come?

  The soldiers marching towards them had no cover. It would most certainly be a slaughter.

  Then the order finally came.

  “Fire!”

  Guns exploded and the front row of Redcoats went sprawling to the ground.

  Joshua tried to reload, but couldn’t keep his eyes off the oncoming soldiers, marching closer, coming faster. He dropped his ball and his fumbling fingers tried to grab another one. He nearly dropped his powder packet, and his hands were shaking so much that he could hardly pour it into the musket’s firing pan. He aimed and fired again, and another Redcoat fell and rolled down the hill.

  Jonathan and Dr. Warren moved up front to join the fighting. Dr. Warren fired both of his pistols, and while he was reloading, Jonathan fired his musket.

  They kept firing and reloading until the powder was gone, and then they moved back to another position, while those who still had powder left kept on shooting. When their powder disappeared, Colonel Prescott moved his troops farther back.

  Soon, the Redcoats spilled over the wall, and the rebels shouted and charged, swinging their muskets at them. They batted at the bayonets and wrestled them from enemy hands. Man to man, they plunged, stabbed, and clubbed each other. Dr. Warren shouted for the men to retreat.

  Jonathan swung his musket at a Redcoat as the man lunged at him with his bayonet, knocking the rifle from his hands. The Redcoat drew his knife and slashed at Jonathan’s face. He swerved and felt the blade slice his arm. Losing balance, he fell backward, stumbling over a body. Another Redcoat aimed his musket directly at Dr. Warren.

  “No!” Jonathan screamed, scrambling to his feet. But there wasn’t time. Jonathan’s scream was lost in the explosion. Dr. Warren clutched his face and dropped to his knees.

  As Jonathan ran to help, another Redcoat clubbed him on the back of the head. He gasped, grabbed his head, and pitched over the body of Dr. Warren. The Redcoat ran onward, leaping over the bloody bodies strewn upon the ground.

  “Retreat!” Colonel Prescott screamed, and the rebels ran back, disappearing into the marshes and woods surrounding Charlestown.

  The British were recalled to the boats once they had chased the rebels from Breed’s Hill and nearby Bunker Hill. The rebel army was scattered, but it soon reassembled two miles away in Cambridge. Even though the British had taken both hills, they had not broken the spirits of the men who had fled from them.

  Back in Cambridge, Jamie and Sarah were facing the reality of war. Wagons of wounded men were brought back to a tent at headquarters for medical treatment.

  They found Paul Revere at Hastings House, making arrangements to have more wagons sent out to the battle grounds.

  Jamie waited to speak to Revere, and asked him,

  “Did Mrs. Revere tell you about the letter and the money she tried to send you?”

  “Yes. And I asked Dr. Church about it. He said he gave it to you.”

  Jamie’s mouth dropped open, “Me? He never gave anything to me!”

  “Well,” Revere said cautiously, “That’s what he said.”

  Sarah spoke up, “I swear to you, Mr. Revere, that is not the truth!”

  “It’s true!” Jamie insisted, “Gage’s groom saw him leave the General’s house!”

  Revere dropped into a chair amid the chaos and confusion in Hastings House and shook his head.

  “I could have sworn he was telling the truth-“

  “He has not told the truth about many things, sir,” Jamie stated, “He’s been informing the general of our every move. We even have a coded letter that was taken from his messenger, a red-headed woman who tried to deliver it to the general.”

  Sarah produced the letter and explained, “I’ve been working out the meaning on this piece of paper. I couldn’t get all the symbols, but I think I have some of the words figured out.”

  Revere took the letter in his hand and studied it. He still could not believe what he saw. But why would they make up such a lie?

  “How did you manage to figure out the words?” he asked.

  “Well, it’s rather hard to explain,” she said, “But I can show you when you have the time.”

  Another man interrupted them and asked Revere if he had another wagon to spare to bring back the wounded.

  “No, they’re all being used,” Revere said, shaking his head.

  “We have one!” Sarah interjected, “You may use ours!”

  Paul Revere looked at her in surprise, “Are you sure? Your father-“

  “My father would offer it to you himself if he were here and not fighting in the battle,” she said turning to Jamie, “And J
amie here is a good driver.”

  Jamie nodded, “Yes, sir. I can drive the wagon for you, if you like.”

  Revere started to speak, but the other man interrupted again.

  “By God, if you can help us, lad, we’d be mighty grateful!”

  “Of course, I will!” Jamie exclaimed.

  Revere handed the letters back to Sarah, saying, “I am too busy to think of this now. Perhaps later. Besides, Dr. Church has been sent to Philadelphia, so he won’t be a problem here for us.”

  “But he can’t be trusted, sir! You must know that!” Sarah insisted.

  Revere nodded, “We’ll talk of this later, after the battle is done. In the meantime, Jamie, you can go with Mr. Stark here, and he’ll show you the way.” Mr. Revere turned to Sarah.

  “The doctors could use some help in making bandages.”

  Sarah nodded, “Yes, of course I’ll help!”

  “Good,” Revere smiled and turned to the man at his side, telling him, “Take her to Dr. Jeffries and then tell Jamie where to take the wagon.”

  Mr. Stark nodded and waved for them to follow. Sarah took the letter back and returned it to her pocket. The letter would have to wait.

  Jamie helped Mr. Stark hitch another horse to the wagon while Sarah found Dr. Jeffries, and he set her to cutting and rolling bandages with two other women. Jamie promised he would check in with her during the day. Mr. Stark pointed to the road that led directly to Charlestown Neck, only a couple of miles away. Jamie climbed back on the wagon and gave the team a whistle.

  When he arrived at Charlestown Neck, he found a narrow road like a bridge to Charlestown. Coming towards him were hundreds of soldiers, some limping and bleeding, and leaning on their comrades for strength.

  This was the face of war he had seen while in the Navy: the faces shining with blood, sweat, and grief; the dazed and pain-filled eyes of men who had narrowly escaped death.

  He nudged the wagon to the far right, out of the way of the bedraggled throng. He followed the road along the waterfront, past the stacked wooden houses of fishermen and merchants. The sky was filled with the blackened smoke, stinking and rotten, mingled with the stench of death and the echo of gunfire in the distance. Jamie looked down at his shortened left arm and remembered the day it had happened as if it was yesterday. It was a nightmare that he had often relived in his dreams. One minute he was hurrying to the gun deck carrying a keg of powder and the next, an explosion brought the rigging down upon him, knocking him unconscious.