War comes to Willy Freeman

Chapters 3 and 4

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=revolutionary+war&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41934586,d.b2I&biw=1366&bih=667&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=KsUSUb2bJuu62gXU0oDIDg                As I was being pulled up the wall something hit the stone wall and flung bits of rock in my face. They got in my mouth, and hit my face it stung.  There men crouched all around, firing at the British. There was a cannon at each corner of the fort. And a little room underground. There was a man holding his side and his face was pale. The firing stopped we saw 3 soldiers walking up towards the fort with a white flag. Pa said “The British want us to surrender”.  The British were threatening to massacre all of them if they didn't surrender. “They’re moving around the back now” Pa said, there’s no way to get out now, the woods is full of them. Pa said “Willy go down to the magazine room, and you will be safer and you can help make cartridges”.  It was pretty dark In here, they left the door open so we could get some light though.  There was a boy down there, I said Pa  says “I am to help” Making cartridges saved an awful lot of time for the soldiers. His name was William Latham. I asked “do you think they’ll break in?”

He just looked about as a pale as I did. He said who’s your Pa, He recognized me but I said we are from New London. A soldier swung into the room and said, “Get some cartridges up here fast”. So William went up there, it was my turn next. William came back down stairs and said the British are all around the fort trying to climb up the walls. The British are climbing up the walls and we are fighting them with pikes. I went to the top of the ladder and the British had ripped some boards out of the wall.  Just then the British busted through the door. I crouched in the corner sick and shaking.  The soldier said who commands here then Colonel Said I do, then they jabbed their bayonet right through his side. They stuck their bayonet right through Pa’s back.

                I sat there for what felt like forever crying in the corner, with my eyes closed. A British soldier was standing over me with a bloody bayonet pointing towards me, I screamed and stood up. He had blue eyes and blonde hair, ad he seemed young even to me. “please don’t kill me I’m not a boy, I’m a  girl”  I said. “Why are you in this?” he said. He sort of shoved me off the palisade and jumped down and grabbed my collar again. As a ran tears flew off my face. I snuck down the hillside and across the field until I could finally see our cabin. It was sitting there in the sun looking just how it was when I left. When I got in a little ways of it I started to run, I just wanted to put my arms around Ma. I ran to the door, it was open, I looked in nobody was there.  Where was she? Why wasn't she waiting for me? . Ma? Ma where are you? I called out. But I didn't get nothing back. Tears began to run down my cheeks. I went back inside to see if there was any signs of where she might have gone, but here was nothing. I figured she had hid stuff in the fields like the rest of them, and just went to go collect it again. I sat on the ground with my back against the cabin waiting for Ma. It was getting dark where Ma was?  Had the British got her? And killed her and flung her away somewhere? I sat there wondering if I should go up to Groton and look for her. I saw somebody coming down the road toward me. It wasn't ma, it was the old darkie named granny Hyde. I told her what had happened to Pa, then she told me the British took ma to New York. I went to sleep, woke up in the morning and sat up and said Ma? Then I realized she was gone and started crying again. I ate the rest of the biscuits that were there. Where would I go? The only relatives I have are Aunt Betsy and uncle jack Arabus and Cousin Dan. Would they take me in? Ma always said how much Aunt Betsy and her loved each other. She was bound to take me in. thinking about it made me feel better, not exactly happy but I stopped gasping for breath and such. It was 50 miles away, how would I get there? I would have to see if pa’s boat was there, there is a chance the British or someone just plain stole it.  I searched the cupboard for some food. There was some corn bread and a few apples, so I wrapped it in ma’s handkerchief. I headed to the beach. The British ships were raising their sails and getting ready to go back to New York.  I didn't want to sail against the British ships but I figured they’d be leaving soon. I found the boat, untied it got it and pushed off.  It was about 35 miles to New haven. And maybe 15 more to New Field, where Aunt Betsy lived with captain Ivers. What if they didn't have a place for me? Or what if her master Captain Ivers didn't want any more niggers around?  I stopped at a little creek to get water, and tried not to think bad things, then I took a bag drink of water and ate my bread and set off again.  By the middle of the afternoon finally the British sails were out of view so she felt a little safer.  I finally found the shore. I started walking up the path I crept around the back and stuck my head into the barn. It was my cousin Dan he was pitching hay.  I stepped into the barn, “you’re Dan ain’t you?” I said. “yes sir” he said. I said I’m your cousin Willy. He said willy?  Then he went inside and told his Ma I was here. Then I told my Aunt everything that had happened and she asked me what I am going to do. And I said ell I figured I was staying with you. She said I don’t know Willy. Captain Ivers might not let you. Aunt said not to trust captain Ivers too much. When I saw uncle Jack he gave me a hug and said you poor child.