Part 40 (1/2)

The home of Mrs. Martha Duncan, with its shrubbery and garden neatly kept, was selected by General Howe as a residence. He hoped it would not greatly inconvenience her; he would gladly remunerate her for any trouble he might make. It would be a pleasure to have her for a hostess. His own servant would attend to his personal wants.

”Of course, mother,” said Abraham, ”we cannot prevent him from taking possession of our home; we may as well make the best of it, accept the inevitable, and spoil the Egyptians if we can. He seems to be a gentleman, a man of honor, and will, doubtless, pay us well. Besides, possibly we may learn something that can be turned to good account, if we keep our eyes and ears open, and our wits about us.”

”It will be only a plain table, my lord, I can provide. Since the provincials have closed around us, the market has been bare of provisions,” said Mrs. Duncan.

”I am aware of it, madam, but I doubt not you will be able to furnish appetizing food, possibly a joint of roast mutton from the flocks of sheep accessible to us on the islands in the harbor, a fresh mackerel or cod. We are not yet shut in from the sea, and possibly we may soon have free access to the surrounding country, for I hear there is much discontent among the provincials, and their numbers are rapidly melting away, now that the first excitement is over,” responded Lord Howe.

”Possibly I may be able to provide early vegetables,--lettuce, dandelions, greens, asparagus, and water-cresses, my lord, if you will allow my negro servant, Cato, to pa.s.s the patrol to Charlestown,” said Mrs. Duncan.

”I will give him such permission,” he replied, writing a pa.s.s, directing the sentinels along the wharves, and the marine patrol in the harbor, to pa.s.s the negro servant, Cato.

Not only Cato, but Mrs. Duncan and her son, Abraham, s.h.i.+p-carver and artist, were attentive to the wants of General Howe, receiving s.h.i.+ning guineas in return. It was a pleasure to the British commander, just arrived from England, to talk with a young gentleman so well informed and of such attainments as the son of his hostess.

”I dare say, Mr. Duncan, you are quite well acquainted with the country around Boston?” said his lords.h.i.+p.

”I have been up the Charles and Mystic by boat many times, my lord, and visited Cambridge to enjoy the festivities of Cla.s.s Day, and the orations of graduates at Commencement. I have rambled the Roxbury fields and pastures for strawberries, and am pretty well acquainted with the various localities.”

General Howe spread out a map and asked many questions in regard to the surrounding hills, valleys, woods, and cleared lands. He was surprised to see how well Mr. Duncan could sketch them in with his pencil upon the map which Ensign De Berniere had drawn. Lord Howe introduced him to Generals Pigot and Clinton, who were pleased with the intelligent replies to their questions.

There came a day in June when Abraham heard General Howe say to the other commanders that the Charlestown Hills ought to be occupied at once, for fear the rebels might seize them. Were they to do so, Boston might be bombarded, and the s.h.i.+ps driven from their anchorage.

”Doctor Warren and General Ward ought to know that,” Abraham said to himself.

There were only a few words in the letter which Abraham Duncan tucked under the cuff of Cato's coat-sleeve the next morning, when he stepped into his boat to cross the river and gather young asparagus and water-cresses for General Howe's dinner. Cato was directed to hand the slip of paper to Deacon Larkin's negro, Jim, who would know what to do with it.

Faithful and true to their kind-hearted masters were Cato and Jim, pa.s.sing the letter from hand to hand, till it reached Doctor Joseph Warren in consultation with General Artemus Ward and the committee of safety in Cambridge.

”Bunker's Hill is to be occupied at once.”[67]

[Footnote 67: The two eminences in Charlestown were named Breed's and Bunker's Hill respectively,--that upon which the redoubt was constructed was Breed's Hill; the rail fence behind which the troops from New Hamps.h.i.+re fought was on the slope of Bunker's Hill.]

That was all, except an ink blot.

”It is authentic,--from a trustworthy Son of Liberty,” said Doctor Warren.

”It has no signature,” said General Ward.

”Therefore is not treasonable. Besides, it does not state who is to occupy Bunker's Hill,--the British or ourselves,” the doctor replied.

”How do you know it is genuine--from the writing?”

”No; the hand is disguised. Nevertheless, I know the writer. He informs me that the British intend to take possession of Charlestown Heights.”[68]

[Footnote 68: General Gage at the outset saw the value of Charlestown Heights from the military standpoint, but was not able to make any movement to take possession of the ground till the arrival of his reinforcements.]

”Are you sure it is authentic information?”

”I have no doubt of it. The writer is in position to learn what they intend to do. He is a very quiet man, but has his eyes and ears open.

It is not the first time he has shown his devotion to our cause. You say he has not signed it; true he has not written his name, not even the initials, yet his signature is upon the sheet,--the insignificant ink-blot. It would not be accepted as testimony in a court-martial, but it is sufficient for me,” said Doctor Warren.

With the letter came a copy of a proclamation issued by General Gage.