They moved around in front of me again. “I’m taking you at your word,” Schuyler said. “I want you to start south the first thing tomorrow morning. I want you to tell the story of Jennie McCrae to the people that don’t seem to understand this war. Varick, where’s that map?”

Varick produced a map and held it where Schuyler could see it.

“All right,” Schuyler said. “Connecticut’s promised us men. They promised ’em three weeks ago. Where are they? Where are the Rhode Island regiments? God knows! We’ve had our share of Massachusetts men, but they go home!” He ran his finger down the map. “Go there, there and there! Cross over into Massachusetts and work down into Connecticut—Peekskill, Hartford, New Haven, Providence, Taunton—make a circle that ends at Bennington. Talk everywhere to everyone. Talk about Jennie McCrae and our exertions equaling our abilities. Hah! That was good!” He looked almost proudly at Kosciusko; then turned to me. “When you reach Bennington, you can stop talking and come back here.

“You ought to take a month to it. A month’s not too long. No: a month’s not long enough. Take five weeks. I’ll give you a horse. Your friend can go with you, and he can have a horse too. Stop at every settlement. Stop at every village. Call the people together. Tell ’em the story of Jennie McCrae. Tell ’em that if we don’t get men, the same thing’ll happen to their womenfolks that happened to Jennie McCrae. Tell ’em what you told that militia company.”

He put his hands behind his back and seemed to brace himself more firmly. “You’ve probably heard the stories they’re telling about me. They’ve gone all over the country. You’ll have to take those stories into account. You’ll have to keep my name out of it. When you ask for men, tell ’em they’ll be led by General Arnold. Is that clear?” His voice was as unruffled as though he discussed the prospect of rain. He was a great man—a true patriot, unselfish and generous.

I said everything was clear.

“Travel fast,” Schuyler said. “We’ve got to have men. We’ve got four thousand: they’ve got double that. Theirs are old soldiers: ours aren’t. Travel fast and get men. If we can have men, they can’t get past us. I’ll send other men by other routes to do the same thing you’ll be doing. If we don’t get men—if we don’t get men—–”

Arnold put in a cheerful word. “Let ’em draw their own conclusions as to what’ll happen if we don’t get men!”