The men looked at Hart, who finally said, “I’m hoping I’ll never be aiming at another white man, but I admit we can’t see what might be coming later on. Most of us know how to shoot, but we don’t yet know how to fight, and we need to learn. I reckon I’ll be staying, at least for the time being.” Clarke nodded, and they turned their attention to weapons and tactics.

Aaron hoped he had helped avoid any kind of rebellion, but he could pick out at least five loyalists among his men who rejected Captain Clarke’s attitude and would soon find themselves incompatible with the majority. Although they were now unwilling to confront Elijah with their concerns about what seemed to be treason against the crown, Aaron knew they would simply stay at home instead of responding to the next call to assemble. Yet, while Clarke’s clear commitment to the rebel cause would eliminate some of his potential recruits, men had a natural inclination to identify and despise an enemy, and Aaron reckoned that the militia would more than compensate for their reduced ranks with their growing willingness to practice for war, even against Britain.

Two of the older men had served as soldiers with the British army, and Clarke told them to describe what they had learned. They began their instruction with close-order drill and marching abreast, then kneeling in a solid rank to face an enemy. Clarke was expecting this discourse and let them go on for about twenty minutes before he exclaimed, “That may be a good way to fight a French army on a battlefield, but here in the Georgia woods it’s a good way to get killed! We ain’t in the bloody army. What the hell do you think these trees and bushes are for, if not to hide behind and catch the bullets comin’ our way? We’ll move like the damned Indians, quiet and fast, and we’ll spread out so we’re just close enough together to know where the next man is. Later, we’ll have to know about bayonets, artillery, and stuff, and your learnin’ can help us then.”

This was typical of Elijah’s training technique. The captain would set up a dispute, quarrel with the conclusion of the others, and his final word would prevail. It didn’t matter that the retired British soldiers were embarrassed and perhaps angry.