Clarke was very excited, and said, “If folks in Savannah don’t help out now, I’m movin’ across the river where the people want freedom.”

Aaron replied, “Well, at least Georgia will be well represented when the Continental Congress convenes again. This paper says that Lyman Hall and Archibald Bulloch will be in Philadelphia, and we know that Hall feels about the same way we do.”

•  •  •

Lachlan and George McIntosh were approaching Darien on the coastal trail from Savannah, letting the horses move at their own pace, which was their customary fast walk. On occasion, one of the men would give an almost undetectable movement with his military spurs, and almost simultaneously both mounts would break into a slow, rolling gallop. This was a traveling routine the brothers had followed for years, and they passed the vistas of longleaf pines, live oaks, marshland, and occasional glimpses of the inland waterway with little notice. In the late August afternoon they could still enjoy the relatively pleasant weather of the south Georgia coast and the cool and wistful nature of the gentle breeze from the sea that barely disturbed the leaves and grasses.

George broke a long silence. “Lachlan, how do you think the king and Parliament will react to the olive-branch message from the Continental Congress?”

“Well, it depends on whether the submissive document gets there before the news about British losses at Bunker Hill, how well the patriots fought there, and how much backing they seem to have from the countryside. My guess is that London will decide to stamp out the rebellion with harsh measures, taking the weak action of our delegates as encouragement.”

George replied, “According to the report that Lyman Hall gave us two days ago, it wasn’t very weak.”

Lachlan had little patience with his brother and said, “Just to declare that we are ‘united colonies’ and appoint George Washington as commander of the Minutemen doesn’t amount to much when at the same time they rejected any move toward independence and pledged our continuing loyalty to the crown. Their final statement could at least have included the demands that we Scotsmen have been putting forward in Georgia.”

George decided not to pursue the discussion, and the two men rode on in silence.

Shortly before reaching their home, Lachlan said, “We’ll be convening our own congress here in Georgia, with a few leaders having the power to make and enforce decisions.”

“Similar to what’s in South Carolina, with a council of safety?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be a member?”

“I reckon that’s a possibility.”

•  •  •