There was no response but a light groan. I repeated the challenge: “Sons of . . .” then added, “If you don’t tell me the correct password, I will kill you with this knife.”

At this, a distinctly feminine voice pleaded, “Please sir, don’t kill me. I’m a Patriot. My husband is a member of this Expedition.”

I jumped up, shoved my knife into its scabbard, helped her to her feet, apologized, and told her to accompany me back into the perimeter. She agreed to do so but asked, “May I first do what you just did? I was coming out here to pee and did not know you were already here.”

At 8:00 a.m. Captain Morgan, 1st Lt. Humphrey, both Pennsylvania Rifle Company Captains Hendricks and Smith and I were on camp stools in Capt. Morgan’s tent. By then all attendees knew the young woman I tripped over was Eliza Grier, wife of Sgt. Joseph Grier, a respected member of Captain Smith’s Rifle Company.

“You are certain they are married?” asked Capt. Morgan, looking directly at Capt. Smith.

“Yes, sir.”

“Why shouldn’t I send her back to Newburyport today on the vessels that brought us to Gardinerston?”

Capt. Smith’s response was as surprising as my early morning encounter. “You shouldn’t send her back sir, because you will also have to send back her cousin, Jemima—who is wed to Private James Warner, in Capt. Hendricks Company.”

Capt. Morgan looked at Hendricks who nodded and said, “Sir, both couples married the day before we left Pennsylvania. Both women walked the whole way from Pennsylvania to Cambridge with our companies. They are both aware this is going to be an arduous campaign, but they are both fit and have nursing experience. That’s more than some of the other women in this Expedition have.”

“What other women?”

At this, 1st Lt. Humphrey responded, “Sir, I do not know of any other women in the Advance Guard. . . .”

Looking directly at William and me, he interrupted, “Did you or Nathanael know about these two?”

We both said, “No, sir.”

“Well, what other women are you talking about?”

William continued, “Sir, there are three or four women accompanying Colonel Arnold’s Headquarters. I have seen at least three with the Infantry Battalions. I believe there are two with Major David Hyde’s Quartermaster detachment. It’s likely less than a dozen, total.”

Captain Morgan said nothing for a moment and then, staring out the tent doorway, said very quietly, “I will never forget what happened to the women on the Braddock expedition. . . .”

He drew a deep breath, shook his head as if to clear it and proclaimed, “For now they can stay. I will talk to Colonel Arnold about this when he arrives.”