“Congress has been called to convene in Philadelphia in a few days and I am hastening to meet with those who will decide on our Virginia delegation. Today I am on my way to Berkley County to confer with Horatio Gates. Tomorrow I will meet with Colonel Washington at Mount Vernon in hopes he will go to Philadelphia, for I cannot.”

“But you are one of our Virginia representatives,” interjected Major McDonald.

“Yes,” Mr. Henry replied with a nod, “but for now I must remain in command of our units pursuing the thief Lord ­Dunmore.”

After a few more minutes of conversation, Mr. Henry rose, turned to me, and said, “You are Nathanael Newman?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I must tell you, your father and brother are two of my most loyal and effective officers. When I see them later this week, I will tell them how pleased I am you are serving with Captain Morgan.”

As Mr. Henry headed for the back door by which he’d entered, Rev. Thruston said, “Sir, if you are amenable, let us pray for you and the members of our Continental Congress.”

Rev. Thruston prayed, “Lord of all, we beg You to protect Mr. Henry and all of us in the desperate days ahead. And when the coming contest is over, let us have our God-given rights restored and that future generations will say of us, we fought the good fight, finished the contest, and kept the faith.”

Mr. Henry replied, “Thank you, Reverend, and my thanks to all of you.” Then, turning to Captain Morgan, he said, “I heard your warning about protecting the identity of those who have qualified to become members of your Rifle Company. Your admonition is appropriate. Every Patriot on that list will be hunted, hounded, and hung by the British if we lose.”

Endnotes

1. Paper-wrapped cartridges containing pre-measured amounts of black powder, a “wad” and a lead ball were commonly used by soldiers carrying “smooth bore” muskets. Pre-wrapped cartridges could be loaded and fired from muskets every 15–20 seconds because the shooter could quickly reload. Since muskets were only lethal out to 60 to 75 yards, accuracy was less important than how quickly a formation of soldiers could deliver “volley fire” into enemy ranks.

Rifles with “lands and grooves” inside a four-foot-long barrel—required nearly four times as long to load—or “charge” as a musket. A Rifleman had to measure an amount of gunpowder [based on the caliber of his rifle and range to the target]; pour the powder down the barrel; press a tight-fitting lead ball down the barrel atop a cloth “patch” and the powder; ram the ball “home”; cock the rifle; sprinkle some black powder into the rifle’s frizzen pan; cock the weapon and fire. Riflemen rarely used paper-wrapped cartridges because the lands and grooves inside the barrel made loading so much more time consuming.