In the two weeks since our parade for General Washington, the additional Rifle Companies—two from Maryland and six from Pennsylvania—have arrived and been assigned to picket duty around Boston. The newer arrivals, apparently less disciplined than our Virginia Riflemen, have spent their first few days sniping at targets of opportunity—and each time a Redcoat falls, the British fleet anchored in the Boston Harbor responds with rarely effective cannon fire.

Capt. Morgan takes time every day to inspect the men and speak with each one, and I accompany him on these rounds. This morning, he walked up to one of our Riflemen who was busy constructing a gabion and asked, “How are you today, Private Kilgannon?”

“Well sir, I’m glad you asked. I thought I was coming on this expedition to fight the enemy. I’ve only fired my rifle once since leaving Virginia, but this is the twentieth wicker basket I’ve made since we arrived.”

The Captain nodded, then replied: “The fighting will come soon enough. If the Redcoats sally forth from those ships down below and charge out of their garrison in Boston, when that basket you’re weaving is full of rocks, it could save the life of a Patriot—maybe yours.”

As we walked back to his tent he said, “Have Lt. Humphrey inform Adjutant General Gates’s aide that I desire a meeting with the general.”

Late this afternoon, Captain Morgan was informed General Gates would see him at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Gen. Washington’s Headquarters,
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tuesday, August 29th, 1775

As Capt. Morgan, Lt. Humphrey, and I were walking to Continental Army Headquarters this morning, one of Captain Stephenson’s lieutenants informed us, “My Captain was supposed to go with you to a meeting with General Gates this morning. Unfortunately, Captain Stephenson has been taken to the hospital. The doctor believes he has Camp Fever2 and has quarantined him and the four Riflemen who carried him there. Please keep them in your prayers.”

We agreed to do so, but as soon as the messenger was out of earshot, Capt. Morgan turned to Lt. Humphrey and said, “I thought this meeting with General Gates was just for us, evidently Capt. Stephenson was invited, are there others?”

Lt. Humphrey said, “I don’t know, sir.”

“Now, regarding Capt. Stephenson’s malady, I do not know how Camp Fever is transmitted. I have been told it could be by rats. But I do know many of our men have friends in Captain Stephenson’s company. As soon as we get back to our encampment, tell all our officers and sergeants to quietly inform our Riflemen to stay away from Stephenson’s troops and keep them out of our billeting area. And separately, issue an order that every Rifleman who brings Ensign Newman a rat killed by anything other than a rifle or pistol shall be issued an extra gill of rum.”