At that point, Col. Arnold re-entered the room and said, “Thank you, Captain Morgan, for your advice on the encrypted message. Adjutant General Gates is most grateful and said he will immediately deliver the message and your Adjutant’s translation to General Washington.

“While we await the arrival of our fellow commanders of this expedition, let me ask, Captain Morgan, how is it you know all these things?”

Our Captain shrugged and replied, “I do not know ‘how,’ sir. All I do know is our Good Lord has blessed me with ‘situational awareness’—the ability to realize what is happening around me and granted me the wisdom and experience to determine what needs to be done about it. That’s what has kept my Riflemen and me alive in some very challenging circumstances.

“Second, I have learned to keep company with the right kind of people. I now expect—as I did not when I was younger—those with whom I associate to admonish me when I need it, encourage me when I do what’s right, and hold me accountable if I fail to do my duty. I never ask others to do that which I cannot do. If we need a ‘Forlorn Hope,’ I will lead it and be in front of all the rest.”

“So Captain, you now know more about our mission to Quebec than any of the others will know until we get to Maine. What does your situational awareness—and all your experience—tell you about our upcoming expedition?”

Our Captain looked him straight in the eye and said, “Colonel, the sooner we leave here for Quebec, the better. The days are getting shorter. The nights are getting longer. And most assuredly, the days and nights ahead will get much, much colder.”

Their conversation was abbreviated by the arrival of the seven commanders and four other men who were not at yesterday’s meeting. Lt. Humphrey and I retired to the outer row of chairs while the Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captain Jones, and the four strangers took seats at the table with Col. Arnold and Captain Morgan.

The colonel began by introducing the four strangers: Capt. Christian Febiger, his Adjutant; Capt. Benjamin Catlin the expedition’s quartermaster; Dr. Isaac Senter, our physician; and Rev. Samuel Spring, our Chaplain.

He then directed all attendees to give his Adjutant the rosters of their respective units, insisting, “Every name on your list must be a volunteer who has either had smallpox or been inoculated within the last twelve months and have an enlistment that expires at year end or later or they cannot go with us.”