On our way out the door, Capt. Febiger took me aside and said, “Nathanael, I may have the answer to the map question, but I will need your help. Do you mind if I ask Captain Morgan if he will make you available?”

“No, sir.”

As we all exited the room, I noticed Capt. Febiger was circled with Col. Arnold, Capt. Morgan, and 1st Lt. Humphrey. When our commander and his deputy came outside and we began walking back to our bivouac, Capt. Morgan began, “Nathanael, you recall some days back when your friend William here, suggested your nickname should become, ‘Rat Collector’?”

“Yes, sir, and I am most grateful you rejected Lt. Humphrey’s ill-advised, mean-spirited suggestion—since as you both know, I shoot better than he.”

They both laughed at my light-hearted riposte and the Captain said, “Well, based on the last meeting, William now wants your new nickname to be ‘Map Maker.’

“Sir?”

Lt. Humphrey interjected: “Colonel Arnold’s Adjutant claims your help was very important to getting the rosters for this expedition straightened out. He says your handwriting is better than anyone’s in this organization—though he has yet to see mine. Now Captain Febiger wants you to help make copies of the only map we have for our overland course through Maine to Quebec.”

“Is this the map about which I wrote to my father?”

“Yes,” said Capt. Morgan. “The map may not be accurate, but it’s the only one we have. I and the other commanders have urged that we and our deputies, like William, need copies.

“Why this fellow Colburn didn’t arrange for this with his pal Goodwin is beyond me, but if you can work with Captain Febiger to make copies of that map, it may prove very helpful to me and our Virginia Riflemen since we are to be the vanguard for this entire expedition through the wilderness.”

“Sir, I am here to serve you and, as you direct, my friend 1st Lt. Humphrey. I will do whatever you order—but I would ask, in spite of William’s suggestion, I now be entitled to the nickname, ‘Virginia Rifle Cartographer.’ When do I start?”

“Now, Ensign Newman,” replied a grinning Capt. Morgan. “Report to Colonel Arnold’s Adjutant, Captain Christian Febiger as the ‘Chief Cartographer of Virginia’s Riflemen.’ And when you are finished, bring me the best two copies of the maps you make.”

“Aye, sir,” I said with a smile and a salute as I turned about and headed back to Colonel Arnold’s headquarters.

Arnold Expedition Bivouac,
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Saturday, September 9th, 1775

As directed, the movement of all our units to draw fresh powder, lead shot, waxed patches, and establish new bivouacs this morning actually went flawlessly. Well before dark all our Advance Force was together in two-man shelters, latrines were dug, and watches were set.

Best of all, I am back to being Adjutant for Capt. Morgan’s Rifle Company and the Advance Party.