On the way back to the bivouac, Capt. Morgan met with Mr. Nathanael Tracy, now nearly recovered from being down with gout.

Mr. Tracy, thanks to being Chairman of the local Sons of Liberty Committee, was a font of information about the activities of Tory spies and the British fleet—still in Boston. He assured us he would know about a Royal Navy threat to our convoy at least twelve hours in advance.

“How?” asked Captain Morgan.

“Because, the British aren’t the only ones who know how to spy.”

Chapter Ten: 1775: A Sortie Delayed

Chapter Ten

1775: A SORTIE DELAYED

Newburyport, Massachusetts

Wednesday, September 13th, 1775

Captain Febiger and I have twice volunteered to vacate our comfortable lodging at Wolfe’s Tavern and move out to the Advance Force bivouac. Captain Morgan ordered us to remain where we are “because the money is safer there, being guarded by one of Sergeant Cady’s dragoons and I want someone I know and trust to be in town with their eyes and ears open.”

This morning our day began with a quick visit with Captain O’Brien aboard Machias Liberty. He reported there are now ten large sea-going transport vessels tied up or anchored in the harbor and there is still no sign of any nearby British warships.

We then visited with Mr. Tracy who informed us, “Not one British man-o’-war has departed Boston Harbor since the report of a very damaging hurricane that struck the North Carolina coast on Sunday, August 27th. According to my sources, the Admiralty in London has instructed Admiral Samuel Graves, commanding the Royal Navy squadron in Boston, not to risk one vessel at sea during hurricane season.”

At this, Capt. Febiger said, “Sir, I would like to have our commanders hear those reports directly from you. When you are feeling well enough, would you come out to our encampment and brief them?”

“Certainly. Let me know when Colonel Arnold and his commanders have arrived and I will gladly do so.”

By the time we arrived back at the bivouac, the 1st Infantry Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Greene, was streaming into their portion of the bivouac area under the direction of 1st Lt. Humphrey. To me, some of the 300 Massachusetts men were looking pretty ragged.

Captain Febiger and I dismounted, wrapped the reins of our borrowed horses around the wheel of one of our Virginia Rifle wagons, and approached Capt. Morgan who was talking to Lieutenant Colonel Greene and his deputy, Major Bigelow. We could hear my commander say, “. . . The sooner we get underway, the better . . .” so we turned away to water our horses from a trough someone constructed for the draft horses.

When the two Militia officers departed to supervise their troops getting settled in, Captain Morgan motioned us over and we debriefed him on what we learned from Captain O’Brien and Mr. Tracy.