When I asked the Captain about the “shooting show,” he reminded me of the commitment Colonel Arnold made to Major Meigs about allowing everyone to test-fire the new ammunition we were issued before leaving Cambridge.

By the time the sun was setting, over 100 families promised to be at the encampment tomorrow with something fresh and good to eat. And nearly everyone said as we departed, “God bless you.”

When we arrived back at the perimeter, it was dusk. Major Meigs’s 2nd Battalion and Capt. Jones’s Artillery detachment were already in their bivouac.

By the time Capt. Febiger and I arrived at Wolfe’s Tavern with our dragoons, it was completely dark because the sky was overcast. I ran in, relieved the dragoon guarding the saddlebags, checked the wax seals, and went back out to thank Sgt. Cady.

As we parted, he said, “Good night, Ensign Newman. We shall be here at seven in the morning with two spare mounts. Tomorrow looks to be a very busy day. Pray it doesn’t rain.”

Newburyport, Massachusetts

Friday, September 15th, 1775

During the night a rainsquall passed quickly over Newburyport but by dawn the sky was clear. We left the tavern together and went first to see Captain O’Brien aboard Machias Liberty. As he did every day since we arrived, he reported “no British warships.” He went on to note, “We now have twelve transports. That should be more than enough. Do you know how many wagons Colonel Arnold plans to take along?”

Capt. Febiger replied, “I do not, sir. But he should be at the encampment this evening. Since we hope to sail tomorrow, I will find out as soon he arrives and send an answer with one of the dragoons.”

We then proceeded to Mr. Tracy’s impressive home where both of us thanked him profusely for what he did yesterday to ensure the troops would all have a good fresh meal before departing for the wilderness.

His answer was a revelation. “It wasn’t my idea—it was Sergeant Cady’s. And Captain Morgan’s offer to put on a ‘shooting show’ was icing on the cake—simply brilliant. You know very few folks in this part of the country have ever seen anything like you frontiersmen with your long rifles, fighting knives, and hatchets.

“After you were here at our home the first time—while I was under the weather—my wife asked, ‘Why do they carry hatchets and big knives in their belts? Do they chop down a lot of trees?’

“When I told her you all carry hatchets and big knives because it takes longer to load a rifle than a musket or a pistol and you may need the hatchet and knife to kill an enemy trying to kill you. She pretended to be horrified at the thought. But she wants to come with me this afternoon to see the show.”