For a change, I wasn't the first one up this morning. After sleeping on the ground for two weeks, my mattress is almost TOO soft! And I had a bit of a time going to sleep too. So I overslept a little and was the last one up.

Master and I ate the breakfast that Mistress and Dorothea made for us and went straight to the shop. Tommy was already there and had cleaned the forges, laid new fires, and had all in readiness for us. He's definitely a worker.

Master and Tommy made another musket barrel, while I forged out a pair of bayonets. Bayonets are not really complicated, just a three-sided spike on one end and a ring on the other end to fit over the barrel of the musket. The ring has a ninety degree slot so it can be twisted over the bayonet lug to hold it in place. Cutting the little slot for the bayonet lug is the slowest part of the job. Master saw what I was doing and told Tommy to pump the bellows for me so he could see how they were made. Master spent the time making sure all of the barrels they had made were straight and clean, ready for the gunsmith.

I explained each step as I worked. Tommy watched closely and occasionally asked a question. When I finished my third bayonet, I asked Tommy if he wanted to make one.

He tends to be a little tentative with his hammer. I told him to strike through the work. Then I repeated what I had heard one of the other smiths at camp say, "Tommy, you have to get it hot, hit it hard, and quit when you're finished."

Master laughed and said that Master Baker must have been at camp. "I've heard him say that many times. And it's true!"

After that, Tommy swung a little harder. He said that he was afraid of breaking something. I told him that IF he broke something, we were smiths, we would either repair what was broken, or make a new piece to replace the broken one. He grinned and said that he had not thought of it that way.

Shortly before time for lunch, Mistress Prudence and Dorothea came in the door. They had brought lunch to us. They've never done that before. I suspect that Dorothea suggested it. Master had warned me that she wanted to come to the shop.

We ate sitting on the benches outside the shop door. Tommy went home to eat, since he and his wife live not too far away.

When we had finished lunch, I walked home with the ladies. I spent a bit of time with Dorothea, then walked to the church to talk to Father O'Reilly. When I arrived at the church, Father was sitting in his little garden reading his breviary. He asked if we could talk outside, since the day was so fine. I agreed immediately.

"Father," I asked, "my enlistment will be finished on December 31^st of this year. Can you announce the banns if I am not here?"

"It isn't normally done that way, Will. But under the circumstances, I think it would be appropriate to do so. Why do you ask?"

"If you agree," I replied, "I would like for you to announce the banns on the last three Sundays in December, and if possible, I would like for Dorothea and I to be wed on the first Saturday after I return."

"Ah, impatient youth." Father chuckled. "Well, I suppose we can do it that way, if you want. Have you talked to Dorothea about this?"

"Not yet, father. I wanted to be sure we could do it that way before I said anything to her. She seems to be as impatient as I am, and I didn't want to raise false hopes."

"A wise bridegroom. Wonders never cease!" Father said with a laugh. Then he added, "Normally I ask couples to spend a couple of hours a week with me in counseling before the marriage. That's not possible for you and Dorothea due to your military service. And I don't really thinks it's necessary for you two anyway. I've watched you both grow up. Dorothea since she was born, and yourself since you arrived with your mother and father. You are both more mature than many of the young folks in your age group. I'd suggest that you talk to Dorothea, be sure that date is acceptable to her, and then let me know what the two of you decide sometime before you leave."

"I will do that, Father, and I thank you for your help and your time," I told him, and taking my leave I walked back to the shop.

When I got to the shop I made a few more bayonets, and helped Tommy make some. Each time he finished one I checked it carefully and if it needed a little tap with the hammer I did it, showing him what I was doing. On his fourth one, I couldn't find a thing wrong, and told him so. You should have seen his eyes! Master laughed and said, "Tommy, I had to fix Will's first bayonets too, just as he was fixing yours. Nevertheless, it was his fifth bayonet before I found one with nothing wrong."

I laughed and admitted that Master was telling the truth. Tommy was even happier then.

Master had said that Tommy had some experience before he came here, and it shows in his work. He pays close attention, and works carefully. And he watches the supply of charcoal so that none of us run out.

I stayed at the shop for an hour or so working. About the middle of the afternoon, I went back to the house.

Dorothea and I spent the rest of the afternoon walking in the woods behind the house. We looked at all of the places to build a house and she agreed that Master John and I had chosen the best site.

Shortly before dinner time, we went back to the house so Dorothea could help her mother with dinner. I went to the barn and did some cleaning. As I worked, I thought about how the barn could be enlarged. It didn't seem very difficult at all.

At the dinner table, I told everyone what Father O'Reilly and I had talked about this afternoon. That got me a hug and a kiss from Dorothea.

Mistress asked if the wedding HAD to be the first Saturday in January. We seemed so young to her.

Master John laughed and said, "T'were best done quickly my love. Just because we got an early start is no reason to give the children the chance.

Mistress turned fiery red!

"MOTHER!", Dorothea exclaimed in shock.

Master John and I just laughed.

Finally Mistress laughed and said to Master John, "You sir, are in a LOT of trouble!"

Dorothea still looked shocked, but laughed with the rest of us.

When supper was finished, I said that I needed to check on the wagon at the muster area. I wanted to be sure everything was all right. I knew that all of the guards would have gone home by now, and wanted to see if the replacements had arrived. Cookie had volunteered to go back when it was time for Jenkins to leave. He said that way he could cook for the guards, and take his turn as well.

The rest of the family walked with me. When we got to the muster ground, there was a notice board on the fence next to the entrance.

Colonel Callahan had set noon tomorrow as our departure time.

Cookie had a fire going. One of the guards was sitting at Cookie's table, drinking coffee, another was just leaving to walk around the area when we arrived.

Everything seemed to be in good order, so we did not stay long. Instead, we decided to go home by way of the print shop. The only new broadside posted told of the regiment's arrival. After reading it, we walked home.

We were all quiet as we walked. Master and Mistress led the way, with Dorothea and I close behind.

Dorothea and I were walking along, when she said, "Noon tomorrow. Only a few more hours."

I answered, "Yes, our time together seems short. But I'm thankful that we've had the little bit that we have had. It could have been much shorter."

Her answering smile was a little wistful.

When we got home, I got a scrap of board from the barn and a piece of charcoal from the fire. Using the charcoal to sketch with, I drew a floor plan for our house on the board. Showing the family what I had done, I asked for suggestions. Master said he thought the whole house should be a little larger. The dimensions I had included seemed small to him. I agreed that they were, but said I was some worried about cost. He reminded me that we could cut the trees right here on the property. And he said that he was sure that Master Carpenter and he could work out an arrangement to trade hardware for help in raising the cabin.

Mistress and Dorothea wanted the kitchen to be a little larger, especially the fireplace. Dorothea wanted me to build her an oven right in the middle of the chimney. I didn't see how to do that, but Master John showed me on another scrap of wood how to do it. It calls for a little tricky stone work, but he said that he would talk to the master mason. I might be able to make two ovens and trade one for the stone work on the fireplaces and chimneys. The oven itself is simple enough, just a box with a hinged door. I'll have to work out a way to make a shelf fit inside.

I had drawn the house with double fireplaces, each one serving two rooms. And I had put the fireplaces in the corners of the rooms so that each chimney could serve more than one fireplace. Only the fireplace in the bed room was separate from the others.

Planning the house filled our evening well. I think Master and Mistress enjoyed it as much as Dorothea and I. Once when I was explaining why I put the fireplaces in the corners, Mistress asked Master John why he had not done it that way. He laughed and said that he didn't think of it.

Then he looked at me and said, "You're going to put me to work yet, lad!"

We just laughed at him.

Mistress got some sheets of parchment from her little writing desk, and a quill and ink. Then she started copying my sketches, and including the changes that we had made as we talked. I watched, somewhat amazed at how clear her drawings were, compared to my rough sketches. I commented on it, and she said that Master John had taught her. I asked Dorothea if she could draw also, and she admitted that she could. She took one of the sheets of parchment, and started drawing on it. She wouldn't let me see what she was doing until she was finished. Then I was REALLY surprised, for she had drawn a picture of what our house would look like from the outside. She had even shown the chimney's in the right location.

So our evening passed quite pleasantly.

Master and Mistress started yawning about the same time. I'm not sure whether they were really sleepy, or just wanted to give Dorothea and me some time alone.

But what ever the reason, they left to go to bed, leaving Dorothea and me to clean up the kitchen and bank the fire for the night. We did all of that, and had a final cup of tea as well, before going to our rooms.

I woke up at my usual hour this morning, hesitated for a minute before deciding to wear my regular clothing, rather than my uniform. I'll put the uniform on just before I leave for the muster ground.

So I put on the same clothing that I had worn yesterday, and went downstairs to see about breakfast. No one else was up yet, (well that's what I thought, but I soon found out differently!) so I started to build up the fire.

But the fire was already built, and the tea kettle was hot. As I was pouring water over the tea leaves in my mug, I heard a giggle from the dining room. Wondering what my little minx was up to, I walked over to the door. Just as I got there, Dorothea opened the door. Laughing at me, she started singing a birthday song! She and Master and Mistress were all singing to me.

I had completely forgotten that today is my birthday! I am 19 years old today.

I saw two small packages laying on my plate and a small roll of parchment. As I sat down, I read on the packages that one was from Master John and Mistress Prudence while the other was from Dorothea. The one from Master and Mistress had a new vent prick combined with a screwdriver for my musket in it, and some cut patches. The patches had already been greased with lard so they would seal better in the bore.

The package from Dorothea had a small locket in it, with a lock of her hair. Not much to someone else perhaps, but precious to me. And the roll of parchment was the sketch that Dorothea had made last night as we were planning our house.

We ate a rather leisurely breakfast, then Master John left for the shop, telling me firmly to stay home this morning. He said that he would come home for lunch early, so that we could all leave for the muster ground together. I told him that I wanted to say good-bye to Tommy, and he said I could do that on the way to muster.

Mistress started clearing the table, and when Dorothea started to help, Mistress said for her not to bother, to spend the time with me.

I guess they really do approve of me. That kind of acceptance makes me feel very good.

What we do in the regiment is frequently boring, sometimes frightening, and occasionally very un-pleasant. Handling the bodies of the dead and wounded is never good. A time or two, I've actually felt sick to my stomach. But we do what must be done. And knowing that Dorothea and her parents are waiting for me here at home seems to help.

So Dorothea and I spent our time together talking quietly, holding hands, sometimes just sitting together, saying the things that need no words.

Shortly before time to leave, I went upstairs and removed my regular clothing. Taking my uniform from where I had hung it, I dressed again as a soldier. Leaving my other clothes on the bed where Dorothea had told me to leave them, I returned downstairs. I got my accouterments from the parlor, and finished dressing. I left my musket hanging over the fireplace until time to actually leave.

There is a subtle change that takes place in my mind when I put on my uniform. It's a little hard to describe. Somehow, it's as if I become a little remote from my surroundings. Almost as if there is a distance between myself and others, even Dorothea. She has noticed it too, and when I came into the kitchen after changing, she commented on it. I agreed, but said that I didn't know how to describe it. Master John had arrived for lunch and he said that he thought it was a form of defense. A way of distancing oneself from the inevitable pain and loss of military life. He said that he had felt the same way, but had spent some time in reflection on the experience. I suspect that he is right, but will have to think about it myself to be sure.

We ate lunch, though none of us had much appetite. Then I got my musket, and we left for the muster ground. We had time to spare, but I wanted to stop at the shop to talk to Tommy for a minute, and at the church to tell Father that Dorothea approved of the arrangements he and I had made for the announcing of the Banns.

Tommy was in the shop making a bayonet when I arrived. He looked up as I walked in the door. I told him that he was doing good work and that I was glad he was there. I thanked him for relieving my mind about how Master John would be able to cope. When we shook hands as I was leaving, I think he actually had a tear in his eye.

Father O'Reilly was standing in the church door as we approached the church. Of course we were not the only folks on the street, for the other men of the regiment were leaving as well.

I told him that Dorothea had agreed with the schedule that he and I had discussed. He chuckled and said that he had rather thought that she would.

Then he asked me to step into the church. We went to the altar rail, I really did not know what he had in mind but I knelt, laying my musket on the step next to me. He went into the vestry, then came out wearing vestments and carrying a monstrance. Taking a host from the Tabernacle, he placed it in the monstrance, then holding it in front of him he came to the altar rail. Using the Monstrance to trace the sign of the cross over me, he blessed me, then placed the Monstrance on the altar.

I have never felt like that before in my life! The only way I can describe it is to say that I was in awe. I felt surrounded by love, and completely safe.

He walked with me to the back of the church, telling me quietly that Dorothea had visited the church daily while I was gone. Usually not for very long, but long enough to say a prayer for me. When he added that frequently Master and Mistress had stopped by as well, I was surprised.

Robert had not yet arrived when we got to the muster ground. I got the horses from the picket lines, and Master John and I began hitching them up as Dorothea and Mistress stood watching. Dorothea had tears in her eyes, but was not crying as she had when I left before.

Just as we were finishing with the hitching, Robert came rushing in. His family was with him, and a young lady who lives near them. I think her name is Rebecca, though I am not sure. Dorothea seemed to know her for they greeted each as friends. Robert apologized for being late, but I told him he wasn't late, it wasn't time to leave yet.

The troops were starting to form up, so we said our farewells and mounted our wagon. Dorothea was crying harder now and I saw that Rebecca was crying also. Hmm . . . I will have to talk to Robert about this!

Just as the sun reached the zenith, Colonel Callahan called the regiment to attention. Making a couple of short announcements, he started the formation marching toward the gate. The townsfolk who were watching were calling good-bye as the troops marched through the gate and into the road. As the last of the troops cleared the gate, Robert started our wagon rolling.

As we turned into the road, I had many things on my mind.

We had been told that there were no British at West Point. But it is right on the Hudson River and there is nothing to stop them from sailing up the river to where we will be on guard. We only have six months left on our enlistments, but we were only at Boston for two weeks and we still had one small brush with the British. Only one man was wounded, but that is far from the usual results. If they do sail up the river, will one demi-regiment be able to stop them? How many will be wounded or killed in such a battle? Will my teamsters all survive?

For that matter, will I survive?

Will British or Royalist marauders attack our homes?

I could not help turning around for one last look at Dorothea and the family, wondering if I would ever see them again.