Valley Forge

Chapter III

Monday, December 6th-17th. 1778

I saw Benny toss a handful of salt over his left shoulder and prayed, 

"You threw it over the wrong shoulder" I mumbled 

He either didn't hear me or He ignored me both likely, Our path took us up to Kingston the new capital of New York, Rather what was left of Kingston after the British burned it a little over a year ago. We joined the company of cleaning out barracks and stables. Dragging out half burned timbers and bits of ruined furniture. 

I attempted to keep my distance from Benny, General Burns assainged us on separate parties. Which helped but he continued his threatening and mumbling I tried to explain to him how I knew but his ears where clogged with cotton and didn't hear me out. He continued to ignore me even if it was to be for the work or genuine help. False stories about my passed surface, saying I'm only here for the money and that I was a spy. All where false but one scared me one said that I was a girl, 

'Did you hear James is a girl!'

' No, Cant be!'

'No its true!'

'That could explain his feminine features and inability to grow a beard!'

I was constantly questioned I always heard it especially at the meal before bed, Eben stayed a true friend but the poison was spilling over from Benny's Heart. The company added a new soldier, Named Ash Edwards, he was skinny and young. Too young to be a drummer boy but he swore up and down he was fifteen. He was a bookish lad constantly reading anything he could get his hands on his face was riddled with smallpox scars. He knew many stories of ancient time he was always delighted telling them around the fire. Benny Instantly didn't like him, I could not figure why. He was always polite and funny, If you took the time to listen to him. But Benny found something offensive about Edwards, and teased him ruthlessly. I made a point about extending friendship to Edwards.

Sleep came hard in Kingston. Id often crawl out of our tent and watch the stars overhead and think about Lee, I wonder how he must be reacting to my absence. We were courting, and I hadn't responded to his letters since October, I wonder if mother told him. One night the Northern Lights blazed the Brilliant Lime green, Calming blue and purple lighting up the streets without fire, as they curved over head. With the stars pointing arrows in all directions of the sky

Benny came out of our tent I pretended I didn't hear him he was quite heavy footed. 

"What are you doing up?" He mumbled groggy i cringed at his voice. I jumped and turned around to face his baggy and red eyes

"Just looking.." I mumbled back trying not to wake the others "What are you doing up" I hugged my knees to my chest

"I heard you up and I was wondering what you where doing considering this is a constant to you I always wondered" He replied I nodded at his response an I kept quiet for a few minutes it felt like an eternity.

"I'm sorry." He broke the silence like glass and it shattered all over the floor

"What?" I replied confused

"I'm sorry about everything." He gulped I heared it.

"Oh-" I mumbled still looking at the sky he came and sat next to me starring at the ground

"I was just angry, I recently got news my cousin was missing. And she and I were really close"

My heart started racing out of my chest it was rising in my throat I couldn't speak I was shocked

"General Lee, Blamed me." 

Confused I completely  forgot everything and said "He shouldn't"

"Why- do you know my family so well.."

"I was friends with your cousin."

"Oh your that James." 'No Im not." Thoughts raced in my head over and over again so I just nodded

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On our third Sunday we were preached at by a minister who blamed our filthy souls on the burning of the city. It didn't sit well with us Benny wanted to go up there and punched him but I held him back, But we had to listen to the whole sermon. If we walked out the captain could have us flogging where salt would be put in our wounds and raw meat to close the wounds. After church we where given half the day off most went to search for treasure in the ruins anything valuable would have been shifted out long before we arrived. So I convinced Eben to stay and dry our blankets out by the fire.

Sergeant Wood-ruff found us there and handed Eben a folded paper. "This came from New Jersey for the captain" He ordered " Hes dining at he hauburgen house on toll road" I looked at Eben he looked at me, A cracked tooth grin came out.  Colonel Hauburgen was said to be the richest man in america 

"Can James come" He asked the Sergeant hesitated "The day is your own so its up to you" I smiled he pulled off his cap and rubbed his head "He is the head of the militia, Most dutch. There a lot different from us Massachusetts" "Yessir" We both replied in joy