America: 50☆Stars (Vol. 1)

Episode 23: Yo, Let's Steal Their Cannons!

August 23, 1775 ~ New York City, New York

The darkness of night covered Manhattan Island like a black shroud over their heads. The only way they could see were the few who carried the torches of liberty in hand. They were led by the small, yet determined flames to the island's southern tip, careful not to cause too much of a commotion. The surrounding buildings were busy with their own affairs, however, not everyone was on their side, nor was the enemy too far away from where they were heading. Stealth was the key to their success in this undercover operation. The only question was whether they could pull this off or not.

The HMS Asia, a 64-gun Royal Navy warship, guarded the quiet harbor. New York spotted the lively lights on the British ship with his small, brass telescope. A couple of redcoats aboard the ship. Ten... Twenty... Forty... There was a good number of them, he decided. He turned his telescope back to the island's southern tip. Their goal was about fifty lengths ahead of them: the Battery that held twenty-four British cannons from what he was told. On the exception of the warship, the Battery was basically abandoned — a careless mistake on the redcoats' part. It all seemed coincidental, too easy in his opinion.

York couldn't believe what he was doing. He was volunteering with a group of traitors to steal weapons from his British guardian. If England were to find out what he did, no doubt a brutal punishment would come his way. To be associated with the likes of Massachusetts would ruin his reputation as a royal colony. Then again, was he ever faithful to England?

"Hey," the young man next to him shook his shoulder, bringing him back to the task at hand, "what did you see?'

York scowled at him. "A terrible mistake."

He chuckled on what he thought was sarcasm. "May I have a look at this 'terrible mistake'?" York handed him the telescope. The man peered into the telescope with a stupid grin on his face. "Ah, a terrible mistake! A terrible mistake holding twenty-four more to be exact." He tossed back his telescope.

"Hamilton, are we seriously doing this?"

The twenty-year-old didn't need to answer him. The smirk on his face was enough to tell York he had no intentions on wimping out. After all, his fellow volunteers were counting on him to lead them through this night. Backing out was never an option. This was a mission to help the patriots in the war. This was an opportunity to make himself stand above the crowd. This was a story about his raid on British cannons. And he was going to see it through to the very end.

"Listen up, men." He pointed in the direction of the Battery. "No redcoats are on the ground, but the Asia is waiting for us in the nearby water. Therefore, we must be silent, but quick as well." He took a few steps ahead of the group. "Let's go. Mulligan, you lead with me." He gestured to his friend as he and the volunteers discreetly made their way to the Battery.

York followed not far behind them, still pondering over this 'terrible mistake' he, Alexander, Hercules, and the others were committing.

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"Hurry, men! Secure them and get them out of here," Alexander Hamilton encouraged his men to speed up the process.

Volunteers hurried to tie the ropes to the cannons' heavy bodies before pulling the heavy artillery out of the Battery, watchful of the Asia who had yet to notice the commotion going on behind the trees and bushes of the island. It was a labor-intensive task as hard as the metal the cannons were made out of. In groups of four to five men, they were able to slowly move the cannons down the dirt path. Their excited breaths heated the warm night as they pulled the rope with all their might. Sweat poured down their faces. They cursed at the difficult task, but they were nevertheless determined to get the job done.