The Hand of Providence

The Hand of Providence: Volume 4

Book Series: Prelude to Glory
Author:         Ron Carter
Publisher:     Bookcraft
Publishing date: 2000
Pages:           678
Number of Chapters: 32

Volume 4 spans five months: May-October, 1777

Chapter 1
May 1777
We begin in Boston where Billy's mother, widow Dorothy Weems and her daughter Trudy, age nine, are doing fine. They work hard to keep food on their table by making candles to sell later in the year and Trudy is a big help to her mother in both this family business and the daily household chores. They get the letter Billy wrote at the end of Volume 3 and share it with their good friends, the Dunson family, who live a few blocks away. Oldest son Matthew Dunson is off at sea fighting in the war. He and Billy have been best friends their whole lives.

Chapter 2
Billy Weems and Eli Stroud are in upstate New York near Albany on their way to Fort Ticonderoga under orders from General Washington as advised by Eli, who was raised Indian and is concerned by the rumor that England will utilize local Indian tribes against the Colonials.
Suddenly, the two men are attacked by five Mohawk warriors. The fifth slashes Billy's left shoulder blade with his tomahawk before Billy takes him down with several punches. The rest are left for dead as Billy and Eli take cover in an Indian burial ground and make camp without threat of a revenge attack for all Indians believe burial grounds to be sacred. They can stay here as long as they want and Eli knows this area for the Hudson River Valley is where he was raised by the Iroquois. 
Eli is a good friend. He helps Billy sew up the wound on his back and insists he rest and regain his strength while Eli forages in his native forest for natural healing remedies: cobweb to stop the bleeding, a deer for extra protein and the liquid from the gall bladder to wash the sutures. Eli washes and mends Billy's torn shirt and uses forest materials to make a sling to hold Billy's arm to prevent tearing the stitches in his back.
While Eli was off hunting and gathering all of these items, Billy had several "Disney Nature Program" moments as he leans, resting against a log, listening to the animals and birds of the forest as instructed by Eli. He sees a raccoon, a panther and feels a connection to nature.
When Eli gets back, they discuss the similarities between the Indian vs Judeo-Christian stories of God and the devil being brothers before the creation of the world and man's stewardship over the Earth. Basically, this chapter is pretty much all "Green is Good" and "Let's Return to Nature" message.

Chapter 3
In Quebec Canada, British Major General and governor, Sir Guy Carleton, just got fired from his position for failure to take Fort Ticonderoga, located just south of Lake Champlain in the states, from American troops. A new General "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne has just arrived from England to replace him. He will take command of the army, lead them south to finish the job Carleton didn't do. Showing impressive strength of character, Carleton shakes Burhoyne's hand, congratulates him on his new position and wishes him luck, warning him of the raw, untamed wild country with fierce Indians and Americans who show no mercy in fighting an army totally unprepared to travel through such impossible terrain. Carleton writes his own letter of resignation as governor of Canada and returns to London.

Chapter 4
May 1777
In Boston, Mary Flint is looking for her father but tragically learns he died making the journey north when his ship was attacked by the British who boarded, shot everyone and burned the ship leaving no survivors. Still unwell from her illness: sallow, thin, pale with a deep, racking cough, she returns to her room at the Inn and cries herself to sleep. She wakes thinking of Eli and Billy, the last two people on earth who care about her existence and resolves to find Washington's army and join them as a nurse. She might even have feelings for Eli.

Chapter 5
Hard not to smirk with Carleton who witnesses Burgoyne's attempts to raise an army with all the needed supplies, animals, wagons, ect. but keeps failing because no one believes his venture will succeed. That's wild country he's planning to cross with nearly impassable forest and no roads. "Gentleman" Johnny refuses to listen. He's also foolishly bringing the woman and children of the officers on this "18th century safari" with no idea how ridiculous his carefree attitude is.

Chapter 6
June 1777
Billy and Eli are ready for their next step in their plan to find and stop the Indian movements. They will build a sweat lodge and spend twenty-four hours inside fasting, meditating, in true Indian/Iroquois fashion as Eli will demonstrate. They do this in order to gain greater inspiration to accomplish their goal but first, Eli makes one last perimeter check to insure they won't be disturbed while Billy stays at their camp to have one last "Disney Nature" encounter. This time with a mother bear and her cubs who do him no harm and go on their way while Billy marvels at his lack of fear and growing empathy with nature. He tells Eli about it who nods his praise.
They enter the sweat lodge intending to stay until their minds are clear and only going out when the hot rocks need more water for the steam. It's like their own personal sauna. They emerge late afternoon the next day, refreshed, renewed, reborn, to eat the fish Eli caught earlier and bathe in the nearby stream. They say their evening prayers. Eli prays in Iroquois while Billy offers his own silent prayer to "Almighty God." Just as they fall asleep, Billy gives Eli the idea to make a wampum belt. That's the answer!

Chapter 7
June 1777
American General Arthur St. Clair is stationed at the deteriorating Fort Ticonderoga with many sick men and dwindling supplies in these miserable conditions. It seems the Continental Congress has forgotten them since they successfully took this fort. 
Billy and Eli come knocking, bringing two captured British spies which St. Clair questions and agrees they are lying about being American travelers from Montreal on their way to Boston. The two men warn them the British are coming from the North intending to fight and retake the fort.
St. Clair exchanges war stories with Billy and Eli as all three men were in the area with General Washington when he was forced to retreat in New York and they were also there when he had his victories in Trenton and Princeton. At the request of St. Clair, Billy and Eli leave to scout the British armies. Eli removes the stitches from Billy's shoulder which is now healed. St. Clair will begin the wampum belt for them by having some men collect seashells and drill a small hole in the middle of each while they're gone. 

Chapter 8
Mary Flint is en route to Morristown from New York City but before she leaves she must bury the body of her beloved father which she brought back from Boston, next to her mother in the family grave at the Broadhead Mansion estate currently occupied by the British. No one bothers her as she performs the solemn task, alone. Her next stop is the family lawyer or barrister. Seems no one believes a strange, unrelated British doctor would leave an American woman such a large amount of money. A distant cousin of Otis Purcell in England is challenging the note so Mary can't draw against it. This male cousin across the sea is accusing her of using "seduction" and her womanly charms to take advantage of a dying man. Mary is horrified at such a lie but, the lawyer warns, there's not much they can do with a war on. If they were to take the case to court it would have to be a British one. He promises to do all he can. Mary thanks him and leaves.

Chapter 9
Outside the walls of Fort Ticongeroga lives a widower from Scotland who once served in the British army but now lives alone in a solitary cabin keeping his farm and wanting nothing but to be left alone. One night, Indians appear and drag him off, in canoes, up the river overnight to arrive the next day at a British camp to be personally interrogated by General Johnny Burgoyne who finally made it with his traveling caravan. He needs information on the Fort so he can plan his attack.

Chapter 10
June 1777
Billy and Eli are back at Fort Ti to report their scouting expedition. The British numbers include the Hessians, Indians and Canadians-7,000 total! They have ships, horses, wagons and lots of ammunition. General St. Clair is worried about the choice he must make: sacrifice his men and lose the fort or retreat and be called a coward. Either way, they lack both the strength and ammunition to defend this crumbling structure against the enemy. Not worth it. He asks Billy and Eli if they'll go find Joseph Brant, the Indian leader, and talk to him, persuade him to call off his Indian warriors thus weakening the British.

Chapter 11
Thirteen pages of exposition by the author about the history of the Iroquois and white men and how Joseph Brant came to be. This sets up the reader for the meeting between American General Nicholas Herkimer, a native of the region southwest of Albany, New York along the Susquehanna River and Joseph Brant with all his Indians. The meeting is to determine if peace between whites and Indians will continue when fighting comes between the two white men tribes. What will happen to these people whose land this was before white men came? Will they all live in peace? Brant can make no promises. This is still their land and they side with the British who have promised to return it to them after the war. Joseph Brant takes his gifts and leaves with his men.

Chapter 12
June 1777
Margaret Dunson's mother's intuition is tingling again! Something is not right with Caleb. He's sixteen, restless, moody, too quiet spending too much time alone in his room when not working at the newspaper print shop. The family has dinner and settles for the night but Margaret can't sleep. At 3am she hears Caleb quietly stealing away to join the army, just as she suspected he would do. She runs to the open front door to throw her arms around her son and sob farewell.

Chapter 13
Mary is delayed on her journey to Morristown where Washington's army is stationed thanks to the freight company she arranged passage with who are also bringing supplies. The orders were slow in being filled and Mary was forced to spend almost all her remaining money on food and lodging while waiting. She is a good passenger on the boat upriver and doesn't complain or ask any special treatment as the only woman in the company. When they arrive at their last leg, Mary is out of money to continue the journey while the captain is dismayed to learn one of his drivers had to leave early and couldn't wait for them. Now they're short. Mary steps forward and offers her services as payment for the rest of her fare. The men are astonished at how expertly she handles the wagon and team. They get to Morristown and Mary learns Billy and Eli are okay but away on Washington's business. She is given employment as a nurse. 

Chapter 14
"Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne travels in style. He has a huge tent, lots of elegant furniture, a conference table and even a huge portrait of King George III hanging on the canvas wall. Now that he's only three miles away from Fort Ticonderoga, he's convening with his fellow British and German officers in a war council to decide how to take the fort-siege or just march right in and attack? Siege.

Chapter 15
General St. Clair is aware of the British sitting right outside his doorstep, so to speak. He must work and plan fast to do what's best for his men. The British successfully take the sawmill which the Americans abandoned while the Indian forces were distracted by the barrels of rum which they greedily set upon, becoming too drunk to be of any use in the battle for the sawmill and later the Fort.

Chapter 16
July 1777
Billy and Eli are way out in Syracuse, New York (just south of Lake Ontario) in the finger lakes region canoeing on Lake Cayuga and trying to stay hidden from any Iroquois scouts who, if they caught our friends, wouldn't hesitate to torture them before slowly killing them in the most painful way possible. Eli tells Billy he won't let that happen to him if he gets caught. Billy says the same. Their bond of friendship (bromance?) is now solid. They find the Indian encampment and observe Joseph Brant among them. English gifts of rum and jewelry are being taken advantage of. It's a party over there. So when two Indian scouts, already tipsy, get too close to their hiding place, they hide and eavesdrop. Eli translates. Thanks to the two Indians, they know the best place and time to meet Brant and try to negotiate. They will get their canoe from its hiding place and wait.

Chapter 17
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the fourth of July, St. Clair fires the cannon at Fort Ti. The swampy land surrounding the area is slowing the British down. Americans (not Billy and Eli) capture three deserters from the British army. Two are Hessian who don't speak much English while the other is British but won't talk. They fool him by sending a man into his cell who pretends to be a captured Irish Tory spy with a flask of whiskey which he shares with his fellow prisoner which loosens his tongue and St. Clair gets all the info he needs. True story.

Chapter 18
Two sharp eyed British officers discover it is possible to get British cannon on top of a distant hill across the lake in order to lay siege on the Fort. They succeed. St. Clair is in big trouble and he knows it.

Chapter 19
July 1777
Washington's army is pulling out from Morristown, re-charged, ready to face the British. The only men being left behind are those too sick to travel. Nurse Mary Flint is also staying. She tearfully asks her new friend, Sergeant Turlock, (Small world, isn't it?) if she'll ever see Billy and Eli again, since they still aren't back yet from their extended scouting trip. Turlock reassures her. If you love Eli, you'll see him again. Turlock silently remembers his own unrequited love-a plain homely girl he loved from afar. When she was dying from smallpox, she called him to her bedside to whisper she'd always loved him too, but too late now! Turlock swallows his emotion and promises Mary if she sees the two men, he'll pass on the message that Mary is back and anxious to see them both again.

Chapter 20
Caleb is in Morristown. Just arrived. He's young, fresh faced, green, very naive, full of romantic notions of army life-thrills, adventure, excitement, the camaraderie of soldiers and warriors untied in a common quest. A punch in the face wakes him up in a hurry when he accidentally offends a hot tempered Irishman with arms like barrels but a kind "Mr. Miyagi" character, an Englishman named Charles Dorman, helps bind his wounds, takes Caleb under his wing and begins teaching him how to fight. (No info in the narrative that Dorman had any accent, only that he was a champion prizefighter in England. We'll learn more details about his background in the next book.)

Chapter 21
There's grumbling among his men at such cowardice but St. Clair feels a rush of the spirit and knows his only option is to abandon and give up Fort Ti and retreat with his men. Just like Washington did in NYC, they work all night to evacuate and when British come knocking the next morning the Fort is theirs. 
Over in England, King George III gets the latest news of General Burgoyne's victory and is ecstatic. Over in France, Ben Franklin continues to bide his time while being the toast of the town, appearing at every social event, charming everyone except the heads of state, including King Louis, but just you wait...

Chapter 22
Under command of General St. Clair, General Ebenezar Francis bravely brings up the rear guard, turns, and makes an impressive stand against the pursuing British. He is killed in battle, his men scatter in panic. 
In Philadelphia, John Adams and the rest of the Continental Congress are not happy with General St. Clair and the loss of the Fort. St. Clair is attacked in many newspapers for what he did. Others take his side, knowing he had no choice but abandon the Fort and retreat, saving many lives.

Chapter 23 
Billy and Eli are still scouting in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. They found a great hideout in a cave in a large hill overlooking the camp of British, German and Indians. Night falls and they camp in their cave, roast a rabbit over a small fire and Billy writes another letter he'll never send to Brigitte. Eli says nothing.
Next morning, with the sun at their backs, they can use the telescope to count more men and supplies arriving daily. They watch as the great council of Indians join forces in an official ceremony with the British. Eli groans as years of peace among the Indians is now broken as the hatchet once long buried is "taken up" in war. When night falls, Eli sneaks into the camp, knocks out the Indian standing watch and as heavy rain falls and lightning flashes to add to the drama, Eli lets himself be seen by Joseph Brant. When another burst of lightning flashes, Eli is gone. His "calling card" moment is enough to rattle Joseph Brant.

Chapter 24
A giddy Burgoyne is ready to keep going, take more Patriot holdings but his supplies are running low and the rough country is taking its toll on wagons and men. Meanwhile, General Benedict Arnold is here, ready to make life even worse for Burgoyne. With his men, he'll tear up bridges, block roads and do everything he can to slow them down. 
In retaliation, Burgoyne decides to unleash his Indians on the area. That'll show Benedict Arnold! He rallies his Indians by making a big speech, mistakenly thinking if he simply tells them not to kill or scalp any white men (or women) they'll obey him. They don't. 
His plan backfires, badly, when the Indians raid a small town and a lovely young girl, famous for her beautiful long red hair (five feet long), who fell in love with a fine young man in Burgoyne's army is killed and scalped. She and her young man were very much in love and engaged to be married. The young man is horrified when the triumphant Indians come marching back to his camp waving the unmistakable scalp of his beloved. He goes mad with grief at the irony. This true story spread all over the colonies. Everyone now hates the British, especially "Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne.

Chapter 25
August 1777
Back in Boston, life continues as normal for the Dunson family. Margaret keeps house while Brigitte continues to work at the bakery while battling depression over her unrequited love for her British Captain, Richard Buchanan, who doesn't answer any of her letters. After dinner, the twins in bed, Brigitee and her mother sit togther in comfortable silence in the parlor. Brigitte reflects on the latest news about Fort Ticonderoga and the terrible thing that happened to that poor girl, Jane McCrae, and so many people have already died, like her father's good friend, Tom Sievers. (*Continuity error!* Tom doesn't die until 1779. see Vol. 1 Our Sacred Honor Ch 28 p. 588) or displaced by the war like Kathleen and her family. In case the reader missed Volume 1, the letter Margaret received from Richard gently breaking it off with her daughter is reprinted here. Brigitte still believes Richard loves her and it'll all work out, somehow.

Chapter 26
This chapter is all boring politics. Washington is camped somewhere along the Hudson, keeping an eye on Howe. Hearing about what happened up north at the Fort, he writes letters in defense of General St. Clair who did the right thing. 
A party of New Hampshire townspeople gather to discuss the local Indian raid and avenging Jane McCrae. Money, food and supplies are raised to aid the fifteen hundred men who just signed up to join the fight against the British. Their elected leader, General John Stark, will take them to meet Burgoyne who will be sorry he ever set foot in their state. 

Chapter 27
Fort Stanwix is the the next American post that Eli and Billy are helping. Colonel Peter Gansevoort ordered them to go out and scout the area. They make their report. They've also brought a captured enemy Indian. With Eli translating, they learn the strength of British General St. Leger who is planning to attack and take this fort but help is also on the way as three men enter, as part of an advanced party to report their small army is on its way to help defend the fort. Eli volunteers to go out with these men and meet the approaching army, warning that with Joseph Brant and his Indians out there capable of ambushing them at any time, he better go along. Permission is granted. Billy goes along too. As predicted, the party is attacked by Indians. Billy and Eli fight their way out with a small group of men. The leader of the approaching army, General Nicholas Herkimer, is badly wounded. Nevertheless, he directs his men to prop him up so he can continue to shout orders and encourage his men but it's no use. The Battle of  Oriskany is over.

Chapter 28
Billy and Eli arrive at the camp of General Herkimer who is troubled after seeing Indians divided and fighting for both sides. They bring news of the battle they were just in and explain to Herkimer why the extra men he was promised never showed up-a breach in the line of communication. Herkimer dies a few days later from his leg wound. Eli and Billy hear about it while out scouting, looking for Joseph Brant. They find General Benedict Arnold and his camp. Eli sees they have a retarded man and gets an idea which Arnold agrees with. They send this man with a friendly Indian over to Joseph Brant's camp because such men are believed by the Indians to have special powers of foresight and prophecy. If this man tells them they will loose the battle against the great George Washington and Benedict Arnold who are coming with many men to fight their British enemies, these Indians will lose their nerve and retreat. The plan works. According to the chapter Notes: Arnold using a mentally slow man (accompanied by his mother and the friendly Indian) to send a message to the enemy is a true story while Eli remains a fictional character.
Anticipating this, Billy and Eli follow Brant and his retreating Indians, waiting until they make camp for the night to approach. Boldly, bravely, they walk into the camp with their rifles and the wampum belt held high as signs that they come in peace. Brant recognizes Eli from that stormy, rainy night in Chapter 23. Eli makes a big speech in the Mohawk and Iroquois dialects so all will understand, reminding Brant about the Indian legend that George Washington cannot be killed by man so he will live to become the father of a great nation. The Americans have many men who want to be free. This is important to the white man. Brant should lead his people away and not get involved. He ends his speech and they take their leave.
Later, Eli tells Billy the words he spoke were not his-they were inspired by the Almighty! Billy agrees. This is based on a true story because, for unknown reasons, Brant took his Indians and just up and left. Author decided to take some license and have it be Eli who inspired them to give up and get out.

Chapter 29
Tories, loyal to the British, take up arms against their fellow Americans in the Battle of Bennington near the Vermont/New York border. Billy and Eli are NOT involved. These are the Americans from Chapter 26, led by John Stark who attack General Burgoyne's army and are victorious. Burgoyne is in shock over the beating he just took.

Chapter 30
Several miles north of New York City, up the Hudson River near the Vermont boarder lies the tiny settlement of Saratoga. Billy and Eli surprise two American scouts who take them to their new commander, an older, ambitious man who replaced General St. Clair after he lost Fort Ti, a man who secretly wants the power of George Washington and the glory of defeating the British so he can be elevated to hero status: General Horatio Gates. Born in England, retired military officer who married, came to America and bought a small plantation in Virginia near George Washington's (thx Wiki!) now he's joined forces with his new country but he doesn't play fair and its pretty obvious he hates Benedict Arnold. After hearing Billy and Eli 's report of how brave General Benedict Arnold scattered the Indians and weakened Burgoyne's approaching army, Gates merely dismisses them, "Thank you, that's all."
Later, Arnold arrives with his troops and Gates sends him to scout a good place to meet Burgoyne and build fortifications. Arnold sends Billy and Eli instead. They return with all the information: where Burgoyne is, how many men he has and how strong. Arnold takes this report to Gates who only cares that Arnold sent out two scouts without HIS authorization. He's also changed his mind about moving his camp. Let Burgoyne bring the fight to them. Frustrated, Arnold leaves the room.
Meanwhile, Burgoyne has problems of his own. His men are deserting him! 

Chapter 31
September 1777
This is a very LONG chapter, 46 pages! This is the Battle of Saratoga, Parts I & II, at a place history will later refer to as Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights. Among the farms, creeks, fields and woods, General Burgoyne has drawn his battle lines while the Americans have drawn theirs. America makes the first move as brave men rush the field, not realizing they are attacking the very center of Burgoyne's large army which engulfs them and both sides get confused.
Just then, amidst the whistling musket balls, General Benedict Arnold rides his great horse all around his retreating army, organizing them back into ranks.
And where is General Horatio Gates? Safe back at his camp, drinking coffee and listening to the distant battle. When Arnold comes galloping up, demanding Gates send reinforcements which he will gladly lead into glorious battle and turn the tide, Gates DENIES HIM. He forbids Arnold to lead any men into any battle. General Learned will take a few men and go in his place, Arnold is grounded to his tent where Gates can keep an eye on him.
Arnold chomps at the bit but obeys his commanding officer. Later, another officer rides in with the latest report, Learned and his men got lost on their way to the battlefield, just as Arnold predicted he would because he doesn't know the territory. They need help. Arnold leaps to his feet. To the rescue! Send me! Gates forbids him. Furious, Arnold sits back down.
In the thick of the fighting, Billy and Eli hold their own. Nobody blinks as Eli takes careful aim and shoots at a mounted British captain, leading his men into battle. This particular captain's wound is fatal. He falls off his horse and is carried away by a few of his fellow British. (Brigitte will hear about this next year in December as recounted in Volume I, p 564.) The Americans retreat into the woods, outnumbered by the fresh Hessians and also because Arnold and Learned weren't there to properly lead them.
Several nights later, Burgoyne meets with his fellow Generals and decides to retreat. Arnold is furious at Gates for deliberately excluding him from his written report on the Battle of Freeman's Farm. He did all the work while Gates is taking all the glory!
October 7, 1777, the battle resumes. This time, Arnold openly defies Gates, mounts his horse and leaves to join the fighting. He leads the men, which includes Billy and Eli who cut a path through a bunch of Germans. Billy fires, point blank, at one who turned out to be an important officer. Arnold takes a hit in his upper leg as his horse is shot out from under him. He lives. Burgoyne sends a message of surrender to General Gates who accepts.
Now that the battle is over, Billy suggests to Eli they resume the search for his sister. There's a New Hampshire regiment camped right over there. Let's start there. They hit pay dirt. As luck would have it, one Captain Benjamin Fielding turns out to be the son of the very man they're looking for, the late Reverend Cyrus Fielding, who did indeed take in a blue-eyed, four year-old orphan girl named Stroud eighteen years ago and HE ended up marrying her four years ago. Her name is Lydia. Eli gasps. Iddi. Of course! Ben knows who Eli is, Lydia never forgot the little brother who couldn't say her name who might still be alive. She's back home on the farm and they have two kids. She's been searching for Eli all these years as well. Praying every night for his safe return. Eli will make arrangements to go with Ben to his home, ASAP.
Finally, over in France, Ben Franklin gets the good news of Burgoyne's defeat. The French officially sign on to help America in the war against Great Britain. The date is December 1777.

Chapter 32
October 1777
Somewhere in Vermont, Billy and Eli along with Ben Fielding arrive at his humble log cabin in the big woods. Billy witnesses the tearful reunion between long lost brother and sister, reunited at last after eighteen long years. They are both invited to dinner, of course. The meal is very pleasant. The talk afterwards is delightful. Eli's niece and nephew are polite and well behaved, a little in awe learning they have a cool Uncle who grew up like a wild Indian who promises to teach them all about it. Ben reads aloud from the Bible and they kneel for family prayer before retiring to bed.
Billy and Eli sleep in the barn. They agree Ben and Lydia's life is one all men should strive for. Their home is like a heaven on earth. Lydia is the best of wives and women, a blessing to her home.
Next morning, Billy makes a graceful exit. Eli will stay awhile, spend some much deserved time with his new family, help Ben get things ready for the winter until the New Hampshire regiment calls him back. Eli will come back and rejoin Washington's army, eventually. He tells Billy to say hi to Mary if he happens to see her. Billy promises he will and the two men say farewell.

THE END