Governor Gage's mansion. It was torn down in the 1930s.
Chapter 34
Geneva, Switzerland
I WASN’T SURE how to bring Dr. Benjamin Church’s spying into
the novel. A private in the Army would have little or no reason to meet Church.
It confirmed my decision to have General Gage make James his orderly. With his
closeness to Gage, James would see all the major players and events from James’s
point of view.
I know I will make some historical
mistakes because I didn’t dig deep enough, or I wasn’t aware that I should dig
more deeply.
Originally, I had thought of having James
billeted with a family whose father was a Sons of Liberty member. James then
could spy. I gave up on the idea of a love interest where James would have been
billeted. Although there were legal provisions for this practice, it was almost
never implemented. I had the choice of using a historical inaccuracy that would
boost the level of conflict or to go for accuracy. Accuracy won.
I didn’t want to make Church a major
character but his providing information to Gage was important, thus I have
James sitting in on Church-Gage meetings. With three plots going, the novel
doesn’t need a fourth.
The historical Church fascinated me. He
was born in 1734 into a prominent family. That he was a student at Boston
Latin, the same school my daughter attended two centuries later, made me smile.
During that period almost every leading well-educated patriot went to Boston
Latin before going on to Harvard.
Not only was Church a Sons of Liberty,
he worked with the Committee of Supply that bought guns, food and other
equipment for the patriots. He reported this to General Gage, which allowed me
to add it to the story.
One of his letters to the General was
intercepted. He was punished and put on a ship that disappeared in the
Caribbean Sea in 1778. I probably won’t use that because it comes after the
novel ends.
As General Gage gets more and more
desperate to find the cannons that were stolen from under his nose and the
pressure from London increases. Church’s spying serves a vital role in the
novel as it did in reality in 1774-1775. If Gage hadn’t worked so hard to find
those damned cannons, the battle at Lexington might never have happened. Would
there still have been a revolution? Would I have grown up singing “God Save the
Queen” instead of saying the “Pledge of Allegiance."
Chapter 35
Boston, Massachusetts
December 1774
DR. BENJAMIN CHURCH
carried himself like someone who knew his own importance, whether real or
imagined. He did not wear a wig but pulled his wavy hair into a low ponytail and
tied it with a black velvet ribbon.
His
clothing was immaculate. His shirt was either new or had been bleached with
urine for a virgin whiteness. Every wrinkle had been removed.
Recognized
as an excellent doctor, he had some reasons to think well of himself, which gave
him good standing with the locals, but less so with the pro-English government.
General
Gage briefed James on the man before they joined him in the reception room. “He
comes from, if not the highest echelon of local society, he is well placed. His
family had arrived with the Mayflower, his grandfather had been with the force
that killed the Wampanoag Chief, King Philip.
“His
father was a successful merchant and a deacon of the Hollis Street Church.”
“It
isn’t just his pedigree.” Gage adjusted his own topcoat. He wore civilian
clothes. James wondered why Gage decided to forgo his military uniform.
Gage
continued, “His academic credentials are impressive: Boston Latin School then
Harvard University. He studied medicine in London and when he came back here,
he became a respected surgeon. If my wife or children needed a surgeon, I’d
trust him. As an informer, I’m far less sure.”
Gage
finished the last sip of his tea and put the cup on the tray. He went to the
door but before opening it and added, “His membership in the Massachusetts
Provincial Counsel gives him standing as a patriot, but he might be feeding us
false information. Let’s go meet the man. I’m curious what you think.”
The
reception room had a couch and stuffed chairs upholstered in a baby blue silk
fabric arranged around a coffee table. Smaller chairs were upholstered in a
variety of blue fabrics. An oak bookcase went from floor to ceiling and a
ladder was attached to help readers reach the top three shelves. The books were
mainly law, military and religious texts bound in fine leather.
When
the General entered the reception room followed by James Holloway, the doctor showed
no deference other than to stand, considered polite regardless of status.
Pleasantries
were exchanged. The maid served tea.
“I
suggest it be the two of us, no disrespect to you, Private Holloway,” Church
said.
Holloway
was astounded at this challenge to the General.
“Holloway
is here to take notes and write reports of my meetings.”
“Do
you want to discuss your medical history in front of a low-ranking soldier?”
The
General frowned. “James, would you wait outside, please.”
James
wasn’t sure what to do next. Should he eavesdrop? Take notes? Walk away?
Medical? The General showed no sign of illness. The doctor had asked for the
meeting. A doctor doesn’t instigate an appointment for his patients.
The
solution?
Eavesdrop.
The
reception room had two doors. One went to the hallway, which was how Dr. Church
had entered and would leave by. The other was attached to the dining room. As
he entered the dining room, Mrs. Gage appeared.
“May
I help you, James?”
“I
don’t know how I can take notes of the meeting. I left my paper, ink and pen in
there.” He pointed to the door between the dining and reception rooms.
Mrs.
Gage indicated that he should move a chair next to the door. She disappeared,
and in a moment returned with paper, a pen and a full ink well which she put on
the chair. “Sit on the floor,” she said. “Use the chair as your table.”
Even
with his ear against the wood, it was difficult to hear what the men were
saying.
He
picked up words like Safety Committee, powder, Cambridge, and storage. Villages
outside of Boston were mentioned. He also heard the word cataract that would
have seemed more out of place had James not read that the doctor had found a
way to remove cataracts. None of the Gages had cataracts as far as he knew,
although he had never thought about it.
The
voices moved further away. The door to the reception area opened and closed.
James
wasn’t sure if he should rejoin the General, who probably didn’t know where he
had gone when he had left the meeting. His fears were for nothing because the
General came into the dining room.
“Were
you able to hear much?”
“Some.”
James showed the General his notes.
“Let’s
not worry about documentation. Let’s just say Dr. Church is a valuable ally,
but we can’t let on that this is the case.” He turned to leave.
“Good thinking
to come in here to eavesdrop, Holloway."