The War Comes to Redding- A Historical Fiction Novel

Background- Jonas Fairchild is a 13 year old boy living in Redding, Connecticut. It is September 16, 1778.

Chapter One -They're Back-

"They're back! They're back!!" Stephen had been running and he could barely catch his breath.

"Sit down" I said, "Here…  sit here." I got up off the log I was sitting on and guided him down to it.

I let him rest a moment then I asked: "Who's back?"

"Soldiers!" he blurted.

"The British?"

Stephen shook his head and took a deep breath. "No! American soldiers, the same ones we saw this summer; they were over by Colonel  Read's near the old wood lot. And this time they had surveyors with them. Why do you think they had surveyors Jonas?"

I handed him my fishing string to give myself a moment to think about it.

"I don't know for sure, but from what I overheard Isaac Platt talking about at church last Sunday, the troops may be coming to Redding for the Winter."

"Isaac and his brother are soldiers in a Massachusetts Regiment, and he said they were heading up to Quaker's Ridge in Pawling, New York later this week to meet up with the rest of General Washington's troops to train and plan out their strategy for the winter. He said there was a good chance he'd be back in Redding late in November if the General got his way."

Stephen looked puzzled: "Redding? You think they're coming here?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is how my novel begins. 

In this novel I pick up where My Brother Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild. Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way of life.

Jonas' father owns and operates two saw mills in town with his brothers. When the army decides on Redding for its winter encampment, the Fairchild family agrees to help the soldiers more efficiently cut their hut lumber by showing them how to make saw pits at each encampment. Little do they know they will be helping the soldiers in many more ways than this as the story unfolds.

More will be shared as I edit my chapters so stay tuned for updates about this very insightful first person narrative of what happened when 3,000+ soldiers and their camp followers arrived to co-exist amongst the Redding residents in the winter of 1779.

Commander in Chief's Orders May 2, 1778

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, Saturday, May 2, 1778

Parole Bavaria. Countersigns Bristol, Burlington.

The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every Sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains; those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendance set an Example to their men.

While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labours with complete Success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good.

At a General Court Martial whereof Colonel Febiger was President, April 27th. 1778, Timothy Flood a soldier in Captain Craige's Company of Light Dragoons tried for desertion to the Enemy and upon Suspicion of being a spy and unanimously acquitted; And the Court determine the money for which the Prisoner sold his horse and the Accoutrements brought with him out of Philadelphia be delivered for the public Use to the Person appointed to purchase horses and Accoutrements for Captain Craige's Company of Light Dragoons.

The Commander in Chief approves the sentence and orders it to take place.

AFTER ORDERS, MAY 2, 1778
No fatigue Parties to be employed on Sundays till further Orders.

The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.

African American soldiers in Redding's encampments

While doing research over the weekend about the number of African American soldiers in Redding's encampments I came across this:

"As for blacks in the Connecticut regiments, we have brigade returns for August 1778 showing 148 black soldiers in Parson's brigade and 62 in Huntington's brigade. At that time the 6th Connecticut Regiment was serving under Brigadier General Parson."

Source: http://www.americanrevolution.org/rees.html 

I found this interesting because both Parsons and Huntington were in Redding for the Winter of 1778 to 1779 and have now started to look a little deeper to see if all 210 Black and Indian soldiers came to Redding.

I'll update as soon as I have more information.