The decision of the council of war
held on the night of March 15, 1776 in
the east room of the Phillip's mansion,
occupied by General Howe, as his head-quarters,
was, as he had predicted in favor
of immediate evacuation of the town.
Indeed, its occupation for any longer
period would have been madness. Provisions
were exorbitantly dear and so
very scarce that hundred's both of the
troops and citizens, rebel as well as loyal
were in a state of starvation; sickness
prevailed to an afarming extent both
among the inhabitants and soldiery, the
latter of whom were great sufferers by
their long confinement in such narrow
limits combined with the constant activity
required of them to prevent a surprise.
Those who went out in boats to catch a
few fish were fired at from the main-land;
vegetables had been for months unknown,
the bakers had no wood to bake their
bread with; and the last batch baked for
General Howe and his staff on the day
our story opened, was from ovens heated
by the wood of the pulpit of the old South

[figure description] Page 006.[end figure description]

broken up and burned by the soldiers
and citizens. Houses were destroyed for
their wood to kindle fires for cooking and
warmth; counters and petitions of ware-houses
and even dwelling houses were
demolished for the sake of the wood.—
Sixteen months the armed occupation of
the town had lasted, and a crisis had
now been reached, beyond which there
was no advancing without ruin or flight.
The army under Washington was closing
its lines upon the place and the shot from
the American batteries fell in the streets
of the town, and one missile from a redoubt
at Cambridge buried itself in the
tower of the church in Brattle street,
which was situated in the very heart of
the metropolis. Every moment's delay
was dangerous.

The council of war was fully alive to
the exigency of the situation of the garrison,
and it was not requisite that General
Howe should smile or Admiral Shuldam
swear (for the Admiral was also
present in council) to produce the result
to which wisdom and prudence directed
them.

`Now,' said General Howe, as the
council broke up, and the officers composing
it were about to take their leave,
`now that it is the deliberate opinion of
the Council of war that it is expedient
for the safety of the garrison as well as
for the ultimate success of his majesty's
arms in America that the plan be forthwith
evacuated, it falls upon me to devise
some means whereby this last resort
may be achieved without disgrace to our
flag and danger to the army! The
Americans now command the town and
are erecting batteries at points that will
in three days have cannon mounted on
Noddle's, and the Islands in the harbor
so as effectually to interdict the passage
of our ships. By the fire of this artillery
they will be able even now to interpose
the greatest obstacles to the embarkation
of our troops. How to obviate this inconvenience
becomes now a question of
infinite moment. You have decided
that it is best to evacuate the town tomorrow.
I will between this and the
morning try and hit upon some scheme
by which the danger of our movement
will be lessened! I trust I shall have

The officers of the council unanimously
left the further arrangement of the retreat
to his well known judgment, and
departed to their several quarters to prepare
in haste and secrecy for the embarkation
of the ensuing day.

For some time after their departure
General Howe walked up and down the
hall, where he had taken leave of his officers,
buried in profound thought. At
no period of his military career had he
been placed in a position so delicate and
trying. Ten thousand men, not to speak
of the honor of the royal arms and his
own reputation as a general, were depending
on his single mind for safety and
life. It was true he had in the emergency
called a council of his officers and
divided the responsibility of his task with
them, receiving their unanimous sanction
to the proposed step. But, with all this,
he felt that the whole weight of the duty
and responsibility, of the odium at home,
of the shame with his foes, rested upon
him.

In the open door stood a young man,
a mere youth, in a neat blue naval undress,
and a gold laced cap beneath his
arm. The evening wind, as he bared
his temples to the cool air of a remarkably
warm spring day, blew aside his dark
brown locks, and displayed a forehead
fair, where the tresses were lifted, but
browned otherwheres as if by the tawning
breezes of the ocean. He was about
nineteen years of age, of a medium stature
but compactly built, with a carriage
firm and daring. He was, what is to be
sure, of little importance save in young
females, very handsome; but his beauty
was of a manly and courageous character,
as if he had been familiar with dangers
and deeds that carved upon his face
the decision of his active and fearless
spirit.

`Neal,' said General Howe, addressing
this youth, but without lifting his eyes
towards him or stopping in his walk up
and down the hall.

`Sir William!' he responded, in the
tone and manner of one on the most intimate
social terms with the British general.

`I would have you go forthwith to the
town house and see if the selectmen are

[figure description] Page 007.[end figure description]

them there of a Sunday evening, general.
These New England folks are great observers
of the Sabbath. I am more likely
to find them at prayers.' This was spoken
with a lively air.

`And I warrant you they pray not for
the King either! Go and find them each
and all, wherever they may be, and say
to them that I desire a special interview
with them to-night on matters touching
the present crisis of affairs!'

`I will go, sir! Do you then wish my
services further to-night?'

`Not if you are sleepy?'

`I am not sleepy,' answered the young
man slightly coloring; `but I should like
to have leave to be free from duty 'till
morning.'

`Well, you have it, Neal. But it seems
to me you are a great lover of your leisure
of late! Where do you spend your time?
Not in your quarters; for I have frequently
sent for you there, after begging leave
of absence, but neither shadow nor substance
were to be found!'

`Yet when I was really wanted in my
regular service of duty have I not been
easily found and always present?'

`Yes, that is true! But—' and
here the English general fixed his eyes
full and searchingly upon the frank face
of the young man who, though a sailor,
acted as his aide-de-camp. He then turned
away saying, `I will not doubt him!'

`You seem to look upon me strangely,
Sir William?'

`It is nothing!'

`You have heard something against
me!'

`Yes, to tell you the truth, Neal, I
have!'

The youth blushed and bit his lip with
a look of vexation. He dropped his eyes
and seemed embarrassed.

`What have you heard, sir?'

`It is scarcely worth regarding, as it
does you so much injustice. It has come
to my ears from an annonymous source
that I must be on guard against you, for
you were strongly affected towards rebellion;
and that if I wished proof of it,
to have you watched when you ask leave
of absence and see where you go, and
how you pass your time!'

If General Howe had been looking full
in the face of the young man while speak

or and a look of confusion that would
have confirmed suspicions of his want of
loyalty.

`If you do not have full confidence in
me, I will return again on board the frigate
and resume my duties under Admiral
Shuldam!'

`No, no! I trust you. Have I not
shown that I do, by making known to you
what I have heard. Had I doubted your
loyalty, I should have let you departed
whither you desire to go, and sent a spy
to follow you; for the information I received
would make me to believe that
you have secret intercourse with the enemy!
'

Neal dropped his glove upon the floor
as it were by accident, though it was done
to conceal, while in the act of stooping
for it, the conscious expression of his
face.

`Who could have given you this information,
Sir William?'

`It came to me in writing without signature.
I have no doubt it is from some
enemy who would do you an injury! Do
not look so annoyed. You have my unimpaired
confidence. Haste to fulfil your
mission to the selectmen, and urge them
to come and wait on me without delay!'

General Howe then entered the room
in which he usually received his officers
and transacted business, while the young
man placing his gold-laced chapeau upon
his head, descended the lofty flight of
freestone steps leading to the street, and
took his way rapidly towards the centre
of the town.

General Howe crossed the hall and
rung a small table bell. A youth entered
to whom he said. `Follow Neal unseen!
If he quits the town, return, and let me
know!'

As the British general re-entered his
room, a door at the other side opened and
a lady came in. She was a woman of
noble stature and of a very elegant appearance,
with feature pleasing, but too strong
for beauty. She was about thirty seven
or eight years of age, with black hair and
eyes, and an aspect and air, not unlike
that supposed to characterise Lady Macbeth.
Her dress was a black satin with
deep lace collar and ruffs, and her hair
without powder. Her face wore a look
of anxiety approaching distress.

`What is this Sir William that I have

[figure description] Page 008.[end figure description]

overheard touching suspicion of Neal's
loyalty. What know you against my boy?'

`Nothing, Isabel,' answered General
Howe composed, yet kindly, as if he respected
the feelings of her who addressed
him the inquiries. `You have overheard
all I know!'

`And you do not believe it! For this
my heart is overjoyed! I know he is
true and loyal! It is the work of an enemy!
What letter did you receive, and
when did it come to you?'

`Here it is! You see it has no signature
and it written is a disguised hand,
evidently.'

As General Howe spoke, he took from
a little drawer by the side of his desk, a
folded note and placed it in her hands.

With hurried fingers she opened it and
read with surprise and alarm as follows:

`Near the Camp at Cambridge;
March, 6.
Sir:

A commander-in-chief cannot be too
cautious whom he employs about his person
and makes confidants of his plans and
purposes; especially in the position you
are in, surrounded by enemies whom you
have no means of knowing are other than
they seem. The writer need not apprize
you that the romantic notions of liberty
and independence have seized upon the
minds of more than one youth in the
British army and that they have become
disloyal to their king and taken arms with
the rebels! It will not therefore so much
surprise you to learn the disaffection and
disloyalty of one near your own person
and related to you by ties of consanquinity.
I allude to Neal Nelson, against
whom I deem it my duty to put you on
your guard. I recommend to you to observe
closely his conduct, and watch him
when he absents himself from head quarters.
It is easy for a traitor who has the
pass word to go out and in the city at
will. A word to the wise is enough; and
General Howe is known not to be wanting
in wisdom.'

This is a most extraordinary communication,
brother,' said the lady with looks
of surprise and indignation. `It is a plot
to ruin Neal! I do not credit a word of
the base insinuations! I am glad it has
no effect upon you! You did well not
to believe, or take any notice of it!'

`I do not altogether disbelieve it,' an
swered General Howe in a serious manner.

`Do you then doubt Neal's loyalty?'
she asked with astonishment.

`I have seen nothing in him—that is
in his conduct that could have raised in
my mind the faintest suspicion of his integrity,
if this letter had not come to
hand! But since I have received it I
have thought upon it a good deal, (for
you see it is ingemously worded and well
written, and emanates from no vulgar
source,) and several free sentiments of
his, expressed in conversation from time
to time in the past, have flashed upon my
recollection; which, however, I did not
notice then, for I had no suspicion of his
fealty and attachment to the King, American-born
as he is! But as I have since
reflected upon these remarks of his, I
have become forcibly impressed with the
belief that this letter ought to have weight;
and since then I have marked Neal closely.

`And what have you discovered?' asked
the lady with deep emotion.

`Nothing new to confirm suspicion;
but you are aware he has the last three
months absented himself from quarters a
good deal, especially at night. This I
should not have taken notice of but for
this letter! Besides we should not forget
that Boston is his birth-place! This
fact is important in our consideration of
the warning in it!'

`The letter is a false and malicious
tissue of insinuations,' answered the lady
warmly. `But if you suspected Neal why
have you trusted him!'

`That I might watch him closely and
ascertain if he was false!'

`And you have found nothing to confirm
your suspicions?' she said with a
look of certain triumph.

`Nothing farther than in his request to
be absent again to night, and which
doubtless you overhead, as the rest of
our conversation reached you!

`And why have you told him of your
suspicions? Is this the way to confirm
them? It is strange!'

`I have thought it best, if he is really
inclined to disloyalty to let him know
that I am not wholly ignorant of his derelection
and to give him an opportunity of
stopping where he is! If I had openly
charged him with being a spy or traitor

[figure description] Page 009.[end figure description]

and he were really guilty, with his high
proud spirit he would have taken the
first occasion, if I saw fit to leave him at
liberty, to go over to the enemy! I
have told him of the letter to caution
him if he be really guilty, and have continued
at the same time my confidence
to give him an opportunity of saving his
honor!'

`It is possible, but barely possible,
Sir William,' said the lady thoughtfully,
`that Neal may have acted imprudently
and perhaps have given ground for this
letter; for I am not ignorant of his attachment
to his native country. But I
trusted, and still believe that it is an attachment
to it only in its loyalty not in
its revolt. It is possible he may have
said or done something he should not
have done; but I am sure it has been
through thoughtlessness and not from intention!
'

`Who do you think the warning letter
came from?'

`I have not the most distant idea!—
An enemy of Neal's!'

`I think rather a friend of the King,
who has discovered something in Neal
which his duty has led him to communicate
to me in this manner!'

`How can it be a friend to the King
when it is dated from Washington's
camp!'

`Examine the date. It is near the
camp at Cambridge. The letter is probably
from a legal tory who resides near
the rebel post; and if I should clearly express
all my suspicions, sister I should
say that Neal has been seen by him out
of the city!'

`Impossible!'

`It is not unlikely. If my nephew has
been delayed at all, depend upon it he
has seen the inside of the rebel camp!'

`But what motives could have carried
him there?' asked the mother of the
young man who was the subject of the
conversation. `Have you any suspicion
of his being proved a traitor to your
councils?'

`I cannot think that! No! He is too
honorable to act the spy and report what
has transpired here!' said Sir William
Howe warmly.

`Then what has he done? What reason
has he had for going to the main-land?
I am sure that the letter is un
worthy of attention and that some one
who does not like him, taking advantage
of the fact of his being an American has
made this attempt to destroy him! Perhaps
some one in the garrison itself.'

`It may be so. I shall, however, prove
Neal! It is due to him to give him a
chance of manifesting that he is innocent,
and it is due to ourselves that we
know whether we have a traitor within
our walls!'

`God grant he may prove innocent!'
cried his mother with deep emotion. `If
he is a traitor, William, a mother's
bosom shall not shield him from the punishment
to which you may see fit, as a
military commander, to deliver him up!
But I have faith in his loyalty!'

`I trust he will give proof of it,' answered
the English General with sincerity.

`When he returns will you send him
to me?'

`Oh, whither can my boy desire to go!
God shield him from evil ways!'

`I shall learn whither he has gone?'
said Sir William Howe with an impressive
manner.

`Have you sent one to observe him?'
she asked tremblingly.

`Yes!'

`Then is my boy saved or lost this
night,' she cried with deep feeling as
hearing steps of men ascending from the
street she left the room.