Young Henry Buford remembered when joining the Rebellion against Parliament had seemed like a decent idea. The son of a Bostonian merchant, Henry and his father both joined the militiamen in 1774 following the "intolerable acts" which had severly reduced their incomes. Henry was willing to fight, not for liberty, but for his money.
1775 started well enough for the young fighter. Following victory at Concord, Henry felt almost invincible. And Bunker Hill, while not a victory, also inflated his ego. These battles made him feel as though he was an unstoppable warrior, who fought for a greater good. His optimism would be dashed only months later, as he was assigned under General Montgomery to conquer Canada. The fall of Montreal enboldened him, if only momentarily. Soon the cold sapped away his patriotism, as he watched his fellow soldiers wither away in the hunger and cold. The battle of Quebec resulted in the death of his father and of General Montgomery. The rebels fled the cold North, and Henry longed to be home again.
But he could not return home, thanks to the continued British occupation of Boston. Henry joined with Washington's Army, and in March, to Henry's surprise, the town fell without a shot being fired. At that moment Henry longed to leave the Army, but one of the first things he learned about Washington was his disdain for deserters. And so Henry remained with the Continental Army fearing death otherwise.
In July, 1776, the Continental Army celebrated the declared independece from Britain. Henry, who at first only joined the war for monetary reasons, now felt a deep hatred for the British. In 1775, Henry would have seen independece as foolish. But after his father's death, anything short of British annihilation would not satisfy him. He and his friends drank to freedom and independece, and swore to oversee the death of the King.
Celebrations did not last long, however. In early August, General Howe landed in New York City, and out flanked Washington's smaller force. For the rest of the year the Continental Army ran from Howe, and with every mile, the force became smaller and smaller. The fire that Henry felt had left him by December as the ruins of the army crossed the Deleware River. Henry expected to be further harassed outside Philadelphia, yet the relentless forces of Howe had stopped in Jersey. Everything seemed to be getting better, until news reached the army that Charles Lee had been captured, and his army surrendered. That was the last straw for many of the soldiers, including Herny. At night, as Washington slept on a plan of retaliation, the army slipped away, never to be reformed again.
In January, Washington was captured by Hessian forces, and Philadelphia followed days later. It was clear that the revolution was over. As a result, Congress was captured by loyalist forces in Baltimore on the 18th of January. All of them were hung in Philadelphia two days later. The royal governors returned to their positions in the following months. Some resistance in other colonies remained, but it was disorganised and crumbled in the following months. The British, however, were unwilling to let Boston remain unpunished for their part in starting this war. At first the plan was to fine Boston for the damages, but a glory hungry commander named Burgoyne felt that Boston had lost it's right to existance. After months of debating amongst Generals and Politicians, Burgoyne led a force of 8,000 men to ensure Boston burned. He left New York on the 7th of April.
News spread quickly to Boston, and the city scrambled to put a defence together. They called to the countryside and other colonies for help, yet none would aid them. Many had grown agrivated with Boston and the costly bid for independence. Others feared that they would also suffer the wrath of England if they helped now. By the time the British arrived, Boston could only muster around 3,000 defenders.
Henry was one such defender. All other people had left the city, yet he and his fellow comrades stood strong. They realized that if they fled, they would lose their possessions. If they lost, they would all die. Henry knew the battle would be lost, but he intended to finish this fight. He had lost everything in rebellion, and he had nothing more to live for.
Starting on Aptil 21st, roughly two years after the rebellion began, the Siege of Boston lasted 27 days. Initial assaults by Burgoyne's men failed to take the city, and so a naval blockade was ordered. As time went on, the men within Boston began to starve, and artillery pounded them from the hills surrounding the city. On the 18th of May, 1777, Burgoyne surged into the city, slaughtering any of the rebels he found. Any men who surrendered were captured, put on trial, and sentanced to hang. Henry was one such man, and he was hung on the 3rd of June.
Boston was then torched. No buildings remained. A massive uprising accompanied the razing, but it was swiftly put down by Burgoyne. Those who evacuated the city went to live with others in other towns, and for nearly 50 years the region was untouched by new settlers.
1775 started well enough for the young fighter. Following victory at Concord, Henry felt almost invincible. And Bunker Hill, while not a victory, also inflated his ego. These battles made him feel as though he was an unstoppable warrior, who fought for a greater good. His optimism would be dashed only months later, as he was assigned under General Montgomery to conquer Canada. The fall of Montreal enboldened him, if only momentarily. Soon the cold sapped away his patriotism, as he watched his fellow soldiers wither away in the hunger and cold. The battle of Quebec resulted in the death of his father and of General Montgomery. The rebels fled the cold North, and Henry longed to be home again.
But he could not return home, thanks to the continued British occupation of Boston. Henry joined with Washington's Army, and in March, to Henry's surprise, the town fell without a shot being fired. At that moment Henry longed to leave the Army, but one of the first things he learned about Washington was his disdain for deserters. And so Henry remained with the Continental Army fearing death otherwise.
In July, 1776, the Continental Army celebrated the declared independece from Britain. Henry, who at first only joined the war for monetary reasons, now felt a deep hatred for the British. In 1775, Henry would have seen independece as foolish. But after his father's death, anything short of British annihilation would not satisfy him. He and his friends drank to freedom and independece, and swore to oversee the death of the King.
Celebrations did not last long, however. In early August, General Howe landed in New York City, and out flanked Washington's smaller force. For the rest of the year the Continental Army ran from Howe, and with every mile, the force became smaller and smaller. The fire that Henry felt had left him by December as the ruins of the army crossed the Deleware River. Henry expected to be further harassed outside Philadelphia, yet the relentless forces of Howe had stopped in Jersey. Everything seemed to be getting better, until news reached the army that Charles Lee had been captured, and his army surrendered. That was the last straw for many of the soldiers, including Herny. At night, as Washington slept on a plan of retaliation, the army slipped away, never to be reformed again.
In January, Washington was captured by Hessian forces, and Philadelphia followed days later. It was clear that the revolution was over. As a result, Congress was captured by loyalist forces in Baltimore on the 18th of January. All of them were hung in Philadelphia two days later. The royal governors returned to their positions in the following months. Some resistance in other colonies remained, but it was disorganised and crumbled in the following months. The British, however, were unwilling to let Boston remain unpunished for their part in starting this war. At first the plan was to fine Boston for the damages, but a glory hungry commander named Burgoyne felt that Boston had lost it's right to existance. After months of debating amongst Generals and Politicians, Burgoyne led a force of 8,000 men to ensure Boston burned. He left New York on the 7th of April.
News spread quickly to Boston, and the city scrambled to put a defence together. They called to the countryside and other colonies for help, yet none would aid them. Many had grown agrivated with Boston and the costly bid for independence. Others feared that they would also suffer the wrath of England if they helped now. By the time the British arrived, Boston could only muster around 3,000 defenders.
Henry was one such defender. All other people had left the city, yet he and his fellow comrades stood strong. They realized that if they fled, they would lose their possessions. If they lost, they would all die. Henry knew the battle would be lost, but he intended to finish this fight. He had lost everything in rebellion, and he had nothing more to live for.
Starting on Aptil 21st, roughly two years after the rebellion began, the Siege of Boston lasted 27 days. Initial assaults by Burgoyne's men failed to take the city, and so a naval blockade was ordered. As time went on, the men within Boston began to starve, and artillery pounded them from the hills surrounding the city. On the 18th of May, 1777, Burgoyne surged into the city, slaughtering any of the rebels he found. Any men who surrendered were captured, put on trial, and sentanced to hang. Henry was one such man, and he was hung on the 3rd of June.
Boston was then torched. No buildings remained. A massive uprising accompanied the razing, but it was swiftly put down by Burgoyne. Those who evacuated the city went to live with others in other towns, and for nearly 50 years the region was untouched by new settlers.