“I think I have heard my father speak of you; he was a lieutenant under Captain Stark at Ticonderoga. Perhaps you remember him,” Robert said.
“Indeed I do remember Joshua Walden, and a braver man never wore a uniform in the Rifle Rangers than he.”
The major of the king’s troops laid down his book and approached with outstretched hand.
“Well, I declare! If here isn’t my old friend Putnam,” he said.
There was mutual hand-shaking between Major Small and Colonel Putnam, who had fought side by side under the walls of Ticonderoga and at Fort Edward.
“And so you are here to enforce the Regulation Act,” said Putnam.
“It is because you are rebellious,” Small replied.
“You are attempting to subvert our liberties by enforcing unrighteous laws. The Colonies exhibited their loyalty to the king when we stood side by side to drive out the French. We taxed ourselves to the utmost. England has repaid but a very small proportion of the cost. We were loyal then, and we are loyal now; but we never will submit to tyranny,” continued Putnam.
“The people of this town threw the tea into the dock, and now they must pay for it. Those that dance must settle with the fiddler,” Small replied.