“Would you think it strange, your excellency, if they were not lenient?” Ruth inquired.
“Why should they not be, Miss Newville?”
“Would they not be likely to regard those who support the king as their enemies?”
“Why should they? You have not taken up arms. Of course, General Ruggles and Captain Coffin might be regarded as obnoxious, and would have to take care of themselves.”
“But will they not say we have given moral support to their enemies, and is not moral support likely to be as heinous in their sight as the taking of arms? If we ask them to be lenient, will they not inquire if the king’s troops were merciful when they set Charlestown on fire?” Ruth asked.
A flush came upon the face of General Howe. Although he commanded the troops at Bunker Hill, he had not ordered the burning of the town. General Gage was responsible for that act. He felt a little uncomfortable over the question, for the latest newspapers from London told him the people of England condemned the destruction of the homes of so many inhabitants.
“I am free to say it was rather hard on them thus to have their homes destroyed without a moment’s notice,” he replied.
“Will not,” Ruth inquired, “the provincials think his majesty’s forces were wanting in leniency when they recall what was done at Falmouth a few days ago, where the inhabitants were given only two hours to remove from the town? Not one minute over that would Captain Mowatt grant them, though women went down on their knees before him. Was it not inhuman for him to fire bombs among the panic-stricken multitude, setting the buildings on fire, destroying the homes of five hundred people? If his majesty’s officers do these things, what may we not expect from the provincials, should it ever come our turn?”
“We will do what we can, Miss Newville, not to have it your turn.”
“I do not doubt it, my lord; but I was thinking of possible contingencies.”