Fragile Freedom

The smoke lifted through the air as the houses burned, undoubtedly seen across the border in Dutchess County, New York. Earlier that day 2,000 British soldiers, marching from Fairfield, Connecticut under the command of Willian Tryon, Royal Governor of New York and Major General of the Provincials, had arrived in Danbury. Searching for rebel weapons and supplies, they would start to mark the homes of Loyalists. It wasn’t just that were going to deprive the enemy of guns and food. No, they were going to send a message. The unmarked homes, homes of Patriots would be set on fire. As word reached Colonel Henry Ludington, commander of the local militia, fresh returned from a three-day ride with his troops to shore up supplies, a sinking feeling had to come over him. The Patriots had only recently moved their supplies to Danbury in the belief that they would be safe there. Now they gone. Worse yet though, the veteran of the French and Indian Wars had to know that it was only a matter of time before the British Army