July 27, 2011 Williamsburg, Grandpa on Trial, Ryan joins Revolutionary Army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yteJ_L4cmlw

We went back to Williamsburg again the next day. We attended a colonial court session and grandpa was on trial for withholding the asset of an estate from a creditor. The father, a friend of grandpa's character, had died and left his rifle to his son. But he owed money to the shop owner and the shop owner wanted the rifle. The judge was very fair and although grandpa was found guilty and the rifle had to be relinquished, the judge said he would pay out of his own money so the son of the deceased friend could have his father's rifle as his legacy.

Next we went to the platform across the street from the Raleigh tavern. A lot of townspeople were gathering there. A captain in The Revolutionary Army asked grandpa if Ryan could join the Army as a powder boy. Grandpa said, he was a Tory(what a troublemaker grandpa is) but he would let Ryan decide for himself. The captain then asked Ryan and promised to pay him five dollars a year and 2 acres of land for his services. Ryan reluctantly agreed and the captain told him to report to the camp tomorrow.

Soon after Ryan enlisted we heard a speech encouraging us to support the war effort. As that speech was ending the British came marching into town and we all went down the road to the HOUSE OF BURGESSES were General Benedict Arnold urged us to give up the fight and give in to the British. His reasons were good. He told us our representatives in the new government were corrupt and not giving good support to Gen.Washington and our forces could not hold out another month. Some of the citizens argued with Benedict Arnold and there was much enthusiasm to support the Gen.Washington and boos and hisses for Benedict Arnold. We then all returned to Raleigh's Tavern and George Washington himself rode up on his horse to tell us about the victory at Yorktown and that the British were beaten.

Later that afternoon Ryan and GG reported to the army camp for training. We learned how to march, hold our rifles, mount our bayonets and lunge – HOO HA!! We inspected our tents. Five men to a two-man tent. The tents were very hot and crowded. GG got in trouble when grandpa called her onher cellphone. She tried to cover the noise of the phone by coughing, but after she denied the call Grandpa called AGAIN, and this time she was caught and chastised. Our sergeant called us the AWKWARD SQUAD.