Gunpowder and Tea Cakes: My Journey with Felicity

I tell Felicity we should stay. Messing around with gunpowder doesn’t sound like a good idea. Felicity turns to Ben, who nods and hurries away with Ezra. The soldiers’ leader is bellowing for attention. He says his name is Captain Brandon. He wears a battered, black tricorn hat and his boots are scuffed. He says the governor sent marines in to steal our gunpowder. We want it back. A few people cheer, but a few mutter and shake their heads. Someone yells out that the gunpowder belongs to the royal government, so the governor has every right to it. Felicity and I exchange glances. The Loyalist who yelled out is brave to speak out. Captain Brandon asks him if he has every right to, why did his men act in the dead of night?

People around us murmur in agreement. Captain Brandon continues to say that Dunmore has left Williamsburg defenseless. But his men are ready to stand tall for Virginians. Being in in the middle of the action makes me feel like a true Patriot, proud to demand independence. I yell “Huzzah” with them. There are whispers that Peyton Randolph is here. I ask Felicity who that is, and Felicity responds that he’s a Patriot leader. He represents Virginia at the Continental Congress. Everyone admires and respects him.

A tall man is making his way toward Captain Brandon. He carries a walking stick and looks elegant. Sunlight glints off his black buckle shoes and the buttons on his plum-colored coat. He wears a wig with dark curls shaped like sausages. Slowly, he addresses Captain Brandon, and says there’s no reason for them to be here. He has a petition to present to the royal governor, asking for a return of the gunpowder. Captain Brandon responds the time for petitions is past. They must demand what is rightfully theirs. Mr. Randolph assures that he also wants the gunpowder returned. But our cause won’t be served by violence. We must find a way to demonstrate why we believe Governor Dunmore’s actions are unfair. It’s our moral duty to try, for bloodshed and angry have never solved a problem.

I know, of course, that the Patriots did fight a war against the British to win independence. If the Patriots continued to try with words, they may never have succeeded in becoming independent. But I keep my mouth shut.

Mr. Randolph reminds Captain Brandon that Lady Dunmore and her children are inside the palace. I didn’t realize that Governor Dunmore had a family. Suddenly, I don’t feel like storming it as much.

Mr. Randolph insists Captain Brandon’s men aren’t needed at this time. We see him hesitate, until he finally nods. Mr. Randolph turns and walks toward the palace, and we all follow him. A servant in fancy clothes walks through the Palace gate and announces that the governor will meet with Mr. Randolph. I assume the meeting will be private, but Felicity whispers to me that it’s the governor himself.

Felicity and I slip to the front of the crowd to watch. The Governor wears tall gleaming boots and a scarlet coat with gold trim. he is followed by a young black servant and an elderly white man. The Governor looks furious. He demands to know what’s going on. I glance at the Palace and see a curtain move in a third-floor window. A small face appears. I nudge Felicity and ask who that is. She says it must be Susan, the governor’s daughter.

Mr. Randolph bows and says he’s brought a petition, with a request to return our gunpowder. Everyone is silent, straining to hear. The Governor says he removed it to keep it safe. He heard rumors of a slave uprising. An angry rumble ripples through the crowd. A man shouts out that if he heard rumors of a slave revolt, it doesn’t make sense to hide what they need to defend themselves. Mr. Randolph insists that the governor restores our confidence.

The Governor is silent for a long pause. Finally, he says he’ll pay for the powder taken. People start whooping like crazy. The Governor gave in!

But the governor stares at the crowd, before finally saying that if one grain of gunpowder is used against him or his family, he will arm every slave with a gun and burn Williamsburg to the ground.