21 Chapter 21- Coming to terms (1765)

The following days after the revelation my family life was strained. In my opinion both my grandfather and mother slightly diminished things were rock. 

William was mad at his mother because she revealed a fact that he wanted to keep hidden for as long as possible. Martha was mad at Grandfather because he acted so brashly with the letter. And I was mad at almost everyone for keeping this a secret from me. 

It seemed that everyone kept their distance from each other and we didn't speak much with meals taken separately and most of our time was spent in pursuit of our own goals.

After around 15 days of this, I was sitting with Eli playing our war games. We were playing a scenario that I designed, where a group of motley militiamen and some professional soldiers led by capable generals were battling a professional European army with less than fantastic leadership. John was doing battles like this to do two things. Keep his mind off his family drama, but more importantly, he was writing a book. 

This book was titled "A Militiaman's Guide to Victory," it was written with a combination of knowledge gained from many places. He planned to have it published across the colonies to teach the average minuteman how to fight a war against a foreign power. It gave strategies that were effective to European line infantry, taught tactics like riflemen targeting officers, using wooden spikes to dissuade cavity, and most importantly to never engage drilled soldiers with militiamen on the battlefield but to instead use them in a campaign of constant skirmish. This doctrine he developed which he decided to call constant skirmish was all focused on keeping foreign powers by keeping them inside fortified places when a proper siege couldn't be levied by never properly engaging the enemy in open warfare but dangling the prospect in front of them. 

This would be done to draw them out where light infantry and militiamen familiar with the local terrain could engage in hit-and-run attacks weakening the enemy morale and command by targeting officers. Then they would either attack the British in a pincer move once the enemy was sufficiently weakened or force them to retreat into the fortified locations. Most of the knowledge he gained was by writing letters to colonial officers who fought the French and asking what tactics worked well against themselves and their enemies. He used the simulations in the war-games as an outline for the book plans to test the strategies and see if he could refine them further and if any knowledge gaps could be filled by the usage of his gift.

Both he and Eli were currently in the strategy testing phase of his plan and were taking notes on how militiamen could be used to skirmish along roads. So far he has been able to narrow down the strategies to the ones that work and they are now only refining the plans more.

During the middle of the mock battle, Eli looks up and speaks, "Hey John, why are you writing this book? The French were expelled from the continent and the natives won't follow these tactics."

Giving a small sigh John looks over at his friend, "Eli, believe me, or don't but in the next thirty years we will be at war."

This shocks Eli as he doesn't believe that could ever be, "Why would there be war, the French have been expelled from Quebec and the Spanish won't battle the English. Who would we possibly fight?!"

"We will maybe fight other colonies, but most likely we will be at war with the crown and her allies."

"Britain, we would be at war with Britain." Eli says shocked and with disbelief, "Why would we fight a battle with our suzerain."

"Taxes," John says with a sigh of annoyance, "over the past year the crown has levied a series of taxes and regulations upon our colonies that have had negative effects on our local economy. While this would not be an issue in England, here in the colonies we have no representation in the British parliament levying taxes upon us and this has caused many people to feel like their natural rights are being infringed."

"If the people are upset then why won't the British just give us people in parliament? That would solve the problems." Eli asked with a hopeful tone.

I sigh again, while Eli was intelligent in most things and close to a savant in military planning he was woefully under-skilled in matters of diplomacy and politics. 

"That would solve the problems but the truth is the English don't want us in parliament for two reasons, one is that based on our population we already number around two and a half million, and the island of Britain has just under ten million by most estimates meaning we would gain immediate political power due to population. But more than that they don't respect us."

Eli looks confused, "Don't respect us, what do you mean?"

"Many in England and especially the upper class that make up parliament view the American colonies as backward and primitive compared to the mainland and as such they look at its people are lesser as well. Many don't think we are worthy of representation so they will give it, thus conflict will spiral and eventually lead to war, most likely one to either restore our rights, grant us autonomy, or full separation and independence from Britain."

"Our nation," Eli says, remembering how often John talks about how he wishes the colonies were more unified this makes him think for a second, "You plan to go to war and unite the colonies together."

"Maybe," is all that John says before he makes a move in the game and they get lost in the simulation. 

A few hours later after Eli left for the night John was in his room at his desk compiling his findings for his book when he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," he said still working at his desk. Hearing the door creak open slowly he turns around and sees his grandfather standing in the doorway with a pensive look on his face.

Pointing to a chair against the wall William speaks, "May I sit," he asks with noticeable hesitation in his voice. 

"Sure," I reply with equal parts nervousness and hope. 

Grandpa slowly walks over to the chair and takes a seat, we are there in science before it gives a long exhale and speaks, "John, I am sorry for how I acted with regards to Mr. Franklin."

Narrowing my eyes a bit at him, "Did mom tell you to say that to me?"

With an audible gulp before he speaks he responds, "Partially yes, but I also wanted to try and make amends with you."

Nodding a bit I follow up," I completely understand your anger and dislike of Mr Franklin but why did you not want me to learn who my father was?"

Pinching his nose for a few seconds he says in a soft tone, "Because, you and your mom are all I truly have. He nearly took away your mom from me and if you and he knew then I would lose you as well. All the money I have is worthless without the family I have left."

This response was not what I expected, while grandpa would often show emotion this remorseful and vulnerable side was not something I had often seen.

"I understand that, but what you did still wasn't right, I deserved to know who my father was, and it was unfair of you to keep me from that knowledge. But to tell you the truth, I don't want much to do with him."

Some modest shock crosses across Williams's face as he looks back toward John, "You don't?"

"Not really, he cheated on his wife and then left, I already have a father figure, and that's you, I don't need some guy I never met," John says in a frank tone of voice. 

The two spend the rest of the evening before they say goodnight and both head to bed, feeling a weight off of their chests.

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Hello there, it hasn't been that long since the last chapter has it. I plan to post one chapter a week from now on provided no unforeseen circumstances arise. I am already a good way through writing chapter 24. I don't feel comfortable putting a paywall up for those next chapters because it just doesn't feel right, but if you want to support me on Patreon here is the link,

https://www.patreon.com/HydroG3Writing