Forge

Curzon rides in the supply wagon as the army marches toward Albany. He describes the burgeoning relationships among the men in his unit, but runs afoul of John Burns – a lazy, scheming, racist lout. Burns and Curzon fall into an argument one day, and nearly come to blows when Burns insists Curzon give him his boots. The fight is stopped by the sergeant, and things settle down, but in the days that follow, Burns sidles up to and flatters the sergeant. Before long, it’s Burns who’s riding in the supply wagon, and Curzon who is marching with the rest of the men.

They arrive in Kingston, at that time the capital of New York. The city is decimated, bombed out, burned, and in ruins. Still, Curzon and his friends manage to keep their spirits high despite the growing rumors and negativity spread by Burns. That night, their captain is set to dine with the colonel of the local militia, a remarkably wealthy man named Hardenburgh. Caleb allows Eben and Curzon to accompany the captain to the party. The two explore Hardenburgh’s mansion, excited to nip food. It’s in the kitchens, however, where Curzon comes upon Bett and Baumfree, two of Hardenburgh’s slaves. When Hardenburgh finally comes in contact with Curzon, he first mistakes him for a slave. Realizing that he is an enlisted soldier, Hardenburgh demands that Eben remove Curzon from his house… fearful that his presence might “stir up [his] negers” (63).

Realizing that his presence will only outrage Hardenburgh further, and potentially endanger Bett and Baumfree, Curzon leaves. Eben catches up to Curzon and finds him horrified. He attempts to rationalize the scene that has just transpired, insisting that the colonel isn’t the type of man – wealthy, white, etc. – to debate or discuss such matters with a black man. Curzon expresses his disgust with the situation, and clearly outlines the hypocrisy of a revolution fought for “freedom” by a culture that owns slaves. Eben cannot comprehend the distinction. The two fall into a terrible argument, and by the end are no longer friends.

Curzon recedes into himself in the following days, thinking longingly of Isabel. Burns, meanwhile, recognizing their schism, begins to flatter Eben. The army continues their march southward. It’s eventually decided that they will make camp at Valley Forge. In the intervening days, we see just how far into disrepair the Colonial army has begun to fall. Their clothes are tattered and sodden. Their shoes are rotting. The men are tired, sick, unfed and cold.

As they begin to make camp, Caleb confesses to Curzon’s unit that the meat the army had supplied to feed the soldiers has spoiled. Greenlaw, a fellow soldier, suggests the officers share their food with the soldiers, but is immediately silenced. Moreover, it’s been decided by General Washington that the soldiers will begin building cabins in the morning; in the meantime, they will have to sleep in their tents. As Curzon falls asleep, he hears the soldiers begin to chant in their outrage, “No meat! No meat!” (78).

The following morning, as the men are assembled to begin their work, it’s clear that things have gone from bad to worse. A fellow soldier, Brown, whom Curzon had begun to be friends with, has fallen very ill. A washerwoman from Virginia is banished from camp for attempting to steal food. The men are ordered not to help her, essentially condemning her to death.