Jeff Shaara: Rise to Rebellion pericope from book information
By your actions here, you have demonstrated not only to Massachusetts, but to England, that Boston is not alone. A valiant army has arisen, has gathered around Boston to contain the growing threat from the British soldiers there. But, in fact, it is not an army at all. It is simply us. It is private citizens who recognize that no man in this continent has the luxury of sitting home surrounded by the comforts of family, while close by his own countrymen are denied that very comfort. And so some of you have offered your own, men from great distances shouldering muskets, volunteering to fight if necessary, to fight because they know that if Boston submits to the outrages, is conquered by the enemies of our liberty, then nothing, nothing will discourage the snake from uncoiling, from winding its way into the heart of every city, every farm , every village, every home.