When I got there, there were mostly farmers practicing loading their arms. They were trying to do it in under two minutes. Also others were practicing their aim and inside an office, men were talking about where they were going to anchor the American ships. They had a map out on a desk and were pointing out areas that ehy thought were good places and giving reasons why.

I walked in and a man told me to sign my name on the sheet of paper over on another desk. After I finished signing my name, the same man came over to me and asked if I had ever been in the militia. I said I had not.