The Minute Boys of Long Island : $b A story of New York in 1776 as told by Ephraim Lyttle

Description

"How to speak with the dead" by Sciens is a spiritualist guidebook written in the early 20th century. It likely outlines practical methods for communicating with spirits—how to conduct séances, test mediums, recognize trickery, and approach occult phenomena with both openness and skepticism—serving curious readers who want structured, “scientific” procedures for spirit contact. The opening of the provided narrative introduces three patriotic Long Island lads—Ephraim Lyttle (the narrator), Abraham Decker, and Samuel Garratt—in 1776 as they dub themselves the Minute Boys and use their home-built sloop Swiftsure to aid the American Cause amid Tory-dominated neighbors. After witnessing New York’s uproar over Governor Tryon’s plot against Washington and clashing with young Tory Luther Stedman, the boys foil Luther and an accomplice who try to seize their sloop to help a suspected Tory escape, then turn the prisoners over to General Putnam. Putnam praises the boys’ spirit, warns of Tory reprisals, and advises them to lie low on the New York side; they remain aboard the sloop, witness the city’s fervor on the day the Declaration is read, and watch the king’s statue come down. Lieutenant Winterbottom then summons them to Putnam, who assigns a risky mission: reconnoiter the British fleet off Sandy Hook while posing as fishermen. Outfitted with provisions and gear, they shake off suspected pursuit by detouring to Gowanus for clams, slip through the Narrows into Gravesend Bay, and confront the vast enemy armada. To maintain their cover, they come alongside a British frigate, surrender two bags of clams, and answer questions as harmless fishermen—setting the stage for further perilous spying. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Subjects

• New York (State) -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
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