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The Tree That Saved Connecticut
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Description:
Excerpt
ANNOUNCER
In the year 1661 Connecticut received from the hand of Charles the Second a very liberal charter granting to the people of the colony almost complete self-government and to the colony an enormous stretch of territory extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. For fifteen years the colony prospered under the generous charter. Then in 1676 trouble arose with the Governor of New York, Sir Edmund Andros, about the boundary line between the two colonies. Andros demanded authority over all the land west of the Connecticut River. Governor Treat of Connecticut refused to submit. Andros threatened to seize the disputed land. Treat defied him. Andros fitted out three ships, embarked a military force, and set out for Saybrooke, Connecticut. Treat ordered out the militia, garrisoned the fort at Saybrooke, and waited.
Our first scene is in the fort on the morning of July 9, 1676. The Governor is at breakfast when he hears—
VOICE [distance]
Sail, ho!
ALL [closer]
Sail, ho! Here they come; call the governor [etc.]
ALLYN [coming in]
Governor! Governor! The ships are coming into the harbor!
TREAT
Are you certain they are the ships of Governor Andros?
ALLYN
Come and see for yourself, Governor.
TREAT
Come along, then. Lieutenant Allyn, how many ships did you see? [crowd noises swell up]
ALLYN
Only one, sir. I didn't wait for any more.
TREAT
Ah, here we are! Give me your hand while I climb to the ramparts.
ALLYN
Yes, sir! Ah! There you are, sir!
TREAT
Good!
ALL [in]
There's three of 'em, Governor! That's Andros, sir. No doubt o' that!
TREAT
Yes, yes, three! Andros's ships! That's certain! [calling] Every man to his place! Load your muskets and prepare for action! Andros shall not land!
ALL
Aye! We'll stop him! Just let him try it!
Here, give me your ramrod. Have you got an extra flint? [etc.]
TREAT
Lieutenant Allyn.
ALLYN
Yes, sir!
TREAT
Load the cannon!
ALLYN
It is loaded, sir.
TREAT
Fire across the bow of the forward ship! Make them come to!
ALLYN
Yes, sir! [calling] Throw the cannon across the bow of the forward ship!
VOICE
Yes, sir!
ALLYN
Fire! [a cannon shot]
ALL
Oh! Look at it!
Yea! Good shot!
TREAT
Excellent! That will show Andros our temper!
ALLYN
The ship is coming about, sir!
TREAT
So I see! They may be going to answer our shot with a broadside! [calling] Down! Every man down behind the ramparts!
ALLYN
Down! Down! Every man down!
VOICE [distant]
Ahoy, the fort!
TREAT
Oh! Hailing us! Well, let them hail!
VOICE
Ahoy, the fort!
TREAT
Can you see who it is, Lieutenant?
ALLYN
No, sir!
VOICE
I say there! Ahoy, the fort! Is there anyone there? Answer or we'll open fire on you!
TREAT
Hail them, Lieutenant.
ALLYN [calling]
Hello there, what do you want?
VOICE
Is the Governor of Connecticut Colony in the fort?
ALLYN [low]
What shall I tell him?
TREAT
Tell him I'm here.
ALLYN [loud]
Yes, the Governor is here!
VOICE
Governor Andros sends his compliments—
TREAT [under his breath]
Compliments, indeed!
VOICE
And requests Governor Treat to come aboard for a parley.
TREAT
Never!...