The Rebellion Burns Bright

June 16th, 1776
Near the town of New Windsor, South Carolina (Charleston aligned)

Oh, we'll rally around the flag, boys,
We'll rally once again.
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union Forever!
Hurrah, boys hurrah!
Down with the traitors, up with the star!
While we rally around the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We are springing to the call with a million freemen more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union Forever!
Hurrah, boys hurrah!
Down with the traitors, up with the star!
While we rally around the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!
And although he may be poor, he shall never be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union Forever!
Hurrah, boys hurrah!
Down with the traitors, up with the star!
While we rally around the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

General Kim and his men (1st Pennsylvania Regiment, 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, 1st Canadian Regiment, 1st Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Regiment (3/4 strength), 2nd North Carolina Regiment, Free 7th South Carolina Regiment, 1st South Carolina Regiment, 4th Massachusetts Regiment, 6th Massachusetts Regiment) were on their way to the town of New Windsor, the westernmost town held by the Loyalists in the colony of South Carolina. The group was in high spirits as they marched, as they had received some good news before their departure to New Windsor. The first one was that the British military willingly exchanged survivors of the Battle of Black River (the battle in which General Arnold perished) for prisoners of war, so the trial for Colonel Marion was set to go forward. The trial, which was set to happen in Stateburg, was under the supervision of the South Carolina government (with the current "governor" being John Rutledge of South Carolina in Stateburg, while the governor for the Charleston government was Rawlins Lowndes). The lawyer for the case of John Mathews, who was also supposed to be a Continental Congress delegate in another world, but was still an ordinary lawyer in South Carolina at the time. The case was highly controversial, as it seemed as though the British military had also given up on trying to prove Colonel Marion's innocence. Nearly all the new "states" of the United States were swept with fervor to witness the case involving the man that killed one of their war heroes, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. The soldiers under General Kim's command was livid and eager to see the traitorous slaver be sentenced, preferably life in prison or outright execution.

The other piece of news that reached his troops a week or so before their departure was just as noteworthy. France had joined in on the war, and Spain was on the verge of doing so also. With the news of the British being defeated at nearly every turn in North America, France seized the chance to capture the Caribbean colonies from the British. While France refused to support the United States with any significant material aid (with the exception of gunpowder and weapons, which Congress purchased from them directly), the European nation offered diplomatic recognition instead. This was gladly accepted by Congress and France declared war on Britain and accepted the United States as a legitimate nation, with the first ambassador Benjamin Franklin set to arrive in August. Additionally, General Kim was pleased to hear that Layfayette had already contacted and he was set to arrive in North America by early August. Due to the fundings that were given to them by General Kim, Congress was able to pay for the young man's voyage and avoid the controversy that surrounded Layfayette when he left in the other history.

The war was coming to an end, General Kim could feel it.

While the "Huns" (a name given to General Kim and his marines, but also adopted by the rest of the men) were marching to their target, a messenger from the rear guard came up to him and saluted, "Sir, the men of the 1st South Carolina have found a few boys that have been tailing us for some time. They have been captured and they have asked me to inform you that you are needed in the rear."

General Kim returned the salute and brought his men to a halt, "I will be there shortly."

As the messenger returned to his post, General Kim raised his voice to speak with the troops, "Spread the word! We will be making camp here tonight and we will strike New Windsor at dawn! Your commanding officers will know what duties to carry out, so get to work!"

The men immediately heeded his orders and the lines of troops dispersed to set up camp. Meanwhile, the general, flanked by a platoon of soldiers from 6th Company, went to the very end of the group and walked up to the dozen or so men holding several young boys captive, "Are these the boys that have been tailing us?"

There were six boys in total, their ages varied from a young child to a teenager. All of them looked frightened at the sight of General Kim, but he only raised an eyebrow as he inspected them. Colonel Sumter, who was leading the 1st South Carolina Regiment, nodded, "These are the boys, sir. They appeared near our columns approximately earlier this morning and have been tailing us every since. I captured them as I suspected they may be British or Loyalist spies. They refused to answer any of our questions and demanded to speak with you, general."

"I will take care of this, colonel. Take care of your men and have them carry out their duties for the night."

Colonel Sumter nodded respectfully and walked away with his men. Behind General Kim, his marine escorts were gripping their firearms tightly just in case the situation turned violent. However, General Kim walked up to the boys without any hostility and offered them his hand, "Lieutenant General Samuel Kim, commander of the Western Theather of the Continental Army and commanding officer of the Marines. I heard that you wished to speak with me?"

"We do, sir!" One of the older boys yelled as he clumsily saluted, "We wish to join your army!"

"The Continental Army? And how old are you, Mr.?"

"Jackson, Hugh Jackson! And I am Sixteen, sir! And my brothers here are fifteen and nine."

"Jackson..." General Kim muttered, he was so used to seeing famous historical figures now, it didn't faze him as much, "And the name of your brothers?"

"Robert and Andrew, sir! And the other boys here are from where we live and came to join up with us!"

General Kim nodded, "Well, I can see if something can be arranged. Your youngest brother might be a little bit too young, but he can stay with us and help the army."

He ordered the platoon that accompanied him to take them back to the other marines and warned them not to "break them in" too much. As they walked away he stared at the young boy named Andrew Jackson and sighed. The boy had no idea how famous/infamous he was in the other history, but General Kim was going to make sure the boy's destiny was changed. Perhaps under the influence of himself and the other soldiers of the Continental Army, Jackson would become a better person and be seen by historians in a more positive light. Especially since his army group had Native Americans and African Americans mingling with whites.