Here's chapter 3 for ya. A series of unfortunate events begin to occur in certain of the young America's northern ports, with gun battles and explosions galore.
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Extracted from “Raids, Recessions, & Rioters: How The Non-Importation Act And Similar Laws Affected America In Its Early Years”
By Thomas W. Peterson
© 1945 W.F. Harvey & Sons Publishing, Boston, Mass.
The raid of the British merchant ship, the Mary Louise at around 9:15 in the morning of the 15th of April, 1808, in Nantucket, Rhode Island, was to be the first in a long line of Federal attacks on foreign shipping vessels carrying certain 'illicit' goods, as well as one of the first catalysts for the birth of the S.o.N.E. . Earlier that day, at around 7:00, a harbor watchman had noticed some strange and seemingly suspicious whisperings amongst the crew. One of the men on the harbor front appeared to be somewhat inebriated but he attempted to pick up a couple of the boxes that had been shipped aboard anyway; what spilled out revealed the truth; these men were smugglers with dozens of dollars worth of contraband [1] goods, including beer, flaxseed, wool, and hemp.
The watchman immediately left for the nearest law enforcement station. Federal officials stationed in the area soon received word of the occurrence, and by 8:45, over a dozen of them began to make their way to the harbor front, arriving only 20 minutes later. Plans were discussed on how to deal with the situation; they soon agreed that a sudden rush would be best. At 9:13, the first Federal official, flanked by two comrades[2], informed the sailors of his presence & of the laws they had been caught breaking. An argument quickly ensued, and just after 9:15 shots rang out. Immediately afterwards, the rest of them began to rush in, and a bigger gunfight began right then. By the time it was all over, at 9:26 to be more precise, according to most reports available today, 7 of the 13 dispatched Federal officers lay dead, but the sailors had suffered an even worse loss overall; of the 9 men who had staffed the vessel, only the captain and the man who had bungled the operation had survived.
One of the Federal officers who had died had attempted to negotiate with the seamen, and was a very good friend of Jonathan O'Bannon[3]. This would have major implications for quite some time to come........
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Apr. 17, 1808
Bangor, Maine Territory
United States of America
Jonathan 'Iron Jonny'[4] O'Bannon spat on the ground below him. The Barbary War veteran, who had once been fought off over a dozen Barbary seamen, on their own ship, after having been captured off the coast of Spain, found himself shedding a tear for his dearly departed friend of 25 years, whose death he had learned of only that very morning. A tough man he most assuredly was, but he had his moments of softness. “Oh, my poor dear friend Robert. I knew you well. You were taken from us too young.”. After this moment of reflection, O'Bannon started walking home. Arriving at his cabin about 2 hours later, he saw his wife, Anita, cooking a nice potato-and-steak dinner. “Jonny dear? Is that you I hear?”, she asked, kindly. Jonathan replied, slowly, “Yes, dear wife, it is.” “Well, what's wrong?”, Anita asked. Jonathan said, “Remember Robert Anderson?” Anita stared, bewildered. “Yes, I do? Has something happened?” “Yes, I'm afraid so. Robert.....Robert had been killed during that raid on that British ship a couple days ago. I only heard about his death this morning. To think such a honorable man could meet such a tragic death while doing what he thought was best for all involved, is hard for even me to bear.”
Anita gasped. “I....I'm terribly sorry. That poor man. Is there nothing we can do for his family?” Jonathan shook his head and. “I'm sorry, but no, Anita, I fear not, other than our prayers and considerations. But honestly, I do tire of all this nonsense about embargos[5] and such, and perhaps there is a way to get a voice to the people of this area, and maybe someday, even the whole nation. I do believe it's time I acted upon my conscience. Tomorrow, I plan to set off for Portland, where I plan to start gathering other men who feel as I do about this whole Non-Importation shenanigan[6]. And I'll need some support to do it.” “Well, I will tell you now that you may always rely on me, Jon. We have always stuck together even during the worst of times.”, Anita replied warmly. Jonathan's spirits lifted a little, hearing this. “Thank you ever so kindly, dear Anita.”
A few hours after dinner they both retired to their beds to sleep. The next morning, Jonathan set off for the city of Portland, where he hoped to gather the first recruits of his mission.......
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Extracted from “Yankee Patriots: The Rise of the Sons of New England”
By Will Sanders
Manchester, N.H.
© 1962 Kenton Press, Providence, Rhode Island
… Jonathan O'Bannon was a man on a mission. On April 18th of 1808 he began 2-day trip to Portland in the southwest of Maine, staying at a local inn overnight in what is now Elbertson County. After his stay, he set off once again the next morning, getting a ride from a passing stagecoach. Right around noon on the 19th , he arrived in the area and immediately began looking for some temp[7] jobs to support himself in his endeavor. He talked a little around town with the various people that he had met, and soon enough, he came across a local tavern, where he discussed his beliefs & grievances to anyone who would listen. One person in particular, a veteran customer by the name of Eldon Canmore, was especially open. The man was an independent builder[8] by trade, but had also had a cousin who fought in the Barbary War and he enjoyed the stories 'Iron Jonny' would tell about his experiences while in combat there, as a member of the U.S. Navy. He also sympathized with Jonathan when he heard the unfortunate manner of Robert Anderson's death. The two struck up a friendship rather quickly, and by the end of April they decided to pay O'Bannon's home a visit to discuss a possible alliance …
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[1] This is another term which has entered American English earlier than it did IOTL.
[2] No, no Communism here.
[3] Jonathan O'Bannon will become a very important, perhaps even pivotal figure in the history of North America.
[4]O'Bannon was a sailor during the Barbary war, and a particularly hardy & tough one, too.
[5]The Embargo Act hasn't actually happened, but there are still many discontented rumblings about it, particularly in New England.
[6]Well, he is an Irish-American, and it IS a term that originated from Irish Gaelic.........
[7]This is a modern ATL localism largely exclusive to the state of New Hampshire.
[8]And a damn fine one, too.
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