Dealings with the Dead, Volume 2 (of 2)

A vivid portrait of early‑American military life unfolds through the eyes of a seasoned narrator, who transports listeners back to the flamboyant world of Boston’s aristocratic dead. The opening scene bursts with detail—towering cocked hats, scarlet cloaks, silk‑lined breeches, and the gleam of silver buckles—painting a picture of a bygone era where fashion and battlefield bravado intertwined. Amid this lavish tableau, the story introduces Colonel Barnabas Clarke, a larger‑than‑life figure whose towering hat and prodigious queue become symbols of his steadfast patriotism and the lingering echo of the Revolutionary War.

The narrative then shifts to a lively militia muster under Governor John Brooks, where the Colonel, despite his age, commands attention on a chestnut horse, sword at his side, and a presence that still commands respect. A brief, heartfelt handshake between two old comrades recalls shared hardships at Burgoyne, hinting at deep bonds forged in the heat of conflict. Listeners will be drawn into this richly textured slice of history, where ceremony, memory, and the lingering spirits of the past converge.