"For the Fourth of July we saw a country mansion previously owned by a man who went to fight against those 'rebellious colonists'. Major John Acland bought a commission and fought under his friend John Burgoyne, but was wounded early on in New York. His wife crossed the Hudson into the enemy camp to ask permission to care for him during his recovery for nine weeks, for which she was much celebrated later in her life. Acland himself was called before King George for his evaluation of the war after returning to England. The following from a biography:
'Acland was grateful for the treatment received when recuperating as a prisoner of war, so much so that following his return to England he challenged a certain Lieutenant Lloyd to a duel when the latter spoke poorly of Americans at a dinner party. Although he survived the duel, he caught a cold during it, from which he died at Pixton Park in 1778.'
Apparently a lot of Englishmen thought the Americans a bunch of rabble and not a match for the great army sent by the king. To set his man straight through a duel was a rather stalwart defense of their character. So he was loyal to the Americans after all, and we celebrated American bravery unknowingly by being in his home."
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