RECRUITS
Not until we were so far from the redcoats’ camp that there could be no
danger our words might be overheard, however hot the discussion which
was to ensue should become, did Gabriel halt, and I was eager to take
advantage of this first opportunity of showing disapproval at our thus
beating a retreat, as it were.
“It’s not for me to say what you and Archie shall do,” Gabriel began
immediately he halted, and before I could so much as give words to the
petulant thoughts in my mind. “As for myself, I see no good reason why
we should linger near that encampment, and much cause for leaving as
soon as possible.”
“Now you are answering a protest which has come into your own mind,” I
cried, not a little irritated because he had taken the words out of my
mouth, and he replied quietly:
“Ay, William Rufus, that is exactly what I am doing, for even though
the night is none too light, I can see that you are disgruntled because
I led you away from a place of danger. It needs not that you shall at
all times proclaim your dissatisfaction by words, for I can read much
of what is in your mind by the movement of your body.”
“And you would not have read my thought so easily but for the fact that
you yourself must have questioned whether it was fitting for lads who
count on becoming soldiers, to turn tail at the first show of danger,”
I replied hotly, and he irritated me yet further by saying, in what
sounded to me like a tone of superiority:
“How would it have advantaged us in any way to lie hidden in front of
yonder camp-fire watching the redcoats and that miserable cur, Seth
Hastings? Was the picture so inviting that you would linger in order to
gaze upon it? And when it was come daylight, if so be you loitered till
then, what about the chance of your being discovered when old Peter
brings up the horses, for I dare venture to say the negro will start at
the first crack of dawn if we have not then returned?”
“How would it advantage us?” I cried hotly, allowing myself to be
angered because in that time of danger he remembered to call me
“William Rufus.” “By remaining there we might perchance have learned
the destination of the troop, which seems necessary, since the force is
travelling in the same direction we desire to go.”
“But we know as much as is needed,” Archie Gordon broke in, and I
understood on the instant that he approved of Gabriel’s plan, whatever
it might be. “That Seth Hastings is with the men tells beyond a doubt,
at least so it seems to me, that they are heading for the rendezvous
selected by General Marion, in the hope of capturing not only him, but
us lads as well.”
“Ay, Archie Gordon, there you have hit the nail squarely as I would
have struck it,” Gabriel chimed in. “There was no reason for us to
linger longer after having seen that traitorous cur, and good cause, as
the matter presents itself to my mind, for us to make all speed with
our backs turned toward the enemy.”
“To what end?” I asked impatiently, and he replied, clapping me on the
shoulder in a friendly way such as made me ashamed of my petulance.
“To the end that we may push on while there is opportunity to make the
détour, if so be old Peter agrees that it may be done between now and
daylight. If we can arrive at Snow’s Island a few hours in advance of
the British troops, and surely we should be able to do so with such
horses as we have, then do we make doubly sure of receiving a hearty
welcome, because the information we bring will be valuable to my
brother.”
Even before he had finished the somewhat lengthy explanation I
understood he was in the right, as indeed I ever found him to be, for
Gabriel Marion was one of those rare lads who argues out a matter with
himself before giving an opinion.
From that moment, until we were arrived at the place where old Peter
was awaiting us patiently, no further arguments were indulged in,
and I left to Gabriel the duty of acquainting the negro with all we
had learned. It was evident that Peter had a far better idea of the
situation than I had shown to be mine when finding fault with Gabriel
because of beating a retreat, for he appeared to recognize without
discussion the necessity of circling around the enemy to gain an
advance, and in order to accomplish such purpose was most particular in
his inquiries regarding the location of the halting-place.
Gabriel felt positive the enemy was a full quarter of a mile to the
southward of the ferry, and Peter, after taking ample time to consider
the matter, but in the meanwhile saddling the horses that no precious
moments might be lost, announced that it was possible to do the trick
if we should leave the highway we were then on, striking across the
country until having arrived at the Santee road, and then go down
to the ferry; but he admitted that by so doing there was a grave
possibility of our coming upon the enemy, if peradventure we had made
any mistake as to the location of the encampment.
“To my mind, we are in duty bound to take the chances, however opposed
we may personally be to such a plan,” Gabriel said, as he mounted his
horse. “The information which we may be able to carry to Snow’s Island
is so important that we are warranted in running any risk, for the life
of one or of all of us, as compared with the advantage which can be
gained for the Cause, is as nothing. Is it your mind that we shall push
on without delay?”
He turned to me while asking this question, and there was no longer the
slightest tinge of impatience in my tone as I replied:
“It is for you to act the leader, Gabriel Marion, for surely there be
none other in this party so well able to take command.”
Having said this, I also mounted, to show my readiness to set off
without further delay, and old Peter needed no words to tell him that
the moment had come when he was to act the part of guide in good
truth. Therefore he set off in advance, striking directly into the
undergrowth, where our horses, although finding some difficulty in
making their way, managed to maintain a fairly good rate of speed
during two hours, when we came upon the Santee road, much to my
surprise, for I had fancied the distance to be greater.
Once upon the highway, Gabriel leaped from the saddle and began tearing
the one blanket which he carried into strips, as if he had suddenly
lost his senses.
“We must do what we may toward muffling the sound of the horses’ hoofs
on the beaten road,” he said hurriedly, and in a twinkling all three of
us began the same task, for there was no need of further explanation.
Within ten minutes, for we worked to disadvantage in the night, having
no cord with which to tie the muffling on the horses’ feet, and
then as fast as the steeds could be urged forward, for the woollen
foot-covering crippled them to a certain extent, we rode toward the
ferry, breathing quick with the excitement of the moment, because each
step was bringing us nearer to a possible encounter, when the odds
would be heavily against us.
As nearly as I could judge, there were yet two hours of the night
remaining, and it seemed to me as if we were in a fair way of
accomplishing our purpose, when suddenly, and at the very moment while
I was congratulating myself upon Gabriel’s foresight in hastening
matters as he had, there came from the bushes on the side of the road
fifty paces or more in advance of us, the thrilling cry:
“Halt, or we shall fire!”
Following this could be heard sounds of command, as if the unseen
speaker was stationing a heavy force on either side of the road to
enforce his demands.
On the instant my heart sank like lead, for I had no doubt but that we
had come upon a considerable body of the enemy. It was reasonable to
suppose that he who had spoken was the leader of the same party we had
spied upon, and a similar thought must have been in Gabriel Marion’s
mind, for I heard him cry half to himself:
“What stupids we were to so miscalculate the location of the
halting-place!”
As a matter of course we obeyed the command on the instant, there
being nothing else left to do, for our party of four would have shown
themselves little less than idiots to have made any attempt at riding
down so formidable a body as was apparently directly in advance of
us, and flight seemed equally fruitless. As I pulled my horse to a
standstill there came to my eyes a picture of the prison-ships as I
had seen them lying at anchor in Charleston harbor, and I could have
cried aloud in grief because of this sudden end which was put to our
undertaking.
When we were come to a halt, remaining in the saddles without making
any show of unslinging the muskets which were strapped across our
backs, the same voice we had first heard, cried out, and I fancied that
there was a difference in the tone, as if the speaker was inclined to
be friendly:
“Who are you, and what is your purpose here?”
Had I considered myself in command of our little force, I should have
been such a simple to have made some effort toward concealing our
identity, but not so with Gabriel Marion. He realized that the truth of
whatsoever we might say could speedily be proven or disproven, and he
replied readily:
“We are three lads escaped from the British at Charleston, who hope to
arrive at a rendezvous appointed by an officer in the Continental Army.
We have with us as guide an old negro, and are striving to gain the
ferry before a force of the enemy encamped on the Charleston road near
at hand shall arrive there.”
I thought of a verity that if there had been any possibility of our
escaping the prison-ships, this answer had destroyed it, and friend
though he was, I could have dealt Gabriel such a blow as would have
sent him headlong from the saddle, because of what I believed was
stupidity. Therefore it is that my astonishment may at least be faintly
imagined, when I saw in the gloom of the night two small figures come
hurriedly from out the screen of bushes, advancing toward us as
if overjoyed at the meeting, and I heard Archie Gordon cry half in
delight, half in fear:
“Are you lads of South Carolina?”
“Ay, that we are,” the foremost of the strangers replied, hastening
forward until he stood where he could look up into Gabriel Marion’s
face. “We are making for the same rendezvous, if so be you have told us
the truth.”
It did not require many seconds for me to gather my scattered senses,
and when this was done I realized how crafty these two had been to thus
halt us, giving the impression that they were strong in numbers, for I
could now understand, from seeing none others, that they alone had made
such a show of force.
Gabriel, bending over until he could see clearly the face of the lad
who stood near him, said quietly, even as though he had been expecting
such a meeting:
“This, if I mistake not, is one of the Marshall lads, whose home is
near about Eutaw Springs?”
“And you are General Marion’s brother!” the boy cried in joyful
surprise.
Then it was that we dismounted, and but a short time was needed in
which to make each acquainted with the purpose of the other. These
brave lads, having heard of the call sent out by General Marion, were
hastening thus alone to obey the summons, so much of courage and a
desire to aid the Cause was in their hearts. They had counted on taking
with them four prisoners when they heard us approach. It was a gallant
deed, and I took somewhat of the credit to myself because they were
South Carolinians.
When the Marshall boys--Edward and Joseph--had learned what it was our
purpose to do, they proposed to join us as Minute Boys rather than
enlist directly under General Marion’s command, and thus we lads, who
had but a few seconds previous believed we were doomed to imprisonment,
gained two recruits of such metal as was needed in the organization.
It can well be understood that we did not waste much time after the
explanations had been made, but pressed forward toward the ferry once
more, as soon as the new recruits had muffled the feet of their horses,
and I said to Archie Gordon as we rode along side by side:
“If it were possible to come across four or five more like these lads
who have just joined us, we might be in shape to gather in those who
are guided by that traitorous cur,” and he replied, as if the idea gave
him great pleasure:
“Ay, and it would be an adventure worth thinking about were we alone in
this section of the country; but as it is, with our friends at Snow’s
Island ignorant of what is going on near about, I am of the opinion
that however strong we might grow by reason of additional recruits,
there could be no fair excuse for making any such attempt.”
Now we had guides in plenty, for the Marshall boys were better
acquainted with this section of the country than was Peter, and instead
of making for the ferry, where there was even chance we might find
some of the troopers posted on guard, they proposed that we make a
short cut to a point on the river fully half a mile above Gardine’s
Ferry, where they believed we could swim the horses across.
The only danger in such a crossing was that we would be obliged to
travel over a considerable extent of swamp, but this both they and
old Peter believed would be more advisable than taking the chances of
meeting the enemy at the ferry.
As had been agreed upon, so we did, and although more than once after
gaining the opposite bank of the stream did it seem possible the horses
would be mired, we were so far successful that when the first glimpse
of the coming day appeared in the eastern sky we were on the highway,
riding swiftly toward that crossing of the Black River known as Potato
Ferry.
From this moment it was as if all the difficulties had been removed
from our path. When the sun set we were at Britain’s Ferry, on the
bank of the Great Pedee River, and Snow’s Island was barely four miles
away; but, owing to the darkness, Gabriel believed we were warranted
in remaining where we were rather than in attempting to go down the
stream, for daylight was needed in crossing to the rendezvous.
This time when we made camp we took hourly turns of standing watch, and
when another day was come, after partaking of a hurried meal, we set
out, arriving at our destination not without considerable difficulty,
owing to the fact that none of us knew the exact trail which would give
us good footing, but yet suffering no more of hardships than might have
been expected, and certainly none worth setting down here.
The day was yet young when finally we stood before General Marion to
receive from him the heartiest greeting lads could ask for, and even
old Peter came in for his full share.
The general had at this time no more than twenty men, well armed,
but, as we afterward learned, with only a scanty store of provisions,
and all this company gathered around us to learn the latest news from
Charleston. Little did they dream that our arrival would be a signal
for the first attack on the enemy since the fall of the city.
They were plunged in deepest grief when told of the wholesale arrests
made by the British commander, Sir Henry Clinton, and each had some
question to ask regarding the bearing of this or of that citizen while
being marched through the streets of Charleston to where boats were
taken for the prison-ships.
Gabriel, acting as our spokesman, as was indeed his right, since we two
tacitly agreed to recognize him as leader, gave all the information
possible, and not until this little band of patriots had finished with
their questioning did he speak of our adventure on the Charleston road.
Then, as may be fancied, every member of the company was wrought up
to the highest pitch of excitement, for if the word which we brought
was true, then could they see in the near future an opportunity for
striking a blow in retaliation.
General Marion questioned us particularly concerning the number of the
men, and as to whether the company was made up of Tories or British
soldiers, and to this question we could give no satisfactory reply.
True it is that we had seen by the light of the camp-fire none save
those who wore the red uniform, but we knew full well there were others
hidden from our view by the bushes, therefore it was well within the
range of possibility that the soldiers had in their company many Tories.
That which puzzled our friends was the same question as we had asked
ourselves many times: Why Seth Hastings had thus suddenly and openly
shown himself an enemy to the Cause, and why was he so eager that we
lads be made prisoners?
It was a question which no one could answer satisfactorily, and General
Marion put an end to our speculations by saying in a tone of pleasure:
“Before to-morrow morning, if indeed you are not mistaken as to the
destination of the company, we will have in our keeping this Seth
Hastings who has shown himself such a violent friend of the king’s, and
I doubt not that you lads may be able to get the desired information
from him.”
“Will you make an attack upon the company?” Gabriel asked quickly and
eagerly.
“I think we shall, lad, and regardless of their numbers, else why have
we gathered here?”
“But they are in reasonably large force,” I ventured to say, and the
young general answered stoutly:
“Though they outnumbered us three to one, yet would we do it, so that
every man among us might strike an effective blow, for it is work of
such nature that will bring more recruits to the rendezvous than could
be persuaded to join our forlorn hope under any other circumstances.”
Then the commander of this “ragged regiment,” as the king’s soldiers
were afterward pleased to term the company, turned away with Captain
Horry, whom we soon came to learn was looked upon as second in command
of this slender force, and the remainder of the party plied us with
questions concerning what we had seen and heard since we fled from
Charleston, until I was fairly weary with so much tongue-wagging.
Less than an hour after we arrived I observed that Captain Horry
and another man crossed the river in one of the dugouts which were
concealed along the shore of the swamp, and because they went on foot I
knew full well they had gone to learn what might be possible regarding
the approach of the enemy.
With this departure the men left off questioning us, to make ready for
the encounter which they had every reason to believe was near at hand,
and we, who had already begun to call ourselves Minute Boys, made a
survey of this island which was destined to become the headquarters of
as active a body of rangers as ever did service for the Colonies.
As I have already said, it was situated just below the point where
Lynch’s Creek flows into the Pedee, and to my surprise I found that
while it really deserved the name of swamp, for the land was evidently
wet and marshy during such times as the river was filled with water,
now the soil was comparatively dry, while the greater portion of the
island was covered with trees, among which we were told could be
found no small amount of game. The lower end of it was thickly grown
up with cane-brake, and during our hurried exploration we found that
already was corn planted here and there where nature had left open
spaces. I questioned as to whether it was so late in the season that
the grain would not arrive at maturity; but Archie, who had the eye
of a farmer, suggested that even if it did not, the leaves would make
excellent fodder for the horses, and surely the question of feeding the
animals in this place where no grass grew was a matter which required
considerable attention.
Our dinner, which was shared by every one on the island, consisted
of the provisions which we had brought from General Marion’s home,
and when the meal was come to an end there was not sufficient left of
our store to provide us lads with supper. But at that time we did not
look very far into the future. Our situation was so desperate--this
little handful of men and boys who were setting themselves to combat
a victorious enemy--that beyond the present hour we gave little or no
heed, trusting to the fortunes of war, and the charity of the planters,
when put to for sufficient in the way of food, to keep us alive.
I am tempted to dwell upon the trifling incidents of this day at the
rendezvous where there was little semblance of military authority,
save that all recognized General Marion as the one who should map out
the operations; but to do so would require more of space than can be
given it, if I am to relate all which we Minute Boys of South Carolina
succeeded in doing before the tyrant’s forces were driven beyond the
border. Therefore it is I must go straight on with such as we did which
had a bearing upon the struggle our people were making for liberty,
rather than indulge in reminiscences most pleasing to myself.
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when Captain Horry and his
companion returned, and there was that written upon their faces which
told that they were well satisfied with the information gained.
“It is as it should be,” the captain said to General Marion as he came
up from the bank of the stream to where the little company gathered
immediately he was seen in the distance. “The force of which the lads
gave warning number no more than forty, and are under command of Major
Gainey. As nearly as can be told, from twenty to twenty-five of them
are Tories, the remainder soldiers from Gainey’s own regiment. They
have gone into camp at Britain’s Neck, I should guess in order to wait
for reinforcements, fancying that we are too strong for them.”
“Britain’s Neck,” the general said half to himself. “Then we have no
need to start off until sunset.”
Although I knew full well he would strike a blow however great the
odds might be against him, it was with a certain sense of relief and
satisfaction that I heard the words which gave the same meaning as if
he had said he was determined to attack.
Then Captain Horry described the situation of the enemy’s camp,
which had been chosen near the river-bank and was backed by a small
hill. If it had been the major’s purpose to give us good opportunity
to make reprisals, he could not have disposed of his men to better
advantage for us, because even I, who knew so little of the art of war,
understood that if it should be possible for us to gain the brow of the
hill, we had the foe at our mercy. It was when Captain Horry had come
to the end of his recital, that Archie Gordon asked eagerly:
“Did you see anything of Seth Hastings, sir, while you were spying upon
the camp?”
“I have the good fortune not to be acquainted with that whelp; but
fancy we saw him, for there was a lad with the Tories whom the troopers
appeared to shun. These soldiers of the king’s, cutthroats though they
be, have no more love for a traitor than has an honest man, and you may
set it down that so far as it is within their power, your enemy does
not sleep among a bed of roses while among them.”
“It makes very little difference to us, sir, how they may treat the
cur; but we are eager to know if he yet remains with them, because we
Minute Boys will deal with him, and not give you gentlemen the trouble
of looking after such a sneak.”
“We Minute Boys?” General Marion repeated questioningly. “Have you lads
already such an organization?”
I looked to Gabriel to make reply, which he did without hesitation:
“Ay, sir, we have, although at present our force is not very
formidable, for the entire company is here assembled; but if so be we
see much of the surrounding country, I venture to say that before the
summer is past we will succeed in gathering such a troop as will not
make either you or us ashamed.”
“Well said, lad!” Captain Horry cried approvingly. “It is a good plan
for you youngsters to band yourselves together, and that you have
already made a start toward that end should shame those who are late in
coming to this rendezvous because afraid to stand manfully against the
foe.”
And thus it was without further argument or comment that General Marion
and his officers agreed we lads might form an independent company under
his command.
The horses were looked after carefully at the close of this day,
for although the distance from where we would cross the stream, to
Britain’s Neck, was no more than five miles, we needed to cover it with
speed, and perhaps the necessity of returning swiftly would be as great
as that of going. Therefore generous quantities of corn were dealt out
from the slender stores, and the animals groomed until they were in
fine fettle for any patriot to ride.
Not until the sun had set was the word to move given, and then, each
leading his horse, we went down into the stream, swimming the animals
across while we clung to saddle, mane, or tail, as fancy dictated.
When come to the opposite side we looked well to girths and weapons,
for once having arrived at our destination, there would be no time to
attend to such details if General Marion worked in his usual fashion.
Old Peter rode well in advance, still acting as one of the guides, and
there was among us none more trusted than he, for I have little doubt
but that the negro would have cheerfully yielded up his life had it
been necessary to save either the general or Gabriel from harm.
We rode at a sharp trot on either side of the highway where the turf
served to deaden the footfalls of the horses, not drawing rein up hill
or down until we were come to the elevation of which I have spoken as
backing the camp of the foe.
Now it was we halted for the merest fraction of time that General
Marion and Captain Horry might take the lead, the former saying as he
passed us:
“Follow me, and see to it that you keep together, at least until we are
well at the end of the charge.”
Then, as we allowed the horses to walk up the hill through a heavy
growth of timber wherein there was little or no underbrush, Gabriel,
who rode between Archie and me, said in a whisper:
“We will follow the leader until such time as we catch a glimpse of
Seth Hastings, and then, unless the redcoats make a stand when our
services will be needed with the troop, we are to strike out for
ourselves, because I am not minded that cur shall give us the slip.”
“I am not certain I can do very much in the way of shooting from the
saddle,” I said, unslinging my musket, thus following the example of
those around me, and Gabriel replied as if in alarm:
“Don’t make any attempt to shoot the traitor, for then his troubles
would soon be over, and I am of the mind that he needs more punishment
in this world than a speedy death.”
“I hope you do not propose that the Minute Boys shall turn Indians and
give him a taste of torture?” Archie said sharply, and one of the men
riding near at hand reproved him for speaking aloud, because it was of
the utmost importance that we succeed in surprising the redcoats.
“We won’t make quite such heathens of ourselves,” Gabriel whispered
sufficiently loud for me to hear; “but at the same time I almost
believe we would be warranted in outdoing even the Indians toward the
squaring of accounts. Once we clap our eyes on him, however, it is for
us to ride the cur down, however far the chase may lead.”
Save for such experience in warfare as I had had during the siege of
Charleston, I was a novice in the soldier’s trade, and had never yet
fired a gun at a human being. Therefore it was little wonder that every
nerve in my body was tingling with the excitement of the moment, and
my heart seemingly crowding its way up into my throat. The one fear
I had was that if the enemy made a stand, and we were thus forced to
fight a pitched battle, I might show the white feather; but immediately
we joined the troopers on the hill, and found General Marion and
Captain Horry waiting for us to come before giving the signal to make a
dash, I forgot everything save the desire to wreak vengeance upon those
who had captured our city, and done so much to humiliate us.
Then I saw the general raise his hand. It was the signal, and as my
fingers tightened on the bridle-rein, the horse beneath me leaped
forward eagerly as if burning with the same mad desire that was in
my heart! I urged him forward even though he was doing his best, and
prayed that it might be my good fortune to show what one boy of South
Carolina could do when there came to him an opportunity of avenging the
insults which the king’s hirelings had heaped upon his people.