THE LONG NIGHT.
The excitement of the people appeared to increase rather than diminish
as the night approached.
The appearance of the king's soldiers had disturbed them in their
merry-making, and brought to their minds the possibilities of the
morrow. A view of the two armed bodies, drawn up one against the
other, told more clearly of the danger which threatened than words
could have done, and the cautious began to ask if it would not be well
to send the women and children away.
Dull-witted though I am, I could not fail to observe the people
casting furtive glances toward the town, as if fearing to see issuing
from it those who would work some injury in the name of the king.
The sounds of laughter were replaced by deep mutterings, and instead
of lounging here or there with their families, the men and boys moved
restlessly from one point to another, watching jealously every motion
of the Regulators.
It was much as if we were all walking to and fro in a magazine of
powder, each with a lighted match in his hand, and that the explosion
was a foregone conclusion, the only question being as to exactly when
it would occur.
I understood that others besides myself took much the same view of the
situation, when the officers of the Regulation gave orders concerning
that which should be done during the night.
All the company were ordered to go on duty at sunset, remaining under
arms until morning, ready for any sudden emergency. The men were
especially commanded not to stray away from the limits of the
encampment, and forty were told off to do guard duty when ten could
have patrolled the camp thoroughly under ordinary circumstances.
All these preparations told that our leaders were anxious regarding
the possibility of treachery on the part of the royalists, which was
not to be wondered at in view of all that had happened.
When it was reported in Hillsborough that Sandy Wells had been
murdered, Tryon and Fanning saw an opportunity of setting us down
before the world at large as murderers and knaves who should, in
justice to a law-abiding community, be committed to jail.
When they learned that we had kept our hands clean, that we had done
our best to preserve the peace, it might well be expected some other
plan to ruin us would be tried, and General Hamilton was far too wise
a man to neglect any opportunity for additional defense.
It was also evident that the people generally were of the belief that
the royalists would attempt to do us a mischief, and, as I have said,
they moved around restlessly, watching keenly all that was taking
place on the opposite side of the river.
Had the king's troops come toward the ford a second time, I believe of
a verity that trouble would have ensued even though the soldiers
advanced with peaceful intent.
Sidney and I were stationed as sentinels at that part of the line
which overlooked the town, with orders to observe closely all that
might be taking place on the opposite side of the river, and to report
immediately at headquarters any unusual movement, either on the part
of the royalists or visitors.
Every inch of the line which marked the bounds of the encampment was
constantly traversed that night. The guards were stationed twenty feet
apart, and it was expressly commanded that each man should advance
until he met the sentinel on his right, when he was to wheel about and
proceed in the opposite direction until meeting the Regulators on his
left, continuing this throughout the hours of darkness.
The numerous fires kindled by the visitors with which to cook supper,
or keep off the insects, served to illumine the scene, and on the
opposite side of the river one could see the streets closely packed
with human beings, who counted to spend the night in the open air.
It was eight o'clock in the evening, and I was yet doing guard duty,
when a sudden outburst of noise from near about the court-house
startled us, for it seemed to be the signal of that uprising or
outbreak which we had been fearing might occur before morning.
At first it was no more than angry cries and yelps of pain; but these
increased steadily until it seemed as if a riot was well under way.
There was no need of carrying any information to the headquarters'
shanty. General Hamilton was on the guard line very near to my post,
within two minutes after the first cries were heard, and he remained
there in a listening attitude, turning his head this way and that like
the dog who seeks to find a lost trail.
A dozen or more of the chief men were with him, and I heard one of
them ask anxiously:
"Can you guess why trouble should have begun at this time? I believed
all the hot heads among our friends were on this side of the river."
"So they are, else would the brawl have been fanned into a battle long
before this. Master Hunter," he cried sharply to the deputy, "form
your men into line at the river bank to prevent any from leaving the
encampment, and lose no time in doing so."
At the call for the guards to advance into line I stepped forward; but
stopped very suddenly as the general seized me by the collar of my
shirt.
"You and the comrade who aided in saving Sandy Wells' life are to wait
here that I may have a moment's speech with you." Then, raising his
voice, he cried, "Hunter, give the word as soon as you have a force at
the riverbank sufficient to hold this throng in check!"
"The entire Regulation will be none too many for such service as
that."
"Station the guards first, and then call out the remainder of the
force. It stands us in hand to hold all on this side the river, and
also keep peace among them."
I was at some little trouble to find Sidney, he having gone to the
further end of the line when the word was given to "fall in"; but I
succeeded in withdrawing him from the ranks just as the men went
forward into position at the river bank.
When we two lads stood before him, the general said in a low tone as
if to prevent any other from hearing the discourse:
"It is in my mind that yonder riot has been begun by orders of Tryon
or Fanning, that they may have some excuse for filling the jail before
morning, as well as to cast discredit upon the Regulation. You lads
have shown yourselves quick-witted, and I have no doubt that you will
be able to hold your own in case Tryon and his crew are provoking a
brawl. Cross the river at once; mingle with those who are taking part
in the disturbance, and learn all you can regarding the beginning of
the trouble."
"Our lines are in position!" Master Hunter cried, and the general
replied:
"Very well. Hold the people here, and allow none to cross save the two
who may speedily come with my permission to do as they please."
We lads waited twenty seconds or more to learn if Master Hamilton had
any further commands for us, and since he did not speak, Sidney
plucked me by the sleeve as a signal that we should set out.
The general was looking at us when we moved off, therefore did I know
that we had received all the orders he had to give.
On coming to the water's edge we walked up the stream until finding
Master Hunter, and then, in a low tone, explained what we had been
ordered to do.
He immediately directed the men to give us passage, and hurriedly we
forded the stream, bending our steps toward the court-house after
having gained the opposite bank.
It was not a simple matter to make our way through the crowded street.
By this time nearly all the people who had encamped in the open air
were astir, and every man and boy was pressing eagerly forward to that
point from whence came the outcries.
By dint of using our elbows sharply, and forcing aside without
ceremony those who barred the way, we succeeded, at the risk of
embroiling ourselves in private quarrels, in gaining a position near
the center of the disturbance, when it was possible to perceive at a
glance that General Hamilton was correct in his surmises.
The visitors were not raising their hands against the soldiers save
when great provocation was given; but here and there I could see those
who were in some way connected with the government, and among them
Sandy Wells, making their way from point to point, dealing blows and
uttering insults well calculated to raise a disturbance.
Whenever one of the visitors attempted to defend himself, or would
have punished the insulter, the minions of Tryon raised a great hue
and cry to bring the solders to that point, after which they slipped
off to create a disturbance at some other point.
But for the fact that the visitors had been warned against giving the
governor an opportunity for complaint, a riot would have been begun
within a very few minutes, and with such a degree of violence that it
might have increased to a regular battle; but as it was, our people
behaved with remarkable moderation.
I believed that we might do much good by advice, and suggested to
Sidney that we go hastily around among the throng, explaining what was
the evident purpose of the governor's minions, at the same time
advising every one to cross the river immediately, lest by their
behavior Tryon should have some color of a reason for postponing the
cases which had been set down for a hearing next day.
He was of my opinion, and without delay we began our work, hurrying
here or there with such good effect that the people began to fall back
before the mischief breeders, instead of pressing forward.
This was not at all to the liking of those who desired to provoke a
breach of the peace, and they redoubled their efforts, offering yet
greater indignities to the unresisting citizens.
Foremost among these was Sandy Wells, and I made it my business to
gain a position close by his side, when I said, holding him by the arm
until the words had been uttered:
"Sidney Hubbard and I saved your life this day, as you well know. It
can readily be seen what you are trying to do, and unless you cease
your efforts I will take good care before the sun sets to-morrow, to
inflame every man's mind against you. That fate which was escaped this
afternoon shall overtake you within the next four and twenty hours,
even though Tryon gives you shelter in his own quarters."
Sandy was a rank coward, as I well knew, and when my hold of his
sleeve was relaxed he slunk away among the soldiers, nor did I see him
again that night.
During more than an hour Sidney and I continued our efforts, sometimes
threatened by the soldiers or Tryon's emissaries, and then the throng
had so far dispersed that there were not enough hot-heads left to make
any very great disturbance, even though they felt disposed to resist
the troops.
"Now the enemies of the colony can do no more than foment an ordinary
brawl, which is not what Tryon most desires, and I believe our work
here is done in accordance with the general's orders," Sidney said to
me as we met among the foremost of the small crowd, within a short
distance of where the uniformed men were drawn up in line. "If we are
recognized you may be certain those fellows will use every effort to
lodge us in jail, and it is wise to beat a retreat while we may."
I was of much the same opinion, and, after gathering half a dozen of
the wilder spirits in our wake, we set off toward the ford, hooted and
jeered at by those who had most signally failed in the task assigned
them.
The sudden change in the situation of affairs was truly surprising.
When we two lads first crossed the river we found the streets
literally choked with men, women and children who counted on remaining
there with the hope of gaining admittance to the court-house as soon
as the day dawned; but now it was as if the earth had opened and
swallowed all these people.
We did not meet with twenty as we went toward the ford; they had
wisely crossed the river, and, once on the opposite side, the
Regulators would keep them quiet.
We had checked the governor's scheme, not through force of arms, but
simply by removing those who might unwittingly have aided him in his
unlawful efforts.
Once the visitors were on that side of the river held by the
Regulators, they were unable to go back; but all who called themselves
Sons of Liberty would be forced to remain on duty during the entire
night in order to hold in check those who counted themselves friendly
to the cause.
As a matter of course Sidney and I reported to General Hamilton as
soon as possible, and when we had concluded our story the old
Scotchman said in a tone of satisfaction:
"I knew full well I could depend upon you lads to do whatsoever was
wise. By sending the people over here you have accomplished a good
work, and once again is Tryon defeated by your unaided efforts. The
Regulation has good reason to count you as valuable members, and when
the time comes that this colony can reward the services of those who
have aided her, as come it will in due season, I hope I may be alive
to make certain you are not neglected."
According to my way of thinking we were already rewarded by such words
as these, and but for the darkness Master Hamilton would have seen my
cheeks crimsoned with shame because he had given us far more than we
deserved.
It was but natural that there should be considerable confusion on our
side of the river; all who had lately changed their camping places
were seeking for new quarters, and already the slope of the hill
outside the lines of our encampment was literally covered with human
beings.
The late comers were compelled to find a resting-place on the other
side of the elevation, and thus were our horsemen literally hemmed in.
If it should become necessary to make a quick movement, it would
require some time to clear the ground in order to avoid trampling the
visitors beneath the hoofs of our horses.
Every member of the Regulation was now doing guard duty, and as soon
as Sidney and I had concluded our interview with the general, we
joined our comrades, when the weary work of pacing to and fro was
resumed.
At the river front remained a line of Regulators who allowed any
person to come over; but refused passage to such as would have gone
back, and thus we held the key to the situation so far as keeping the
peace was concerned.
Until this last move of Governor Tryon's I think the majority of our
people believed the king's officers would not dare do other than give
the prisoners a fair trial, although perhaps no one was convinced that
it was more than a farce to bring Fanning before the bar.
Now, however, when we had good proof as to the lengths Tryon was ready
to go, and could see plainly that he was using every effort to place
the Regulation in a false light before the world, there was much doubt
as to the outcome of the cases in court.
The Regulators on duty discussed the matter among themselves as if it
was a foregone conclusion that might, not right, would rule, and such
of the visitors as I heard conversing were loud in their declarations
that justice must prevail even though it should be purchased by
force.
"There is likely to be hot times to-morrow," Sidney said to me as we
halted an instant when everything seemed peaceful. "If we are brought
face to face with Tryon's army, much blood will be shed on both sides
before the question is settled definitely."
"But that blood will cement the colonies in such manner that
oppression in one will be felt by all the others. We shall have
effected a union, and what are our lives in comparison to such a
consummation?" a voice said, and, turning, I saw Master James Hunter,
who had come up in time to overhear our conversation.
"Then you believe we shall fight a battle to-morrow, sir?" I made bold
to say, and he replied with a sigh:
"Of that I am not so certain. If we do, the colonies will declare for
freedom against the king's rule. If peace is preserved throughout the
morrow, then must greater wrongs be endured in order to provoke the
people into demanding their full rights."
Having said this the deputy continued on his rounds, and we two lads
no longer had any desire to discuss the situation, for it had become
so grave, according to Master Hunter, that a bloody battle between us
and those on the opposite side of the river seemed suddenly to be
really desirable.
During the remainder of that long night we lads did our full share of
guard duty, I dwelling upon the possibilities until the old
timorousness came upon me, and I was almost a coward.
It seemed to me that death would come within a few hours, and I was
already marked out as one of his victims. I found myself wondering if
I could march up to the guns of the enemy without betraying the
cowardice in my heart, and otherwise spending the time in a very
foolish fashion for one who must play the part of soldier.
Never had the dawning of a new day been so much of a relief to me as
then. The gray light of morning revealed the multitude sleeping
peacefully, and on the opposite bank not even a wreath of smoke showed
above the chimney-tops.
The scene brought relief to me, and by the time the sun rose I was
able to keep down the fear in my heart, so that no one might suspect
that I was in very fact a coward.
It was a wonderful scene when the visitors awakened to life, and began
making ready for the coming events which were of concern to all
dwelling in America. This day's sun would see the dawn of freedom, or
a postponement of that spirit which must in the near future descend
upon our people.
The officers of the Regulation went from camp to camp, cautioning the
visitors against making any demonstration before the trials at the
court-house were brought to a close, and at the ford a group of our
best citizens was performing the same task.
If the citizens of upper Carolina made any error on this day it would
not be from lack of advice from those who were in a position to know
what might be best for the colony.
The one aim of the people was to reach the court-house in order to
gain admission as spectators, and although the building would not
accommodate one in every hundred who were eager to enter, the
thousands flocked thither, jostling and pushing each other in order to
get a position among the foremost.
General Hamilton did all a man could to persuade them into remaining
at a respectful distance, pointing out the uselessness of expecting to
gain admittance; but yet they made their way into the town until our
encampment was deserted by all save the better informed--say five
hundred men, women and children.
We of the Regulators were ordered to get breakfast as best we might,
and then fall into the ranks again, for we were to remain under arms
the entire day lest our force might be needed in defense of the
citizens.
"Are we like to be called upon for any serious service, sir?" I asked
of Master Hunter, who chanced to pass where I was partaking of the
morning meal with my parents, and he replied:
"It is hardly probable. Tryon will not attempt any more tricks, now
that the time of opening court is so near at hand, and I believe our
people will keep the peace, at least until after the decision of the
judges is made known."
Then the deputy called my father aside, and the two held such long and
earnest converse that I believed our officers were of the opinion the
trial would be no more than a farce.
This idea was strengthened in my mind when mother showed such tender
affection as I would leave her to take my place in the line which was
being formed.
She bade me farewell as if believing we might never meet again, and
despite all her efforts the tears came as she spoke.
I was not heartened by this evidence of fear, as may well be imagined,
and hurried away to feed my horse in order that I might hide the
evidences of my own emotion.
Half an hour later we of the Regulation were in something approaching
a military formation, with our horses tethered just in the rear where
we might be able to get at them without loss of time, and then came
the most trying moment of all-waiting for Governor Tryon to show how
far he dared to go in opposition to the law and the rights of the
people.
The square around the court-house was black with citizens awaiting an
opportunity to enter the building. In the midst of this mass could be
seen two files of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder in order to
keep open a passage for the officers and witnesses, and a short
distance away were the governor's troops under arms in case it should
please our oppressor to order an attack upon the helpless throng.