TAKEN INTO THE BRITISH CAMP
I stood there, as I have said, watching the disappearance of Lieutenant
Haines’s boat, but I was also listening. During my conversation with
him I was quite sure that I had heard a stealthy step in the woods back
of me. Doubtless someone from the camp of the enemy had discovered and
was now watching us. If so, they must be apprehended, but how?
Debating this question in my own mind without acquainting my companions
with my suspicions, I gave orders to prepare our camp for the night.
Our yawl was drawn out of the water, and carried a few rods up from
the shore. There it was propped up by stones some two feet above the
ground. Thus it furnished a good roof for a temporary cabin, whose
sides were constructed from brush brought from the edge of the forest.
In front of this we kindled a small fire and began our preparations for
supper.
While my men were completing these arrangements, I walked over and
stood under a huge tree, whose limbs overhung the beach. Ostensibly I
was overseeing the work that was going on in camp, but in reality I was
straining my ears to catch every sound which came from the woods behind
me. It was just there I believed I had caught the sound of footsteps,
and, if I was not mistaken, the intruder was still lying within a few
feet of me. My plan was to detect if possible his attempt to depart,
and then follow him.
I did not have so long to wait as I expected. Before the meal was ready
I heard the concealed man arise to his feet, and move softly back into
the woods. Quickly stepping over to where Boatswain Lewis was busy
directing the men, I explained to him in a whisper why I left the camp,
and then glided in among the trees in pursuit of the Britisher.
I had no difficulty in locating him. As soon as he had gone a few rods
away from the shore, he seemed to think he was beyond the reach of our
ears, and now moved on regardless of the noise he was making. Moreover,
instead of going across the island, he had turned and taken a short
cut for its west end. These circumstances enabled me to overtake him
rapidly, and I was soon dodging along from tree to tree close behind
him.
He soon came out upon the shore, opposite the British camp, where a
boat and four men were evidently awaiting him. To them he said in tones
loud enough for me to hear:
“I have found the rebels’ nest, my lads. But one boat with its crew has
escaped us, having gone back up the coast, to report the landing of
the troops, I presume. The other is there, and intends to stay until
morning to keep watch of Sir Henry’s movements. They are, however, too
many for us, and we’ll, have to cross over to the camp for help. Later
we’ll return and capture the whole bunch. Pull away.”
While he was talking his comrades had been getting the skiff ready for
their departure, and his last words were uttered as he took his seat
in the craft. Slowly it glided away towards the mainland, and, baffled
in my attempt to obtain a prisoner, yet thankful I had discovered his
design upon myself and men, I turned to retrace my steps to camp.
It was easy for me to conjecture the character of the departing men.
They were Tories who had probably seen our boats go down the coast,
and, suspecting our purpose, had followed. They would report our
presence to the British commander, and he would send over a force
before morning sufficient to capture us. It was clear that we must
change our camp immediately.
I therefore quickened my pace, and soon rejoined my men, to whom I
made known my discovery. Finding they had put off partaking of their
supper until my return, I now gave orders for the meal to be eaten.
Then we tore down our temporary structure, launched the boat, and
proceeded with muffled oars up the shore to the northwestern corner of
the island. Here we again landed, and simply carrying the boat up a few
feet above tide water, turned it over, raised one side a few inches,
and crawled under, making ourselves as comfortable as possible under
the circumstances.
I chose this place for our second camp for two reasons. It was but a
short distance above the spot where the force sent to capture us would
be likely to land, and I argued that it was, therefore, the last place
where the enemy would expect to find us; then, as it was on a narrow
point, curving to the west and south, it would enable us not only to
overlook the British encampment on the main shore, but to see the
crossing and landing of the red-coats when they came in search of us.
My choice, however, proved to be a disastrous one, at least for me.
It must have been near the midnight hour before we saw any movement
which indicated the enemy were coming our way. All my men, with my
permission, had gone to sleep except Boatswain Lewis, and it was he
who at length called my attention to a few lights moving slowly down
the edge of the narrow strait which separated us from the British
encampment. We watched them, and in the flicker of their lanterns
counted at least three score men as they embarked in four boats, and
put out from the shore.
“They are coming in strong force,” I remarked to my comrade in a low
tone. “They must count us desperate fellows.”
“We’d whip them now in a fair fight,” Master Lewis growled, “but to
have that number come down on us when we weren’t looking for them is
another thing. It’s lucky you discovered their plan, sir, and we got
out of their way.”
“Two of the boats are coming up the strait,” I announced a moment
later. “Can it be they are going to land here?”
“If so, we’ll have to run,” was the boatswain’s laconic comment.
All our attention was now given to these two boats, and in preparation
for their possible landing I aroused my men. Rapidly and almost
noiselessly the yawls came up towards us, but instead of attempting to
land, they rounded the point and went on down the north side of the
island.
Master Lewis nudged me. “See!” he exclaimed in a whisper. “They are
sent down to cut off our escape from the water side. The red-coats
don’t mean to give us a chance to get out of their clutches.”
“But look there, sir,” another of my men cried out almost aloud, and
before I could answer Master Lewis. “The land force has divided, and a
part of them are coming up this way!”
A single glance told me he was right. Upon landing, the enemy had
separated into two squads, one going down through the woods, doubtless
to approach our old camping place from the south and east sides; while
the other was following the shore, to make an attack from the west. I
immediately thought of Master Lewis’s declaration: “The red-coats don’t
mean to give us a chance to get out of their clutches.” They certainly
had planned to hem us in from all sides, and would succeed if we did
not move promptly. So I gave the command:
“Quick, lads! Launch the boat! We must get away from here at once.”
They knew this as well as I did, and obeyed with alacrity. The next
moment they had lifted the yawl and were carrying it down to the
water’s edge. The boats of the enemy were already below us, and could
we get off the shore before the land force discovered our proximity,
there was still a chance for us to slip away unnoticed in the darkness.
I believe we should have done it but for an accident.
It was quite dark, and in our haste we had no time to pick our way.
One of my men struck against an obstacle, and stumbling, fell to the
ground, pulling the boat and two or three of his companions down upon
him. The mishap not only made a noise which reached the ears of the
coming squad, but broke the unfortunate fellow’s leg. He struggled
vainly to regain his feet, and then sank back with a groan.
But he did not forget the danger we were in. Had he done so, the yells
of the red-coats as they quickened their steps to overhaul us, would
have reminded him of it. Heroically he cried:
“Leave me, sir! There’s time for you and your men to escape.”
But that was a thing I would not do, even if we were all captured; and
to their credit I will say there was not a man among us who would have
done it. Instead six, at my order, picked up the boat and hurried to
the water with it, while the others raised their injured comrade and
hastened after them. I closely followed.
The steps of the coming British sounded dangerously near, but we
worked calmly. The yawl was launched; the suffering sailor was laid
gently in her; the men took their places; and all but Boatswain Lewis
and myself had embarked.
“Step in, sir,” he said. “I’ll push the craft off.”
“No,” I commanded, “get in yourself. It is my place to be the last.”
I said this, for I knew the enemy were almost upon us, and hoped to
save my men, if not myself. He obeyed, just as a pair of stout hands
clutched my shoulders and their owner cried:
“Not so fast, my young gander; we’ll keep you with us a while longer, I
reckon.”
I did not attempt to resist him. I spent all my strength to push off
the yawl with my feet. A vigorous kick sent her gliding off from the
shore.
“Away, lads!” I shouted. “You know where to go and what to do,” and
then I was borne down to the ground, and at least a half dozen
red-coats held me down.
Several of the squad followed our boat into the water in their zeal to
capture it, but my men were too quick for them, and rowed it beyond
their reach. Then the Britishers hallooed for their own boats to
return, and give chase to ours. By this time they had allowed me to
regain my feet, and I again called out:
“Never mind me, lads! Make good your own escape, and finish the work I
have left undone.”
“Aye! aye! sir!” came the answer across the water, and I knew Boatswain
Lewis had heard and understood my command and would complete the task
assigned to me of reporting the movements of the British army.
I received a blow across my mouth from the officer in charge of the
squad for my act, accompanied with the surly words:
“Shut your mouth, you young puppy! But for your kick and bark we might
have captured your boat and crew. I only hope the General will regard
you as a spy and hang you to the nearest tree.”
His boats had come back up the shore, and now at his order went on in
the darkness, hoping to overhaul my comrades--a thing I am glad to
say they were not able to do. He then despatched a messenger down the
island to intercept and recall the other land force. These matters
attended to, he surrounded me with his men and marched off to the
place where he had landed. When the other squad rejoined him, he gave
the command to return to the camp. There I was placed in a tent, in
use as a temporary guardhouse, and surrounded with soldiers who kept
watch over me until morning. At an early hour they carried me into the
presence of General Clinton.
“So you are the Yankee spy my men captured last night?” he demanded
sternly.
“I hardly see how you can call me that, sir,” I answered as pleasantly
as I could. “I was not taken in your camp.”
“Do you deny that you were watching my movements in order to report
them to the commander of the rebel forces?” he asked.
“No, sir; I do not,” I replied, “but I have not been inside of your
lines, and have never intended to come inside of them. I am simply the
commander of a boat sent out by our Commodore to watch your landing--an
act I believe that makes me a prisoner of war now that I am so
unfortunate as to be captured, but not a spy.”
“Who are you?” he now questioned.
“Midshipman Arthur Dunn, of the frigate _Boston_,” I responded, knowing
of no reason why I should conceal my identity.
“Oh! ho!” was his quick ejaculation. “I believe there is another
frigate on board of which they will be glad to see you. Since you
have deserted her twice, you may not find it hard to recall her name.
She will be in New York by the time I get back there. I am told her
commander has an order from our Naval Board to hang you to the nearest
yard-arm. So I’ll keep you and turn you over to him. He can do what I
perhaps could not legitimately do.”
I was taken back to the guardhouse, where I was given a frugal
breakfast, and then put under the care of an officer and six men, who
were given strict commands to shoot me down at my first attempt to
escape.
The troops were already breaking camp, and all day long I marched with
them as they proceeded up the coast towards Charleston. At night, when
they again went into camp, I was remanded to the guard tent, where,
regardless of the number of men they put over me, I threw myself on the
ground, and, worn and weary, sunk into a deep slumber. I was too tired
to make any attempt to escape.
How long I slept I do not know, but I was awakened by hearing a voice,
which I felt sure belonged to Lieutenant Haines, demanding an immediate
entrance to my tent. His demand to my surprise was quickly granted,
and the next instant he stood before me, clad, as I could see by the
light which came through the doorway from an adjacent campfire, in
the uniform of an English officer. Holding up his hand to check the
exclamation which had risen to my lips, he said sternly:
“Young man, the General wishes to see you at once. Follow me!”
I arose and followed him out by the guards, who made no attempt to stop
us. Once in the open air, he quickly led me into the shadow of some
trees, and whispered in my ear:
“Not a word, now, sir. I’ll explain everything later. Put on these
clothes over your own,” and he took from the bosom of his own coat the
uniform of a British soldier. It took me but a minute or two to comply
with his request, and, having donned the disguise, I stalked along
after him towards the nearest outposts.