A BRIGHT MORNING AND A DARK DAY.--ATTACK ON NEW YORK.--MERCER SHOWS HIS
SYMPATHY WITH THE AMERICANS.--THE BATTLE RAGES.--FIELD OF BATTLE.--
ASSIST A WOUNDED AMERICAN.--FIRED AT BY OUR FRIENDS.--ANOTHER TRIP ON
SHORE.--FALL INTO THE HANDS OF HESSIAN TROOPS.--RESCUED BY GENERAL
PIGOT.--SENT WITH DESPATCHES TO LORD HOWE.--MY BOAT'S CREW MUTINY.--NEW
YORK ON FIRE.--TREATMENT OF SUPPOSED INCENDIARIES.--REMARKS ON THE
WAR.--THE CONDEMNED SPY.--MERCER PLEADS FOR HIM IN VAIN.--HIS EXECUTION.
By early dawn on the morning of the 23rd of September, 1776, every one
was astir. The sultry atmosphere alone, even under ordinary
circumstances, would have made us glad to leave our berths. It had
become known that a combined attack by the land and sea forces was to be
made on the enemy. The mighty sun rose over Long Island in a blaze of
glory, and shot upward into a cloudless sky as the anchor was lifted.
Fold after fold of our white canvas was let fall, and the other ships of
the squadron following our example, we once more moved onward along the
shore of Manhattan Island.
The scene was one of great beauty. The rays of the bright luminary fell
on the wood-crowned heights of Harlem on one side, and of Morrissania on
the other side of the creek, throwing the promontories into bold relief,
and the bays and inlets, with which the coast is indented, into deeper
shade, while rich fields, and meadows and orchards, as they basked in
the soft morning light, gave the whole landscape an appearance of
calmness and peace, soon to be broken by the rude realities of fierce,
unrelenting warfare.
As soon as we weighed anchor the troops of the enemy, who had been
watching us under arms since dawn, began to march along the shore close
to us, regardless of the danger they ran of destruction, for had we
opened our broadsides, we might have played sad havoc among them. They
were not quite so fantastically dressed as my friends at Cape Henlopen,
but still there was a very great variety of costume, and a lamentable
want of discipline among them. If the front rank did not advance fast
enough, the rear would give them a shove or a kick to urge them on, all
the time making significant and not very complimentary signs to us to
come on shore and fight them, while they tried to express their supreme
contempt for us by every means in their power, shouting out taunting
words, and abusing us in no measured terms.
Our men had two days before stood the battering we got with comparative
calmness, but the taunts and signs of the foe now enraged them beyond
all endurance.
"Wait a bit, my lads, and then won't we give it you!" sung out Dick
Trunnion, a sturdy topman, and many similar expressions were uttered by
others.
"Oh, Muster Hurry, don't yer think the captain would let us go ashore,
and give them chaps the drubbing they deserves?" asked Tom Rockets as I
passed, doubling his fists while he spoke. "I'd like to give them a
hiding."
"Never mind them, lads," said old Grampus, turning his back to the
shore, and looking over his shoulder at the foe with a glance of supreme
contempt. "They knows no better; and fancies because we don't hit we
can't. Poor fellows! I pities them, that I do. They bees little
better than savinges, only they wants the paint and feathers."
I felt very much as Nol said he did; but I suspect that his anger was
rather more excited than he chose to confess. The truth was that these
were mostly raw militia regiments, who had seen little or nothing of
warfare, and from the previous occurrences of the war had been taught to
look with contempt on British prowess. The regulars in most instances
behaved admirably, and nothing could surpass the bravery of the officers
of all ranks. This their greatest enemies could not deny; but the
militia were of a very different stamp, and the men, unable to depend on
each other or their officers, on several occasions fairly turned tail
and ran away. I fancy that most of our opponents on the present
occasion were of that class. We stood on till we reached a spot about
fifty yards from the enemy's entrenchments, a little below Blackwell's
Island, where the squadron dropped their anchors, and calmly furled
sails. There we lay for some time without exchanging a shot, expecting,
however, that some hot work was about to be commenced. The glasses of
the officers were in the meantime constantly turned towards the small
islets in the direction of Long Island. At length Captain Hudson
uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
"They come! they come!" he cried out, and as he spoke a flotilla of
boats were seen emerging from among the tree-covered shores of Bushwick
Creek. They formed the first division of flat-bottomed boats, having on
board a force of 4500 men, under the immediate command of General Howe.
Slowly and steadily they advanced, like some huge black monsters
covering the blue surface of the tranquil and hitherto peaceful Sound.
The drum now beat to quarters.
"Now my boys, if so be you want to punish them poor savinges as has been
beguiling you, your time's soon coming," growled out old Nol, as the
crew were hurrying with alacrity to their guns.
The only person whose countenance showed no satisfaction was Mercer.
Pale as death, he stood at his post over his division of guns; but I saw
that he would rather have died a hundred deaths than engage in the work
he felt it was his duty to perform. From my heart I pitied him. There
was but little time, however, for thinking of that or any other matter.
On came the flotilla of boats. Not a shot had as yet disturbed the calm
tranquillity of the scene. A thin, gauze-like mist was spread over the
distant portions of the landscape. The hot sun struck down on our
heads; the blue expanse of water glittered in his bright rays, and the
sea-fowl skimmed over it, dipping their wings ever and anon, as if to
refresh them in the liquid element. Everything still wore an aspect of
perfect peace. The boats at last got within fifty yards of the ships.
A signal flew out from the mast-head of the Phoenix--the knell of many a
human being. It was the signal to engage.
"Fire away, my lads," was shouted along the decks. It was not necessary
to repeat the order. Never did a crew work their guns with more
alacrity. The shot rushed like a storm of gigantic hailstones among the
ill-fated Americans, tearing up their entrenchments and scattering the
earth and palisades far and wide. In a very short time the
fortifications in which they had trusted were blown to atoms; still we
fired on as fast as our guns could be loaded and run out. The enemy
answered us from various points; but with little effect. In a few short
moments, how changed was the scene from what it had lately been! Now
from point to point, and through every sheltered nook and bay resounded
the roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the
combatants, the shrieks and groans and agonising cries of the wounded,
while above all hung a dark, funereal pall of smoke, ascending from the
scene of strife, shutting it out as it were from the bright blue
glorious firmament above, and, if it could be, from the all-searching
eye of the Creator of men who were thus disfiguring His image by their
furious passions, and dishonouring Him by the infraction of all the
precepts of that mild, that beneficent religion, which He in His
unsearchable love sent His only Son to teach them to obey.
But where am I driving to? I did not think thus at the time. No; my
blood was up; my evil passions were aroused; and I was as eager as
anyone to shed blood, and utterly careless of all the consequences to
myself and others. Never have I witnessed a more tremendous fire than
was kept up by our ships for fifty-nine minutes, during which time in
the Orpheus alone we expended 5366 pounds of powder. I kept no note of
the number of shot we fired away. The very first broadside made a
considerable breach in the enemy's works. At the end of the time I have
mentioned the boats advanced, and the signal was made to cease firing.
As they touched the beach the men sprang on shore, and, forming rapidly,
gallantly rushed towards the entrenchments with fixed bayonets and loud
cheers. The enemy scarcely waited to deliver their fire, but, throwing
down their arms, fled on all sides in the utmost terror and confusion,
earnestly petitioning for quarter. The red-coats leaped through the
breaches made by our guns, and over the embankments, and were speedily
in possession of the enemy's works. As the smoke cleared away, the
ground far and near appeared covered with the bodies of the slain and
wounded, some with arms, others with legs, shot away, while parties of
fugitives were seen flying in every direction, pursued by our men,
especially by the Hessians, who seemed little disposed to give the
quarter which was asked.
I was not only a spectator but a participator in what I have been
describing. As soon as the ships ceased firing, our boats, of which I
commanded one, were ordered to aid in towing the flat-bottomed boats on
shore. As soon as the troops had landed, leaving Grampus in charge of
my boat, I, with another midshipman and Tom Rockets and two other men,
followed them into the entrenchments, and found myself shortly in the
rear of a body of Hessians as they charged over the ground. A poor
American was flying for his life, shrieking out for mercy. One of those
savage mercenaries either did not or would not understand him, and
before I could interpose had with a sweep of his sword severed his head
from his body, then, in savage triumph worthy of a Red Indian, sticking
it on a pole, carried it through the entrenchments, shouting out as if
he had performed some noble act of heroism.
Meantime several of the ship's boats were ordered to pull along-shore to
annoy the enemy in their flight and to prevent them from rallying. My
friend Hargrave and I, midshipmanlike and thoughtless of danger, set off
in the direction the enemy had taken along the shore, picking up a
number of articles which in their terror they had dropped or thrown
away, such as rifles, pistols, swords, spy-glasses, and even watches,
plate, and camp utensils of various sorts, which we knew would be most
acceptable to our mess. We passed many of the slain, knocked over in
their flight. As we ran thoughtlessly on, very little moved by these
sights, to which even the youngsters were becoming familiar, I heard a
deep groan. Looking round, I saw behind a bush a militiaman stretched
on the ground with a bad wound in his side.
"Oh, kill me! kill me! put me out of my misery!" he exclaimed as soon as
he saw me.
"No, I will not do that," said I; "but I will try if I can relieve you."
I had a flask of some rum and water in my pocket; I gave him some of it
to drink. There was, fortunately, a stream near; I got some fresh water
in a hat and washed his wound, and then bound it up with a piece of
shirt which I took from a dead man near. The poor fellow seemed much
revived and very grateful.
"There," said I, "you will be able to get off and join your people at
nightfall. It's not my business to take you prisoner."
"Thank you, stranger, thank you," said he; "Amos Spinks will not forget
your mercy and kindness."
I could not stay with him longer, but, leaving him a piece of biscuit
and a hat full of water, I ran on to join my companions, who, not seeing
me, had gone forward. The American had no idea I was an officer, for I
had on a white linen jacket which I wore at my quarters, and it was
consequently thickly begrimed with powder and dirt. I caught sight of
my party ahead, and ran on as fast as my legs could carry me, with the
load of spoils I had collected, to overtake them. As I neared them, and
was shouting to them to stop, I caught sight of one of our boats, with
Mr Heron, our second lieutenant, in her, pulling along-shore after me.
I saw that he was somewhat excited, and seemed urging on the men to pull
with greater speed. Just as I got up to my party, to our no small
astonishment, not to say dismay, he turned the bow of the boat towards
us, and bang he let fly a shower of grape from a gun placed there right
in among us, following up the unwelcome salute with a volley of small
arms. We shouted at the top of our voices, and made signs that we were
friends; but what with the smoke and his blindness, for he was
near-sighted, and the noise of the firing and the shouts of his men, he
neither made out who we were nor heard us, but continued peppering away
as before.
"Run, my lads, run," I sung out; "there's no disgrace running from
friends, but very unpleasant to be shot by them."
My party required no second order, but away we all scampered as fast as
we could go, scattering from each other to distract our friends in their
very unfriendly employment.
"Oh, Mr Hurry, I bees hit, I bees hit?" sung out Tom Rockets.
I expected to see him fall, but the shot only made him scamper on the
faster. Our flight, of course, made Mr Heron fire at us more
zealously, and we had to throw away all the things we had collected to
escape with greater speed from his heroic fury. We took a course
inland, and then turned back towards the place where we had landed.
Happily we soon got among trees and rocks and broken walls, which much
sheltered us, and Tom was the only man wounded. As soon as we got clear
of the shot from the boat, I called a halt to examine his hurt. It was
merely a slight flesh wound from a bullet in the leg, and a handkerchief
bound round it enabled him to walk on. It was now time to return on
board, so we made the best of our way to the boat, not without some
considerable risk of being shot by our own sentries. On my stepping on
deck I found several officers round the captain. Mr Heron was among
them.
"The rascally rebels can't stand us for a moment, sir," he was saying.
"A whole gang of them hove in sight as I was pulling along-shore--a
hundred at least--and stood hallooing to me and daring me to come after
them. I let fly among them, sent them scampering away like a flock of
sheep, knocking over a good dozen or more, I should think. It was rare
fun, sir."
"Very good fun for you, Mr Heron," said I, turning round; "but I beg to
assure you, sir, that there were not a dozen of us altogether."
"You! what do you mean?" he asked, with a look of surprise.
"Why, that I was one of the body of supposed rebels, and though we
shouted to you and begged you not to fire, you banged at us so furiously
that we had to throw away a whole heap of things we had collected, and
to run for our lives."
Captain Hudson and the other officers laughed not a little at this
exploit of Mr Heron's, for he was notorious for his boasting. He bore
me a grudge about it ever after.
"Well, Mr Hurry," said the captain good-naturedly, "you shall go on
shore in the afternoon with Mr Heron, and try to recover some of your
treasures."
Away we went in the afternoon accordingly in high glee, Mr Heron
expecting to pick up all sorts of things, and I hoping to recover those
I had lost. We soon reached the field on which Mr Heron boasted to
have gained his hard-won victory; but the swords and all the things of
value were gone, picked up by the plundering-parties who invariably
issue forth over the scene where the strife has been hottest, as birds
of prey gather on the carcase just fallen in the desert. I looked about
for the poor fellow I had assisted in the morning. He was gone. He
had, I concluded, either been taken prisoner, or had managed to crawl
off and rejoin his friends. We went on much farther than we had been in
the morning, picking up some drums and a few similar bulky articles,
which others had not thought worth collecting. We picked up in all nine
drums, one of the largest of which I sent to my friend, Jack Bluet, who
lived in a small house at Falmouth. It might have served him for a
drawing-room table. I hope he has got it still. A little way beyond
where I found the wounded man I came on the body of an officer. He lay
on his back, shot through the heart, his hand grasping a very handsome
fusee, and with a look of defiance still on his countenance. I suspect
he had been bush-fighting in Indian fashion, in hopes of checking the
advance of his enemies, in spite of the flight of his companions in
arms. He was a fine young man, and from his style of dress and general
appearance was evidently of respectable family. I stooped down, and,
undoing the grasp with which the dead man's fingers held the fusee, took
possession of it and ran after my companions. Still, as I hurried on,
the look worn by the features of the dead officer haunted me. I felt as
if I had been depriving him of his property. I thought of his mother
and sisters, or perhaps a young wife, who were doomed never to see him
again, or of friends who might be expecting to meet him that very day,
and for a moment all the dreadful results of warfare presented
themselves before me more vividly than they had ever before done. The
laughter and jokes of my companions, however, very quickly drove all
such thoughts from my mind. We had been joined by an acquaintance of
mine, Simeon, a midshipman of the Phoenix, who had with him the gunner
and seven men. By some means or other I had been separated from Mr
Heron and my boat's crew--indeed, my lieutenant had no particular fancy
for my society, so I joined company with Simeon, and together we rambled
into the woods. We had not gone far when we caught sight of a fellow
skulking among the trees. When he saw that he was observed he took to
his heels, and this of course made us give chase. The woods rang with
our shouts and cries, and we were not long before we came up with the
man, who proved to be a rebel militiaman. He sang out most lustily for
mercy, thinking that we were going to kill him, but we soon quieted his
fears on that score by assuring him that he was not worth powder and
shot. He seemed to be very grateful, and informed us that there had
been a smart skirmish in the wood between his party and a body of
Hessians, the latter of whom he believed were still in the neighbourhood
of the wood. Of the truth of part of his story the dead bodies
scattered here and there about were too true witnesses. Simeon and I,
on this, called a halt and consulted together with the gunner whether we
should go back or seek further adventures ahead.
"We have taken one prisoner, perhaps we may make some more and gain some
little credit when we present ourselves with them in camp, so I vote
that we go on," said I; and my proposal was agreed to.
As we supposed that we might be in the face of an enemy we kept closer
together than before, and moved on more cautiously. After advancing
some way we heard voices in an orchard on the skirts of the wood, and,
supposing the sounds to proceed from a party of the rebels, we presented
our muskets and advanced towards the gate of the orchard, fully
expecting to make more prisoners. Just, however, as we began to move on
up started before us a body of two or three hundred Hessians, with
glittering brass helmets on their heads, who, with fixed bayonets and
loud cries, charged furiously at us. Had we attempted to move they
would have shot us, so we stood our ground and sung out most lustily
that we were friends. They did not understand us, and, charging on,
would, I fully, expected, have bayoneted us on the spot. "Friends--
friends! English--British officers!" I sung out at the top of my
voice.
"Rebels, rebels!" was the only answer we got; and in another moment we
were knocked over with the butt-ends of their muskets. We picked
ourselves up as well as we could, and I pointed to my own and Simeon's
white cuffs and lapels, and told them that we belonged to the British
fleet, but to no purpose; and what was my dismay when they showed us at
a little distance an unfortunate rebel officer who lay on the ground
with his leg shot off, and who was dressed in the same uniform which we
wore. He told them as well as he could that he knew nothing of us, but
they would not believe him, and, having talked together in their hideous
lingo, once more knocked us over and began belabouring us with their
muskets. I never met such savages, and I am not surprised that they
were hated by the poor colonists. I am sure we bore them no love,
especially just then. We sung out lustily for mercy, for to our horror
we saw that they were about to finish us off by plunging their bayonets
into us, when our cries brought up an officer on horseback, in whom, to
my great satisfaction, I recognised General Pigot, the commander of the
division to which they belonged. He knew me on board the Chatham, and
was thus able to assure the Hessians who I was. They made all sorts of
apologies, which afforded us a very small amount of satisfaction.
Thanking General Pigot for his timely rescue, we set off to return to
our ships, heartily sick of our day's adventures--hungry and battered,
indeed, very much in need both of cook and doctor.
The next day we weighed and, parting from the Phoenix and the other
ships with which we had been in company, ran up between Blackwell's
Island and the main. As we were running at the rate of some four or
five knots an hour a shock was felt which made the ship shiver
throughout her whole frame. The pilot turned pale, as if he expected to
be shot on the spot. He had put us on a rock. Captain Hudson, cool as
usual, issued his orders as if nothing particular was the matter, and we
quickly swung off again and proceeded on our way till we brought up
snugly in Turtle Cove. While the ship lay there I was sent, on the
25th, with dispatches to Lord Howe, then residing on Staten Island. My
boat's crew on this occasion consisted either of pressed men or of
fellows whom I knew to be among the greatest blackguards in the ship.
On the way down they showed signs of an unruly disposition by pulling
slowly and not putting out their strength when I ordered them. Their
conduct, however, did not trouble me, and I forgot all about it as I
walked up to present my dispatches to his lordship. I have always
entertained the greatest respect for Lord Howe. He was a good seaman--
of bravery undoubted--cool and thoughtful in danger--generous and kind,
and considerate for those under his command and careful for their
interests. He was much abused by the royalists in America, as well as
by many in the army and fleet, as also at home, because he did not seem
anxious to push matters to extremes at once with the rebels and allow
fire and sword to be carried throughout their territories. But he
looked upon them as fellow-beings and fellow-subjects, and though
misguided, he considered that they had too much reason for their
rebellion to be treated with the severity others proposed. I have heard
that after an action he would go below and visit each wounded man as he
lay in his hammock, and stop and talk to him, and would send wine and
poultry from his own stock to those whom the surgeon thought required
it. Such are the deeds by which an officer can easily win the hearts of
seamen. I had not to wait long before I was told to walk into his room,
and I found myself in the presence of a dark and somewhat hard-featured
man--with a figure, however, tall, well-proportioned, and dignified.
Had I not known him by repute I should have been somewhat awe-struck,
but as he spoke his countenance brightened up, and his kind look
dissipated all feeling of fear.
"Sit down, youngster," said he, "and let me hear your account of the
action of the 23rd. As your ship was at hand I conclude you saw it."
I gave him the best description in my power of what I had seen, taking
care to make no reflections on the events of the day. He seemed much
interested, and hastily writing a letter, as soon as it was copied, told
me to return with it to Captain Hudson.
When I got back to my boat I had no little difficulty in collecting my
men, and soon after I shoved off I found that they were one and all
drunk. As long as they pulled on I said nothing, but in a short time
they began to grumble at having come away without more liquor.
"What's the odds?" said one. "The shortest way is to go back and get
it."
"My idea, Sam!" cried another. "If we once get aboard our chance is
over."
"About, shipmates," exclaimed a third. "Never mind the youngster."
"But you will have to mind me, my lads!" I exclaimed, springing up with
my hanger in my hand. "You've made a mistake if you fancy that I allow
tricks to be played with me."
For a short time they were silent, and, hoping that I had cowed them by
my promptitude, I again sat down in the stern-sheets. I kept my weapon
in my right hand, however, for I was aware how completely I was in their
power if they chose to proceed to extremities. I had come away without
pistols, so that I had only my hanger to depend on, and they might, if
they had acted together, have wrenched it from my grasp and,
overpowering me, have hove me overboard. They would then have escaped
without much difficulty to one of the nearest American posts and joined
the rebels. While I was thinking over this very pleasant subject, and
contemplating myself swimming for my life up East River, they again
began to grumble.
"I'll not pull another stroke!" cried one fellow with an oath.
"Nor I! Nor I!" exclaimed others.
Two, I remarked, did not speak; and addressing myself to them, I asked
if they would join in so rascally and uncalled-for a mutiny.
It was now getting very dark, and I could scarcely see the features of
the men, so as to be prepared for what they were about to do. The boat
lay motionless on the water. If I hesitated I was lost.
"Take to your oars and give way, or I will cut you to pieces, you
scoundrels!" I shouted, springing up and making a cut with my hanger at
the hands of one of the most mutinous. "If you won't use your bands,
I'll chop them off. Pull, I say!"
I should have been as good as my word had not the fellow taken to his
oar, while my blade struck the gunwale of the boat, by which the point
was broken. The mutineers now rose in a body and seemed about to make a
rush on me. On this, I began slashing away to keep them at bay, cutting
them over the hands and arms pretty severely.
The two men, one of whom pulled the stroke-oar and the one next him, now
sang out that they would obey my orders.
"Then we'll heave you all overboard together!" cried the most drunken of
the mutineers.
"Will you, my man?" I exclaimed, making a cut at him with my hanger.
"Then take that first!"
He stumbled and fell with his face aft, thereby saving his life, though
I again broke the blade of my hanger almost up to the hilt. The other
men, fancying he was killed, hung back, while I dragged his senseless
body into the stern-sheets and stowed him away, for he was stunned with
the effect of his fall and his drunkenness. The men forward sat sulkily
down, perhaps they would not have remained quiet had they known I had
broken my hanger. They refused however to pull, and one after the other
dropped off into a drunken sleep. The two more steady ones did their
best to pull on, and the tide fortunately favoured us, or I do not know
where we should have got to. I have seldom been placed in a much more
fearful position. Any moment the mutineers might wake up and,
remembering the consequences their conduct was sure to bring on them,
might again attempt to overpower me and carry off the boat to the enemy.
I was weary and hungry, and in the darkness of night all sorts of
dreadful thoughts occurred to me as I slowly floated over those perilous
waters. I felt a strong inclination at times to run into New York to
try and get aid; but I thought if I did the men would certainly escape
and hide themselves before I could find any of the military authorities
to afford me assistance. New York by this time was entirely in the
hands of the British. On the day we landed at Kip's Bay General Howe
pushed forward part of his troops to encompass the city on the land
side, when General Putnam, the American commander who held it, was
compelled to make a precipitate retreat, being very nearly cut off
before he joined Washington at King's Bridge. Had not, indeed, the
British delayed their advance to refresh themselves, they would in all
probability have captured the whole division of the rebel army. A large
number of the inhabitants remained in New York, those only who had taken
a prominent part in the rebellion thinking it necessary to leave it. It
was very doubtful, however, had I gone on shore, whether I should have
fallen among friends or foes. I resolved, therefore, to make, the best
of my way to the ship. I watched the lights glimmering in the houses,
one after the other being put out as I pulled slowly by, and I could
hear the constant call of the sentries as the officers went their
rounds, while any moment I felt that my mutinous crew might come to
their senses and make an end of me. I amused myself, however, by
whistling and singing snatches of songs to make them suppose that I was
perfectly indifferent to their threats, and at length, by half-past one
in the morning, to my great relief I got alongside the ship. The
mutineers only at that moment roused up, and very much astonished they
were to find themselves clapped into irons as soon as they got on board.
The next morning they each received nine dozen, with the exception of
the two who had at once returned to their duty. I took care to get them
ultimately rewarded.
The most disagreeable duty we had to perform while we lay in Turtle Bay
was to row guard at night abreast of Hell Gate, the name, as I have
before mentioned, given to the entrance of Harlem River. With the
ebb-tide a terrific current sets out through the narrow channel, forming
a whirlpool, on which is bestowed the pleasant-sounding title of the
Devil's Pot. On one side is his gridiron, and on the other his
frying-pan, while another batch of rocks goes by the name of his "hen
and chickens." Now, although I cannot take upon myself to affirm that
even on the darkest and most stormy night I ever beheld his Satanic
majesty engaged in the exercise of his well-known culinary talents in
frying soles or any other fish or fowl, or quadruped, or biped, yet I
had the greatest dread of getting within the power of his voracious
cauldron. I therefore always kept at a respectful distance from it. I
advise all those who may have to visit the spot to follow my example.
I, however, often heard afterwards some very strange tales narrated by
the seamen who had been in the boats when thus employed and implicitly
believed by their auditors. In truth, although the master spirit of
evil may have no direct influence in the matter, a very large number of
vessels and boats have been lost on the surrounding rocks.
The constant hard service in which we had been engaged since we left
England had placed a large number of our men on the sick-list. During
our stay in Turtle Bay we landed them at Blackwell's Island, where they
considerably recovered their strength. From the same place we
abundantly supplied the ship with fresh meat and vegetables, luxuries to
which we had long been strangers. On the 29th of September I had the
middle watch. It had just gone six-bells, when, as I was casting my
eyes towards the city, I saw a bright light suddenly dart up towards the
sky. It was rapidly succeeded by other flashes till the whole firmament
seemed to glow with a bright, ruddy light. "The city is on fire--the
city is on fire!" was the general cry on board. There was a strong
wind, and as the fire must have already made much progress, we had great
fear that the whole city would be burned down. It was proposed at once
to make a party to go and see what was the matter, and, a messmate
taking my watch, I got leave to join it. Away we pulled as fast as we
could, and after we had reached the shore we had no difficulty in
finding our way to the scene of destruction. Everybody in the place had
turned out of bed. Some were rushing about in despair at the loss of
all their worldly property, not knowing where to go to find shelter--
others were searching for friends or relatives, in doubt whether or no
they had fallen victims to the flames--others were endeavouring to stay
the progress of the fire. The most active in this work were the British
troops. They had formed a close circle round the burning part of the
city and were engaged in blowing-up and pulling down houses, deluging
others with water, and cutting off the communication in every direction.
We were attracted by a dense crowd and loud cries in one direction. We
ran to the spot, where we found a number of soldiers who appeared to be
in a highly exasperated state. They had among them a dozen or more men
whom they were dragging forward towards the flames. "Burn them in their
own bonfire!" they were shouting out; "Burn them in their own bonfire--
they were going to burn us out of our quarters!" We asked a civilian
who stood at a house-door looking on what had occurred.
"Why, the soldiers think they have got hold of the men who set the city
on fire, and they are going to pay them off. Maybe they are the men who
did it, or maybe they are rogues and vagabonds who were prowling about
for plunder--so it matters little, I guess," was the answer we received.
We left our philosophical friend smoking his pipe; he was evidently one
of those who care little what becomes of the world provided they are
comfortable. We followed the soldiers till we came to some scaffolding
erected for building a house, several ropes were hanging about it. The
humour seized the soldiers to hang up some of their prisoners, and in a
trice four of the unhappy wretches were run up by the heels, while their
heads hung downwards. In that position the infuriated soldiers dashed
at them with the butt-ends of their muskets, and very soon put them out
of their misery. Their companions in misfortune, if not in guilt,
meantime were shrieking out for mercy and protesting their innocence,
but in vain. The soldiers laughed and jeered at them, and hurrying them
on up to a burning house, forced them into the flames at the points of
their bayonets. As they rushed shrieking out covered with fire, they
were driven back again till the devouring element grasped them at length
in its deadly embrace. Then, with loud shouts of demoniacal
satisfaction, the enraged soldiers rushed away to look for fresh
victims. Miserable was the fate while they were in that humour, of
those who fell into their hands. I never saw so dreadful a spectacle
before, and hope never to see such a one again.
A short time afterwards General Howe had to send a flag of truce to
General Washington respecting an exchange of prisoners, when he was said
to have most solemnly denied having had anything to do with the burning
of the city. The flames were happily stopped after about a fourth part
of it had been burned to the ground. On the night of the 30th the
rebels made an attack on Montizieur's Island, but were repulsed with the
loss of a major and several men who were taken prisoners.
On the 2nd of October Delisle and I, with Harry Sumner, having got leave
to go on shore, agreed to walk out to visit the lines at King's Bridge,
where our army was intrenched in sight of that of the Americans. Just
as we were setting off Mercer said he would come also. The day was
lovely. The air was so bright and pure and exhilarating that it was a
pleasure alone to breathe it--one of those days of autumn met with in
the northern part of America which go by the name of the Indian summer.
A thin gauze-like mist filled the atmosphere, giving a warm, almost
tropical, look to the landscape; the water looked bluer, the fields
greener, the sands yellower, and the rocks browner than I had ever seen
them; while the tints of autumn, just showing themselves on the more
exposed sides of the trees, gave the woods wonderfully rich and varied
hues. We took a path through orchards and woods and across fields,
meadows, and gardens, which bore evident and sad traces of the advance
of hostile armies. Fences and embankments were levelled, cottages
burnt, fruit-trees and fruit-bushes cut down or uprooted, gardens
trampled over and destroyed, here and there a few fragrant flowers
rearing their heads like guardian angels among the surrounding scene of
havoc, alone showing that the spot might once have been some peaceful
man's earthly paradise.
We at length reached the British lines. They extended in one continuous
encampment from Horen's Hook on the Harlem River for about two miles
directly across the island of Manhattan to the Hudson, both flanks being
guarded by the men-of-war. Commanding the sea, as we did, it was
impossible to hold a stronger position. On the other side of an open
plain, well posted on a succession of rocky heights, appeared the rebel
forces, the advanced sentries of the two armies being within hail of
each other. On our left the enemy occupied a strong fortress called
Fort Washington, which overlooked the Hudson, and two miles north of it
was King's Bridge, the only passage to the mainland across the inlet of
the Hudson I have before mentioned, which joins it to the Harlem River,
called by the Dutch Spyt den Duivel Creek, and which still retains its
unpleasant-sounding name.
The object of our party seemed to be to get possession of Fort
Washington, and so cut off the retreat of the enemy. It was said that
General Howe ought to have sent a strong force up the Hudson and
attacked Washington in the rear, while the rest of the army pressed him
in front; but he did not make the attempt till it was too late, and a
large portion of the American troops had crossed King's Bridge and taken
up a strong position among the hills in the interior. There was a good
deal of severe fighting after this, and Fort Washington, which had been
gallantly defended by a brave American officer, Colonel Magan, was
captured by us, with its garrison of upwards of two thousand men.
We spent some time in the camp talking to various acquaintances among
the soldier officers whom we met, and as we wandered on we came to a
spot where a drum-head court-martial was sitting. They were trying a
man who had been accused of being a spy, captured endeavouring to make
his way out of the camp at night. He had just been pronounced guilty.
He stood with his arms bound and soldiers holding him on either side.
He was a fine tall young man with an intelligent countenance, and though
dressed in the hunter's garb of a backwoodsman, torn and travel-stained,
and covered with dirt, while his appearance was as rough as he could
make it, I thought as I looked at him that he was above the rank he had
assumed. A few short moments only were allowed him from the time of his
condemnation till his execution. His guilt was clear; he did not even
attempt to defend himself. The president had just finished addressing
him as we came up.
"If it is a crime to love one's country better than anything else on
earth, to exert every faculty of mind and body, to sacrifice one's time
and property, to risk liberty and life to serve her, then I am guilty--
to love liberty and freedom of conscience, to hate tyranny and
oppression, then I am indeed a criminal," he answered in an unshaken
voice. "You call me a spy and load me with opprobrium. It was
necessary to gain information as to the movements of your mercenary
army: twice have I obtained that information and carried it to our noble
general. My only regret is that I have not succeeded a third time in so
doing; but understand that though I have thus laboured to injure you
secretly, I have ever fought openly against you on the field of battle,
and on that account I might plead to die a soldier's death, and not to
be treated as a dog and hung. Yet it matters little. According to your
laws my sentence is just. I seek not to appeal from it, and I die with
the joyous certainty that the righteous cause for which I suffer will
triumph at last, and that your proud legions will retire from this
country defeated and disgraced."
"Silence, young man?" exclaimed the president; "you departed from your
allegiance to your lawful sovereign; you acknowledge that you have taken
up arms against his troops, and you are now found acting the despicable
part of a spy. Your false reasoning cannot induce me to alter the
sentence pronounced against you. You have but a few minutes in which to
take your farewell of life."
No sooner did Mercer catch sight of the prisoner than he turned very
pale, and as he laid his hand on my shoulder I felt that it trembled
violently.
"What is the matter, Mercer?" I asked.
"That noble fellow who stands there is my schoolfellow, my old familiar
friend!" he cried, scarcely aware of what he said; then, unable to
restrain himself, he rushed forward and seized the prisoner's hand.
"Sydney Markham!" he exclaimed, with deep earnestness, looking up into
the face of the condemned man, who gazed at him with an expression of
recognition and affection; "say that you are not guilty; that you have
not been acting the part of a spy. You were ever the soul of honour; I
will answer for you; they will not destroy you. If they give you time
you can easily disprove the foul accusation brought against you. Say
so, Sydney, speak! Tell them that you are not guilty. I will fly to
the general--I will go on my knees before him, I will entreat for your
life; I will offer mine instead of yours."
The unhappy young man shook his head, and with a faint smile answered,
"Mercer, I cannot disprove the accusation brought against me. We may
differ in our views, yet, believe me, I do not feel that I have swerved
from the path of honour, and therefore, noble and high-minded as you
ever were, I am still worthy to be called your friend. But we are
wasting precious time; the minutes of my life are numbered, and I must
prepare for death."
"Oh, no, no, no! I must strive to save you; I cannot bear to see you
thus snatched away from life." Then he turned abruptly to the president
of the court. "This man cannot be as guilty as you suppose, sir," he
exclaimed, with a look of agony; "he would never have sought to injure
the King's forces unfairly; let him live till I have seen Sir William
Howe; he may order a reprieve till he has inquired more into the
particulars of the case."
"You ask an impossibility, sir," answered the officer, who was of the
Martinet school, as stern and unbending as one of his men's muskets; "he
has been found guilty, and I have no power to reprieve him. We must put
a stop to this system of sending spies into our camp. The higher his
position and education the more deserving he is of punishment. Sergeant
of the guard, carry out the sentence pronounced on the prisoner."
"You see it is useless, my friend," said the young man. "Come and
assist me to meet death like a man."
"Oh, my friend, say rather like a Christian," cried Mercer, again taking
his hand; and together they walked to a tree where a sergeant and some
soldiers were arranging a block and rope. Mercer was allowed to
continue by the side of his friend, and together they knelt down on the
grass and prayed for mercy and forgiveness to Him who is the fountain of
all mercy and swift to forgive. The chaplain of one of the regiments
had been sent for. He came at length, and the prisoner accepted his
ministrations alone, but soon again asked Mercer to join him.
In a short time, terribly short it appeared to me, the officer in charge
of the party looked at his watch. The prisoner saw the movement; he
started to his feet. "I am ready," he exclaimed, with a firm voice; "I
willingly give my life for my country's freedom, well assured that ere
long America will be free to advance onward in the fulfilment of the
mighty destiny in store for her, and those who now seek to oppress her
will have departed with defeat and disgrace from her shores."
Mercer entreated him, when he ceased speaking, to calm himself; he did
so with wonderful self-command. Another quarter of an hour was allowed
him, and at the end of it a signal was given, the rope was thrown over
his neck, and he was run up to a high branch of the tree under which he
had been standing. There was a loud cry, but it was uttered by Mercer;
Delisle and I rushed forward--our messmate had fainted. We got him into
a neighbouring hut, where an officer gave us every assistance in his
power. Meantime the body of the spy had been removed. As soon as
Mercer had recovered we led him as quickly at possible out of the camp
in the direction of our ship, and got him without delay on board. He
made no allusion on the way to what had occurred; nor did he indeed ever
speak of it to me. I expected to find the next day that he was taken
ill, but he still went about his duty as usual, though his nervous
system had received a shock from which it was evident he would take long
to recover. This was the last adventure I have noted during our stay at
New York.