OLD NOL'S DREAM.--THE CHARON ON SHORE.--AFLOAT AT LAST.--EXPEDITION UP
THE CHESAPEAKE.--SENT ON SHORE.--CAPTURE GUIDES AND HOSTAGES.--VISIT
HAMPTON.--KINDLY RECEIVED BY MADELINE'S FRIENDS.--HER LIKENESS BUT NOT
HERSELF.--WARNED OF APPROACH OF AN ENEMY.--WE RETREAT, AND REGAIN OUR
SHIP.
With a proud confidence that we were sailing on to victory, and as all
hoped and believed to bring the war to a conclusion, the squadron
entered the Chesapeake on the evening of the 30th of December.
The Charon, however, did not make a good beginning. The lead was kept
going, and with a fair and light breeze we were running quietly on.
Suddenly, just as eight bells had struck, there was a shock felt--not a
very violent one, happily--but the cause we knew too well; the ship was
on shore on the Willoughby Shoal. The canvas was furled, and an attempt
instantly made to get her off; but there did not then appear much chance
of our efforts proving successful. We had been toiling away for two or
three hours, and still the ship stuck fast.
"I don't like this here event by no means at all, Tom," I heard Nol
Grampus observe to Tom Rockets.
Nol, though a sensible fellow in the main, was a thorough old salt, and
with all the usual prejudices of his class.
"To my mind ill-luck has set in against us. I had a dream t'other
night. I thought as how, while we was a-standing on under all sail,
thinking ourselves all right and free from danger, far away from land, I
saw a big fish--she was a whopper, depend on that--a-swimming along over
the sea. I looked at her, and she opened her mouth and made right at
the ship. Her upper jaw reached far up above the main-top mast truck,
and the lower one, I'd no doubt, dipped far away down below her keel.
Well, as I was a-saying, on she came, roaring away like a young
porpoise, and heaving the foam right over our mast-heads. I knew what
would happen, and so it did. Just as easily as the big shark in Port
Royal harbour would swallow a nigger boy, she made a snap at the ship
and bolted us all, masts and spars and hull, and I felt as how we was
all a-being crunched up in her jaws. I woke with a start, which made me
almost jump clean out of my hammock, all over in a cold sweat, and right
glad I was to find that it wasn't true; but, d'ye see, Tom, as to going
to sleep again, I couldn't for the life of me, but lay awake a-kicking
up my toes and turning the matter over in my mind. Says I to myself,
`There's some harm a-coming to the old barkie of some sort or other, or
my name's not Nol Grampus. When we gets ashore this evening,' says I to
myself, `this is the beginning on it,' and you'll see my words comes
true, Tom."
There was not light enough to allow me to observe Rockets' countenance,
but I felt very sure, from the exclamations in which he indulged, that
he was taking in the whole matter with open-mouthed credulity, scarcely
understanding that Grampus was only describing his dream, and that he
had fully made up his mind that some dreadful accident was about to
happen to the ship. The scene I have been describing took place during
one of the cessations from labour, while the captain and first
lieutenant and master were considering what means could next be adopted
to get the ship afloat again. I was anxious that Nol's remarks should
not be heard by the rest of the crew, for I knew by experience how
greedily such an idea as the one he had expressed--that the ship was
doomed--might be taken up by the crew, and perhaps produce the very
event he had predicted. I was about to step forward and interfere, when
the order was issued to carry out another anchor astern, and Grampus and
his listener had to go about their duty. All night long we were toiling
away, getting out all our anchors, starting the water, even lowering
some of the guns into the boats.
"I told you so; I knew how it would be," I heard Grampus remark just as
he happened to meet Tom, while I was passing. "Ill-luck has come to the
ship, and ill-luck will stick to her, unless so be we gets a parson
aboard and manages to heave him into the sea. That'll set things to
rights again, may be."
I was amused at the old man's recipe for averting the doom from the
ship. It was not, however, new to me, for I had before heard a similar
proposal made under like circumstances. Never did a set of men labour
and toil more perseveringly than did our crew that night. Still the
ship stuck fast. It became at last a matter of doubt whether we should
have to throw all our guns overboard, and perhaps our provisions and
ammunition; and if so, all hopes of gaining prize-money or of doing
anything in the way of fighting was over for a long time to come.
Captain Symonds of course was unwilling to resort to this alternative
till the last. Grog was served out to all hands, and then we set to
again with a will. Hour after hour passed; as yet the weather remained
moderate, but we could not conceal from ourselves the disagreeable fact
that, should it come on to blow, in the position in which we were
placed, the ship would too probably be knocked to pieces. We were all
so busily employed that the hours did not pass so heavily as they would
otherwise have done. We were in constant movement ourselves, and had to
keep the ship in constant movement to prevent her from forming a bed for
herself in the sand. The tide, which was ebbing when we got on shore,
at last turned and began to flow. Slow enough it came in to suit our
impatience. At length dawn appeared. The crokers were of opinion that
the clouds looked threatening. "If a gale springs up, the old ship will
leave her bones here, that's very certain," I heard one or two of them
remark. I watched the current as it came sweeping by us; the water was
evidently rising round the ship. Again all the strain we could command
was put on the hawsers. None but a seaman can understand the
satisfactory sensations we experienced as her vast hulk yielded to our
efforts. We felt that she was gliding off the bank. "She moves, she
moves! hurrah, hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Her speed increased,
round went the capstan right merrily. Again and again the men shouted.
She was clear of the bank. One after the other the anchors were
weighed, sail was made on the ship, and rapidly we glided up the mighty
Chesapeake. We proceeded up as high as Newportneuse, and so suddenly
and unexpectedly did we come on the enemy that a considerable number of
merchantmen were unable to make their escape. As soon as we had brought
up, the boats were lowered, and away we went in chase.
The moment the crews made out who we were, they cut their cables and
ran, while we in hot speed went after them. Some few gave it up as a
hopeless case and hauled down their colours; others ran on shore, and
their crews set them on fire, or we did so, to prevent any one from
benefiting by them. They were mostly loaded with Virginian tobacco. No
one in the fleet wanted a good supply of the fragrant weed after that.
We took or destroyed a dozen or more brigs and schooners. It might have
been necessary, but it was cruel work, and I did not think it was the
best way to make the planters of Virginia love us the more. Such was
the way our expedition commenced operations.
Before I proceed I must recommend my readers to look at a map of
Virginia bordering the southern or rather western side of the
Chesapeake, and examine the scene of the operations which, under the
directions of General Arnold, we were about to commence against the
rebels. To the east will be found that large estuary of the Atlantic
running nearly north and south, and known as Chesapeake bay, or gulf, or
river. It forms the eastern boundary of Virginia. Flowing into it from
the west the river Potomac bounds the State on the north, while a vast
marsh, known by the unattractive name of the Dismal Swamp, separates it
on the south from North Carolina. Between the Potomac and the Dismal
Swamp several other rivers and creeks are to be found. The largest is
James river, with Portsmouth and Gosport near the mouth. Running into
it on the north is Hampton creek, on which stands the town of Hampton,
and a little to the north of it again is York river and York Town, which
was to become the scene of operations of a character most disastrous to
the royal cause. York Town stands on an elbow of York river, between it
and James river. Some way up James river is the town of Richmond, the
capital of the State of Virginia. The country was, at the time of which
I am speaking, as densely populated and as well cultivated as any part
of the province of North America. The Dismal Swamp is an exception to
the fertility of the surrounding country. It is a vast quagmire,
composed of vegetable matter and the decayed roots of trees and plants.
On the surface appear in rich luxuriance every species of aquatic
plants, from the delicate green moss to the tall cypress. It covers, I
was told, an area of a thousand square miles, and is forty miles long
and twenty-five broad, having, however, in the centre, a lake of some
size fringed to the very borders with dense masses of trees which extend
even into the water itself. The water is perfectly level with the
banks, and sometimes overflows them. Altogether, from its uninhabitable
and impassable character, and the sombre appearance of its vegetable
productions, it well deserves the name given to it.
The last day of the year 1780 had now arrived. Captain Symonds sent for
me and informed me that I had had the honour of being selected for some
important duty, and that he could fully rely on my carrying it out with
my usual zeal, energy, and discretion. I bowed, and replied that I was
always anxious to do my duty; but my heart, I confess, did beat rather
quickly and anxiously in consequence of the possibility I at once saw of
realising the hopes I had so long entertained, I need not, however,
again revert to that subject.
"Some intelligent pilots are required to conduct the men-of-war and
transports up James river, as also some guides are wanted for the army
when they land," said my captain. "Now you see, Mr Hurry, as they
won't come simply because they are wanted, you are to go on shore and
catch them. Captain Hawthorne of the 80th Regiment, with two
detachments, one from the Queen's Rangers and one of his own men, will
accompany you. You will have altogether fully three hundred men. With
their courage and discipline they will be a match for a thousand or two
thousand rebels, and I expect that you will carry out your instructions
with credit to yourself and advantage to the service."
I bowed, and the captain continued: "It is believed that the enemy have
secured some of their vessels in Hampton creek. You are to find out
where they are, and, if you can, take possession of them and bring them
away. If not, burn or destroy them; at all events, acquaint yourself
sufficiently with the country to enable you to lead an expedition up the
creek to capture them. With regard to the inhabitants, you are to treat
them with civility and in a conciliatory manner. If necessary, of
course you will coerce them, but as much as possible show them that we
come as friends rather than as foes."
Having assured the captain that I fully comprehended my directions, and
would endeavour to carry them out to the full, I took my departure, to
prepare for the expedition.
I had a hundred picked men with me, including Nol Grampus and Tom
Rockets, whom I kept by me as my bodyguard. We got the soldiers all on
shore by seven o'clock in the evening at Newportneuse, where I joined
them with the blue-jackets. Meeting with no opposition, we were under
the impression that our landing was unnoticed. Forming on the shore we
began our march at about eight o'clock in good military order, the
Rangers in front, the seamen in the centre, and the 80th in the rear,
with advanced and flanking parties from the Rangers. I felt that we
were in an enemy's country, that any moment we might be attacked, and
that such precautions as we were taking were in no way derogatory to
those who would desire to be considered brave men. Others, as will
afterwards be seen, held a different opinion and suffered accordingly.
Captain Hawthorne, however, fully agreed with me in the wisdom of
adopting the precautions I proposed. We advanced in perfect silence,
feeling our way, for we were ignorant of where the path we were
following would lead us. Road, properly so-called, there was none.
After proceeding half a mile or so through a tolerably open country we
reached a thick wood, extending so far before us on either side that it
was in vain to hope to pass round it. Whether or not it was full of
lurking enemies we could not tell. There was nothing to be done but to
penetrate through it. There was something solemn and rather depressing
in the deep silence of that gloomy forest, with the tall gaunt trees
towering above our heads and shutting out the sky itself from view. In
some places it was so dark that we could scarcely discover our way, and
as we marched on we went stumbling into holes and over fallen trunks of
trees and branches, and more than once I found myself up to my middle in
the rotten stem of some ancient monarch of the forest long recumbent on
the ground. Some of the men declared that the wood was full of
rattle-snakes, and that they heard them rattling away their tails as
they went gliding and wriggling along over the ground, rather surprised
at having their haunts invaded by the tramping of so many hundred feet.
Others asserted that there were ghosts and hobgoblins and evil spirits
of all sorts infesting the locality; indeed, I suspect that there was
scarcely a man among them who would not more willingly have met a whole
army of mortal enemies rather than have remained much longer in that
melancholy solitude. Every moment I expected to hear the sharp crack of
the enemy's rifles and to see the wood lighted up with the flashes, for
I could scarcely suppose that they would allow us to pass through a
place, where, without much risk to themselves, they might so easily
molest us and probably escape scot-free. On we marched, or rather
stumbled and groped our way, till at length we emerged from the wood
into the clear light which the starry sky and pure atmosphere afforded
us. We were now among fields and fences, which gave us intimation that
some human habitations were not far-off. In a short time we saw before
us a good-sized mansion standing in the middle of a farm, with various
out-houses. Our first care was to draw up our men closely round it.
Hawthorne and I, with about twenty followers, then approached the front
door and knocked humbly for admission. Soon we heard the voice of a
negro inquiring who was there.
"Some gentlemen who wish to see your master on important business," I
answered.
"Ki! at this hour! Come again to-morrow, den; massa no see nobody
to-night."
"It is business which cannot be put off," said I. "Open, Sambo, you
rascal, or I shall be apt to break your head or your shins rather before
long if you are not quick about it."
Still Sambo seemed to have his suspicions that all was not right, and
very soon we heard somebody else come to the door and a discussion
commence as to who we could be. Again I knocked and began to lose
patience.
"Open, friend!" I exclaimed; "we are not robbers, nor are we officers
of the law, but we have a matter in which we want your assistance, but
cannot delay."
Soft words often have an effect when rough ones would fail. The bolts
were withdrawn, and, the door opening, a gentleman in a dressing-gown
and slippers, his wig off, his waistcoat unbuttoned, and his whole
appearance showing that he had made himself comfortable for the evening,
stood, candle in hand, before us. He held up the light and peered
before him into the darkness to ascertain who we could be. When his eye
fell on our uniforms and the red-coats of the soldiers his countenance
assumed a most ridiculously scared appearance, and with a groan of
terror he let the candlestick fall from his hands. The expiring flame,
as the candle reached the ground, showed me a female arm stretched out.
It hauled him through a doorway, and the door was slammed and bolted in
our faces. Directly afterwards we heard a window thrown up, and a voice
exclaimed--
"Fly, Ebenezer, love! fly and hide thyself, or these red-coated villains
will be the death of thee!"
We stood very quietly waiting the result. I knew pretty well what it
would be. In two minutes a voice was heard outside the window--
"Oh, mercy, mercy! Bridget, let me in again, let me in!" it said. "The
house is surrounded by armed men, and thy unhappy husband is truly
caught in the snares of the enemy."
We had no time to spare, so I thought it best to catch our friend and
see what we could make of him. I accordingly knocked at the door and
desired to be admitted.
"Oh, mercy, mercy! oh dear, oh dear!" was the only answer I got.
"Well, my friends, I can wait no longer," I exclaimed, in a voice which
showed that I would not be trifled with. "I have something to
communicate to you, and if you come out peaceably it will save trouble,
and be better for all parties. You have my word that no harm whatever
is intended you."
There was some discussion inside. I knocked pretty loudly two or three
times with the hilt of my sword. The hint was taken, and at length the
door was slowly and cautiously opened, and the worthy farmer and his
portly dame stood before us. I asked him his name.
"Ruggles," he answered, looking as if he did not love me certainly,
"Ebenezer Ruggles, and that's my wife Bridget. And now, stranger, what
is it you want of us?"
"Why, my friend, all I want you to do is to guide a party of his
Majesty's troops and blue-jackets by the nearest and best road to the
town of Hampton, and to give me such other information as I may
reasonably require," I replied, somewhat sternly. "I have lost some
time already, so put on your hat and great coat and come along."
"What! you are going to carry my husband off, are you? He'll not go; I
tell you that he shan't!" exclaimed Mrs Bridget, walking up in front of
him, like a turkey hen defending her young. "Whatever you want to know
I'll tell you, but you shan't take away my good man from me. He'd catch
his death of cold, I know he would. Here, Jeremiah! Boaz! Timothy!
Luke! Sarah! Martha! Jane! come and stop your dear father from being
shot, murdered, drowned, hung up as a Tory! Oh, dear, oh, dear! I
don't know what will happen to him."
As she spoke, a number of children streamed in from an inner room, the
smaller ones in their night-gowns, and all more or less in _deshabille_,
as if they had been hurriedly summoned out of their beds. They looked
at me, and the soldiers and sailors behind me, and then threw themselves
shrieking and crying round their father's neck. As I knew that we
should take very good care of the poor man, I could not stand this scene
very long, and had at last to tell him that he must put an end to it, or
that I must order the soldiers to separate him from his children and to
carry him off by force.
"Oh, you cruel, hard-hearted slave of a tyrant!" exclaimed their mother,
advancing boldly towards me; "you will not take him away--you will not--
you dare not! You'll have his life to answer for if you do."
"Come, come, madam," said I, "we must end this business at once. Your
husband must accompany me at all events. No harm will happen to him, so
don't be alarmed. Now, sir, put on your hat and accompany me."
I had a strong suspicion that she wished to gain time, and had perhaps
sent off some one to try and bring down the enemy on us.
Again there was a furious chorus of hugging and shrieking and crying and
kissing.
"Don't go--you shan't go--Papa, you mustn't go--we won't let you go--
hard-hearted, cruel tyrants!"
Such were the phrases which reached my ears, but Ebenezer Ruggles saw
that I was in earnest, and, signing to his wife, she brought him a thick
pair of shoes, a great coat, a stick and his hat, and then, in spite of
the renewed cries of his children, he signified, in a manly, fearless
way, that if we compelled him he would accompany us without resistance.
I accordingly took him by the arm, and succeeded at last in separating
him from his wife and children, and leading him out of the house. Even
after we had got some distance off we heard the cries of poor Dame
Bridget and her disconsolate brood. Ebenezer bore the trial very well.
"Now, friend Ruggles," said I, "you must understand that, if you guide
us right and play us no tricks, we will restore you safe to your wife
and family, but if you lead us into any difficulty I shall be under the
disagreeable necessity of shooting you through the head."
"Oh! if that's the case, then, I must tell you that you have come two
miles out of the road to Hampton," quoth Mr Ruggles. "If you had gone
on, you would have run your noses against a pretty strong force of our
States' army, who would have made mince-meat of you, I guess."
"They must have been pretty strong to impede the progress of a thousand
men," said I. "However, lead us by the best road and you shall be well
rewarded."
"That's reasonable," said Ruggles; and forthwith turning round, away he
trudged alongside me at the rate of nearly four miles an hour. He led
us back right through the dark wood and into the open country, and at
last we reached a fine broad open road. Along that we marched at a
great rate. We soon, however, came to a house. We instantly surrounded
it, and, very much to the surprise and alarm of the inhabitants, made
them prisoners. I rather think that our friend Ruggles was not sorry to
have a companion in his misfortunes. We soon had several. Every house
we came to we surrounded, and had to capture the inhabitants, that they
might not escape to give the alarm through the country. I cannot
describe all the scenes that occurred. Some were rather amusing, as we
knew that we were not going to injure the poor people. Others were
painful, from the dreadful alarm into which both men and women were put
when we appeared at their doors. Still greater was it when they found
that they had to accompany us on our march.
The night was drawing on, and there were as yet no signs of the town for
which we were bound. Every moment, of course, increased the probability
of our being attacked, for, notwithstanding all our precautions, we
scarcely hoped to have prevented some of the people getting off, who
might give notice of our advance. I began to suspect that Mr Ruggles
was playing us false. I told him so. He assured me that we were close
upon Hampton. I cocked my pistol to his ear, to remind him what would
be the consequence should he be playing us false. He stood firm, and my
confidence in him was restored. In five minutes he asked me to halt my
people, and assured me we were close upon the town. Just then the
advanced guard fell back, and reported that they had suddenly found
themselves at the entrance of a town. We accordingly formed our force
into three divisions. One party went round to the other side, one
remained where we then were, and a third, which I led, entered the town.
Having made a rapid survey of the place, Captain Hawthorne and I placed
a strong body of men at each end of the principal streets, and the
outskirts of the town being at the same time strictly watched, we felt
now that no one could escape or enter the place without our knowledge.
These arrangements being made, we commenced a series of visits to the
abodes of all the principal inhabitants. So silently had we proceeded
that many of them were not aware that the town was in our hands, and
their dismay may be more easily conceived than described when they found
armed men knocking at their doors, and in some instances breaking them
open. One of the first houses we visited was that of an oldish
gentleman--the richest merchant, we were told, in the town. We knocked
at first gently, and then louder and louder, till we heard some one
coming along the passage, and a negro voice inquired who was there and
what was wanted. The usual answer, "Your master--business of
importance--quick--quick!" made the poor black without further
consideration open the door, when in we rushed, and he, stepping back,
tumbled head over heels, and upset two or three of the first men who got
in. Amid shouts of laughter from us, and shrieks and cries from a whole
posse of negroes who ran out from their own dormitories, we hurried up
to the principal staircase. The hubbub, as well it might, roused the
master of the house and his better half from their drowsy slumbers--so
we concluded--for a gruff voice in tones irate began scolding away from
the top of the stairs at the blacks, demanding why they made so terrific
a noise--joined in occasionally by other far sharper notes.
"The blacks are not to blame, old gentleman," exclaimed Hawthorne,
springing up the stairs. "How do you do! We call upon you at rather an
unseasonable hour, I own, but our stay in the place is short you will
understand. We will have a little conversation together on public
affairs, and then I must trouble you for the keys of your stores, or an
order for the delivery of such provisions as we may require, for which I
am directed to offer you payment."
The old gentleman, not comprehending who we were, was almost struck down
at first on hearing this address, but, after a time, recovering himself,
he begged leave to slip on some more clothes, and promised that he would
then come down into his sitting-room and speak to us.
We heard him and the sharp-voiced lady discussing matters up-stairs.