SUSPENSE.
It is now in my mind to set down what may be dry reading for some who
chance to see this labor of love on which I am engaged, and yet if any
one desires to know exactly why it was the Britishers could destroy
the capital of our country, and come off very nearly scot-free, it is
absolutely necessary to become familiar with all our means of defense
at this time.
Therefore it is that I shall copy that which was published many years
later, by Mr. Lossing in his "War of 1812," and in so doing the reader
will ask how it is that I am writing this poor apology for a tale in
the year of grace 1814, and yet putting into it facts which were made
public many years later?
The answer to the riddle is not as puzzling as it would seem. I am now
man grown, with children of my own. Many years ago I put together this
story, and to-day, desiring that my own boys may read it, I am running
over the leaves to add here or there that which may make plain what
I, a lad of seventeen years, overlooked at the time, or believed to be
of little importance. How strange it is that the same thing appears
entirely different when viewed from the standpoints of a man and a
lad!
This is what Mr. Lossing says concerning the time of which I wrote
when everything was fresh in my mind, and the sense of a wrong done
this country by England still rankling deep in my heart:
"On the 6th of August (1814) the small British squadron in the
Chesapeake was reinforced by a fleet of twenty-one vessels
under Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, the senior commander on
the American station. These were soon joined by another under
Commodore Sir Charles Malcolm. These vessels bore several
thousand land troops commanded by General Ross, an Irish
officer, and one of Wellington's most active leaders.
Washington and Baltimore appear to have been chosen objects of
attack simultaneously. A part of the British naval force, under
Sir Peter Parker, went up the Chesapeake toward Baltimore, and
another portion, under Captain Gordon, went up the Potomac.
"At that time Commodore Barney, with a flotilla of thirteen
armed barges and the schooner Scorpion, with an aggregate of
about five hundred men, was in the Patuxent river. His vessels
had been chased out of the Chesapeake, and blockaded in St.
Leonard's Bay. Of this confinement they were relieved by some
artillery under Colonel Henry Carbery, with which he drove away
the Loire, the blockading frigate, when the released flotilla
went up the Patuxent, first to Benedict, and then to
Nottingham, that it might be within co-operating distance of
both Washington and Baltimore.
"Seeing this, the British determined to capture or destroy it,
and on the 18th of August a force of a little more than five
thousand men, composed of regulars, marines, and negroes went
up the Patuxent, and landed at Benedict with three cannon,
under cover of an armed brig. Most of the other large British
vessels were below, some of them aground, and all too heavy to
ascend the comparatively shallow stream.
"Barney, then at Nottingham, promptly informed the Navy
Department of the movement, and of a boast of the British
admiral that he would destroy the American flotilla, and dine
in Washington on the following Sunday. General Winder, by
direction of the War Department, immediately ordered General
Samuel Smith's division (the Third) of the Maryland militia
into actual service. He also called upon General John P. Van
Ness, commander of the militia of the District of Columbia, for
two brigades, to be encamped near Alexandria; and he sent a
circular letter to all the brigadiers of the Maryland militia,
asking for volunteers to the amount of one-half their
respective commands.
"By his orders, his adjutant-general, Hite, issued a stirring
appeal to the citizens to come forward, 'without regard to
sacrifices and privation,' in defense of the national capital.
Winder also asked General Stricker, of Baltimore, to send to
Washington his volunteer regiments of infantry and his rifle
battalion.
"The veteran patriot, General Smith, promptly responded to the
call of the government. He at once issued a division order, in
which he gave notice of the invasion, and directed the whole of
General Stansbury's brigade to be held in readiness for active
service, adding, 'the third brigade is now under the pay of the
United States, in its service, and subject to the Articles of
War.' That corps General Smith declared to be 'the finest set
of men he ever saw.' They paraded at four o'clock the same day,
and on the following morning General Stansbury left Baltimore
for Washington with thirteen hundred of his corps. Another
force, under Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Sterett, consisting of
the Fifth Regiment of Baltimore Volunteers, Major Pinkney's
rifle battalion, and the artillery companies of Captains Myers
and Magruder, left Baltimore on the evening of the 20th, and
joined Stansbury on the evening of the 23d.
"With wise precaution, General Smith ordered the Eleventh
brigade and Colonel Moore's cavalry to hold themselves in
readiness to march to Baltimore at a moment's warning, for it
seemed probable that the enemy would strike at both cities
simultaneously.
"The British in the meantime had moved up the Patuxent from
Benedict, the land troops being accompanied by a flotilla of
launches and barges that kept abreast of them. The naval forces
were under the command of the notorious marauder, Cockburn.
They reached Lower Marlborough on the 21st, when Barney's
flotilla, then in charge of Lieutenant Frazier and a sufficient
number of men to destroy it if necessary, moved up to Pig
Point, where some of the vessels grounded in the shallow water.
"For the defense of Washington the whole force was about seven
thousand strong, of whom nine hundred were enlisted men. The
cavalry did not exceed four hundred in number. The little army
had twenty-six pieces of cannon, of which twenty were only
six-pounders. This force, if concentrated, would have been
competent to roll back the invasion had the commanding officer
been untrammeled by the interference of the President and his
Cabinet."
All that was written when the facts of the case were well known, and
now the story shall be taken up as I wrote it when a boy.
* * * * *
It was not all plain sailing from Nottingham to Pig Point, for the
water was shallow, and there were many places where it was necessary
to handle even a pungy very tenderly in order to avoid taking the
ground.
While Darius was not well acquainted with the stream, he had a
sailorly eye for bad places, and never made the mistake of trying to
jump the little vessel where she was likely to be held hard and fast.
Many times were we forced to take to the canoe in order to pull the
Avenger's nose around more sharply than could be done by the helm, and
when it came to such labor of pulling and hauling the commodore lent a
hand as if we had been his equal in station.
And we did work lively, for a fact, hoping to have our anchor down
before any other craft could arrive, therefore no one complained when
Darius called on us for labor which might have been saved at the
expense of three or four minutes in time.
The commander was even more eager than were we, to arrive at the
appointed rendezvous speedily, and we could readily guess that some
big change was to be made in the general plans, although what it might
be we came far from guessing, since all of us, save Darius Thorpe,
believed he was simply running away from the enemy.
Well, we succeeded in doing as we wished in regard to beating out the
remainder of the fleet, for when we came to anchor off the point and
snugged everything down Bristol fashion, there were no signs that a
single craft was following.
Commodore Barney was chafing because of the delay, as could be seen by
the way in which he paced the deck, rubbing his hands from time to
time as he gazed down stream in vain for some token of the laggards.
"It's only a deep water sailor who obeys smartly, Darius," the
commander said, halting in his nervous walk to face the old man, and
Jerry and I, who were seated on the main-hatch, pricked up our ears,
for it seemed positive we were to learn somewhat of future doings.
"These younger men know too bloomin' much, that's what's the matter
with them," Darius said in reply. "I'll go bail that half the crowd we
left at Nottingham believed they knew better'n you when the start
should be made, an' stopped to curl their hair before makin' sail."
Commodore Barney laughed heartily at the old man's growling, and then
said suddenly:
"I count on leaving you second in command under Frazier, and it may be
as well for you to understand matters in case I don't get a chance to
speak with you at any length after the Lieutenant arrives."
"You count on _leavin'_ me, sir? Does that mean you're goin' away
right soon?"
"Ay, when my force comes up. There is no question but that the enemy
is making the attack on our flotilla to cover his designs on
Washington. He can have the fleet if he comes thus far. I hope by
daylight to be on the march for the Wood Yard, where Winder is
encamped, and count to take with me all the men that can be spared,
for force enough will be left behind to destroy the fleet in case the
enemy appears. Lieutenant Frazier is to be in charge of those who
remain here, and you will act as his second in command. This is my
plan: You shall have seventy men or more, and as soon as we leave you
will make every craft ready for the torch; see to it that there are
combustibles on board in sufficient quantity to insure a clean job
when fire is applied. After that has been done, you will wait for the
British. Once it becomes certain that you cannot save the fleet, start
your fires, and put out for the American army, which will likely be
near Washington by that time."
"We've got some good boats with us, sir," Darius said thoughtfully.
"Ay, my old shell-back, and that is why I am determined that they
shall not be of service to the enemy. You who remain behind will have
more danger to face than those who move in advance, and because of
that it is necessary you keep the force well in hand. See to it that
every order, however trifling, is obeyed on the instant, and in event
of any disposition to shirk a command, or to loiter after the word has
been given, deal with the culprit as you would on shipboard. Quick
work is the only thing which will save you from being killed or made
prisoners."
When the commander spoke this last word the thought came to me that I
had, for the moment, entirely forgotten Elias Macomber, and I was
puzzled to know what could be done with him while we were destroying
the fleet, if it so chanced we were forced to such an extremity.
I spoke with Jerry about it; but he had no suggestion to offer, save
that I had better refer the matter to Joshua Barney.
"He's forgotten all about Macomber, as we did, an' now is the time to
find out what we shall do with him. It would hurt me mighty bad to let
the cur join his British friends simply because we couldn't take care
of him."
This last idea nerved me to do that which I would have shrunk from at
any other time, and, approaching the commander, I asked:
"What is to be done with our prisoner, sir? Jerry and I couldn't help
hearing what you said to Darius, and we don't want to let such as him
have a free foot after capturing him twice."
"Don't fear for that, lad," the commodore said with a kindly smile.
"Give your man breakfast now, so that he may be in condition to march,
and when you see that we are ready to set off, bring him to me. I
will see to it that he has a care-taker who won't wink at an escape."
Then the commander fell to pacing the deck again, and I called Jim
Freeman and Dody Wardwell into the cuddy that they might cook
breakfast for all hands, including Elias Macomber.
Jerry insisted that the cur ought to be sent on his way with an empty
stomach; but to that I would not have agreed even though the commodore
had failed to give especial orders to the effect that he be fed.
By the time our cooking operations were well under way, the foremost
of the fleet began to heave in sight, and from that moment Joshua
Barney had something more to do than pace the Avenger's deck.
We learned very soon that the Scorpion had run aground, which fact
delayed several of the smaller boats, since Lieutenant Frazier called
upon many of the men for assistance; but all reports ran to the effect
that the fleet would unquestionably be at the rendezvous by early
dawn.
We drew lots to see who should feed the prisoner, and Josiah Coburn
selected the unlucky slip, which was a great relief to me, for I
question if I could have put food into the villain's mouth with any
very good grace.
We were yet at work on the breakfast when my father came aboard, the
barge to which he was drafted having been the third to arrive, and it
made me feel mighty good when he complimented us on our smartness in
handling the Avenger.
We two went well forward where we might converse privately, and I did
not think I was betraying any confidences when I told him of the
commodore's plans. He was in nowise surprised, and said as one would
if talking to a particular friend:
"I guessed that something of the kind might be in the wind when the
word was given to get under way. It would have pleased me better,
Amos, if you had been detailed to go with the advance."
"Why so, sir?" I asked, secretly rejoicing because he was treating me
as if I had been of his own age.
"Because those who remain to destroy the fleet will be in great
danger. You cannot begin the work until the enemy is close upon you,
otherwise it might be said that valuable property had been sacrificed
needlessly, and your risk will be greater than mine."
"That is as it should be, sir," I replied, forgetting that I had ever
been weak-kneed or lukewarm in the cause. "For mother's sake you
should be the one to go home, if both cannot."
"You have ever been a good boy, and a dutiful son, Amos. I shall pray
that God will spare your life, whatever He may will shall become of
me."
Then my father kissed me, and I never remember of his having done such
a thing before, after which he went over the rail hurriedly, as if not
caring to look me in the face.
It was not a particularly cheerful conversation which we had had, and
yet I was wondrously heartened because of it. The possible danger was
very far from my mind as I dwelt upon father's words and his good-bye.
It was as if I had suddenly come to know him in a different fashion
than ever before.
Commodore Barney used the Avenger as his flag-ship while we were
waiting for the Scorpion, and our deck was literally crowded with men
who had been summoned to receive orders. He even ate breakfast with
us, doing the greater portion of the eating holding converse with one
or another, and it can well be fancied that we were proud because of
having made possible such an honor for our pungy.
The day was just breaking when the Scorpion, attended by all the other
laggards, came up the stream. The schooner was anchored alongside our
pungy, and the commodore and Lieutenant Frazier had a private
interview in the cabin of the larger vessel, after which word was
given for the men to disembark.
The captain of each vessel had received orders to go ashore with so
many men, therefore we saw no confusion when the final moment arrived.
Jerry and I made ready the canoe in order to take Elias Macomber out
of the vessel, and, seeing us thus engaged, Lieutenant Frazier said as
if in surprise:
"I thought all you lads had been ordered to remain behind?"
"So we have, sir," I replied, and then I explained what we would do,
whereupon he called for a couple of men from the Blushing Susan to
attend the prisoner, we going with the party to make certain he was
delivered up in good order.
Commodore Barney had not forgotten the matter, as could be seen when
he came forward with the cur, and he handed Elias to a man from
Nottingham, with this injunction:
"You are answerable for him until we arrive at General Winder's camp.
If he attempts to escape, shoot him without compunction; but give him
fair treatment so long as he obeys orders."
Then the commander nodded to us, as if we were old acquaintances, and
the march was begun, every man stepping out briskly, as if it pleased
him to aid in the defense of the national capital.
It really gave me a sensation as of homesickness, to be thus left
behind. Although sixty or seventy men yet remained, they were so
scattered among the fleet that it seemed as if we of the Avenger were
the only ones left to watch the enemy.
"You may as well take up your quarters on the schooner," Lieutenant
Frazier said to Darius when the detachment was lost to view in the
distance. "All of her crew are gone, therefore we shall have plenty of
room."
"I shipped with the boys, an' I reckon I'd best stay with 'em, sir,
though I thank you kindly for the offer," Darius replied, and the
Lieutenant added quickly:
"I meant the invitation for the entire crew of the pungy. Some of them
can do the cooking while we stay here, which won't be very long I'm
thinking."
And thus it was we made a change of quarters, which neither pleased
nor displeased me even though the cabin was decidedly finer than our
cuddy, because I had come to have a certain affection for the shabby
pungy which cost us so much labor in the buying.
According to Lieutenant Frazier's laying out of the work, there was
nothing for us of the Avenger to do save care for the schooner, and
prepare the meals.
Six men were sent down the river in canoes, to watch and report the
movements of the enemy, that we might have timely warning of their
near approach, and the remainder of the party which had been left
behind were set about getting ready for the destruction of the fleet,
if that should become necessary.
One may think that Jerry and I had no reason to feel badly if our
pungy should be burned, since we had the guarantee from Commodore
Barney which would insure our receiving much more money than she cost
us, and yet we did feel badly, because it then seemed to us as if we
could never get another craft quite so much to our liking. A fellow
cannot live on board a vessel many months, sailing her in all kinds of
weather, and depending upon her for a livelihood, without having a
certain sentimental attachment for the fabric different from that felt
for all others of its kind.
However, I had quite persuaded myself that the British would not come
so far up stream simply in order to destroy the flotilla, for it did
not seem as if the outlay would be repaid by the result, whichever way
it might be viewed. I had it in mind that when they learned how
shallow the river was above Nottingham, the plan would be abandoned,
therefore I felt comparatively secure from harm as we idled away the
hours.
The fact that Darius was so uneasy should have convinced me of the
full danger, for the old man was not one who borrowed trouble. He
fretted because he was forced to remain with the boats, instead of
acting as spy, and nothing save the fact that Joshua Barney had placed
him second in command could have kept him at Pig Point when it seemed
to him that he might be able to accomplish much elsewhere.
When the first of those who had been sent down stream returned, I also
began to feel uneasy in mind. The report came that the entire force of
Britishers was embarking on barges and small boats, with half a dozen
6-pounders and as many mortars, which showed that it was expected we
would make some resistance, and it angered me to hear the men talking
as if we were to do no more than set the flotilla on fire when the
enemy hove in sight.
"It seems to me that we might worry them some," I said to Darius, when
he had spoken in much the same tone as the others. "Forty or fifty men
posted along the shores would make them a little trouble, I reckon."
"Ay, lad, an' effect about as much as so many wasps. We might shoot
down a few men; but could not even delay the advance, an' what would
be gained? Their five thousand soldiers would make it mighty warm for
our people on the shore, an' when it came to killin', I'm thinkin'
they'd be able to do the most execution."
Before he ceased speaking I understood how foolish had been my words;
but I was burning with such a desire to inflict some injury upon
those to whose account could be laid the destruction of our property,
that I was not really responsible for the speech.
It was on the evening of the day when Joshua Barney left us, that I
began to be sensible of the suspense in which one would necessarily be
at such a time. If the enemy came upon us suddenly, it might be
possible for them to capture all hands of us, as well as carry away
the boats, and this last would be considered more of a disaster than
the first.
Twenty of our men were posted at different points on both sides of the
stream to act as sentinels, and the remainder distributed among the
fleet in such a manner that the flames could be started in very short
order.
Neither Lieutenant Frazier nor Darius proposed to turn in on this
night. They were to keep on the move from one sentinel to another, in
order to make certain each man was doing his duty, and we lads were
ordered to have a meal prepared for them at midnight.
Shortly after sunset another of our people came up the river with the
report that a portion of the enemy's force had started and it began to
seem as if a night attack had been determined upon.
It can well be fancied that we of the Avenger had very little desire
for slumber, although, had we been so disposed, all of us might have
had a good night's rest, and also had the midnight meal ready when it
would be required.
We paced to and fro after the lieutenant and Darius had left, speaking
only in whispers, as if it might be possible the enemy could hear us,
and each moment expecting that the alarm would ring out.
The suspense was to me most painful, and I said to Jerry:
"Almost anything is better than this. I wish we were not so well aware
of their coming."
"If the fleet is to be burned, an' we know the enemy has started to
come up here, I can't see what is to be gained by waitin'," and my
partner spoke in a tone of petulance. "We shall do no good stayin'
here, and it may be that some of us could be of service elsewhere."
"It's no use for you fellows to grumble," Jim Freeman said with a
laugh, he having come up just in time to hear the useless words. "The
orders are to wait till the Britishers show themselves, an' I reckon
neither Lieutenant Frazier nor Darius would like to take the
responsibility of doin' anythin' else. You two will make a good thing
out of this business, in case the Avenger is burned, eh?"
"We've got a guarantee for more than she cost; but at the same time
I'd rather have her than a better one," Jerry said promptly, and I put
my hand in his, for he had spoken that which was in my heart.
Then we fell to talking for at least the tenth time of how the work of
destruction would be accomplished, and while we were thus engaged
Darius came alongside.
"You lads can turn in," he said as he clambered over the rail.
"Mitchell has just come up the river with the news that the Britishers
are makin' camp less'n two miles below. We shan't see 'em to-night;
but they're likely to be here mighty early in the mornin'."
"Some of us must stay up to do the cooking," I replied, thinking of
the meal the lieutenant had ordered.
"I'll call you in case Frazier don't change his mind about it, but I
reckon he'll be willin' to wait for breakfast."
"Are you going to stay on board?"
"I shall be here off an' on; just now we're goin' to inspect each
craft, so's to make certain the flames can be started quickly, for
there's no longer any chance but that the fleet must be destroyed."