BURNING THE VESSELS.
It seemed to me much like disastrous defeat to burn the flotilla on
the approach of the enemy, without making any effort whatsoever to
defend it, and for the time I believed that Darius and all those who
bragged so much about Commodore Barney's fighting qualities, were
making idle talk, otherwise he would have attempted to hold his own,
no matter how great the odds against him.
At the time I failed to realize that our fleet of small boats amounted
to nothing, as compared with either city which the British was
threatening, and that the commodore never showed himself to be a
better fighter than when he allowed the enemy to spend their time with
a lot of boats of little value, while he was marching his men across
country to aid in the defense of Washington.
One can readily fancy that we lads were not much inclined for sleep
when Darius brought word that we might turn in.
It was definitely known that the British were only two miles away, and
would make no prolonged halt until after striking a blow at our fleet.
In fact, it was possible they might approach within an hour, the halt
having been called only to make us believe they would not attempt to
do any mischief during the night.
We gathered aft, but with no desire to go below, and stood there
leaning far out over the rail with eyes and ears open for some token
of the coming foe.
It was possible to distinguish even in the gloom a boat which was
pulled from one craft to another, stopping only a few seconds at each
vessel, and we knew the lieutenant and Darius were making their
rounds.
Again we questioned the wisdom of waiting until the enemy was close at
hand before beginning the work of destruction, never realizing how
important it was to keep the Britishers at the task of destroying the
fleet so long as possible that the defenders of Washington might have
opportunity to make ready; but we actually grew impatient because the
torch was not applied at once.
Before Lieutenant Frazier brought the inspection to a close, one of
the men who had been sent to spy out the enemy's movements, came
aboard the Scorpion to make a report. From him we learned that the
British were really encamped for the night, and there seemed little
possibility any move would be made before daylight.
Even with this assurance we lads had no desire for slumber, and were
on deck listening and watching when Darius returned.
"Why didn't you turn in?" he asked almost sharply, and I replied,
striving to speak in such a tone as would give him to understand that
we were not to be dictated to regarding our individual actions while
off duty.
"We prefer to remain awake. Even though the enemy was not so near, I
question if either of us would care to go into the hot cabin, unless
orders were given to the effect that we must do so."
"Well, I have it in mind to get forty winks when I'm able. We may be
kept on the move pretty much all the time after leavin' here, an' it
stands a man in hand to bottle up what sleep he can."
"I thought you counted on moving around all night?"
"So I did before we knew that the Britishers had settled down for a
spell; but now there's no need of more watchers than are already on
duty," the old man said as he disappeared through the companion-way
hatch, leaving me fully sensible of the fact that I had proven myself
a prig and a fool by trying to assert my right to do as I pleased.
We could see boats moving slowly to and fro a short distance down the
river, and thus knew, the guard having been largely increased, that if
an enemy came our way during the hours of darkness, he must be seen by
the sentinels some time before we on the schooner could distinguish
him in the gloom.
Then Jim Freeman and his friends followed Darius' example, by going
into the cabin, and but for what had passed between the old man and me
I would have gone with them. As it was, I felt bound to remain, and
Jerry, understanding the situation, although he refrained from
speaking of it, stayed with me like the true friend that he always has
been.
Before midnight my eyes grew heavy with slumber, and I said to my
partner, as I led him well forward where we could not be overheard in
case any of those in the cabin were awake:
"It would seem as if you and I were left to look after the schooner,
and surely some one ought to be on duty, even though the spies have
reported that the enemy has encamped for the night."
"Well, that's about what we're doin', ain't it?" Jerry asked, and I
fancied he was trying not to laugh.
"Yes, and yet I'm getting mighty tired. I propose that we stretch out
on the deck a few minutes, just to rest our legs."
"Won't that be deserting our post?" Jerry asked gravely.
"I don't think so, because we can hear all that is going on, and while
it is so dark there isn't much chance of seeing anything."
"But suppose we fall asleep?"
"I'll see to it there's no chance of that," I replied, finding it hard
work to repress a yawn, and then Jerry's mirth could be controlled no
longer.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked sharply.
"At you, Amos! You haven't made a bloomin' success of it whenever
you've tried to put on airs over Darius; somehow he always contrives
to get the best of you. If you hadn't pulled him up with a sharp turn,
we'd be below havin' a good snooze with the other fellows; but now
we're ashamed to go, consequently we'll camp on deck."
I was angry, and yet I knew he had spoken only the truth. However, it
seemed too late to mend matters, and without making any reply I laid
down under the rail, fully determined to be more of a gentleman in the
future.
There had been in my mind a promise not to close my eyes in slumber
that night; but no sooner was I at full length on the deck than I
crossed over into dreamland, and knew nothing until the report of a
cannon, seemingly near at hand, brought me to my feet very suddenly.
"What's happening?" I cried loudly, and from the after rail Jim
Freeman replied:
"The enemy are comin' into position. They began to show up nearly half
an hour ago; but I thought there was no need to waken you till the
work was begun."
Those who had turned in, as sensible fellows should have done, were
awake and on the alert in due season, while I who believed the safety
of the schooner devolved upon myself, slept until the Britishers were
ready to begin operations.
The day had dawned, although it was a full half-hour before the sun
would show himself. Down the stream, within long range of our fleet,
were eight or ten barges, each carrying a cannon, drawn across the
river in such manner as to make the flotilla a good target, and the
gun which had aroused me was evidently fired for the purpose of
testing the position.
I ran aft to where Jim and his friends stood, asking eagerly:
"What are our people going to do?"
"The word has just been given to start the blaze, and the lieutenant
believes that we can hold the Britishers in check until the vessels
are well afire. We're to form on the shore, and oppose the force which
you see yonder."
Gazing in the direction of Jim's outstretched finger, I could make out
a line of red-coated men on the southerly shore some distance below
the barges, and it was not difficult to guess that they intended to
move up, once an action was begun, to where they could fire at us from
the bank.
The British commander evidently believed we would fight to prevent the
fleet from being destroyed, and, therefore, was forcing his men to
perform a great deal of unnecessary work.
Looking around at the boats and vessels of our fleet I could see that
the work of destruction had already begun. From the hatch of the
Avenger, which craft was lying thirty or forty yards further up stream
than the Scorpion, a thin thread of blue smoke was ascending lazily on
the clear air, and on five or six other pungies the same ominous token
of approaching ruin could be seen.
Then it was that I saw little knots of our men pulling for the
northerly shore, and, on gaining the bank, stave in the hulls of their
canoes to such purpose that the little craft could not again be made
serviceable.
I understood then that each squad was under orders to land immediately
the task assigned them had been performed, and wondered if the
schooner was to be reserved until the last.
"Does the lieutenant count on saving the Scorpion to hold the
Britishers in check?" I asked of Jim, and for reply he pointed toward
the main hatch, from out of which Darius was just emerging.
"Have your canoe ready!" the old man cried, addressing Dody Wardwell,
who was holding the painter of a small craft which lay under the
stern. "I allow that we'll need to leave here in mighty quick time,
for when the fire starts it'll run from stem to stern like a flash."
[Illustration: As we pulled away I glanced back at our fleet and saw
that the vessels were well on fire.]
Even as Darius spoke I saw a curl of flame from the forward hatch, and
then a long, glowing tongue leaped up toward the cordage.
While I stood watching it, fascinated by the eager lapping of the
destroying element, the enemy opened fire from the barges, sending
solid shot amid the fleet which had already been deserted. At almost
the same moment that line of red, which had been motionless, could be
seen flashing here and there amid the foliage, telling that the
advance of the land force had begun.
Glancing back at our fleet after making certain that the Britishers
were coming toward us, I saw that the vessels were well on fire,
although unquestionably many of them might have been saved had efforts
been made immediately to that end.
"In five minutes more salt won't save 'em," Darius said in a tone of
satisfaction. "Them bloomin' red-coats started a little too late. Come
on, lads! It looks as if we were the last to leave the fleet, an'
there isn't overly much time on our hands. Into the canoe with you!"
We obeyed the order without delay, more particularly since the flames
were already coming out of the Scorpion's after companion-way, and
while paddling for the shore I saw that our people were drawn up in
line ready to meet the enemy in case it became necessary to prevent
them from interfering with the work of destruction.
"Are we the only ones to go unarmed?" I asked, noting that all of
those ashore appeared to have weapons in their hands.
"I reckon we'll find what may be needed when we join our people,"
Darius replied. "The guns an' ammunition were taken out of the vessels
last night, for powder ain't a nice thing to have around when you're
foolin' with fire."
It must be borne in mind that while we were thus speaking the cannon
on the barges were being served with spirit, and more than one solid
shot had gone crashing through a burning vessel; but none had come
near enough to us to cause any particular alarm.
When we were ashore I saw that there would be no scarcity of weapons
among us, and, in fact, several of the men were forced to carry two
muskets because of the supply which had been left behind by those who
marched away under the immediate command of Commodore Barney.
We lads succeeded in getting a good outfit, with quite as much
ammunition as could be carried comfortably, and by the time we had
taken our places in the line, the enemy's shots were beginning to come
dangerously near some of us.
A cannon ball cut down a sapling within four feet of where Lieutenant
Frazier was standing, and another crashed among the splintered canoes
on the bank, while from the distance came those sounds which told of
bullets striking amid the foliage.
The soldiers were almost within effective range, and the shot from the
barges was by no means comforting, while we could accomplish nothing
by remaining idle.
I wondered why the retreat was not begun, if we were to make one, and
felt as if I had a personal grievance against the lieutenant because
he failed to give that order which would permit of our getting away
from such a disagreeable situation.
"Growin' uneasy, lad?" Darius asked with a grin, as I involuntarily
ducked my head when a solid shot passed over us.
"It strikes me that we can't do any great amount of good by standing
here," I replied irritably.
"The lieutenant is a reg'lar little man who believes in obeyin'
orders, no matter what happens. Joshua Barney left word that we were
not to move from here till all the vessels were well afire, an' here I
reckon we'll stay quite a spell longer."
"But they are all burning," I said, turning to look at the fleet, each
craft of which appeared to be enveloped in flames.
"Yes, they've started well; but if I was the one who had been left to
decide when there was no longer a chance of savin' 'em, I'd hold here
a spell longer, as the lieutenant is doin'."
"Do you believe it possible that we could save the schooner now?" and
I pointed toward the Scorpion, along whose spars the flames were
creeping rapidly.
"Two or three hundred men might do it if they set to work this minute,
though it would be a tough job," the old man said as he gazed at the
flames which were already sending forth heat enough to render our
position too warm for comfort, and at that instant a musket ball came
humming past the end of his nose, causing him to spring backward very
suddenly.
"Growing uneasy, Darius?" I asked, and the old man laughed
good-naturedly as I thus passed him some of his own coin.
"It's gettin' warm all around; but I reckon we've come mighty nigh to
the limit set by the commander."
Then it was that the man next beside me cried aloud as he held up his
right hand from which the blood was beginning to flow from a bullet
wound.
I was too angry to be frightened just then, for it seemed as if
Lieutenant Frazier was remaining too long under fire, and a moment
later came the welcome command.
I dare venture to say that, with the exception of Lieutenant Frazier
and Darius, every man moved more readily and quickly than he ever did
before, until we were a good mile from the scene of destruction,
striking directly across the country for Upper Marlboro.
Now and then it was possible to catch glimpses of the flames, which
towered above the tops of the nearby trees; but we heard nothing of
the enemy, which seemed to me strange until I mentioned the fact to
Darius when he came up, after loitering in the rear with the
lieutenant as if to show his contempt for the Britishers.
"I allow there's plenty of sense in their stayin' where the fleet is
burnin'," the old man said quietly. "They saw only a few men leave
when it had been said that Joshua Barney had five hundred with him.
Now what more natural for them to suppose that we are tryin' to lead
'em into an ambush--for the Britishers still believe we fight in Injun
fashion? Then again, it ain't likely the foot soldiers are carryin'
rations, havin' the boats with 'em, an' it would be poor judgment to
send a lot of men into the woods empty-handed, so to speak."
"Then you do not believe we shall be pursued?"
"If we are it'll be a fool trick," the old man replied, and then he
fell back to the rear in response to a signal from the lieutenant.
After he had thus given his opinion, which I believe to be shared by
Lieutenant Frazier, it was in my mind that we would tramp leisurely
across the country until coming up with Commodore Barney's force; but
immediately we appeared to be out of danger word was given to quicken
the pace.
Now it was that the officer and Darius marched in advance, the former
having given the word that we were to keep close at his heels, and
during two hours I traveled faster than I ever did before. It seemed
as if the musket, which had seemingly been a feather's weight when we
started, weighed more than twenty pounds at the end of the second
hour, and I was so nearly winded that it was as if I could go no
further without first taking some rest.
Jerry was no less fatigued than I, and did not hesitate to say he
believed the lieutenant was making us march thus fast simply to
gratify some foolish whim.
Then we were come to Upper Marlboro, after fording the stream, and the
pleasure I felt at being allowed to sit down that I might rest my
aching feet was so great that it cannot properly be described.
While Jerry and I were grumbling because of what seemed to us unseemly
haste, Jim Freeman, who had been lying down a short distance away,
came over to where we were sitting, his eyes bulging as if he had
seen two or three ghosts at the very least.
"What do you suppose?" he said excitedly.
"I heard the lieutenant telling Darius that a big force of Britishers
was marchin' up from Nottingham on the west side of the river, bound
for Washington!"
"How did he know that?" Jerry asked sharply.
"A man who was sent back by Commodore Barney on a scout, got here
about the same time we did, an' he reported to the lieutenant. But
that ain't all; some of the folks livin' 'round here say that a small
force--near three hundred--landed on the west side of the river after
the enemy went into camp last night, an' is mighty near this place
now!"
"'Cordin' to that it would seem as if we come pretty close to bein'
surrounded!" Jerry exclaimed.
"That's just what Darius said," Jim replied, "an' the lieutenant told
him he'd been afraid all along that we'd run into some such kind of a
muss. Commodore Barney warned him to be on the watch for what appears
to be happenin', an' it begins to look as if we might have trouble
mighty quick."
"There can't be a great deal of it for the Britishers, if their
smallest force is three hundred, for they'd make short work of us," I
said with an inward quaking. "I've been blaming the lieutenant for
making us march so swiftly, and now I wish he had pushed us on twice
as fast."
I had hardly more than ceased speaking when the command was given to
fall into line once more, and the men obeyed eagerly, for the word had
been passed around that our small force was in most serious danger.
Every man among us was tired, I venture to say, yet we literally
over-ran the lieutenant, who was setting the pace, and pressed forward
like a flock of sheep pursued by dogs.
It was nearly noon when we arrived at what is known as the Wood Yard,
where General Winder had encamped and thrown up some slight
entrenchments, and where Commodore Barney was to have joined him; but
now the place was deserted, save for one man whom I remembered having
seen on our fleet.
As we soon came to know, he had been sent back from Long Old Fields by
the commodore to quicken our movements, and both Jerry and I heard
that which he said to the lieutenant when we came up.
It seems that the American troops from all quarters were hastening to
Washington, and Commodore Barney had given orders that we hurry
forward with the least possible delay.
"The commodore told me to say that unless you kept your men moving
night and day you would be captured, for no less than three British
forces are known to be on the way here from the Patuxent," so the
messenger said, and Lieutenant Frazier asked if he knew what body of
the enemy was coming up the Potomac.
"A portion of the British fleet under Captain Gordon is already to be
seen from High Point," the man replied, and then he withdrew some
distance with the lieutenant as if to give him private instructions.
There is no need for me to set down the fact that our small force was
in a state of the greatest excitement. From no less than three sources
we had learned that the enemy was so near as to make capture seem
certain, and our only hope of safety was to press forward at the best
possible speed until arriving at Washington, where we were told the
commodore had already arrived.
It was a good deal like being out of the frying-pan into the fire, for
in case we contrived to elude those who were close in the rear, we
must come face to face with a yet larger body of the enemy when we did
our feeble best toward defending the city.
I was getting quite a big taste of warfare, and it was by no means to
my liking, although I had by this time come to understand that I must
not put such ideas into words lest my companions accuse me of showing
the white feather.
We had marched eleven miles with only one halt of fifteen minutes, and
now, instead of going into camp as had been supposed, we were to press
forward, marching night and day, for a distance of at least fourteen
miles; but even though it had been twice as far I would have gone on
with at least a show of cheerfulness, so great was my fear of being
taken prisoner.
We halted at the Wood Yard half an hour, and then were going ahead
once more; but at a less rapid pace, for we could not be expected to
travel many hours at the same speed which had been kept up since
leaving the burning fleet.
We ate as we marched, munching the corn-bread and bacon as best we
might, and falling out of line to get a drink of water whenever we
came to a brook or spring.
At the end of the first hour we were halted for ten minutes, and then
the advance was continued until it seemed to me that I could not put
one foot before the other.
"I suppose I shall hold out as long as the rest of you do; but it
seems as if I'd got to drop down right here," Jerry said to me as we
trudged along side by side on as fatiguing and dispiriting a march as
I have ever known since. "It's better for a fellow to kill himself by
walkin', than be sent back to a prison on board one of the British
ships."
I tried to cheer the dear lad, although I myself was needing
encouragement most woefully, and perhaps I succeeded somewhat by
saying:
"Our fathers would set us down as cowards and drones, if the men went
in with the report that we couldn't travel twenty-five or thirty miles
without knocking under."
"You're right, Amos!" and Jerry stepped out briskly. "We should be
able to do more of this kind of work than Darius, who has spent all
his life aboard ship, an' yet there he is, humpin' along chipper as a
sparrow."
I turned to look at the old man, who was in the rear, marching in good
order, and acting as if on some pleasure excursion which he hoped
would not come to an end too soon. It shamed me to see him so jolly
when I was feeling so sore.
From that moment, whenever I felt as if it was impossible to take
another step, I looked at Darius, and forced myself to forget
weariness or hunger.
It was nearly sunset when we were come to Long Old Fields, where a
portion of General Winder's army had encamped the day previous, and
here we were met by another messenger from the commodore.
This last man had as large a store of fresh provisions as could be
hauled by one mule, and within five minutes after coming up with him
we were getting supper, giving no heed to anything save the fact that
we had food in plenty for at least one meal.
Later, Darius told me that the second messenger repeated orders for us
to press forward without unnecessary delay; but when our hunger was
appeased the lieutenant gave the word that we would be allowed to
remain in camp a full two hours, and this was no sooner made known
than the majority of us stretched our tired bodies on the ground for a
time of sleep.
Jerry and I lay side by side, and when we were first in the proper
position for sleeping I spoke to my comrade, but he made no reply. The
dear lad had actually fallen into slumber at the very instant his head
touched the ground.
Perhaps I remained awake while one might have counted twenty; but I am
confident it was no longer than that, and then I closed my eyes, not
to open them again until conscious of a heavy blow on the soles of my
feet.