THE CAMP.
As soon as the whole army was re-united, and the broken regiments had
recovered their order, a flag of truce was dispatched with proposals
for the burial of the dead. To accomplish this end a truce of two days
was agreed upon, and parties were immediately sent out to collect and
bury their fallen comrades. Prompted by curiosity, I mounted my horse
and rode to the front; but of all the sights I ever witnessed, that
which met me there was beyond comparison the most shocking and the most
humiliating. Within the narrow compass of a few hundred yards were
gathered together nearly a thousand bodies, all of them arrayed in
British uniforms. Not a single American was among them; all were
English; and they were thrown by dozens into shallow holes, scarcely
deep enough to furnish them with a slight covering of earth. Nor was
this all. An American officer stood by smoking a cigar, and apparently
counting the slain with a look of savage exultation, and repeating over
and over to each individual that approached him, that their loss
amounted only, to eight men killed and fourteen wounded.
I confess that when I beheld the scene I hung down my head, half in
sorrow and half in anger. With my officious informant I had every
inclination to pick a quarrel; but he was on duty, and an armistice
existed, both of which forbade the measure. I could not, however, stand
by and repress my choler, and since to give it vent would have
subjected me to more serious inconvenience than a mere duel, I turned
my horse’s head and galloped back to the camp.
But the change of expression visible there in every countenance no
language can portray. Only twenty hours ago, and all was life and
animation; wherever you went you were enlivened by the sound of
merriment and raillery; whilst the expected attack was mentioned in
terms indicative not only of sanguine hope, but, of the most perfect
confidence as to its result. Now gloom and discontent everywhere
prevailed. Disappointment, grief, indignation, and rage, succeeded each
other in all bosoms; nay, so completely were the troops overwhelmed by
a sense of disgrace, that for awhile they retained their sorrow without
so much as hinting at its cause. Nor was this dejection occasioned
wholly by the consciousness of laurels tarnished. The loss of comrades
was to the full as afflicting as the loss of honour; for out of more
than 5000 men brought on this side into the field, no fewer than 1500
had fallen. Among these were two generals (for Gibbs survived his wound
but a few hours), and many officers of courage and ability; besides
which, hardly an individual survived who had not to mourn the loss of
some particular and well-known companion.
Yet it is most certain that amidst all this variety of conflicting
passions no feeling bordering upon despair or even terror found room.
Even among the private soldiers no fear was experienced; for if you
attempted to converse with them on the subject of the late defeat, they
would end with a bitter curse upon those to whose misconduct they
attributed their losses, and refer you to the future, when they hoped
for an opportunity of revenge. To the Americans they would allow no
credit, laying the entire blame of the failure upon certain individuals
among themselves; and so great was the indignation expressed against
one corps, that the soldiers of other regiments would hardly exchange
words with those who chanced to wear that uniform. Though deeply
afflicted, therefore, we were by no means disheartened, and even, yet
anticipated, with an eagerness far exceeding what was felt before, a
renewal of the combat.
PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT.
But General Lambert, on whom the chief command had devolved, very
prudently determined not to risk the safety of his army by another
attempt upon works evidently so much beyond their strength. He
considered, and considered justly, that his chances of success were in
every respect lessened by the late repulse. In the first place, an
extraordinary degree of confidence was given to the enemy; in the next
place, the only feasible plan of attack having been already tried, they
would be more on their guard to prevent its being again put in
execution; and lastly, his own force was greatly diminished in numbers,
whilst theirs continued every day to increase. Besides, it would be
casting all upon the hazard of a die. If again defeated, nothing could
save our army from destruction, because unless it retreated in force no
retreat could be effected. A retreat, therefore, whilst yet the measure
appeared practicable, was resolved upon, and towards that end were all
our future operations directed.
To the accomplishment of this desirable object, however, one great
obstacle existed: by what road were the troops to travel, and in what
order were they to regain the fleet? On landing we had taken advantage
of the creek or bayo, and thus come up by water within two miles of the
cultivated country. But to adopt a similar course in returning was
impossible. In spite of our losses there were not throughout the
armament a sufficient number of boats to transport above one-half of
the army at a time. If, however, we should separate, the chances were
that both parties would be destroyed; for those embarked might be
intercepted, and those left behind would be obliged to cope with the
entire American force. Besides, even granting that the Americans might
be repulsed, it would be impossible to take to our boats in their
presence, and thus at least one division, if not both, must be
sacrificed.
To obviate this difficulty prudence required that the road which we had
formed on landing should be continued to the very margin of the lake;
whilst appearances seemed to indicate the total impracticability of the
scheme. From firm ground to the water’s edge was here a distance of
many miles, through the very centre of a morass where human foot had
never before trodden. Yet it was desirable at least to make the
attempt; for if it failed we should only be reduced to our former
alternative of gaining a battle or surrendering at discretion.
Having determined to adopt this course, General Lambert immediately
dispatched strong working parties, under the guidance of engineer
officers, to lengthen the road, keeping as near as possible to the
margin of the creek. But the task assigned to them was burthened with
innumerable difficulties. For the extent of several leagues no firm
footing could be discovered on which to rest the foundation of a path;
nor any trees to assist in forming hurdles. All that could be done,
therefore, was to bind together large quantities of reeds, and lay them
across the quagmire; by which means at least the semblance of a road
was produced, however wanting in firmness and solidity. But where broad
ditches came in the way, many of which intersected the morass, the
workmen were necessarily obliged to apply more durable materials. For
these, bridges composed in part of large branches brought with immense
labour from the woods, were constructed; but they were, on the whole,
little superior in point of strength to the rest of the path, for
though the edges were supported by timber, the middle was filled up
only with reeds.
To complete this road, bad as it was, occupied the space of nine days,
during which time our army remained in position without making any
attempt to molest the enemy. The Americans, however, were not so
inactive. In the course of two days six guns were again mounted upon
the bank of the river, from which a continual fire was kept up upon our
camp. The same mode of proceeding was adopted in front, and thus, night
and day, were we harassed by danger against which there was no
fortifying ourselves. Of the extreme unpleasantness of our situation it
is hardly possible to convey any adequate conception. We never closed
our eyes in peace, for we were sure to be awakened before many minutes
elapsed, by the splash of a round shot or shell in the mud beside us.
Tents we had none, but lay, some in the open air, and some in huts made
of boards, or any materials that could be procured. From the first
moment of our landing not a man had undressed excepting to bathe; and
many had worn the same shirt for weeks together, Besides all this,
heavy rains now set in, accompanied with violent storms of thunder and
lightning, which lasting during the entire day, usually ceased towards
dark, and gave place to keen frosts. Thus were we alternately wet and
frozen: wet all day, and frozen all night. With the outposts again
there was constant skirmishing. With what view the Americans wished to
drive them in I cannot tell; but every day were they attacked, and
compelled to maintain their ground by dint of hard fighting. In one
word, none but those who happened to belong to this army can form a
notion of the hardships which it endured and the fatigue which it
underwent.
Nor were these the only evils which tended to lessen our numbers. To
our soldiers every inducement was held out by the enemy to desert.
Printed papers, offering lands and money as the price of desertion,
were thrown into the piquets, whilst individuals made a practice of
approaching our posts, and endeavouring to persuade the very sentinels
to quit their stations. Nor could it be expected that bribes so
tempting would always be refused. Many desertions began daily to take
place, and became before long so frequent, that the evil rose to be of
a serious nature.
There occurred, however, one instance of magnanimous fidelity on the
part of a British soldier, which I cannot resist the inclination of
repeating. A private of the 95th, whose name I should have joyfully
mentioned had I not forgotten it, chanced one day to stand sentinel,
when he was addressed by an American officer. The American offered him
a hundred dollars and a quantity of land if he would come over;
representing, at the same time, the superiority of a democratical
government, and railing, as these persons generally do, against the
title of king. Though the Englishman heard what was said distinctly
enough, he nevertheless pretended to be deaf, and begged his tempter to
come a little nearer, that, in his own words, “he might tell him all
about it.” Jonathan, exulting at the prospect of drawing this fine
fellow from his duty, approached within twenty paces of where he stood,
when just as he had opened his mouth to renew his offer, the sentinel
levelled his piece and shot him through the arm. Nor was he contented
with inflicting this punishment. Walking forward, he seized his wounded
enemy, and reproaching him with dishonourable dealings, brought him in
a prisoner to the camp. But, unhappily, conduct such as this was rare;
in the course of a week many men quitted their colours, and fled to the
enemy.
RETREAT.
In the mean time the whole of the wounded, except such as were too
severely hurt to be removed, were embarked upon the canal, and sent off
to the fleet. Next followed the baggage and stores, with the civil
officers, commissaries, purveyors, &c.; and last of all, such of the
light artillery as could be withdrawn with out trouble or the risk of
discovery. But of the heavy artillery, of which about ten pieces were
mounted in front of the bivouac, and upon the bank of the river, no
account was taken. They were ship’s guns, of little value, and
extremely cumbersome; consequently their removal, had it been
practicable, would scarcely have rewarded the trouble. It was therefore
determined to leave them behind; and they were accordingly permitted to
retain their stations to the last.
These preparations being continued for some days, on the 17th no part
of our force remained in camp except the infantry. Having therefore
delayed only till the abandoned guns were rendered unserviceable, on
the evening of the 18th it also began its retreat. Trimming the fires,
and arranging all things in the same order as if no change were to take
place, regiment after regiment stole away, as soon as darkness
concealed their motions; leaving the piquets to follow as a rear-guard,
but with strict injunctions not to retire till daylight began to
appear. As may be supposed, the most profound silence was maintained;
not a man opening his mouth, except to issue necessary orders, and even
then speaking in a whisper. Not a cough or any other noise was to be
heard from the head to the rear of the column; and even the steps of
the soldiers were planted with care, to prevent the slightest stamping
or echo. Nor was this extreme caution in any respect unnecessary. In
spite of every endeavour to the contrary, a rumour of our intended
movement had reached the Americans for we found them of late watchful
and prying, whereas they had been formerly content to look only to
themselves.
For some time, that is to say, while our route lay along the high road
and beside the brink of the river, the march was agreeable enough; but
as soon as we began to enter upon the path through the marsh all
comfort was at an end. Being constructed of materials so slight, and
resting upon a foundation so infirm, the treading of the first corps
unavoidably beat it to pieces; those which followed were therefore
compelled to flounder on in the best way they could; and by the time
the rear of the column gained the morass all trace of a way had
entirely disappeared. But not only were the reeds torn asunder and sunk
by the pressure of those who had gone before, but the bog itself, which
at first might have furnished a few spots of firm footing, was trodden
into the consistency of mud. The consequence was, that every step sank
us to the knees, and frequently higher. Near the ditches, indeed, many
spots occurred which we had the utmost difficulty in crossing at all;
and as the night was dark, there being no moon, nor any light except
what the stars supplied, it was difficult to select our steps, or even
to follow those who called to us that they were safe on the opposite
side. At one of these places I myself beheld an unfortunate wretch
gradually sink till he totally disappeared. I saw him flounder in,
heard his cry for help, and ran forward with the intention of saving
him; but before I had taken a second step, I myself sank at once as
high as the breast. How I contrived to keep myself from smothering is
more than I can tell, for I felt no solid bottom under me, and
continued slowly to go deeper and deeper till the mud reached my arms.
Instead of endeavouring to help the poor soldier, of whom nothing could
now be seen except the head and hands, I was forced to beg assistance
for myself: when a leathern canteen strap being thrown to me, I laid
hold of it, and was dragged out just as my fellow-sufferer became
invisible.
Over roads such as these did we continue our journey during the whole
of the night: and in the morning reached a place called Fisherman’s
huts, upon the margin of the lake. The name is derived from a clump of
mud-built cottages, situated in as complete a desert as the eye of man
was ever pained by beholding. They stand close to the water, upon a
part of the morass rather more firm than the rest. Not a tree or bush
of any description grows near them. As far as the eye could reach a
perfect ocean of reeds everywhere presented itself, except on that side
where a view of the lake changed without fertilizing the prospect. Were
any set of human beings condemned to spend their lives here, I should
consider their fate as little superior to that of the solitary captive:
but during many months of the year these huts are wholly unoccupied,
being erected, as their name denotes, merely to shelter a few fishermen
while the fishing season lasts.
Here at length we were ordered to halt; and perhaps I never rejoiced
more sincerely at any order than at this. Wearied with my exertions,
and oppressed with want of sleep, I threw myself on the ground without
so much as pulling off my muddy garments, and in an instant all my
cares and troubles were forgotten. Nor did I wake from that deep
slumber for many hours, when I rose cold and stiff, and creeping beside
a miserable fire of reeds, addressed myself to the last morsel of salt
pork which my wallet contained.
HALT.
The whole army had now come up, the piquets having escaped without
notice, or at least without annoyance. Forming along the brink of the
lake, a line of outposts was planted, and the soldiers were commanded
to make themselves as comfortable as they could. But, in truth, the
word comfort is one which cannot in any sense be applied to people in
such a situation. Without tents or huts of any description (for the few
from which the place is named were occupied by the General and other
heads of departments), our bed was the morass, and our sole covering
the clothes which had not quitted our backs for upwards of a month. Our
fires, upon the size and goodness of which much of a soldier’s
happiness depends, were composed solely of reeds; a species of fuel
which, like straw, soon blazes up, and soon expires again, almost
without communicating any degree of warmth. But, above all, our
provisions were expended, and from what quarter to obtain an immediate
supply it defied the most inventive genius to discover. Our sole
dependence was upon the boats. Of these a flotilla lay ready to receive
us, in which were embarked the black corps, with the 44th; but they had
brought with them only food for their own use. It was therefore
necessary that they should reach the fleet and return again before they
could furnish us with what we so much wanted. But the distance to the
nearest of the shipping could not be less than eighty miles; and if the
weather should become boisterous or the winds obstinately adverse we
might starve before any supply could arrive.
These numerous grievances were, however, without remedy, and we bore
them with patience; though for two whole days the only provisions
issued to the troops were some crumbs of biscuit and a small allowance
of rum. For my own part I did not fare so badly as many others. Having
been always fond of shooting, I took a firelock and went in pursuit of
wild ducks, which abounded throughout the bog. Wandering along in this
quest I reached a lake, by the margin of which I concealed myself and
waited for my prey; nor was it long before I had an opportunity of
firing. Several large flocks flew over me, and I was fortunate enough
to kill three birds. But, alas, those birds, upon which I had already
feasted in imagination, dropped into the water: my dog, more tired than
her master, would not fetch them out, and they lay about twenty yards
off, tantalizing me with the sight of a treasure which I could not
reach. Moving off to another point, I again took my station where I
hoped for better fortune; but the same evil chance once more occurred,
and the ducks fell into the lake. This was too much for a hungry man to
endure; the day was piercingly cold, and the edge of the pool was
covered with ice; but my appetite was urgent, and I resolved at all
hazards to indulge it. Pulling off my clothes, therefore, I broke the
ice and plunged in; and though shivering like an aspen-leaf, I returned
safely to the camp with a couple of birds. Next day I adopted a similar
course with like success, but at the expense of what was to me a
serious misery. My stockings of warm wool were the only part of my
dress which I did not strip off, and to-day it unfortunately happened
that one was lost. Having secured my ducks, I attempted to land where
the bottom was muddy; but my leg stuck fast, and in pulling it out off
came the stocking; to recover it was beyond my power, for the mud
closed over it directly, and the consequence was that till I regained
the transport only one of my feet could be warm at a time. To those who
can boast of many pairs of fine cotton and woollen hose, this
misfortune of mine may appear light, but to me, who had only two
stockings on shore, the loss of one was very grievous; and I therefore
request that I may not be sneered at when I record it as one of the
disastrous consequences of this ill-fated expedition.