THE MINUTE BOYS OF LONG ISLAND
[Illustration: “LUTHER HAD A HOOK WHICH HE WAS USING AS A PIKE.”]
THE MINUTE BOYS OF
LONG ISLAND
A STORY OF NEW YORK IN 1776
AS TOLD BY
EPHRAIM LYTTLE
JAMES OTIS
Illustrated
By L. J. BRIDGMAN
[Illustration]
BOSTON
DANA ESTES & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
_Copyright, 1908_
BY DANA ESTES & COMPANY
_All rights reserved_
_COLONIAL PRESS
Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
Boston, U. S. A._
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. “WE THREE” 11
II. THE “DECLARATION” 29
III. ON DUTY 48
IV. THE ENEMY 67
V. UNWELCOME VISITORS 85
VI. THE PRISONER 104
VII. MAKING READY FOR A BATTLE 122
VIII. DETECTED 141
IX. TURNING THE TABLES 159
X. IMPORTANT INFORMATION 176
XI. THE ATTACK 195
XII. THE RETREAT 214
XIII. NEWS OF ABEL 232
XIV. THE PRISON SHIP 251
XV. A RASH ADVENTURE 270
XVI. A RAY OF HOPE 289
XVII. UNDER FIRE 307
XVIII. A STRONG SWIMMER 325
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
“LUTHER HAD A BOAT HOOK WHICH HE WAS
USING AS A PIKE” (_See page 25_) _Frontispiece_
“I WAS STANDING BEFORE GENERAL PUTNAM” 34
“‘NEARABOUT GOWANUS CREEK ON LONG ISLAND’” 75
“‘MOVE EVER SO LITTLE, AN’ I’LL PUT A BALL
THROUGH YOUR HEAD!’” 101
“‘I’M ALLOWIN’ THAT A SINGLE VESSEL ... WILL
DO THE TRICK THIS TIME’” 153
“MEN WERE MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN A
FOOTHOLD ON THE SWIFTSURE’S DECK” 196
“‘THEY DO NOT DARE TO PITCH A HEAVY SHOT AT US!’” 243
“THE MISERABLE WHELP WAS SWAGGERING TO AND FRO” 273
THE
MINUTE BOYS OF LONG ISLAND
CHAPTER I.
“WE THREE.”
When you come to think it over seriously, it really seems that Abel
Grant could not be blamed for laughing and saying that we were
“outgrowing our clothes,” in selecting the name of Minute Boys of Long
Island for three lads--Abraham Decker, Samuel Garratt and myself,
neither of whom had yet passed his fifteenth year; but how else could
it be shown that we were heart and soul with the Cause, or that we
burned to have a hand in upsetting the king’s authority in this land
which our fathers have wrested from the savages and the wilderness.
It was when the base plot of Governor Tryon’s was unmasked that we
decided it was time for us to show the Tories of Long Island, who
outnumbered the loyal men eight to one, that there were some who would
lay down their lives, if needs be, for freedom from British misrule.
We three lived within half a gunshot of each other on the shore of
Wallabout bay, and owned, because of having built her from keel to
masthead, the sloop Swiftsure, in which we often sailed to New York
when our fathers failed in finding work to occupy our time at home.
When the first inkling of Tryon’s plot was made known, even the Tories
of the island were eager to hear what might be going on, and the
consequence was that not a man remained at home, because of the great
excitement, therefore were we three at liberty to do very nearly as
we pleased, so that we did not disregard any rules of the household
previously laid down.
At Israel Dyker’s dock, on the New York side, we were allowed to moor
our sloop whenever we pleased, and Master Dyker’s son Jethro, who
cared for his father’s boats, was ever willing to keep a watchful eye
over ours. Therefore it was we three lads could go and come much as we
pleased, save, which needs not the saying, when we had work at home to
occupy our time. In ordinary seasons boys on a farm would have but few
idle hours at their disposal; but at this particular season little was
thought or talked of except the attempt to throw aside the yoke which
the king had made heavier and heavier each day, until our people would
have been worse than curs had they submitted tamely to the injustice
and oppression.
Even the lads talked politics in those days, and we knew full well
what was being done in behalf of the colonies, even as we did the many
devices of our enemies to grind us yet further into the dust.
The Cause had but few friends on Long Island in that year of 1776,
and perhaps we who favored it were bound more closely together by the
knowledge that among our neighbors the Tories outnumbered us at least
eight to one. Therefore it was that when information of the dastardly
plot against Washington and some of the other generals began to leak
out, we--meaning boys as well as men who were for independence--were
not a little concerned regarding our own safety. It was known full
well that Governor Tryon himself was at the head of the cowardly
movement, and if he could find people willing to strike a blow against
the leaders of our movement, what might we not expect from our Tory
neighbors who had private scores to settle with many of us?
Thus it can be seen that when we three lads bound ourselves together
by solemn oaths to stand up against any who might try to lay hands on
either of us, it was by no means a childish game we were playing at.
Even Abel Grant admitted that we were wise in organizing for our own
defense; but he took it upon himself to laugh at the high-sounding name
we gave to our federation.
“It may chance we shall find others who will be glad to join the
Minute Boys of Long Island, and if we could get together no more than
twelve, let me tell you, Abel Grant, it would be within our power to
do considerable for the Cause. A round dozen of boys, from fourteen to
sixteen years of age, could come near, under certain circumstances, to
doing the work of as many men, more particularly if the war should be
brought here on our own island.”
I spoke hotly, and Abel, seeing that he had rubbed us a trifle harder
than was friendly, made haste to say:
“I grant you, Ephraim, that even no more than three lads, with such a
sloop as you own, could do very much at certain times, an’ I am not
belittlin’ the general idee. Of course there’s no chance we shall see
anything of war here on the island; but yet--”
“And why not?” Abraham interrupted quickly. “My father says the
Britishers will soon come to drive the Colonial forces out of New York,
an’ when that is done this island of ours is the very likeliest place
on which to make a landin’.”
“I won’t attempt to set up my opinion against your father’s, Abe; but
at the same time I’ve got the right, or shall have when the Congress
declares us free an’ independent, to believe whatsoever I please.
Jest now, however, there’s scant reason why we should spend overly
much time tryin’ to figger what the Britishers will do next month or
next year, ’cause things are gettin’ a mite hot on the New York side.
Master Goodhue came over from market this mornin’, an’ says the plot of
Tryon’s is common news. One of General Washington’s own guardsmen has
been arrested, an’ Master Forbes, the gunsmith, is in prison. Why not
take a run over this afternoon, an’ give me a passage?”
There was no need for Abel to spend very much breath in favor of either
proposition. The news that arrests had already been made fired us as
nothing else could have done, and, without waiting to learn whether one
or all of us might be needed at home, we set about making ready for the
voyage, the conversation I have set down being carried on at the head
of the cove where the Swiftsure was anchored.
In a twinkling, so excited were we by the news Abel gave us, the sloop
was under way, and our passenger began repeating all he had heard from
Master Goodhue.
He was a long while in the telling, as if thereby he might pay the
better price for his passage; but, boiled down into a reasonably short
story, and added to what we already knew, the facts in the matter were
much like this:
In some way, I can’t say how, General Washington had discovered that
Governor Tryon, Mayor Mathews, Gilbert Forbes, the gunsmith whose shop
is on the Broadway, and perhaps a dozen other Tories, had in hand
a plot to seize Washington as prisoner and deliver him over to Sir
William Howe. In order to do this, or to aid in capturing the officers
of the Colonial army, the magazine was to be blown up, and every road
leading from the city taken possession of by the Tories, who had
already enlisted more than five hundred curs vile enough to take up
arms for that king who had treated them more like cattle than human
beings.
Two of General Washington’s bodyguard, together with about a dozen
citizens, had been arrested that morning. All save the two traitorous
soldiers had been sent to a prison in Connecticut, where there was
little fear the Britishers could do anything toward effecting their
release, and the members of the guard who had sold their honor for the
king’s gold, were to be tried by a military court that very day.
Who can wonder, in the face of such news, that we found the city fairly
boiling with excitement when we landed from the sloop, after making her
fast at Master Dyker’s dock?
As a matter of course, we went directly to Bowling Green, knowing that
there would be found all the idle gossipers of the city, and it was as
if some great revel was going on, so many people had gathered. We were
not long in learning that Master Goodhue had told us no more than the
truth; but what seemed yet worse, we heard many of the throng speaking
as if they were saddened because the plot had been discovered.
“I had not believed there were so many Tories in New York,” Sam
whispered to me as we stood near a group of five who were speculating
upon the possibility of lending some aid to those who were accused. “We
have got used to hearin’ them on the island, for it is there we raise
that kind of cattle; but here I supposed the greater portion of the
citizens were real men,” and Abe added:
“I fail of understandin’ how a man with any degree of respect for
himself, can take sides with the king against his own countrymen.”
“There’s more than that in this world you can’t understand, Abe
Decker,” was said in a mocking voice just behind me, and I turned to
see Luther Stedman, the son of that Tory Stedman who lives on the
island near the ferry, a lad whom I had counted as a friend until
learning that he, like his father, believed the king to be more of a
god than a man.
“Perhaps my head ain’t any thicker than yours,” Abe replied quickly and
hotly, “an’ then again, perhaps I’ve been brought up to have less love
for curs that are ready, for the sake of a fat bone, to bite those who
have been friends.”
By this Abe meant to hit Luther on the fact that his father had been
trying for no one knows how long, to get the appointment of officer
of the customs, and only lately, when the king was no longer able to
collect duties in New York, had he received any encouragement.
It goes without saying that Luther took fire in an instant, and but for
Sam, who stepped between them, the two lads might have come to blows
then and there, even though the watch would have made them prisoners in
a twinkling.
Quickly though Sam moved, mischief was worked, for Abe’s anger was too
hot to permit of guarding his tongue, and he foolishly made threats as
to what should be done if Luther’s father continued to toady to the
king’s officers as he had been doing. Of course I do not count it a
mischief for a fellow to stand up boldly for the Cause; but when he
lives in a neighborhood where eight out of every nine are Tories, then
is it foolish for him to make threats, since it only serves to call
particular attention to himself and his friends.
“We’ll clip your wings a bit, before this thing is settled,” Luther
cried in a rage. “Those who live in our section of the island are,
except for a few like the Deckers, the Garratts, and the Lyttles,
honest, law-abiding people who will not brook seditious talk from man
or boy. You think your ragamuffin army is able to stand against the
king’s troops simply because they happen to be holdin’ this town; but
just wait until the English ships give you a call! The idea of boys
like you talking about a plot, when his majesty’s servants are doing
what they may to put down traitors! Before we’re a week older I’ll show
you how such as you should be treated, and that without heed to the
imitation soldiers you’ve got here!”
“And I’ll show--”
Abe had begun to reply while he was literally trembling with rage, and,
fearing lest more should be said than was wise, I covered his mouth
with my hand, at the same time forcing him away from the young Tory.
“Let me go!” he cried fiercely, when I gave him opportunity to speak
but at the same time, with the aid of Sam and Abel Grant, continued to
force him away from Luther’s neighborhood. “That scoundrel shan’t have
the satisfaction of believing he has frightened me!”
I did not dare to hold him longer against his will, and was well nigh
at my wits end to know how a street brawl might be prevented at less
cost than a quarrel betwixt him and me, when Abel interrupted happily:
“A fine Minute Boy you’ll make, Abraham Decker, if, for the sake of
rufflin’ a Tory’s feathers, you let your tongue run away with you! Of
how much service can you be to the Cause if you begin by puttin’ it in
the minds of those who are strongest, to get you out of the way, as
will be done in case Luther Stedman convinces his father that it is in
your power to do aught against the king?”
A bucket full of cold water could not have had more effect on a
setting hen, than did these words on Abraham. On the instant his anger
subsided, and in its stead must have come a feeling of shame because of
his folly, if one could judge from the deep flush that overspread his
face.
Nor was this the only brawl we were like to have taken part in that
afternoon. On every hand words ran high; it was as if men had suddenly
been enraged to a white heat, and those spoke intemperately who at
almost any other time would have remained silent. A self-respecting
Whig could keep his tongue between his teeth only with difficulty,
and many of the Tories were so wrought up by the knowledge that their
deeply-laid plot had been discovered, that they gave words to thoughts
which were in the highest degree dangerous while our people held
possession of the town.
It yet lacked a full two hours to sunset when I proposed that we return
home, for, to tell the truth, it had come to my mind that we might get
into serious trouble by remaining at such a time; but Abel Grant and
my comrades were so eager to learn everything they could regarding the
plot, it was impossible for me, without showing myself in the highest
degree selfish, to do other than consult their pleasure. I did not,
however, give way without exacting a price.
“If we loiter around here where so much is being done to arouse the
anger of those friendly to the Cause, there is good chance we shall
find ourselves locked up on a charge of disturbing the peace,” I said,
laughing lest they should suspect how much of fear was in my heart.
“Now if you lads will go with me on board the sloop, we’ll leave Abel
to pick up all the gossip, and when his budget is full he shall come to
us.”
Abe and Sam were unwilling to tear themselves away from the excited
throng so soon; but because of what had already happened Abraham could
not make very loud protest against my plan, and I soon won over the
third of our newly-made Minute Boys.
We three walked slowly back to Master Dyker’s dock with our ears
pricked up to hear all that might be said as we passed along, and once
having arrived, heard that which was like to make our stay a long one.
“Your father has been here, Ephraim,” Jethro Dyker said as we went on
the dock, “an’ has left word that you are to stay aboard the sloop
until he an’ Abe’s father come again, even though they should not show
themselves till the morrow.”
“Then we had best go back to the Green, where is a chance to enjoy
ourselves,” Sam cried in delight, and Abe would have joined him in the
suggestion, but that I said in a tone which showed I could not be moved
to change my mind:
“It is not safe for Abraham to go among the Tories this day. He has
already shown that he cannot hold his tongue at the proper time,
therefore he an’ I will stay aboard the sloop. Go if you will, Sam; but
do not remain away very long lest our fathers should arrive in a hurry
to go home.”
I had hardly more than ceased speaking before Sam was off at full
speed, and, grumbling not a little, Abe went into the small cabin as
if to indulge in a fit of the sulks. To prevent anything of the kind I
followed, copying my comrade’s movements by throwing myself into the
bunk opposite the one of which he had taken possession.
It may be well to say that we had outfitted the Swiftsure in such a
manner as would allow us to take long cruises in her, and not only had
fair arrangements for sleeping; but there was in the small cabin a tiny
stove whereon we could make into chowder or a fry, the fish we caught.
More than once had we lived aboard four days without inconvenience, and
much to our comfort and pleasure.
At first I tried to talk with my companion about what we had seen and
heard; but he was in such a humor that I soon gave it up as a bad job,
and lay stretched out at full length speculating upon the possibility
of serving the Cause as Minute Boys, when there came a heavy blow which
caused the sloop to rock to and fro, thus telling that some person had
jumped on board from the dock.
Believing our visitor to be Jethro Dyker, I did not so much as raise my
head until a second shock was felt, and I heard a strange voice ask:
“Do you know who owns this craft?”
It was Luther Stedman who replied, and you may fancy that I pricked up
my ears at once, when he said:
“She belongs to a scoundrelly lot of Whigs who live near my home. They
are down on Bowling Green getting what comfort is possible out of the
discovery of the plot, an’ are not likely to come this way until we are
well off.”
“The Whigs will surely make trouble for you, if it is known you had a
hand in this matter, and it will be in their power to do so until the
king’s troops take possession of New York.”
“They haven’t many days left for their traitorous work, an’ we must
take the chances in order to help our friends. It is certain some one
who had been trusted with all the secrets, has turned informer, an’ no
one can say how soon more arrests will follow.”
“Will your father be on the lookout for us?”
“If he finds our man at the place agreed upon. It may be, however,
that the mischief has already been done, an’ Master Campbell is a
prisoner with the others, in which case we can leave this sloop at the
rendezvous an’ go our way.”
Here was a fine state of affairs, and he would have been a dummy
who could not understand from what had already been said, the whole
situation. I believed this “Master Campbell” of whom they spoke, was a
ship-owner whose office was near to Peck Slip. I had often heard him
spoken of as a sneaking Tory who was willing to do the Cause whatsoever
of harm he might, and would not begrudge his dollars if they might aid
in riveting upon us the king’s chains more firmly.
There was no question in my mind but that Luther Stedman and his
companion, whoever that might be, were trying to save this same Master
Campbell from arrest, and because of seeing us three lads at Bowling
Green apparently intent on what was going on, the Tories believed there
would be no opposition to taking possession of our craft. I had brought
Abraham on board in order to prevent him from getting into trouble
through his tongue, and lo! had set him down in the very midst of Tory
plots, where actual fighting would be necessary to save us from lending
aid to our enemies.
Verily the Minute Boys of Long Island had work cut out for them before
having fairly come together as an organization!
I looked across the cabin at Abe, and saw that his eyes were open wide,
staring at me as if to ask what should be done, and for the moment I
was puzzled to find an answer.
The Tories had already begun to get the sloop under way, as could be
told by the scuffling and the dragging of ropes across the deck. It was
reasonable to suppose Luther’s companion was somewhere near his own
size, therefore would we be about evenly matched in the fight which
was so near at hand, for, without understanding exactly how it was
to be opened, I knew we two lads were in for a desperate row. It was
not within the range of possibilities that the royalist sneaks, after
having got thus far in the plan to save Master Campbell from arrest,
would quietly give up possession of our sloop.
It was while I was turning the matter over hastily in my mind,
understanding that we must set about the task in such a manner as
to insure success otherwise we were in for rough handling, that Abe
slipped softly out of the bunk, making no more noise than a mouse
might, and was working his way across the cabin toward me. While so
doing it would, perhaps, be possible for him to get a glimpse of the
Tories through the narrow opening to the cuddy, and I was well content
to wait until we could talk one with another, more particularly since I
had not been able to hit upon any scheme for opening the battle.
Before he was by the side of my bunk the heeling of the sloop told
that she was free of the dock, and the voyage, wherever it was to end,
had begun with a wind sufficiently strong to give the Swiftsure a good
chance to show her heels, which, as I knew full well, were more speedy
than any craft of her size in New York harbor.
“Where are they headin’ for?” Abe asked of me in a cautious whisper.
“Into the Hudson river, most like. Did you see the other fellow?” I
asked in turn.
“Ay, an’ so far as size goes he should be able to answer for both you
an’ me. We can’t afford to stay idle many minutes, for if they find
we’re aboard, it will be a simple matter to shut us up in a trap with
no chance for striking a blow.”
“Shall we make a rush now?”
“As soon as we can find somethin’ in the way of weapons. This isn’t
likely to be child’s play, an’ when we get in a blow it must count,
for they will do their best to disable us, without givin’ heed as to
whether a life be taken or not.”
Immediately we had thus spoken Abe set about searching for something
that would serve him, and it can well be imagined that I followed his
example without loss of time.
It was not possibly to find exactly that which we wanted and at the
same time move so silently as to avoid attracting the attention
of those on deck; but when it seemed to me as if we had spent a
dangerously long while in the search, I came upon a spare tiller--a
stout oaken stick nearly thirty inches long, and Abe had wrenched off
one of the stove legs. This done we crouched for an instant just inside
the cuddy door, as my comrade whispered:
“Because of what was said on the Green, I claim the right to go first.
Let me get but one clip at Luther, an’ I’ll warrant he won’t have any
further interest in the row. Then both of us can tackle the big fellow,
an’ even at that, the odds won’t be much more than even.”
I could not have prevented him from doing as he had said, even though
I felt so disposed, for at that instant Luther Stedman’s ugly face
appeared at the cuddy hatch, his eyes bulging with surprise and fear at
seeing us.
“You miserable Tory whelp!” Abe shouted as he sprang full at the
fellow, aiming a blow which would have put Luther out of the fight for
some time to come had it been delivered fairly.
Unfortunately, however, Abe stumbled ever so slightly, and the Tory so
far dodged that the stove leg struck his shoulder instead of his head,
where it should have landed.
The big fellow was at the helm; but he dropped the tiller in a
twinkling, springing at us like a cat, and even from the passing
glimpse I had, it was possible to understand that we had considerable
work cut out for us if we were to get the best of the squabble.
Of what was done during the first two or three minutes, I have no very
clear idea, for it was as rough and tumble a fight as I ever had a hand
in. I knew, however, that we were nearly off the battery when Abe and
I came out of the cabin; that the sloop was singing dangerously close
inshore, and that Luther had a boat hook which he was using as a pike.
As to other details I gave no heed, having quite as much of business on
hand as could well be attended to just at the time.
The big fellow had not waited to arm himself; but came into the fray
empty-handed, and the first blow he struck felled me like an ox, for
I received it just between the eyes. Fortunately I fell on the deck
instead of into the cabin, and when I came to my senses and my feet
at about the same time, Luther was lying not far away with the blood
flowing from his mouth and nose, while Abe and the big fellow were
rolling over and over in the cockpit, the Tory evidently having the
best of it.
All the while the sloop was rolling and thumping against the battery
dock as if bent on staving every timber in her hull, and the waves, for
the fresh breeze had kicked up considerable of a sea, were drenching
all of us in great shape. I could dimly hear cries from the shore, as
if those there were aware of what was going on but I gave no heed to
them, knowing full well that Abe stood sorely in need of aid.
Although I moved as lively as ever a fellow could who was more than
half dazed from the first blow, I did not get into the cockpit in time
to save Abe from a wicked clip that caused him to sink back on the
timbers like one dead, and then the big Tory turned his attention to me.
I had sense enough remaining to understand that my only show was to
come into close action, for the fellow was my better at arm’s lengths,
and I grappled at once, wondering how long it would be possible to
stand him off, when I heard as if from afar off the cry:
“It strikes me that the Minute Boys of Long Island are gettin’ a bit
more than they counted on!” and then it seemed as if Sam was standing
close beside the Tory and me.
After that all was darkness, with the sensation as if I had suddenly
been deprived of breath, and I knew no more until, having been dragged
into the cabin, I heard Abel Grant cry cheerily:
“Don’t waste the whole afternoon comin’ ’round, Ephraim, for you’ve had
nothin’ worse than a bit of a chokin’.”
Staggering to my feet I saw Abel at the helm, and understood from
the heel of the sloop that she was under way. Near at hand was Sam,
tying a bit of cloth which looked as if it might have been his own
shirt-sleeve, around Abe’s head, and further on lay the big Tory lashed
hand and foot with ropes.
“Where did you come from?” I asked stupidly of Sam, and he replied
with a laugh, as if that which we had been engaged in was nothing more
than innocent sport:
“The sloop must have known that it was a case of all the Minute Boys
to the rescue, for she fell afoul of the dock within a dozen feet of
where Abel an’ I were standin’. We saw her comin’ down under full
sail, an’ wondered why you had got under way. Then the stranger at the
helm suddenly ran forward, an’ by the time she was off where we stood,
it would have been a blind man who couldn’t see that you fellows had
got into some kind of a mess. We didn’t come aboard any too soon, an’
that’s a fact.”
“Where are you headin’ for?” I asked, still feeling dizzy and with a
most uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
“Anywhere!” Abel shouted from the helm. “There were too many Tories
ashore to make it safe anchorage, so we put out into the stream till
things were cleaned up a bit. Now if you an’ Abe have got your wits
about you enough to let us know why these passengers are aboard, we’d
like to hear the story.”
Abe could not very well act as spokesman while Sam was tying his
head up, therefore, in the fewest words possible, I told all we knew
concerning the plans of the Tories, adding in conclusion:
“The sooner we set ’em ashore an’ get back to where our fathers will be
lookin’ for the sloop, the better.”
“Not a bit of it,” Abel replied stoutly. “I ain’t one of these ’ere
Minute Boys that are downed the first fight they run into, consequently
it don’t stand me in hand to take command; but I’ve got sense enough
to know that these precious Tories need to be turned over to some of
our people, instead of bein’ let go scot free.”
“To what end?” I asked irritably, for it seemed to me that the sooner
we got out of the muddle the better, while to make any effort to
deliver the Tories up as prisoners would only result in our coming into
more trouble.
“To the end that we act as honest men should. We’ll stand inshore a
bit further on, an’ you or Sam shall go up to headquarters, there to
tell what has been done, an’ to learn if these precious scoundrels are
needed.”
“Abel is right,” Abraham said, for now that the bandage was in place
he could speak. “We have no right to let the matter drop as if it
concerned us only, an’ now if ever is the time when we may show that
even a company of only three Minute Boys can do somewhat in aid of the
Cause.”