IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Fortune favored us on this tramp across the island. We met with no
person, either enemy or friend, owing to the fact of our avoiding the
highways, and within two miles of the spot we had selected in which to
do our spyin’ came across Abraham on his way to the sloop.
It was much like finding a needle in a hay-stack, this meeting him
in the thicket by accident, and I hailed it as a good augury for the
future, causing Abraham to laugh heartily when the thought was put into
words.
“It’s like all of these ‘good luck signs,’ brought about by intention.
I have had my ears open for you lads from the time of settin’ out, an’,
with a fair idea of the course that would naturally be followed, it
might have been more strange had we not come together.”
“Have you anythin’ of importance to report?”
“No; everythin’ is much as when you left. The Britishers seem to be
makin’ good headway with their boat-buildin’, an’ are workin’ like
beavers. So far as I could make out they’re not spendin’ much time
tryin’ to learn what our people are doin’, which is accounted for by
the fact of their bein’ in such force that it seems like an easy task
to overcome us when the preparations have been made.”
Then Abe asked concerning what we had done with the prisoners, and,
promising to return at the earliest possible moment to set my mind at
rest regarding what General Putnam might say about our tackling Tories
when we were ordered to spy upon the enemy, continued on his way,
halting an instant later to cry out:
“I found a snug place in which to hide. Look just under the hill for a
hole!”
We were at a loss to understand his meaning until having arrived at
what we considered our station, and then we found what might be called
a cave, although in reality it was nothing better than a place hollowed
out by the water. It would serve to screen us from view of any who
might creep up as Luther and Ezra had done, however, and we counted it
a fortunate find.
Abraham had evidently spent no little time in making the place take on
something of the appearance of a habitation, and Sam said in a tone
of content as he seated himself on a big rock at the very edge of the
hole, where could be had a clear view of the opposite shore:
“I wonder you an’ I didn’t think of huntin’ for somethin’ like this,
Eph! We can be as snug as bugs in a rug here, an’ I’m allowin’ we’d be
well sheltered in case of a shower. Besides, it’s not such a bad place
in which to sleep, an’ seein’s how there’s nothin’ for us to do ’twixt
now an’ daylight, why not turn in, for one must travel to Wallabout an’
back when another night has come?”
I was not inclined for sleep just then, having had my fill during the
day; but because of the opportunity I stretched myself at full length
on the sand, and speculated as to what we Minute Boys might yet be able
to do in the way of proving ourselves capable of playing the part of
men, until my eyes finally closed in slumber.
When I awakened the day was just breaking, and, arousing Sam, we two
crept down to the water’s edge where we washed our hands and faces,
a most pleasing duty because of the heat, which promised to be great
before noon. Then we ate from the store of food brought from Master
Onderdonk’s, which was yet quite considerable, and settled down for a
dreary time of watching.
The red-coats were at work on the unwieldy barges when it was possible
for us to distinguish objects on the opposite shore, and I had no doubt
but that they had spent the night at the same task. So far as we could
judge, those on the fleet had nothing better to do than idle the time
away, and there was but little movement in the encampment.
The forenoon was no more than half spent when, to our great surprise,
Abraham suddenly appeared before the entrance to our cave, having
approached so noiselessly that we had no hint of his coming.
“Yes, I made good time,” he said in reply to my exclamation, throwing
himself down on the sand as if weary to the verge of exhaustion. “I am
allowin’ that one of you will go with the next report, an’ I can stay
here until my legs are in better shape, for they are numb with much
walkin’.”
“But what about the prisoners?” I asked, irritated because he had not
begun at once to tell the story, and he replied carelessly, as if the
matter was of but little importance:
“Oh, they are all right; Lieutenant Winterbottom has the curs in
charge, an’ will turn them over to the magistrate.”
“The magistrate?” I repeated. “What has the city authorities to do with
them? Aren’t they prisoners of war?”
“I could not well make out the drift of the talk between the lieutenant
and General Putnam; but the way it appeared to me was that they allowed
the Tories couldn’t be held by the army, since they were not soldiers,
an’--Well, the fact of the matter is, Eph, I don’t understand it
myself, save that they are to be charged with makin’ an assault on you
and Sam, an’ the lieutenant will see to it they are held in custody
until you two can be there to appear against ’em, which means that
they’re safe in jail.”
“Did the general make any complaint because of our capturin’ ’em?” Sam
asked.
“It looked to me as if he took it as a matter of course, knowin’ you
couldn’t spy on the fleet an’ have them hangin’ ’round makin’ trouble.
Luther was chafin’ a good bit under the collar when I left him; but
Ezra’s more of a decent fellow, an’ says he won’t forget how you
treated him in the matter of the gag. The most important news I’ve
brought is that we needn’t make a daily trip to New York unless there’s
some decided move on the part of the enemy. What we’re really here for,
is to get word into New York as soon as possible after they start to
make a landin’, an’ because of the orders given, the sloop will be off
Red Hook from now on, so’s to save us a journey to Wallabout.”
This was good news indeed, for that tramp across the island at night
was no little of a hardship, and when there was nothing new of which to
make report, it seemed to me useless.
Abraham had brought with him an additional supply of provisions,
together with a jug in which we could keep fresh water, and by the time
the stores were packed away and the bottom of the cave smoothed off
somewhat, we were, as I looked upon the matter, very comfortably fixed
for three lads who were supposed to be doing military duty.
And now, because of there being nothing of interest to tell concerning
ourselves, I propose to pass over without a word all that time when
we remained in hiding, as it were, until the moment came that we had
information in plenty for General Putnam.
Being able to keep a supply of water on hand, it was only necessary for
us to leave our hiding place at such times as the stores ran low, and,
consequently, we had no fear of being seen by enemies on land, while it
was an easy matter to remain hidden from view of those who passed on
the water.
Then came the moment when the British forces were put in motion, and
the serious part of our work was begun. Three of the ships, and we
came afterward to know that they were the Phœnix, the Rose, and the
Greyhound, with two bomb-boats, put off from Staten Island early in the
morning of the 22nd of August, and at the same time we could see troops
going on board the unwieldy scows that had been building.
On that morning I had awakened just at break of day, and stood
leisurely looking out from the mouth of the cave until, the vapors of
the night lifting, showed this portion of the British fleet in motion.
It can well be understood that I lost no time in arousing my companions.
“I reckon it’s a case of settin’ out for Red Hook as soon as may be,
lads!” I cried. “The Britishers are making a move.”
Short though the time was before Abraham and Sam stood near me looking
out over the water, the three ships had already gotten under way, and I
believed we should set off on the instant to find Abel Grant, for this
was that movement which we had been detailed to watch.
Fortunately Abraham had sharper wit, and when I excitedly urged that
he start on the journey without a second’s delay, he said, quietly
pointing to the flatboats which were anchored off-shore and being
rapidly filled with troops and guns:
“Wait until we see in which direction yonder red-coats are goin’, for I
reckon the general wants that information as well.”
“Suppose I start off ahead to search for Abel Grant nearabout Gowanus
bay, an’ by the time he has pulled inshore you will most likely have
come,” Sam cried.
Abraham favored this proposition; but looked to me as the leader to
give the word, and Sam set off at once.
Now it was reasonable to suppose that there were others who had been
sent down by General Putnam for the purpose of giving timely warning
of this movement; but that was no affair of ours, save that I burned
to be the first who should arrive with the tidings, and waited with an
impatience amounting almost to ill temper, until the ships that were
under way came to an anchor in Gravesend bay, and Abraham said, as if
well versed in all the arts of warfare:
“Now do we know the whole story, lad. I have counted eighteen of
yonder flatboats that, well filled with soldiers, are bein’ brought out
from their anchorage, an’ these ships have come across to cover their
landin’. Look! All the troops appear to be in motion; the encampment
is broken up, an’ we may count on it that within the next two or three
hours the force yonder will be on Long Island.”
Now he was as eager as I to be off, and, leaving all our little
belongings in the cave, thinking only of getting on board the sloop
in the shortest possible space of time, we set out at full speed,
regardless of whether Tory eyes beheld us or not, striking straight
across to Yellow Hook, and from there along the line of the shore so
that we might catch the first glimpse of the Swiftsure.
“We’ve got a good wind for the voyage, and if so be our admiral don’t
delay us by havin’ changed anchor-ground, we may possibly get ahead of
any others who have been sent here for the same purpose as we,” Abe
cried eagerly as we ran.
That the Tories on the island were well aware of the intended movement
we could well understand as we pressed forward swiftly, for we met
parties of two or three coming out from the thicket in every direction,
like flies who have scented molasses, and more than one of the
scoundrels gave chase to us as if knowing on what errand we were bound;
but our anxiety to be the first in New York with the news, as well as
the fear of capture, lent such fleetness to our feet that pursuit would
have been useless save by mounted men.
Fortune surely favored us in our efforts, for after passing the bend at
Yellow Hook, leaving the highway on our right and keeping close to the
edge of the shore, we saw the sloop standing down upon us, while Sam
was but a short distance away waving his cap vigorously.
Seth Hartley pushed off in the skiff, bringing us aboard when the sloop
was well in, and we waded down into the water waist-deep to clamber on
board, so that a few seconds of time might be saved.
Then, once alongside the Swiftsure, and even before the skiff had
been made fast, Abel put the sloop about, headed for New York, while
we jumped down on the halliards and set the canvas yet more smoothly,
counting thus to get every ounce of wind that might come our way.
“I believe we’re the first off,” Abel said in a tone of exultation as
he scanned the surrounding waters without seeing other craft nearabout.
“By comin’ down shore we’ve gained a good two hours an’ a half of time,
therefore you Minute Boys should make the best showing of all the spies
that have been loiterin’ on Long Island since the British fleet came
into the bay!”
“And how many others, think you, have been engaged in the same task?” I
asked.
“Well, judgin’ from what I’d do if I was General Putnam, the shore must
have been pretty thickly lined with them, because no dozen men could
keep watch of all the likely landing-places.”
The sloop was tended as never before since having been launched, and
the helmsman did not allow his eyes to wander in any direction, but
kept them on that point toward which we were headed, lest peradventure
we might lose a few yards in distance that could otherwise have been
saved.
The wind was abeam, and of sufficient strength to send the little craft
through the water with a good-sized bone in her teeth, we all the while
keeping jealous watch for any who might be putting out from the island.
When we were come off Governor’s Island the men in the fortification
there, seeing us straining every effort to get the best speed out
of our craft, must have guessed somewhat of our purpose, and would
have brought us to, that we might answer their questions. We were
not minded, however, to tell of what we had seen to any save General
Putnam, and kept on our way, evidently much to their anger, for one man
went so far as to point a gun at Abel Grant, shouting words we could
not distinguish, but which were probably an order for us to heave to
without delay.
“It’ll take more’n a musket ball to stop this ’ere craft,” Abel Grant
said laughing, and verily I believe the possibility of danger only
served to raise his spirits.
It was low tide when we crossed the river, running the course from the
outermost end of Governor’s Island to the battery on Bowling Green as
straight as might be, and then it was possible for us to see the long
spikes driven in the booms of logs, making a regular set of porcupine
quills, which were anchored just below the surface to prevent the enemy
from getting up to the city on that side.
We did not give much heed to them at the time, for our desires outran
even the speed of the sloop, and at risk of staving the bow in, Abel
Grant run her up to the bulkhead in front of the battery, I leaping
ashore at the very moment she struck.
Arrived at headquarters, breathless and excited, boiling with the hope
that I was the first to bring the news, it was as if no sentry had been
placed there, for I failed to hear the man challenge me when I darted
past to enter the building, but before he could overtake me, for he did
not dare to shoot, I had forced open the outer door, and an instant
later stood in front of General Putnam.
He was busily engaged with three other officers; but instead of losing
his temper because of my unceremonious entrance, asked hurriedly as he
leaped to his feet:
“Has the enemy begun to make a landing?”
“Ay, sir, and in Gravesend bay. We waited long enough to see three
ships and two bomb-boats coming to anchor just off the shore, an’
no less than twenty flatboats filled with soldiers had left their
moorings, bein’ towed across. The other scows were takin’ the men as
fast as possible.”
“How long since this was begun?”
“We saw the first movement at daybreak; but waited until the ships had
come to anchor in the bay before leavin’.”
“How does it happen that you have been able to get here so quickly?”
the general asked, much as if misdoubting the correctness of my report.
Hurriedly I explained why we were enabled to get aboard the sloop so
quickly, and as for the possibilities of our making the trip in quick
time, he could see for himself by glancing out at the trees which were
bending under the weight of the fresh breeze.
“You have done well, my lad. Where is your sloop now?”
“Just here at the battery bulkhead, sir, an’ all our company are
aboard.”
“Hold her there until you get further orders from Lieutenant
Winterbottom. How many men will she carry?”
“Thirty, perhaps, if you stow them snugly, and are not afraid of
overloadin’.”
The general turned his back on me to speak with the officers at the
table, and I waited, not knowing whether the interview was at an end,
mayhap four or five minutes, when in the midst of giving hurried orders
to the aides who came pouring in as if well aware of what news I
brought, he chanced to see me again, when he said in a friendly tone;
but speaking so rapidly as to show he had no time to waste:
“You may go to your sloop, lad. There is nothing further to be said
until you hear from me again.”
I hurried out, and was no more than in the open air when the sentry
whom I had eluded caught me by the collar, as he asked sharply:
“Are the British landed, lad?”
I was in doubt as to whether it was right to satisfy his curiosity, and
he, understanding why I delayed in answering, shook me playfully, as he
said:
“There can be no harm done by your talkin’, if such be the case, for it
must all be known in a few minutes.”
“They are comin’ ashore at Gravesend bay,” I replied, and as he
released his hold I ran across the Green, avoiding as best I might
those men who would have stopped me, for it appeared that all who were
nearabout when I ran so swiftly to headquarters, had an inkling of what
was my purpose.
The sloop was made fast to the bulkhead when I gained the water’s edge,
and not less than an hundred stood nearby, nearly all of them soldiers
in uniform, who were questioning my comrades as to the cause of our
coming.
Abel had refused to answer any questions whatsoever until he saw by
my return that our report had been made, and then he gratified the
curiosity of the by-standers in so far as he believed was right.
Before half an hour had passed we learned that troops had been sent
over to the island day after day until the greater portion of our army
was ready to meet the invader; but there yet remained so many in New
York that the wonder to me was how they might be ferried across, until
I saw the whale-boats, skiffs, sloops, and every kind of a craft that
could be mustered, gathering nearabout where we were moored.
All was bustle and seeming confusion for an hour or more, and then as
rapidly as might be these boats which had been gathered so suddenly,
and it seemed to me mysteriously until I learned that the greater
number of them had been kept under waiting orders, were loaded to the
gunwales one by one with men, after which they set off for the opposite
shore without heed to either military or naval formation.
Then Lieutenant Winterbottom came down hurriedly with orders for us to
pull around to Peck’s Slip, and wait there for General Putnam and his
staff.
“Their horses have already been taken across in a flatboat, therefore
you will have no difficulty in ferrying them. Once they are landed,
the orders are that the sloop ply back and forth carrying whosoever
may apply for passage, and this you are to do so long as any soldiers
remain on this side desiring to cross.”
When we had worked the sloop around to the slip we saw nearby fifteen
or twenty casks of sea-bread, made of pease meal, hard as flint, and I
noticed that as each man passed he took as many as could be carried
conveniently, whereupon I asked Abel Grant if he believed such as that
was the only food our soldiers would carry with them.
“It’s a good deal more’n some of ’em will want within an hour after the
battle has been opened,” he said grimly, and, strange though it may
seem, this remark of his caused me to realize more keenly than I had
done since we banded ourselves together as Minute Boys, that we were
about to know the meaning of the word “war.”
Even here at Peck’s Slip were other boats being laden with heavy,
living cargoes, and as each craft started the men on board cheered
lustily as if bound on some pleasure excursion, while I asked myself
with an inward shudder how many might be alive or dead when the sun had
set.
General Putnam and his staff arrived very shortly after we were ready
to receive them. Once they had been taken across we found ourselves
with ample work to do, for no sooner had we ferried one load than
another was ready to be taken on board, and all the while we expected
each instant to hear the booming of cannon which would tell that the
battle had begun.
Not until night had fully come were we done with our task as ferrymen,
and then was the sloop tied up at Peck’s Slip, for we had no further
word as to what might be expected of us.
Lieutenant Winterbottom had gone over with General Putnam, and all the
order he gave was such as has already been set down here, therefore we
were in no little bewilderment as to our proper course of action.
“Accordin’ to my reckonin’ we’re bound to lay here till mornin’, an’
then if so be there are left any soldiers to go across, we’ll continue
the work,” Abel Grant said by way of ending the discussion which had
arisen among us. “If the lieutenant wants us, failin’ to find the sloop
on the other side, he’s got sense enough to understand she would be
here, therefore can he get us word whenever it pleases him.”
We were standing on deck while speculating as to what should be done,
and I called the attention of my comrades to the number of people on
the street, saying:
“After so many have crossed, it would seem as if there could not be a
man left in the town.”
“I’m allowin’ that pretty nigh all here are them as hope the red-coats
will swallow us up as completely as the whale did Jonah, for it stands
to reason that every able-bodied man who wanted to, an’ could, get
away, would be on yonder shore, knowin’ as all our people must that
every arm is needed,” Abel Grant said, and I fancied for an instant
that he was reproving us Minute Boys for thus playing the part of
ferrymen when we should be carrying muskets.
“No, no, I don’t mean that, lad,” he said quickly when I put into words
my thoughts. “You are already in the service, an’ actin’ under orders,
consequently, as I look at the matter, have no right to leave this ’ere
sloop until word has been given. It makes an honest man’s blood boil
to see so many who should be defendin’ their homes, walkin’ to and fro
with the hope that the enemy can do as he pleases.”
“There are two who can’t at all events,” Sam said with a laugh, “an’
they are Luther Stedman an’ Ezra Billings. I wonder how those precious
Tories are enjoyin’ themselves about this time?”
“It may be they’ll gain their liberty sooner than we count on, for if
the British take this town they will of course set free such as them,”
I began, and stopped very suddenly at that point, for not above an
hundred paces distant, walking along the water front as if searching
for some one, was none other than Luther Stedman himself!
So amazed was I at the knowledge that he whom we had believed was being
kept where he could do no further mischief, had liberty to walk the
streets, that I stood in open-mouthed astonishment staring at him, and
one by one my companions followed the direction of my gaze, each in
turn giving vent to an exclamation of anger and of astonishment.
Whether the villainous cur saw us or not I am unable to say, although
in view of what happened am I inclined to the belief that he recognized
the sloop even before we were aware of his presence. Certain it is,
however, that he walked leisurely along the street, ceasing now to gaze
on either side, but apparently intent only on gaining such exercise
as might be possible from a leisurely stroll, and we four, for Seth
Hartley joined with us in our indignation, watched the fellow until he
was lost to view in the distance, when Abel Grant cried in a tone of
anger:
“It seems that such high and mighty officers as Lieutenant Winterbottom
have little care whether common people like us come to grief or not! It
was no more work for him to keep those Tories in jail than to set them
free, an’ the wonder of it is that we were not attacked while on duty
at the Narrows.”
“But why did he allow them their liberty?” I asked, and Abel replied
bitterly:
“Because there are some in this ’ere army of ours who don’t attend to
their duty.”
We were too thoroughly stupefied to discuss the matter, and as if with
one accord went below, where we sat in silence for an hour or more,
until Abel Grant said curtly:
“If there’s a cook aboard this ’ere craft, I’m thinkin’ we’d best have
somethin’ to eat, for if work is to be done to-morrow we must turn in
an’ get a bit of rest.”
My heart was very bitter when I lay down in the bunk that night, and
the thought that Lieutenant Winterbottom, who had seemingly been a
friend, should have so far neglected us as to allow these Tories their
liberty at a time when they might do us grievous injury, kept slumber
from my eyelids until a late hour.
Next morning at the break of day we were hailed by the sergeant in
command of a squad of men, who claimed to have direct orders from the
lieutenant that they be taken across to Brooklyn in the sloop, and from
that hour until the sun set again we had little opportunity to dwell
upon our fancied wrongs.
And yet during all this day, when it had seemed as if we were on the
eve of battle, no sound was heard betokening activity of the enemy.
Had I not seen them with my own eyes, I should have doubted whether the
information that they were landed could have been correct, and even as
it was I questioned whether they might not have gone back, until late
in the afternoon while we were lying on Long Island side, some of our
people told of a skirmish that had taken place near Bennett’s Cove,
when four Americans were wounded.
It was not an engagement in any sense of the word; but blood had been
spilled, and those who, like myself, were beginning to question whether
the enemy intended to make an attack, no longer doubted but that the
critical time must be near at hand.
We did not see Lieutenant Winterbottom during this day; but just at
nightfall a messenger came from Flatbush Pass with an order from the
lieutenant that we moor the sloop off the ferry-landing on the Brooklyn
side, there to await further commands.
This same man told us that there had been some skirmishing between our
advance guard and those of the British; that Colonel Marton of the New
Jersey Levies had been seriously wounded, and Master Rutgers, whom all
us lads knew well, was killed.
When we had anchored our boat in accordance with the commands received,
perhaps fifty yards from the shore, and were all thoroughly tired with
the exercise of working the craft from early dawn without a moment
for rest, save such as could be had while we were standing to and fro
across the river, Abel Grant said as if it was a matter of not overly
much importance:
“I’m allowin’ that all hands can’t afford to turn in to-night; no one
may say when the bloomin’ Britishers will take it into their heads to
make an attack, an’ it would be a pretty kettle of fish if we should be
found asleep when most sorely needed.”
“There’s no need of so many words about it, if you count on our
standin’ guard from now till mornin’,” Abraham said petulantly, and as
a matter of fact the temper of our crew had been sorely tried that day
by the fault-finding of those who called themselves soldiers, and yet
had never smelled burning powder. “Say what you want done, an’ we’ll
come up to the scratch.”
“Then I’m allowin’ that Seth an’ I’ll stand our trick from now until
midnight. Ephraim an’ Abe are to take the next turn until four o’clock,
when Sam, who professes to be the cook, shall come on an’ make
breakfast ready.”
It was a matter of indifference to me, this setting a watch. I did not
believe any such precaution was needed, yet at the same time had no
intention of running counter to the admiral’s plans when they concerned
the handling of the sloop.
I was dissatisfied with myself because we three lads, who had counted
so eagerly on being able to do important work as Minute Boys, were come
down to playing ferrymen for a lot of half-baked soldiers who had more
of insolence than patriotism in their hearts, and when Sam accused me
of being sore-headed, I told him that which was in my mind, whereupon
he said laughingly:
“I’m allowin’ we lads have considerable to learn about war, an’ perhaps
we shall yet have all the chance we want of bein’ shot at. Yesterday
mornin’ it seemed certain to me that a battle was comin’ off within an
hour or two, an’ up to this time, except for a couple of skirmishes,
nothin’ has been done. Our turn will come later.”
“Yes, when there’s no opportunity to win any honor,” I said bitterly,
and then threw myself down in the bunk refusing to speak another word.
Half an hour later, perhaps, Abraham and Sam followed my example, and,
seeing that we had composed ourselves for sleep, Abel Grant and Seth
went on deck, there to keep what I believed to be a useless watch.
Because of the dissatisfaction in my mind concerning the release of
the Tories and our being made to play so poor a part when we should
have been in the field as soldiers, slumber did not come readily to my
eyelids, and it must have been well to midnight before I finally lost
myself in Dreamland, only to be aroused a moment later, as it seemed to
me, by a noise as if of a terrible struggle on deck, wherein men were
striving for the mastery, or for life.