CHAPTER FIVE.
A BRIGHT MORNING AND A DARK DAY.--ATTACK ON NEW YORK.--MERCER SHOWS HISSYMPATHY WITH THE AMERICANS.--THE BATTLE RAGES.--FIELD OF BATTLE.--ASSIST A WOUNDED AMERICAN.--FIRED AT BY OUR FRIENDS.--ANOTHER TRIP ONSHORE.--FALL INTO THE HANDS OF HESSIAN TROOPS.--RESCUED BY GENERALPIGOT.--SENT WITH DESPATCHES TO LORD HOWE.--MY BOAT'S CREW MUTINY.--NEWYORK ON FIRE.--TREATMENT OF SUPPOSED INCENDIARIES.--REMARKS ON THEWAR.--THE CONDEMNED SPY.--MERCER PLEADS FOR HIM IN VAIN.--HIS EXECUTION.
By early dawn on the morning of the 23rd of September, 1776, every onewas astir. The sultry atmosphere alone, even under ordinarycircumstances, would have made us glad to leave our berths. It hadbecome known that a combined attack by the land and sea forces was to bemade on the enemy. The mighty sun rose over Long Island in a blaze ofglory, and shot upward into a cloudless sky as the anchor was lifted.Fold after fold of our white canvas was let fall, and the other ships ofthe squadron following our example, we once more moved onward along theshore of Manhattan Island.
The scene was one of great beauty. The rays of the bright luminary fellon the wood-crowned heights of Harlem on one side, and of Morrissania onthe other side of the creek, throwing the promontories into bold relief,and the bays and inlets, with which the coast is indented, into deepershade, while rich fields, and meadows and orchards, as they basked inthe soft morning light, gave the whole landscape an appearance ofcalmness and peace, soon to be broken by the rude realities of fierce,unrelenting warfare.
As soon as we weighed anchor the troops of the enemy, who had beenwatching us under arms since dawn, began to march along the shore closeto us, regardless of the danger they ran of destruction, for had weopened our broadsides, we might have played sad havoc among them. Theywere not quite so fantastically dressed as my friends at Cape Henlopen,but still there was a very great variety of costume, and a lamentablewant of discipline among them. If the front rank did not advance fastenough, the rear would give them a shove or a kick to urge them on, allthe time making significant and not very complimentary signs to us tocome on shore and fight them, while they tried to express their supremecontempt for us by every means in their power, shouting out tauntingwords, and abusing us in no measured terms.
Our men had two days before stood the battering we got with comparativecalmness, but the taunts and signs of the foe now enraged them beyondall endurance.
"Wait a bit, my lads, and then won't we give it you!" sung out DickTrunnion, a sturdy topman, and many similar expressions were uttered byothers.
"Oh, Muster Hurry, don't yer think the captain would let us go ashore,and give them chaps the drubbing they deserves?" asked Tom Rockets as Ipassed, doubling his fists while he spoke. "I'd like to give them ahiding."
"Never mind them, lads," said old Grampus, turning his back to theshore, and looking over his shoulder at the foe with a glance of supremecontempt. "They knows no better; and fancies because we don't hit wecan't. Poor fellows! I pities them, that I do. They bees littlebetter than savinges, only they wants the paint and feathers."
I felt very much as Nol said he did; but I suspect that his anger wasrather more excited than he chose to confess. The truth was that thesewere mostly raw militia regiments, who had seen little or nothing ofwarfare, and from the previous occurrences of the war had been taught tolook with contempt on British prowess. The regulars in most instancesbehaved admirably, and nothing could surpass the bravery of the officersof all ranks. This their greatest enemies could not deny; but themilitia were of a very different stamp, and the men, unable to depend oneach other or their officers, on several occasions fairly turned tailand ran away. I fancy that most of our opponents on the presentoccasion were of that class. We stood on till we reached a spot aboutfifty yards from the enemy's entrenchments, a little below Blackwell'sIsland, where the squadron dropped their anchors, and calmly furledsails. There we lay for some time without exchanging a shot, expecting,however, that some hot work was about to be commenced. The glasses ofthe officers were in the meantime constantly turned towards the smallislets in the direction of Long Island. At length Captain Hudsonuttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
"They come! they come!" he cried out, and as he spoke a flotilla ofboats were seen emerging from among the tree-covered shores of BushwickCreek. They formed the first division of flat-bottomed boats, having onboard a force of 4500 men, under the immediate command of General Howe.Slowly and steadily they advanced, like some huge black monsterscovering the blue surface of the tranquil and hitherto peaceful Sound.The drum now beat to quarters.
"Now my boys, if so be you want to punish them poor savinges as has beenbeguiling you, your time's soon coming," growled out old Nol, as thecrew were hurrying with alacrity to their guns.
The only person whose countenance showed no satisfaction was Mercer.Pale as death, he stood at his post over his division of guns; but I sawthat he would rather have died a hundred deaths than engage in the workhe felt it was his duty to perform. From my heart I pitied him. Therewas but little time, however, for thinking of that or any other matter.On came the flotilla of boats. Not a shot had as yet disturbed the calmtranquillity of the scene. A thin, gauze-like mist was spread over thedistant portions of the landscape. The hot sun struck down on ourheads; the blue expanse of water glittered in his bright rays, and thesea-fowl skimmed over it, dipping their wings ever and anon, as if torefresh them in the liquid element. Everything still wore an aspect ofperfect peace. The boats at last got within fifty yards of the ships.A signal flew out from the mast-head of the Phoenix--the knell of many ahuman being. It was the signal to engage.
"Fire away, my lads," was shouted along the decks. It was not necessaryto repeat the order. Never did a crew work their guns with morealacrity. The shot rushed like a storm of gigantic hailstones among theill-fated Americans, tearing up their entrenchments and scattering theearth and palisades far and wide. In a very short time thefortifications in which they had trusted were blown to atoms; still wefired on as fast as our guns could be loaded and run out. The enemyanswered us from various points; but with little effect. In a few shortmoments, how changed was the scene from what it had lately been! Nowfrom point to point, and through every sheltered nook and bay resoundedthe roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of thecombatants, the shrieks and groans and agonising cries of the wounded,while above all hung a dark, funereal pall of smoke, ascending from thescene of strife, shutting it out as it were from the bright blueglorious firmament above, and, if it could be, from the all-searchingeye of the Creator of men who were thus disfiguring His image by theirfurious passions, and dishonouring Him by the infraction of all theprecepts of that mild, that beneficent religion, which He in Hisunsearchable love sent His only Son to teach them to obey.
But where am I driving to? I did not think thus at the time. No; myblood was up; my evil passions were aroused; and I was as eager asanyone to shed blood, and utterly careless of all the consequences tomyself and others. Never have I witnessed a more tremendous fire thanwas kept up by our ships for fifty-nine minutes, during which time inthe Orpheus alone we expended 5366 pounds of powder. I kept no note ofthe number of shot we fired away. The very first broadside made aconsiderable breach in the enemy's works. At the end of the time I havementioned the boats advanced, and the signal was made to cease firing.As they touched the beach the men sprang on shore, and, forming rapidly,gallantly rushed towards the entrenchments with fixed bayonets and loudcheers. The enemy scarcely waited to deliver their fire, but, throwingdown their arms, fled on all sides in the utmost terror and confusion,earnestly petitioning for quarter. The red-coats leaped through thebreaches made by our guns, and over the embankments, and were speedilyin possession of the enemy's works. As the smoke cleared away, theground far and near appeared covered with the bodies of the slain andwounded, some with arms, others with legs, shot away, while parties offugitives were seen flying in every direction, pursued by our men,especially by the Hessians, who seemed little disposed to gi
ve thequarter which was asked.
I was not only a spectator but a participator in what I have beendescribing. As soon as the ships ceased firing, our boats, of which Icommanded one, were ordered to aid in towing the flat-bottomed boats onshore. As soon as the troops had landed, leaving Grampus in charge ofmy boat, I, with another midshipman and Tom Rockets and two other men,followed them into the entrenchments, and found myself shortly in therear of a body of Hessians as they charged over the ground. A poorAmerican was flying for his life, shrieking out for mercy. One of thosesavage mercenaries either did not or would not understand him, andbefore I could interpose had with a sweep of his sword severed his headfrom his body, then, in savage triumph worthy of a Red Indian, stickingit on a pole, carried it through the entrenchments, shouting out as ifhe had performed some noble act of heroism.
Meantime several of the ship's boats were ordered to pull along-shore toannoy the enemy in their flight and to prevent them from rallying. Myfriend Hargrave and I, midshipmanlike and thoughtless of danger, set offin the direction the enemy had taken along the shore, picking up anumber of articles which in their terror they had dropped or thrownaway, such as rifles, pistols, swords, spy-glasses, and even watches,plate, and camp utensils of various sorts, which we knew would be mostacceptable to our mess. We passed many of the slain, knocked over intheir flight. As we ran thoughtlessly on, very little moved by thesesights, to which even the youngsters were becoming familiar, I heard adeep groan. Looking round, I saw behind a bush a militiaman stretchedon the ground with a bad wound in his side.
"Oh, kill me! kill me! put me out of my misery!" he exclaimed as soon ashe saw me.
"No, I will not do that," said I; "but I will try if I can relieve you."
I had a flask of some rum and water in my pocket; I gave him some of itto drink. There was, fortunately, a stream near; I got some fresh waterin a hat and washed his wound, and then bound it up with a piece ofshirt which I took from a dead man near. The poor fellow seemed muchrevived and very grateful.
"There," said I, "you will be able to get off and join your people atnightfall. It's not my business to take you prisoner."
"Thank you, stranger, thank you," said he; "Amos Spinks will not forgetyour mercy and kindness."
I could not stay with him longer, but, leaving him a piece of biscuitand a hat full of water, I ran on to join my companions, who, not seeingme, had gone forward. The American had no idea I was an officer, for Ihad on a white linen jacket which I wore at my quarters, and it wasconsequently thickly begrimed with powder and dirt. I caught sight ofmy party ahead, and ran on as fast as my legs could carry me, with theload of spoils I had collected, to overtake them. As I neared them, andwas shouting to them to stop, I caught sight of one of our boats, withMr Heron, our second lieutenant, in her, pulling along-shore after me.I saw that he was somewhat excited, and seemed urging on the men to pullwith greater speed. Just as I got up to my party, to our no smallastonishment, not to say dismay, he turned the bow of the boat towardsus, and bang he let fly a shower of grape from a gun placed there rightin among us, following up the unwelcome salute with a volley of smallarms. We shouted at the top of our voices, and made signs that we werefriends; but what with the smoke and his blindness, for he wasnear-sighted, and the noise of the firing and the shouts of his men, heneither made out who we were nor heard us, but continued peppering awayas before.
"Run, my lads, run," I sung out; "there's no disgrace running fromfriends, but very unpleasant to be shot by them."
My party required no second order, but away we all scampered as fast aswe could go, scattering from each other to distract our friends in theirvery unfriendly employment.
"Oh, Mr Hurry, I bees hit, I bees hit?" sung out Tom Rockets.
I expected to see him fall, but the shot only made him scamper on thefaster. Our flight, of course, made Mr Heron fire at us morezealously, and we had to throw away all the things we had collected toescape with greater speed from his heroic fury. We took a courseinland, and then turned back towards the place where we had landed.Happily we soon got among trees and rocks and broken walls, which muchsheltered us, and Tom was the only man wounded. As soon as we got clearof the shot from the boat, I called a halt to examine his hurt. It wasmerely a slight flesh wound from a bullet in the leg, and a handkerchiefbound round it enabled him to walk on. It was now time to return onboard, so we made the best of our way to the boat, not without someconsiderable risk of being shot by our own sentries. On my stepping ondeck I found several officers round the captain. Mr Heron was amongthem.
"The rascally rebels can't stand us for a moment, sir," he was saying."A whole gang of them hove in sight as I was pulling along-shore--ahundred at least--and stood hallooing to me and daring me to come afterthem. I let fly among them, sent them scampering away like a flock ofsheep, knocking over a good dozen or more, I should think. It was rarefun, sir."
"Very good fun for you, Mr Heron," said I, turning round; "but I beg toassure you, sir, that there were not a dozen of us altogether."
"You! what do you mean?" he asked, with a look of surprise.
"Why, that I was one of the body of supposed rebels, and though weshouted to you and begged you not to fire, you banged at us so furiouslythat we had to throw away a whole heap of things we had collected, andto run for our lives."
Captain Hudson and the other officers laughed not a little at thisexploit of Mr Heron's, for he was notorious for his boasting. He boreme a grudge about it ever after.
"Well, Mr Hurry," said the captain good-naturedly, "you shall go onshore in the afternoon with Mr Heron, and try to recover some of yourtreasures."
Away we went in the afternoon accordingly in high glee, Mr Heronexpecting to pick up all sorts of things, and I hoping to recover thoseI had lost. We soon reached the field on which Mr Heron boasted tohave gained his hard-won victory; but the swords and all the things ofvalue were gone, picked up by the plundering-parties who invariablyissue forth over the scene where the strife has been hottest, as birdsof prey gather on the carcase just fallen in the desert. I looked aboutfor the poor fellow I had assisted in the morning. He was gone. Hehad, I concluded, either been taken prisoner, or had managed to crawloff and rejoin his friends. We went on much farther than we had been inthe morning, picking up some drums and a few similar bulky articles,which others had not thought worth collecting. We picked up in all ninedrums, one of the largest of which I sent to my friend, Jack Bluet, wholived in a small house at Falmouth. It might have served him for adrawing-room table. I hope he has got it still. A little way beyondwhere I found the wounded man I came on the body of an officer. He layon his back, shot through the heart, his hand grasping a very handsomefusee, and with a look of defiance still on his countenance. I suspecthe had been bush-fighting in Indian fashion, in hopes of checking theadvance of his enemies, in spite of the flight of his companions inarms. He was a fine young man, and from his style of dress and generalappearance was evidently of respectable family. I stooped down, and,undoing the grasp with which the dead man's fingers held the fusee, tookpossession of it and ran after my companions. Still, as I hurried on,the look worn by the features of the dead officer haunted me. I felt asif I had been depriving him of his property. I thought of his motherand sisters, or perhaps a young wife, who were doomed never to see himagain, or of friends who might be expecting to meet him that very day,and for a moment all the dreadful results of warfare presentedthemselves before me more vividly than they had ever before done. Thelaughter and jokes of my companions, however, very quickly drove allsuch thoughts from my mind. We had been joined by an acquaintance ofmine, Simeon, a midshipman of the Phoenix, who had with him the gunnerand seven men. By some means or other I had been separated from MrHeron and my boat's crew--indeed, my lieutenant had no particular fancyfor my society, so I joined company with Simeon, and together we rambledinto the woods. We had not gone far when we caught sight of a fellowskulking among the trees. When he saw that he was observed
he took tohis heels, and this of course made us give chase. The woods rang withour shouts and cries, and we were not long before we came up with theman, who proved to be a rebel militiaman. He sang out most lustily formercy, thinking that we were going to kill him, but we soon quieted hisfears on that score by assuring him that he was not worth powder andshot. He seemed to be very grateful, and informed us that there hadbeen a smart skirmish in the wood between his party and a body ofHessians, the latter of whom he believed were still in the neighbourhoodof the wood. Of the truth of part of his story the dead bodiesscattered here and there about were too true witnesses. Simeon and I,on this, called a halt and consulted together with the gunner whether weshould go back or seek further adventures ahead.
"We have taken one prisoner, perhaps we may make some more and gain somelittle credit when we present ourselves with them in camp, so I votethat we go on," said I; and my proposal was agreed to.
As we supposed that we might be in the face of an enemy we kept closertogether than before, and moved on more cautiously. After advancingsome way we heard voices in an orchard on the skirts of the wood, and,supposing the sounds to proceed from a party of the rebels, we presentedour muskets and advanced towards the gate of the orchard, fullyexpecting to make more prisoners. Just, however, as we began to move onup started before us a body of two or three hundred Hessians, withglittering brass helmets on their heads, who, with fixed bayonets andloud cries, charged furiously at us. Had we attempted to move theywould have shot us, so we stood our ground and sung out most lustilythat we were friends. They did not understand us, and, charging on,would, I fully, expected, have bayoneted us on the spot. "Friends--friends! English--British officers!" I sung out at the top of myvoice.
"Rebels, rebels!" was the only answer we got; and in another moment wewere knocked over with the butt-ends of their muskets. We pickedourselves up as well as we could, and I pointed to my own and Simeon'swhite cuffs and lapels, and told them that we belonged to the Britishfleet, but to no purpose; and what was my dismay when they showed us ata little distance an unfortunate rebel officer who lay on the groundwith his leg shot off, and who was dressed in the same uniform which wewore. He told them as well as he could that he knew nothing of us, butthey would not believe him, and, having talked together in their hideouslingo, once more knocked us over and began belabouring us with theirmuskets. I never met such savages, and I am not surprised that theywere hated by the poor colonists. I am sure we bore them no love,especially just then. We sung out lustily for mercy, for to our horrorwe saw that they were about to finish us off by plunging their bayonetsinto us, when our cries brought up an officer on horseback, in whom, tomy great satisfaction, I recognised General Pigot, the commander of thedivision to which they belonged. He knew me on board the Chatham, andwas thus able to assure the Hessians who I was. They made all sorts ofapologies, which afforded us a very small amount of satisfaction.
Thanking General Pigot for his timely rescue, we set off to return toour ships, heartily sick of our day's adventures--hungry and battered,indeed, very much in need both of cook and doctor.
The next day we weighed and, parting from the Phoenix and the otherships with which we had been in company, ran up between Blackwell'sIsland and the main. As we were running at the rate of some four orfive knots an hour a shock was felt which made the ship shiverthroughout her whole frame. The pilot turned pale, as if he expected tobe shot on the spot. He had put us on a rock. Captain Hudson, cool asusual, issued his orders as if nothing particular was the matter, and wequickly swung off again and proceeded on our way till we brought upsnugly in Turtle Cove. While the ship lay there I was sent, on the25th, with dispatches to Lord Howe, then residing on Staten Island. Myboat's crew on this occasion consisted either of pressed men or offellows whom I knew to be among the greatest blackguards in the ship.On the way down they showed signs of an unruly disposition by pullingslowly and not putting out their strength when I ordered them. Theirconduct, however, did not trouble me, and I forgot all about it as Iwalked up to present my dispatches to his lordship. I have alwaysentertained the greatest respect for Lord Howe. He was a good seaman--of bravery undoubted--cool and thoughtful in danger--generous and kind,and considerate for those under his command and careful for theirinterests. He was much abused by the royalists in America, as well asby many in the army and fleet, as also at home, because he did not seemanxious to push matters to extremes at once with the rebels and allowfire and sword to be carried throughout their territories. But helooked upon them as fellow-beings and fellow-subjects, and thoughmisguided, he considered that they had too much reason for theirrebellion to be treated with the severity others proposed. I have heardthat after an action he would go below and visit each wounded man as helay in his hammock, and stop and talk to him, and would send wine andpoultry from his own stock to those whom the surgeon thought requiredit. Such are the deeds by which an officer can easily win the hearts ofseamen. I had not to wait long before I was told to walk into his room,and I found myself in the presence of a dark and somewhat hard-featuredman--with a figure, however, tall, well-proportioned, and dignified.Had I not known him by repute I should have been somewhat awe-struck,but as he spoke his countenance brightened up, and his kind lookdissipated all feeling of fear.
"Sit down, youngster," said he, "and let me hear your account of theaction of the 23rd. As your ship was at hand I conclude you saw it."
I gave him the best description in my power of what I had seen, takingcare to make no reflections on the events of the day. He seemed muchinterested, and hastily writing a letter, as soon as it was copied, toldme to return with it to Captain Hudson.
When I got back to my boat I had no little difficulty in collecting mymen, and soon after I shoved off I found that they were one and alldrunk. As long as they pulled on I said nothing, but in a short timethey began to grumble at having come away without more liquor.
"What's the odds?" said one. "The shortest way is to go back and getit."
"My idea, Sam!" cried another. "If we once get aboard our chance isover."
"About, shipmates," exclaimed a third. "Never mind the youngster."
"But you will have to mind me, my lads!" I exclaimed, springing up withmy hanger in my hand. "You've made a mistake if you fancy that I allowtricks to be played with me."
For a short time they were silent, and, hoping that I had cowed them bymy promptitude, I again sat down in the stern-sheets. I kept my weaponin my right hand, however, for I was aware how completely I was in theirpower if they chose to proceed to extremities. I had come away withoutpistols, so that I had only my hanger to depend on, and they might, ifthey had acted together, have wrenched it from my grasp and,overpowering me, have hove me overboard. They would then have escapedwithout much difficulty to one of the nearest American posts and joinedthe rebels. While I was thinking over this very pleasant subject, andcontemplating myself swimming for my life up East River, they againbegan to grumble.
"I'll not pull another stroke!" cried one fellow with an oath.
"Nor I! Nor I!" exclaimed others.
Two, I remarked, did not speak; and addressing myself to them, I askedif they would join in so rascally and uncalled-for a mutiny.
It was now getting very dark, and I could scarcely see the features ofthe men, so as to be prepared for what they were about to do. The boatlay motionless on the water. If I hesitated I was lost.
"Take to your oars and give way, or I will cut you to pieces, youscoundrels!" I shouted, springing up and making a cut with my hanger atthe hands of one of the most mutinous. "If you won't use your bands,I'll chop them off. Pull, I say!"
I should have been as good as my word had not the fellow taken to hisoar, while my blade struck the gunwale of the boat, by which the pointwas broken. The mutineers now rose in a body and seemed about to make arush on me. On this, I began slashing away to keep them at bay, cuttingthem over the hands and arms pretty severely.
The two men, on
e of whom pulled the stroke-oar and the one next him, nowsang out that they would obey my orders.
"Then we'll heave you all overboard together!" cried the most drunken ofthe mutineers.
"Will you, my man?" I exclaimed, making a cut at him with my hanger."Then take that first!"
He stumbled and fell with his face aft, thereby saving his life, thoughI again broke the blade of my hanger almost up to the hilt. The othermen, fancying he was killed, hung back, while I dragged his senselessbody into the stern-sheets and stowed him away, for he was stunned withthe effect of his fall and his drunkenness. The men forward sat sulkilydown, perhaps they would not have remained quiet had they known I hadbroken my hanger. They refused however to pull, and one after the otherdropped off into a drunken sleep. The two more steady ones did theirbest to pull on, and the tide fortunately favoured us, or I do not knowwhere we should have got to. I have seldom been placed in a much morefearful position. Any moment the mutineers might wake up and,remembering the consequences their conduct was sure to bring on them,might again attempt to overpower me and carry off the boat to the enemy.I was weary and hungry, and in the darkness of night all sorts ofdreadful thoughts occurred to me as I slowly floated over those perilouswaters. I felt a strong inclination at times to run into New York totry and get aid; but I thought if I did the men would certainly escapeand hide themselves before I could find any of the military authoritiesto afford me assistance. New York by this time was entirely in thehands of the British. On the day we landed at Kip's Bay General Howepushed forward part of his troops to encompass the city on the landside, when General Putnam, the American commander who held it, wascompelled to make a precipitate retreat, being very nearly cut offbefore he joined Washington at King's Bridge. Had not, indeed, theBritish delayed their advance to refresh themselves, they would in allprobability have captured the whole division of the rebel army. A largenumber of the inhabitants remained in New York, those only who had takena prominent part in the rebellion thinking it necessary to leave it. Itwas very doubtful, however, had I gone on shore, whether I should havefallen among friends or foes. I resolved, therefore, to make, the bestof my way to the ship. I watched the lights glimmering in the houses,one after the other being put out as I pulled slowly by, and I couldhear the constant call of the sentries as the officers went theirrounds, while any moment I felt that my mutinous crew might come totheir senses and make an end of me. I amused myself, however, bywhistling and singing snatches of songs to make them suppose that I wasperfectly indifferent to their threats, and at length, by half-past onein the morning, to my great relief I got alongside the ship. Themutineers only at that moment roused up, and very much astonished theywere to find themselves clapped into irons as soon as they got on board.The next morning they each received nine dozen, with the exception ofthe two who had at once returned to their duty. I took care to get themultimately rewarded.
The most disagreeable duty we had to perform while we lay in Turtle Baywas to row guard at night abreast of Hell Gate, the name, as I havebefore mentioned, given to the entrance of Harlem River. With theebb-tide a terrific current sets out through the narrow channel, forminga whirlpool, on which is bestowed the pleasant-sounding title of theDevil's Pot. On one side is his gridiron, and on the other hisfrying-pan, while another batch of rocks goes by the name of his "henand chickens." Now, although I cannot take upon myself to affirm thateven on the darkest and most stormy night I ever beheld his Satanicmajesty engaged in the exercise of his well-known culinary talents infrying soles or any other fish or fowl, or quadruped, or biped, yet Ihad the greatest dread of getting within the power of his voraciouscauldron. I therefore always kept at a respectful distance from it. Iadvise all those who may have to visit the spot to follow my example.I, however, often heard afterwards some very strange tales narrated bythe seamen who had been in the boats when thus employed and implicitlybelieved by their auditors. In truth, although the master spirit ofevil may have no direct influence in the matter, a very large number ofvessels and boats have been lost on the surrounding rocks.
The constant hard service in which we had been engaged since we leftEngland had placed a large number of our men on the sick-list. Duringour stay in Turtle Bay we landed them at Blackwell's Island, where theyconsiderably recovered their strength. From the same place weabundantly supplied the ship with fresh meat and vegetables, luxuries towhich we had long been strangers. On the 29th of September I had themiddle watch. It had just gone six-bells, when, as I was casting myeyes towards the city, I saw a bright light suddenly dart up towards thesky. It was rapidly succeeded by other flashes till the whole firmamentseemed to glow with a bright, ruddy light. "The city is on fire--thecity is on fire!" was the general cry on board. There was a strongwind, and as the fire must have already made much progress, we had greatfear that the whole city would be burned down. It was proposed at onceto make a party to go and see what was the matter, and, a messmatetaking my watch, I got leave to join it. Away we pulled as fast as wecould, and after we had reached the shore we had no difficulty infinding our way to the scene of destruction. Everybody in the place hadturned out of bed. Some were rushing about in despair at the loss ofall their worldly property, not knowing where to go to find shelter--others were searching for friends or relatives, in doubt whether or nothey had fallen victims to the flames--others were endeavouring to staythe progress of the fire. The most active in this work were the Britishtroops. They had formed a close circle round the burning part of thecity and were engaged in blowing-up and pulling down houses, delugingothers with water, and cutting off the communication in every direction.
We were attracted by a dense crowd and loud cries in one direction. Weran to the spot, where we found a number of soldiers who appeared to bein a highly exasperated state. They had among them a dozen or more menwhom they were dragging forward towards the flames. "Burn them in theirown bonfire!" they were shouting out; "Burn them in their own bonfire--they were going to burn us out of our quarters!" We asked a civilianwho stood at a house-door looking on what had occurred.
"Why, the soldiers think they have got hold of the men who set the cityon fire, and they are going to pay them off. Maybe they are the men whodid it, or maybe they are rogues and vagabonds who were prowling aboutfor plunder--so it matters little, I guess," was the answer we received.
We left our philosophical friend smoking his pipe; he was evidently oneof those who care little what becomes of the world provided they arecomfortable. We followed the soldiers till we came to some scaffoldingerected for building a house, several ropes were hanging about it. Thehumour seized the soldiers to hang up some of their prisoners, and in atrice four of the unhappy wretches were run up by the heels, while theirheads hung downwards. In that position the infuriated soldiers dashedat them with the butt-ends of their muskets, and very soon put them outof their misery. Their companions in misfortune, if not in guilt,meantime were shrieking out for mercy and protesting their innocence,but in vain. The soldiers laughed and jeered at them, and hurrying themon up to a burning house, forced them into the flames at the points oftheir bayonets. As they rushed shrieking out covered with fire, theywere driven back again till the devouring element grasped them at lengthin its deadly embrace. Then, with loud shouts of demoniacalsatisfaction, the enraged soldiers rushed away to look for freshvictims. Miserable was the fate while they were in that humour, ofthose who fell into their hands. I never saw so dreadful a spectaclebefore, and hope never to see such a one again.
A short time afterwards General Howe had to send a flag of truce toGeneral Washington respecting an exchange of prisoners, when he was saidto have most solemnly denied having had anything to do with the burningof the city. The flames were happily stopped after about a fourth partof it had been burned to the ground. On the night of the 30th therebels made an attack on Montizieur's Island, but were repulsed with theloss of a major and several men who were taken prisoners.
On the 2nd of October Delisle and
I, with Harry Sumner, having got leaveto go on shore, agreed to walk out to visit the lines at King's Bridge,where our army was intrenched in sight of that of the Americans. Justas we were setting off Mercer said he would come also. The day waslovely. The air was so bright and pure and exhilarating that it was apleasure alone to breathe it--one of those days of autumn met with inthe northern part of America which go by the name of the Indian summer.A thin gauze-like mist filled the atmosphere, giving a warm, almosttropical, look to the landscape; the water looked bluer, the fieldsgreener, the sands yellower, and the rocks browner than I had ever seenthem; while the tints of autumn, just showing themselves on the moreexposed sides of the trees, gave the woods wonderfully rich and variedhues. We took a path through orchards and woods and across fields,meadows, and gardens, which bore evident and sad traces of the advanceof hostile armies. Fences and embankments were levelled, cottagesburnt, fruit-trees and fruit-bushes cut down or uprooted, gardenstrampled over and destroyed, here and there a few fragrant flowersrearing their heads like guardian angels among the surrounding scene ofhavoc, alone showing that the spot might once have been some peacefulman's earthly paradise.
We at length reached the British lines. They extended in one continuousencampment from Horen's Hook on the Harlem River for about two milesdirectly across the island of Manhattan to the Hudson, both flanks beingguarded by the men-of-war. Commanding the sea, as we did, it wasimpossible to hold a stronger position. On the other side of an openplain, well posted on a succession of rocky heights, appeared the rebelforces, the advanced sentries of the two armies being within hail ofeach other. On our left the enemy occupied a strong fortress calledFort Washington, which overlooked the Hudson, and two miles north of itwas King's Bridge, the only passage to the mainland across the inlet ofthe Hudson I have before mentioned, which joins it to the Harlem River,called by the Dutch Spyt den Duivel Creek, and which still retains itsunpleasant-sounding name.
The object of our party seemed to be to get possession of FortWashington, and so cut off the retreat of the enemy. It was said thatGeneral Howe ought to have sent a strong force up the Hudson andattacked Washington in the rear, while the rest of the army pressed himin front; but he did not make the attempt till it was too late, and alarge portion of the American troops had crossed King's Bridge and takenup a strong position among the hills in the interior. There was a gooddeal of severe fighting after this, and Fort Washington, which had beengallantly defended by a brave American officer, Colonel Magan, wascaptured by us, with its garrison of upwards of two thousand men.
We spent some time in the camp talking to various acquaintances amongthe soldier officers whom we met, and as we wandered on we came to aspot where a drum-head court-martial was sitting. They were trying aman who had been accused of being a spy, captured endeavouring to makehis way out of the camp at night. He had just been pronounced guilty.He stood with his arms bound and soldiers holding him on either side.He was a fine tall young man with an intelligent countenance, and thoughdressed in the hunter's garb of a backwoodsman, torn and travel-stained,and covered with dirt, while his appearance was as rough as he couldmake it, I thought as I looked at him that he was above the rank he hadassumed. A few short moments only were allowed him from the time of hiscondemnation till his execution. His guilt was clear; he did not evenattempt to defend himself. The president had just finished addressinghim as we came up.
"If it is a crime to love one's country better than anything else onearth, to exert every faculty of mind and body, to sacrifice one's timeand property, to risk liberty and life to serve her, then I am guilty--to love liberty and freedom of conscience, to hate tyranny andoppression, then I am indeed a criminal," he answered in an unshakenvoice. "You call me a spy and load me with opprobrium. It wasnecessary to gain information as to the movements of your mercenaryarmy: twice have I obtained that information and carried it to our noblegeneral. My only regret is that I have not succeeded a third time in sodoing; but understand that though I have thus laboured to injure yousecretly, I have ever fought openly against you on the field of battle,and on that account I might plead to die a soldier's death, and not tobe treated as a dog and hung. Yet it matters little. According to yourlaws my sentence is just. I seek not to appeal from it, and I die withthe joyous certainty that the righteous cause for which I suffer willtriumph at last, and that your proud legions will retire from thiscountry defeated and disgraced."
"Silence, young man?" exclaimed the president; "you departed from yourallegiance to your lawful sovereign; you acknowledge that you have takenup arms against his troops, and you are now found acting the despicablepart of a spy. Your false reasoning cannot induce me to alter thesentence pronounced against you. You have but a few minutes in which totake your farewell of life."
No sooner did Mercer catch sight of the prisoner than he turned verypale, and as he laid his hand on my shoulder I felt that it trembledviolently.
"What is the matter, Mercer?" I asked.
"That noble fellow who stands there is my schoolfellow, my old familiarfriend!" he cried, scarcely aware of what he said; then, unable torestrain himself, he rushed forward and seized the prisoner's hand."Sydney Markham!" he exclaimed, with deep earnestness, looking up intothe face of the condemned man, who gazed at him with an expression ofrecognition and affection; "say that you are not guilty; that you havenot been acting the part of a spy. You were ever the soul of honour; Iwill answer for you; they will not destroy you. If they give you timeyou can easily disprove the foul accusation brought against you. Sayso, Sydney, speak! Tell them that you are not guilty. I will fly tothe general--I will go on my knees before him, I will entreat for yourlife; I will offer mine instead of yours."
The unhappy young man shook his head, and with a faint smile answered,"Mercer, I cannot disprove the accusation brought against me. We maydiffer in our views, yet, believe me, I do not feel that I have swervedfrom the path of honour, and therefore, noble and high-minded as youever were, I am still worthy to be called your friend. But we arewasting precious time; the minutes of my life are numbered, and I mustprepare for death."
"Oh, no, no, no! I must strive to save you; I cannot bear to see youthus snatched away from life." Then he turned abruptly to the presidentof the court. "This man cannot be as guilty as you suppose, sir," heexclaimed, with a look of agony; "he would never have sought to injurethe King's forces unfairly; let him live till I have seen Sir WilliamHowe; he may order a reprieve till he has inquired more into theparticulars of the case."
"You ask an impossibility, sir," answered the officer, who was of theMartinet school, as stern and unbending as one of his men's muskets; "hehas been found guilty, and I have no power to reprieve him. We must puta stop to this system of sending spies into our camp. The higher hisposition and education the more deserving he is of punishment. Sergeantof the guard, carry out the sentence pronounced on the prisoner."
"You see it is useless, my friend," said the young man. "Come andassist me to meet death like a man."
"Oh, my friend, say rather like a Christian," cried Mercer, again takinghis hand; and together they walked to a tree where a sergeant and somesoldiers were arranging a block and rope. Mercer was allowed tocontinue by the side of his friend, and together they knelt down on thegrass and prayed for mercy and forgiveness to Him who is the fountain ofall mercy and swift to forgive. The chaplain of one of the regimentshad been sent for. He came at length, and the prisoner accepted hisministrations alone, but soon again asked Mercer to join him.
In a short time, terribly short it appeared to me, the officer in chargeof the party looked at his watch. The prisoner saw the movement; hestarted to his feet. "I am ready," he exclaimed, with a firm voice; "Iwillingly give my life for my country's freedom, well assured that erelong America will be free to advance onward in the fulfilment of themighty destiny in store for her, and those who now seek to oppress herwill have departed with defeat and disgrace from her shores."
Mercer entreat
ed him, when he ceased speaking, to calm himself; he didso with wonderful self-command. Another quarter of an hour was allowedhim, and at the end of it a signal was given, the rope was thrown overhis neck, and he was run up to a high branch of the tree under which hehad been standing. There was a loud cry, but it was uttered by Mercer;Delisle and I rushed forward--our messmate had fainted. We got him intoa neighbouring hut, where an officer gave us every assistance in hispower. Meantime the body of the spy had been removed. As soon asMercer had recovered we led him as quickly at possible out of the campin the direction of our ship, and got him without delay on board. Hemade no allusion on the way to what had occurred; nor did he indeed everspeak of it to me. I expected to find the next day that he was takenill, but he still went about his duty as usual, though his nervoussystem had received a shock from which it was evident he would take longto recover. This was the last adventure I have noted during our stay atNew York.