CHAPTER SIX.
ONCE MORE AT SEA.--DRIVE A SCHOONER ON SHORE.--BLOWS UP.--MERCER'SDEATH.--CAPTURE A SLOOP.--SENT AWAY IN HER.--A GALE.--ENGAGEMENT WITHPRIVATEER.--BEAT HER OFF.--SENT TO NEW YORK AS COMMODORE OF PRIZES.--JOVIAL LIFE ON SHORE.--ILL CONDUCTED EXPEDITIONS.
We were once more at sea, and truly glad were all hands on board to findthemselves in deep water again. The shore of Long Island, faint andlow, was just discernible astern, while Sandy Hook and the highlands ofNeversink arose in the distance over our starboard quarter. As I lookedon the far-off shore I could not help thinking of the scenes of strifeand destruction which, in all probability, were going on there, andfeeling heartily glad that we were away from them for a time. We hadquitted Turtle Bay on the 3rd and dropped down to Staten Island. On ourpassage down we ran on board a transport and carried away our larboardfore-chains, cathead, and small bower-anchor stock, not to speak ofhaving so severely damaged the transport that she nearly sank. On the12th of the month, having repaired damages, we put to sea with his.Majesty's ship Daphne in company. We were on our way to the mouth ofthe Delaware with the intention of capturing, burning, sinking, orotherwise destroying all vessels of every description belonging to thecolonists which we could fall in with, an odd method, it would seem, ofbringing them to reason and making them loyal subjects of his Majesty,though our proceedings did not strike me in that light just then. For acouple of days we had a fair wind, which carried us nearly up to ourcruising ground. On the 14th Captain Hudson made a signal to the Daphneto go in chase of a sail seen to the southward, and shortly afterwardsanother sail was seen standing towards us from the westward. We soonmade her out to be a man-of-war, and on exchanging signals she proved tobe the Kingfisher sloop-of-war. Within an hour after she joined us. Aswe continued our course to the southward the look-out at the mast-headhailed the deck. "A sail in the south-east," said he.
"What is she like?" asked Captain Hudson.
"A suspicious-looking craft--a schooner, sir; a merchantman of somesort," was the answer.
This announcement put us all on the alert, and as soon as every stitchof sail we could carry had been clapped on the ship several officerswere seen going aloft with their spy-glasses slung by rope-yarns overtheir shoulders to have a look at the chase. I was among the number, sowas Mercer. We soon afterwards made the land, which as we drew near werecognised as Cape May. We were rapidly over-hauling the chase, whichwas steering directly for the coast, and it was a question whether weshould come up with her before she ran on shore or got under shelteramong any rocks which might be there. There is nothing so exciting in asea life as a chase; the discussion as to what the stranger may prove,friend or foe, with or without a cargo, armed, and likely to show fight,or helpless, worth having or valueless; and, more than all, whether ornot one is likely to overtake her. There is only one thing beats it,and that is to be chased, and I cannot say that the sensations are soagreeable. We were most of us in high spirits at the thoughts of makinga capture; the first, we hoped, of a number of prizes we should takeduring our cruise. The only person who did not take an interest in theaffair was Mercer. He was grave and careworn as before; indeed, itstruck me that his melancholy had increased lately. He was sittingclose to me at the fore-top mast-head.
"Hurrah! we are overhauling her; we shall soon be up with her!" Iexclaimed.
"Hurry," said he, turning round suddenly, "I cannot bear this life. Iwish to do my duty, to remain faithful to my allegiance, and yet, I carenot who knows it, all my sympathies are with those England has made herfoes. I have but one resource; I must quit the service. I would that Icould reach some desert isle where I could hide my head far from thehaunts of men. I would even welcome death as an alternative.Hurricane, do you know I have of late felt as if my days were alreadynumbered, and that my stay on earth will be very short. Once thethought would have made me unhappy; now I contemplate it withsatisfaction, even at moments as a welcome boon."
I did my utmost to turn my friend's mind from the gloomy contemplationswhich occupied it. I had conceived of late much greater regard for himthan I had when we first met; there was much that was generous andromantic in his character which attracted me, besides which his courageand coolness in danger had often excited my admiration. I had been, asI have said, using all the arguments I could think of to turn histhoughts into another channel, when he replied--
"I know that I am wrong to give way to these feelings. My religionteaches me to trust in God's good providence and to believe that all Heorders is for the best. I spoke as I did from weakness and want offaith; still I tell you that I am certain before long I shall meet mydeath. I am endeavouring to prepare for that awful moment; but it is attimes, notwithstanding what I have just said, very, very hard tocontemplate."
After speaking much in the same strain as before, I told him that I hadknown so many people oppressed with the same feeling that he sufferedfrom, of approaching death, who had lived very many years afterwards,that I put not the slightest faith in such prognostications. "At thesame time," I continued, "many a man who expects to lose his life whengoing into battle does so; but then he would have been killed whether heexpected it or not; so, my dear Mercer, I hope you will live to seepeace restored, and to enjoy many happy days at home."
Mercer shook his head, then took a long, eager look at the shore towardswhich we were approaching.
The Kingfisher had been somewhat more to the south than we were when wesighted the chase. At first she had evidently hoped to double Cape Mayand to run up the Delaware, but, that hope being cut off, her only modeof escape was to make directly for the land; and it now became evidentto Mercer and me, as we sat on our lofty perch, that it was theintention of her crew to run her on shore. Our conversation was broughtto a conclusion by our being obliged to descend to attend to our dutieson deck.
The poor little schooner had but a small prospect of escape with two bigships in chase, but the man who commanded her was a gallant fellow, andit was evident would persevere while a chance of escape remained.
"Fire the foremost gun, Mr Willis, and bring that fellow to," saidCaptain Hudson as we got her within range.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the first lieutenant, going forward to see theorder executed.
Still the chase seemed to have no notion of giving in. Shot after shotwas fired, none striking her, and soon the Kingfisher joined in thepractice, with like effect.
"I believe the fellow will manage to run his craft on shore before hestrikes," observed the captain. "He has very likely a valuable cargo onboard."
"Powder or arms for the rebels probably, sir," said Mr Heron. "Weshall have to cut him out."
"I expect so, and intend to give you charge of the expedition," repliedCaptain Hudson. "I hope that you will give as good an account of thefoe as you did at Kip's Bay, Mr Heron."
The second lieutenant made a face as if he did not like the subject.
We were now rapidly overhauling the chase. We had been standing in on aline a little to the north of her, to prevent her hauling across ourbows and beating up to windward along-shore in shallow water, which itwas just possible she might attempt to do. Thus every chance of escapeon that side was cut off from her. At length one of our shots struckher and carried away her main-topmast. Our crew gave a loud hurrah. Itwas replied to by her people in bravado. Several successive shots didfurther damage, yet still she would not give in. Her crew might havehoped to draw us on shore, but Captain Hudson was too wary to be thustaken in.
"Shorten sail, Mr Willis," he shouted, "and make the signal to the`Kingfisher' to do the same."
Just as our canvas was reduced and the heads of the ships turned offshore, gracefully bowing to the sea which rolled in, there was a shoutfrom those who were on the look-out on the chase. She had run on shore.As she struck the rocks both her masts went by the board. CaptainHudson on this ordered three boats from us to be manned and two from theKingfisher, to go in and try to get her off, if not to destroy her, for
which purpose we took the usual combustibles. Mr Heron went in one,and had charge of the expedition. Mercer went in another, and I hadcommand of a third. The Kingfisher, at the same time, stood in as closeas she could, and then furling sails was warped in with springs on hercables, to cover us in case we should be molested. The schooner had runin within a reef which protected her somewhat from the sea. As we drewnear, I saw that her crew were still on board. My boat had taken thelead of the others.
"Give way, my lads, give way!" I shouted; "we shall have time to catchthe fellows before they set their craft on fire." I was not aware atthe time that they were not likely to do that same thing. The sea wasbreaking over her forward, but without much violence. She lay at aboutseventy to a hundred yards from the shore. I steered for her quarter,and as I and my men sprung on board, her crew tumbled over the bows intotheir boat, and made good way towards the beach. So precipitate hadbeen their retreat that they left behind them two poor fellows who hadbeen wounded by our shot. As our boats came round the stern of theschooner, and saw the rebels escaping, the two belonging to thesloop-of-war pulled away in chase, while Mr Heron and Mercer jumped onboard. The Kingfisher's boats would have captured the rebels, but, justas they were about doing so, up started three or four hundred militiamenfrom behind some sand hills, while other bodies were seen rushing downfrom all directions towards us. They immediately opened so heavy a fireon the two boats that they were compelled to desist from the pursuit,and wisely beat a retreat to the schooner. The sloop-of-war on thisfired on the people on shore. There were probably by this time athousand or more possessed of every possible description of fire-arm.The Kingfisher dispersed those who had first shown themselves in anexposed situation, and knocked several of them over, but the rest keptup so very heavy a fire on us that we were glad to dive down below toget out of it. We at once found that it would be impossible to to getthe schooner off, and we then set to work to examine her cargo. I hadgone into the cabin, where I found the ship's manifest. I took it up toread it, as I concluded it would give me the information we required. Isaw that some dry goods had been shipped, and some saltpetre, and I hadjust read "_Three hundred and sixty barrels of gunpowder_"--an articlevery much in request among the rebels--when there was a cry raised of"Fire, fire, fire!" Mr Heron had made the same discovery by seeingsome suspicious black grains falling out of a cask, and he had justbefore beat a retreat.
"To the boats, to the boats, for your lives, my men!" I shouted,springing on deck, followed by my men. We tumbled into our boats withno little speed, and seized our oars, to place as much distance as wecould between ourselves and the threatened danger. As I was leaving thevessel, I saw Mercer, with some of his people, apparently endeavouringto lift the two poor wounded Americans into his boat. It was but aglance, for the hurry and confusion of that awful moment prevented meseeing more.
"Give way, give way for your lives!" I shouted. No sooner did ourheads appear above the schooner's bulwarks than the rebels redoubledtheir fire on us, but we cared not for them. We scarcely had got clearfrom the side of the ill-fated vessel, when a terrific, thundering,roaring noise assailed our ears; a vivid flash blinded us; a scorchingheat almost consumed us; and as we bent our heads in mute dismay, nearerdespair, after a few moments of awful silence, down came crashing aboutus burning fragments of timbers and planks and spars and sails, and,horror of horrors! pieces of what an instant before had been humanforms, breathing with life and strength. The oars were knocked from themen's hands--dashed to atoms. Several of the men were struck down,shrieking with agony from the dreadful wounds the heavy pieces ofburning wood and the hot iron inflicted; the very air was darkened forsome moments,--and it seemed that the horrible shower would never cease.Even the enemy were awe-struck at the catastrophe, and ceased firing,as did the sloop-of-war. Our boats' crews took the opportunity to getout the spare oars, and to pull out to sea. As they did so they rose upand gave the enemy three cheers, which, as may be supposed, drew down onthem hot fire in return. An important service had been accomplished inthe destruction of the powder, but I was in no mood for cheering. Fiveboats had gone in, four only were coming out. The fifth floated,shattered and blackened, over the scene of destruction, but no one wasin her. She was the boat commanded by Mercer. He and all his crew hadbeen; swept to destruction. His anticipations of coming evil had indeedbeen speedily verified. Two short hours ago he and I were sitting sideby side away from the crowded deck, talking of matters of deepimportance, to fathom which I felt was far beyond my comprehension.Now, though scarce a remnant of his blackened form could be discovered,he, I trusted, was on his way to those realms inhabited by beings ofbright intelligence, to whom all such mysteries are clear as noon-day.He died in full assurance of salvation through a merciful Saviour; hislast act one of charity, of the noblest self-devotion.
"Which, then, is the happiest?"
"Not I, not I."
I bent my head and thought of what I was, of what I might become, unlessprotected by the loving mercy of a higher power than that of man'sfeeble will.
The next day we parted company from the Kingfisher, and went in quest ofthe Daphne, which joined us that evening, having missed the vessel ofwhich she had gone in chase.
On the 20th we captured a small schooner from Philadelphia, bound to theWest Indies, with flour and Indian corn, and, having taken out the crew:and the flour, we set her on fire, to the no small grief of her masterand owner, who stood looking at her as we left her blazing away andlighting up the darkness of a November night. On the 24th a suspicioussail hove in sight, which we made out to be an English brig, though sheshowed no colours; but, as she did her best to get away from us, we madechase after her. A shot brought her to, when we found that she wasbound from the coast of Guinea, had a thousand pounds' worth of ivory onboard, and had been taken by the Congress and Chance privateers Hercaptors looked very blue, but had to submit to their fate. CaptainHudson ordered Kennedy, with four hands, to take charge of her, and tocarry her into New York.
"We shall meet there I hope soon, Hurry," said he, as he was shoving offto take possession of his new command. "If we can but contrive to spendsome little time there, we'll manage to amuse ourselves now that theplace is free from those dunder-headed rebels."
"I hope so too. It will not be my fault if I do not follow you soon," Ireplied, "only, I say, Kennedy, take care that the brig is notrecaptured by any of those same dunder-headed rebels."
"No fear, no fear; I'll keep too bright a look-out for that," heanswered, laughing.
He had a fair wind and every prospect of a quick run, so that I hoped tofind him at New York when I got the chance of going there.
On the 30th we again parted from the Daphne, and soon after gave chaseto a sleep, which, after firing a few shots, we brought to. I was atonce sent on board to take possession. I found her armed with eightcarriage four-pounders, fourteen swivels and four cohorns, and ladenwith rum, porter, flour and bread, and I dare say she would have provedas ugly a customer to any small craft she might have fallen in with asshe would have been a welcome guest at the port to which she was bound.Grampus and Tom Rockets had accompanied me as part of my boat's crew.Scarcely had I got on board when another sail was seen from themast-head of the Orpheus, so Captain Hudson ordered me to keep them andanother man, and to send the prisoners on board with the rest of thecrew, which done, I was to cruise about in the neighbourhood to wait hisreturn. A midshipman's personal comfort is not much considered on suchoccasions, so that I was unable to get any clothes or even a change oflinen before my ship was standing away with all sail set in chase of thestranger last seen. My prize, I found, was called the Colonel Parry.
"What do you think of our craft?" said I to Grampus, who had beenrunning his eye over her, inside and out.
"Why, Mr Hurry, she's seen no little service in her time, I'm thinking;and if so be there comes a gale of wind, she'll require delicatehandling, or she'll be apt to go t'other way to what the schooner welast took did
. Now, to my mind, sir, the weather doesn't look at allpleasant like, and I shouldn't be surprised but what we get a prettyheavy gale of wind before nightfall."
"I think so too," said I. "There's one comfort, if we do not fan inwith the `Orpheus' again for a month to come, we've provisions enough onboard--we shall not starve."
Old Nol's prognostications were fulfilled even sooner than we expected;a black, heavy bank of clouds came rolling up towards us; and as thefrigate's top-gallant sails, shining with peculiar whiteness against thedark mass, sank beneath the horizon, we were pitching our bows into aheavy sea under a close-reefed mainsail and foresail. We had madeourselves as snug as we could, but not a moment too soon. Had therebeen a trysail on board I should have set it. Even with the sail shehad on her the vessel strained very much, and sometimes I thought shewould make a perfect dip of it and go down head foremost. However, Ihad done all I could do, and must await the result.
"What's the matter now?" said I to Grampus, who had gone below for ashort time.
"Why, sir, the old tub is taking in water rather faster than we arelikely to pump it out."
"We must try, however," I answered. "Man the pumps, and let's do ourbest."
So to work we set. The weather was cool, and we were wet with the seaand spray, but the exercise kept us from feeling cold. We soon foundthat we made no sensible impression on the water in the hold, but yet itwas something to keep the vessel afloat. While so employed, a loud bangsaluted our ears; a heavier blast than usual had split both the mainsailand foresail. The sails soon shivered to tatters. I could find nonewith which to replace them, and there we lay, almost water-logged, atthe mercy of the winds and waves. A long November night, too, wascoming on, and I felt the very great probability that we might never beblessed by the sight of another dawn. Grampus took it very coolly; hehad been in many similar situations; but Tom Rockets was far from happy.
"Oh, Mr Hurry," said he, as the gale rose higher and the seas tossed ushelplessly about, ever and anon deluging our decks, "what is to becomeof us, sir? What will poor mother do when she hears that you and I aregone to the bottom in this outlandish country, where they seem to havenothing to do but to fight and shoot and knock each other on the head?"
Poor Tom's notion of the country was very naturally formed from his ownexperience.
"I hope, Tom, things are not so bad as you fancy," said I. "We mustpray to God, and trust in His mercy to save us. He has power to hold usup if He thinks fit; and I have no doubt, too, that your mother and mineare praying for us, and I feel sure that He will listen to theirprayers, if He does not to those of such careless, thoughtless fellowsas we are."
"That's truth, Mr Hurry," put in old Grampus; "there's nothing likehaving a good mother to pray for one, depend on't. While my old motherlived, I always felt as how there was one who loved me, who was askingmore for me than I dared ask for myself; and now she's gone aloft, Idon't think she has forgotten her son, though I doubt if she would knowhis figure-head if she was to see him."
"I cannot say exactly that. Grampus," said I, "though it looks to melike true philosophy; but one thing I do know--and that the Bible tellsus plainly--that, if we will but trust and believe on Him, we have anAdvocate with the Father, ever pleading for us, bad as we may havebeen--He who came into the world to save us, our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist. He knows how to plead for us better than any earthly parent,either alive or in heaven, for He so loved us that He took our natureupon Him, and He knows all things, and knows our weaknesses andtemptations, and want of opportunities of gaining knowledge."
"That's true again, sir," observed Grampus; "that's what I calls rightearnest religion--you'll pardon me for saying it, but to my mind theparsons couldn't give us better."
I told Grampus I was glad of his good opinion, and we talked on for sometime much in the same strain. I had gained more religious knowledgelately from poor Mercer, who, during the last weeks we had beentogether, had been very assiduous in impressing his own convictions onme. There are occasions like this which bring people of different rankstogether, and which draw out the real feelings and thoughts of theheart, when all know that any moment may be their last; a slightincrease of the gale, one heavier sea than usual, the starting of aplank may send them all to the bottom. The pride of the proudest ishumbled, the fiercest man is made meek. Those who live on shore atease, and are seldom or never exposed to danger or are in hazard oftheir lives, can scarcely understand these things; priding themselves ontheir education, rank or fortune, they look down on all beneath them asunworthy of their thoughts or care, and I verily believe that some ofthem fancy that a different Creator made them--that they were sent intothe world for different objects, and that they will go to differentheaven when they die--that is to say, if they ever think of dying, orever trouble their heads about an hereafter. I have often wished to getthose young gentlemen in just such a position as I was that night, andthey could not fail to learn a lesson which they would remember to theend of their days.
In the morning watch the gale began to abate.
"Come," said I, "let's turn to and see if we cannot lessen the water inthe hold."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Grampus. "We've a chance now, I think."
We therefore all set to work with a will--there is nothing like tryingwhat can be done, however desperate affairs may seem--and beforedaylight we most certainly were gaining on the leaks. We now found asecond jib in the sail-room, which we set as a trysail, though I had notmuch expectation of it standing, and by its means we hove the vessel to.This at once relieved her greatly, but, as day broke, the weatherlooked so unpromising that I had great fears we might very soon be in aworse position than before. Our comfort was, that we had now done allthat men could do, so we went to breakfast with clear consciences onsome of the good things left us by the former owners. We lighted a firein the cabin, dried our clothes, warmed our bodies, and otherwise madeourselves as comfortable as circumstances would admit. On deck theaspect of affairs was not so cheering. Nothing was to be seen but darkgreen seas crested with foam around us, and black lowering cloudsoverhead, while a cold whistling wind did its best to blow our teethdown our throats. The wind, as I expected, soon breezed up again, andcontinued blowing heavily the whole day. The water, however, did notfurther gain on us, so I had hopes that we might still weather it out.Night came back on us without our having seen a sail or experienced anychange for the better, and the morning came, and the next day passedaway exactly as had the first. We had bread enough to eat, and flour tomake dumplings, but we had no suet to put with them, so that they cameout of the pot as hard as round shots; and we had rum and porter in asuperabundance to drink; it was important, however, to use it sparingly,especially the former; but we had very few other things which could becalled luxuries; no bedding, no change of clothes, and but a scantysupply of fuel. I had to lie wrapped up in an old cloak and a piece ofcarpet while Tom Rockets washed out my shirt and stockings. Day afterday passed away and there we lay, pitching our bows under, hove-to atthe most boisterous season of the year off that inhospitable coast,earnestly wishing for the return of the Orpheus, with the prospect, inthe meantime, of being recaptured by an enemy's privateer, and thecertainty of being taken should we make for any port but New York,which, as the wind then held, was a matter of impossibility. We didnot, however, pipe our eyes about the matter but, following old Nol'sadvice, made the best of it.
"Any sail in sight, Grampus?" I used to ask as I turned out in themorning.
"No, sir, only clouds and water; but better them than an enemy, youknow, sir," was his general reply.
Now and then a sail would appear in the horizon, but either we were notseen or they were peaceable merchantmen, anxious to make the best oftheir way to their destined port. At last one morning, after I had beenkeeping the middle watch, old Grampus' voice roused me out of a soundsleep.
"Come on deck, Mr Hurry, sir, if you please! I don't like the looks ofher at all."
In a moment m
y head was up the companion-hatch. The weather was worsethan ever. A thick driving mist formed a dense veil on every side, butI could just discern through it the sails of a large schooner standingdirectly for us from the eastward.
"She is American, I suspect, Grampus," said I.
"No doubt about it, sir," he answered. "Our cruise is up, I'm afraid,and we may make ready for a spell on shore, and nothing to do."
"We might beat her off, though," I observed. "There is nothing likeputting a bold face on the matter, and it would never do to yieldwithout striking a blow."
"Ay, sir, with all my heart," said he cheerfully; "the guns are allloaded, and I made Tom and Bill get up some powder and shot in case theywere wanted, before I called you, sir. You'll excuse me, sir, I thoughtthere was no harm."
"All right, Grampus," I answered, laughing at his having calculated onwhat I should certainly propose doing. Bill Nettle was a good man andtrue, so that I knew I could thoroughly depend on all my small crew,and, having made every preparation, we waited till the schooner gotwithin range of our guns. We had not long to wait. The gale bore herquickly towards us, and I almost thought she intended to run us down.Were she to overpower us there was too much sea to allow her to send aboat on board to take possession. She got within range, still she didnot fire.
"She is unarmed, I suspect," said I.
"No, no, sir," replied Grampus. "She is armed, depend on that. She isup to some trick or other."
On she came, passing close to us. The American flag was flying from thepeak. I could not make out the mystery. In another moment, however, itwas explained. For an instant the fog lifted, and showed us a largeship under a press of sail, standing directly after her. We cheered atthe sight, for we had no difficulty in recognising the Orpheus, and atthe same moment we ran out and let fly every gun we could bring to bearat the rigging of the stranger. One shot, directed by chance, certainlynot by skill, struck her main-topmast, and down it came tumbling ondeck. We hastened to reload our guns as fast as we could. She gave usa broadside from her guns in return, but the shot were thrown away. Shestood on, however, but we had not a little diminished her chance ofescape. The Orpheus was soon up to us, passing within hail.
"Well done, Mr Hurry, well done!" shouted Captain Hudson. "We willsend you help as soon as we can."
His commendation was no little satisfaction to me. It was a fine sightto see the noble ship sweeping by, her white canvas looking whiter amidthe dark clouds and the sheets of foam which surrounded her, as, pressedby the gale, she heeled over, till her lee guns dipped in the water asshe plunged on through the heaving seas which she majestically castaside in her course. I longed to be on board her, though I should havespeedily changed from a commander into a midshipman. Away she went, hervast form growing each instant more indistinct, like one of the geniione reads about in tales of romance, till she disappeared altogether inthe thick driving mist, and once more we were left alone, so that hervery appearance seemed almost like a dream, and I began at last toquestion whether I really had seen her. We watched anxiously for her,trying to pierce through the gloomy atmosphere, but no sign of her couldwe discern, and night once again closed round us in our solitude. Theweather did not improve, so we spent another day at pile driving,neither a pleasant nor a profitable occupation. The second morningafter the event I have described was as dark and lowering as before,but, as I went on deck after breakfast, Grampus cheered me by sayingthat he thought it was going to mend a bit. We were looking to thesouth-east, when simultaneously all hands uttered a loud cheer. Theclouds seemed to burst asunder, the mist lifted, the bright sun shoneforth, and, surrounded by his glorious rays, beneath a canopy of bluesky, our noble ship appeared, standing towards us, with the schooner anda sloop in her wake. There was, however, still too much sea on for herto send a boat without some risk; indeed, before she could well havedone so, another sail hove in sight, and she was away in chase.
On the 14th of the month we spoke his Majesty's ship Mermaid, with aconvoy from England to New York. On the 15th the Orpheus took aschooner from Martinique, with a cargo of claret, so that with anothersloop she had taken she had now five prizes. It was not, however, tillthe 26th of the month that a boat boarded me from the ship, with writtendirections from Captain Hudson to take under my command all the prizes,and to proceed with them to New York. I, in return, sent for my beddingand chest, and a few other things from the purser, which I required, andas soon as I had got them I hoisted the signal to my squadron to makesail for the port of our destination. A midshipman had been put incharge of each of the prizes, and as soon as we had lost sight of theship we ran close to each other to discuss the plans of amusement whicheach of us were already enjoying by anticipation. Delisle commanded oneof the schooners, Ragget another, Nicholas had one sloop, and Drew thelast capture. We were, as may be supposed, a very merry set. It didnot occur to us that our enemy's cruisers might pop down on us before wegot into port, as does a cat among a party of mice at play. We werealmost as helpless as mice in the paws of a cat, for so few men weresent away in each prize that we had scarcely strength to work them, muchless to fight or make sail on an emergency. In this instance fortunefavoured us. We made Sandy Hook on the 28th, and before evening wereall safely moored alongside the wharf, among twenty-nine other vesselsof various rigs captured by the Orpheus.
As several other ships of war had sent in prizes, we altogether formed avery jovial set of midshipmen. There were seven of us from the Orpheusalone, and, as I was senior officer, they were generally my guests. Ihad really a very elegant cabin, nicely fitted up with everyconvenience, and a comfortable stove, besides which I collected from thevarious prizes an ample stock of good things to supply the wants of theinner man. Never indeed had I enjoyed more perfect luxury, or greaterrest and relaxation, without one anxious care, one unhappy moment toextract the sweets from my existence, free from all the rubs and kicksand snubs midshipmen seem the natural heirs to, so I smiled at fortuneand defied its frowns.
I was for a short time, however, made to quake, for after the Orpheushad, during December, sent in several prizes, she arrived herself withtwo others, and some of my messmates had to return on board. ButCaptain Hudson, whose good opinion I had won, gave me directions, to myinfinite contentment, to remain in charge of the prizes. I had also asufficient number of companions to bear me company. Numberless were thepranks we Orlopians played. Some might now make me blush, though,generally, if not wise they were harmless. I remember that we did ourskipper and the captain of the Daphne out of three cases of claret whichthey had marked for their own use. It happened that, as we werepreparing to keep Christmas Day, some one bethought him of the threecases. They were sent for. One of them was broached at dinner-time,and found so excellent that we drank up the whole; but, as we were doingso, our consciences were alarmed, and we ordered the bottles and corksto be kept. The next day we employed ourselves in refilling them fromthe casks, and in carefully corking and sealing them. Some timeafterwards I was dining with our captain, when one of the cases wasproduced. The opinion of the guests was asked. Some thought itexcellent. Delisle, who was there, looked at me, but we kept ourcountenances. Our first lieutenant, who was considered a judge,pronounced it good, but he found very little difference between it andthe wine in cask.
Among other things we came on some casks of limes--excellent things, beit known, in the composition of punch. The said fruit we accordinglyate up or used for that purpose, and filling the casks with wet hay,some rotten limes, and the stuff they were packed in, returned them tothe hold. On examination, the casks of limes were found to have beenentirely spoilt. Such tricks are, however, I must own, not onlyunworthy of imitation, but scarcely fit to be recorded.
I must now give a glance at the position of the belligerent armies atthis period. Washington, having crossed the Hudson into the Jerseys,had been compelled by the desertion of a considerable number of histroops, who had enlisted only for short periods, to retreat acro
ss theDelaware, while some of the most fertile tracts of the country fell intothe hands of the Royalists. General Lee, an officer of considerabletalent and daring, was surprised and captured by a body of Britishcavalry; while the other rebel generals found themselves, withdiminished and disheartened forces, separated from each other, andwithout resources or means of recruiting; indeed, the revolutionarycause appeared to have arrived at its lowest ebb, and great hopes wereentertained that a speedy conclusion would be made to the sanguinarycontest. Perhaps the Americans were not so badly off as we supposed.That they were not asleep was proved by their gallant and well-conductedsurprise and capture of Colonel Rahl and a thousand Hessian troops atTrenton on Christmas Day, an enterprise which inspirited the Americans,and was a severe loss to the Royalists. The Hessian commander wasmortally wounded, and died the next day; and most of his men, beingmarched into the interior, settled in the country. Soon after thisoccurrence Washington was appointed military dictator, and through hisconsummate conduct the prospects of the rebels began to revive.
Of course the progress of the war was the constant subject ofconversation while I was at New York, and I consequently heard a gooddeal about it. Before I end this chapter, I think it may proveinteresting if I give a slight sketch of the warlike proceedings whichhad occurred up to this period on the Canadian frontier, as well as someof the proceedings of General Washington and his army.
Lakes Champlain and George, approaching as they do the upper waters ofthe Hudson, have always been considered the key to the northernprovinces from Canada. Their possession has therefore been looked on asof the first importance; and Ticonderoga, the chief fort at the head ofLake Champlain, has been the scene of many bloody encounters. I heard agood deal about the matter afterwards from Edward Fleetwood Pelew, whosebrother Israel was long a messmate of mine, and who was himself engagedin the affair I have to relate. General Gates commanded the Americanforces in the north, and he had strongly fortified Ticonderoga. Ourarmy in Canada was at that time under the command of Sir Guy Carleton, avery brave and dashing officer. The success which Sir William Howe hadmet with on the seaboard inspired him with an ardent desire to signalisehimself in the north; and he hoped to be able to expel the rebels fromtheir posts on the lakes, and, by a triumphant march down the banks ofthe Hudson, to form a junction with the main body of the British army atNew York. To effect this object he fitted out a fleet of small craft ofevery description on which he could lay his hands on Lake Champlain. Itwas placed under the command of Captain Pringle. The Americans gotnotice of what was going forward, and got a fleet together under theorders of General Arnold. Our fleet were ready by the first week inOctober, and made sail up the lake in search of the enemy. They cruisedfor some time, and were almost in despair of falling in with theAmerican squadron, believing that it must have run for shelter to theextreme southern point of the lake, when, as with a fair wind they hadalready passed Valcour Island, they caught sight of the enemy drawn upacross the channel between that island and the main. Our flotillainstantly hauled their wind, and stood in to attack the enemy. TheAmericans, to do them justice, behaved gallantly, and no man could havefought his vessels better than did Arnold; but our force wasoverpowering, and they got dreadfully cut up. Some Indians were landedon the island, who, getting on their flanks, galled them terribly withtheir rifles. Still they fought on till darkness came to their aid.Our larger vessels could not get into the channel, or they would havebeen completely cut up. At night the British squadron had to haul off;and, when morning dawned, it was found that Arnold, and such of hisvessels as still kept afloat, had made his escape up the lake. Severalof them were, however, overtaken and captured, while others were sunk orrun on shore and burnt. Arnold with the remnant took shelter underTiconderoga. This success was not followed up by Sir Guy, as he foundthat Ticonderoga was so strongly garrisoned that he could not hope totake it without considerable loss both of men and time, and he wouldafterwards have had to advance through a difficult country in the middleof winter with a vigilant enemy ever on the watch to harass him. Hetherefore returned with his army to Montreal.
General Washington, meantime, after he had retreated from New York withhis shattered forces, endeavoured to hold the country to the westward onboth sides of the Hudson. The greater part of his army occupied a rockyand mountainous district known by the name of the Highlands. There hecarried on a sort of Fabian warfare, ever avoiding a regular engagement,always on the defensive, and retreating when pursued. So ill-formed andill-disciplined were the American forces at this time that he had noother resource than to act as he did. His army was still furtherweakened by the loss of Fort Washington with a garrison of nearly threethousand men, which was gallantly taken, after a desperate defence, byLords Percy and Cornwallis, and a body of Hessians under Colonel Rahl,of whom I have before spoken.
Altogether, it seems surprising that our generals should not have beenable at this juncture to crush Washington, and put an end to therebellion. A higher Power than either of the belligerents ruledotherwise.