CHAPTER II--HARRIET MAKES A PRESENT
"Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her brave-- Gushed, warm with hope and valor yet, Upon the soil they fought to save."
--"The Battle-Field," Bryant.
"It is not true," burst from the English girl. "It can't be. Met ColonelTarleton and utterly routed him? Impossible!"
"It doth indeed seem too good to be true," cried Peggy.
"Impossible or not, it hath really happened," answered Drayton, laughinggleefully at their amazement. "I was detailed, at my own request, tobring the news to Congress. I wanted to see if you were in truth safe inyour own home, Peggy. Another express riding at speed hath gone on toGeneral Washington with the tidings. The victory hath gladdened everycountenance and paved the way for the salvation of the country."
"Begin at the beginning and tell all and everything," commanded Peggy.
"But first let the lad make himself comfortable," interposed Mrs. Owen."He is tired and weary, I doubt not. Take his hat and cloak, Peggy,while I bring him a chair. Harriet, tell Sukey to hasten with thedinner."
"Has thee become a macaroni[[2]], John, that thee has such a finecloak?" queried Peggy as she relieved Drayton of his beaver androquelaure.
"With these clothes?" asked the youth quizzically. For the removal ofthe cloak exposed a very shabby uniform to view. "That roquelaure becamemine by what you might call impressment, and 'thereby hangs a tale'which you shall hear anon. But now for Cowpens."
"Yes; let us hear about Cowpens," cried Peggy eagerly. "Oh! I can scarcewait the telling."
"It happened after this fashion," began Drayton settling himself with asigh of satisfaction in the chair Mrs. Owen had brought. "LordCornwallis began again his march toward North Carolina with the first ofthe year. So General Greene detached Brigadier-General Morgan to harassthe left flank of the British, and to threaten Ninety Six. We annoyedCornwallis so much that he sent Colonel Tarleton with the light infantryand some cavalry to push us to the utmost.
"Colonel Tarleton advanced up the west side of the Broad River, whilehis lordship proceeded up the east side; the plan being for him to fallupon us should we attempt to recross and retreat into North Carolina.Well, I am bound to say that Colonel Tarleton did press us hard. So muchso that we fell back before him until we reached the Cowpens, so calledbecause the cattle are here rounded up and branded. It lies about midwaybetween Spartanburg and the Cherokee Ford of the Broad River. Theposition was both difficult and dangerous, and though General Morgandidn't want to fight, he knew that the time had come when he had to.
"Well, what did the man do as we camped there the night before thebattle? Why, he went among the men as they sat about the camp-fires, andtold them he was going to fight and just what he wanted them to do. Theresult was a glorious victory the next day.
"We rose early and breakfasted quietly, and then prepared to fight.About eight o'clock the enemy came in sight and drew up in line ofbattle. No sooner were they formed than they rushed forward shoutinglike a lot of demons. 'Tis Colonel Tarleton's way of attack, andofttimes it scares the militia so that they become panic stricken, andbreak and run. This was the time when they didn't.
"The militia received the first onslaught, fired two volleys and thenfell back, according to instructions. As they did so the British yelledand shouted, and advanced in a run. And then you should have seen howPickens' sharpshooters got in their work. 'Wait until they are withinfifty yards,' they had been told, 'and then fire.' They followed theirorders to the letter, and picked off the men with the epaulettes untilthe ranks of the British were demoralized by the loss of officers. Thenthe second line cleared, and we regulars advanced, and charged. The nextthing any of us knew the British infantry threw away their arms, andbegan to cry for quarter.
"Colonel Tarleton then ordered his dragoons to charge while he attemptedto rally the infantry, but the rout was too complete. When he found thathe could do nothing with the infantry, he made another struggle to gethis cavalry to charge, hoping to retrieve the day, but his effortsproved fruitless. They forsook him, and went flying from the field ofbattle. Colonel William Washington pursued them until evening, and onhis return drove before him a number of prisoners which he had collectedon the route.
"There were six hundred men captured; ten officers and more than ahundred men killed, but Tarleton, I am sorry to say, escaped. All thecannon, arms, equipage, music and everything fell into our hands, whileour loss was but twelve killed and sixty wounded. Oh, I tell you we werejubilant! We crossed the river, making a detour to escape his lordship,and brought our prisoners and booty safe to a junction with the mainarmy. General Greene was delighted over the victory, for the destructionof Colonel Tarleton's force will cripple Cornwallis severely. After afew more such victories I think his lordship will realize that he nolonger hath a Gates to deal with."
"Is it not wonderful?" broke in Peggy. "Oh, I knew that something wouldhappen soon to cheer us up! It hath always been so from the beginning ofthe Revolution. There was Trenton in '76, just when every one thoughtthe country lost; and Saratoga in '77, when our own dear city was in thehands of the British. Whenever it hath been so dark that it seemed asthough we could not press forward something hath always occurred torenew our courage. I can see it all!" she cried enthusiastically. "Theswamps, and the trees with the marksmen hidden behind them; the river,and the palmettos; the swift rush of the soldiers through the trees, andthen the crash of arms, and victory!"
"I thought you were a Quaker," sneered Harriet. "Do Friends so delightin warfare?"
"But I am a patriot too," cried Peggy. "I can't help but feel glad thatwe were victorious, although I am not sorry that Colonel Tarletonescaped, as thee is, John. He was so good to me. Had it not been for himI would not have been home."
"It is utterly impossible," came from Harriet again. "Colonel Tarletonnever did meet defeat, and I don't believe that he ever will. 'Tis somequidnunc story got up to keep the rebels fighting. And if it were true,you are cruel to rejoice when father may have been in the action. OrClifford."
"But the Welsh Fusileers, thy father's regiment, stay always with LordCornwallis, do they not?" queried Peggy, whose residence among theBritish had taught her much concerning such matters. "And as for thybrother, Clifford, thee does not know where he is."
"No; I don't know," answered the English girl tearfully. "I would I did.But he might have been there. He is somewhere in these revoltedcolonies, and it's cruel to be so glad when he might be among those whoare killed, or wounded." She flung herself back among the pillows of thesettle as she finished speaking, and gave way to a passion of tears.
"But you would rejoice at an English victory, Mistress Harriet," spokeLieutenant Drayton in surprise. The Harriet he remembered would havescorned to betray such weakness. "We do not exult over those who areslain or wounded, but we do delight in the fact that liberty is advancedwhenever we win a battle. And we care for the wounded, even though theyare foes. Also," he added, his brow darkening, "we give quarter, andyour people do not."
"'Tis a great price to pay for freedom," remarked Mrs. Owen sadly. "Andyet there are times when it can be obtained in no other way."
"But to--to say that they r-ran," sobbed Harriet. "The British wouldn'trun."
"Oh, wouldn't they?" observed the lieutenant dryly. "These ran likefoxes when the hounds are after them. And they took to cover worse thanany militia I ever saw. But there!" he concluded. "What doth it matter?We whipped them badly."
"Harriet hath been ill, John," explained Peggy in a low tone. "Thee mustnot mind what she says."
"I don't," returned he good-naturedly. "There was never much love lostbetween us, as she knows, though I am sorry that she hath been ill. Areyou as busy as ever, Peggy?"
"The dinner is ready, John," spoke Mrs. Owen as Sukey came to the doorwith the announcement. "Thee must be hungry. Come now, and eat. And theemust make thy home with us w
hile in the city. It would give us greatpleasure."
"Thank you, madam. I will accept gladly, though it will be but for a dayor two. There will be return despatches from Congress to General Greene.I must go back as soon as the gentlemen have finished with me. I waitupon them this afternoon."
"Then thee won't be able to go with the girls to see the skating,"remarked the lady leading the way to the dining-room.
"If they finish with me soon I will join them," he answered. "My! howgood this table looks! 'Tis not often that I sit down to a meal likethis."
"I wonder how you poor soldiers can fight so well when you have solittle to eat," she said soberly. "'Tis in my mind often."
"Perhaps we fight the better for being hungry," he returned lightly. "Wehave to get filled up on something, you know. Supplies are in truth hardto come by. Clothing as well as food. General Greene went before thelegislatures of all the states he passed through on his way South toplead that men, clothing, food and equipment might be forthcoming forthe campaign. There is woeful remissness somewhere. Why, some of ourpoor fellows haven't even a shirt to their backs."
"And I have made twelve myself since I came back," exclaimed Peggyproudly. "And mother as many more. Mistress Reed hath twenty-two hundredto send to the Pennsylvania line now."
"No wonder 'Dandy Wayne' is so proud of his men," sighed the youth witha certain wistfulness in his voice. "The Pennsylvania line is the bestdressed of any of the Continentals, and all because the women of thestate look after their soldiers. Would that the other states would do aswell!"
"Lieutenant Drayton," spoke Harriet suddenly. She had quite recoveredher composure by this time. "Peggy did not tell you that I have made ashirt too."
"Not for the patriots?" he asked amazed.
"Yes; for the rebels," she replied.
"Come!" he cried gayly. "You are improving. We will have a good patriotout of you yet."
"Perhaps," she responded graciously, a roguish gleam coming into hereyes. "Are you in need of shirts, lieutenant?"
Drayton's face flushed, and then he laughed.
"I am not as badly off as some of our poor fellows, Mistress Harriet,but they would not come amiss. Why?"
"Because," said she speaking deliberately, "if you will accept it, Ishould like to give you the shirt that I made."
"To give it to me?" he queried astonished. He had always known thatHarriet disliked him, and therefore could not understand this suddenmark of favor. "To give it to me?"
"Yes; to you. Will you promise to wear it if I give it to you?"
"Oh, Harriet," came from Peggy reproachfully, but John Drayton answeredwith a puzzled look:
"I shall most certainly wear the garment if you give it to me, mistress,and feel highly complimented in so doing."
"I will hold you to your word, sir," cried Harriet. With that she ranout of the room but soon returned with the garment in question. "There!"she said holding it up so that he could read the embroideredinscription. "See to what you have pledged yourself, John Drayton."
A twinkle came into his eyes, but he took the shirt from her, holding ittightly as he said:
"I shall abide by my word. And what think you the British would say ifthey saw what is here embroidered? This, mistress: 'That 'tis smallwonder the rebels are successful when even our own women help to keepthem in supplies.'"
"Oh, give it back," she exclaimed in consternation. "I did not think ofthat."
"Nay; a bargain is a bargain." Drayton folded up the shirt with adecided gesture. "You were trying to put up a 'take in' on me, but ithath redounded on yourself. Stand by your word, mistress."
"He hath thee, Harriet," cried Peggy laughing.
"I don't care," answered Harriet tossing her head. "'Tis across theshoulders, and if ever I hear of its being seen I shall know that heturned his back to the foe."
"Then you have heard the last of it, for that I will never do," said thelad solemnly.
-----[2] Macaroni--a dandy.