CHAPTER VI.
THE SKIRMISH AND ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN WHARTON.
The videttes and patrols now came pouring in, each making insuccession his hasty report to the commanding officer, who gave hisorders coolly and with a promptitude that made obedience certain.
Major Dunwoodie had received from his scouts all the intelligenceconcerning the foe which was necessary to enable him to make hisarrangements. The bottom of the valley was an even plain, that fellwith a slight inclination from the foot of the hills on either side tothe level of a natural meadow that wound through the country on thebanks of a small stream. This brook was easily forded, and the onlyimpediment it offered to the movements of the horse was in a placewhere its banks were more steep and difficult of access than common.Here the highway crossed it by a rough wooden bridge.
The hills on the eastern side of the valley were abrupt, andfrequently obtruded themselves in rocky prominences into its bosom.One of these projections was but a short distance in the rear of thesquadron of dragoons, and Dunwoodie directed Captain Lawton towithdraw with two troops behind its cover. Dunwoodie knew his man, andhad selected the captain for this service both because he feared hisprecipitation in the field, and knew, when needed, his support wouldnever fail to appear. On the left of the ground on which Dunwoodieintended to meet his foe was a close wood, which skirted that side ofthe valley for the distance of a mile. Into this, then, the guidesretired, and took their station near its edge, in such a manner aswould enable them to maintain a scattering but effectual fire on theadvancing column of the enemy.
Dunwoodie's men now sat panting to be led once more against foes whomthey seldom charged in vain. A few minutes enabled the major todistinguish their character. In one troop he saw the green coats ofthe Cow-Boys and in the other the leathern helmets and wooden saddlesof the yagers.[54] Their numbers were about equal to the body underhis immediate orders.
[Footnote 54: These were Hessian soldiers (from Hesse-Cassel, in Germany) hired by Great Britain. The Cow-Boys were Americans enlisted as soldiers in the British army. On the next page they are referred to as the "refugee troop."]
On reaching the open space near the cottage of Harvey Birch, the enemyhalted and drew up his men in line, evidently making preparations fora charge. At this moment a column of foot appeared in the vale, andpressed forward to the bank of the brook we have already mentioned.
Major Dunwoodie at once saw his advantage, and determined to profit byit. The column he led began slowly to retire from the field, when theyouthful German who commanded the enemy's horse, fearful of missing aneasy conquest, gave the word to charge. The Cow-Boys sprang eagerlyforward in the pursuit; the Hessians followed more slowly, but inbetter order. The trumpets of the Virginians now sounded long andlively; they were answered by a strain from the party in ambush thatwent to the hearts of their enemies. The column of Dunwoodie wheeledin perfect order, opened, and, as the word of charge was given, thetroops of Lawton emerged from their cover, with their leader inadvance, waving his sabre over his head, and shouting in a voice thatwas heard above the clamor of the martial music.
The charge threatened too much for the refugee troop. They scatteredin every direction, flying from the field as fast as their horsescould carry them. It was upon the poor vassals of the German tyrantthat the shock fell. Many of them were literally ridden down, andDunwoodie soon saw the field without an opposing foe.
Captain Wharton had been left in the keeping of two dragoons, one ofwhom marched to and fro on the piazza with a measured tread, and theother had been directed to continue in the same apartment with theprisoner.
The lawn in front of the Locusts was hidden from the road by a line ofshrubbery, and the horses of the two dragoons had been left under itsshelter to await the movements of their masters.
At this moment two Cow-Boys, who had been cut off from a retreat totheir own party, rode furiously through the gate, with an intention ofescaping to the open wood in the rear of the cottage. Feelingthemselves in the privacy of the lawn, relieved from any immediatedanger, they yielded to a temptation that few of the corps were everknown to resist--opportunity and horseflesh--and made towards theirintended prizes by an almost spontaneous movement. They were busilyengaged in separating the fastenings of the horses, when the trooperon the piazza discharged his pistols, and rushed, sword in hand, tothe rescue.
This drew the wary dragoon in the parlor to the window.
He threw his body out of the building, and with dreadful imprecationsendeavored by threats and appearance to frighten the marauders fromtheir prey. The moment was enticing. Three hundred of his comradeswere within a mile of the cottage; unridden horses were running atlarge in every direction, and Henry Wharton seized the unconscioussentinel by his legs and threw him headlong into the lawn. Caesarvanished from the room, and drew a bolt of the outer door.
Recovering his feet, the sentinel turned his fury for a moment on hisprisoner. To scale the window in the face of such an enemy, was,however, impossible, and on trial he found the main entrance barred.
His comrade now called loudly upon him for aid, and forgettingeverything else, the discomfited trooper rushed to his assistance. Onehorse was instantly liberated, but the other was already fastened tothe saddle of a Cow-Boy, and the four retired behind the building,cutting furiously at each other with their sabres, and making the airresound with their imprecations. Caesar threw the outer door open, andpointing to the remaining horse, that was quietly biting the fadedherbage of the lawn, he exclaimed:
"Run, now, run--Massa Harry, run!"
"Yes," cried the youth, as he vaulted into the saddle, "now indeed, myhonest fellow, is the time to run."
When the fortune of the day was decided, and the time arrived for theburial of the dead, two Cow-Boys and a Virginian were found in therear of the Locusts, to be included in the number.
Wharton's horse was of the best Virginian blood, and carried him withthe swiftness of the wind along the valley; and the heart of the youthwas already beating tumultuously with pleasure of his deliverance,when a well-known voice reached his startled ear, crying loudly:
"Bravely done, captain! Don't spare the whip, and turn to your leftbefore you cross the brook."
Wharton turned his head in surprise, and saw, sitting on the point ofa jutting rock that commanded a bird's-eye view of the valley, hisformer guide, Harvey Birch. The English captain took the advice ofthis mysterious being, and finding a good road which led to thehighway that intersected the valley, turned down its direction, andwas soon opposite to his friends. The next minute he crossed thebridge, and stopped his charger before his old acquaintance, ColonelWellmere.
"Captain Wharton!" exclaimed the astonished commander of the Englishtroops.
"Thank God!" cried the youth, recovering his breath, "I am safe, andhave escaped from the hands of my enemies."
The captain briefly explained to the group of listeners the manner ofhis capture, the grounds of his personal apprehensions, and the methodof his escape. By the time he had concluded his narration, thefugitive Germans were collected in the rear of the column of infantry,and Colonel Wellmere cried aloud:
"From my soul I congratulate you, my brave friend; prepare yourself togrant me your assistance, and I will soon afford you a noble revenge."
"I do not think it altogether prudent to cross this brook into theopen plain, in the face of those Virginian horse, flushed as they mustbe with the success they have just obtained," returned young Wharton.
"Do you call the rout of those irregulars and these sluggish Hessiansa deed to boast of?" said the other.
"And I must be allowed to say, Colonel Wellmere, that if thebody-guards of my king were in yon field, they would meet a foe thatit would be dangerous to despise. Sir, Mr. Dunwoodie is the pride ofWashington's army as a cavalry officer," cried Henry, with warmth.
Colonel Wellmere inquired with a supercilious[55] smile:
[Footnote 55: haughty.]
"You would not have us
retire, sir, before these boasted horsemen,without doing something that may deprive them of part of the glorywhich you appear to think they have gained?"
"I would have you advised, Colonel Wellmere, of the danger you areabout to encounter."
"Danger is but an unseemly word for a soldier," continued the Britishcommander, with a sneer.
"And one as little dreaded by the 60th as any corps who wear the royallivery," cried Henry Wharton, fiercely; "give but the word to charge,and let our actions speak."
"Now again I know my friend," cried Wellmere, soothingly; "but if youhave anything to say before we fight that can in any manner help us inour attack, we'll listen. You know the force of the rebels; are theremore of them in ambush?"
"Yes," replied the youth, chafing still under the other's sneers; "inthe skirt of the wood on our right are a small party of foot; theirhorse are all before you."
"Where they will not continue long," cried Wellmere, turning to thefew officers around him. "Gentlemen, we will cross the stream incolumn and display on the plain beyond, or else we shall not be ableto entice these valiant Yankees within the reach of our muskets.Captain Wharton, I claim your assistance as an aide-de-camp."
The youth shook his head in disapprobation of a movement which hisgood sense taught him was rash, but prepared with alacrity to performhis duty in the impending trial.