Sustained honor: The Age of Liberty Established

  CHAPTER XVII.

  THE CRUISER'S THREAT.

  Terrence and Sukey both volunteered to accompany Fernando's detachedriflemen in the vigorous campaign which was before them. Fernando'sriflemen now numbered one hundred and sixty-two, composed mostly offrontiersmen, all dead shots. Sukey declared that he was in the game andwould kill a British officer for every stripe Captain Snipes had causedto be laid on his shoulders.

  "There were twelve blows, nine stripes each. Nine times twelve are onehundred and eight."

  "And have ye got the job all before ye, Sukey?" asked Terrence.

  "I've commenced. Eight have been blotted out. Only a hundred remains,"Sukey answered solemnly.

  No one asked when the eight had been blotted out, but Fernando knew hemust have done it while the _Macedonian_ was fighting the Americanfrigate. Sailors, driven to desperation, frequently take advantage ofsuch occasions to wreak vengeance on cruel officers. The boatswain'smate who had flogged Sukey was found dead on the gun deck at the closeof the fight.

  The American forces were hurried forward to Washington, where everythingwas in the wildest confusion. The contemptible Peace Party had done allby way of ridicule and argument to keep off the war, and were now doingall in their power to prevent its prosecution. General Winder andCommodore Barney were in command of the land and naval forces of theUnited States, for the defence of Washington. In vain Winder had calledon the government for more troops and supplies.

  When Fernando arrived at Washington, Barney had already blown up hisflotilla at Pig Point, and with his soldiers and marines joinedGeneral Winder.

  General Ross, the commander of the British land forces and one of themost active of Wellington's officers, on finding the American flotilla asmoking ruin, marched to upper Marlborough with his troops, where a roadled directly to Washington City, leaving Cockburn in charge of theBritish flotilla. Winder had but three thousand men, most of themundisciplined, to oppose this force; and he prudently retreated towardWashington followed by Ross, who, on the 23d of August, was joined byCockburn and his seamen.

  Uncertain whether Washington City or Fort Washington was thedestination of the enemy, Winder left a force at Bladensburg about fourmiles from the capitol, and with other troops watched the highwaysleading in other directions, while he hastened to the city to inform thepresident that the enemy were camped in ten miles of the capitol.

  Neither President Madison nor his cabinet slept that night. Fernando andhis riflemen were sent to Bladensburg at midnight, and on the morning ofAugust 24, 1814, a small scouting party sent down the road came backreporting that the British army was on the advance.

  Fernando with his riflemen went to meet the enemy and hold them in checkas long as possible. About ten o'clock, they came in sight of theadvance of the enemy. About two hundred redcoats were led by an officeron horseback.

  Sukey saw that officer, and he also saw an old tree about a hundredyards nearer the enemy and twenty paces to the left of the road. Fromit, one would be in long rifle range of the British.

  "Fernando, I want to go there," said Sukey, hugging his long rifle as ifit were his dearest friend.

  "Go."

  He went with arms trailed, stooping as he ran, to keep the enemy fromseeing him, and gained the tree, which stood on an eminence thatoverlooked the narrow valley below. The British saw the Americans andhalted. The officer was riding up and down the line giving directions,wholly unconscious of the rifle behind the old tree.

  Suddenly a little puff of smoke curled up from where Sukey was crouched,and the crack of a rifle rang out. The officer in his gay uniformdropped his sword and fell from his saddle, while Sukey took a small daybook from his pocket and wrote "nine" in it.

  Fernando's company fell back to Bladensburg, where he deployed them soas to cover the Americans' line, and awaited the approach of the enemy.

  It was afternoon before they advanced, and the skirmishers for tenminutes held them in check, then, as they fell back to the main line,Fernando saw Sukey write "twelve" in his book. The fight began inearnest just below Bladensburg in an old field. The roar of cannon andrattling crash of musketry filled the air. General Winder, who had beenin Washington the night before, returned just before the battle began.The militia broke and fled in confusion; and the brave Barney, withCaptain Stevens' riflemen, sustained the brunt of the battle, untilBarney was severely wounded, when Winder, seeing no hope of winning avictory, ordered a retreat. The troops remaining fell back towardMontgomery Courthouse, in Maryland, leaving the battlefield inpossession of the invaders. The battle had lasted more than four hours,and the victory was won at fearful cost, for more than five hundredBritons were dead or wounded on the field, among them several officersof distinction, Sukey had added several numbers in his book.

  The president and his secretaries of war and state had come to witnessthe conflict and give assistance if possible. When the day was lost,they mounted swift horses and dashed back to the city. Terrence, who hadcaptured the steed of a British officer, overtook the president'sadvance party. Whipping his horse alongside the president, he cried:

  "Misther Madison, wasn't that as illegant a knock down as iver a man sawin all his life? I enjoy such."

  "How are we to save Washington without an army?" cried the president,whose mind was wholly occupied with the safety of the capital.

  To this, Terrence responded with his stereotyped:

  "Lave it all to me."

  Mrs. Madison, at the White House, had already been apprised of danger,by a messenger sent by her husband on the flight of the militia. Hercarriage was at the door ready for flight, and she had already sentaway to a place of safety silver plate and other valuables. Whilewaiting anxiously for her husband, she cut out of the frame forpreservation a full length portrait of Washington, by Stuart. At thismoment, her husband's messengers, Mr. Jacob Barker and another man,entered the house. Mr. Barker cried:

  "Fly, Mrs. Madison, the day is lost, and the British are coming!"

  "Where is my husband?" she asked.

  "Safe, and he will join you beyond the Potomac."

  Pointing to Washington's picture on the floor, she cried:

  "Save that picture! save or destroy it, but do not let it fall into thehands of the British!"

  Then, snatching up the precious parchment on which the Declaration ofIndependence was written, and which contained the names of the fifty-sixsigners of that document, she entered the carriage with her sister andtwo others, and the four were driven away to a place of safety beyondthe Potomac. The picture was saved, and it now adorns one of thereception rooms in the White House.

  The British entered Washington at sunset, August 24, 1814, and at oncebegan to plunder, burn and destroy. The capitol, president's house,treasury buildings, arsenal and barracks were burned, and of the publicbuildings only the patent office was saved. Some private houses wereplundered and others were burned. While these buildings were blazing inthe city, the public vessels and other government property at the navyyard were in flames, for Commodore Tingey, who was in command there, hadbeen ordered to destroy this property in case it was likely to fall intothe hands of the invaders. Two millions of dollars' worth of publicproperty were destroyed on that night.

  On the 27th of August, three days later, Alexandria was plundered of herpublic stores by the British. Having taken an enormous amount as ransomfor the city, the British sailed down the Potomac, annoyed part of theway by the guns from the American forts.

  Fernando Stevens' riflemen, after the battle of Bladensburg, hastenedtoward Baltimore, which they knew to be also threatened. Here they foundthe people energetically making every possible effort to defend thecity. Fort McHenry, which commanded the harbor, was garrisoned by abouta thousand men, under Major Armistead, and was supported by redoubts.Fernando's riflemen were assigned to General Stricker.

  On September 11, 1814, the enemy appeared off Patapsco Bay, and beforesunrise on the 12th had landed, nine thousand strong, at North Point,twelve miles from Baltimore. W
hen news came that the British werelanding on North Point, General Smith, who had about nine thousand menunder his command, sent General Stricker with more than three thousandof them, to watch the enemy, and act as circumstances might require.

  Fernando Stevens' riflemen accompanied Stricker, and were sent forwarddown a rocky ravine, where they might watch the enemy. Fernando left hismen in the deepest hollow while he, with only ten or twelve, creptforward behind some large stones which lay at the roadside. About tenpaces to the right of Fernando was Sukey, with his formidable rifleresting in the hollow of his left arm. Soon the head of the long columncould be seen advancing up the broad thoroughfare. Fernando saw twogayly-dressed officers riding at the head. He afterward learned thatthey were Generals Ross and Cockburn.

  "Say, Fernando," said Sukey, "those fellows are officers, ain't they?"

  "Yes."

  "Must be generals by the clothes they wear?"

  "Perhaps."

  Ross was riding gayly along by the side of Cockburn, laughing andjesting about making Baltimore his winter quarters, when on their leftthere suddenly rang out the sharp crack of a rifle, while a little puffof smoke curled up from the great black rock almost two hundredpaces distant.

  "Oh!" groaned the general, and jerking his rein, until his horse rearedin the air, his chin fell on his chest, and he began to sink from thesaddle. Cockburn caught him and called for assistance. They hurried himback to the boats, where he might have surgical aid; but he died beforethe boats were reached.

  Fernando Stevens heard the sharp report on his right, as Ross fell, and,turning his eyes in that direction, saw the smoke slowly curling up fromthe muzzle of Sukey's rifle.

  "Say, Fernando, I ought to count three or four for that one, shouldn'tI?" Sukey coolly asked. "He was a big one." [Footnote: The reader willpardon this slight deviation from history. The real slayers of GeneralRoss were two Baltimore mechanics, Wells and McComas, both of whom fellin the conflict on the same day, and to whose memory a monument has beenerected by the citizens of Baltimore.]

  The British were thrown into momentary confusion by the sudden death ofGeneral Ross; but Colonel Brooke rallied them, and Fernando's riflemenfell back until they joined General Stricker's men.

  The British came on and a severe fight, which lasted two hours, ensued,when Stricker ordered a retreat to his reserve corps. There he reformeda brigade and fell back toward the city, as far as Worthington's Mill,where they were joined by General Winder and some fresh troops.

  Fernando witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry during that terriblenight, when Mr. Francis S. Key, a prisoner on board an English vessel,composed the song which immortalized him,--"The Star-Spangled Banner."

  Not only Baltimore, but all the Chesapeake and coast was threatened bythe British. Cruisers by the score were threatening almost everyseaport town.

  The day after the unsuccessful bombardment of Fort McHenry, GeneralSmith sent for Fernando Stevens, and when he was in the general's headquarters, that officer said:

  "Captain Stevens, I would like to have you do a little detached duty."

  "General, I am willing to do whatever you wish. You can command me atyour pleasure."

  "There is a cruiser on the coast threatening a little town where somegovernment stores have been placed for safety. Will you undertake thedefence of the town?"

  "Certainly; I will do the best I can; but success will depend on mymeans."

  "How many men have you?"

  "One hundred and fifty."

  "I will send fifty marines with you."

  "But artillery?"

  "There are some nine-pounders and one long thirty-two at the village.Muster your men, hasten there at once, and do the best you can."

  "But, general, you have not yet told me the name of the village."

  "Mariana."

  "What?" gasped Fernando, starting to his feet. "Did you say Mariana.Perhaps I misunderstood you."'

  "No; I mean Mariana. Captain Lane, an old privateer officer of theRevolution, is there. He has organized a company of Marylanders on thepeninsula on which Mariana is situated, and will be able to help yousome. You will find an abundance of ammunition for your artillery."

  Fernando left the general's quarters with his heart beating in a waywhich he could not explain. Terrence had just returned to the company.Fernando ordered his men to be ready to march at dark, and was hasteningacross the street to a tavern for his supper, when he was suddenlyaccosted by a familiar voice with:

  "Golly! massa Stevens, am dat you?"

  "Job, where have you come from?"

  "Everywhar, Massa. I done been rovin' de worl' over huntin' for de massaI belong to when I war taken by de Britishers; but I can't find him.Whar ye gwine?"

  Fernando explained, and the negro said:

  "Golly! ye goin' dar?"

  "Yes, Job."

  "De ship what am goin' ter bombard dat town am de _Xenophon_."

  "_Xenophon_!" cried Fernando; "surely Providence must be in this."

  Job volunteered at once to accompany the riflemen, and, having someknowledge of gunnery, his services were very acceptable.

  At dusk, with competent guides, Fernando set out for the village.

  * * * * *

  Five years had been added to the weight with which time was crushingCaptain Lane; but his spirit was still as undaunted as ever, and when hefound the town threatened by a British cruiser, he hastily organized thepeople into militia companies, and began throwing up a line ofearthworks, which extended from his own house to the lowest extremity ofthe village.

  The plan of the breastwork was well laid and executed; but the artillerywas poorly mounted and they were sadly in need of experienced gunners.

  "Father, don't exert yourself until you are sick!" said Morgianna, whenher father came home one evening exhausted. "Surely, if the Britishcome, they will not harm us."

  "My child, the plunderers have sacked other towns and insulted theinhabitants, and why not ours?"

  "But no ship is in sight."

  "No; yet one has been hovering about the coast and Tris Penrose, who wasfar out in his fishing smack to reconnoitre, says it is the _Xenophon_."

  "The _Xenophon_!" and the pretty face grew pale. She remembered thatthat vessel, five years before, had paid the village a friendly visit.Captain Lane was watching her closely. She knew it and guessed thereason. After a moment's silence, she asked:

  "Father, isn't Lieutenant Matson on the _Xenophon_?"

  "I suppose he is."

  "Surely he is your friend."

  "In war there are no friends among the enemy, child, and no enemy amongfriends. We are simply Americans or British."

  "Yet, father, there are personal ties stronger than loyalty to nation orpolitical party."

  The old man heard her argument with evident anxiety. He loved his littlesea-waif as ardently as ever father loved a child, and for five yearshe fancied and feared she loved the lieutenant of the _Xenophon_.

  "True, child, you speak the truth, yet my heart tells me that we cannottrust to friendship now, seeing that this quarrel has grown so bitter."He was sorry to say this, for he felt that every word he uttered waslike a dagger at the heart of Morgianna. After a painful silence, theold, white-haired seaman added, "Forgive me, Morgianna; but I am an oldman, and I may not look at things as you do. I love my country and herflag. I have seen our poor sailors too often enslaved to be a friend toany Englishman while the war lasts."

  "What do you mean, father?"

  "You love him, Morgianna. I felt it, I knew it all along, but I couldn'thelp it. I knew I ought to do something, but, child, I didn't know whatto do. If you had had a mother she could have advised you, butI didn't."

  "Father, you talk so strangely; what do you mean?"

  "I knew all along, my child, that you loved him; but Lieutenant Matsonis a bad one, even if he is the son of my old friend. I could see thedevil glinting in his eyes, and the mock of his smile, when he met theyoung Ohioan her
e five years ago. He's a bad man accompanied with foulweather wherever he goes, and I know it just so long as I know thecat's paw, the white creeping mist, like a dirty thing which makes mecry out to my crew, 'All hands to reef! Quick! All hands to reef!'" Theold man was silent for a moment, smoking his pipe, while his eyes wereon the floor. Had he looked up, he would have seen a decidedlymischievous look in the face of Morgianna, which certainly did notindicate that she was seriously affected. After a few moments, withoutlooking up, the old man with a sigh continued:

  "Ah, my little maid, if you could only have listened a bit to the nobleOhioan;--if it could have been him instead of Matson, love andpatriotism could have gone hand in hand. The night we went to the cliff,I thought you did like him; but it was not to be. 'Tis dreadful!dreadful! why did God make woman so? Poor Fernando; there was good lovegoing a-begging and getting nothing for it but a frown and a hard word;while--" he did not finish the sentence, for a pair of white arms wereput around his neck, and a voice as sweet as the rippling music of thehillside brook said:

  "Never fret yourself, father, for Morgianna loves you first of all andbest of all," and she slipped on his knee and kissed away the anxiouscloud gathering on his brow. The old man was quite overcome by thiscaress, and before he could make any answer there came a heavy tread onthe piazza, a heavy knock, and a moment later a servant announced, TrisPenrose and John Burrel. They were admitted and Penrose, who had madeanother reconnoisance that afternoon in his fishing yacht, said:

  "Aw, captain, I be just returned, and having somewhat of importance toimpart I came to tell you."

  Captain Lane asked the Cornish fisherman to be seated and asked:

  "What have you seen, Tris?"

  "You see, captain, it be like this. I be out at sea beyond the bay, andI see a great ship beating up in the bay against wind and tide, and Iwatch her for a long time as she do go first on one tack and then on theother, until I make sure she be heading for Mariana, and I hasten totell, with all sail."

  Burrel explained that from the farthest point of Duck Island the vesselhad been sighted, and that there was no longer any question of herdestination. Captain Lane rose to go down to the village, where thegreatest excitement prevailed. Turning to Morgianna, he asked:

  "Will you be afraid to remain here, my gem o' the sea?"

  "No, father."

  The captain went and quieted the people. A strong breeze was blowingfrom the land, and he knew full well that the _Xenophon_ could notpossibly come near enough to harm them for several hours. He gave somedirections concerning the strengthening of the fort, and went home andretired to bed.

  Next morning the ship-of-war, the _Xenophon_ was reported lying withoutthe harbor, and at noon, being unable, owing to contrary winds, to enterthe harbor, they saw her long-boats landing troops on the northern pointof land. Soldiers to the number of two hundred were landed on the pointof land, which, two miles north of Duck Island, projected far out intothe sea and was called O'Connor's Point. Mariana was situated on apeninsula from half a mile to two miles wide and the troops hurried tothe narrowest neck of this peninsula where they halted and proceeded tothrow up light earthworks, so as to completely cut off all retreat ofthe inhabitants.

  That evening some officers and a marine guard with a white flag wereseen coming down the great road leading from the neck of the peninsulato the mainland and thence to Baltimore. Many of the inhabitantsrecognized Lieutenant Matson before he came to the fort. They werehalted and asked what they wanted.

  Lieutenant Matson stated that it was his wish to see Captain Lane.

  Mounting the earthworks, Captain Lane asked:

  "Do you come in peace or in war?"

  "In peace."

  "Then, as the son of an old friend, you are welcome. You can send backyour guard and flag of truce, for I am sufficient surety foryour safety."

  The lieutenant told his guard to retire, while he went over the parapetand ascended the hill to the great white house. Lieutenant Matson wasvery grave and silent, when they reached the house, which was lighted,for it was now growing dark. Captain Lane asked his visitor to beseated and said:

  "Now, Lieutenant Matson, you may proceed with your business."

  A pair of soft, dark eyes were fixed on them from a door which wasslightly ajar, and even the darkness seemed lighter from the glow ofgolden hair. The lieutenant's back was toward this room, and he did notsee the beautiful, anxious face and roguish eyes. Lieutenant Matson,after a brief silence, said:

  "Captain Lane, I am come on a matter of business in which friendship andregard are mingled. Believe me that, had it not been for my great esteemfor yourself and Morgianna, I should have sent an under officer with mymessage instead of bringing it myself."

  Captain Lane bowed and hoped that Lieutenant Matson would not allowfriendship to stand in the way of duty. Lieutenant Matson continued:

  "First, I have come, captain, to demand of you the surrender of thispost,--that is, of all the government stores in it, assuring you thatprivate property shall not be molested, and the men in arms shall betreated as prisoners of war."

  Without a moment's hesitation, the old sea captain answered:

  "I refuse to comply with your demand."

  "Surely, Captain Lane, you must know that you cannot hope to resist the_Xenophon_. Her heavy guns will soon batter down your walls and destroyyour houses."

  "When that is done, it will be time enough to think of surrendering."

  "Surely you do not know that Washington is burned and Baltimoresurrounded. All night long the fleet bombarded the town."

  "Yes, we could hear the roar of cannon even here."

  "Well, you must ultimately surrender."

  Lieutenant Matson was greatly distressed by the stubbornness of CaptainLane. He reminded him of the helpless women and children in the town,and asked him, for their sakes, to consider the crime of resisting; butit was all in vain. Captain Lane had been chosen by the people to defendthem, and he swore he was no Hull to yield at the sight of an enemy.

  "No, sir; when our guns are dismounted, our walls battered down, ourhouses burned, and there is not a man able to hold a lanyard, then it istime to think of surrendering."

  "Very well, Captain, if such is your resolution, I must leave you; butpermit me to conduct Miss Morgianna to a place of safety. She would besafe on board the _Xenophon_ and I offer her----"

  "What!" interrupted Captain Lane, his eyes flashing fire. "LieutenantMatson, do you wish to insult me?"

  "No, Captain Lane, I merely wish to secure the safety of Morgianna."

  "Morgianna! Morgianna!" called the old man, starting to his feet andpacing the floor anxiously.

  "Here, father!" and, clothed in spotless white, looking like somecelestial being just reached this earth, Morgianna entered the room."What do you want, father?" she asked, paying no heed to the lieutenant,who had risen to his feet with a most gracious smile and bow.

  "Morgianna, Lieutenant Matson announces that the English frigate_Xenophon_ is coming to destroy our town and kill our people. He offersyou a place on board that vessel where he says you will be safe. Do youaccept it?"

  "MY FATHER WILL PROTECT ME; I WANT NO OTHER PROTECTION."]

  "No!" she answered, stamping one little slippered foot on the floor.Then going to the captain's side, she laid her head on his shoulderand said:

  "My father will protect me; I want no other protection."

  "Morgianna," began the baffled lieutenant, "I would like a word withyou in private--"

  "Lieutenant Matson, I don't care to hear you--I will not listen to you.As my father's friend, I once did tolerate you; but now, as my country'senemy, I have no forbearance with you. Begone!" and her white, jeweledhand pointed to the door.

  The Briton's face flushed crimson, as he retorted:

  "Morgianna, you may regret--"

  "Lieutenant Matson!" interrupted the captain fiercely. "Not anotherword, lest I forget your father was my mate. Begone!"

  With an oath, Matson left the
town and returned to his men on the neckof the peninsula. When he was gone, Captain Lane turned to his daughterand was surprised to see a look of contempt instead of the grief he hadexpected. That one glance convinced him that he had been mistaken, andthat she did not love the Englishman after all.

  "Father, that man's true spirit was revealed to-night. Even though he isyour old friend's son, he is a villain."

  Next day some of the Marylanders had a skirmish with the British on theneck of land, and one of the villagers was wounded. The _Xenophon_ stillhovered near the mouth of the narrow harbor and only waited a favorablewind to enter the bay, and commence the siege which could have butone result.

  Captain Lane strove hard to be cheerful; but his heart was heavier thanlead. Again night came, with the _Xenophon_ anchored off Mud Island. Thenight was dark, and the wind from shore strong, so that Captain Laneknew she could not enter the harbor.

  He was sitting at his fireside, when suddenly from the narrow inletsouth of the peninsula there rang out a volley of musketry followed bywild cries and cheers. The volley was followed by heavy firing, andCaptain Lane, donning his hat, snatched his sword and ran down to theworks, where the drum was beating, and the Marylanders were seizingmuskets and falling into line.

  "What is it? whom have they attacked?" was the general query asked byall. The pickets were called in and the only sentries were the chainguards just outside the parapet. Suddenly the sound of footsteps camefrom the darkness, and the sentries knew that two or three men wererunning toward them. Zeb Cole, a large, powerful Marylander, finding oneof them coming directly at him, dropped his musket and, seizing thefellow's throat, hurled him to the ground.

  "Halt! ye wanderin' Israelite. Stop an' tell me who you are?"

  "Oh, let go me, massa, lem me up!" pleaded the captive, struggling tohis feet. "I ain't no Britisher! dar ain't no Angler Saxun blood in deseveins. I is a Yankee nigger, massa, bet I am."

  Another man who had come up at a run cried in language in which theHibernian was plainly distinguishable:

  "Hould hard, ye haythin! The redcoats are afther us!"

  "Who be ye?" demanded Zeb.

  "The advance guard of two hundred Americans comin' to help ye whip theBritisher. Jist as we landed, afther crossing the mouth of the creek,the dirthy spalpeens fired on us; but we drove thim back, and here comeour boys at double quick."

  Terrence was correct, for Fernando and his riflemen having cut their waythrough the British, hurried into the fort. Captain Lane was amazed tofind their friends led by the young Ohioan, whom he had entertained athis house five years before.

  "Did you lose any of your men in the skirmish?" asked Captain Lane.

  "Two were wounded, none killed or missing. Has the _Xenophon_ commencedthe bombardment yet?"

  "No; but she will as soon as the wind shifts to bring her in."

  "How many men have you capable of bearing arms, Captain Lane?" askedFernando.

  "Almost two hundred."

  "I have two hundred more, we will die together or beat off the ship."

  "Did General Winder send you to defend the town?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Then I will serve under you. Captain Stevens."

  Fernando tried to get the old captain to assume command; but he said hewas too old; that he would gladly advise him and serve with him andunder him; but he did not want the responsibility of the command. Then,all being quiet, Captain Lane went to his house to sleep and rest.

  "He is gone," said Fernando when left alone near the big gun; "gone andnot a word said about Morgianna. What will she say, what will she think,when she knows it is I who came to defend her?"

  Fernando sighed and was very unhappy.