CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
OPERATIONS UNDER COLONEL SIMCOE.--SENT TO MACKEY'S MILLS.--MY FRIEND'SHOUSE SACKED.--COLONEL CARLYON TAKEN PRISONER.--RENDER HIM A SERVICE.--TROOPS EMBARK AT NIGHT.--MY LOYALTY QUESTIONED.--MILLS BURNT.--INCOMMAND OF RATTLESNAKE.--SAIL WITH PRIZES.--A WINTRY VOYAGE.--NEW YORKONCE MORE.--SERVE ON BOARD CHATHAM.--MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR.--REJOINCHARON.
I must endeavour to get on more rapidly than heretofore with my accountof public matters. On the 18th of January the British army marched fromSmithfield southward, and the squadron moved down to Newportneuse.Among the most active of the English officers was Colonel Simcoe. Onthe 16th he surprised and took prisoners an American officer of militiaand fifteen privates. From the report I heard I was much in fear thatColonel Carlyon was the officer taken, but I had no means ofascertaining whether or not such was the case. At all events, I hopedthat his daughter was in a place of safety.
On the 18th the army reached Mackey's Mills, and I received orders toproceed with a detachment of boats to supply them with bread and otherprovisions. I hoped now to gain the information I was so anxious topossess. Our present expedition was very different to those in which Ihad before been engaged. We now went up in daylight, with a force whichno enemy was likely to attack. Mackey's Mills were reached soon afternoon, and when I had delivered the provisions I was ordered to remain toassist in passing the troops across the river on their way to the attackof Portsmouth. The embarkation was not to take place till midnight, soI had ample time to go up the river to ascertain whether the house whereMadeline had been residing had been attacked. O'Driscoll was readyenough to accompany me, to give me, as he observed, one chance more ofdoing the proper thing; but, before I went, I was anxious to ascertainwhether Colonel Carlyon had indeed fallen into our hands. I had, at thesame time, no reason to fear that he would be treated harshly or withwant of courtesy. Only, if he was a prisoner, I naturally wished to seehim, that I might offer him all the assistance in my power. Going onshore, after some difficulty I found out Colonel Simcoe's quarters at afarm-house a mile away from the mills. I introduced myself to him, andtold him my errand--that I was acquainted with Colonel Carlyon's family,and that I wished to be of service to him. He replied that the officerhe had taken had refused to give his name and rank to the party who hadcaptured him.
"I understood that he and his men were surprised," I remarked.
"Not at all," was the answer. "He was apparently covering the retreatof another party who appeared to have some women and other encumbrancesamong them. To do the rebel gentleman justice, he fought very bravely,and did not yield till he was completely overpowered."
I begged that I might see the prisoner, and, after some littlehesitation on the part of the colonel, he handed me the necessary order.Thanking him for his courtesy, I set off for the cottage used as aprison. It was situated a quarter of a mile nearer the mills. A strongguard was posted in the neighbourhood, and a couple of sentries paced upand down before it. I showed my order to the lieutenant in charge ofthe party and was at once admitted. I looked round the chamber. Near acasement window, seated on a rough stool, with a cask serving as atable, I beheld Colonel Carlyon. He turned his head when I entered, andI thought that his countenance brightened when he saw me. He rose andheld out his hand.
"I regret, sir, to see you here as a prisoner," said I. "Hearing thatan officer had been captured, I hastened, should it prove to be you, tooffer such services as I am able to render."
"The fortune of war, Mr Hurry. I may be thankful that I have escapedwounds or death," he answered in a cheerful tone. "Believe me, I amgrateful to you for this attention, and I only wish that I had the meansof showing my gratitude."
He, of course, well knew that he might some day have the power ofshowing it most effectually. My first inquiry was, of course,respecting the safety of his daughter, and he assured me that he hadevery reason to believe that she and her companions had reached thehouse of some relations in the interior, and that he should haveaccompanied them had he not been so hotly pursued by Colonel Simcoe'spersevering and lightly-accoutred troops. When he heard that I had madepreparations to go up to Mrs Langton's house he exclaimed--
"You may render me a great service by so doing. In the hurry of ourdeparture, in consequence of your warning, a small desk was left behind.It contains not only money and jewels of considerable value, but somepapers of the greatest importance. I had but just discovered my losswhen I was taken prisoner, and the only person I could have entrusted togo in search of it was killed in the same skirmish in which I became aprisoner."
I naturally was much pleased with this opportunity of rendering aservice to Colonel Carlyon. I had but little time, however, left inwhich to perform it. After he had explained to me in what part of thehouse I was to look for the desk, I took my departure and hastened backto the river, where I found O'Driscoll with Rockets and two other menwaiting for me. The tide was favourable, so that we had no difficultyin getting there. The scenery wore so different an aspect by daylightto what it had done in the dark that we could scarcely recognise thespots we passed. We landed and approached the house. There, indeed,was a melancholy change. The shrubberies had been cut down, the gardentrampled under foot, and the house itself plundered and set on fire--Ithink by accident--I scarcely believe it could have been done wantonly.I began to fear, when I saw what had occurred, that I must give up allhopes of finding the desk of which I was in search. O'Driscoll and Ifelt very indignant when we saw the destruction which had been wroughtby our troops.
"Well, after all, war is a dirty business!" he exclaimed, aftercontemplating the scene of ruin for some minutes without speaking."Fighting in the open field, where hard blows are given and taken, andman meets man on equal terms, is all very well in its way. I don'tobject to sacking a town which holds out when it should have given in,but the burning down of old ladies' houses, and injuring the property ofpeople who could not have caused any offence, I cannot stand. I shouldlike now to discover the officer who was commanding here and allowedthis. I would pick a quarrel with him and call him out to a certainty."
My friend had certainly curious notions, not uncommon among hiscountrymen in these days. Sad, indeed, was the scene of havoc anddestruction which met our gaze on every side, not only about the house,but in the fields and cottages in the surrounding country--war'smelancholy consequences. We had no time to contemplate it.
"Come, O'Driscoll," said I, "we will search through the ruins for myfriend's case, but I scarcely expect to find it."
"Something like looking for a needle in a rick of hay," he answered;"or, rather, far more hopeless, for it is very unlikely that the caseshould have escaped being burnt or carried off."
O'Driscoll, Rockets and I hunted in different directions. I firstendeavoured to find the room which Colonel Carlyon had described to me.That portion of the house had not suffered so much as the rest; most ofthe flooring of the room was burnt, but the fire had been extinguishedbefore the whole had been consumed. I climbed up to it, not withoutrisk, for the burnt rafters gave way under my feet. I knew the roomfrom the position of the window, which looked into a little courtyard.A portion of the furniture had escaped, though blackened and disfigured.My hopes revived as to finding the desk. I hunted eagerly round. Itwas too evident that everything considered of value had been carriedaway. I was about to scramble down again by the way we had come up whenI bethought me of looking out of the window for the enjoyment of theprospect, which was a very beautiful one. Woods, fields, the terracedgarden, distant hills, and the river rushing by were well combined toform it. As I looked out, my eye fell on a heap of rubbish in onecorner of the courtyard, with burnt and broken pieces of furniture, andI fancied that I saw the edge of such a case as I was in search ofsticking out from among them. I quickly descended and found my way tothe spot. I eagerly pulled out the object I had seen. It was apeculiarly old-fashioned, unattractive-looking case, and from itsoutward appearance no one would have suppos
ed that it contained objectsof value. I felt sure that I was right, and that I had got the object Iwas seeking. I sang out to O'Driscoll, who after a little time heard myvoice and was delighted at my good fortune. Calling Rockets, we thenhurried back to the boat. There was no time to be lost, for night wascoming on; we had a long pull before us, and I was anxious to deliverthe case to Colonel Carlyon without delay. After this I had to assistin getting the boats ready for the embarkation of the troops. Away wepulled. O'Driscoll was in high feather, laughing and joking to hisheart's content.
"You're in a fair way now, at all events, to win the lady, my boy," saidhe. "Only just keep moving, and put yourself under my guidance. Wemust soon knock this rebellion on the head, and then, do ye see, you canstep in and be of still greater service to the father and the family,and claim your reward. Oh! it's beautiful. I see it all now as clearas a pikestaff."
Certainly, we neither of us at the time thought what a different turnaffairs were to take from what he was then calculating on. Yet, I mustown, I had even then my misgivings on the subject. As soon as welanded, I hurried as fast as my legs could carry me to the cottage whereColonel Carlyon was kept a prisoner. His satisfaction was very greatwhen I delivered the case to him, and the way in which he expressed hisgratitude was manly and cordial in the extreme.
"It is useless for a prisoner to make promises, which, should your partyfinally triumph, he may never be able to fulfil," he observed with agrave look. "In the latter case, those taken with arms in their handsmay be hung, drawn and quartered as traitors, in accordance with thetime-honoured custom of our fathers. If the patriots are victorious,the prisoners will be liberated with all the honours which can beshowered on them, and I may have the satisfaction of proving that I amnot ungrateful for what you have done for me and mine."
I found some difficulty in answering properly to these remarks. I couldnot say that I wished the royal cause not to succeed, and yet Icertainly did not desire to see the Americans completely defeated andhumbled. I therefore said--
"I trust that a peace, honourable to both parties, may ere long beestablished, and that the Americans may gain to the full what theyconsider their just rights."
"That will never be unless victory smiles on our arms," he replied witha faint smile. "We must conquer to obtain our rights. What hashitherto been denied will never be otherwise granted."
I looked at my watch. I found that I must hasten back to the boats.
"Farewell, sir!" I said. "I have duties to which I must attend atpresent, but I will endeavour, if possible, to see you again before Ireturn to my ship."
"Stay one moment," said he; "I would ask you to ascertain from ourfriends at Hampton if they have received positive information as to thesafety of my daughter and her relatives. When you gain it send me word,and you will add to the weight of the debt of gratitude I already oweyou."
He said this in a stiff way, as if unwilling to give me the task. ThisI thought but natural. Though I was conferring obligations on him, myposition as a poor lieutenant was unaltered, and I knew that he couldnot desire to entrust his daughter's happiness to my charge, even shouldpeace be established. It was almost the hour appointed for theembarkation of the troops when I got down to the river. So well had ourarrangements been made, that I doubt whether the enemy knew what we wereabout. There is something particularly exciting and wild in themovement of a large body of armed men at night. I could not helpremarking the scene in which I was taking so active a part. Rapidlyflowed by the dark river; boats crowded with men and horses werecontinually passing, while others were returning empty for a furthersupply; people with torches were stationed on both banks of the river,to enable the soldiers, as they came down, to take their proper placesin the boats, the lights from the flaming brands throwing a ruddy glareover the stream, and making the tall buildings of the mills stand outprominently from the dark forest in the background. All night long thework was going on, for it was a slow process to get across horses,artillery and ammunition, provisions and baggage. The first thing inthe morning, after his men had rested but a couple of hours, theindefatigable Colonel Simcoe set off towards Portsmouth to summon thetown to surrender. At 2 p.m. the army began their march, and arrivedbefore the place the following day, when the inhabitants, finding thatresistance was useless, surrendered at discretion. I endeavoured toascertain where Colonel Carlyon and the other prisoners had been placed,but was unable to discover any clue to their place of imprisonment. Assoon as the rear of the army was out of sight, all the officerscommanding boats assembled on board a brig, which had been captured inthe Nansimond river, previous to returning to our ships. It was withmuch regret that I heard it proposed to burn Mackey's Mills, and toravage the country round, in consequence of the attack which had beenmade on our boats. I opposed the suggestion with all my might. I saidthat I thought it a wanton destruction of property, that would in no wayadvance our cause, and would certainly exasperate the sufferers againstus. Not only were my counsels disregarded, but several remarks weremade hinting pretty broadly that I was too friendly disposed towards theenemy. I had to stand a severe fire from several of mybrother-officers. Some, among whom was O'Driscoll, began to joke, and Itook it very ill from him, as he knew the depth of my sentiments, and Iconsidered his conduct a breach of confidence. Others went on fromjoking to make more serious remarks, which I felt reflected on myhonour, so much so that I rose up and declared that if anotherobservation of the sort was ventured on by any present, I must insist onsettling the matter at another time and place. Some held their peaceafter this, but some continued to talk of officers showing lukewarmnessand want of loyalty to the king's cause, and to declare that such hadbetter declare themselves to be the rebels they were at heart.
The last man who spoke was a Lieutenant Dawson. I was surprised that heshould venture to speak thus, for he was a man of whose spirit orcourage I had but a mean opinion. My impulse was to throw apocket-pistol I seized hold of across the table at his head, but Irestrained my anger. Though he was my junior in the service, we wereengaged on public duty together, and, under these circumstances, it wasa serious matter for one officer to strike another, even in those days.
"Mr Dawson, you must know what you say is false, sir," I exclaimed."Can any one here say that I have been slack in my duty--that I haveever shown the white feather--that I have ever done anything derogatoryto the character of an officer and a gentleman? If no one here condemnsme--then, sir, I shall make you eat your words, and acknowledge that theinsinuations on which you have ventured were most foul and unjust."
No one spoke. Dawson looked confounded.
"No one condemns me," I added. "That is well; but will no one speak inmy favour--will no one say that, to the best of his knowledge, I havenever failed in my duty, or acted otherwise than as a British officerought to act?"
"In faith, Hurry, I'll speak in your favour, my boy, and gladly too,"cried O'Driscoll, with all the enthusiasm of which his warm heart wascapable. "If every one fought as well, and did their duty as completelyas you do, we should have had this war over long ago--that's my belief;and small blame to you if you think a pair of bright eyes in thiswestern hemisphere brighter than any to be found in the old country;besides, you've never been in my part of Ireland, or you might be of adifferent opinion. Now, gentlemen, if any one has anything to sayagainst Mr Hurry, then let him say it to me. I'll settle the matterfor him."
This diversion of O'Driscoll's completely silenced all opposition to me,and Dawson, not wishing to come into a personal conflict with myhot-headed though warm-hearted Irish friend, slunk out of the cabin.
I was, however, left in a decided minority with respect to an attack onthe mills, which it was determined forthwith to destroy. I was ofcourse under the orders of the commanding officer of the brigade ofboats, who happened to be Lieutenant Edwards, first of the Charon, sothat I had no choice but to obey. As soon as our crews had taken somerefreshment we pulled away in battle array for the mills. A
fewirregulars and armed peasantry, who had entered the place when the armyhad quitted it, were speedily put to flight when we landed. Piles ofbrushwood were collected and heaped up inside the building in differentparts of it. Fire was set to them, and rapidly the flames burst forth,and, catching the dry wood-work of the mills, were soon seen climbing upfrom storey to storey, twisting themselves in and out of the windows,and encircling the beams and rafters in their deadly embrace. I neversaw any building so rapidly consumed. Higher and higher rose thedevouring flames; down came tumbling the roof and lofty walls; with loudcrashes the floors fell in; showers of bright sparks flew on every side,and nothing but a mass of burning ruins--a huge bonfire--remained beforeus. The men shouted when they saw the destruction they had caused, likemischievous schoolboys. They little thought or cared to whom theproperty belonged, or who were the sufferers. They would just asreadily have burnt it had it belonged to royalists. They enjoyed thesight of the conflagration--the effects of their own handiwork. Many ofthe officers, too, shouted and clapped their hands, and seemed to takeas much pleasure in the mischief they were producing as the men; butthis might have been a mere exhibition of their loyalty and patriotism.Having thus effectually destroyed the mills, our commanding officerordered us to march into the interior to forage, or, in other words, toplunder any farms the army had spared, and to commit any other acts ofmischief the time would allow. I need not enter into particulars.Cattle we spared, as we could not carry them off, but we collected sheepand pigs and fowls wherever we could find them. To this, of course, Icould not object, as provisions were necessary; but at length we came tothe house of a gentleman--a colonel of militia we were told--and, thoughno defence of it was attempted, it was proposed to burn it to theground. Against this further wanton destruction of property I loudlyprotested--
"It has lately been said that I am a friend of the rebels," I exclaimed."That I deny; but I do not deny that I am ashamed to see my countrymendestroy the property of people who make no resistance, and who areEnglishmen as much as we are. Such conduct can only cause a bitterhatred to spring up in the breasts of the sufferers, which will makethem refuse ever again to become our fellow-subjects and friends."
Mr Edwards did not at all like my interference; but my remonstrance hadan effect, and though he allowed the house to be plundered, and thefurniture to be destroyed, he soon after ordered a retreat, observingthat he could not depend on my co-operation or assistance. The owner ofthe house, as it turned out, was in the neighbourhood, with aconsiderable body of men, and he very nearly succeeded in inflicting asevere retaliation on us by surprising and cutting off our party.However, we discovered his approach in time to get into order, and,though he and his men followed us for some way, we kept him at bay, andreached the river without loss. Lieutenant Edwards at once returned onboard our ship in the Charon's barge, leaving me in command of theboats--directing me to land and forage at any convenient spot towardsthe mouth of the river. Here again, however much against myinclination, I must obey orders. We had observed a large farm a littleabove the town of Nansimond. As we proceeded down the river we suddenlypulled in towards the shore. Sixty men, without a moment's delay, ranon and surrounded the farm before the inmates had time to drive away anyof the stock, or, indeed, had perceived our approach. We soon collectedeverything eatable on which we could lay hands, and were in our boatsand away again before any force had time to assemble from theneighbourhood to attack us. Such was the system of warfare which Ibelieve General Arnold recommended and encouraged--the most galling andinjurious to the unhappy colonists. We got on board our ships bymidnight, with provisions sufficient to supply all the ships' companiesfor a couple of days.
The Rattlesnake, a ship pierced for fourteen guns, but mounting tenthree-pounders and six swivels, had been captured at Portsmouth, and thenext morning I received orders to take command of her, to fit her forsea, and to hold myself in readiness to proceed with charge of all therest of the prizes to New York.
The army was at this period employed in throwing up works for thedefence of Portsmouth, and in making excursions into the surroundingcountry to crush, it was said in the despatches, any embers of rebellionwhich might yet be smouldering there. As I have before remarked, theway taken to produce the desired result was anything but effectual. Iwas very nearly being deprived of my new command in a somewhat summaryway by the sinking of my vessel. A terrifically heavy gale of windsprang up on the night of the 21st, and first driving one of the largerprizes foul of her, which carried away my fore and cross-jack yards,fore channels, both quarters and best bower-anchor, (such a grinding andcrushing and crashing I never before got on board any craft); scarcelywas she clear when another craft came thundering down aboard of me, andvery nearly completed the work which the other had commenced. However,I did manage to swim while several other vessels drove on shore andwere, with all their crews, lost. For several days after that I wasemployed in refitting my ship for sea.
On the 25th I proceeded with my convoy of prizes to Portsmouth, and whenthere, General Arnold sent for me and informed me that the commodore hadassured him I should immediately sail in the Rattlesnake for New Yorkwith despatches for Sir Henry Clinton. After he had handed me hisdespatches I took my departure. He informed me of their contents that,should I be compelled to throw them overboard, I might be able to give averbal report to Sir Henry of the wants of the army. Those wants werenot a few. More guns, ammunition, food and clothing,--all wererequired.
On reaching Sewel's Point, where I brought up to receive the commodore'sdespatches, I was surprised to receive an order to return immediatelyand to give back those entrusted to me by General Arnold. This orderoriginated, I afterwards discovered, in consequence of someunaccountable disagreement which had arisen between the general and theadmiral. General Arnold said nothing when I gave him back hisdespatches, but he looked not a little angry and astonished. When theheads fell out it is not surprising that want of success was the resultof their undertakings. My journal is full of various little incidentswhich happened at this time. The Charlestown and Hope captured in theChesapeake a rich fleet of eight rebel merchantmen bound for theHavannah. The lieutenant of the Swift was made prisoner in consequenceof an illegal use of a flag of truce. Several officers and men wereblown up when chasing a rebel brig, and an artillery officer, heading aforaging party, was killed. The squadron was kept on the alert by anaccount brought by the General Monk sloop-of-war of a French ship of theline and two frigates having sailed from Rhode Island, it was supposed,for the Chesapeake.
Once more, on the 31st, the old Charon, during a heavy gale of wind,drove on shore, but by great and prompt exertion was got off. To keepher in countenance, when on the 5th of February I sailed with my prizesunder convoy of the Charlestown for New York, on going down the WestBranch I also got on shore, but succeeded in quickly getting off again.I had no little trouble in keeping the prizes in order. The Americansleft on board one of them persuaded the people to side with them, andthey ran her on shore, purposing to give her up to the rebels. I wentin chase of her, fired several shots into her, and then, manning one ofmy boats, boarded her, captured her crew, who had been unable to escape,and got her off, made sail with my recaptured prize, and rejoined thefleet at midnight, when I put the mutineers on board the Charlestown, tobe dealt with according to martial law.
On the 11th, at night, finding the "Langolee," one of my prizes, somedistance astern, and suspecting that she was about to give us the slip,I dropped astern, and, taking her in tow, brought her into the middle ofthe fleet. At midnight, however, a heavy gust of wind compelled me tocut the hawser and clap before it. With the small crew I had I found nolittle difficulty in handing my sails, which, after some time havingdone, I struck topgallant yards and masts and lay-to under aclose-reefed mainsail. Once having made the ship snug I endeavoured todiscover the whereabouts of the rest of the convoy, but not a trace ofthem could I discover. I hoped, however, with the morning light to makethem out. When the co
ld-grey dawn spread over the ocean and I wentaloft not a sail was in sight.
"This is no great misfortune," said I to Grampus when I came on deck."The Rattlesnake is a prime sailer, and by taking advantage of the windswe shall reach New York much sooner than if we had been obliged to whipup the convoy. We are a match, too, for any of the smaller rebelvessels we are likely to fall in with, and we must run away from thebigger ones."
"That may be, sir," answered the old man, "but d'ye see, sir, I've nogreat opinion of this here craft if it was to come on any long course ofbad weather. I've a notion she's an old craft, and I doubt much thesoundness of her timbers and planks."
I was rather inclined to laugh at Nol's prognostication, and thought nomore about his remarks. Before, however, many hours had passed, thegale, which had hitherto been blowing pretty steadily, increased infury; the sea ran very high, and the spray, as it broke on board, frozehard on deck and sheathed the rigging in ice. When short-handed this isvery trying, as double the strength is required to make the runningrigging work. Happily we were under snug canvas, for I do not think wecould have made or shortened sail. Towards evening Grampus came up tome with a look of concern in his countenance.
"I told you so, sir," he said, touching his hat. "The old ship hassprung a leak. She has not lost time in letting in the water, for thereare four feet already in the hold."
Immediately on hearing this appalling news I gave orders to man thepumps, but it was at once found, to our further dismay, that they wereuseless, for they were choked with ice. Since the gale sprang up we hadbeen unable to light a fire. In vain for a long time we tried. Withoutboiling water or a hot iron it was impossible to clear the pumps. Thewater was rapidly gaining on us. There seemed every probability of theship sinking under our feet. Such has been the fate of many poorfellows--to have gone down in a cold, icy sea, hope and help far away.Such was the risk I had often before run, but never before had theexpectation of it been brought so prominently before me. Never beforehad I, it seemed, so much to lose. Never so much to which to lookforward with hope. Our efforts to light the fire became more and morefrantic. At last I bethought me of applying salt to the ice in thepumps. We fortunately had a good supply of it on board. By forcing thesalt down with a long iron the ice was melted, and the pumps at lengthgot to act. Frantically we pumped away with our two pumps. We soundedthe well; the water had decreased. This gave us courage to continue ourexertions. At length we were able to keep the ship free. Still thegale continued, and I had my apprehensions, from the condition of theship, that another leak might yet be sprung and all our efforts provevain. Even a winter gale of wind in those latitudes off the Americancoast must come to an end, and this, by the morning of the 5th,sufficiently abated to allow me to set the fore and main stay-sails. Ithen stood towards the land. At noon Rockets came into my cabin, whereI had gone to snatch a few minutes' sleep, and reported a ship and twoschooners in sight.
"An enemy, I'll warrant," I said to myself testily. "I shall be drivenout to sea again, or perhaps, after all, fall into their hands."
Still I stood towards them, ready to make all sail to escape should mysuspicions be realised. I could not make them out. When I got withinsignalising distance I made the private signal, and great was mysatisfaction to find in answer that the ship was the Charlestown, andthe schooners two of the convoy.
The next day we made the high land of Neversink, and that eveningreached the entrance of New York harbour. It was with the greatestdifficulty, however, that we could work our way into it, so full was itof floating ice, through which it was often scarcely possible to steer.The other prizes which had parted company with me in the gale arrivedall safe three days afterwards. The accommodations of one of theprizes, the Charity Brig, being much superior to those of theRattlesnake, I took up my quarters on board her. I invited also some ofthe more gentlemanly and pleasant of the midshipmen to live on board heralso, so that we were able to form an agreeable society among ourselves.At New York there was none in which we could mix with any satisfaction.Whenever I went on shore I did not fail to visit the house of my oldDutch friend, the widow Von Tromp. It was already so crowded withsoldier officers that I could not live there altogether, had I been sodisposed, but in truth I preferred remaining on board ship with mybrother-officers. As I was allowed a guinea a day for my table I wasable to live in comparative luxury and comfort.
On the 10th we began to discharge our prizes, which were loaded withtobacco. On clearing the Rattlesnake I had indeed reason to be thankfulthat I and those who had been with me on board were still in the land ofthe living. Her entire bottom was completely rotten, and all who sawher were astonished that she had made the passage from Portsmouth to NewYork. It seemed a miracle that the water had been kept out of her. Herwhole bottom had to be replanked before she was again fit to put to sea.This is only one of the numberless escapes from destruction which Ihave had during my life.
The widow Von Tromp was delighted to see me, and especially interestedin all I had to tell her. I was amused with her notions about the war.Her sympathies were evidently with the American party, but at presentshe assuredly reaped no small profit from the custom which the militarybrought to her house. She tried sore to reconcile the two opinions--shewished well to the patriots, and yet she was in no hurry to see the warbrought to an end. Often since have I seen people on more seriousmatters halting between two opinions.
"Ah me, Mr Hurry, I wish the war were ended and my dear friends fromthe south would come back, but den dees nice young officers all go awayand I see dem no more! Oh, it is vary sad, vary sad!" she used toexclaim, after descanting on the liberality of her guests. "But den youcome back, Mr Hurry; member dat. You always come and see de widow VonTromp."
Of course I promised, and intended faithfully to fulfil my promise,little dreaming at that time the course which events would take.
Having discharged faithfully and, as I hoped, to the satisfaction of allconcerned, the duty on which I had been sent, I requested the commandingofficer of the port that he would enable me and my people to return tothe Charon by the first opportunity. Just as I had done so I called onboard the Chatham, now commanded by my old friend Captain Hudson, withwhom I sailed in the Orpheus. He received me most kindly, and informingme that two of his lieutenants were sick in the hospital, requested thatI would perform the duty of first lieutenant on board till I couldrejoin my own ship. Anxious as I was, for private reasons, to get tothe south, I could not refuse his request. I accordingly at once wenton board with my people and commenced the duty of first lieutenant, andpretty hard duty it was; but it is a satisfaction to me to feel that Inever refused, during the whole course of my naval career, any dutyoffered me, however hard or irksome it might have promised to be.
On the 18th of March we sailed from Sandy Hook for the southward, havingunder our orders the following fleet, viz. Chatham, Roebuck, Raleigh,Bonetta, Savage, Halifax, Vulcan, fire-ship, with a number oftransports, which had on board two thousand troops under the command ofGeneral Phillips, who had not long before been released by a cartelconcluded a few months previously with the enemy. We were going, Ifound, to the assistance of General Arnold, who was under very seriousapprehensions of being overwhelmed by a French fleet with an expeditionon board, which it was supposed had sailed from Rhode Island to attackhim.
On the 18th we spoke the Pearl and Iris, from which ships we learnedthat an action had been fought a few days before between the Britishfleet, under Admiral Arbuthnot, and the French fleet from Rhode Island.Although pretty fairly matched as to numbers the general opinion wasthat the English ships should have done much more than they did. Theydrove back the French and prevented them from reaching the Chesapeakebefore our arrival, but not a Frenchman was sunk or taken, whereas Ibelieve that Admiral Arbuthnot might have followed, cut up, anddispersed the whole French squadron had he possessed the spirit whichshould animate the bosom of every officer in the service. His onlyexcuse was that some of the ships
under his command had suffered in thelate hurricane, and that the crews were worn out in their exertions torepair damages and put again to sea. I would gladly see the accounts ofsuch engagements expunged from the annals of English history.
We arrived at Lynhaven Bay in the Chesapeake on the 28th, and foundAdmiral Arbuthnot's squadron lying there repairing the damages of thelate action. On the next day I rejoined the Charon, having been absentfrom her nine weeks. I was now in hopes of being able to get on shoreto make inquiries for Colonel Carlyon and his daughter, but as I foundthat we were every moment expecting to sail in search of the Frenchfleet I was compelled to restrain my impatience and to endure as I bestcould all the anxiety I felt about them.