CHAPTER XXXI--THE DAWN OF THE MORNING
"What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; 'Tis the star-spangled banner; O long may it wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!"
--Francis Scott Key.
"Hurrah! the foes are moving. Hark to the mingled din Of fife, and steed, and trump, and drum, and roaring culverin! Now by the lips of those ye love, fair gentlemen of France, Charge for the golden lilies now--upon them with the lance!"
--"The Battle of Ivry," Macaulay.
Would the escape be discovered at once? The maidens asked this over andover as they crept into bed, and lay listening to every sound withfeverish expectancy. But the night hours came and went, bringing withthem no incident that betokened any unusual commotion in the camp. So,declaring that naught was to be learned until morning, Harriet droppedinto slumber. Not so Peggy.
With the first faint streaks of the dawn sounded the bugle and drum beatof the reveille, and she arose, dressed, and went down to the smallportico in front of the house, hoping to hear something which wouldassure her that Drayton had not been retaken.
The sweet coolness of the early morning came restfully after theexcitement of the night, and under its pleasantness Peggy felt all heranxieties fade away, and in their stead there came a deep feeling ofpeace. Over the world the darkness of the night still brooded, butlightly like a thin curtain whose filmy meshes were even now dissolvingunder the growing brightness. All the stars save the morning one hadbeen extinguished by the gray dawn, and this first messenger of the daystill hung tremblingly in the east, a prophet sign of the light andglory to follow. From the distance came the noises of the great camp,and from a neighboring bush sounded the melody of a mocking-bird. Theworld was sweet and fair, and life, in spite of dark moments, was wellworth while. Peggy had reached this point in her musings when the voiceof Colonel Owen startled her:
"You are up early, my little cousin. I feared that you would not sleep."
There was an unwonted note of solicitude in his tones, and it came tothe girl with something of a shock that he was thinking of the executionwhich was to have taken place at this hour. She opened her lips eagerlyto reply, and then there came the thought that not yet could she declareher thankfulness until the escape had become known.
"Sometimes," continued the colonel coming from the door to her side,"sometimes, Peggy, 'tis wise to move about in sorrow. Action distractsthe mind, and anything that draws the thoughts from grief is of benefit.Come, my little cousin! let's you and I go to see the sun rise over theriver. 'Tis said to be wondrously beautiful. Will you come?"
"Yes," answered she gently, touched by his thought of her.
"We shall have just time to reach the point," he said leading the way tothe gate, "but there will be need for haste."
The main street of the village faced the river, and this they followedeastward. The way led by the hut where Drayton had been confined, andPeggy glanced quickly at it. It was closed and apparently deserted, withno sign of sentinel, or guard. She gave a sigh of relief. William Owen'sbrow contracted in a frown.
"Peggy, I did not think," he exclaimed with contrition. "I forgot thatwe should pass by the place."
"It doth not matter," she returned so cheerfully that his facebrightened. "Shall we go on, Cousin William?"
The walk took them through rows and rows of tents where the soldierswere busily engaged in preparing breakfast, and on to a high point ofland far to the east of the village facing Chesapeake Bay.
The shadows still lay darkly under trees and shrubs. The distant woodswere veiled and still, but already in the east a faint rose bloom wascreeping. Below them was the river and on its broad bosom floated theBritish ships. The soft murmur of the waves as they caressed the shorecame ripplingly with musical rhythm. The color of the sky deepened andgrew to deepest crimson, and water, tents, woods and fields bloomed andblushed under the roseate effulgence. Great shafts of golden lightflamed suddenly athwart the rosy clouds. The green of the woods, and thepurple mists of the horizon became gradually discernible. The waterswere tinged with rainbow hues. As the crimson, and purple, and gold ofthe river mingled with the gold, and purple, and crimson of the bay thesun rose majestically from a sea of amber cloud. A wonderful blaze ofglory streamed over river and bay. Suddenly from around a bend to thesouthward, as though they were part of the picture, three ships sailedinto the midst of the enchanting spectacle. Three ships, full rigged,towering pyramids of sails, which moved with graceful dignity across thebroad expanse of glorified water, and came to rest like snowy sea-gullsnear the Gloucester shore.
"The French fleet," burst from Peggy's lips involuntarily.
"The French fleet! Nonsense! Girl, why do you say that?" exclaimed hercousin. "What reason have you for thinking them so? No, they are theships that Sir Henry was to send as convoy to the transports. We haveexpected them." He regarded the vessels keenly for a time, and all atonce an uneasy expression crossed his face.
"Why do they not answer the signals of the 'Charon'?" he muttered. "See!They do not respond, yet our ship signals. Odds life, my cousin! Ibelieve that you are right."
Peggy began to tremble as Drayton's words came to her.
"If the French fleet comes, the end of the war comes with it." Could itbe? Was it in very truth the beginning of the end?
That for which the people prayed had come at last; for it was indeed theFrench fleet, and with its coming came the dawn of victory. The sun ofLiberty was brightening into the full day of Freedom when, her lastfetter thrown aside, America should take her place among the nations.
"There is a fourth vessel coming," remarked Colonel Owen presently. "Afrigate this time. The others were ships of the line. We must go back,Peggy. My Lord Cornwallis should know of this arrival."
With a great hope filling her heart Peggy followed him silently back tothe dwelling. He left her at the door, and hastened to the house ofSecretary Nelson, where the earl had his headquarters. Harriet wasalready at the breakfast table.
"Where have you been, Peggy?" she asked. "Here I have searched allthrough the house but could find no one. I was beginning to regardmyself as a deserted damsel. Were you seeking further adventures?"
"No, Harriet," Peggy laughed lightly. "I went with thy father to see thesun rise over the river. 'Twas a beautiful sight. Thee must see it. Fourships came while we were there and Cousin William hath gone to informLord Cornwallis of the fact."
"The English fleet, I make no doubt," remarked Harriet carelessly. "Ithink it hath been expected. Did'st see anything of Clifford?"
"No." A perplexed look shadowed Peggy's face. "Nor did I hear a wordanent the escape, Harriet. The hut was closed, and there was no sentryabout it. 'Tis strange that we have heard naught regarding the matter.Would that Clifford would come."
As though in answer to her wish Clifford himself at this moment appearedat the door. He was haggard and pale, and he sank into a chair as thoughutterly weary.
"You are worn out, Clifford," exclaimed Harriet with some anxiety. "Havea cup of tea. You take your military duties far too seriously, I fearme."
"Yes, I will take the tea, Harriet," said the youth drearily. "Make itstrong, my sister. Everything hath gone awry. That Yankee captainescaped."
"Escaped?" Harriet brought him the tea, which he quaffed eagerly. "Tellus about it, Clifford. How did it happen?"
"I can't understand it," he said dejectedly. "'Tis more like magic thanaught else. When I got to the hut last night the sentries were there onduty, but there was no guard. I asked where Samuels was, and wasastonished when they declared that I myself had sent him away an hourbefore. Suspecting something wrong at this I went at once inside thehut, and found it empty. The door was locked, the key in my possessio
nall the time, but Drayton was gone. As near as I can get at it some oneimpersonated me, and released him. But how came any one by a key? Therewas a plot on foot yesterday for his rescue. His parting remark to you,Peggy, seemed to indicate that he expected something to happen, but Ithought that I had taken every precaution."
"Then he did escape, Clifford?" questioned Peggy eagerly.
"Yes," answered the lad with bitterness. "He escaped. I do not expectyou to be sorry, Peggy, but I would almost rather have died than to haveit happen while he was in my charge. 'Tis a dire misfortune."
"But not of such gravity as another that hath befallen us, my son," saidColonel Owen coming into the room in time to hear the last remark. "TheFrench fleet hath entered the Chesapeake, and now lies at anchor off theGloucester shore. Peggy recognized it at once, though I see not how sheknew. His lordship hath despatched a courier to find if there are otherslower down the bay."
"Why should the coming of the French fleet be of such consequence?"queried Harriet.
"It shuts off our communication with New York, which means that we canreceive neither supplies nor reinforcements from Sir Henry Clinton. Ifour fleet doth not come to our assistance we may find ourselves in adesperate situation."
"There is no cause for worry, sir," spoke Clifford. "If we are cut offon the water side, what doth hinder us from retreating through NorthCarolina to our forces further South?"
"Thee can't," uttered Peggy breathlessly. "I am sorry for thee, CousinWilliam, and for thy army. Still I am glad that at last the long war maybe brought to a close."
"Peggy, just what do you mean?" demanded Colonel Owen sharply.
"I was considering our own forces," answered Peggy who had spokenwithout thinking. "Would not the Marquis, and General Wayne, and all themilitia try to keep thy people from cutting through?"
"'Fore George, they would!" ejaculated the colonel. "At least theyshould try. By all the laws of military warfare they should have ussurrounded, and if that be the case we are in for a siege. Come, Peggy,you are improving. We shall have a warrior of you yet."
"Don't, Cousin William," cried Peggy. "'Tis not my wisdom at all. I butrepeat what I have heard."
"'Tis sound policy, wherever you may have heard it," declared ColonelOwen. "Though I hope for our sakes that the rebels may not enforce it.Come, my son. We have no time for further loitering."
Roused from his dream of security at last Cornwallis, as had beenforeseen, meditated a retreat through the Carolinas. It was too late.The James River was filled with armed vessels covering the transfer ofFrench troops which had been brought to the assistance of Lafayette. Hereconnoitered Williamsburg, but found it was too strong to be forced.Cut off in every direction, he now proceeded to strengthen his defenses,sending repeated expresses to Sir Henry Clinton to apprise him of hisdesperate situation.
The days that ensued were days of anxiety. All sorts of rumors wereafloat in the encircled garrison. One stood forth from among the restand was repeated insistently until at length it crystallized intoverity: Washington himself was coming with his army and the allies.Colonel Owen's face was grave indeed as he confirmed the tidings.
"I cannot understand how the rebel general could slip away from theHudson with a whole army right under Sir Henry's nose," he complained."I know that the commander-in-chief expected an attack, and waspreparing for it; for that very reason he should have been more keenlyupon the alert. Where were his scouts, his spies, that he did not knowwhat his adversary was doing? Had he no secret service? He growssluggish, I fear me."
The situation brightened for Cornwallis when part of the English fleetunder Admiral Graves took a peep in at the Chesapeake, but only a slightaction with the French vessels followed, and then the English shipssailed away to New York. Once more the black cloud lowered, and soon itburst in all its fury over the doomed army. On the twenty-eighth ofSeptember the videttes came flying in to report that the combined armyof Americans and French were advancing in force. Seeing himselfoutflanked the British commander withdrew into the town and the innerline of defenses, and began a furious cannonading to prevent the advanceof the allies. And now from Sir Henry came the cheering intelligencethat the British fleet would soon come to his relief.
Colonel Owen and Clifford were on duty almost constantly, and the twogirls were much alone. The servants left precipitately, and the maidensgladly undertook the housework as a relief from anxiety. Soon thefirewood gave out, and they were reduced to the necessity of living onuncooked food. Encompassed on every side there was no opportunity forforaging, and the supplies of the garrison depleted rapidly. Butmeagerness of rations could be borne better than sound of cannon,although there was as yet no bombardment from the Americans--a state ofaffairs, however, that did not last long.
On the afternoon of the eighth of October Peggy and Harriet sat on thesmall portico of the dwelling listening to the cannonading which hadbeen going on all day from the British works.
"Harriet," spoke Peggy abruptly, "does thee remember that father isoutside there with the army?"
"Oh, Peggy," gasped her cousin. "How dreadful! Suppose that father, orClifford, should hurt him? Wouldn't it be awful?"
"Yes," assented Peggy paling. "Or if he should hurt them."
"There is not so much danger of that," said Harriet. "Clifford said thatwhile they seemed to be throwing up earthworks there had been no bigguns mounted, and he did not believe that the rebels had many. 'Twouldbe a great task to transport heavy ordnance from the Hudson."
"But they have had the assistance of the French fleet," reminded Peggy."Thee should know by this time, Harriet, that if General Washingtonundertakes aught, he does it thoroughly. I fear we shall find soon thathe hath brought all his artillery."
As if to confirm her words there came at this moment a deafening crash,a tearing, screeching sound, as a solid shot tore through the upperstory of the house. The two maidens sprang to their feet, clasping eachother in terror. Long after Peggy learned that it was Washington himselfwho had fired the shot. Instantly the roar of cannon and mortarsfollowed. The earth trembled under the thunder. The air was filled withshot and shell, and roar of artillery. The bombardment of the town hadbegun, and Earl Cornwallis had received his first salutation.
In the midst of the commotion Clifford came running.
"Get to the caves," he shouted. "Ye must not stay here."
Panic-stricken, the girls hastened after him to the bluff over the riverin the side of which caves had been dug in anticipation of this veryevent.
"You should not be here, Peggy," said the youth when they had reachedthe protection of the dugout. "If you wish I will try to get a flag tosend you outside. 'Tis no place for a rebel." This last he spoke withsome bitterness.
"And leave me alone, Peggy?" cried Harriet in dismay. "Oh, you wouldnot!"
"No, Harriet," answered Peggy who in truth would have preferred almostany place to Yorktown at that moment. "I will not leave thee if theewishes me to stay."
"Then ye must go over to Gloucester Point," cried the lad. "'Tis saidthat all the women and children are to be sent there."
"No," said Harriet decidedly. "We will stay right here. We will be safe,and I will not leave you and father. Why, you both might be killed, orwounded."
And from this stand neither Clifford nor her father could move her. Thetime that followed was one to try the stoutest heart. The houses of thevillage were honeycombed by shot. Scenes of horror were enacted whichpassed all description. Shot and shell rained without cessation day andnight. Horses, for lack of forage, were slain by hundreds, and the girlshad no means of finding out if their own pets were included in theslaughter. The shrieks and groans of the wounded mingled with the roarof artillery, and added to the awfulness. And nearer, ever nearer,approached the allies. The first parallel[[7]] of the Americans wasopened and passed.
From the outlying redoubts the British were forced backward, and thesecond parallel opened. The situation was becoming desperate. Thedefenses were crumbling under the heavy,
unceasing fire. Abattis, andparapet, and ditch were splintered, and torn, and leveled. The garrisonwas losing many men, and closer still came the patriots. The end wasfast approaching. The Hector of the British army was opposed by a leaderwho never left anything to chance.
And in the caves there was no occupation to relieve the tension, savethat of watching the shells. Peggy and Harriet stood at the entrance oftheir dugout on the evening of the eleventh of October engaged in thisdiversion. Sometimes the shells of the besieging army overreached thetown and fell beyond the bluff into the river, and bursting, threw upgreat columns of water. In the darkness the bombs appeared like fierymeteors with blazing tails. Suddenly from out of the clouds of smoke andnight a red-hot shell soared, curved, and fell upon the "Charon," theBritish ship lying in the river. Almost instantly the vessel wasenwrapped in a torrent of fire which spread with vivid brightness amongthe rigging, and ran with amazing rapidity to the top of the masts. Fromwater edge to truck the vessel was in flames. The "Guadalupe," lyingnear by, together with two other smaller ships, caught fire also, andall the river blazed in a magnificent conflagration. About and abovethem was fire and smoke, while cannon belched thunder and flame.
"Oh, this awful war! This awful war!" shrieked Harriet suddenly. "Ishall go mad, Peggy."
Peggy drew her back within the cave. "Let us not look longer, Harriet,"she said soothing the girl as she would a child. "I hope, I believe thatit will not last. How can it go on? Oh, Harriet, Harriet! we could bearanything if it were quiet for only a little while."
"At first," sobbed Harriet, "I thought I could not bear for the Britishto be beaten; but now if only father and Clifford are spared, I carenot."
It was near the end now. After a gallant sortie by which the Englishregained a redoubt from the French only to lose it again, and after anattempt to cut through on the Gloucester side of the river Cornwallisgave way to despair. On the morning of the seventeenth Clifford came tothe cave. He was haggard, disheveled, and grimy with powder. Tears werestreaming from his eyes, and his appearance was so woebegone that themaidens ran to him with cries of alarm.
"Harriet," he cried, flinging himself on the ground with a sob, "it'sall over! They are beating the parley."
-----[7] Parallel--a line of entrenchments parallel to those of the British.