CHAPTER XXXII--"LIGHTS OUT"
"Oh! these were hours when thrilling joy repaid A long, long course of darkness, doubts, and fears-- The heartsick faintness of the hope delay'd, The waste, the woe, the bloodshed, and the tears, That tracked with terror six long rolling years."
--"Lord of the Isles," Scott.
As the youth spoke the cannonading which for ten long days of thunderousbombardment had raged incessantly suddenly ceased, giving place to astillness painful in its intensity.
"What doth that mean?" exclaimed Harriet.
"It means a cessation of hostilities," explained Clifford huskily. "Itmeans that old Britain is beaten. Oh! if I were Cornwallis, I'd fightuntil there was not a man left. I'd never yield."
"Blame him not, Clifford," said Harriet. "He hath made a brave defense.For my part, I am thankful that 'tis over. Have you seen father?"
"No," answered the youth. "Not since yesterday."
"Then let us find him," suggested she. "'Twill be a relief to get out ofthis cave. Come, Peggy!"
And nothing loth Peggy followed her. The village was utterly wrecked. Onevery side were mute tokens of the fury of the siege. The houses werecompletely dismantled; in many instances literally riddled by shot. Thestreets had been torn into great holes and ploughed into deep furrows bythe burrowing of shells. There were sights of horror everywhere, and thegirls grew faint and sick as they hastened with averted eyes to theirformer dwelling, which was found to be less dilapidated than many of theothers. Clifford went in search of his father, and soon returned withhim. Colonel Owen was as gloomy as his son over the prospect ofsurrender. He frowned at sight of Peggy.
"I suppose that you are rejoicing over our defeat, my little cousin," heexclaimed harshly.
"I am glad indeed that the cause hath succeeded, my cousin," answeredthe girl frankly. "We have fought so long that 'tis matter for rejoicingwhen at length the victory is ours. Yet," she added meeting his lookwith one of compassion, "I am sorry for thee, too. I grieve to seeeither a proud nation or a proud man humbled."
"And is it indeed over, as Clifford says, father?" questioned Harriet.
"Yes," he told her, his whole manner expressive of the deepest chagrin."Washington hath consented to a cessation of hostilities for two hours,but there is no doubt as to the outcome. Our works are shattered, andthe ammunition almost exhausted. There is naught else to do butsurrender, but 'tis a bitter dose to swallow."
He covered his face with his hands and groaned. Clifford turned uponPeggy with something of irritation.
"Why don't you say what you are thinking?" he cried. "Say that you areglad, but don't for pity sake look sorry for us!"
"I am not thinking of thee at all," returned Peggy wistfully, "but offather. Neither thee nor thy father is hurt, but what of my father?"
"And do you wish to go to him?"
"Yes," she uttered eagerly.
"It can be arranged," he said. "I will see to a flag." As he started toleave them William Owen looked up.
"Include Harriet in that too, my son," he said. "This will be a sadplace for her until after the manner of capitulation hath beenarranged."
"I shall not go, father," interposed the maiden raising her headproudly. "An English girl hath no place among victorious foes. SendPeggy and you will, but I shall not leave you in your humiliation."
"So be it," he said.
Thus it came about that Peggy found herself outside the British works,advancing toward the American lines under a flag. Less than threehundred yards from the shattered works of the British the secondparallel of the patriots extended, and in front of it were the batterieswhich had raked the town with such destructive fire. Midway of thisdistance they beheld the solitary figure of a man approaching, alsobearing a flag. At sight of him Peggy forgot her escort, forgoteverything, and ran forward uttering a cry of gladness.
"Father, father!" she screamed.
"My little lass!" David Owen clasped her in a close embrace. "I wascoming in search of thee. I have been wild with anxiety concerning theesince I learned that thou wert in the town. It hath been a fearful time!Had not our cause been just I could not have borne it. There is much totell and hear, lass. Let us seek a place more retired."
The batteries of the patriots, the redoubts taken from the enemy, andthe parallel, were connected by a covert way and angling works, allmantled by more than a hundred pieces of cannon and mortars. David Owenhurried his daughter past these quickly, for the girl paled at sight ofthe dreadful engines of war whose fearful thundering had wrought suchhavoc and destruction. Presently they found themselves somewhat apartfrom the movements of the army, and Peggy poured forth all her woes.There was indeed much to relate. She had not seen her father for threelong years, and in his presence she felt as though there could no longerbe trouble.
"And after they had been so kind of late," concluded Peggy in speakingof their cousins, "they seemed just to-day as though they did not wishme with them. Even Harriet, who hath been clamorous for me to remainwith her, seemed so."
"Mind it not, lass," said he consolingly. "'Tis because they did notwish a witness to their humiliation. After the first brunt of feelinghath worn away I make no doubt but that their manner will be better eventhan before. Ah! yonder is Captain Drayton. The boy hath been well-nighcrazed at thy peril. I will call him."
The rest of the day and the next also flags passed and repassed betweenthe lines, and on the afternoon of the latter commissioners met at theMoore House to draw up articles of capitulation. These were acceded toand signed. The British received the same terms which they had imposedupon the Americans at Charlestown. Nothing now remained but theobservance of the formal surrender, which was set for the next day.
The nineteenth of October dawned gloriously. About noon the combinedarmies marched to their positions in the large field lying south of thetown, and were drawn up in two lines about a mile long, on the right andleft of a road running from the village. On the right of the road werethe American troops; on the left those of the French. A large concourseof people had gathered from all the countryside to see the spectacle.Every countenance glowed with satisfaction and joy. The long strugglewas virtually ended. It had been a contest not for power, not foraggrandizement, but for a great principle.
To Peggy's joy it was found that her little mare had not been killed,and so, mounted on Star, she was permitted to view the pageant by herfather's side.
The French troops presented a most brilliant spectacle in white uniformswith colored trimmings, and with plumed and decorated officers at theirhead. Along the line floated their banners of white silk embroideredwith the golden lilies. They were gallant allies in gallant array. Theirgorgeous standards caught the glint of the sun and glittered andsparkled in its rays. But the girl turned to view the less attractiveAmericans.
There was variety of dress, poor at best. The French gentlemen laughedat the lack of uniform, but respected the fighting abilities of the menso clad. But if many wore but linen overalls there was a soldierlybearing that commanded attention. These men were conquerors. Their veryappearance bespoke the hardships and privations they had undergone towin in the struggle. Over their heads there fluttered the starry bannerwhich through their exertions had earned its right to live. Throughthese men a nation had been born into the world. The golden lilies weresoon to wither; the red, white and blue of America was to be taken laterby France in their stead.
At two o'clock the captive army filed out of the garrison. "Let there beno cheering," had been the order from Washington. "They have made abrave defense." And so the march was made between silent ranks ofconquerors, the music being the then well-known air of "The World TurnedUpside Down." The tune probably expressed very accurately the feelingsof the men who were to lay down their arms that autumn afternoon. Theirworld had indeed been turned upside down when they were prisoners of themen whom they had affected to despise. Each soldier had been given a newuniform by Co
rnwallis, and the army marched quietly and with precisionto the field where they were to lay down their arms. But if there wasquietness there was sullenness also. The pride and spirit of Britainwere put to a severe test, and many could scarcely conceal theirmortification as they marched with cased colors, an indignity that hadbeen inflicted upon the garrison at Charlestown.
As they came forth every eye sought, not the plumed leader of theFrench, but the plainly attired gentleman who sat upon a noble charger,and viewed their coming with an inscrutable countenance. This was theman but for whom they would have been victorious--that noble and graciousfigure which signified to all the world that the American Revolution hadended in complete victory, the Virginia planter, whom they had despisedat the beginning of the conflict. They regarded him now with somethingnearly approaching awe--the leader who had encountered trials andobstacles such as no general had ever before been called upon to face.The trials had been overcome and endured; the obstacles surmounted, andthe country carried on to victory in spite of itself.
Earl Cornwallis pleaded indisposition, and sent the soldiers whoworshipped him out to stand their humiliation without him. It wasGeneral O'Hara who tendered his sword to General Washington who, withdignity, motioned that it should be given to General Lincoln, who hadbeen in command at Charlestown when that place surrendered to theBritish.
It was over at last, and the stars and stripes floated from the redoubtsat Yorktown. The officers were released on parole, and the men were tobe held prisoners in the states of Virginia and Maryland.
"And now what shall be done with thee, lass?" queried David Owen ofPeggy.
"Let us go home, father," cried Peggy. "I am so tired of war and itssurroundings. Can thee not get a leave?"
"Yes," he said. "To-morrow we will start for home."
"For home and mother," cried Peggy joyfully.
The Stories in this Series are:
PEGGY OWEN PEGGY OWEN, PATRIOT PEGGY OWEN AT YORKTOWN PEGGY OWEN AND LIBERTY
* * * * *
LUCY FOSTER MADISON
Mrs. Madison was born in Kirkville, Adair County, Missouri, but when shewas four years old her parents removed to Louisiana, Missouri, and thereher girlhood was spent. She was educated in the public schools of thatplace, and graduated from the High School with the highest honor--thevaledictory.
As a child she was passionately fond of fairy stories, dolls andflowers. Up to her eleventh year the book that influenced her most was"Pilgrim's Progress." Mrs. Madison's father had a large library filledwith general literature, and she read whatever she thought interesting.In this way she became acquainted with the poets, ancient history andthe novelists, Dickens and Scott. It was not until she was twelve thatshe came in contact with Miss Alcott's works, but after that Joe, Meg,Amy and Beth were her constant companions. At this time she was alsodevoted to "Scottish Chiefs," "Thaddeus of Warsaw" and "Ivanhoe," andalways poetry.
She doesn't remember a time when she did not write. From her earliestchildhood she made up little stories. In school she wrote poems, storiesand essays. When she became a teacher she wrote her own stories andentertainments for the children's work.
Mrs. Madison's stories for girls are:
Peggy Owen Peggy Owen, Patriot Peggy Owen at Yorktown Peggy Owen and Liberty A Colonial Maid of Old Virginia A Daughter of the Union In Doublet and Hose A Maid of King Alfred's Court A Maid of the First Century
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends