Decision at Fletcher's Mill

by David Caringer

  Throckmorton ordered Elizabeth to come closer. When she hesitated, he aimed his pistol at Ezekiel’s head. She was sobbing quietly, but she finally stepped nearer. She was still holding the lantern. Throckmorton put the extra pistol back in his waistband and forced Elizabeth to turn around before wrapping his arm around her and aiming the still cocked pistol in his right hand at the side of her head. The girl was slightly taller than he was. He pulled her to the left in order to stare at Ezekiel. There was nothing the old man and the girl could do. They had seen this man kill. They both understood that they were unlikely to survive this. Ezekiel said, “I’ve told you that I will show you where the Fletcher gold is hidden. Please don’t harm the girl.”

  Throckmorton nodded and spat, “Get to it then. Your time is very short.” Ezekiel moved over to the shelving at the side of the cavern with the major and the girl shuffling to follow. In moments, Ezekiel activated the hidden latches and moved the shelf to uncover the stone slab over the vertical tunnel mouth. It took all of his feeble strength to move the slab so that the black opening was visible. Throckmorton tried to think what to do next. He had no intention of climbing into this hole alone to possibly be entombed under the slab by these two. He didn’t want to release the girl, and he didn’t trust the old man to climb down without him. They heard voices from the front of the mill then over the din of battle above them.

  Ira and Billy entered the mill through the upper side door and moved quickly downstairs. A few more steps took them up the corridor to the storeroom. They found Plunket still unconscious and Crispin dead from a gunshot wound. Billy picked up Plunket’s rifle. He couldn’t tell if it was loaded, but it clearly wasn’t primed. Ira picked up the burning lantern from the shelf where it was placed earlier. Billy was trying to rouse Plunket when they heard a muffled female scream from deep in the back of the mill. The name “Elizabeth!” escaped from Ira’s throat before he ran out of the storeroom toward the lower milling station with Billy at his heels. The lantern was missing from the middle of the room. The cavern door was standing open. They could see a dim light from within. They entered the cavern expecting almost anything. Ira was shocked, nevertheless, to see Major Throckmorton standing behind his granddaughter with a pistol to her head. Ezekiel was standing over the open entry to the secret family treasure vault.

  Billy didn’t know what was happening, but he knew Elizabeth was in great danger. He lunged forward only to be restrained by Ira. Throckmorton’s tense voice squeaked, “How convenient it is to see you two. I will kill the girl and this old man before you can interfere, if you do not do exactly what I ask. Drop that weapon, Morgan!” Billy dropped the rifle. “Now, both of you slowly come over here.” They moved to within a few feet of Elizabeth and the major. Throckmorton asked, “Where is your vaunted treasure, Reverend?”

  Ira paused only for a moment before he looked at Ezekiel knowingly and said, “There is a strongbox containing a great deal of money in the small cavern at the bottom of that shaft.”

  Throckmorton ordered Billy to take the lantern from Ira and climb down into the lower cavern. Billy immediately found the strongbox, but saw no other exit from the small chamber than the one through which he entered. He sat the lantern down and hefted the box. It was quite heavy for its size. Throckmorton screamed at him to bring the box up quickly. Billy shoved it up over his head and somehow managed to get it to the floor above him. The major ordered Ira to open the box and marveled with a strange glint in his eyes when he saw what it contained. Ira slid the box over to him with a look of pity mixed with contempt.

  Throckmorton forced Elizabeth to kneel with him in front of the open chest. Keeping the pistol aimed at her head and his eyes fixed on Ira and Ezekiel, he used his free hand to scrape the contents out of the box and fill his pockets. He was on his feet with the girl again in moments and the box lay empty in front of him. He began backing toward the door with his arm around Elizabeth’s waist. Ira followed them closely. She was still holding the lantern aloft, but her exhausted arm was shaking uncontrollably in her terror. At the doorway, the major shoved the girl toward Ira before leaping through the opening and slamming the door shut. He had it bolted and locked before Ira could reach it. The British were making entry to the lower part of the mill building as Throckmorton fled up the stairs to the upper mill station and made it out to the platform overlooking the mill pond. He quickly joined the retreating militiamen as they scrambled around the pond to the safety of the woods beyond, and disappeared in the confusion of the retreat.

  Ira quickly made his decision. His family was immeasurably more important than this place. He told Ezekiel to help Elizabeth down the shaft with Billy and show them how to access the hidden tunnel at the back of the cavern. He took the lantern from Elizabeth and stepped over to one of the fuse trails leading to the pile of powder kegs. He had to think. He needed time. Finally, he pulled a box over and sat the lantern on top of it. He found a spool of line and tied it to the top of the lantern. He unrolled the line and dropped the spool into the shaft. Climbing down to the lower chamber, he saw that the tunnel was open and the others were already gone. He continued to unroll the line from the spool and made it nearly to the other end of the tunnel. He then tugged on the line so that the lantern fell over onto the powder trail. Ira reached the far tunnel opening seconds later when a huge explosion erupted behind him. Fletcher’s Mill had ceased to be a military concern to either the rebels or the British.

  EPILOGUE

  Two weeks passed following the battle at Fletcher’s Mill. Major Throckmorton had managed to escape among the retreating continentals. He hadn’t been seen since. Captain Watson and Captain Robertson both survived. Tobias Griffin and the apothecary managed to carry the very ill Robert Griffin several miles south through rugged country to the remote farm now shared by the survivors of Fletcher’s Mill. It was also now used by Dr. Bolt as a hospital. The doctor was able to save the blacksmith’s life. Many wounded men including Silas and the other few remaining injured survivors of Cowpens soon owed their lives to God’s grace and the medical skill of the wise old surgeon. Tobias said goodbye to his father and joined Billy’s militia company.

  The former prisoner, Sergeant Smythe, was on the way to complete recovery. Spending time in the care of Dr. Bolt had an amazing effect on this professional British soldier. Using Sergeant Duncan as a mediator, he informed Captain Robertson that he wished to join the rebel cause. He had been abandoned to die by Captain Crispin. This treatment mirrored the experience he endured in the British army for decades. He was tired of it. He saw hope for a bright future in this new world.

  Watson and his company departed to make the return trek to Francis Marion’s command on the east side of the colony. Billy and his men were sent by Captain Robertson to reconnoiter the mill and surrounding area to learn what the British had done following the battle. The Royal Army troops were on their way back to Camden. They marshalled the prisoners who were able to walk and herded them like animals back to an uncertain future of captivity. Severely wounded rebels were left behind to fend for themselves. The British looted all the barns and outbuildings before torching them along with the remaining village houses.

  Billy and his men shadowed the British column for several miles. They even managed to take a couple of prisoners. He learned from these men that the commander of the British force, a Major Sir Thomas Willoughby, died in the mill explosion as he led his men into the building in the final assault. The British suffered extremely high casualties in this ill-fated attack on an obvious rebel stronghold. Nothing significant was gained, though. It was doubtful that the incident would receive any notoriety.

  Billy reported all of this to Captain Robertson who thanked him profusely before telling him to follow through with his original orders and rejoin the Southern Continental Army as soon as possible in North Carolina. Robertson and his men were planning to move out toward Camden in an attempt to liberate some or all of the rebel prisoners held in the stockade there. Robertson said he wo
uld like to take the young lieutenant and his company along on the raid, but Billy’s orders from General Morgan took precedence. Billy understood. He would obey the orders, but he didn’t have to like them. He excused himself from the captain as soon as possible and went to find the Fletchers. He gave instructions to Sergeant Strickland and Sergeant Duncan while walking toward the house. The company would rest here for a couple of days before they headed north.

  It occurred to Billy that he didn’t want to leave here at all. Not in two days. Not ever. He didn’t want to leave Elizabeth. He knew she felt the same way about him. Could this be love, or was he just a fool? He found Ira Fletcher sitting on the front porch of the house with Mona Partridge. They both stood as he climbed the steps. Billy learned that Elizabeth was inside the house helping Dr. Bolt and the Phillips couple with Silas and the other wounded men. Silas would receive the care he needed here until he was completely well and able to travel. Mona excused herself and went inside to find Elizabeth.

  Ira reached out to shake Billy’s hand while saying, “Thank you for all that you have done to protect my granddaughter, young man. I know she is very fond of you.”

  Billy felt his face turning red as he nodded in return and muttered, “That feeling is quite mutual, sir.”

  Ira released Billy’s hand and cleared his throat abruptly while looking down at the toes of his shoes. He looked back up and said, “Well, in any event, I wanted to let you know that I have asked Miss Partridge to be my wife and she has accepted.”

  Billy was not at all surprised. He had watched the two together. He felt a momentary pang of remorse before speaking. “Reverend Fletcher, I’m sorry to have to tell you that the village, the mill, your house … all of it has been destroyed. There is nothing left.”

  Ira smiled dryly and patted his right coat pocket. Billy heard a faint clink of coin. Ira said, “No, son, it isn’t all destroyed. Yes, the mill and the other buildings are gone, but they can be rebuilt. The people, the family, young man. They are the real treasure. Our love for God and each other as creatures made in His image. This is what really matters….” Billy nodded understanding. Ira patted him on the shoulder and said, “Besides, I own all of the prime land for as far as you can see, Lieutenant. Technically, I even own this farm. Furthermore, Zeke and I happen to know where even more gold is buried.”

  Elizabeth came out on the porch at that moment and greeted Billy with a bright welcoming smile. They stood staring at each other for several seconds before Ira shook his head and coughed discreetly. Moments later, the two young people were walking hand in hand down the path away from the house. Ira smiled deeply as he went inside to search for his friend and fiancé.

  LT BILLY MORGAN’S TREK TO FLETCHER’S MILL