The Minute Boys of Boston

by James Otis

  CHAPTER VIII

  HOG ISLAND

  We were safe on board the sloop, which lay about half a mile from theshore, and once there I ceased to speculate overmuch as to what might bethe result of Seth Jepson's treachery. That he had proven himself atraitor there was no longer the slightest chance for doubt, and I wasresolved that if my life was spared the day should come when he wouldpay a heavy penalty for his dastardly crime.

  Now, however, he had no part in our lives, nor would it be in his powerto work us a wrong unless we might make an attempt to enter Boston townwhile the Britishers held possession.

  For the time being it was enough that our company was at last fullyembarked upon some service which had to do with the Cause, and while itwould have pleased me beyond the power of words to express, if we hadbeen called for some service with more of danger and more befittingsoldiers than that of the transportation of grain, I was in a certaindegree content, even if for no other reason than that our people atCambridge had remembered there was such a company as the Minute Boys ofBoston.

  No time was lost in getting under way for the short voyage to Hogisland. It seemed to me that Hiram Griffin believed every momentprecious, for he urged the crew of the sloop to their utmost, and oncewe were on our course, he questioned the helmsman if he was steering inas nearly a straight line as might be possible.

  As may be supposed, Archie, Silas and I came together immediately wegained the deck of the sloop, for there was much we had to say to eachother, although the lads so lately from Cambridge could not tell me moreconcerning the doings of our people than Hiram had already done.

  Archie would have spent the time giving words to his gratitude becauseof what Harvey, Hiram and I had done toward effecting his release; but Iwas not minded thus to waste the precious moments when he might,instead, be telling me what he had seen while with our army.

  We three were talking fast and earnestly, having ample food forconversation; but I took heed to the efforts which Hiram was makingtoward a speedy arrival at our destination, and my curiosity became sogreat I could not refrain from asking if he feared pursuit.

  "I do not _fear_ it lad; but according to my way of thinking the chancesare more than even we shall be followed speedily, for those lobsterbacks whom Seth Jepson led to the rope walk will be thick-headed indeedif they fail to understand that we left Boston town by water. It ispossible they may charge him with having led them on a wild goose chase;but I'm not figuring that such will be the case."

  "And you believe they may come in pursuit?"

  "Well, it will amount to much the same thing, though I allow that theirchief purpose won't be to take us into custody."

  "Why then should they give chase?" I asked in surprise, and Hiramreplied in a low tone, as if he feared lest the other lads mightoverhear him:

  "You must know that our people in Cambridge are not the only ones whoneed to be fed. The king's men are famous meat-eaters, and General Gageis not such a simple but that he has understood some time since that twobirds might be killed with one stone if he acted promptly. To prevent usfrom getting supplies in the country back of Boston town would beimpossible; but he can take steps to stop us from picking up what may befound on the islands, and in so doing not only deprive the Americans ofsuch an amount of food, but take possession of it for his own troops."

  I grew so surprised as he went on with his explanations that it had beenimpossible to interrupt him. While he had told to me in Boston what ourpeople would have the Minute Boys do, I fancied it was the simplest oftasks, being all labor and no danger. Now, however, I was coming tounderstand that while acting as drovers we might find employment assoldiers, and when he ceased speaking I said in a whisper:

  "Would you resist in case the king's men came upon us while we weretaking a cargo on board?"

  "Ay, that I would, if so be they had no larger force than two to ourone."

  "Have you then soldiers on board the other sloops?" I asked, not yetunderstanding his purpose.

  "Indeed I have not; where would be the need of others when here are allthe Minute Boys of Boston?" he said laughingly.

  "But while the Minute Boys may be ready to resist the king's men, theycould not make much of a fist at it without weapons, and we have nothingof the kind."

  "In that you are making a mistake. There are on board the other sloopmuskets and ammunition enough to serve us through quite a battle, if sobe you lads have what is needed in the way of backbone."

  "Then there is a chance we may have to fight with the lobster backs?" Icried, forgetting that in event of an encounter more than one, perhaps,of our company might be killed, so eager was I that the Minute Boysshould have an opportunity of showing what they could do.

  "I count it more than a chance, lad. It is an even thing, according tomy way of thinking, now that your precious Tory has given notice to theBritishers of our intention. Unless all hands of them are asleep, one ormore vessels will be sent out to-morrow morning to overhaul us,therefore it is I am eager to begin the work of taking on cargo asspeedily as may be, so that if they come upon us with too large a forcewe shall be ready for flight, and not go away empty-handed."

  I was near to blessing Seth Jepson because of having played the traitor,since it might result in our winning a name for the Minute Boys, andwithout delay I went back to my comrades, hurriedly giving them tounderstand that at last our company was to be armed as befittedsoldiers, even though we were lads, and, what was to me the moregratifying, it was possible that we would be called upon to measurestrength with the lobster backs.

  From this moment all was excitement among our lads. I question if therewas one of them who did not, like myself, fail to count the danger,because of his eager desire to prove that we might be trusted to do thework of men.

  The sloop was a dull sailor, or so it seemed to us lads who were burningwith impatience to come up with the other vessel that we might get theweapons in our hands, for only then would it appear as if we were realsoldiers of the American army.

  We could not quicken the movements of the sluggish craft fret as wemight, and when, as balm to my impatience, I would have talked withHiram concerning the possibilities of the future, he showed no furtherinclination to converse on the matter, thus proving, as I believed, thathe was more anxious concerning the outcome of the venture than he wouldpermit us to see, all of which was most gratifying because it accordedwell with my desires.

  Despite the apparently slow progress of the sloop, we were come toanchor between Noddle and Hog islands before there were any signs ofcoming day, and it can well be fancied that we Minute Boys lost no timein taking possession of the weapons.

  These, together with the ammunition, had been stored in the cuddy of thesloop, and after each of us lads had selected a musket I saw there wereno less than a dozen remaining, while of powder and balls it seemed tome the amount was so great that we could not use it all even though weloaded and discharged our muskets with reasonable rapidity during anentire day.

  While we were thus engaged in what might seem to some like a childishfashion, Hiram had seen to it that the two sloops were warped in asclose to the shore as was possible without danger of their goingaground. The holds of the vessels had been cleared, the hatches removed,tackles for hoisting gotten into place, and, in fact, everything madeready for the taking on of a cargo.

  By this time day was come, although the sun had not yet risen, and Hirambegan the work in hand by asking me to call the names of three lads whoshould be left on board the sloops as sentinels, and when I had done aswas desired, he said to them, speaking gravely and with the air of onewho sees in the future more of danger than he is willing to admit:

  "You lads are to keep sharp watch. Do not let your attention be drawn tothe shore, for nothing threatens from that quarter; but remainconstantly on the alert for approaching vessels. Don't fail to give analarm the instant you make out a craft bearing to the eastward afterpassing Morton's point. It may be that the lives of all of us who goashore will depend on your
faithful discharge of duty, therefore act assoldiers should. When you have made certain that any vessel, or boatwith a considerable number of men on board, is coming in this direction,discharge one of the muskets, after which make ready to help us on boardwith whatsoever we may bring."

  Then Hiram, together with the remainder of us Minute Boys and the men hehad brought with him to work the sloops, went on shore, and at the firstfarmer's dwelling we came upon I understood that our visit was notunexpected.

  Fifty or more sheep were penned in a small enclosure, and John Weston,the owner of the land, together with his son, were busily engagedputting grain into bags that it might the more readily be transported.

  We began our work by stacking arms and setting to at the task ofcarrying the sheep to the shore, bundling them into the small boats, andthen pulling out to the sloops.

  Where there were so many laborers the task was soon completed, and thencame the more fatiguing portion of the business, meaning thetransportation of the grain.

  However, we set to it with a will for there was one more farm on Hogisland which should be visited, and Hiram, fearing lest we might beinterrupted, urged us to our utmost.

  The day was warm; the bags of grain far too heavy for easy handling, andin a short time I was so weary that but for Hiram's shouts ofencouragement or reproaches, I should have ceased work for a short timeof rest.

  It was just at the moment when I had made up my mind to declare I couldnot continue the labor until after having a breathing spell, that thereport of a musket rang out on the still air so startlingly that eachfellow who had a burden dropped it to look hastily about, and those whowere empty-handed, including Hiram, ran with all speed to the shore.

  I was among the foremost, and having reached a bend where it waspossible to get a fairly good view to the westward, an exclamation ofdismay burst involuntarily from my lips as I saw a schooner-rigged craftcoming around the westerly end of Noddle island.

  "It's bound to be the Britishers!" some one near me exclaimed, and Ireplied, speaking somewhat petulantly because of my fears:

  "Who else could it be, coming from that quarter? Our people would notdespatch a craft of that size after having sent two sloops, andtherefore it may be we'll have use for that ammunition 'twixt now andnoon."

  Hiram had arrived at the shore almost on my heels, and having taken agood look at the oncoming craft cried:

  "Now is the time when you must work lively, lads, in order to get allthe grain aboard if it be possible! We have a good hour before us,according to the way yonder craft is sailing, and should be able toclean up all that John Weston has made ready for us."

  Then, as we lads started on a run for the farm-house, he shouted to thewatchers on deck:

  "Don't lose sight of that vessel for an instant, and give the signalwhen she is come up to yonder small fir tree on Noddle island!"

  Having said this he turned about to work as desperately as ever mancould, crying out against him who lagged ever so little, and encouragingby words and example those who were putting forth every effort.

  I dare venture to say that Farmer Weston's grain was never handled morequickly than on this occasion, and we had all of it aboard, with theexception of mayhap ten bags, when a cry from the shore warned us thatthe enemy had approached to within the distance set by our leader.

  Now it must be borne in mind that all these goods had been put aboardone of the sloops, leaving the other clean, so far as concerned a cargo,and I was not a little surprised when Hiram gave the word for the fourmen to go on board the laden vessel to make ready for getting under way.Then we lads were sent into the empty craft, in which was stored theammunition, and word was given to "up anchor and hoist the canvas."

  "Is it a case of running away?" I asked sharply of the leader, who, withhalf a dozen of the lads, was swaying down on the mainsail, and hereplied, speaking with difficulty because of his heavy breathing:

  "One of the sloops will try to run away; but it won't be ours."

  I now understood full well what was his plan. We were to engage theenemy in a regular battle so that the other sloop, laden withprovisions, might succeed in going free. I am willing to confess thatdespite all my previous longings to show myself worthy of being asoldier, the cold chill of fear began to run up and down my spine, as Irealized that the time was come when we must strive to kill while otherswere doing their best to shed our blood.

  I question much, now that I have taken part in other conflicts, whetherany one, man or lad, ever looks forward to an action at arms without acertain degree of uneasiness, even of fear. If there had been on boardthe laden sloop a party of our people whom we were struggling to save,then there would have been something heroic in thus engaging in anunequal struggle to the end that better lives than ours might not betaken. As it was, however, we would be fighting for a lot of sheep and acertain amount of grain, which seemed to me worthless in comparisonwith the life of any one member of the company.

  I failed to take heed of the fact that by getting the cargo past theBritishers, thus preserving it for the use of our people, we might besparing those who had devoted themselves to the Cause much of sufferingby way of hunger, and this would be a good and sufficient reason why weshould shed our blood.

  All this which I have set down passed through my mind as does a flash oflightning across a darkened sky, and meantime we were forging toward theschooner, while the second sloop was being got under way more leisurely,swinging around in such position that we remained between her and theBritishers.

  By this time it was possible to see clearly those who stood on theschooner's deck, and, as nearly as I could judge, that mass of red whichshowed amid-ships was made up of no less than twenty soldiers, all fullyarmed, and with the sunlight glistening upon bayonet and buckle until itseemed as if each piece of metal was throwing off a tiny jet of flame.

  Nearer and nearer did we draw to this danger, while the other sloop wascreeping around to northward, ready to take advantage of the southerlybreeze when we had put ourselves into position to prevent pursuit on thepart of the Britishers, and in the meanwhile Silas, Harvey and Hiramwere bringing ammunition into the cabin, distributing among the MinuteBoys a generous supply of powder and balls.

  I believe that no more than two hundred yards separated our sloop fromthe schooner when Hiram said in a low tone, but one which thrilled meto the marrow:

  "If we would aid the Cause, lads, now has come the time when each muststand to his musket without sign of fear, whatever may be in his heart.There is no chance a fight can be avoided, unless so be you are willingto show the white feather by turning tail. Remember that not everyBritish bullet finds its billet, for the king's men are known to bemighty poor marksmen, however soldierly their appearance. When thescrimmage opens, set about the work of shooting down those who have cometo oppress us yet more bitterly, as if you were firing at squirrels.Don't waste your shot; but take careful aim. Now let each lad concealhimself as best he may under the rail so that no more than his head andarms be exposed to view."

  This little speech heartened me wonderfully, as I know it did many ofthe other lads, because their faces brightened and they clutched theirmuskets with a certain show of determination which told that they woulddo their best to obey the command.

  We made our preparations as Hiram had suggested, and were none too soonin gaining the protection of the rail, for before he who was our leaderhad made any move toward screening himself, a volley of bullets camewhistling over our heads.

  The aim of the Britishers was poor, for not a missile came within tenfeet of the deck, but the jib and mainsail looked like a sieve.

  Then I shouted to Hiram that he should obey his own command and getbehind the rail.

  "Some one must steer the sloop lest we fail of putting her in such aposition that our consort may go free. Get to your work since thelobster backs have opened the game, and let them see what kind ofmarksmen are the Minute Boys of Boston. Now then, lads, fire as youplease so that you take steady aim!"

/>   I believe it was Harvey Pearson who first discharged his musket, and Isaw a red-coat reel back, his arm, which had been raised to charge hismusket, falling heavily at his side.

  Then came our answer to the opening fire, the sharp crackle of musketryseemingly running the whole length of the port rail, and on the instantthe compact mass of red was shrunken, with here and there gaps whichtold that more than one had been stretched upon the deck.

  After having emptied my gun, and while recharging it, I turned ever soslightly to look at our consort, which was now edging away to thewestward, we having come so far up on the enemy's quarter that he couldnot have turned in pursuit without running afoul of us.

  Now as to what was done in particular during the next ten minutes ormore I cannot rightly set down, because so great was my excitement andso intense the fever which had come upon me after the first volley,while the acrid odor of burning powder assailed my nostrils, that Ihardly know what I myself did.

  I was like unto one in the delirium of fever; it seemed as if there wasa red veil before my eyes; I loaded and discharged my musket, taking aimas best I could, rapidly until the barrel of the weapon was so hot thatI threw it on the deck, running into the cabin to get from the spareweapons a cool one.

  As I came up the companion-way, brushing past Hiram who shoutedsomething in my ear, I know not what, I was dimly conscious of seeingthe laden sloop standing well over on the northern shore, every inch ofcanvas set and drawing.

  Then I began to charge the weapon, and while so doing glancedinvoluntarily across the deck, seeing here and there a tiny thread ofdull red. On the instant my heart turned cold, for until then I had hadno thought that any of our lads were hurt.

  "Some of the boys are wounded!" I cried shrilly, turning to Hiram, andthen I saw that his left arm hung by his side as if useless, while heheld the tiller with his right hand, standing astride it that his legsmight aid him in the grip.

  "Ay, lad, some of us must pay the price, although I reckon we are makingit tolerably expensive for the lobster backs."

  It was the first time since the action began that I could see clearly,and glancing across the narrow space of water which separated the twovessels, I saw that the mass of red had dwindled until no more than sixor seven lobster backs stood opposed to us, while three sailors weredoing whatsoever they could toward wearing ship in order to take totheir heels.

  It was a sight which filled me with astonishment and pride. That theMinute Boys of Boston, not one of whom was above fifteen years old, hadsaved for the American army all the provisions that were on board thesloop which was now sailing away to the westward, seemed too good to betrue, and, what was absolutely amazing, these same lads had thrashed theking's men, those who had come to the colony for the purpose of whippingus into subjection--thrashed them, until their only desire was to run!

  "'WHO SHALL SAY NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T THE RIGHT TO CALLOURSELVES MINUTE BOYS?'"]

  I became as wildly delirious with joy and pride as I had been during theturmoil of battle, and, waving the ramrod of the musket above my head, Icried triumphantly to the lads who were still pouring lead into thered-coats:

  "Who shall say now that we haven't the right to call ourselves MinuteBoys, and to take our stand side by side with the men at Cambridge?"

  Half a dozen of the lads cheered wildly, after which they again devotedtheir attention to the human targets, while Hiram cried as he swung thetiller down, willing now to give the lobster backs a chance to run away:

  "You have done your work like little men, and when we gain port my firstact will be to ask that I may be permitted to enroll myself among theMinute Boys of Boston, rather than with the company to which I nowbelong."

  Hiram said that "we had done our work," and indeed he was right, for thebattle, and truly it may be called such, was over so far as theBritishers were concerned. They were now putting forth every effort towear ship in order that they might get out of our way, and never one ofthose fancifully dressed soldiers of the king had fired a shot duringthe past three minutes.

  Had we been blood-thirsty, or, perhaps I may say, had we become hardenedto warfare, we might have shot down every last one of them before theycould get beyond our line of fire; but we lads did not have the heart toshoot down human beings who were simply struggling to escape, no matterwhat crime they might have committed against us.

  In fact, once the musketry fire had ceased and we were given time to seehow much of injury had been inflicted upon the Minute Boys, I for onelost all stomach for further fighting.

  It was sickening to stand where I did well aft, and look along the deckwhere were four of our fellows lying upon the planks as if lifeless,while as many more had a bandaged arm or leg telling of wounds which didnot quench their ardor in the effort to prove themselves worthy ofstanding against the king's men as defenders of the Cause.

  As I have said, Hiram allowed the sloop to come well before the wind,thus giving the schooner's crew an opportunity to put about as they wereso eager to do, and finally when she was brought on a course which wouldcarry her past Noddle island to the passage eastward of the Charlestownshore, they clapped on all sail, having had such a bellyful of themedicine dealt out by us Minute Boys as to make them anxious only to getunder cover.

  Once they were well off, and our consort so far away in the distancethat there was no possibility of her being overtaken, even though thelobster backs had sufficient pluck remaining to make the attempt, welads, wounded as well as sound, sent after them a ringing cheer oftriumph. I can well fancy that those soldiers who had counted ongrinding us of the colonies into the dust with but little effort, musthave felt like hiding their faces for very shame at having been thussoundly whipped by a company of boys who had never until that momenteven so much as played at being warriors.

  We followed close in the wake of the schooner with scarce sixty yardsbetween us, and then, had we been so blood-thirsty, we might have pickedoff every man that showed himself on her deck, while they could haveinflicted no damage upon us.

  Once we had stretched off on a course that would lead us to the mouth ofthe Mystic or the Charles river, whichever we saw fit to make, Hiramgave up the tiller to Archie, who, like myself, had come off without ascratch, and he and I set about doing whatsoever we could in ourignorant way for the relief of those who were suffering.

  My heart grew sick within me when we found two of the poor lads lying ondeck still in death; but our first care was necessarily for the living,and we did whatsoever we could in our poor way for the two who were mostgrievously wounded, after which was made an examination of the lesserinjuries.

  We Minute Boys had gone into the battle fifteen strong, and, countingHiram, we had our full number on board the sloop; two of these had goneover into that world of the Beyond; two lay, as it seemed to me, nighunto death, while five had received what might be called triflingwounds, although I question whether a fellow who suffers from the paincaused by a British bullet through the fleshy part of his arm or leg,would be willing to call the hurt "trifling."

  Long though the list was, it must have been small in comparison withwhat we had done to the lobster backs. From all I had seen, it appearedto me that at least five were put beyond all power of doing harm to usof the colonies, and I dare venture to say that not more than three orfour of the entire number escaped without some evidence of our skill asmarksmen.

  And now, if you will believe me, in the midst of our rejoicing, for wedid rejoice even though those two poor lads lay in the bow silent andmotionless, covered with canvas, Hiram broke out with complaint becauseour work had not been finished, whereupon I asked in amazement and nolittle anger what he considered the finishing of the task.

  "We failed of getting more than one cargo, and there were two to be hadon Hog island, as I know full well. But for the fact that we are whatyou might call short-handed because so many are wounded, I would putabout and pick up what laid ready for our hands but for the coming ofthe lobster backs," he said, much as though sorrowing because w
e had notbeen able to do that which an equal number of men would have failed at."There is a chance that we might take aboard a bit more of meat andgrain, with the Westons to help us, even if the second farm does standtwo miles from the shore."

  Fancying that I read on his face a half-formed determination to returnto Hog island that very moment, I cried indignantly:

  "The Minute Boys shall not have a hand in anything whatsoever save therunning of this sloop, until those who have been wounded are cared forby a surgeon. Go whither you will so they can be set ashore where kindlyhands may minister to their hurts; but more than that is not to be donethis day."

  I truly believe Hiram, glutton though he was in behalf of the Cause,felt more than a little bit ashamed of having suggested that we mightaccomplish more, for he made no reply to my angry outburst; butcontinued on with me to look after the injured lads, bathing this woundor giving that sufferer the water which he craved, without heed to hisown injury, which was indeed slight.

  As a matter of course the schooner, having more canvas than we spread tothe breeze, speedily drew away from us; but when she was come to thepassage between Charlestown and Noddle island it was a case of standingdown against the wind, and as we ran past I had a good view of her deck.

  Only five men could I count on their feet, although there might havebeen sound ones below; but surely it was that they had suffered morethan we.

  We had no argument as to where it might be best to make a landing, forwith the wind due south it would have been little less than folly had weattempted to gain the mouth of the Cambridge river. The Britishers couldhave sent out guard-boats in sufficient number to board us past all hopeof successful resistance on our part, and once that schooner arrived atBoston town with the news of what we Minute Boys had done, our rejoicingmust speedily have been changed to wailing.

  Venturesome though Hiram Griffin was, he did not even suggest that we doother than take such course as was indicated by the direction of thewind, and we went on past Morton's point, counting to bring the voyageto an end at near about the Penny ferry, where we surely would findhousing for our wounded, while those who were sound in body might maketheir way to the American encampment.

  The laden sloop which we had protected at risk of our lives, could beseen far in the distance as we swept on up past Morton's point. She hadcome to anchor near where I counted we would make land, and from thenumber of boats plying between her and the shore, it was easy tounderstand that our people had already begun to take from her thatcargo which had cost the lives of two of the Minute Boys, and the bloodof many others.

  I wish I might set down here, so that all could realize fully, the senseof satisfaction and of pride which came over me as I saw this token thatour work had been well done! I gave no heed, as had Hiram, to the factthat we might have brought more from Hog island, for truly, I said tomyself, any person who would set himself as judge of our work must seethat we had accomplished all within reason.

  Now in truth had come the time when we could present ourselves atCambridge, and ask with good grace to be considered as part of theAmerican army, for had we not already shown ample proof of our abilityto stand up against the king's men, and, what is more, beat themhandsomely in fair fight where one would have supposed the odds to beall against us who were unversed in warfare?

  Somewhat of the same thought must have been in Archie's mind, for as wetwo stood side by side well aft, while Hiram was still busying himselfministering to our wounded, he said in a tone of exultation:

  "Since yesterday we have come off first best against all that atraitorous comrade could do, and I take no little pride in it, though itdid happen by accident and was so close a shave that we were within ahair's breadth of being made prisoners. Put that close shave by the sideof what we have done since morning, and then you may say with goodreason that we have been of service to the Cause."