CHAPTER FOUR.
THE FLEET AT SEA.--TROOPS LANDED.--ALL HOPE OF PEACE ABANDONED.--SPIESEXECUTED.--BOATS SENT TO WATCH FIRE-SHIPS.--REJOIN ORPHEUS.--LANDMASTERS OF MERCHANTMEN.--FALL IN WITH REBEL REGIMENT.--ATTACK FORT ONSULLIVAN'S ISLAND.--HEAVY LOSS.--WITNESS ATTACK ON BROOKLYN.--DREADFULSLAUGHTER.--RUN PAST BATTERIES IN EAST RIVER.--TRYING TIME.--DEATH OF ANOLD FRIEND.--SHIPS CANNONADED.
Far as the eye could reach the white sails of the men-of-war andtransports dotted the blue waters of the Atlantic, as with a lightthough favourable breeze the fleet steered a course for New York. Wemight have been excused, as we scanned with pride the vast armament--theships, their crews, and the troops in prime order and amply suppliedwith all the munitions of war, under the command of the most experiencedleaders England could send forth--if we believed firmly that victory wasdestined to sit proudly on our standards. Here and there a man-of-warmight be seen in the far distance, like a sheep-dog on the heels of theflock, firing a gun now, on this side now on that, to hint to anylaggers along the transports to make more sail, but generally the fleetkept well together. On the 13th the Greyhound, with General Howe onboard, parted company, to hasten on, it was supposed, to makearrangements with Governor Tryon and other royalists in theneighbourhood of New York about the landing the troops, and did notreturn to the fleet. It was not till the 2nd, after a prosperousvoyage, that we reached Sandy Hook, at the mouth of Baritan Day, to thesouthward of the narrow entrance of New York harbour, where we found atanchor his Majesty's ship Phoenix and several sail of merchantmen. Atnoon on the 4th the signal was given for the whole fleet to weigh. Itwas a beautiful sight. The sky was blue, the sun bright, and the watercalm and clear. To the southward, across the yellow glittering shore ofSandy Hook, arose the bold highlands of Neversink; on the larboard bowwas Staten Island, with green fields, feathery woods, and sloping hills,sprinkled with numerous country houses and villas, built mostly by theold Dutch settlers, peeping from among the trees. Ahead were theNarrows--such is the appropriate name given to the channel leading toNew York--while more to the right stretched away, till lost in distanceto the north-east, the low sandy coast of Long Island, with a fringe ofdark forest appearing on the summit of its centre ridge like thebristles on the back of a wild boar. The Chatham was the first ship tomake sail, and the master received orders to steer through the rest ofthe fleet. It was truly a fine sight, as the admiral and the generals,with their brilliant staffs in rich uniforms, and the officers of theships stood crowding on the decks, with bands playing joyous andinspiriting tunes while we sailed onward, the crews and troops on boardthat numerous squadron cheering lustily, their hearts beating withmartial ardour under the belief that we were advancing to the immediateattack and certain conquest of New York. All necessary preparationswere made on our passage up for landing, but as we approached theentrance of the harbour some change seemed to be contemplated in thearrangements, and at sunset, instead of entering the Narrows, the signalwas made for the fleet to anchor in Gravesend Day at the south-west endof Long Island. I was anxious to fall in with the Orpheus, once more toget on board her, for with my scanty stock of clothing I was far fromcomfortable in the flag-ship. She was, however, away on a cruise andmight not possibly return for some time. However, I thereby saw andheard more of the general proceedings than I should otherwise have done.We learned soon afterwards that on this very day, the 4th of July,1776, thirteen British colonies in America had declared themselves freeand independent States, abjuring all allegiance to the British Crown,and renouncing all political connexion with the mother country. Thisdeclaration was issued by the celebrated Congress, organised by DrFranklin and other provincial leaders, consisting of representativesfrom the above-mentioned States who assembled at Philadelphia. Theresolution was passed on the 2nd, but it was not till the day I speakof, the 4th, that the document entitled the Declaration of Independencewas adopted by the Congress and published to the people. It was thefatal blow which severed for ever that vast territory from GreatBritain. The reasons for our anchoring and the troops not being landedwere known only to the commanders-in-chief.
At daylight on the 5th the signal was made for the whole fleet to weigh.At this time, it must be understood, the rebels held the shore of LongIsland on our starboard hand in considerable force, and there werebodies of them on Staten Island on the larboard hand, which forms thesouthern side of the harbour. It was a fine sight to see the fleet, thePhoenix, Rose, and Senegal leading, standing for the channel of theNarrows; but our hopes of entering into action were again disappointedin consequence of the wind falling away and compelling us to anchor. Atfour o'clock in the afternoon, however, once more the signal was made toweigh, the flat-bottomed boats destined to land the troops were manned,and in the same order as before we proceeded onwards. The moment weentered the Narrows the rebels opened fire on us from field-pieces andsmall arms, but without doing us much injury, but very few men on boardany of the ships being killed. By seven o'clock we had dropped anchorclose in with the north shore of Staten Island, and were activelyengaged in landing the troops. So rapid and unexpected had been ourmovements at the last that a body of the enemy, to the number of nearlythree hundred men, were unable to escape and were taken prisoners by thefirst division of Grenadiers who landed. The army at once encamped, andit was difficult to say what great movement would next take place. Wefound ourselves, however, at once engaged in active warfare on a smallscale, for the enemy were by no means idle and the troops had frequentskirmishes with them. The navy also had work enough to do, and of avery harassing nature. Frequently I had to spend the whole of the nightin a guard-boat keeping watch on the movements of the enemy, especiallylooking out for the approach of fire-ships, which, it was reported, theywere about to send down in the hopes of destroying the fleet. In theday-time we were employed in carrying about troops and throwing them onshore in different directions, to harass and distract the enemy, so thatthey might be less prepared when the real attack upon them was made. Onthe 12th of July the signal was made for the Phoenix, Rose, and Tryallto get under weigh, and the wind being favourable, they stood up boldlytowards the mouth of the Hudson. It was an exploit of no slight dangerand difficulty, and was watched by all on board the fleet withbreathless interest. As they got within reach the batteries of RedHook, Powles Hook, and the garrison of New York opened an incessant andheavy fire on them, which was warmly returned by the ships. GeneralWashington and his army must have looked with no little vexation, if notdismay, on the success of the attempt, as it exposed the shores of theHudson at unexpected points to our attacks, and Captain Wallace of theRose was well known for the annoyance he had been causing theinhabitants of the New England coast since the commencement of theoutbreak.
On the day of this occurrence a salute from each of the ships-of-wargave notice that Lord Viscount Howe had arrived. He superseded LordShouldham as commander-in-chief. He had come out from England expectingto join his brother, the general, at Halifax, but finding that he hadsailed from thence had followed him here. At first it was supposed thatwarlike operations would be pushed on with vigour, but soon it wasreported that conciliatory measures were to be the order of the day, andthe general and admiral lost no time in communicating with GeneralWashington, Dr Franklin, and other leaders of the rebels, in the hopesof bringing them to terms.
Officers were sent with flags of truce, who were met by the Americanseach time in a barge half-way between Governor's Island and StatenIsland. Governor's Island is a small island in the centre of thechannel between Brooklyn and New York. They were conducted with everymark of courtesy to the American generals, but the rebels had alreadycommitted themselves too far to allow them to accept of any terms theBritish Commissioners had it in their power to offer. The Declarationof Independence had for ever, indeed, cut the last link which bound thecolonies to England, and though henceforward they might be reconciled,it was clear that it must be in the character of separate States. Itwas reported on board that the admiral had addressed a
letter to GeneralWashington as simply to George Washington, Esquire, and that theAmerican commander-in-chief refused to receive it, on the ground that hewas at the head of a regularly constituted army and could only receivecommunications under his proper title of general. Those who knewGeneral Washington, as I afterwards had the means of doing, were awarethat this was not owing to pride or ostentation, but from the importancein the critical position in which he was placed of keeping up hischaracter and of asserting the legality of the cause in which he wasengaged. Whatever might have been then said of that truly great man,ample justice will be done him in after ages, I am sure, among all ranksand classes of opinion. However, as I do not profess to write a historyof the events of the war or of the public characters engaged in it, Iwill return to my own private journal.
The Americans had for some time past, as I have mentioned, beenpreparing fire-ships. This we knew from our spies. We had a number ofthem on shore, or rather, there were a number of royalists who, havingno wish to join the rebellion, were ready by every means in their powerto aid in putting it down. A considerable number of these had beenremoved by the rebel authorities, both from Long Island and the adjacentdistricts, into the interior. Many were imprisoned, and some few whohad been discovered communicating with our party were executed as spies.Even among the very men who were about Washington himself some werefound not true to him, and it was reported that plots had been laid, ifnot against his life, at all events against his liberty, so that itwould not have surprised us had he been brought on board a prisoner.But to return to the subject of the fire-ships. On the night of the10th of August I had been put in charge of one of the squadron of boatsalways held in readiness to repel any attack from those dangerousengines of warfare. It had just gone four-bells in the first watch, thenight was cloudy though it was calm and sultry, when the Eagle, CaptainDuncan, made the signal that the enemy's fire-ships were approaching.The officer in command of our boat squadron repeated the signal. "Giveway, my lads, give way?" he shouted, and away we all pulled up theharbour. It was necessary to be silent and cautious in the extreme,however, as soon as we had quitted the fleet. We made the best of ourway, for time might be of importance. The night was very dark, thewater was smooth and the foam which bubbled up at our bows of the boatsand fell in showers from the blades of our oars sparkled brilliantly, asif composed of grains of burnished gold.
Ahead of us lay the devoted city against which our arms were soon to beturned, and from whose neighbourhood we expected every instant to seethe fire-ships issue forth. At length the order was passed from boat toboat that we should lay on our oars to await the expected event. Hourafter hour, however, went by. Now there was an alarm that some darkbodies were seen moving down towards us, but no vessels made theirappearance, and at last the near approach of dawn warned us that it wastime to pull back to our ships to escape an attack by the enemy. We ofcourse kept a look-out astern, to be certain that the fire-ships werenot following us, and then lay on our oars again in the neighbourhood ofthe fleet. Either the alarm was a false one or the rebels, aware of ourpreparations, saw that it would be useless to send out the fire-ships.
This was the last night I was thus engaged, for on the 13th of August,to my very great satisfaction, my eyes fell on the Orpheus standing upthe harbour and taking up her berth among the fleet. I did not,however, get my discharge from the Chatham till the following day, when,accompanied by old Grampus, Tom Rockets, and my two other men, I lost notime in pulling on board, after an absence of ten weeks. I was warmlygreeted by my messmates, and we each had our adventures to recount. Shehad taken seven prizes, most of which she brought in with her. PoorLee, the surgeon's second mate, was, they told me, at the point ofdeath. His constitution was unfit to cope with the hard life to whichhe was exposed in the navy. He died soon afterwards, and on the morningof the 16th we carried him on shore on Staten Island, where he rests inan unknown grave in the land of the stranger.
The same day we sailed and steered a course for Cape May, with, theintention of proceeding up the Delaware river to Philadelphia. Myaccount of the way in which I had frightened off the privateer highlydelighted my shipmates, and Captain Hudson was pleased to approve of myconduct. We had on board forty masters of merchantmen which had beencaptured by the different ships-of-war. They were mostly very decentmen, some of them not unlike my friend Mr Scuttle. We treated themwith every kindness and attention in our power. On the 24th we arrivedoff Cape Henlopen, opposite Cape May, at the entrance of Delaware Bay.Here we hove-to, and Captain Hudson ordered me to go on shore with aflag of truce, to land the masters of the merchantmen.
As we neared the shore I observed a body of men drawn up as if preparedto receive me. They were military, but had it not been for fear ofhurting the feelings of the people who were with me, I could have thrownmyself back in the stern sheets and enjoyed a hearty fit of laughter.Not two were armed or dressed alike. Some had high-boots, others shoes,many had on moccasins, and not a few jack-boots; several had their legsencased in hay-bands; hats of all shapes and sizes graced their heads.Cocked hats and round hats and caps, and Spanish hats, and helmets evenwere not uncommon. Some wore breeches of truly Dutch build, others ofas scanty dimensions as could cover them--some had trousers, and othersscarcely any covering to that portion of their persons. Their coatswere of every colour, shape, and size. Green and blue and brown andgrey; some were of red, though not a little soiled, being evidently ofancient date, while there were long coats and great coats and shortcoats and spencers and cloaks; indeed, every species of coveringinvented to hide the nakedness of the human body. While the menthemselves were tall and short and thin and stout and straight andcrooked. No one had been refused admission into the corps. Their armswere as various in construction as their costumes. There were musketsand rifles and pikes and matchlocks, and pistols which had been used atCulloden, and some even, I fancy, in the civil war of the Commonwealth,while a few even had contented themselves with pitchforks, scythes, andreaping-hooks. The officers were as independent as to uniformity as themen, and not less picturesque, though more comfortably dressed. Eachman had exercised his own taste in his endeavour to give himself amilitary appearance, though I must say they had most lamentably failedin the result. I honestly confess, as I was speaking to them, that Iwas forcibly reminded of the appearance my old shipmates and I cut whenwe first presented ourselves on board the Torbay at the commencement ofmy naval career.
My orders were to land the prisoners and to return to the ship as soonas possible. I had therefore time only to exchange a few words with theofficers, who were inclined to be very civil, and when the masters ofthe vessels told them how they had been treated on board the Orpheusthey were still more disposed to be friendly. At that time the bitterfeeling against Great Britain, which it must be owned she brought onherself by her injustice and dictatorial conduct, had not then been souniversally stirred up.
"Now, my lads," shouted the commander of the party as I was steppinginto my boat, "that young officer is a good fellow so let us give himthree cheers."
"Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!" broke from the throats of all the regiment ingood hearty style.
I turned round as I was shoving off and bowed and waved my hat, and Iparted on the most amiable terms from those heroes, so like the raggedregiment headed by the redoubtable Sir John Falstaff.
We had great fun on board as I described them--Frank Mercer alone lookedgrave.
"Does it not strike you," said he, "that the very fact of the want ofuniformity in their outward man shows the unanimity of sentiment whichpervades them and makes them flock round the standard of liberty todefend their rights as freemen, regardless of outward appearance? Thosepoor fellows, though doubtless very inferior to regular troops, wouldnot shed their blood less willingly or behave less bravely in the faceof an enemy."
"Oh, you are a rebel, Mercer, you are a rebel!" we all shouted; "don'ttalk treason here."
"I only talk truth," answered Mercer gravely.
Since then I have been much inclined to agree with him.
We had a speedy voyage back, without taking a prize, and reached NewYork harbour on the 27th of August. A considerable number ofships-of-war and transports had arrived during our absence, having onboard large reinforcements. Among them were a large body of Hessiantroops, who had been hired from the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and theDuke of Brunswick, especially to put down the American rebellion. Theywere well disciplined, but fierce, ruthless troops, who murdered andplundered without hesitation whenever they had the opportunity, and werenaturally dreaded and hated by the enemy. Besides the troops which hadcome from Europe, a large body of men had arrived from the South, underthe command of Sir Henry Clinton, who, in conjunction with Sir PeterParker, had retired from an unsuccessful attempt to capture Charleston,in South Carolina, which, after the evacuation of Boston, it wasconsidered important to occupy. I afterwards served under Sir PeterParker and heard all the particulars, some of which I now introduce tomake my brief account of the contest more complete.
At the entrance of Charleston harbour, on the right hand, is Sullivan'sIsland, about six miles below the city. To the east of Sullivan'sIsland is Long Island, from which it is separated by a creek called theBreach. On the south-west point of Sullivan's Island was a strong fort,though composed only of earth and palmetto wood. As palmetto wood issoft and does not splinter, it was especially suited for the purpose.The squadron, under Sir Peter Parker, consisted of the Bristol,Experiment, Active, Solebay, Actaeon, Syren, and other smaller craft.While Sir Henry Clinton landed his troops on Long Island Sir Peterundertook to attack the fort, which was commanded by Colonel Moultrie.General Lee, however, with a large force, had by rapid marches advancedto the protection of the city. The Thunder-bomb began the action,during which the Sphinx, Syren, and Actaeon ran foul of each other andgot on shore. The two first hauled off, but the Actaeon remained, andwas ultimately abandoned and burned. The fire was most tremendous anddeadly on both sides, but the British suffered the most; indeed, seldomhave ships been exposed to a more terrific battering, or stood it withgreater heroism and perseverance. On board that small squadron therewere no less than sixty-four men killed and one hundred and forty-threewounded. At one time on the deck of the Bristol Sir Peter himself,amidst the deadly shower, alone stood unhurt. Captain Morris, of theActaeon, was killed, as was Lord Campbell, late governor of theprovince, serving as a volunteer on board. Captain Scott, of theExperiment, lost his arm. The Bristol was completely unrigged; her gunswere dismounted and her top-masts shot away. In vain Sir Peter lookedfor the assistance he expected from Sir Henry. Each time the troopsattempted to cross from Long Island they were foiled by the bold frontpresented by a body of Americans with artillery. At length, the carnagegrowing more appalling than ever, and their hope of success diminishing,Sir Peter ordered them to make their way out of action. This event tookplace on the 28th of June. Other unsuccessful attempts were made tocapture the fort, and in a few days the troops were re-embarked and thesquadron came northward. I did not hear that the Phoenix, Rose, andTryall did much execution up the Hudson. They had some encounters withthe enemy's row-boats and exchanged shots occasionally with the troopson shore; while they had constantly to be on the watch at night toprevent the attack of fire-ships; but their chief object was evidentlyto survey the river, to enable the fleet to proceed upwards ifnecessary. As the river is very broad, in many places expanding intoalmost lakes, they were able to anchor at all times out of gun shotdistance. Having accomplished their object, they left the river on the18th, exchanging a brisk fire with the forts in their passage.
I must now give a sketch of one of the most sanguinary encounters it hasever been my lot to witness, and which, had we arrived a day later, Ishould have missed seeing.
People in England were apt to fancy that the rebels were officered by aset of planters or merchants, and to treat them accordingly withsuperciliousness and contempt, instead of which, besides GeneralWashington, there were many who had been engaged from their youth upwardin border warfare, not only with Indians, but with the disciplinedtroops of France. Many had aided in the conquest of Canada, whileothers had served in the armies of England and other European powers,and had experience equal to those to whom they were opposed, wantingonly titular or official rank; while all were better acquainted with thecountry and were animated with the warmest patriotism and belief in thejustice of their cause. Their great deficiency was in the discipline oftheir men, who, though not wanting in bravery, had but little discretionand no experience in general, while the subaltern officers weredestitute also of the same necessary qualities. Some of theirregiments, however, had been brought into very fair discipline, and werewell officered. The great fault of the British, I must remark, as Ishall have frequently to do, was over-confidence and a contempt of thefoe with whom they were contending. On the present occasion, however,no imputation of that sort could be cast on the British commanders. Themain body of the Americans were entrenched in a strong position atBrooklyn, at the end of Long Island, directly opposite New York, fromwhich it is divided by a strait about three quarters of a mile in width,called East River. Directly down the centre of the island is a ridge ofrocky hills, covered with wood. Across these hills were three roadsleading from the side of the island, opposite Staten Island, where ourtroops would naturally land. These three passes were held by differentbodies of American troops. The whole American force was under thecommand of General Putnam, though it was said Washington himselffrequently crossed from New York to aid in the defence of the position.Previous to the 27th a large portion of our army, including two brigadesof Hessians, had crossed over from Staten Island, and, landing betweenGravesend and Flatland, some of them encamped in that neighbourhood,while the Hessians pushed on to a place called Flatbush. On the eveningof the 26th the whole army advanced, Sir Henry Clinton leading the lightinfantry, Lord Percy following with the grenadiers, flying artillery,and light dragoons, while Lord Cornwallis, accompanied by Lord Howe,brought up the rear-guard with the heavy ordnance. About two hoursbefore daybreak they arrived at the neighbourhood of the hills, whenthey discovered that the pass to the east, called the Bedford Pass, wasunoccupied. He at once led his division through it, and thus turned theleft of the American position. In the meantime General Grant hadadvanced with another division from Gravesend past Gowanus Cowe, on theroad by the Narrows towards the right of the American position. As soonas it was daylight he formed his troops directly opposite the enemy,where he waited to hear that Sir Henry had commenced the attack.General De Heister, who commanded the Hessians, had kept up a hot firewith his artillery on a redoubt in front of the lines from his camp atFlatbush, which he ultimately stormed, while Lord Cornwallis, advancingon the centre, was bravely opposed by Lord Stirling who had taken uparms on the side of the Americans. One of our ships was all the timedischarging a heavy cannonade on the battery at Red Hook, near which wealso were brought up to join in the action had it been necessary, andwhence from the maintop, where I with others had gone, I had a tolerablyperfect view of many of the proceedings. Hemmed in on all sides, as Ihave described, and pressed on by overwhelming numbers of disciplinedtroops, the Americans, after a desperate and brave resistance, at lengthgave way, and then commenced a most indiscriminate and dreadfulslaughter. They were cut down and trampled on by the cavalry, bayonetedby the savage Hessians, and torn in pieces by the artillery. Somerallied for a time and defended themselves with their rifles, behindrocks and trees, and at length, by a desperate effort, cut their waythrough their foes to the lines. Lord Stirling, who had fought bravelythroughout the day, surrendered himself as a prisoner to General DeHeister, two hundred and fifty of the brave fellows he had led lyingdead around him. General Sullivan and several other officers weretaken, endeavouring to cover the retreat of their troops. The enemy inall lost in killed alone full fifteen hundred men besides others whowere smothered in the mud as they were endeavouring to escape from theHessian bayonets. These, with
wounded and prisoners, made up their lossto nearly three thousand men out of scarcely more than five thousandengaged.
It is a dreadful sight to witness slaughter such as this was, when one'sblood is cold and one sits a mere spectator of the fight. I felt allthe time more inclined to side with the poor Americans as they wereflying from our victorious troops than to wish for the success of thelatter. I heard a deep groan near me as I was seated in the maintop. Ilooked round. It was Frank Mercer. He was as pale as death. I thoughthe would have fallen on deck. At times he would shade his eyes with hishand, and then again he would gaze earnestly at the dreadful sight as ifunable to resist its horrid fascination. Of course I have not describedhalf the events of the day.
The Americans retreated within their lines and the British troopsadvanced close up to them. It was supposed that General Howe would givethe order to storm the works. Had he done so at once they wouldcertainly have been taken, and though with some considerable loss oflife, it might have prevented much subsequent greater loss. However, itappeared that he had resolved to attack the lines by regular approaches.General Washington, seeing the inevitable result, made a masterlyretreat with the whole garrison across the sound to New York during thenight, favoured by calm weather and a thick fog. Notice was brought inthe morning to General Howe of what had occurred, and when one of hisaides-de-camp, who was sent to ascertain the fact, climbed over thecrest of the works he found them of a truth deserted. The next day noless than thirteen hundred Americans were buried in one large pit, whilemany more had been lost in the creek and swamp near the lines.
It was the general opinion, both in the camp and fleet, that had thearmy at once been pushed forward, a speedy and happy conclusion wouldhave been brought to the war. There were all sorts of reports current.Among them it was said that the city was about to be abandoned and burntto the ground, to prevent our troops occupying it for the winter. Thisproceeding, however, the inhabitants strongly opposed, as all theirproperty would thereby have been destroyed. I must not delay theprogress of my narrative to mention the various reports of all sortswhich were flying about.
On the 30th we again put to sea, Captain Hudson having under his commandthe Niger and Greyhound frigates. We cruised off Sandy Hook withoutmeeting with any occurrence worth noting till the 3rd of September, whenwe returned to Sandy Hook. Here we received orders once more to proceedto sea, to look out for a fleet of transports, with a division ofHessians on board, daily expected from Europe, under convoy of theRepulse. We fortunately fell in with them on the following morning, andreturned in their company to Gravesend Day.
On the 8th we moved up to Staten Island, and we began to hope that we atlength might be engaged in some more active service than we had hithertoseen.
"Have you heard the news?" exclaimed Delisle two days afterwards, as Icame on deck for the first time that morning.
I inquired what it was.
"We are to move up at once opposite New York and to prepare the ship forrunning past the batteries up the East River."
"Hurra! the hotter the better; anything better than stagnation!" Iexclaimed.
"Mercer, have you made your will?" asked Kennedy, as the two met eachother near us.
"Yes, Kennedy, I have," answered Mercer gravely. "It may not be to-dayor to-morrow that it will come into force, but it may before long, and Iwish that those I may not help living may benefit by my death."
Kennedy had nothing to reply to this; Mercer's solemn manner silencedhim.
"What does Mercer mean? Does he think he is going to be killed?" askedlittle Harry Sumner, who was standing by.
"It may be the lot of anyone of us, my boy," said I. "Though I hope theenemy's shot won't find you out at all events."
"I hope not indeed," replied Harry. "I should like to go home anddescribe all the places I have seen and the things we have done."
As I looked at our young pet I felt how hard a thing it was that sosmall a lad should be exposed to all the vicissitudes of warfare.
Macallan had overheard us. "It's my opinion that Mercer has seen hiswraith," he remarked sententiously. "There's a grave, dour look abouthis pale countenance which a man who is long for this world neverwears."
We all agreed that there was too much truth about the doctor'sobservation, though we trusted he might be mistaken. I have heard manyconversations of this sort, and many of my shipmates and others whom Ihave known have had presentiments of their approaching death. Some havebeen killed on the occasion they expected, while others who appearedequally certain of being summoned away have come out of action withoutscratch. Others, again, whom I have seen laughing and jesting as ifthey had a long lease of life before them, have, within a few hoursperhaps, been stretched lifeless on the deck. I have come to theconclusion, therefore, that no one can tell when his last moment is tocome, and that consequently it behoves us all to be prepared at alltimes for that unavoidable occurrence.
Among the ships lying near us was the Roebuck, of 44 guns, commanded byCaptain Andrew Snape Hamond, (note 1), a very active and intelligentofficer. I knew several of her officers. Among them was an old friendof mine, Hitchcock, belonging to Falmouth. I dined with him a day ortwo after this, and in return invited him to dine with me on board theOrpheus.
"I'll come," said he; "depend upon me, I'll not let the rebels stop me."
"I shall keep you to your promise," I replied, as I was shoving off.
We had prepared the ship for action for some days by clearing away allbulkheads fore and aft, and sending everything not absolutely requiredbelow. Still several days passed by and nothing was done. It wasunderstood that Lord Howe and Dr Franklin were negotiating at thistime, as the result proved, without any effect. Lord Howe to the lastwas anxious to prevent more bloodshed, and hoped to bring the coloniststo terms, but as they now considered themselves an independent people,and he had the authority to treat with them in that capacity, he waspowerless.
At length, on the 21st of September, towards three o'clock in theafternoon, the admiral made the signal for us to weigh. Each man withalacrity hurried to his quarters. Never was sail more speedily got onthe ship. The Phoenix, Roebuck, Carrisfort, and Rose were seenspreading their canvas at the same time to a very light air which blewfrom the westward. I must try and describe the scene of our operations.Before us lay a long, narrow strip of land called Manhattan Island,about thirteen miles long and from half a mile to two wide, on the southend of which stands the City of New York, while on the north end aresome hills called the Harlem Heights. It is divided from the mainlandon the north by a creek called the Harlem River, over which there is abridge called King's Bridge. The west of Manhattan Island is washed bythe River Hudson, which separates it from the New Jersey shore, whilepart of the Sound, which is called the East River, runs round it on thesouth and east, dividing it from Long Island, till it is joined by theHarlem River on the north. The Harlem River forms a directcommunication between the Hudson and East River. That part of itnearest the Hudson was called by the Dutch Spuyten Duyvel Creek, whilethe east end, where it joins East River, has the still less pleasantsounding name of Hell Gate. Near it was a strong battery. Nearly inthe centre of East River, opposite the south point of New York, isGovernor's Island, which was strongly fortified. There were batteriesalong the whole line of the shore on Manhattan Island. Slowly andsolemnly our squadron approached the shore. Perfect silence reignedthroughout the ship. For some time not a shot was fired. CaptainHudson had been keeping a sharp look-out on the enemy's batteries as weapproached.
"Pass the word along the decks that every man and officer is to lie downat his quarters!" he exclaimed.
The judicious order was at once obeyed. The same precaution was notused by the other ships. At half-past three, when we were withinpistol-shot of the city, the enemy opened their fire. We were so closeand moved so slowly that scarcely a shot missed us, literally riddlingthe ship, as if we had been a butt put up to be fired at.
"How do you like
this?" I asked of young Sumner, who was near me.
"Not at all just now," he answered. "I only wish that the captain wouldlet us get up and fire back on the enemy. I thought that was alwaysdone when people fight."
"Sometimes one has to be battered at as well as to batter, as in thepresent instance," I answered. "But depend on it, we shall be allowedto take our revenge before long."
"Oh, I wish those dreadful cannon-balls would not come so close to one,"sung out poor Harry, half playfully, half in earnest, as a round shotcame crashing through the bulwark close to where we lay, throwing thesplinters about us, ploughing up the deck, and passing out at a port onthe other side.
"I thought you were not going to be frightened, Harry, my boy," said I.
"Nor should I, I tell you, if I could but be firing in return," heanswered. "Besides, it is the first time I was ever in action, and Ihave heard that the bravest men are apt to bob their heads on suchoccasions. Perhaps when I get accustomed to it I shall care as littleas anyone for it."
"I have no doubt you will, Harry," I replied; and most truly the noblelittle fellow did not disappoint my expectations. With proud defiancethe squadron continued its onward course, still desisting from firing,as if invulnerable to the showers of round shot and bullets which camewhistling about them. The enemy were in general firing too high to domuch injury except to our rigging; the splinters which flew from ourtopmasts and yards and came showering down every now and then on deck,and the strange festoons our rigging began to form, the ends of ropeshanging here and there, and the numerous holes exhibited in our sailsshowed the effect their unremitting fire had caused. Sometimes the windwas so light that we had little more than steerage way, when instantlyguns were brought round to attack us. Still we had not performed halfour distance. I must own that never, when in chase of an enemy, or whenattacked by gun-boats, or when finding my ship set on shore by a strongcurrent, have I more earnestly prayed than now for a breeze to carry usonward. Nothing so much damps the ardour of men as having to sit quietand be fired at without having the power of returning the compliment.Few can stand it except Turks and Englishmen; Turks because they fancyit is their fate, Englishmen because they know it is their duty. As theshot came crashing among us and the blocks and splinters from the sparsand other parts of the rigging came tumbling down on our heads, a growlmight every now and then be heard from some of the seamen very like thatgiven by a savage dog chained up as a stranger approaches his kennel andhe finds after repeated trials that he has come to the length of histether. I really felt it a relief when I had to move about the decks onany duty, as was the case occasionally when a slight shift of wind or analteration in our course made it necessary to trim sails, though I wasthus exposed to a much greater risk of losing the number of my mess.Not a man could show his head above the hammock nettings but he was sureto become the mark of a hundred riflemen who were poking out theirweapons from the windows of the houses which looked so peaceably at us.As I went about the decks I amused myself by remarking the differentexpressions worn by the countenances of the men. With respect to thegreater number it was that of calm indifference, as if not aware thatthey were running any unusual risk of their lives. Some seemed to seethe danger, but to brave it; many were laughing and joking amongthemselves, while a few, and only a few, were evidently in no smallterror of being hit. I passed near Tom Rockets. His countenance toldme that I need have no fear of his doing me discredit. Old Grampus wasnear him, looking as calm as if he was sitting down to his dinner.
"I have been telling the youngster, sir," said he, "that one of thefirst things a seaman has to learn is how to bear the hardships it mayplease Providence to send him, whether he has to be shot at, as he hasnow, or to suffer famine on a raft or desert island, or to have the seabreaking over him on a wreck or on the cold, slippery rocks. Maybehe'll have to try them all before he settles down with a wooden leg,ashore in his own cottage, or bears up for Greenwich, as I hopes to doone day."
Tom listened to this very gravely, but I suspect old Nol had beenamusing himself somewhat at his expense. Hour after hour passed by, andthe ship proudly held on her course round Manhattan Island till wereached the eastern side beyond the city, where, at a spot called Kip'sBay, about two miles from it, the squadron at length, at about seveno'clock, dropped anchor in front of a long line of entrenchments whichthe enemy had thrown up.
Captain Hudson, having to communicate with Captain Hamond, sent me onboard the Roebuck. Having delivered my message, I inquired for myfriend Hitchcock.
"He is here," said Collins, a midshipman I had addressed, lifting up anensign which was spread near the mainmast.
There lay the poor fellow who was to have dined with me that day, solately full of life and spirits, now stiff and stark. A rifle-bullethad passed through his heart. Several other men had been killed andwounded on board. Such is one of the chances of war. I returned sadlyon board my own ship. In those days such an occurrence had but a verytransitory effect.
As soon as the enemy found that we were to be stationary for a while,some guns were brought up, which began playing on us, and kept up a novery musical serenade during the night. The shots struck the shipsoccasionally; but the guns were very badly served, and did little or noexecution. Their music did not prevent me sleeping soundly, andpreparing to take my share in the hot work in which we were about togage.
The next day we received orders to attack the batteries at Hell Gate.Lord Howe could not have been informed of the true nature of the place,or he would not have issued the order. The pilots, however, positivelyrefused to take up the ships, asserting, and not without good grounds,that they would inevitably be lost. At all events, I believe that bytheir determination we escaped a severe chastisement from the enemy. Wetherefore, with the exception of a little cannonading, spent anotherquiet night with whole skins in Kip's Bay.
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Note 1. Afterwards Sir Andrew Hamond, Bart, and father of the lateAdmiral Sir Graham Hamond, Admiral of the Fleet, and grandfather of thepresent Captain Sir Andrew Hamond, Bart.--Editor.
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