by James Otis
CHAPTER XIV.
AT WASHINGTON.
The first thought in my mind, on being aroused from deep slumber by aheavy blow on my feet, was that the enemy had come upon us, and abattle had been begun while I remained unconscious.
Springing up quickly, my eyes hardly half-open, I made ready to defendmyself with no other weapons than those provided by nature, butnothing more formidable confronted me than Darius Thorpe, whose mouthwas stretched wide in a grin, as if he saw something exceeding comicalin thus disturbing a fellow's slumbers.
"This is no time for horse-play!" I cried indignantly. "Having but twohours for rest, it would seem that such jokes might be dispensedwith."
"I don't allow that I'm jokin'," the old man replied gravely, thesmile disappearing from his face as he understood that I wasthoroughly angry. "You have used up your allowance of time insleepin', an' now it's a case of gettin' into line."
"I haven't had a five-minutes nap!" I cried, firmly believing that Ispoke the truth.
"It's a good two hours since we came to a halt, but even though thetime wasn't up, we'd have to get into motion, for another messengerhas arrived from the commodore, an' there won't be any more loafin''twixt here an' Washington."
"What is the news?" I asked, beginning to be ashamed of myself becauseof having lost my temper.
"General Ross, commandin' the British forces on land, has arrived atthe Wood Yard, an' the chances are that, with troops accustomed tolong marches, he will push on without much of a halt. Even if we werenot needed in Washington, it would stand us in hand to move mightyquick."
Then Darius continued his task of awakening the sleepers, and I madeready for another march when it seemed as if the word to halt had butjust been given.
When we set out again all of us from the Avenger were side by side,and, although it may seem childish to say so, the fact that I hadfriends at either hand gave me renewed strength of body as well as ofmind.
It is not well that I make any further attempt at following step bystep what was supposed to be a hurried movement to reinforce ourcomrades of the flotilla, but which in reality was neither more norless than a hasty retreat. It is enough if I say that late in thenight following the day when Commodore Barney's fleet was destroyed,we arrived at the marine barracks in Washington, where was the forcewhich had accompanied our commander.
Just then we were too tired and foot-sore to give any heed to ourfriends who had been impatiently awaiting the arrival of us who hadbeen left behind on a dangerous duty. We only asked permission to liedown anywhere in order to rest our aching limbs, and this we were ableto do, as a matter of course.
When morning came, however, and we were awakened by the bustle andconfusion which would naturally arise when five or six hundred men arequartered in four buildings forming a square, we gave little heed tothe stiffness of joints and blistered feet which remained as mementoesof that long march, as we greeted those for whom we had greater orless affection.
The first person whom I saw was Bill Jepson. He had been searchingthrough the barracks for Jerry and me, and I really believe the oldfellow was heartily pleased at seeing us once more.
"Well, my bullies, how about that famous ship Avenger, Amos Groutcommander, and Darius Thorpe general supercargo?" Bill cried in avoice of thunder as he shook hands with each of us in turn, beginningwith me, and ending with Dody Wardwell.
"What there is left of her might be found at the bottom of thePatuxent, if you hunted long enough," I replied, feeling a bitsaddened by the loss of the pungy, and not having had time before tothink very much about her fate.
"The whole fleet went up, eh? Tell me about it," and Bill seatedhimself on the edge of a bunk as if expecting to hear a long yarn.
There wasn't much to be told, as is known by any one who has had thepatience to read what has been set down here; but I gave him a fullaccount of all we had done, and wound up by complaining of the longmarch we had been forced to take.
"Don't let a little thing like that distress you, matey, for unlessthe Britishers whip us out of our boots here in Washington, I'mthinkin' we'll have to scratch gravel a good many times before this'ere war is ended. Where's Darius?"
We could give him no information concerning the old man, save to saythat he was with us when we went to sleep the night previous,whereupon Bill said with a laugh:
"I reckon he's tellin' the commodore how this little business shouldbe carried on, though he claims that the man never lived who couldgive Joshua Barney points."
I had no particular desire to hear about the commodore or Darius,therefore I asked if he knew anything concerning Elias Macomber, andas I mentioned the name Bill burst into a hearty laugh.
"Know anythin' about him, lad? I reckon I do, seein's I helped lodgehim in jail, an' how the hound whined for a chance to escape! Hepromised me more dollars than I could carry in my hat, if I'd give himfive minutes the start; but so long's he didn't let on where he'd getthe coin, or how it might be passed over to me, I couldn't make anydicker."
"Then there's no need to worry any more about his getting away," Isaid to myself, whereat Bill Jepson looked grave, and I made haste tosay:
"One might think from the look on your face that you believed hischances for escape were good?"
"He'll stay where he is while we hold possession of the city, an' ofthat you may be certain, lad; but in case the British----"
"You are not thinking that the enemy can take Washington?" Jerry criedin amazement.
"Ay, lad, an' if the truth was known, I'm not the only one who isbelievin' much the same thing."
"But all the people in this country would come here to defend thecity!" I exclaimed, thinking for the moment that Bill Jepson wastrying to play upon our fears.
"They haven't done it so far," and the sailor looked grave again. "Asnear as I can hear we've got about seven thousand men near about, an'more'n three-quarters of 'em are so green that it would be dangerousto let the cows have a whack at 'em."
"Have the Britishers a larger force?" Jim Freeman asked.
"No, lad, not quite so many when you come to number 'em up; but theyare all trained soldiers, every one the match for three of ours in areg'lar battle, no matter how well the Americans can fight. Thenagain, what with the President an' all the big bugs takin' a hand,we've got too many commanders. Leave the whole business to oneman--say Joshua Barney, for example--, an' I believe we could hold ourown."
To us youngsters who had come expecting to aid in a successful defenseof the city, this kind of talk was not particularly cheerful, and Iwould have welcomed any change in the conversation; but Bill Jepsonhad used his eyes to good advantage during the short stay inWashington, and was determined that we should receive the benefit ofwhat he had seen and heard.
"Last night Mr. Monroe, the secretary of state, sent a despatch to thePresident, an' I saw a copy of it while on duty at the commodore'squarters. It read like this: 'The enemy are advanced six miles on theroad to the Wood Yard, and our troops are retiring. Our troops were onthe march to meet them, but in too small a body to engage. GeneralWinder proposes to retire till he can collect them in a body. Theenemy are in full march to Washington. Have the materials prepared todestroy the bridges.' That was signed with Mr. Monroe's name, lads,an' after so much, he wrote, 'You had better remove the records.' Nowdo you think I'm so far out of the way in sayin' that there's a goodchance of our gettin' the worst of it?"
Just at that moment, to my great relief of mind, my father appeared inthe doorway of the barracks, and I sprang to meet him.
How good it was to see his dear face once more! What a sense of reliefcame over me because he was near! I was yet so young as to believethat no harm could come to a fellow while his father was near, and onthe moment all the fears which had been aroused by Bill Jepson passedout of mind.
It is not necessary for me to set down that conversation between myfather and me while it related to the dear ones at home, or our owntwo selves; but when we had spoken our fill on such matters it was
butnatural we should come back to the situation in which our troops wereplaced, and, greatly to my surprise, I found that my father despairedof success in much the same measure as did Bill Jepson.
"We can only do our best, lad, and for your mother's sake we'll praythat both of us may go back to Benedict; but if only one, then itshould be you, who have promise of so many more years of life than I."
We were yet speaking of matters much too private to be set down in astory like this, when the command came for all the men of CommodoreBarney's force to fall into line, and on the instant we understoodthat we were to join the small army led by General Winder.
I know not how it was we were so confident as to our destination,except that the general and our commander had been long inconsultation before this day; but certain it is we felt positive allof us were about to retrace our steps.
And now, while our men are scurrying to and fro making ready foranother march before having recovered from the one just ended, let meset down here what I afterward read in print, for it will serve toexplain why we did not do that which the country expected, and evendemanded:
"Winder's situation was an unenviable one.[A] With a comparativelystrong foe on his front, ready to fall upon him or the capital he wasexpected to defend, he had only about twenty-five hundred armed andeffective men in camp, and many of these had been from their homesonly three or four days. They were undisciplined and untried, andsurrounded and influenced by a crowd of excited civilians, to whoseofficious but well-intended information and advice the general wascompelled to listen. In addition to this intrusion and interference ofcommon men, he was embarrassed by the presence and suggestions of thePresident and his Cabinet ministers, the most of them utterly ignorantof military affairs. Better would it have been for Winder and thecountry if these civilians, from the President down, had kept awayfrom the camp and the field, and prudently preserved silence."
[A] Lossing's "War of 1812."
As a matter of course, we of the rank and file knew very littleconcerning the trials of the officer who was charged with the defenseof the city; but we did understand that our force was not sufficientin either discipline or numbers to cope with that which we must meet,yet I did not hear a word of grumbling or fear as we made ready forthe march.
It was as if a full knowledge of the danger served to inspire us withcourage.
We set out within ten minutes after the order had been received; but Idid not see Commodore Barney until we had retraced our steps to LongOld Fields, and there we found the small army throwing up a slightbreastwork, as if believing that an attack was imminent.
"This looks as if you an' I might see more of war than may bepleasant," Jerry whispered to me as we stood in line waiting to bedismissed. "It is all very well to fight when you're on board a goodvessel; but runnin' around on shore, marchin' here till you can do nomore than move, an' then marchin' back again, is a little better thanI hanker after."
"It's too late to talk like that," I replied, smiling as I rememberedhow eager my partner had been to go as a soldier when I was hangingback. "We're like to see an hundred times worse than this before we'remany hours older."
"Ay, an' there's never one here, save you, Amos, who shall have aninklin' of the fact that I'm growin' mighty sick of my bargain."
Then we were dismissed, to find such tents and rations as GeneralWinder's force could spare us, for our baggage-train was yet on theroad, and while we were thus engaged Jim Freeman shouted to us.
"Darius has got a tent for our crowd; it's close by the commodore's,an', what's better, the old sailor has been rummagin' 'round till he'sgot all the grub we'll need for some time to come."
"Where are Dody and Josiah?" I asked.
"Holdin' down the tent till we can take possession; there's so muchpullin' an' haulin' after rations an' quarters, that it ain't safe toleave anything alone."
I supposed that we would be ordered to aid in throwing up thebreastworks, therefore it stood us in hand to learn where we belonged,before the labor was begun, and without delay we followed Jim.
Indeed we had been fortunate in having Darius to care for us, since,thanks to him, none at Long Old Fields, save the officers, werequartered as well as we.
In a few moments the canvas tent, strewn with our belongings, hadquite a home air, and we lost no time in making an attack on the storeof provisions which the old sailor had gathered for us.
We were eating hurriedly, lest we should be ordered to take up thepicks and shovels before our hunger could be satisfied, when Dariuscame in looking thoroughly fagged and worn out.
"But for you we'd been without a shelter to-night," I said as he threwhimself on the ground near me.
"An' that would have made little difference, lad, for the open air ina summer's night is ahead of any canvas house. Howsomever, the tentserves as a place where we can keep our belongings without fear someof these clodhoppin' imitations of soldiers will get away with 'em."
"I suppose we shall be called upon to take a hand in throwing upbreastworks?" I suggested, and a more cheerful look came over the oldman's face than I had seen since word was given to fire the fleet.
"We who have just come in will be allowed to take it easy, if theBritishers don't interfere, till mornin', when, if there's time leftus, we'll turn to at throwin' dirt."
All of us lads settled back with a certain sense of comfort andsatisfaction difficult to describe. There were many in that small armywho were hungry, because of the delay and confusion in sending outsupplies, and yet more who would lie down with nothing to shelter themfrom the heavy dew, while we were well protected, and with a goodlyfood supply, all of which spoke well for the forethought and abilityof Darius Thorpe.
"I'm goin' to turn in, if so be we've got nothin' to do till mornin',"Jim Freeman said as he suited the action to the words, and Josiah andDody followed his example.
I was not minded to close my eyes in slumber until after having heardfrom the old sailor all he could tell, although it goes without sayingthat I was tired enough to be able to sleep standing up.
"Have you heard anything new since we arrived?" I asked, and Dariusreplied in a low tone, as if afraid his words might be overheard bysome one on the outside:
"The commodore says we shall have a battle within eight an' fortyhours, an' you know how well he can smell out such things. It seemscertain we can't meet the enemy here, unless more men are sent, an',as I take it, we shall march hither an' yon till we come to the fightfit for nothin' but to turn in."
"Where are the British now?"
"The main body is at Upper Marlboro; but there are a couple of columnsmovin' about in a way that betokens mischief for some of us 'twixt nowan' mornin'."
"What have you been doing? I didn't see anything of you after westarted back for this place."
"I came on ahead, ridin' part of the way, with the commodore, an'we've been on the move pretty much ever since. General Stansbury is atBladensburg, an' General Winder counts on goin' there to-morrow for aconference, leavin' our commodore in command here."
"But what have you been doing to tire you so thoroughly?" I persisted.
"Nothin' exceptin' tag around at Joshua Barney's heels, an' he's areg'lar tiger at walkin', whereas it puts me in bad shape."
"Why not lie down while you may, and get some sleep?" I asked.
"Because I'm under orders to go back to the commodore. You lads turnin, an' I'll creep under cover whenever it's possible."
Having thus evaded my question as to what he had been doing, the oldman went out of the tent, leaving Jerry and I gazing at each other,but not daring to speak the thoughts which were in our mind.
If Commodore Barney and Darius Thorpe were so anxious as to what mightbe the result of our meeting with the enemy, surely we two lads,ignorant of everything pertaining to warfare, save marching, had causefor alarm.
We sat facing each other a full ten minutes without speaking. It waspossible to hear the laborers as they threw up the slight breastworkwhich could be of but lit
tle service save to mark our position, or thehum of conversation as the idlers paced to and fro near the tent, andall these sounds was token that we were a tiny part of the livingmachine with which nations waged war.
"There's no sense in sittin' here like a couple of dummies," Jerryfinally said. "We'd best be gettin' all the sleep we can, an' thenwe'll be the better prepared for what is before us."
It would have pleased me well to find my father and have a talk withhim; but I did not feel warranted in leaving my comrades at such atime, therefore I acted at once upon Jerry's suggestion.
It was not a difficult matter to fall asleep, after the long march,and until late in the night I enjoyed a most refreshing slumber, whenthe entrance of Darius awakened me.
"What is the time?" I asked.
"Near to midnight."
"Have you been working all this while?"
"Movin' around with the commodore, that's all," Darius replied, as helaid down beside me, and a moment later his heavy breathing told thatthe weary old man was resting after nearly twenty hours of labor.
Try as I might, it was impossible to close my eyes in sleepimmediately. My thoughts would stray back to Benedict, and the more mymind dwelt upon mother and the children the less inclined did I feelfor slumber.
I twisted and turned while my tent-mates slept more or less noisily,until by the cries of the sentinels I knew it was two o'clock in themorning, and then the idea that in a few hours I must be at work withno chance for rest, caused me to feel drowsy.
Save for the measured tread of the sentinels, and their calls fromtime to time, the silence of the encampment was profound, and I wasidly saying to myself that it seemed difficult to fancy one was in themidst of more than two thousand men, when suddenly came a sharp cryfrom a distance, followed by another and another until the long rollof the drums rang out on the night air like distant thunder.
"What is it?" I cried, as Darius sprang to his feet.
"The call for all hands," the old man said as he groped around for hismusket and ammunition. "The Britishers have shown themselves, hopin'to take us by surprise, most like. Move lively, lads, for JoshuaBarney's followin' must be the first in line."
How we contrived to arm ourselves and get out of the tent into themidst of a throng of apparently bewildered men, I know not; butcertain it is we found ourselves there following Darius, who was theonly one I saw that evidently had his wits about him. Left toourselves we would have wandered aimlessly around the encampment, asdid many hundred of the men; but the old sailor, who surely shouldhave been born a soldier, led us to the proper place as if he hadalways served his country on land instead of water.
We found our people from the flotilla in fairly good formation, readyto repel an attack, while the raw militia were scurrying to and frolike frightened sheep, and such fact made me feel proud that I was amember of "Barney's seamen."
"You've done well, lads," the commodore said approvingly, while hemoved to and fro in front of us to make certain that we were allthere. "We'll show these landsmen before this little scrimmage isover, that we old shell-backs are not web-footed when it comes toobeying orders."
Then it was that I began to understand why those who served underJoshua Barney were so proud of, and had such confidence in, him.There was in the ring of his voice, in his way of looking at afellow, and his every movement, something which bespoke him a friend,and from that moment, I became as ardent an admirer of the fightingcaptain as ever was Darius Thorpe.
Of a verity I believe a full fifteen minutes elapsed before all ourpeople were in line of battle, which spoke badly for what might happenin case the enemy planned a surprise, and then we learned that thealarm was a false one.
"Some weak-kneed sentinel was frightened at his own shadow," thecommodore said, speaking quietly to his men. "But it hasn't done usany harm to be routed out in short order, for now we can see hownecessary it may be to know our stations. Turn in, my hearties, andget what rest you can before we stand up in front of the red-coats togive them a lesson which they're needing."
Then we went back to our tent; but not to sleep. There is a mighty lotof excitement in turning out at night to be shot at, and Darius wasthe only member of our party who felt inclined to lie down.
We sat under the canvas talking in whispers, lest we disturb thosenear at hand, and the old sailor was soon giving good proof that hehad sailed over into dreamland.
Of what did we talk? I can't really tell; but you might put yourselfin our places, and say if you would not naturally speak of those mostdear when you knew beyond a peradventure that within a few hours atthe most you would be standing face to face with death.
When the day broke we stole softly out of the tent that Darius mightget all the sleep possible, and, building a small fire, toasted thestrips of bacon which made up the greater portion of our rations.
Then all hands sat around the tent to prevent any one from awakeningthe old man without good and sufficient cause, until sunrise, whenword was passed from one to another that orders had been given to loadall tents on the baggage-wagons, for the army was to move within anhour.
Then it was that we felt obliged to call Darius, and he came up on hisfeet at the first word, having all his wits about him at the moment ofawakening, as is the habit of sailormen.
"Goin' to move, eh?" he said, when we told him of the order. "Then I'mthinkin' the next halt will be at whatsoever place General Winder haspicked out for a battle-field. Look after the tent, lads, while I geta word with the commodore."
He marched off in the direction of headquarters, and we set about thetask, I observing while passing among the militia, that the men as arule were looking mighty glum, which augured ill for theirperformances if indeed a battle was near at hand.
