CHAPTER XV. THE CHANCE MEETING.
On the following morning the British retreated to their old campingground, and thus each army occupied precisely the same position it didprior to the battle, but with the difference that one was disheartened,and the other was encouraged.
"It is clear we have Burgoyne in our power," Colonel Arnold said to agroup of fellow officers, as he watched the movements of the red-coats.
For a brief time there was no response, and then Colonel Morgan repliedin a low tone:
"He would be, if Schuyler was our commander. When I remember thatGeneral Gates did not appear on the field at any time yesterday, itmakes my blood boil."
"It appears as if some one else is expected to do the work, while hereaps the reward," another said.
"He won't reap the reward of my labors long, if he don't get a move on,"Colonel Arnold retorted with a frown. "I shall resign my commissionrather than serve under such an officer."
The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of General Schuyler,without uniform, however, suggestive of the fact that he was therewithout rank or command. He greeted each member of the group with ahearty shake of the hand, and asked:
"Which of you dare beard the lion in his den?"
"I do," Colonel Arnold replied promptly.
"Suppose we all join," the general continued, "it seems to me a wisemove. If we are agreed, Colonel Arnold as our spokesman may suggest theplan to our commander."
The officers looked meaningly at each other, and some shook their headsas if to say, "We don't understand how you can remain here and do allyou can to bring about a victory, when the entire credit of it will goto another."
If the ex-commander observed the looks and head-shakes, he gave no heed,but added:
"As you all know, the enemy is in a condition which grows worse everyday. Counting his sick and wounded, there are nearly a thousand in thehospital; many are deserting the ranks; provisions are becomingexhausted; a few miles in their rear is an impassable wilderness, and weproved yesterday that he cannot advance. Let us then send troops insufficient number to prevent foraging on the west, and to cut offconnection with his base of supplies on the east. Then, in a few days,he must either fight or surrender."
"The eye doesn't need be more than half open to see that," ColonelMorgan replied.
"Since the general need not endanger his own head by issuing such anorder, I may be able to secure the permission," Colonel Arnold said in atone of contempt, and he walked rapidly toward the headquarters of thecommander-in-chief.
How he presented the matter is not known; but an hour or two later itwas rumored about the encampment that he had been removed from commandof his regiment, for attempting to coerce a superior officer. When thisrumor crystallized into fact, the entire army was threatened withinsubordination. Only the most strenuous efforts of the division andbrigade commanders, ably assisted by Schuyler, their formercommander-in-chief, prevented open rebellion.
"This is terrible," Lieutenant Schuyler said to his three scouts alittle later in the day. "To have our army demoralized in the face ofthe enemy, is a good deal like throwing the victory away after it is inour hands."
"But, thanks to the efforts of the other officers, the worst seems to beover," Late replied.
"For the present, yes," Philip admitted; "but the lightest breeze mayfan into a flame the smoldering fire, and who can tell what GeneralGates will do next?"
"General Lincoln an' General Poor have gone to his quarters for aconsultation," Dan announced. "I'm hopin' something may come from that."
"So'm I," Joe added.
Their hopes were gratified. An order was issued before nightfall forskirmishing parties to be sent out on all sides of the enemy. Within thehour the work was begun, and from that time the British were so hemmedin that it was nearly impossible for any one to enter or leave theirlines without falling into the hands of the patriots.
One day Lieutenant Schuyler, at the head of a squad of men whichincluded Dan Cushing, Latham Wentworth, and Joe Fisher, was scouring thewoods to the westward of the English encampment. He soon found that hischief work was not to capture soldiers seeking to enter the camp, butthose who were leaving it. Before noon so many deserters had fallen intohis hands that it required more than half his force to guard theprisoners.
"If the other skirmishers are picking up as many fugitives as we," thelieutenant said when the latest captures had been sent within theAmerican lines, "Burgoyne's whole army will be in our hands before themonth is out."
"Here come some more," Dan, who was on the right of the squad, said in alow tone. Then, suddenly, he ran to the side of his leader. "There are ahalf dozen Tories," he added, "an', will you believe it, one is oldDavid Daggett, while another, I reckon, is his grandson, Ira Le Geyt!"
The young lieutenant followed Dan to the other end of the line, where hecould better see the approaching men. "You are right," he said a momentlater. "David and Ira are both there, and it is well worth our tramp outhere to capture them."
He divided his followers into two parties, directing one to creepcautiously through the forest to the rear of the royalists, while theother, with himself at its head, moved back to a place where the thicketoffered a place of concealment.
Unaware of the ambush, the Tories advanced, discussing loudly thereasons which led them to return home.
"When I found that the regular troops were put on short rations tofurnish the rest of us with something to eat, I thought I'd better gohome," one man said.
"I believed it was time Ira and I went up to the farm to get food forthe others," David Daggett added. "I tell the boy we've got enough thereto feed a hundred men for a week, and that's something."
"How will you get it down here?" another asked.
"Ira's long head has found a way," the grandfather explained. "If youfellows want to join us in the venture, come on. All of us, workingtogether, ought to bring stores enough to supply a regiment for quite awhile."
"I suppose the general will see we are given good prices for all we takein," a third man remarked.
Then David Daggett grew furious. Whirling around he shook his fist inthe face of the speaker, crying:
"Curses on your mean, stingy soul, John Tarbox! The man who at such atime as this is not ready to give up all he has for the king, ought tobe kicked into the rebel camp, and I'd like to be the one to do it!"
Whether the men would have come to blows is uncertain, for at thatmoment, the young lieutenant sprang out from the thicket and seizedMaster Daggett by the shoulders. At the same instant Late and Joeclutched Ira Le Geyt, while the remainder of the squad gave theirattention to the other Tories. A brief struggle ensued, but when thesecond party of Continentals closed in upon the royalists, they yieldedto the inevitable by surrendering.
Owing to the surprise and excitement incident to the moment, DavidDaggett did not at first recognize the leader of the skirmishers. Whenhe did, however, he gave way to the harshest epithets and the bitterestinvectives he could think of, ending by crying:
"You young devil, that is what I think of you!"
"Your opinion of me is so much better than mine of you, that it isunnecessary for me to say a single word," the young officer repliedcalmly, ordering his men to fall in with their prisoners.
"What are you going to do with me?" Ira Le Geyt demanded. "Since you canno longer personate me at General Burgoyne's headquarters, I should beallowed to go home, where my father, wounded by you or some of your men,lies dangerously ill."
"We must prevent that long head of yours from devising some means ofgetting stores into the British camp," Joe replied. "You ought to begrateful to us for saving you from so strenuous a task."
The young Tory frowned, and relapsed into silence. But not so with theolder one. His wrath had now given place to curiosity, and he asked:
"How did you escape from that building after I set it on fire?"
"Perhaps I got out before," Phil
ip answered with a smile. Then, to learnwhether the soldier he and his comrades had bound and left in his bedwas yet alive, he asked, "Didn't the guard tell you how I got away?"
"He didn't know anything," the old man replied angrily. "Some men whowent up there found him bound and gagged, so brought him down. But whenit was possible for him to talk, he had nothing to tell. Never knew whotied him, or when it happened. He was certain, though, that the door wasfastened on the outside, and it puzzled him to know how you got at him,unless some one lent a hand."
"I had good friends," Philip replied, glancing with a smile at Dan andLate, who were behind him.
The old prisoner failed to see the glance.
"They say the devil helps his own," he retorted, "and he must have beenthe one who helped you."
Again Philip looked over his shoulder at his friends, and laughedoutright, while Joe, who was near enough to hear what old David hadsaid, remarked:
"Rather rough on you lads, ain't he?"
At the sound of his voice the old Tory turned and, seeing both Late andJoe, cried:
"You here, too, you young devils? It seems to be a good day for thebreed." Then he sang:
"Devils on ahead! Devils in the rear! If the devils were all dead, You rebels wouldn't be here!"
Some of the soldiers laughed, others showed signs of anger, and thelieutenant said warningly:
"If you keep that up long, Uncle David, my men will serve you as yourfriends threatened to do at the old hut." The song came to a suddenclose.
A half-hour later the prisoners were in the Continental camp, confinedwith an hundred others who had been brought in that day. Then Philip andhis friends went to the mess-room for supper. While they were eating anorderly came in, and, touching the lieutenant on the shoulder, said:
"General Gates wishes to see you at seven o'clock."
The lad looked at his watch.
"I will go immediately," he answered.
On entering the quarters of the commander-in-chief he was surprised tofind his father there. General Gates's first words, however, explainedwhy the former commander was with him.
"Lieutenant Schuyler," he said, "I sent for your father to consult withhim about a matter which gives me considerable anxiety. Ever since Ilearned that the courier, Preston, whom I ignorantly set at liberty, hadpapers for General Clinton in New York, I have been fearful lest thatofficer should send a force up the river to the aid of General Burgoyne,and attack us in the rear.
"I regard your father as altogether too sanguine when he declares itimpossible for Clinton to force his way up the river. It may be so, Ihope it is so; but that I may be certain there is no danger of such ahappening, I have decided to send a trustworthy messenger down theHudson to learn the exact condition of affairs there. Your fathersuggested yourself as one who could perform the task to my satisfaction.In my judgment you are rather young for such a trust; but there is sometruth in your father's declaration that, 'boys can sometimes passunnoticed where older messengers would excite suspicion.' Therefore Ihave decided to try you. Take as many friends as you think advisable;tell my quartermaster to furnish you with horses and whatever else maybe needed, and get away to-night if possible. Go only far enough to makecertain we are safe from a rear attack for at least two weeks, and thenreturn with your report. Within that time we hope to overcome the enemyin front of us."
"I can be at Albany before daylight," the lad said, and with a bow tothe commander and a whispered "good-by" to his father, he left the room,but General Schuyler followed him.
"You will stop at our home, Phil?" the father said when they were out ofthe building.
"Yes, for a few minutes."
"Then assure your mother that my removal from command was due to nofault of mine; that I hold enmity toward no one, and shall remain hereto do my full duty to our country."
"I can tell her that, and also give her proof that you were removedthrough the scheming of the enemy," the boy answered, and then, as theywalked along, he told his father that of which Alexander Turnbull, thespy, had boasted.
General Schuyler listened with the deepest interest, and when Philip hadconcluded, exclaimed reverently:
"I thank the good Lord that He permitted you to overhear thosestatements, my son. I did not dream that the Tories of this region wereback of the movement to oust me. No greater compliment could have beenpaid, and I can now bear the seeming disgrace with more fortitude. Intime the world will know the truth, of that I am confident."
"So am I," the younger officer replied, laying his hand in his father's"and I can only hope to imitate the unselfish devotion to the Causewhich you, sir, are showing in an experience when many men would falterin, if not wholly abandon, their efforts."
Before nine o'clock Philip, accompanied by his three friends, all wellmounted and well armed, rode rapidly toward Albany. Two hours beforesunrise they had arrived at the town, and at one of the finest estateson its outskirts drew rein. Phil, dismounting, pounded heavily on thelodge gate with the stock of his rifle. Soon a voice cried:
"Who's there?"
"Get up, Bill, and let us in," the young officer replied.
"Ho! 'Tis you, Master Phil," came the reply. "I'll be there in aminute."
Then the bolts were shot back, the gate was thrown open, and the fourlads entered.
"We'll go right to the barn with you, Bill, and turn in there for a fewhours," the leader of the little party said. "I don't care to disturbmother until her usual hour for rising."
"As you say, Master Phil," the old servant replied, and in a few minuteshe had taken their horses, while the weary riders, throwing someblankets on the soft hay, stretched themselves upon them and went tosleep. They were aroused by a girlish voice calling:
"Phil! Brother Phil, where are you? Bill said you had come home."
"Here I am, Susan," Philip answered, and, rising, he went to the door ofthe barn where he met his sister, who was a few years younger thanhimself. After greeting her affectionately, he said: "I have three ladswith me. Will you tell mother? Then we'll join you at the house."
"Let me meet your friends first," she said, waiting for them to comeforward. After they were presented, she remarked pleasantly:
"I've heard of you all through my father's letters, and you will find awarm welcome here." Then she ran on ahead to announce their coming.
In a few minutes they were in the presence of Mistress Schuyler, whoreceived her son as only a fond mother can, and extended to the otherlads a most cordial greeting. A hearty meal was served a little later,and then the daughter entertained the other boys while Phil and hismother had a half-hour together, during which he delivered his father'smessage. With a heroism that matched her husband's she sent back thereply:
"Tell him we may be wronged, our best motives misunderstood, our mostearnest efforts unappreciated, but nothing can really disgrace us solong as we are true to our duty."
Changing horses at the stables, the four scouts continued their journey.Down the west bank of the river they hastened, stopping occasionally atthe houses of well-known patriots, but hearing nothing of anyreinforcements for Burgoyne. Two days later they were at West Point,closeted with its commander. When they had made known the purpose oftheir long journey, he said:
"Return to your commander-in-chief with the assurance that he hasnothing to fear from any force General Clinton can send up the Hudson.He has attempted that move already, and after capturing Fort Clinton andFort Montgomery, was compelled to turn back. Burgoyne has no hope ofsuccor from this quarter."
Their mission accomplished, the young messengers, after a night's rest,set out on their return. Ten miles above the fort they halted in abeautiful spot to allow their panting horses a breathing-time. The heavytrees in their autumn foliage screened the travelers from any one on theriver, unless very near at hand, therefore it happened that a canoe,sweeping around the bend a little below, was seen by them before itssingle occupant became aware of their whereabouts.
While Late and Joe led th
e horses back farther among the foliage lestthey attract attention, the other two scouts concealed themselves behinda large rock to watch the approaching voyager. At length Dan Cushing'skeen eyes recognized him, and he whispered in greatest excitement:
"It is the courier, George Preston!"
The Boy Scouts at the Battle of Saratoga: The Story of General Burgoyne's Defeat Page 15
