My Lady of Doubt Page 2

  CHAPTER II

  WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES

  A long cavalry cape concealing the British uniform I wore, my horse andmyself were ferried across the Schuylkill, just below the mouth of ValleyCreek, and there, amid the silence and darkness of the eastern shore, Iparted with Hamilton, who had accompanied me thus far, whispering finalwords of instruction. My horse was a fresh one, chosen from the stablesof the Life Guard, but the trappings were of the British service. Withinfive minutes I was out of sight of the picket fire on the river bank,riding steadily southeast through the night, every nerve alert. An hour'sriding found me well beyond our outermost pickets, yet, in fear that Imight encounter some body of irregulars, scouting the neutral ground, Iheld on to my passport until I perceived the first flush of dawn in theeast. Then, convinced of close proximity to the British guard-lines, Itore the paper into fragments. Avoiding all roads, and seeking every bitof concealment possible, it was already sunrise before I plunged suddenlyinto a Hessian picket-post, the distant smoke of the Philadelphiachimneys darkening the sky ahead. Unable to speak German, my uniform wonsufficient courtesy, so that I was escorted back under guard to anoutpost of the Queen's Rangers, where I explained my presence and rank toa red-faced Captain in Tory green, so insolent in manner as to beinsulting, until I exhibited the sealed despatch, and demanded to beescorted at once to Sir William Howe. This brought results, and I enteredthe city under escort of a dozen horsemen, their green coats faced withdingy white, cocked hats flapping as they rode.

  It was thus we came to Callowhill, and the encampment of Britishgrenadiers, an officer of the 55th Regiment volunteering to guide me toHowe's quarters in High Street. He was a genial fellow, and pointed outvarious places of interest, as we rode more slowly through the streetsclose along the river-side, questioning me often upon affairs in NewYork, to which I returned such vague answers as pleased me, paying smallheed to the truth. I had never known Philadelphia well, but now it was sostrange as to be peculiarly interesting, many of the houses deserted,with doors and windows boarded; several of the churches made over intobarracks, or riding-schools; the market closed; the State House filledwith lounging officers; and the streets thronged, even at this earlyhour, by a varied uniformed soldiery, speaking Cockney English, thejargon of the counties, Scottish Gaelic, or guttural German, as theyelbowed their passage, the many scarlet jackets interspersed with theblue of artillery and cavalry, the Hessian red and yellow, the green ofthe rifle-corps, or the kilts of the Highlanders. Lancers and Huzzars,Grenadiers, Light Dragoons and Queen's Rangers mixed, and commingled,apparently enjoying holiday. There was scarcely a woman to be seen; thefew who did appear being of the lower sort. All along the river wereredoubts, well garrisoned, with black gun muzzles pointing out across thewater. Many houses had been razed, and their _debris_, together with thefire ruin of the past winter, gave to everything a look of desolation.Much artillery was parked in the State House yard, and several vessels ofwar were lying at anchor in the stream, while the entire shore line wasfilled with barges, decorated as for a _fete_, a large force of menlaboring about them. My companion, observing my interest attracted inthat direction, reined up his horse to explain.

  "Those are the galleys being made ready for the Mischianza, Fortesque,"he said, waving his hand. "You came to us at a lucky hour."

  "The Mischianza?" I asked, puzzled by the strange term. "Some festival,you mean?--some gala day?"

  "'Tis an Italian word, they tell me, signifying medley. The officers giveit in farewell to Sir William, who will sail to-morrow. A pretty penny itcosts. See, there is Major O'Hara now, one of the managers; there arethree others, Sir John Wrottlesly, Major Gardiner, and the chiefengineer, Montresor. Do you know them? No? Oh, I had forgotten you haveonly just arrived. You will know them 'ere long, however, for they arethe leaders in such affairs. That is Captain Andre there with O'Hara." Hewaved his hand, and the younger officer lifted his cocked hat inacknowledgment. "Let us spur over there, Lieutenant, until I get you aticket of invitation."

  I followed, careless of the loss of time so I could both see and hear.

  "Andre, this is Lieutenant Fortesque just in from New York withdespatches for Howe. I have promised him a ticket for to-night."

  The young officer laughingly extended a hand.

  "The more the merrier, Craig. With the 42nd I see, sir; knew your Colonelwell. You'll find America isn't so bad, after you get used to it. We'vehad a gay time here, eh, O'Hara? The best of liquor, and the prettiest ofgirls, and now we'll show the town something it won't forget in a hurry."He held out a card to me. "Rather ornate, considering the printers inthese colonies; designed it myself."

  It was certainly a handsome souvenir, perhaps six inches by four in size,engraved as in a shield, yielding a view of the sea, with the settingsun, and on a wreath the words, "_Lucco discendens, ancto splendoreresurgam_," while at the top was the General's crest, bearing the words,"_Vive Vale_." I have it yet, but as I looked at it then, sitting myhorse on the river bank, and listening to the careless laughter of thoseabout me, I could think only of that other half-starved army in whosecamp I had been the evening before, and of those scenes of sufferingwitnessed during the past winter at Valley Forge--the shoeless feet, theshivering forms, the soldiers dying from cold and hunger, the snowdrifting over us as we slept. What a contrast between this foolish boy'splay, and the stern man's work yonder. Somehow the memory stiffened me tothe playing of my own part, helping me to crush back bitter words that Imight exhibit the same spirit of recklessness shown by those about me.

  "A fine conceit, indeed," I confessed, "and if the pageant be equal toits promise 'twill be well worth the seeing. What is the purpose,gentlemen?"

  "To give Sir William fit farewell," returned Andre, pleased at myunstinted praise. "And now that the Lord has sent us a fine day, I canpromise a festival worthy the herald. But, Fortesque, if you would haveaudience with Howe, I advise you to get on, for he will have few sparemoments between now and day-dawn to-morrow."

  We parted with much bowing, Craig and I guiding our horses through thecrowded streets, being kept too busy avoiding accidents to exchangeconversation. Howe's headquarters on High Street were not pretentious,and, except for a single sentinel posted at the door, were unguarded. Iwas admitted without delay, being ushered into a large room containingmerely tables and chairs, the latter littered with papers. An aide tookmy name, and within a very few moments Sir William himself enteredthrough a rear door, attired in field uniform. He was of imposing figure,fully six feet in height, well proportioned, and with a thoughtful,kindly face. He greeted me with much affability, glancing hastily overthe papers handed him, and then into my face.

  "These do not greatly change my former plans," he said, "but I am glad toknow I can retain my present staff. There was no special news in NewYork, Lieutenant?"

  "None of particular importance, I believe, sir. We landed only a shorttime ago."

  "Yes. I understand. You were fortunate to get through here so easily--theJerseys are a hotbed of rebellion. Do you return with me by water?"

  "I believe that was left to my own discretion. I should be glad of a dayor two in Philadelphia."

  "Easily arranged. While I shall leave the city to-morrow so as to giveClinton a fair field, I shall remain on Lord Howe's flag-ship for somelittle time previous to final departure for New York. You had better messhere with my staff. Mabry," turning to the aide, "see that LieutenantFortesque has breakfast, and procure him a pass good indefinitely withinour lines. You will pardon my withdrawal, as the officers of the garrisonpromise me an exceedingly busy day. We will meet again, no doubt."

  He clasped my hand warmly, and withdrew, leaving me alone with the aide,half-ashamed, I confess, of having been compelled to deceive. Yet thevery ease of it all stimulated endeavor, and I conversed lightly withMabry over the mess table, and, when the orderly returned with thenecessary pass, I was keen to start upon my round of inspection, utterlyforgetful of having been up, and in saddle, all night. Mabry could no
tleave his duties to accompany me, but courteously furnished a freshhorse, and assigned a private of dragoons to guide me about the city. Byten o'clock we were off, my only fear being the possible meeting withsome acquaintance.

  In this, however, I was happily disappointed, as there were few civilianson the streets, the throngs of soldiers, off duty for a holiday, with alldiscipline relaxed, being boisterous, and considerably under theinfluence of liquor. Quarrels between them were frequent, the Britishregulars and Loyalists seldom meeting without exchange of words andblows. The uniform worn, together with my dragoon guard, saved me fromtrouble, and I found the fellow sufficiently intelligent to be of value.I dare not make notes, and yet recall clearly even now the stations ofthe troops, together with a clear mental outline of the main defences ofthe city. I made no attempt to pass beyond the limits, but, fromstatements of the dragoon, and various officers with whom I conversed,mapped in my mind the entire scheme of defence. Briefly stated, the lineof intrenchments from the Delaware to the Schuylkill extended from themouth of Conoquonaque Creek, just above Willow Street, to the UpperFerry, nearly on a line with Callowhill Street. These consisted of tenredoubts, connected with strong palisades, all redoubts well garrisonedby seasoned troops, the Queen's Rangers being at the extreme right.Within the city proper were the reserves, so scattered in variousencampments as to be easily mobilized, and yet kept separated. To thenorth were the Hessians, and next to these came three regiments ofBritish Grenadiers, with a body of Fusileers. Eight regiments of the lineoccupied the slight eminence known as Bush's Hill, while close to theFerry was another encampment of Hessians. The Yagers, horse and foot,were upon another hill near the river, and below them a large body ofinfantry of the line. The Light Dragoons and three infantry regimentswere near a small pond. At the Middle Ferry was the 71st Regiment, and abody of Yagers were at the Point House, opposite Gloucester. Many ofthese locations were then outside the city, which extended at that timefrom Christian Street on the south, to Callowhill on the north, beingwidest between Arch and Walnut, where it expanded from Delaware to Ninth.However, I visited a number of these encampments, finding in each merelya small guard retained for the day, the majority of the troops being offon liberty. Soon after noon these began to throng the water front, eagerto view the coming spectacle. I was, myself, in the Yager's camp,finishing a late lunch, with a few officers, when the announcement camethat the water procession had started.