CHAPTER XIII.
It is difficult to imagine that the English General could in any wayhave anticipated so easy a conquest. He had no reason to undervalue theresolution of the enemy, and yet he appears to have been fully sanguineof the success of his undertaking. Possibly he counted much on his owndecision and judgment, which, added to the confidence reposed in him byall ranks and branches of the expedition, he might have felt fullyadequate to the overthrow of the mere difficulty arising frominferiority of numbers. Whatever his motive, or however founded hisexpectations of success, the service he performed was eminent, since henot merely relieved Amherstburgh, the key of Upper Canada, from allimmediate danger, but at a single blow annihilated the American powerthroughout that extensive frontier. That this bold measure, powerfullycontrasted as it was with his own previous vacillation of purpose, hadgreatly tended to intimidate the American General, and to render himdistrustful of his own resources, there can be little doubt. Thedestructive fire from the well-served breaching batteries, was moreoverinstanced as an influencing cause of the capitulation; and there can beno question, that a humane consideration for the defenceless town,surrounded by hordes of Indians, had much to do with the decision of theAmerican General.
In justice to many officers of rank, and to the garrison generally, itmust be admitted that the decision of their leader, if credence might begiven to their looks and language, was anything but satisfactory tothem, and it must be confessed that it must have been mortifying in theextreme, to have yielded without a blow a fortress so well provided withthe means of defence. What the result would have been had the Britishcolumns mounted to the assault, it is impossible to say. That they wouldhave done their duty is beyond all question, but there is no reason tobelieve the Americans, under a suitable commander, would have failed intheirs. Superiority of numbers and position was on the one side; adaring Chief, an ardent desire of distinction, and the impossibility ofretreat without humiliation, on the other.
In alluding thus to the capitulation of Detroit, we beg not to beunderstood as either reflecting on the American character, or doubtingtheir courage. Question of personal bravery there was none, since noappeal was made to arms; but the absence of sanguinary event left inhigh relief the daring of the British commander, whose promptitude andgenius alone secured to him so important yet bloodless a conquest. Hadhe evinced the slightest indecision, or lost a moment in preparing foraction, the American General would have had time to rally, and believinghim to be not more enterprising than his predecessors, would haverecovered from his panic and assumed an attitude at once, more worthy ofhis trust, commensurate with his means of defence, and in keeping withhis former reputation. The quick apprehension of his opponentimmediately caught the weakness, while his ready action grappledintuitively with the advantage it presented. The batteries, as ournarrative has shown, were opened without delay--the flotilla worked upthe river within sight of the fortress--and the troops and Indianseffected their landing in full view of the enemy. In fact, everythingwas conducted in a manner to show a determination of the most active andundoubted description. With what result has been seen.
It was in the evening of the day of surrender, that the little Englishsquadron, freighted with the prisoners taken in Detroit, dropped slowlypast Amherstburgh, into Lake Erie. By an article in the capitulation, ithad been stipulated, that the irregular troops should be suffered toreturn to their homes, under the condition that they should not againserve during the war, while those of the line were to be conducted tothe Lower Province, there to remain until duly exchanged. The appearanceas captives of those who had, only a few days before, been comfortablyestablished on the Sandwich shore, and had caused the country to feelalready some of the horrors of invasion--naturally enough drew forthmost of the inhabitants to witness the sight; and as the Sunday strollof the little population of Amherstburgh led in the direction ofElliot's point, where the lake began, the banks were soon alive withmen, women and children, clad in holiday apparel, moving quickly to keepup with the gliding vessels, and apparently, although not offensivelyexulting in the triumph of that flag, beneath which the dense masses oftheir enemies were now departing from their rescued territory.
Among those whom the passing barks had drawn in unusual numbers to theriver's side, were the daughters of Colonel D'Egville, whose almostdaily practice it was to take the air in that direction, where there wasso much of the sublime beauty of American scenery to arrest theattention. Something more, however, than that vague curiosity whichactuated the mass, seemed to have drawn the sisters to the bank, and onewho had watched them narrowly must have observed, that their interestwas not divided among the many barks that glided onward to the lake, butwas almost exclusively attracted by one, which now lay to, with herlight bows breasting the current like a swan, and apparently waitingeither for a boat that had been dispatched to the shore, or with anintention to send one. This vessel was filled in every part with troopswearing the blue uniform of the American regular army, while those inadvance were freighted with the irregulars and backwoodsmen.
"Is not this, Julia, the vessel to which the Commodore promised topromote Gerald, in reward of his gallant conduct last week?" asked thetimid Gertrude, with a sigh, as they stood stationary for a few moments,watching the issue of the manoeuvre just alluded to.
"It is, Gertrude," was the answer of one whose fixed eye and abstractedthought, betokened an interest in the same vessel, of a nature whollydifferent from that of her questioner.
"How very odd, then, he does not come on shore to us. I am sure he mustsee us, and it would not take him two minutes to let us know he isunhurt, and to shake hands with us. It is very unkind of him I think."
Struck by the peculiar tone in which the last sentence had been utteredJulia D'Egville turned her eyes full upon those of her sister. Thelatter could not stand the inquiring gaze, but sought the ground, whilea conscious blush confirmed the suspicion.
"Dearest Gertrude," she said, as she drew the clasped arm of her sistermore fondly within her own; "I see how it is; but does he love you inreturn. Has he ever told you so, or hinted it. Tell me, my dear girl."
"Never," faltered the sensitive Gertrude, and she hung her head, toconceal the tear that trembled in her eye.
Her sister sighed deeply, and pressed the arm she held more closelywithin her own. "My own own sister, for worlds I would not pain you; butif you would be happy, you must not yield to this preference for ourcousin. Did you not remark how completely he seemed captivated by MissMontgomerie? Depend upon it, his affections are centered in her."
Gertrude made no reply, but tears trickled down her cheeks, as they bothslowly resumed their walk along the beach. Presently the splash of oarswas heard, and turning quickly to discover the cause, Julia saw a boatleave the vessel, at which they had just been looking, and pullimmediately towards them. In the stern stood an officer in Americanuniform, whom the eyes of love were not slow to distinguish, even in thegrowing dusk of the evening.
"It is Ernest," exclaimed the excited girl, forgetting for a moment hersister in herself. "I thought he would not have departed without seekingto see me."
A few strokes of the oars were sufficient to bring the boat to theshore. The American stepped out, and leaving the boat to follow thedirection of the vessel, now drifting fast with the current towards theoutlet, which the remainder of the flotilla had already passed, pursuedhis course along the sands in earnest conversation with the sisters, orrather with one of them, for poor Gertrude, after the first salutation,seemed to have lost all inclination to speak.
"Fate, dearest Julia," said the officer despondingly, "has decreed ourinterview earlier than I had expected. However, under all circumstances,I may esteem myself happy to have seen you at all. I am indebted forthis favor to the officer commanding yonder vessel, in which ourregiment is embarked, for the satisfaction, melancholy as it is, ofbeing enabled to bid you a temporary farewell."
"Then are we both indebted to one of my own family for the happiness;for that it
is a happiness, Ernest, I can answer from the depression ofmy spirits just now, when I feared you were about to depart withoutseeing me at all. The officer in command of your vessel is, or ought tobe, a cousin of our own."
"Indeeed!--then is he doubly entitled to my regard. But, Julia, let thebrief time that is given us be devoted to the arrangement of plans forthe future. I will not for a moment doubt your faith, after whatoccurred at our last interview; but shall I be certain of finding youhere, when later we return to wash away the stain this day's proceedingshave thrown upon our national honor. Forgive me, if I appear to mix uppolitical feelings, with private grief, but it cannot be denied, (and hesmiled faintly through the mortification evidently called up by therecollection), that to have one's honor attainted, and to lose one'smistress in the same day, are heavier taxes on human patience, than itcan be expected a soldier should quietly bear."
"And when I am yours at a later period, I suppose you will expect me tobe as interested in the national honor, as you are," replied Julia,anxious to rally him on a subject she felt, could not but be painful toa man of high feelings, as she fully believed the Colonel to be. "Howare we to reconcile such clashing interests? How am I so far to overcomemy natural love for the country which gave me birth, so to rejoice inits subjugation by yours; and yet, that seems to be the eventual objectat which you hint. Your plan, if I understand right, is to return herewith an overwhelming army; overrun the province, and make me yourproperty by right of conquest, while all connected with me, by blood, orfriendship, are to be borne into captivity. If we marry, sir, we mustdraw lots which of us shall adopt a new country."
"Nay, dearest Julia, this pleasantry is unseasonable. I certainly dointend, provided I am exchanged in time to return here with the army,which I doubt not will be instantly dispatched to restore our blightedfame, and then I shall claim you as my own. Will you then hesitate tobecome mine? Even as the daughter forsakes the home of her fatherwithout regret, to pass her days with him who is to her father, mother,all the charities of life, in short--so should she forsake her nativeland adopting in preference that to which her husband is attached byevery tie of honor, and of duty. However, let us hope that ere long, thefolly of this war will be seen, and that the result of such perception,will be a peace founded on such permanent bases, that each shall bebound, by an equal tie of regard, to the home of the other."
"Let us hope so," eagerly replied Julia. "But what has become of ourfriend, Miss Montgomerie, in all the confusion of this day. Or am Iright in supposing that she and her uncle are of the number of thoseembarked in my cousin's vessel?"
The name of the interesting American, coupled as it was, with that ofone infinitely more dear to her, caused Gertrude for the first time, tolook up in the face of the officer, in expectation of his reply. She wasstruck by the sudden paleness that came over his features again, as onthe former occasion, when allusion was made to her at his recent visitto Amherstburgh. He saw that his emotion was remarked, and sought tohide it under an appearance of unconcern, as he replied:
"Neither Miss Montgomerie nor her uncle are embarked. The latter, Iregret to say, has been one of the few victims who have fallen."
"What! dead--that excellent kind old man--dead," demanded the sistersnearly in the same breath?
"No; not dead--but I fear with little hope of life. He was desperatelywounded soon after daybreak this morning, and when I saw him half anhour afterwards, he had been given over by the surgeons."
"Poor Major Montgomerie," sighed Gertrude; "I felt when he was here theother day, that I could have loved him almost as my own father. Howbroken-hearted his niece must be at his loss!"
A sneer of bitterness passed over the fine features of the American ashe replied with emphasis:
"Nay, dear Gertrude, your sympathies are but ill bestowed. MissMontgomerie's heart will scarcely sustain the injury you seem toapprehend."
"What mean you, Ernest?" demanded Julia, with eagerness. "How is it thatyou judge thus harshly of her character. How, in short, do you pretendto enter into her most secret feelings, and yet deny all but a generalknowledge of her? What can you possibly know of her heart?"
"I merely draw my inferences from surmise," replied the Colonel, after afew moments of pause. "The fact is, I have the vanity to imagine myselfa correct reader of character, and my reading of Miss Montgomerie's hasnot been the happiest."
Julia's look betrayed incredulity. "There is evidently some mystery inall this," she rejoined; "but I will not seek to discover more than youchoose at present to impart. Later I may hope to possess more of yourconfidence. One question more, however, and I have done. Have you seenher since your return to Detroit, and did she give you my letter?"
The Colonel made no answer, but produced from his pocket a note, whichJulia at once recognised as her own.
"Then," said Gertrude, "there was not so much danger after all, inintrusting it. You seemed to be in a sad way, when you first heard thatit had been given to her."
"I would have pledged myself for its safe deliverance," added hersister; "for the promise was too solemnly given to be broken."
"And solemnly has it been kept," gravely returned the American. "Buthark! already are they hailing the boat, and we must part."
The time occupied in conversation had brought them down to the extremepoint where the river terminated and the lake commenced. Beyond this laya sand bar, which it was necessary to clear before the increasing duskof the evening rendered it hazardous. All the other vessels had alreadypassed it, and were spreading their white sails before the breeze, whichhere, unbroken by the island, impelled them rapidly onward. A fewstrokes of the oar, and the boat once more touched the beach. Low andfervent adieus were exchanged, and the American, resuming his station inthe stern, was soon seen to ascend the deck he had so recently quitted.For a short time the sisters continued to watch the movements of thevessel, as she in turn having passed, spread all her canvass to thewind, until the fast fading twilight warning them to depart, theyretraced their steps along the sands to the town. Both were silent andpensive; and while all around them found subject for rejoicing in thepublic events of the day, they retired at an early hour, to indulge atleisure in the several painful retrospections which related moreparticularly to themselves.
Matilda Montgomerie; Or, The Prophecy Fulfilled Page 13