by James Otis
CHAPTER IV.
THE LETTER.
When Isaac was come within hailing distance of the few sentinels who hadbeen posted to guard against a surprise, he was astonished at beinghalted after having announced who he was, and the laxness of militarydiscipline can be understood when it is said that, after beingrecognized by the recruit at that particular post, the boy was allowedto enter the encampment without further question.
Colonel Allen was not better lodged than his men. A lean-to formed of afew boughs was the only shelter he had, and Isaac was forced to searchamong the sleeping soldiers several moments before discovering thewhereabouts of the commander.
Once this had been done it was but the work of a few seconds to acquaintthe officer with what had occurred, and at this evidence that the Torieswere dogging the little army, more than one recruit who had boasted theloudest as to what he would do when the time for fighting should come,turned suspiciously pale as he approached to hear all Isaac was saying.
"Why did Corporal Watkins camp by himself?" Colonel Allen asked when theboy concluded his report.
"Because some of the men poke fun at him, allowin' that he's too old tobe of service, an' far too crochety to make any fist at bein' asoldier," Isaac replied promptly.
"I wish from the bottom of my heart that I had one hundred men like him,rather than some of the braggarts who do not know there is such a workas the manual of arms," the colonel said in a loud voice, as if desirousthat all should hear. "Tell the corporal that he will camp with thisforce in the future, and I shall make it my especial business to learnwho it is that dares make matters uncomfortable for him."
Then, to the captain of the company to which Corporal 'Lige wasattached, an order was given that a squad of men be sent forward tobring in the prisoners, and when this had been obeyed the old soldier,as a matter of course, returned with them.
From that night Isaac heard nothing more regarding the wounded Tories.It was said they had been sent back to Pittsfield under a strong guard,and certain it is they disappeared from the encampment before daybreak,but neither the boy nor the corporal could find a single man who hadseen them depart.
This incident, and it was hardly to be spoken of as anything ofimportance, together with Colonel Allen's remark, served to renderCorporal 'Lige's life more pleasant, for those who had used him as thebutt of their mirth began to understand that he was superior tothemselves, in a soldierly way, and more than one sought his advice onvarious occasions.
At sunset on the seventh day of May the raw recruits had arrived atCastleton, fourteen miles east of Skenesborough, and Isaac himself hasgiven the details of that straggling march through the country, in thefirst letter written to his mother after setting out as a soldier:
"May the Eighth, 1775.
"My Dear Mother, Father, and Children:
"We have been camping here in this thicket since last night, and if there is anybody in all the company more tired of soldiering than I am, I would like to meet him. I wore a hole in the heel of my stocking on the second day, and got such a blister because of it that I've been obliged to go barefoot ever since.
"We have had plenty to eat, for the folks along the road were most kind; but it's sleeping that has been the worst on me, though the corporal says I never can hope to be a soldier till I'm able to lay down in three or four inches of water and get as much rest as I would at home in bed. I tell him I don't hope to be one any more, for I've had about enough of it, though of course I shall stick by the company till we've taken the fort, and it's pretty certain we shall do that, because now there are two hundred and seventy men in the ranks.
"Colonel Easton enlisted thirty-nine of his militia before we got to Bennington, and there we were joined by the Green Mountain Boys under the command of Colonel Ethan Allen.
"It surprised me to find that a good many of the people don't believe we are doing right in trying to take away the fort from the king's troops, and the corporal says that unless this thing is a success we are all like to be hanged for traitors, because his majesty will make an example of them who are foremost in the work--which means us.
"Two hours after we halted last night Colonel Benedict Arnold, who is said to have gone from New Haven as captain of a company, to Cambridge, arrived here with a few men and a large amount--so it seems to me--of military supplies.
"Although knowing that Colonel Allen is in charge of this force, he claimed the right to take command, and, so the corporal says, made display of a commission signed by the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, declaring that it entitled him to take charge of all the troops. Now, although I'm not a soldier--the corporal says I never will be--I've got sense enough to understand that if I enlisted under Colonel Easton, and was willing he should give way to Colonel Allen so we might have the Green Mountain Boys with us, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety have got nothing to do with saying who shall lead in the battle--though I hope to goodness we shan't see one.
"The corporal says that no committee is going to scare Ethan Allen, and it's certain, so those of the Green Mountain Boys with whom I've talked say, that this stranger won't get himself into command of the company, even though, as is said, he brings one hundred pounds in money, two hundred pounds' weight of gunpowder, the same of leaden balls, and one thousand flints, to carry all of which, and himself, he has ten horses.
"Now, the corporal claims that these things, including the money, are munitions of war, and that if Colonel Arnold doesn't deliver them over to Colonel Allen, they will be taken from him, and he, Corporal 'Lige, I mean, went early this morning to Master Phelps, offering to see to it that this property was delivered up to us; but for some reason or other--neither the corporal nor I can understand what--his offer was not accepted.
"I have heard it said, and the corporal is of the opinion it is true, that when the council of war was held last night before this gentleman from New Haven arrived, Colonel Allen was chosen commander of the whole expedition, Colonel Easton second in command, and Seth Warner third. It was decided that the greater number of us, with the principal officers, would march from here to Shoreham--which you know is opposite Ticonderoga--and Captain Herrick with thirty men would at the same time go to Skenesborough to capture young Major Skene, whose father, the governor, is now in England; seize all the boats they can find, and join us at Shoreham. Captain Douglas is to go to Panton with a small troop, and get whatever craft is in the water roundabout. The corporal says he shall be quite well satisfied with this arrangement, providing the remainder of the plan is mapped out as he thinks right.
"However, nobody seems to know whether Colonel Arnold will manage to get his commission from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety recognized as good and sufficient authority for him to lord it over our people, and we ask each other what will become of his munitions of war in case he doesn't, or how may the plans be changed if he does?"
"What I can't understand in this whole business is why the corporal shouldn't be the third officer in command, instead of Master Warner, who I have no doubt is a very worthy gentleman; but of course cannot claim to be any such soldier as Corporal 'Lige. He says there's always a lot of jealousy among officers in the army, and that's why he isn't to be given a chance to show how much he can do."
"The food I brought from home was used up the second day--the corporal had what he called a 'coming appetite'--and perhaps it was just as well, for I had all the load any fellow could want to carry. I never believed before leaving home that father's musket was so heavy; I held it over my shoulder until it seemed as if the flesh was worn right down to the bone; then lugged it in my hand till my arm ached as if it was going to drop off, and I verily believe I would have thrown the thing away but that Corporal 'Lige said a soldier didn't amount to very much unless he had a weapon of some kind."
"The corporal says I am to give you his dutiful compliments, an
d to say that if his life is spared, by the blessing of God, he will capture Ticonderoga before we come back.
"As for me, I wish I was at home now, though it will be a fine thing if we do what the old man says is our duty in these times, without being hanged.
"I haven't yet found out why people think there is so much honor to be gained in being a soldier. To my mind it's much like any other way of running around the country; but the corporal says if he had the management of affairs things would be different, because he'd keep the men right up to their work, though I don't see how it could well be done. For my part, I shouldn't carry a musket over my shoulder when I was lame and tired just because any man said so. It would be as well whatever fashion I lugged it, providing the labor was lessened; but the corporal says it would make all the difference in the world if we marched the same as we would at a muster.
"I love you all very much, and shall be precious glad to find myself at home again.
"From your obedient and dutiful son,
"Isaac Rice."
In this letter the young recruit, who although having enjoyed theteachings of Corporal 'Lige, was certainly not a soldier at heart, hastold the main facts in the case regarding the halt of the militia atCastleton; but it will be observed that his modesty was too great topermit of his mentioning the brave part he played in the rescue ofCorporal 'Lige from the Tories.
He has failed, however, most probably through ignorance, in givingColonel Arnold's authority for claiming his right to lead theexpedition.
That officer had brought to Cambridge from New Haven a company of whichhe was the captain, and upon arriving there at once reported to theMassachusetts Committee of Safety that it would be possible, before theforts had been reinforced, to seize the works at Ticonderoga and CrownPoint with a comparatively small body of men.
He proceeded to organize an expedition for such a purpose, and to thisend was supplied with the money and munitions of war mentioned by Isaac,together with a colonel's commission, which gave him the chief commandof troops, not exceeding four hundred in number, which he might raise toaccompany him against the lake fortresses.
Upon arriving at Stockbridge, in the province of Massachusetts, helearned that another expedition had set out--that is to say the same oneCorporal 'Lige and Isaac accompanied--and after engaging officers andmen to the number of fourteen he hastened onward, overtaking the militiaas Isaac has said.
In this camp where military discipline was conspicuous by its absence,the recruits, who had learned within the hour what had been decided uponthe night previous by the council of war, soon ascertained the positionwhich the officer from New Haven claimed, and knew exactly what heproposed to do by virtue of his commission.
Even though the men had not learned such facts from their officers,those recruits who accompanied Colonel Arnold would have at once madethe matter public.
At about the time Isaac finished the letter to his mother the encampmentwas in a state bordering on insubordination.
Colonel Arnold's recruits raised in Stockbridge insisted that theirleader should command the forces, not only because he was authorized todo so, but owing to the fact that he had the money and ammunitionnecessary to carry out the plan, while the members of Colonel Allen'sregiment, known as the Green Mountain Boys were equally determined thatsuch honor as might be gained should be their colonel's, and in a briefspace of time these new-fledged patriots were ripe for riot.
Now was come the hour when Corporal 'Lige had shown him some portion ofthat consideration which he believed due his experience in militaryaffairs.
Those members of Colonel Easton's militia regiment which had joined theexpedition, jealous because their leader had given way to Colonel Allen,now demanded loudly and publicly that he must lead the party or theywould turn back.
Inasmuch, however, as this portion of the troops amounted to fifty orthereabouts, they had a small showing when the Green Mountain boys, whowere more than two hundred strong, came forth in turn with theirthreats.
Colonel Allen was to be retained first in command, as had been decidedupon the previous evening, or they should march back to Benningtonwithout an hour's delay.
On the other hand, the men from Stockbridge insisted that Colonel Arnoldwas the lawful commander because he was the only one who held acommission for such purpose, and threatened that neither money normunitions of war should be given up unless his claims were fullyrecognized.
On this morning of the eighth of May the men were divided into threedivisions according to their opinions, and it seemed much as if theofficers were willing they should settle it without interference, forthose highest in command remained in council among themselves, giving noheed to the threats which were uttered here and there until it seemedpositive personal encounters must soon take the place of words.
The men from round about Pittsfield, recognizing the need of a leader inwhat might properly be termed a mutiny, selected Corporal 'Lige as if bycommon consent, and Isaac had but just written his mother's name on themissive which had cost him so much labor, when he and the corporal weresurrounded by the faction to which belonged their neighbors and friends.
One of these, a butcher, whose home was in Pittsfield, thus addressedthe old man, using at the beginning of his remark just that complimentbest calculated to please him.
"You, who have had so much experience in military affairs, Corporal'Lige, should be able to settle this matter without any great loss oftime, for according to my way of thinking it must be arranged among themen themselves, or not at all."
"I have seen plenty of fightin'," the corporal began slowly, as ifundecided what words had best be used; "but it was in the king's army,as you well know, and there every one in command held their commissionfrom his majesty, which plainly said he was to be the leader. Now itseems in this 'ere case that the only officer who has any real authorityis the one from New Haven----"
A chorus of derisive howls interrupted the old man, and not a few of hisneighbors accused him of being a traitor because he was apparently onthe point of giving his decision in favor of the stranger.
Waiting patiently until they had exhausted their anger, and were silentonce more, he continued placidly:
"As I said before it seems to me the only one with any show of authorityis the officer from New Haven; but," and Corporal 'Lige emphasized thisword, "but what do you know of this 'ere Massachusetts Committee ofSafety? Accordin' to my way of figurin', that body of men are lookin'out for matters round about Boston, and we've got with us recruits allthe way from Pittsfield up to Bennington, none of whom are givenovermuch to heedin' what the Boston folks think is right or wrong.Therefore I say, that while the officer from New Haven seems to have theonly real authority, it strikes me that his commission does not extendas far as this 'ere spot, where we are encamped."
Again he was interrupted; but this time by cries expressive ofsatisfaction and good will.
"We were the ones who started the idea of taking the fort," a recruitfrom Pittsfield cried, "and that being the case I hold we've got theright to say who shall lead us."
"But the Green Mountain Boys won't go except their colonel is incommand," another added, and a third cried:
"The men of Stockbridge will hold to Colonel Arnold, and won't go onunder another."
"Well, I've heard all that before," Corporal 'Lige said in a tone offine irony. "If you have come to me to repeat the same story that hasbeen goin' 'round the encampment since daybreak, why then you arewastin' your time. If you want my opinion so that this thing can be putright in short order, hold your tongues, an' I'll give it."
"Let Corporal 'Lige finish."
"He is soldier enough to know what should be done."
"Go on, corporal, go on."
This evidence of popularity was most pleasing to the old man, andsmiling benignantly upon those nearest, he said, with the air of one whocannot be in the wrong:
"This is how it must
be done: Let them as come with Colonel Easton,stick to him; the Green Mountain Boys shall hang to the tail of ColonelAllen's coat, and the Stockbridge men may follow Colonel Arnold. Thatmakes three bands of us. Now, mark you, lads, there are three sides tothat 'ere fort--one apiece. Let us meet here at whatever hour you will,and then start on the minute, each troop taking a different course, an'them who arrive first an' capture the fortification, gets the credit."
"But we are needing what Colonel Arnold brought with him," someonecried.
"Ay, and you would have heard me fix that if you'd waited. Where didthis 'ere Massachusetts Committee of Safety get these munitions of waran' this money? Why, they got it out of the province, of course. Andwhere did we come from? Why, we come from the province of Massachusetts,of course. Then who does this money and these munitions of war belongto? Why, they belong to us, of course. Now, as near as I have heard,there are only fourteen following Colonel Arnold. How long will it takeus to lay our hands on all that stuff? Then I guarantee that ColonelEaston--for if he wants me to do it I'll help him in conducting thecampaign--will march straight through an' take Ticonderoga before you'vehad time to say Jack Robinson. Never mind what the Green-Mountain Boysdo, an' as for the Stockbridge men, they ain't enough for the countin'."
The advice which Corporal 'Lige had given met with the unqualifiedapproval of all whom he addressed, and instantly shouts were raised inhis honor until those recruits who were not in the secret looked aboutthem in alarm and dismay as if fearing an attack.
Isaac was frightened, of that there could be no mistake.
It seemed to him as if an immediate and unquestionably dangerousencounter could not be prevented, for already were the men hanging aboutCorporal 'Lige in a dense body as bees hang about their queen whenswarming, all urging that he lead them on to wrest from the Stockbridgemen the property which he had proven did not belong to them.
Isaac glanced this way and then as if trying to determine in whichdirection it would be safest to flee, but at this moment his eyes fellupon a lad of about his own age, who had come in from the highway andwas staring about him in perplexity.