CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
DEFENCE OF YORK TOWN.--SENT WITH FIRE-SHIPS AGAINST FRENCH FLEET.--FAILURE.--IN COMMAND OF BATTERY.--FIERCE ENGAGEMENTS.--COLONEL CARLYON APRISONER AND WOUNDED.--THE CHARON BLOWS UP.--DESPERATE CONDITION OF THETOWN.--DEATH OF MY OLD FOLLOWER.--ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE TOWN FRUSTRATED BYA GALE.--I AM BADLY WOUNDED.--ARMY OF LORD CORNWALLIS CAPITULATES.--WARAT AN END.--PRISONERS KINDLY TREATED BY AMERICANS AND FRENCH.--MADELINEBECOMES MY NURSE.--NEWS FROM ENGLAND.--SIR HURRICANE TEMPEST HAS LEFT MEHIS HEIR.--I MARRY THE LITTLE REBEL.--FINIS.
I could not help feeling, in common with many other thoughtful officers,that we were on the eve of great events. Each day, each hour confirmedthis opinion, and now we were startled if not confounded by theundoubted information that General Washington had arrived with aconsiderable body of troops from the north. He arrived on the 24th inthe Chesapeake, with, it was said, six thousand French and continentaltroops, whom we had the mortification to see a frigate and a body oftransports go down to bring up, we no longer having the power to molestthem. Thus still further was the dark thunder-cloud augmented, about,we believed, to break over our heads. Day and night, however, wecontinued working at the batteries, and levelling houses, and clearingall the ground round the lines of everything which might afford theenemy shelter in their expected attack.
September 15th, 1781.--Two ships of the line and a frigate came up amile nearer the forts, and under cover of their guns foraging partieswent on shore, whom we were thus prevented from attacking.
16th.--Never did men work harder than we had been doing to strengthen aposition to enable us to hold out till the arrival of a fleet superiorto the French; and from news received our hopes again arose that itmight yet arrive before we were driven to extremities. Many personshave been blaming Sir Henry Clinton for allowing General Washington topass by him, but the truth is, he did not expect that this would havebeen done, but fully believed that he purposed rather to besiege NewYork itself.
17th.--A ship of the line advanced from the shore and joined those offTous Marsh. Signals being made all day long between the FrenchCommodore and the Compte de Grasse. French frigates passing andre-passing between their squadrons. Something evidently in the wind.
18th.--Our forces employed as usual in pulling down houses and throwingup works.
19th.--All the women and children, the negroes and other non-combatants,were sent out of the town to enable us to eke out our not-over-abundantsupply of provisions.
20th.--The soldiers engaged in throwing up works, the seamen in cuttingdown trees and in forming stockades.
21st.--Heavy rain fell, greatly retarding the progress of the works. Iwas not a little pleased to hear that an attempt was to be made todestroy the French squadron at the mouth of the harbour, and that fourfire-ships were to be employed on that service. I immediately offeredto command one of them--an offer which was at once accepted.Lieutenants Conway and Symonds were appointed to command two others, andMr Camel, a lieutenant of a privateer, had charge of the fourth. Ourwish was to be under the orders of Captain Palmer of the Vulcan, whoseexperience and judgment we felt would insure success, but the commodoredecided on allowing each of us to trust to our own abilities and to actaccording to circumstances. The vessels were patched-up schooners andsloops, and fitted in so hurried a way that they were scarcelymanageable. The experiment was to have been made that night, but thewind and weather proving unfavourable, Captain Palmer, with whom weconsulted, advised us to defer it till the following--
22nd.--The wind being about north-west, it was this evening consideredpracticable to attack the advanced ships of the enemy, and weaccordingly made preparations for our hazardous expedition. The Vulcanand four other vessels were to be employed in the service. I was ofcourse well acquainted with all the risks to be encountered. I knewthat I might either be blown up, or, if overtaken by the enemy, cut topieces without remorse, no quarter being given to people engaged in thatsort of work. During the first day after volunteering I had not time tothink much about the matter, but four-and-twenty hours spent incomparative inaction enabled me to contemplate the consequences in theirtrue light, and though I felt as resolved and determined as ever, I knewwell that this might be the last day of my existence. I did not so muchdread the future, I own, as regret all I was leaving behind. I thoughtover and over again of Madeline--of the happiness I had hoped to enjoywith her--of the grief should I fall, my death would cause her. Ithought of my family and of the dear ones still surviving at home whohoped to welcome me when war was over, but would hope in vain. I feltvery grave and sad, but not the less resolved or undaunted I may say,and determined to do my duty. The time was approaching for our start.I walked aft and stood looking over the taffrail away from the crew, andthere I offered up a deep, earnest prayer for protection for myself andalso for my people in the expedition in which we were engaged. Yes, Iprayed, and sincerely too, believing that I was praying aright as Istood over all those terrific combustibles which were to bring havoc anddestruction among hundreds of our fellow-creatures not more guilty, notmore worthy of death than were I and my fellows. I will not stop tomoralise on that subject, yet I have often since thought that it is oneworthy of deep consideration. Of one thing only I was certain that, asan officer in the Navy, I was doing my duty to my king and country inendeavouring to destroy their enemies, and all the rest I left to theguidance of Him who rules all things for the best. I now feel thatthere is a purer law, a stricter rule which should prevail instead ofthose which most men follow, but it would be out of place here todiscuss the subject.
The ships in the harbour gave out the hour of midnight. It was thesignal agreed on for starting. We made sail, cut our cables, and randown the river. The wind held fair, the night was dark, and thereappeared every probability that our undertaking would succeed. NolGrampus, Rockets, and four other men were with me to man the boat inwhich we were to make our escape. Not a word was spoken. Everyarrangement had before been made. Having placed our vessels in aposition from which they could not fail to drift down on the enemy, wewere to set fire to them, and then, jumping into our boats, pull awayfor our lives. There was not much fear of pursuit if the vessels hittheir marks, as we knew that the boats of the squadron would be engagedin endeavouring to clear their ships of the burning craft. If, however,through a change of wind, or any other circumstance, they should driftclear of the ships, it was probable that the boats might come in chaseof us to take vengeance on our heads for the injury we had attempted toinflict on them.
There lay the French squadron before us, no one on board dreaming of thehavoc and destruction about to be wrought among them. It was just twoo'clock in the morning. Our little flotilla of evil was slowlyapproaching. Evidently no sufficient watch was kept ahead of the Frenchships. Our success appeared certain. Suddenly a bright light burstforth, revealing our vessels clearly to the enemy, and shedding a luridglare over their ships which lay sleeping on the calm water ahead. Whathad happened? There, blazing away on the right of our line, was thefire-ship commanded by Mr Camel, the lieutenant of the privateer. Theproceeding was as unaccountable as strange, and I at once suspected thathe had thus acted to betray us. I never have had cause to place muchconfidence in privateer officers, though undoubtedly many brave men areto be found among them. The instant the flames blazed up, the roll ofdrums was heard on board the French ships beating to quarters. Then abrisk fire from thirty to forty guns was opened on us, and the shot camerattling thickly about our heads. The light had revealed to theFrenchmen our fire-vessels, and they could not tell how many more mightbe in the rear, so they hurriedly cut their cables, and, in the greatestconfusion, endeavoured to make sail to get out of our way. Mr Conwaynext set fire to his vessel, Symonds following his example, and bothtaking to their boats. I had still hopes of effecting my purpose, so Istood on. I had not gone far before Grampus exclaimed from forward--
"There, sir; there are the French launches; they are after us!"
Such was th
e case.
"Haul up the boat, my lads!" I exclaimed. "Jump into her!"
As the men slipped over the side I set fire to the train, and, before Ihad time to jump into the boat, the vessel was in a blaze from stem tostern. The Vulcan was the last vessel fired. She was, at the time,within her own length of a French twenty-four. What had become of hergallant commander and crew I could not discover. The French launcheswere after me. My people pulled away with all their might. It was,indeed, a matter of life and death. The other boats were ahead, and Ihoped safe. Several bullets came whizzing past us. As I looked astern,my satisfaction was great to see our fire-ships still blazing away, andthe Frenchmen drifting, as it appeared, towards the shore. As itafterwards appeared, two of them did drive on shore, and I believe that,had our ships had their guns on board, we might by prompt action haverun down and destroyed them before reinforcements could have come totheir aid. Happily for me the French launches were recalled to go tothe assistance of their ships, and, finding myself no longer pursued, Ilay on my oars to try and discover what had become of Captain Palmer.To my great satisfaction, he soon made his appearance, having, at first,wisely pulled across the stream, where he had not been observed. Allthe boats assembling together, we returned considerably crestfallen anddispirited to our tents. Whether it was treachery, cowardice, or wantof consideration induced the privateer's man to set fire to his vessel Icannot say, but owing to him alone was the failure of our expedition tobe attributed.
23rd.--The French this morning got off their ships, and removed to amore respectable distance from the garrison. Guard-boats were sent downthe river, and continued rowing all night. This duty pressed veryseverely on the seamen of the fleet. The enemy began their march fromWilliamsburg, and on this day attacked and drove in our pickets.
24th.--The seamen were directed to man the guns in the front, and theywere then to-day reviewed by Lord Cornwallis.
25th.--To-day the seamen were again inspected by Lord Cornwallis, andwent through the exercise of the great guns before him, when hislordship expressed himself highly pleased with our conduct. At thistime, the first lieutenant of the Charon commanded a battery in thecentre of the lines of one twenty-four, two eighteens, and two twelves;I had charge of a battery with three eighteenss and four sixes, in frontof the 17th Regiment to the right; Lieutenant Symonds, one of threenines to the left of mine; Lieutenant Conway, of two nines, to the rightof all; Mr Conway, of two twelves, as flanking guns; the master of theFowey, of two nines, in front of the 43rd Regiment; while all thebatteries to the left were manned by seamen from the transports, underthe command of the agent. All the sea batteries were commanded by MrRobb, master of the Charon. Thus it will be seen that the Navy took avery active part in the defence of the place.
26th.--The seamen's tents were to-day moved in front of the quarters ofthe army, close to our batteries. This was done, as we were inmomentary expectation of being attacked by the enemy.
27th.--Our pickets were driven in, and the enemy advanced in order ofbattle. The troops marched out to meet them, Lord Cornwallis beingresolved to give them battle; but they retired as we advanced, evidentlyat that time not wishing to bring on the final struggle. Our army,therefore, returned within the lines.
28th.--At noon the enemy appeared in front of our works, in force about26,000. They extended the whole distance from the right to the left ofour lines, and a very formidable force they appeared. It was evidentthat they wished, by their show of numbers, to strike terror into thehearts of our men. They were mistaken, however, if such was theirobject, for nothing could persuade our fellows that any one ofthemselves was not equal to twenty Continentals or Frenchmen. It isvery well for the men to despise an enemy, and to feel sure that theycan thrash him; but officers, on the contrary, cannot have too muchrespect for him, nor do too much to insure victory, or take too manyprecautions to guard against surprise. A body of the enemy advancing toreconnoitre in a ravine in front of my battery, I opened fire on themtill they rapidly dispersed.
29th.--Lord Cornwallis, having in vain, with his small army of 5000 men,offered the enemy battle, and finding them intent on waiting their owntime to attack him on the left flank, moved this night with all the armyinside the works. He did not doubt but that, by acting on thedefensive, we should be able to hold out till the arrival of the longand earnestly-expected fleet and army to relieve us. It is nodisparagement to the bravery of our little army to say that that succourwas most earnestly prayed for. A body of French horse and foot attackedthe German Legion, who had to retreat under the cover of a battery tothe left. I had again to open fire with my 18-pounders on a body of theenemy who appeared in front of the works, but took to flight as the shotwent rattling in among them.
30th.--The enemy broke ground, and began to throw up redoubts, moving onat the same time in three columns towards our centre. They quickly tookpossession of two of our redoubts, which we had evacuated on withdrawinginto the town. At eleven o'clock they attacked the right and left ofthe town with the intention evidently of storming the flanking redoubts.A smart action ensued. Our men behaved magnificently, so did theenemy; but after severe fighting for two hours they were repulsed, andwhile our batteries played on them they were driven back in greatconfusion into the woods behind the town.
1st October.--The Hessian Legion with other light troops made a sortie,and while skirmishing in front of the town captured several of theenemy. The Hessians returned into the town close to my battery. Iobserved that they were carrying among them a person on a litter. Atfirst I thought that it was one of their own wounded people, but as theycame nearer his uniform showed me that he was an American officer. Astrong impulse induced me to hurry down to meet him, and I knew at allevents that very likely the Hessians would not understand him, and I wasanxious to render him assistance--a mark of my interest in the Americanswhich I felt glad my duty would allow me to bestow. I started when Igot up to the litter, for though his features were convulsed with pain,I recognised Colonel Carlyon. He had been shot through both his legs.He knew me when I spoke to him. I explained who he was as well as Icould to one of the Hessian officers whom I knew, and entreated that hemight be carefully looked after. Just then O'Driscoll, who had come onshore from the ship, arrived to pay me a visit, and volunteered toaccompany Colonel Carlyon to some house where he might be comfortablylodged, and to get a surgeon to attend to his wounds. I explained tothe colonel what I had done. He pressed my hand warmly as if heunderstood me, for he was in too much pain to speak, and I hurried backto my battery.
The enemy were now night and day engaged in throwing up works, while ourbatteries kept up a continual cannonade on the people labouring in them,which impeded their operations somewhat. Notwithstanding this, from theimmense number of men employed, the works were raised with astonishingrapidity. At night a negro was caught deserting to the enemy with anote in his possession from one of the merchants in the town describingthe distressed state of the garrison. I have not spoken much of ourdistress, but it was very great. Our supply of food was daily becomingmore scanty and bad, and it could scarcely be concealed that even ourammunition was failing us. The treacherous merchant was at once takenin custody, to be tried for his crime.
2nd October.--A constant and heavy cannonade kept up all day on theenemy's working parties. They nearly completed their first parallel.Our men occupied in throwing up works.
3rd.--Much as yesterday. The enemy bringing up their artillery.
4th.--A flag came in from the enemy; the cause I know not. Perhaps tooffer terms. We kept up as hot a fire as our want of ammunition wouldallow. Each day I sent to inquire after Colonel Carlyon, but could notleave my battery.
5th.--The French displayed five stand of colours on their works, whilethe Americans displayed their new States' flag of the Stars and Stripes;we eagerly looking for that relief which would enable us to sally outfrom behind our works, beside which we stood fretting angrily, and drivethem away into the recesses of their wo
ods and marshes.
6th and 7th.--The enemy mounting their heavy artillery on their firstparallel and supplying their batteries with ammunition. The garrisonthrowing up traverses to defend the works.
8th.--The enemy attacked our pickets on the left at midnight, and drovethem inside the lines. Some time after this a body of them came to thebarricade and persuaded the officers that they were deserters. Theofficers of the 43rd regiment, in a most unwary manner having got on theworks to show them the way in, were treacherously shot at and killed,their murderers making their escape.
9th.--The enemy having completed their works and mounted their guns,their batteries opened on the evening of this day with great vigour,that on the right of eight 24-pounders, and that on the left of four24-pounders and two eighteens. Day and night the cannonade continuedwithout intermission--we, as well as we could, keeping up a reply.Several shot having struck the Charon and Guadaloupe, they were removedfarther down the river. It will be impossible to account for the killedand wounded in each day's action. I may be able to say something aboutit if I come out of the work alive. All I can now say is that theslaughter is very great. Among the killed this day is thecommissary-general, who with several other officers lost their lives,while sitting at dinner, by a shell which burst among them.
10th.--The enemy opened several fresh batteries to-day. One of themcommanded the Charon, on which they began to cannonade with red-hotshot. I heard of her danger from Tom Rockets, who came hurrying intothe battery with a look of as much concern as if the town had beentaken.
"They're at her, sir!" he exclaimed. "They're blazing away like fury,and I see'd smoke, when last I looked at her, coming up hermain-hatchway. Poor old barkie! I don't by no manner of means like thelook of things."
I could ill spare any of my people from the battery, but I despatched amaster's mate, with Grampus, Rockets, and a few other men, to renderwhat assistance they could. They, however, very soon returned.
"I know'd it would be so," exclaimed old Grampus, throwing down his hatand almost blubbering outright. "The dear old barkie, there's an end onher. I know'd she was to have ill-luck from the time we first cameinside them Capes of Virginia; but I didn't think, that I didn't, thatshe'd have been blown to blazes by them infernal hot iron balls, whichto my mind ain't fit for Christians to make use on, that they ain't.Well, there was we a-waiting for a boat to get aboard her, though Ididn't think there was much use, seeing she was in a blaze from stem tostern. In a few minutes the flames licked and coiled themselves upround the masts and spars till they reached the mast-heads, and then shebroke adrift from her moorings, and, not content with getting burntherself, what should she do but drive aboard a transport which she seton fire, and then there the two were burning away together, without thepower of mortal man to stop them. The enemy were still commanding them,while our old barkie, to show that she was game to the last, kept firingaway her own guns as long as one of them remained mounted, and then upshe went in a shower of sparks and flames, and wasn't long in burning tothe water's edge."
The master's mate told me that, notwithstanding the circumstances Nolhad described, he could scarcely restrain him and the other men fromshoving off to get aboard the frigate. The inconvenience we suffered,the loss of our things, was not to be compared to our regret for thedestruction, (for her rate), of one of the finest ships in the Navy.Scenes almost indescribable of distress and death, misery and suffering,now crowd around us on every side.
This evening the enemy, having mounted more of his artillery, totallysilenced Number 5 battery commanded by the first lieutenant of theCharon, the shot and shells having torn up his platforms and dismountedhis guns. He, with his men, was therefore obliged to quit it. At teno'clock at night the enemy under cover of their guns made a generalattack from the centre to the left, but were again repulsed. Twice Iwitnessed the Hessians give way before the enemy in front of my works.The cannonade continued all night with a warmth hitherto unsurpassed.The slaughter in all parts of the town was very great. We wereoccasionally employed in restoring the works which the enemy had knockeddown. Not a moment was there for rest; every man was employed either infighting or toiling with pickaxe or shovel. Many parts of the town wereset on fire, a lurid glare being cast over the whole scene, exposing tosight the falling buildings, the brave garrison working their guns orlabouring in the trenches, the wounded carried off on litters, the deadstrewed about in every direction; the whole to my idea presenting apicture more awful and terrific than any I had ever yet beheld; yet Ihad seen, as may be remembered, in my day a good deal of hard fighting.
11th.--No words of mine can properly describe the dreadful condition towhich our small but brave garrison was reduced. The enemy this eveningbegan their second parallel by which they advanced three hundred yardsnearer to us. Their fire continued incessant from heavy artillery andmortars, and we opened fresh embrasures to flank their works, keeping upa constant fire from all the howitzers and small mortars were possessed.Upwards of a thousand shells were thrown into the works this night, andevery spot alike became dangerous. To talk of the thundering of thecannon, the cries of the wounded, and the shrieks and distressinggestures of the inhabitants, whose dwellings were in flames, and knewnot where to seek for safety, will but give a faint picture of what wastaking place. Yet amidst all this havoc, destruction, and suffering,the known scarcity of everything necessary to prolong the siege, nomurmuring was heard. Not a wish was expressed to give up the town whilethe most distant hope remained of our being relieved. On the contrary,our gallant little army, taking example from their chief, exhibited themost undaunted resolution, and hourly gave proof of their attachment tothe noble general who had so often led them on to victory in the field.One man there is, and one only, who may well tremble at the result.Often do I think of him and what his fate will be if the place is takenby assault. Yet, strange to say, he appears as cool and fearless as therest. On this night the enemy burnt several transports with red-hotshot and sunk two others from a battery on the left. The inhabitantswho still remained in the town, and other non-combatants, were nowliving in holes under the cliffs or along the shore by the river side.Even there, however, they were not safe, the shot finding them out intheir places of refuge and destroying numbers of them. My great anxietywas for Colonel Carlyon. He was recovering from his wounds, but Idreaded lest a stray shot or shell might penetrate the hospital, andthat he might share the fate of so many of our own people. I sent him amessage whenever I had an opportunity, and received many kindexpressions from him in return.
12th.--At eight o'clock this morning the enemy sunk one of thefire-ships from a fresh battery thrown up during the night. All day ahot fire was kept up from it which almost completed the destruction ofthe shipping intended for the defence of the town against an attack bysea.
At nine o'clock the chief officer of artillery waited on the commodorewith a message from Lord Cornwallis, requesting that the lieutenants ofthe navy with their men should move on from the right into the hornworkon the left, which the crews of the transports had quitted inconsequence of the heavy fire to which it was exposed. It was everyinstant expected that the enemy would storm the works. Hearing this, Iimmediately volunteered to work this battery, and set off for itaccordingly, with a midshipman and thirty-six seamen, it beingunderstood that I was to be relieved in eight hours by the firstlieutenant. In fifty-two minutes after my arrival in the hornwork theenemy silenced the three left guns by closing the embrasures, andshortly afterwards they dismounted a twelve-pounder, knocked off themuzzles of two eighteens, and for the last hour and a half of the time Ihad undertaken to hold the post left me with one eighteen-pounder.Although even a part of its muzzle also was shot away, I kept up a firewith it, determining to hold out to the last. My poor fellows werefalling thick around me. Numbers had been wounded; scarcely one hadescaped; eight had been killed. Tom Rockets had received a bad injuryon one arm; still he worked away with the other, helping as best hecould to load and fire the g
un. The midshipman, Nol Grampus, and I werethe only men in the battery uninjured. Old Nol stood as upright andundaunted as ever. The gun had just been loaded; he held the match inhis hand; he was about to fire. At that instant I saw a shell pitchinginto the battery. Our gun went off. Its roar seemed louder thanbefore. At the same instant there was the noise of the bursting of theshell. I was covered with dust and smoke. It cleared away, but when Ilooked out for Grampus, expecting to see him at the gun, he was gone. Alittle way off lay a mangled form. I ran up. It was that of my oldfaithful follower and friend. He knew me, but he was breathing out hislast.
"I knowed it would be so, Mr Hurry," he whispered, as I stooped downover him. "When I saw the old barkie go I knowed that the days of manyon us was numbered. I'd have like to have seen the war ended, and you,Mr Hurry, made happy. Bless you, my boy, bless you! You've alwaysshowed your love for the old seaman. Well, it's all right. I don'tfear to die. He who rules up aloft knows what's best. He will havemercy on a poor ignorant sailor who trusts on One who came on earth tosave him. That's my religion. You stick to that, boy! I can't see.I'm cold, very cold."
I took my old friend's hand. He pressed it faintly. "Thank ye, thankye," I thought he said. His lips moved for a few moments, then suddenlyhe fell back. A shudder passed through his frame, and he was gone. Abetter or a braver seaman than Nol Grampus never died fighting for hissovereign's cause.
I had to spring up and help work the gun, for another of my poor fellowswas just knocked over. I looked at my watch. It was the time my reliefshould arrive, and time it was, for the midshipman and I were the onlytwo now remaining unhurt. Out of the thirty-six men who followed meinto the battery nine lay dead, eight more were breathing out their laston the ground, and of the nineteen others most had lost either an arm ora leg.
At last my brother-officer with some men appeared. He stood aghast, aswell he might, at the spectacle presented to him. As he was approachingme a shell fell in the space between us, sending its fragments in everydirection. I felt that I was wounded, and, staggering back, I fell tothe ground. My brother-officer ran to lift me up. I found that I hadbeen struck on the right leg and received a severe contusion on thehead, but in a few minutes I was able to stand. The midshipman also waswounded in the arm by the same shell, and he and I were the only twopeople able to walk out of the battery. Of the others several diedbefore they were removed. I left it at a quarter-past six, and on myway past the redoubt, where he had been the greater part of the time, Ireceived the thanks of my Lord Cornwallis for what he was pleased tocall my gallantry and determination.
13th.--Too clearly does it appear that a struggle in which we canscarcely hope to be the victors is approaching. The besiegers havegreatly augmented the number of their guns and mortars in the works oftheir second parallel, while our lines, it is evident, are becomingevery hour more and more defenceless. Even the most sanguine begin todespair of the arrival of relief in time to save the garrison from asurrender, although the commander-in-chief at New York sends usassurance that he will come to our aid; but he has not started, and anyhour may seal our fate.
At five this evening, in spite of my wound, I again quitted my batteryon the right, having volunteered to command two eighteen-pounders on theleft. I kept up a constant fire with them all night on the enemy'sworks. By the morning the battery was masked, and I and my peoplereturned to our own works.
14th.--Our works were now in every direction reduced almost to heaps ofruins, and incapable of withstanding the tremendous fire poured intothem by the enemy's artillery, which, from want of ammunition, we had nopower of silencing. Considerable breaches were made in our strongestbatteries and redoubts; indeed, it was too evident that they were nolonger tenable. Early this morning the enemy sunk another fire-ship andtwo transports; at seven in the evening they attempted to storm theflanking redoubts to the right, but were repulsed with considerableloss. We were all kept on the _qui vive_, for it was evident that theyhad not done with us yet. This was proved at nine o'clock, when we werewarned that they were advancing against us with a force believed to benot less than 17,000 men. From right to left they came on, with drumsbeating and loud huzzas, and attempted to storm our works. We opened onthem with all our guns from one end of our works to the other. Theyreplied with their musketry, and it may well be supposed how terrificappeared that blaze of fire extending throughout the whole length ofthat wide-stretching line. It was a sight which, although many are thebattles I have seen, I shall never forget. Then there were the burninghouses, the bursting shells, the roar of the artillery, the rattle ofthe musketry, the crashing of falling buildings, the blowing-up ofmines, the cries of the combatants, the shrieks of the wounded, the loudclang of the martial bands, the wild huzzas of the stormers, the defiantshouts of our gallant fellows,--all these must be thrown in, and yetafter all no adequate conception can be formed of that midnight scene ofslaughter and destruction. Our men fought fiercely and desperately;soldiers and sailors vied with each other in their feats of gallantry.Bravely they stood at the breaches in our crumbling works; the sick andwounded rushed to the trenches. I heard a voice near me which Irecognised as that of Tom Rockets.
"I thought you had been in your bed, Tom," said I.
"So I was, sir," he answered; "but I couldn't stay there when this sortof fun was going on, so as I'd yet one arm at liberty I thought as howI'd come and use it alongside you, Mr Hurry; I knew you wasn't overwell to do either."
Tom had no jacket on, and his arm was bound up just as it had been whenhe managed to make his escape from the hospital. Although in mostdirections we drove the enemy back, they managed to carry two of ourflanking redoubts on the left, which had hitherto retarded theirapproaches, when nearly all the poor fellows in them were, as isgenerally the case when a post is taken by storm, put to the bayonet.
15th.--The enemy lost no time in throwing up a line of communicationbetween the two flanking redoubts, which they perfected before daylight.The consequence of this to us was most disastrous, for they would nowrake the whole of our lines. Still we persevered and returned, thoughit must be owned but feebly, the vigorous fire they kept up on us.
16th.--At half-past four in the morning, Lord Cornwallis directed asortie to be made in order to destroy or to spike the guns in one of theenemy's batteries which was causing us most annoyance. The partyconsisted of about a hundred and fifty men from the guards, the lightinfantry and the 80th regiment. Never have I seen a more spirited ordashing affair. Away they went, nor stopped till they had surmountedthe enemy's works, which were found to be occupied by French troops,upwards of a hundred of whom were bayoneted. Eleven guns were spikedand in five minutes they were back again within our lines with the lossonly of twelve killed and wounded. Scarcely anything took place in thegarrison with which the enemy were not made acquainted. The general,therefore, never allowed any of his intentions to transpire till themoment of execution. It was therefore without much surprise that Iheard at midnight that boats were in readiness to convey the troops overto the Gloucester side, and that the seamen were to keep up as heavy afire as we could, to deceive the enemy. When the troops had passed overwe were to make a rush for the boats and get across to follow them asbest we could. What was then to be done we were left to divine. Thesick and wounded and prisoners, and our guns and stores, were of courseto be abandoned. Scarcely had I heard of the proposed plan before Ifound that the embarkation had commenced. The night had beenthreatening, and now a storm with wind and rain, thunder and lightning,such as I had not often witnessed, commenced and increased in fury. Itmade our work easier in deceiving the enemy, though our artillery seemedbut a mockery of the thunder of the skies. Our gallant seamen felt thatthe safety of the army depended on their exertions, and in spite of theshowers of shot and shell falling among us all night, most nobly didthey stand to their guns. The time was approaching when I expected toreceive orders to call them off from the lines, that we might commenceour retreat. O'Driscoll
was engaged in the embarkation of the troops.He was to come when they had crossed, to assist me in managing theretreat of the seamen. At length I heard his voice in my battery.
"All right," I exclaimed. "One shot more and we'll make a run for it."
"Not at all right," was his answer. "The plan has failed, and if theenemy discover our condition we are done for. I came to stop you fromleaving your guns."
"What has happened?" I exclaimed.
"The larger part of the army were got across in safety when the galeincreased so much that I began to doubt the possibility of passing overany more. Even the empty boats could scarcely make head against it. Iwas going to represent this to the commodore, when I found that two ofthe boats full of troops had drifted down the river before the gale. Ifthe poor fellows in them have escaped drowning, they will by daylightfall into the hands of the enemy. This settled the question; thefurther embarkation of the troops has been stopped, and now I must hurryaway to endeavour to get the main body back again before our manoeuvreis discovered."
The troops remaining on the York side once more returned to the lines,and the night passed away, as had many previous nights, both sideskeeping up a heavy cannonade with the addition of the fearful stormwhich raged till long after the sun had risen on the scene of slaughterand destruction.
The plan formed by our noble general was worthy of him, desperate as itmay appear, and would, I believe, have succeeded had not the elementsbeen against him. Sallying from the lines at Gloucester Point as soonas all the army had crossed over, he intended to attack the camp of theFrench cavalry, mount the infantry on their horses, and push on by rapidmarches towards the north, till he could form a junction with suchforces as Sir Henry Clinton might send out to his support. Part of thenavy and a small body of troops were to be left behind to arrange termsfor the inhabitants as well as for our poor wounded and sick men, whocould not be moved. The baggage also of course was to have beenabandoned. Had the plan succeeded, it would have been looked upon asone of the most gallant exploits on record. Still many lives might havebeen sacrificed and no adequate object obtained, so I doubt not thatevents turned out for the best.
17th.--At length the storm began to abate, but great was our anxietylest the enemy should discover our situation and attack us. Happilythey did not come on, and by noon we were able to bring back that partof the army which had crossed the river. Our generals held a council ofwar, and it became known that the sad hour had arrived when we must suefor terms with the enemy, or undergo all the dangers of an assault withthe certainty of being defeated at last. With feelings of sorrow andregret we saw the flag of truce depart. We waited the result withanxiety. Whatever were the terms proposed they were peremptorilyrefused by the enemy, and our brave general determined to hold out forone day more on the bare possibility of relief arriving from New York.The fire accordingly re-commenced on both sides with greater fury thanbefore.
18th.--During the whole morning the fire from all the batteriescontinued with unabated warmth, though one after the other our guns werebecoming useless. I continued working away at mine with gloomydesperation. I was suffering from my wounds, from fatigue, and fromhunger too, for our provisions had almost failed us. I could have goneon, however, as long as a man remained alive to help me work my guns.At last a shot came through the embrasure at which was a gun I was onthe point of firing. Suddenly I felt my arm jerked up--the matchdropped from my nerveless arm, and I fell. At that moment the signalwas given to cease firing. Another flag of truce was going forth. Ifelt that I was desperately wounded--I believed that my last hour hadcome.
It was just then four o'clock. This was nearly the last shot firedduring that hateful and fratricidal war. Angels were rejoicing thatblood had ceased to flow, though proud British hearts were sad andhumbled at the thoughts of their defeat. That hour struck the knell ofEngland's supremacy in the West, and gave forth the first glad notes ofthe establishment of American Independence. Directly afterwards thecannonade from the side of the enemy ceased along the whole extent oftheir line.
My men, when they saw me on the ground, lifted me up, and placed me on alitter already deeply stained with blood. O'Driscoll arrived, andsincere was the sorrow and commiseration he expressed when he saw me. Iinquired for Colonel Carlyon, and entreated that I might be conveyed towhere he was.
I felt a longing desire to see Madeline's father once more, and to sendby him, should he survive, my last message of love and devotion to her.I thought that he would not hesitate about delivering them.
"I will inquire where your friend the colonel is," answered O'Driscoll."He was removed, I know, for the house where he lay was too muchbattered to be longer tenable. I am uncertain to what quarters he hasbeen removed."
My heart sank within me when I heard these words, for I fully believedthat Colonel Carlyon had been killed, and that O'Driscoll was unwillingto wound my feelings by the information. My men now moved on with methrough the town. I need not again describe the scenes I witnessed--thedead scattered about, piles of ruins, houses battered and blackened, theremnant of the inhabitants wandering about looking for their lostfriends, maimed and wounded soldiers and seamen--gaunt, pale andstarved--others still unhurt, looking angry and sullen at the thought ofour defeat. Officers were standing about in groups, greeting each otherwith vexed and sorrowful looks. I was suffering too much physically tofeel deeply on the matter, but my sensations were of a very mixedcharacter, and I do not feel that it was derogatory to my character, asa loyal subject of his Majesty, or as a British officer, to say that Iheartily prayed that the war might be over, even though the proposedhumiliating surrender might be the last great event connected with it.After I had been conveyed through several ruined, half-burned streets,my bearers at length stopped at a house where O'Driscoll told me hebelieved Colonel Carlyon was to be found.
Such was the case. Though sitting up, he was unable to walk. Theexpression of sorrow and commiseration which lit up his countenance, andthe kind words with which he greeted me, gave me the assurance that Iwas regarded by him in the light I desired. It was some time before asurgeon could attend me--so many more urgent cases demanding the care ofthe medical men in every direction. In the meantime notice was broughtus that a cessation of arms had been agreed on, and which time wasafterwards increased till the following day.
Like a father or a fond brother did Colonel Carlyon tend me all thatnight, refusing to lie down till my wounds had been dressed, and I hadsunk into the slumber I so much needed.
19th.--The day--painful, though scarcely to be called humiliating, tothe brave army which had so heroically endured that desperate if notprotracted siege--at length arrived. Lord Cornwallis, finding that ourenemies had resolved to grant us alone the terms which they hadpreviously offered--that we had not as yet experienced the effect of thefire from the flanking redoubts, armed with numerous pieces of heavyartillery ready to open on us--that our garrison was now reduced toscarcely three thousand effective men, in want both of provisions andammunition--felt that the only course open to him, to prevent thehorrors of an assault, and to save the lives of the remainder of histroops, was to accept them. Accordingly, at noon, the army surrenderedprisoners-of-war to the United States of America, while the navy becameprisoners by arrangement to the Compte de Grasse. At one o'clock aregiment of American troops, followed by one of French, took possessionof the works, with drums beating and colours flying, when the Britishflag was struck, and that of America displayed in its stead. At threeo'clock the British troops marched out, with drums beating and colourscased, towards the enemy's lines. There in a wide field were drawn upthe armies of the allies, with the generals ready to receive them.Proud and happy, indeed, must Washington and his brethren-in-arms havefelt at this, to them, glorious termination of the struggle.
Sullen and sad looked our men, I was told, as, with gestures ofimpatience and vexation, they grounded their arms, and then marched backinto the town. At the same time the enemy took possession of
all ourlines and works. My wounds, though severe, were not dangerous, and Iwas able to take an interest in all that was going forward, and toreceive the visits of friends who came to inquire after me and to offerme assistance. With regard to the condition of the garrison on the daywe surrendered, I can state positively that, on a correct muster, wewere unable to march out more than two thousand five hundred men. Wefound, therefore, that we had lost, in killed and wounded, upwards of athousand, and from sickness four hundred and fifty. From thiscalculation it will be seen that we had about a hundred and ten killedand wounded every day after the enemy opened their batteries. Theremaining troops were at Gloucester, on the other side of the river, theworks of which they bravely defended to the last.
The ruinous condition of the town and works, which altogether did notcover half a mile of ground in length and nothing like it in width, maybe conceived by the accounts I have already given. I may remark thatfrom one end to the other it was strewed with shot and shell, and hadtruly the appearance of a ploughed field. I must not close my accountof the public events of this memorable period without speaking of thecivility and humanity the English prisoners received from the French--sodifferent to that which I experienced when I fell into their hands atSaint Domingo. They showed evident compassion for our condition, andnot only rendered us every delicate attention in their power, but gavethe officers a captain's guard of grenadiers to guard them from theinsolence and abuse of the American soldiers, who showed, it was said,much disposition to ill-treat and rob them. The excitement and thegreat exertion made by all had hitherto kept at bay the attacks ofsickness from many who now began, their toils over, to succumb to them.Intermittent fevers appeared, and few, I believe, escaped. Among thosewho died was my gallant friend and brother-officer, Lieutenant Conway,whose name I have before frequently mentioned. For my own part, Ireceived the greatest personal kindness both from Americans and French.Those especially who had at any time received any attention from theEnglish seemed anxious on this occasion to exhibit their gratitude.Among them I must particularly mention Monsieur Clenard who commandedthe Compte D'Artois, the French ship we and the Bienfaisant took offIreland. He now commanded one of the ships of war in the French fleet.He showed the Charon's, in particular, every mark of esteem andkindness. So did a French officer we took in the Peggy privateer, whenwe went in search of the French fleet, and whom we had properly treatedwhen he was on board us. Such conduct reflects the highest honour onthe French, and authorises them to expect, should any of their people atany time by the chances of war fall into our hands, the same kindnessand consideration.
The American officers were not backward in the same liberal and generousconduct. I had on one occasion--I omitted to mention it--an opportunityof showing a favour to the son of a Colonel Matthews in the Americanarmy. Colonel Matthews immediately came and offered money, servants andhorses, and invited me to his house as soon as I could be moved. MrJones also, a gentleman residing at Hampton, whose family I had metthere, sent the instant he heard we had been defeated to ascertain howhe could best serve me, and wrote to assure me that, should I decide toremain on my parole in America, he would request General Washington toallow me to reside at his house, and that money or anything he had wasat my service. Just at the same time I received a similar message fromMrs Langton, whose house was not more than seven miles from York Town.I need scarcely say that, grateful as I felt for all the other offers ofkindness I had received. I resolved, should I have the power, to accepthers. The public events which took place on the days subsequent to thesurrender may not be considered of general interest. On the 20th theFrench ships of war came up the harbour, and on the following day theBritish troops were marched into the country, where they were to bedistributed, and kept as prisoners of war till the conclusion of peace.The seamen still remained in the town. On the 21st, paroles of honourwere granted to the officers of the Navy, who were to go to Europe inflags of truce with all the seamen and marines. Every exertion was madeto fit out the vessels remaining in the harbour for this purpose, but itwas not till the 2nd of November that they were ready to take theirdeparture. On the very day we capitulated, Sir Henry Clinton, with alarge fleet of line-of-battle ships and frigates, with seven thousand ofhis best troops, set sail from New York. He did not appear off theCapes of Virginia till the 24th, when, hearing what had occurred, hereturned to New York. It was not, however, till the 26th of January,1782, that a treaty of peace was signed at Paris, the happy news ofwhich reached Philadelphia on the 23rd of March. But I am anticipatingevents.
Colonel Carlyon was sufficiently recovered two days after the surrenderof York Town to be removed to Mrs Langton's, but several days elapsedbefore I was able to follow him, when I obtained permission from thecommodore as well as from the Compte de Grasse, to remain in Americatill my health was restored. I had an affectionate parting withO'Driscoll and with my old follower, Tom Rockets, who were the bearersof many messages from me to my family.
"Tell them, O'Driscoll," said I, "that though I am a loyal subject ofKing George, I see no reason why I should not win the hand, as I believeI have the heart, of a daughter of America."
"You're right, my dear boy," he answered. "You'll be doing the mostloyal thing in your power, for you'll be winning back a subject whowould otherwise be lost, and gaining many little subjects too, maybe,old fellow," he added, with a poke in my wounded ribs which almost upsetme.
At length a litter was brought into my room, and I was carried in it onmen's shoulders to the house of my friends. What words of mine can dojustice to the generous kindness and the delicate attention with which Iwas treated by all the family, and the marks of tender affection Ireceived from one who was there to welcome me? When I first looked up,after I had been placed on the bed prepared for my wounded form,Madeline stood by my side. My wounds healed. I rapidly recovered mystrength, and then the depressing feeling of my poverty, of my utterinability to support a wife as I desired that Madeline should bemaintained, came over me. She ascertained the cause of my despondency.
"But papa can obtain employment for you," she remarked. "Why not, whenthere is peace, leave the British Navy and enter that of the UnitedStates? Surely it is equally honourable!"
Little did she know, when she said that, how, with all its faults, Iloved the glorious Navy of England: I perhaps scarcely knew myself, tillthe sensations which the suggestion conjured up in my bosom told me.Even the idea of quitting the sea and following some occupation on shorehad not the attraction for me which might have been supposed. Still Ihad resolved to adopt the latter alternative if her father would bestowher hand on me. He had been absent for some time, attending to publicaffairs. At length he returned. I explained to him my position. Ithought he looked grave and sad as I went on speaking.
"I have been under a mistake," he observed. "I thought that you were inthe expectation of receiving a good property, and that you would havethe means of supporting my dear child. This war has ruined my estate,and I am but little able to leave her anything. It will be better foryou both to part; I grieve that you should have again met."
These words pierced me to the heart, and overthrew all the brightvisions I had conjured up. They were so unlike, too, what I expected tohear from him. I pressed my hands on my face and groaned. I dared notmeet Madeline. I thought that, too probably, he would prohibit me fromseeing her again. I sat the picture of despair. Just then a negroservant entered the room, and gave a packet of letters to the colonel.He handed me one with a black seal. Another blow. Some other member ofmy family dead. It is too bitter. I cannot stand this. I'll go to seaagain, and hope that in mercy I may lose that life which has become tooburdensome to bear. Such thoughts, (wrong and impious I know theywere), passed through my mind as I kept the letter in my hand beforebreaking the seal. I looked at the superscription. It was from my dearsister Jane. I tore it open. The contents soon riveted my attention.It was not long. One passage ran thus:--
"Some weeks ago, our old r
elation, Sir Hurricane Tempest, much to oursurprise, sent to ask one of us to go and nurse him, saying that he was,he believed, on his death-bed, and beseeching us to have compassion on afriendless, childless old man. The lot fell on me. I found him verydifferent to what I expected, and interested in all matters concerningus. Do you remember, Hurry, rescuing an old gentleman from the mob inLondon during the Lord George Gordon riots? That was Sir Hurricanehimself. He knew you; and when I told him about you, and that you hadfallen in love with an American lady, the daughter of a rebel, and thatyou had no means of marrying her, he answered, `But he shall have themeans. I'll give them to him. I like his spirit. I like her. Herfriends have espoused the right side--the side of liberty. They werenot afraid to stand up boldly against tyranny and injustice. Tell him Ishall be happy to welcome the little rebel as my niece, if I live, and,at all events, to know that her children will inherit my property.'Soon after this our kind old uncle died, and he has left you, as far asI can understand, fully three thousand a year."
How my heart bounded when I heard these words! I handed the letter toColonel Carlyon. He rose and took my hand.
"I had not intended to be very stern when, just now, I spoke to you," hesaid, and I knew that he spoke the truth. "I wished to ascertainwhether your affection for my daughter was as great as I was assured itis. I know that you are eager to give her, before she hears it fromothers, the satisfactory information you have received. Go and tellher."
I did. A few days subsequent to the news of peace being received, wewere married. After a tour in the States she accompanied me to England,and my American bride won golden opinions from all the relatives andfriends to whom I had the happiness of introducing her. A dutiful andaffectionate wife she has always been to me, and I have had just causeto be thankful that I married the Little Rebel.
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