CHAPTER XV
It was marvelous what Clark had accomplished with less than one hundredand fifty men in the three weeks he had been at the Falls, and I nowconceived a higher opinion than ever of the rare qualities of the man.He had a faculty for organization, and for using men and circumstanceswhich amounted to genius of the noblest order. Already he had builded asubstantial block house on Corn Island, just above the Falls, in whichall his goods, supplies, and ammunition were stored; the newly enlistedmen had been taught some idea of the duties and requirements of soldiersby the work, systematically organized, of clearing and building, by theregular camp life, and the daily drills which they practiced. Still moreimportant, they had acquired unbounded confidence in their leader, andall his orders were obeyed with a cheerful alacrity that promised wellfor our project.
The camp presented a busy and cheerful scene, and the neighboringsettlement of emigrants had already the promise of a village in thedozen log cabins built, or building, surrounded by newly broken ground,ready for the corn planting. Our company was received with enthusiasm,and Captain Bowman by Clark with the consideration due his rank and age.Publicly I had only the formal recognition of an acquaintance, but assoon as we had been assigned a place for our camp, and the ax-men set tocutting poles for our booths, Colonel Clark, who, meantime, hadconcluded his interview with Captain Bowman, and given personalattention to the pitching of a small tent for his accommodation, sent amessenger to me with word that I would please follow the man to theblock-house. There Colonel Clark awaited me in a small room adjoiningthe one in which the ammunition and extra arms were kept; he had takenthis room for his own quarters that he might watch over his preciousstore of lead and powder and guard against its waste.
"With three hundred like you, McElroy, I'd venture an attack upon Quebecitself," was Clark's greeting, as he seized and shook both my hands in agrip that cramped them, "I see what you've done, stepped down rank agrade in order to get Bowman's militiamen to fill up your company. Itglads my heart, McElroy, to know there's one kindred spirit in thisenterprise with me."
The proud distinction had been mine of claiming a personal friendshipwith Colonel Morgan. Also I had been commended by General Arnold for mybravery at Freeman's Farm, but more than all these Colonel Clark'srecognition of a sacrifice which had cost my pride no easy struggle,gratified me. Clark read men as a master in geometry reads hisblackboard, and found as little difficulty in solving the human problem.Captain Bowman he had won to hearty cooperation in his plans by treatinghim with the dignified consideration he deemed his due, and now he tookthe surest way to fasten me to him as with hooks of steel.
"You have accomplished so much already, Colonel Clark," said I, "that Ihave less doubt than ever before of the success of your project. Yourraw recruits are already soldierly in bearing, and your camp as orderlyas a barrack. Our company will be the awkward squad of your command."
"Two weeks' training will bring them up with the rest," answered Clark."Most of them are Scotch Irishmen I see--that is saying all that isnecessary. But I must tell you my plans before we are interrupted. Ishall often want your secret counsel, until the opportunity comes togive you a place on my staff. How much, think you, does Captain Bowmanknow?"
"Only, I surmise, that we are here to protect the frontier, and that itis probable we may be commanded to make a foray into the lands of theIroquois, in which case our chances for promotion and bounty lands willbe increased."
"That is well. He knows enough to have a mind prepared for furtherdisclosure, and is not likely to turn back when he knows all. Did anysuspicion of our real object seem to occur to any one in yourneighborhood?"
"To no one except to my mother, and I easily allayed her shrewdsuspicions. Most of our people were disposed to blame our project asdiverting strength from the cause."
"More than anything else I am dreading that the English may get someinformation as to our movements, their suspicions be aroused, and thegarrisons at Vincennes and Kaskaskia reenforced. I have certaininformation, through spies I have been sending out all summer, that bothplaces are sparsely garrisoned at present, the men having been withdrawnto defend Canadian forts, which are thought to be more exposed. Alsothat the commandant and most of the garrisons, if not all, at Kaskaskiaare French, and not overfond of their new British masters, while theEnglish officer in charge of Vincennes is just now absent at Detroit.You see, therefore, that we run but little risk of failure, if only ourplans can be kept secret."
"Certainly the prospect is so far encouraging. When do we start and bywhat route?"
"In ten days or two weeks, down the river by boat to the mouth of theTennessee, and, I suppose, landward to Kaskaskia--since that is theweaker point. Meantime we must drill and enthuse our men, load our boatsand get all in readiness for a forced march. It will be best, I think,not to inform the men of our destination till necessary.
"Hello, Givens!" as a face appeared before the open window--"come in!"Then, lowering his voice to me--"be careful, McElroy, in your talk tothe scout; he doesn't know all yet, and it is necessary to reveal ourplans to him gradually, and to use some persuasion; he hates theIndians, and longs to fight them, but he has never consented to beararms against Great Britain. Nor do I want to persuade him against hisconvictions, but he'll not be of much service to us unless he is onewith us. If he does consent freely to go on he will be as valuable as aninterpreter as he has been so far as a scout and guide. I'm loath tolose his services."
Givens had by this time made his way through the armory, and wasknocking on Clark's door. His recognition of me was immediate.
"Glad ter meet yer ergin, Capt'n McElroy," speaking with his usualemphatic drawl, and with hand outstretched cordially. "Couldn't resistther temptation, yer see, uv goin' ergin ther red-skinned devils onctmore 'fore ole age kitches me, en' lays me by ther heels. But thersavages's wary, sence they larn't thet last lesson we sot 'm so mightywell et Pint Pleasant. 'Tain't ther intentions, 'pears like, ter walkinter no more sich traps; besides er leader like Cornstalk's precioussildom found 'mongst 'um. They'll be mighty apt, though, ter be at thernative tricks uv skulkin' roun' en' bushwackin' en' ambushin' ef we give'um enny chanst. Long es we keeps tergether, howsomever, en' in theropen they ain't no ways likely ter distarb us."
"This block-house is a substantial warning to them, Givens," put inClark; "I wish we had forts all through the Ohio and Mississippicountry; that would be the surest way to drive and hold back thesavages."
"And now that the English are arming the Indians and using them tointimidate the border colonies, we must make a big show of strength, orall our frontier settlements will be wiped out," said I.
"Do you believe thet thar 'tale, Capt'n?" asked Givens, a flush risingto his cheeks. "'Tain't like the gallant English."
"I think there's small doubt of it, it's by King George's command and isnot approved by his ministers, I understand. Governor Henry has had mostpositive information to that effect recently."
"If thet's so, I ain't no longer countin' myself er loyal subject," saidGivens, speaking even more slowly and emphatically than usual. "Ef therEnglish king es capabul' uv armin' red skins, en' turnin' 'em loose onther settlements ter murder innocent wimmen en' babies, then I'm donebein' loyal ter 'im. I'd es lief jine ther Continentals en' fight 'umwid ther rest uv yer."
Clark gave me a sly and eloquent look and, with that tact which amountedto a sixth sense with him, turned the subject at precisely the rightmoment. "Where's your foster son this afternoon, Givens? I haven't seenhim since drill this morning."
"Oh, I got a furlough fur 'im, en' sont 'im over ter ther settlement. Heain't over strong, so I saves 'im all thet's possible. He's powerfulfrens uv some uv ther wimmen en' chillun down ter the settlement, en'sence he ain't so mighty strong I'm glad fur 'im ter hev ther milk en'ther eggs they meks 'im eat."
Just then Clark was called out a minute, and I took this opportunity totell Givens about Ellen O'Niel, of her having left her home, of our longfruitless search for her,
and of our finally having reached theconclusion that she had been captured and carried off by Indians; of ourhope of finding her or getting some clew to her fate during thisexpedition, and my reliance on him to help me make enquiries among thevarious Indian tribes we might meet.
At first he asked me a few questions as to the time Ellen left home, herage, appearance, etc. Then he pulled his cap over his eyes, and listenedsilently.
"You do not think it likely the Indians have killed her?" I askedanxiously, his silence seeming ominous.
"'Taint like ther red skinned devils ter kill er handsum' young gal."
"Then do you not think we have good prospect of finding her, and willnot the Indians be glad to take a big ransom for her?"
"Thar's some prospects, I reckin', en' ef we find 'er we'll git 'er,"was the scout's answer, as he got up and marched off, his skin cap stillpulled down over his eyes.
Once during the next two weeks, I had Givens' step-son pointed out tome; his youth, his shyness, and the scout's special watchfulness overhim, seemed to have excited a good deal of interest. I, too, felt somecuriosity. Givens had said nothing to me of a foster son the day I hadvisited him, though it is true our conversation was confined to the onetopic, and there was no occasion to mention any other. Perhaps he wasnot then with Givens, or the form I took to be a woman's in theadjoining room was his, the swish of a woman's skirts being added by myimagination. Well, it was no concern of mine, either way, and I hadenough to do and to think about.
Thomas Mitchell, who had improved greatly in health and spirits, underthe influence of an outdoor, active life, and manly duties, came to meabout a week after our arrival at Corn Island, and with an air ofmystery led me off down the river some little distance from the camp.
"Do you know, Donald," he said almost in a whisper, "I am convinced thescout, Givens, knows something about Ellen?"
"And why do you think so?"
"I was telling him the story of her disappearance, and our vain searchfor her, to-day, in the hope of getting him interested, and he seemedalready to know everything."
"Well," I laughed, "that is not strange. I also told him a week ago, andfor the same reason."
"Oh, did you! Still that does not fully account for his manner, Donald,nor his unwillingness to continue the subject. He's got some clew, I'msure."
Colonel Clark now detailed eighteen of the least bold of his men toremain behind at the block-house, for the protection of the settlers,and of our extra supplies. He then allowed his officers to make knownthat we were about to start on a further journey down the Ohio--theobject and destination of which would be revealed just before the startwas made. Confusion and speculation reigned in camp; boats were loaded;rifles cleaned; ramrods whittled from the hearts of hard wood saplings;a supply of bullets molded, and a lot of new moccasins and bulletpouches made, by those skilled in such work, from the skins we hadcollected.
At the afternoon drill hour, on the twenty-third of June, Clarkpresented himself, in riflemen's uniform, before his men, and wasgreeted with enthusiastic cheers. He gave orders to the captains thatthe men should form in two columns, and then swing out in double linefacing him. The maneuver was executed without a hitch, and our smallforce presented a fine soldierly appearance. Most of the men were pastearly youth, either brawny pioneers or substantial freeholders, many ofthem being persons of some education, and considerable weight in theirown communities. They were not, as some have charged, a set of mereadventurers.
The occasion and the scene were well calculated to impress one whorealized their import, and as I walked back and forth to dress the line,my imagination took fire, and all the daring deeds I knew of traditionand history marshaled themselves in my memory--a long and gloriousarray.
"My men," spoke Colonel Clark, when all were waiting in expectantsilence--"shall we press onward to a glorious enterprise--or havingconducted our emigrants, and established them here in safety, shall weturn homeward without having wrought any deed worthy to be written onthe page of our country's history? I can lead you on to the performanceof such deed, my men--that noble friend of liberty, Patrick Henry, hassanctioned a daring enterprise, which all along, I have had in my mind,and which, if successfully executed, will bring honor and dominion toour noble commonwealth, and to each of us renown, fortune, and thegratitude of all Virginians. Not only so, but in executing this boldplan, we shall strike a telling blow for that cause we all hold dearest.
"No need, my men, to say what that cause is--the cause to which theheart of every man present, I truly believe, responds as gladly, as thetenderly nurtured infant to its mother's loving call. The cause ofliberty for which each one of us would proudly shed his blood! Nor isthe cause unworthy such devotion, my comrades, for 'tis not only that ofour country's independence, of American liberty, of blessed freedom andrare privileges for our descendants--'tis the cause of the world'sliberty, of the freedom from kingly tyranny and the right to seekhappiness for all future generations of men, till time shall be no more.My brothers, future ages will look back to us and call us blessed, willoffer thanks to Heaven for the brave and determined people of the newcontinent, who freely risked all for liberty--threw into the scalesagainst the claims of oppressed humanity, every present good, every hopefor the future. Are you willing, my men, to sacrifice still further, torisk still more for the cause? Shall I tell you more? Shall we pressonward?"
"Onward! Colonel, onward!" yelled the men in wild enthusiasm--"tell usmore, tell us more! Onward! Onward!"
Then Clark told them the true object of our expedition, and unfolded allhis plans, which had been so well concealed, hiding from them nothing ofthe hardships and risks of the undertaking. Yet he dwelt long andeloquently upon the tremendous consequences of success, the glory thatwould be theirs, and the important results to Virginia and the cause. Headded that he wanted no half hearted consent, that he far preferred thatall those who were not enlisted heart and soul in the enterprise--readyto do and to dare all things,--should make their decision now. Theycould do so by stepping out of ranks. Seventeen men stepped out, lookingsullen and ashamed of themselves.
"You are free to go," said Clark, with a contemptuous wave of the handtoward the east; then he faced the faithful again, and made them a briefspeech, which set them wild, and sent them off to their booths so eagerto begin our adventure that they could scarcely wait for the night topass.
During the first part of Colonel Clark's address, I had watched Givens,close by. His face was a study of mingled interest, eagerness and doubt.When Clark gave the command that all who did not wish to follow himshould step out of ranks, he started forward, hesitated, then droppedback into rank, where presently, he was cheering with the rest. When allwere gone except the officers assembled around Clark, Givens came up tohim.
"Colonel," he said, "I've tuck my stand by yer fur good en' all; yer mayfight Injuns, ur British, ur what yer please, I'm with yer."
"Thank you, Givens," said Clark, shaking his hand heartily; "we couldill afford to lose you."
"Mebbe you'd better thank that boy uv mine. Him yer've plum bewitched,en wher' he goes, goes Givens."
That night as I wandered about the camp--it was all astir till longafter midnight--I got wind of the fact that some of the deserters werelurking around trying to persuade others to sneak off with them, andwent straight to Clark with the information.
"Detail a squad from your company, McElroy, and surround the camp with aclose cordon of guards," said Clark, promptly.
I did so; then Clark had the drum beat, and the men called to the drillground, where waning moon and twinkling stars gave barely light enoughfor them to see each other's faces.
"Silence!" commanded Clark, stilling the confusion with a word. "Iunderstand that the cowards who deserted us this evening are in the campattempting to stir up mutiny. It must be stopped. The deserters mustleave camp immediately, or suffer the penalty of mutineers and traitors.Should any other man, except these, attempt to leave the camp he will bearrested or shot by the guards now
surrounding it. You had your chance,men, and took your choice; you must now abide by your decision.To-morrow we start for Kaskaskia."
Donald McElroy, Scotch Irishman Page 15