Fighting Marines- Hardy's Challenge

by Perry Comer

  “No pull rope!” Coffin remarked.

  The man heard and said, “None needed, not much current, just deep. Pole gets me across.”

  Hardy turned to Coffin, “Fetch Mister Brooks and the men.”

  “Aye,” Coffin answered and started back across the clearing.

  “How many you got?” The bearded man asked.

  “Fifteen and one ass,” Hardy answered while examining the barge.

  “Take all of you in one trip, bit crowded but no bother,” the ferryman said.

  Hardy waited by the barge for the patrol. He was keenly aware that there were others in the house. No doubt the ferryman had a family and judging by his age, he would have sons old enough to hold and fire a musket. The man carried no weapons and he did not appear to be a fool. It would be prudent to have those inside armed and watching should trouble arise.

  “They won’t shoot you,” The ferryman said and he loosened a rope holding the barge in place.

  “No, I would think not,” Hardy said without any trace of concern in his voice. “My purse would not be worth the work of digging a hole.”

  “Perhaps not but those boots would be,” the ferryman said and grinned.

  Hardy changed the subject, “Have you seen any Spanish soldiers?”

  The ferryman did not hesitate, “Two weeks back, they were headed for Amelia. Were only six of them. Just a sergeant, he rode and they walked. They pass by here every couple of months since their captain moved his company to Saint Augustine.”

  The bit of information, if true, set his mind at ease about encountering a company of Spanish infantry. It was the one thing that had troubled him when the patrol began. On the previous jaunt into this territory he had encountered what he thought was a half company. The prospect of having to fight so many with so few had been a worry. If the ferryman were correct, he’d sleep better this night.

  Coffin walked beside Brooks and Nichols followed walking beside Corporal Jones. Vargas who brought up the rear of the column led the ass.

  “Are you ready for us to board?” Hardy asked.

  “Have you the coin?” I count fifteen and one animal, thirty-five cents,” the ferryman said.

  “Aye,” Hardy answered. He pulled his purse from inside his tunic. He counted out two dimes, a nickel and ten pennies and handed them over.

  The ferryman examined the handful of coins and smiled. “Put them on!” he said then turned to the house, “Leon you come down and lend a hand!”

  Hardy watched as a young man about his father’s height came onto the porch. He propped his musket against a porch post then descended the steps. Behind him, two younger boys holding muskets came onto the porch.

  Hardy smiled but said nothing.

  The little barge held all seventeen men and the ass but no one had space to sit. The ferryman and his son, Leon, stood in the rear and pushed away from the bank with two long poles that appeared to each be about twelve feet in length. The poles were heavy and the two men maneuvered them without effort. Some water did slosh across the hewn logs that made up the barge but not enough to cause concern.

  “You take many wagons across?” Hardy asked.

  “Built it to do that,” the ferryman answered. “Barge lasts about a year before becoming water-logged then I build a new one. Just finished this one last week and tied the old up down yonder out of the way.”

  “A steady living?”

  “Steady, always folks coming and going. Ain’t no other crossing so they comes here.”

  “Bandits give you much trouble?” Hardy asked.

  The ferryman laughed and said, “They know better. My boys and my woman all shoot, we’ve killed a few.”

  The barge bumped against the bank. “One of ya’ll grab that line and tie her off!” the ferryman called.

  Hambright was the nearest to the bank and he jumped onto shore and handed the line across to Corporal Jones. The other men began jumping across.

  “Coming back this way?” the ferryman asked Hardy.

  “Don’t know,” Hardy answered truthfully. He would not have said yes or no if he knew, he learned the hard way not to give locals any information they could pass on to others.

  Beyond the river the land became a mixture of wetlands and swamps. The road twisted and turned to avoid the worst of the mire but in spots it contained mats of cut logs. Hardy had seen such before and was not overly anxious. There was a bit of excitement, however, when a man pointed out a large alligator lying beside one of the mats. Most of them had not seen one of the beasts before.

  “Take your leg off in one snap!” Coffin warned.

  From that point on the men were watchful and stayed away from the murky waters.

  They came upon a small sandy clearing and Hardy decided to camp. “Mister Brooks we will make camp. I’ll have four fires built along the perimeter of the clearing to ward off the alligators or other beasts inhabiting this swamp. Have the men take care when collecting the wood.”

  “Aye, sir,” Brooks answered.

  Hardy removed his hat and sat on the sand. Night was already falling and he was weary from the day’s walking. He pulled the map from his tunic and studied it, he estimated they were no more than a few miles form their destination. The gnats and flies were thick and annoying, there was little he could do to stave them off.

  “No wind!” Nichols announced as he sat beside Hardy.

  Hardy folded the map and stuffed it into his tunic. “Miserable land, Mister Nichols, why any would choose it is a mystery to me.”

  “Aye, but I’ve been to Scotland, flies there are as bad as here,” Nichols mused.

  “Perhaps,” Hardy said. “Damable flies, gnats and the like are constant companions of the soldier. I’ve not been a place where they’ve not been a torment.”

  “Including Boston?” Nichols asked.

  “Aye, there’s water there as in Washington. Where there is water, there are flies.”

  “The mosquitoes in Washington are the worst I’ve known,” Nichols stated.

  Vargas asked, “We’ve enough ham for the meal, shall I roast it?”

  Hardy had not thought about hunger until the thought of roasted ham entered his mind. “Aye, that would do us well. We will be at our destination before noon tomorrow so we may as well eat our fill tonight."

  Hardy lay back on a small log observing the camp in the firelight. Brooks and Nichols sat near one of the fires eating ham and beans. They seemed to be at ease with each other. He wondered how much Nichols had shared with Brooks about his past. For that matter, he wondered about Brooks, the young officer had spoken little of his life. For just an instant, he recalled another campfire with Coffin sitting opposite him. They were about the ages of Brooks and Nichols at the time and no wiser to the ways of the world.

  He drew the letter from his tunic pocket. He held it up to his nose and could barely smell the perfume. “What was she, maybe ten years his junior? His cousin, it would not do.” He put the letter away.

  The barge bumped hard against the dock and the men aboard were jolted awake. Hardy did not sleep and was prepared for the docking. “Mister Brooks get them up!” he ordered.

  A sentry at the dock called to Hardy. The man wore an army uniform and saluted. “Lieutenant Hardy?” the man asked.

  “Aye,” Hardy answered.

  “Captain Williams is at the Three Crowns Inn, its right down the road near the camp. He said you are to report to him there.”

  “Aye,” Hardy answered and walked on.

  The street was lined with low mud houses, a few wooden homes and three canteens. The inn was the largest structure on the street sporting brick steps and a veranda.

  Hardy turned to Brooks, “Lieutenant Brooks you and Lieutenant Nichols walk about the town and see what you can discover.”

  To Coffin he said, “Sergeant Coffin secure a place to camp for the night.”

  Hardy removed his hat as he entered. Williams sat at a table at the rear of room with two army officers and two civi
lians. He saluted.

  “May I introduce Lieutenant Thomas Hardy,” Williams said to the men around the table. None rose, and Williams introduced them to Hardy, “Captain Marston, Major Campbell, Mister Ezra Millhouse and Mister Joshua Brown.” They each nodded at Hardy.

  “Report Lieutenant?” Williams asked.

  Hardy decided to keep it short, “a long walk and no incidents.”

  “Thank you lieutenant, you may return to your men. Prepare for the return journey,” Williams said as he picked up a document.

  “Aye, Captain,” Hardy answered and turned about sharply and clicked his heels like a Prussian. He was mildly disturbed at being dismissed in the manner and tone Williams had used. He reflected on it as he left the inn. The most logical explanation was that Williams was playing his cards close to his vest. The less those at the table knew of his intentions, the better.

  Coffin’s choice for the men was at the edge of the Marines camp and not far from one of the canteens. The Spanish proprietor came out and welcomed his new neighbors and stated he would be pleased to serve all at his bar. Hardy was not amused. “Sergeant Coffin, make and mend! We’ll not be here long if I’m to judge the state of affairs.”

  “Sir!” Coffin managed with agitation.

  “Keep close and keep the men occupied. Also, send a runner to fetch Lieutenants Nichols and Brooks. I will await them in the canteen.”

  “Aye, sir!”

  The canteen was a single low-beamed room of wood. At the back was a large fireplace used for heat and cooking. A rotund Spanish woman was chopping something with a large knife. A small bar was on one side of the room and behind it stood a portly Spanish man with salt and pepper hair. Hardy removed his hat and sat down in a ladder-back chair with a cane bottom. The bartender came over, “Cerveza Senor?” he asked.

  Hardy remembered the word from his time in the peninsula of Spain. “Si, beer,” he answered.

  Before the beer arrived Nichols and Brooks entered. They removed their tall hats and placed them next to Hardy’s on the table before sitting. It struck Hardy that they had abandoned formalities when alone with him, he smiled at the thought.

  His beer arrived and the bartender set the tankard in front of Hardy while eyeing the newcomers. “Americans?” he asked.

  “Aye,” Hardy answered. “Two more cervezas!”

  “Si,” the bartender answered and left.

  “Cervezas?” Brooks asked.

  “Beer,” Nichols answered.

  Hardy lifted his tankard and sipped. The beer was flat and salty. He sat the tankard down and said, “Poor as piss!”

  Nichols roared with laughter.

  Brooks’ face showed confusion. “Is it not good?”

  “It is so bad that we shall have wine, any wine would be preferable to this,” Hardy said and picked up the tankard and poured it on the floor. The beer disappeared between the boards and into the sand below.

  His action did not escape the bartender; the man frowned and stopped dipping beer from a bucket into two tankards. He poured the beer back into the bucket, pulled a bottle of wine from under the counter and collected the two tankards.

  When the man set the bottle and tankards on the table, Nichols face wrinkled and said, “sin gafas!”

  The man replied in his native tounge, “Es todo lo que tengo!”

  “And that means?” Hardy asked.

  “It all he has,” Nichols answered.

  Brooks grinned, “So you do know the language.”

  “As well as he does,” Nichols replied as the bartender walked away.

  Hardy lifted the bottle and poured wine into the three tankards. He said in a whisper, “Our stay here may be short, no more than the night. I believe it is best that you remain in camp with the men.”

  “Aye,” Brooks agreed.

  Nichols looked from Brooks to Hardy and said, “You told us to walk about and see what we could learn, we did. I overheard two Spanish men haggling over the price of goods one wanted to sell. I did not hear what the goods were but one said that when the army left, all prices would go up and now was the time to buy.”

  “The Spanish army?” Hardy asked.

  Nichols nodded, “That was what I thought he was implying, the Spaniards are pulling out. Then he joked about how the banditos would come to steal everything, and the other said that it would be only for a short time, the redcoats would hang them.”

  Brooks observed, “We are in the middle.”

  Hardy agreed, “Aye, and there is still more at play but this is not the place to speak of such things. We shall watch after ours, that is our first concern. Brit or Don matter not, we see to our own this night and for the days to follow.”

  “Aye,” both Nichols and Brooks agreed.

  “Down your wine gentlemen and see to our men,” Hardy said and hefted the tankard.

  Hardy was still in the canteen drinking wine when Williams entered.

  Williams sat. “I was told I would find you here, anything left in that bottle?”

  “Aye,” Hardy answered and poured wine into one of the tankards on the table. “Foul stuff but better than the beer.”

  “I take it you were waiting for me,” Williams said and ignored the tankard.

  “Aye, I thought you might have orders that you did not want the other gentlemen to be privy to.”

  Williams half-smiled, “That is so and I’ll not do so here. Pay your bill and we will go down to the beach.”

  Hardy drew himself up and reached for his hat, “I’ve paid, we can be away.”

  The Captain led the way down to the beach. Neither man spoke as they went, each knowing there were those who would pay to hear details of their conversation. They continued on to the hard-packed wet sand where the crashing of waves would drown out conversation.

  Williams stopped and faced Hardy. “There are those who desire to establish East Florida as an independent nation. They are willing to fight to do so and willing to arm others to aid them. The Seminoles and quite a number of escaped slaves have sided with them. Arms are being brought in by ship and sent overland to the various factions. The Spanish have not the will, nor the soldiers to stop them. The British are biding their time.”

  Williams began to walk and said, “ Our government, as I have told you, desires to annex all of this region, we do not want an independent nation established that will be a haven to smugglers bandits and the like. Nor do our leaders desire that the British to gain influence. I have been ordered to assist the patriots seeking to bring East Florida under the protection of our government. The navy has sent gunboats to stop the illegal trade with the British. Still there are weapons and supplies getting through and one such shipment is destined for a group seeking to establish the independent nation. A man by the name of Jackson is to receive the shipment near a river crossing. I’m sending you to stop the shipment before it reaches Jackson. You will need to leave at once if you are to be successful.”

  Hardy walked beside Williams and informed him, “I encountered Jackson at a river crossing.”

  Williams stopped and said, “No doubt waiting for the shipment.”

  “Aye,” Hardy agreed.

  Williams turned about; “If it is the same man then you know where you are bound. I suggest you leave straight away.”

  “Aye,” Hardy replied and asked, “Will you be going with me?”

  “No, I’ve matters to attend here. There is a shipment of arms and supplies desperately needed by some of our allies who are trapped by a large band under the direction of a fellow named Prince Witen. I will accompany it with a small force of marines and some militia. Once you have dealt with Jackson I want you to return here. Lieutenant Sevier is newly arrived and will command while I am away. If I’ve not returned after you’ve dealt with Jackson, report to him and he will have orders.”

  “Aye, sir, it will please me to no end to dispatch Jackson. I trust your travels will be safe,” Hardy said.

  “Aye, and yours,” Williams said and asked, “H
ave you eaten?”

  Hardy grinned, “Not as yet and I could do with a good meal before my walk.”

  Williams clasped Hardy on the shoulder, “Aye, I as well. See to your men’s needs and supplies then come join me.”

  They found a table at the Three Crowns Inn and sat. The serving girl was tall thin and of mixed blood. “You eat?” she asked.

  “Aye,” Williams answered. “Wine, bread and cheese for now.”

  “Si,” She answered.

  “We are at war,” Williams stated taking Hardy by surprise.

  “England?” Hardy asked.

  “Yes, I’ve just received official word. They have begun attacking our shipping and blockading our ports. It is only a matter of time before they land troops.”

  “Do you reason we will be recalled?” Hardy asked.

  “In time, but for now we are to remain and ensure that they do not gain a stronghold here. They do have spies here and I believe you met two when I introduced you earlier. That was why I sent you away.”

  “I suspected as much,” Hardy said then asked, “Have we the necessary supplies to remain here for any length of time?”

  “Aye, there’s no shortage. The garrison here is well armed and with the assistance of the gunboats we are relatively secure. My only concern is that the Dons may decide to intercede. But as long as the crown of Spain remains an ally of Napoleon we’ve little to fear.”

  The girl brought the wine and cheese. She asked, “I serve lamb?”

  Hardy nodded and said, “Aye!”

  When she walked away, Williams said, “We are to achieve as much as possible here before being recalled to Washington. I’m sure the recall will come as we’ve not the troops to oppose the king’s men should they land near Washington. In my estimation, an army will have to be raised, trained and armed. I’m doubtful we will hold any of the coastal colonies. New York has already been attacked even though our troops are advancing on Montreal.”

  Hardy poured wine and lifted the napkin covering the bread. He was thoughtful as was Williams.