Little Hornet: Boy Patriot of North Carolina (Kid Patriots of the American Revolution Book 1)

by Geoff Baggett

  John was up before dawn to prepare for his journey. He went out to the barn to milk the cows. He filled two one-gallon jugs with the delicious, fatty treat. William awakened soon after sunup. After a quick breakfast they went to the garden and picked a bushel of tomatoes, a bushel of cucumbers, two bushels of squash, and six large watermelons. William stashed the leftover roasted turkey and jugs of milk under the seat beneath John’s feet.

  Once all of the food was loaded and covered with canvas, John hopped into the driver’s seat, anxious to get on the road and maintain the freshness of the milk and vegetables.

  “Keep your eyes open, Johnny,” warned William. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll keep a good eye on things here.”

  “I should be back by dinner tomorrow. It’ll be best if I stay tonight instead of trying to get up there and back before dark. I don’t want to wear out the team.”

  William reached his hand up to John. “Be safe, Johnny.”

  “You too, William.”

  John snapped the reins and headed toward the northern road and the Patriot camp at Salisbury.

  chapter seven

  John returned home the following afternoon, full of stories about his night in the camp with the men of the Mecklenburg Regiment. They were, indeed, starving and much in need when John arrived. The load of food was an incredible blessing for the men. John had even managed to shoot three deer on the way to Salisbury, providing fresh meat for a large portion of the camp.

  John also told William that James and the other men of the regiment were on the move. They had left Salisbury that morning headed south in pursuit of a Tory militia force.

  “Do you think they will be in any battles?” asked William.

  “I don’t know, William. Great big battles are usually pretty rare among the militia forces. Usually the fights with the Tory sympathizers are much smaller affairs … ambushes and skirmishes. But I suspect that James will see some action.”

  “I just want him to come home. Our house is empty without him.”

  John smiled at his brother. “I miss him, too. But we’ll be okay, won’t we?”

  “I hope so! As long as I can get some work out of you around here, big brother,” teased William.

  Of course, William was joking, because John was a very hard worker. In fact, in the coming days he began to pick up some extra work utilizing the family wagon. Most of the vehicles for hauling cargo had been confiscated by the army or local militias. Since John had a working wagon he began to receive requests from local farmers to haul their goods into Charlotte.

  A couple of weeks after John’s visit to Salisbury to see James, a neighbor by the name of Caleb Madison offered John a Spanish milled dollar to go into Charlotte and pick up a load of lumber for him. It was easy money, and John had the time, so he jumped at the opportunity.

  John left the farm right after breakfast and headed into town. William had a full day planned out. The vegetable garden was woefully in need of attention. It had almost two weeks worth of weeds that were trying to overtake the vegetables. It would take his entire morning, but William was determined to get the job done. Besides, he liked gardening and he was easily the best gardener in the Hamilton brothers’ home.

  William toiled in the hot garden all morning, stopping frequently to drink plenty of water. At mid-morning he took a longer break and enjoyed some cold apple cider in the shade. The extra rest and the sugar boost from the tasty cider gave him the energy to get the job done. At noontime he placed his tools in the shed and went inside to fix some dinner and get started on the evening meal. William was quickly becoming the best cook in the cabin, as well.

  He decided to make a hearty stew of chicken, potatoes, and fresh onions. William smiled as he stirred and added pepper to the pot. James absolutely loved his chicken stew. William wished that James could enjoy a bowlful for supper. He missed his big brother.

  William’s skin crawled when he heard a piercing voice call from the front yard of the cabin.

  “Hello in the house! Can you spare a bite for a hungry soldier?”

  William trembled. Raiders and marauders were becoming more and more common on the frontier as the war progressed. It seemed that evil people were always on the lookout for opportunities to steal and inflict injury upon innocent backwoods settlers.

  William grabbed his musket and cocked the hammer. Inside him a conflict erupted. He thought, “I don’t want to shoot anyone, but I have to defend myself. I have to defend our home!”

  William took a deep breath, cracked open the door and poked the barrel of his musket out of the crack.

  William growled in his deepest possible voice, “Hold it right there, mister. One step closer and I’ll blast you all the way to Charlestown.”

  “What’s the matter with you, William? Don’t you recognize your big brother’s voice when you hear it?”

  William flung open the door ran out into the yard, dropping his musket in the grass. He screamed, “Jamie!”

  He ran to his brother with all the speed his legs could provide, tackling him to the ground and smothering him with a huge hug. James howled with joy as he clung to his little brother in the cool grass. After a few moments James extricated himself from William’s grasp.

  William asked expectantly, “Are you home for good?”

  “No, just for one week. The whole regiment got a furlough. Where’s Johnny?”

  “He went into town to pick up a load of lumber for Mr. Madison. Lately folks have been paying him to haul cargo in the wagon. I keep an eye on things here are the cabin while he makes a little extra money. He should be back any time now. I’ve got supper warming on the hearth.”

  “That sounds good to me! I’m almost starved to death. What did you make?”

  “I made a stew with chicken, onions, and potatoes. And a pone of cornbread is cooking right now.”

  “Little brother, that sounds dee-licious! John had better get on home, or I might not leave a single bite for him.”

  “You’ve got plenty of time to wash up before supper. And I don’t mean to be getting into your business, Jamie … but you’re a might rank. How about doing a little washing under those arms of yours?”

  James smacked him in the head. “I hear you, little brother. Don’t worry, I’ll smell like a field of daisies when I’m done.”

  “I’ll believe it when I smell it,” William responded.

  William trotted back into the house to get James some soap. He brought out a basin, a small cloth, and chunk of lye soap and then went back inside to check on his cornbread. James poured a half-bucket of water into the basin and stripped off his shirt. He was busy taking a standing bath when John pulled the wagon off the road and approached the house.

  John was a bit confused at first by the sight of a man on his porch covered in mud and soap suds, but soon recognized his older brother. He brought the wagon to a halt and jumped down.

  “I would hug you, but you’re too much a mix of nasty and slippery right now.” He beamed. “Welcome home, James.”

  “It’s good to be home, brother.”

  “How long will you be here?”

  “I have to be back at Salisbury in seven days. The whole regiment received furlough for a week.”

  “Well, that’s good. It’ll give us a chance to fatten you up a bit.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping for! Supper’s almost ready, according to William.”

  “Good, I’ll take care of the horses and wash up,” replied John.

  By the time John finished watering and housing the horses, James had rinsed off and put on a crisp white shirt.

  “You almost look human again,” commented John as he walked up to the cabin.

  “I almost feel human again. Maybe some hot food will finish the job. Let’s eat!”

  The boys went inside and, for the first time in over a month, had a family meal together. They ate the entire pot of stew and every crumb of William’s cornbread. James guzzled mug after mug full of fresh milk. After dinner t
hey took their chairs outside to watch the sunset and smoke their pipes. They talked and laughed until late into the night. James was almost too excited to go to bed, but he forced himself, anyway.

  The boys rose early the next morning and got to work on the farm. James loved being back on his own place again. He loved the smell of the dirt. He loved everything about it. He was determined to savor every moment.

  They worked all day Friday and Saturday. On Sunday they went to church. They sang and worshiped. Their mother wept with joy. They went to the Farr home for dinner and were invited to stay until supper. They played games with Hugh and their half-brothers and half-sisters. It was one gloriously fine and memorable day.

  Mundane work on the farm continued on Monday morning. The time for the corn harvest was growing near. James would have to miss that, unfortunately. But there were still plenty of other tasks to take care of. They worked on fences until dinner, and then lay down for an afternoon nap.

  James lay awake for quite some time. He was thinking too much. He was already dreading leaving. Thursday was approaching too quickly. Soon it would be time to march back to camp … back to the hunger, want, and violence of the war. Despite his racing mind he eventually drifted off into a fitful sleep.

  Something was shaking his leg. The sensation grew stronger. Someone was trying to rouse him.

  “Leave me alone!” he exclaimed.

  “Someone’s coming,” John hissed. “I hear a horse.”

  James shook the cobwebs of sleep from his brain. Sure enough, he heard the high-pitched thud of a horse’s hooves striking hard dirt and rock.

  “It’s a fast rider,” stated James.

  “Sounds like it,” confirmed John.

  The sound of the horse grew louder as it approached. James jumped from his bed. John was already holding James’ rifle. He tossed it to him and then they both bolted for the door. William stood near the window with his musket at the ready. They all cocked their flintlocks. John lifted the latch and flung the rough wooden door open as James lunged out, rifle at the ready.

  “Don’t shoot, gentlemen!”

  It was Ensign John McFalls, from James’ militia company. James and John lowered their rifles, exhaling in relief.

  James called over his shoulder, “Come on out, William! It’s a friend!”

  Ensign McFalls tipped his cocked hat to the boys. “Private Hamilton, the regiment is recalled at once. The British are out of Charlestown in force and headed north. We have been ordered to join Gates’ army in South Carolina. Muster is at the Charlotte Courthouse at sunset. Bring all of the powder, lead, and food that you can carry. We will be marching hard, probably into the night and again all day tomorrow. We have many miles to travel. I’ll see you there. I need you to inform your friends, Privates Moffat and Pippin. Understood?”

  James replied, “Yes, sir. I’ll be there. And I’ll tell the boys.”

  The Ensign shouted, “Huzzah!” and then spun his horse and galloped to the east, headed to the next homestead.

  James looked at his brother and shrugged. “Well, brothers, I guess that’s it. Cornwallis calls.”

  John and William didn’t respond. They were already heading back inside the cabin to help organize and pack their brother’s gear.

  chapter eight

  Once again John prepared to take James to the place of muster for the regiment, this time in the wagon. James sent William on horseback to pass the word to his friends Joel Moffat and Henry Pippin.

  While James was making his preparations for the deployment John packed some extra foodstuffs to take to the other soldiers. He loaded three bushels of freshly dug potatoes, two bushels of sweet corn, and two bushels of tomatoes. Since the corn crop would be in within a couple of weeks, John tossed in their last hundred pounds of corn meal.

  William killed a deer about every three days, so the boys had a huge supply of dried, smoked venison. John loaded four large grain sacks full of the dried meat into the wagon as well. He figured that the men would be able to take what they wanted of the vegetables and meat to fill their haversacks.

  William soon returned from his mission as messenger. Once again the older brothers left him at home and headed for the muster. William grabbed his axe, maul, and wedge and headed out to the north pasture to work on a section of broken fence. He would be splitting rails and mending fences until John returned home.

  He worked steadily all morning. It wasn’t bad work since most of it was in the shade. He finished one entire section of fence right before noon and broke for dinner. He rounded the corner of the cabin just as a well-known neighbor, Ned Carlisle, rode up on his mule.

  “Howdy, Mr. Ned. What brings you over my way?”

  “I have some bad news for you, William. Real bad. Your brother asked me to come and tell you on my way home.”

  William was frantic. “What? What happened? Are my brothers all right?”

  “Oh, they’re just fine. They just get a big surprise, that’s all. Captain Givins drafted your brother, Johnny, into the wagon service for the trip down to South Carolina.”

  “What?” William exclaimed. “Why would he do that? John’s not even in the militia, yet!”

  “Well, he is now. The Captain made him raise his right hand and swear his oath of allegiance right there in front of the courthouse. The regiment needed more wagons and supplies. I guess Johnny showed up at the wrong time. He seemed all right with the notion, though. I think he was a little excited to be going.”

  “Well, what am I supposed to do?” asked William.

  “I don’t rightly know the answer to that, little man. I reckon that’s up to you. James just wanted me to tell you where John was so you wouldn’t be left hanging with no news or explanation. Maybe they won’t be gone too long. If I were you I would sit tight and wait for them to come back home.”

  William hung his head. “At least Mama is close by.”

  “That’s right. You can count on your mother, and Ephraim Far, too. I know you boys didn’t get along so well with your stepfather, but he really is a good man. I know that he is there to help you if you need him.”

  William walked over to the skinny farmer and extended his hand. “Thank you for letting me know about everything, Mr. Carlisle. I’ll be just fine.”

  “All right, then. You take care of yourself, William. I’m not too far away, either. You can give me a shout if you need any help.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  And with that, Ned Carlisle kicked the sides of his mule and urged the animal back toward the road to his home. William stood in the solitude of the clearing, wondering how long he might be alone.

  He ate a lonely dinner. Afterwards he decided not to work on the fences or in the fields for the afternoon. He puttered around the barn and busied himself with several small tasks that had been overlooked for some time. He fixed a couple of shingles on the barn. He nailed a fresh board under the window of the cabin. He even repaired the rickety front porch step.

  Late that afternoon he cooked some eggs for his supper, but he really wasn’t very hungry. He was lonely. And to be honest, he was afraid. Despite his best efforts to appear confident and all grown up, William didn’t like to be alone in the cabin at night. He was, after all, only thirteen years old. But he resolved himself to “be a man” and deal with his situation.

  William didn’t sleep very well that night. He imagined all sorts of strange sounds in the woods. He jumped at the sound of every hooting owl, yelping coyote, and rooting skunk or raccoon. He was relieved when the dull light of dawn began to creep through the cracks of the cabin door.

  William jumped out of his bed and donned his knee-length breeches and straw cocked hat and then headed out to take care of the livestock. It had long been his responsibility to milk the huge cows, Sylvia and Barthenia. He also had to feed the chickens and gather eggs, tie the goats out in the grassy clearing, and toss slop to the pigs.

  He whipped up a quick breakfast of fresh eggs, leftover cornbread, and milk.
After breakfast he decided that he would take the morning off from work and go over to visit his mother. She needed to know what had happened to John. He grabbed his shooting bag and musket and headed out through the woods to the west toward his stepfather’s farm.

  His mother was surprised when she heard the knock at the door. She was even more surprised when she discovered the identity of her visitor.

  “Willie! Oh, my boy! I am so glad to see you!”

  She grabbed him in her warm arms and smothered him with kisses. She didn’t get to see her sons very often after they bought their own place and left their stepfather’s farm. She took advantage of every opportunity she had to shower them with the love that only a mother can provide.

  She noticed the sullen look on William’s face. “What’s wrong, Willie? Did James or Johnny do something to you? If they’ve been mean to you, I swear, I’ll turn them over my knee. Neither of them is too old for a sound spanking from their mum.”

  William chuckled at the notion of his petite mother spanking James.

  “No, mama. I was just lonely.”

  “Lonely, pray tell why? Where’s Johnny?”

  “That’s what I came to tell you, Mama. John’s gone with James … to the war.”

  Margaret Farr collapsed into a chair beside the stone fireplace. She burst into tears.

  “Why, William? Why would Johnny have to go? He’s no soldier! He’s barely sixteen years old and doesn’t even serve in the militia!”

  “I know, Mama. But they needed wagons and supplies. That’s why they drafted him into the service. He’s not actually serving as a soldier. They wanted him for a wagon driver. The army is headed into South Carolina to stop the British from coming into North Carolina. James got called up. John just went along to bring his horse back home. That’s when John got drafted.”

  “Well, that makes some sense,” answered his mother, sniffing and wiping her eyes and nose with a silk handkerchief. “Perhaps he won’t be gone too long, then.”