Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency

by John Pendleton Kennedy

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  NEW DIFFICULTIES OPEN UPON BUTLER.

  With the last notes of the reveillee everything was stirring in Innis'scamp. It was a beautiful, fresh morning; a cool breeze swept across theplain, and each spray and every blade of grass sparkled with the dew;whilst above, an unclouded firmament gave promise of a rich andbrilliant mid-summer's day. The surrounding forest was alive with thetwittering of birds; and the neighing of horses showed that this portionof the animal creation partook of the hilarity of the season. From everylittle shed or woodland lair, crept forth parties of soldiers, whobetook themselves to their several posts to answer at the rollcall; andby the time the sun had risen, officers, on horseback and on foot, wereseen moving hurriedly across the open plain, to join the groups ofinfantry and cavalry, which were now forming in various quarters for thepurposes of the morning drill. Companies were seen in motion, passingthrough the rapid evolutions of the march, the retreat, and the manyexercises of service. Drums were beating, and fifes were piercing theair with their high notes, and, ever and anon, the trumpet brayed fromthe further extremities of the field. Picquet-guards were seen musteringon the edge of the camp--wearied and night-worn: salutes were exchangedby the small detachments on service; and, here and there, sentinelsmight be descried, stationed at the several outlets of the plain, andpresenting their arms as an officer passed their lines.

  The troops that occupied this space were mostly of the irregular kind.Some were distinguished by ill-fitted and homely uniforms; others wereclad in the common dress of the country, distinguished as soldiers onlyby their arms and accoutrements; but amongst them was also aconsiderable party of British regulars, clad in the national livery ofscarlet. Amongst the officers, who were in command of the subordinatedepartments of this mixed and parti-colored little army, were severalwho, from their costume, might be recognised as belonging to theregiments that had come from the other side of the Atlantic.

  Colonel Innis himself was seen upon the parade, directing the movementsof divisions that, under their proper officers, were practising thecustomary lessons of discipline. He was a tall, thin man, of anemaciated complexion, with a countenance of thoughtful severity. A keenblack eye seemed almost to burn within its orb, and to give anexpression of petulant and peevish excitability, like the querulousnessof a sick man. A rather awkward and ungainly person, arrayed in ascarlet uniform that did but little credit to the tailor-craft employedin its fabrication, conveyed to the spectator the idea of a man unusedto the pride of appearance that belongs to a soldier by profession; andwould have suggested the conclusion, which the fact itself sustained,that the individual before him had but recently left the walks of civillife to assume a military office. His demeanour, however, showed him tobe a zealous if not a skilful officer. He gave close attention to theduties of his command, and busied himself with scrupulous exactitude inenforcing the observances necessary to a rigorous system of tactics.

  This officer, as we have before hinted, had been an active participatorin the proceedings of the new court of sequestrations at Charleston; andhad rendered himself conspicuous by the fierce and unsparing industrywith which he had brought to the judgment of that tribunal, the imputeddelinquencies of some of the most opulent and patriotic citizens of theprovince.

  Amongst the cases upon which he had been called into consultation wasthat of Arthur Butler, whose possessions being ample, and whoseposition, as a rebellious belligerent, being one of "flagrant delict,"there was but little repugnance, on the part of the judges and theiradviser, to subject him to the severest law of confiscation. Theproceedings, however, had been delayed, not from any tenderness to theproprietor, but, as it was whispered in the scandal of the day, onaccount of certain dissensions, amongst a few prominent servants of theBritish crown, as to which of them the privilege of a cheap purchaseshould be extended. The matter was still in suspense, with a view (asthat busybody, common rumor, alleged) to reward a particular favorite ofthe higher powers with the rich guerdon of these good lands, incompensation for private and valuable secret services, rendered in amatter of great delicacy and hazard--no less a service than that ofseducing into the arena of politics and intrigue, an opulent andauthoritative gentleman of Virginia, Mr. Philip Lindsay.

  In consequence of the odious nature of the duty which Colonel Innis hadassumed to perform, he became peculiarly hateful to the Whigs; and thissentiment was in no degree abated when, relinquishing his occupation asa counsellor to the court at Charleston, he accepted a commission tocommand a partisan corps of royalists in the upper country. He was, atthe juncture in which I have exhibited him to my reader, new in hiscommand, and had not yet "fleshed his maiden sword:" the day, however,was near at hand when his prowess was to be put to the proof.

  Such was the person into whose hands Arthur Butler had now fallen.

  After the morning exercises of the camp were finished, and the men weredismissed to prepare their first repast, the principal officers returnedto the colonel's head-quarters in the farm-house, where, it will beremembered, Butler had been delivered by the escort that had conductedhim from Blackstock's. The prisoner had slept soundly during the wholenight; and now, as the breakfast hour drew nigh, he had scarcely awakedand put on his clothes, before he heard an inquiry, made by some onebelow, of the orderly on duty, whether the Whig officer was yet in acondition to be visited; and, in the next moment, the noise offootsteps, ascending the stair towards his chamber, prepared him toexpect the entrance of the person who had asked the question.

  A British officer, in full uniform, of a graceful and easy carriage,neat figure, and of a countenance that bespoke an intelligent andcultivated mind, made his appearance at the door. He was apparently offive or six and thirty years of age; and whilst he paused a moment, aswith a purpose to apologize for the seeming intrusion, Butler was struckwith the air of refined breeding of the individual before him.

  "Major Butler, I understand, of the Continental army?" said thestranger. "The unpleasant nature of the circumstances in which you areplaced, I hope will excuse the trespass I have committed upon yourprivacy. Captain St. Jermyn, of his Majesty's army, and lately anaide-de-camp of Lord Rawdon."

  Butler bowed coldly, as he replied:

  "To meet a gentleman, as your rank and name both import, is a privilegethat has not been allowed me of late. Without knowing wherefore, I havebeen waylaid and outraged by bravoes and ruffians. You, perhaps, sir,may be able to afford me some insight into the causes of thismaltreatment."

  "Even if it were proper for me to hold discourse with you on such asubject, I could only speak from common report," replied the officer. "Iknow nothing of your seizure, except that, by the common chances of war,you have fallen into the hands of the ruling authorities of theprovince, and you will, doubtless, as a soldier, appreciate my motivesfor declining any reference to the circumstances in which you have beenfound. My visit is stimulated by other considerations, amongst which isforemost a desire to mitigate the peculiarly uncomfortable captivity towhich I am sorry to learn you have been subjected."

  "I thank you," replied Butler, "for the intention with which your goodoffices are proffered; but you can render me no service that I shouldvalue so much as that of informing me why I have been brought hither, atwhose suggestion, and for what purpose."

  "I will be plain with you, Major Butler. Your situation demandssympathy, however inexorably the present posture of our affairs mayrequire the decrees of stern justice, in respect to yourself, to beexecuted. I feel for you, and would gladly aid you to any extent whichmy duty might allow, in averting the possible calamity that may hangover you. You are known as a gentleman of consideration and influence inthe colonies. I may further add, as a brave and venturesome soldier. Youare believed to have, more boldly than wisely, enterprised theaccomplishment of certain schemes against the safety of his majesty'sacknowledged government in this province; besides having committed otheracts in violation of a faith plighted for you by those who had fullauthority to bind you, thus bringing yoursel
f within the penaltiesappropriate to the violation of a military parole, if not within thoseof treason itself."

  "He lies in his throat," cried Butler, "who charges me with forfeitureof plighted word or honor, in any action of my life. That I have arrayedmyself against what you are pleased to term his majesty's acknowledgedgovernment in this province, I am proud to confess, here in the midst ofyour bands, and will confess it again at your judgment seat; but ifaught be said against me that shall be intended to attaint my honor as agentleman, I will, in the same presence and before God, throw the lie inthe teeth of my accuser. Aye, and make good my word, now or hereafter,wheresoever it may be allowed me to meet the slanderer."

  "I do not condemn your warmth," said St. Jermyn, calmly, "in a matterthat so deeply stirs your self-esteem; and only desire now to second itin all things wherein an honorable enemy may claim the support of thosewho themselves value a good name. The authorities of this post haveconsiderately resolved to give you the benefit of a court of inquiry.And I hope you will take it as it was meant, in all kindness to you,that I have come, before the communication of an official order, toapprise you that charges will be duly exhibited against you, and a trialbe instantly had. If you will accept of my services, feeble andinadequate as they may be, I would gladly tender them to afford you suchfacilities as the pressure of the present emergency may allow."

  "To be tried! when, and for what? If the charge is that I carry on openwar against those who are in the habit of calling me and my compatriotsrebels--I am ready to confess the charge. What need of court or trial?"

  "There are graver and more serious offences than that imputed to you,"said St. Jermyn.

  "When am I to be informed of them, and to what do they tend?"

  "You will hear them this morning; when, I am sorry to add, the nature ofour military operations also enforces the necessity of your trial."

  "You can be of little service, if that be true," returned Butler,thoughtfully. "My cause can only be defended by my country, long after Iam made the victim of this unrighteous procedure."

  "There is one alternative," said St. Jermyn, with some hesitation in hismanner, "which a mature deliberation upon your relations as asubject,--pardon me, for I do not deem this ill-timed rebellion to haveobliterated them--may present to your mind."

  "Speak it," said Butler, vehemently; "speak out the base thought that isrising to your lip, if you dare. Prisoner as I am, I will avenge theinsult on the spot with the certainty of loss of life. The alternativeyou suggest, is to dishonor me and all who are dear to me by the foulopprobrium of treason to my country. You would have me, I suppose,renounce the cause to which I have dedicated my life, and take shelterwith the recreants that have crowded under the banner of St. George?"

  "Hold! remember, sir, that you are a prisoner," said St. Jermyn, withgreat coolness; and then after a pause, he added with a sigh: "I willnot wound, by further converse, the exaggerated and delusive sense ofhonor which is too fatally predominant in your breast, and, as I havefound it, in the breasts of many of your misguided countrymen. I came toserve you, not to excite your feelings; and I will now, even in yourdispleasure, serve you as far as the occasion may afford me means: Ipray you, call on me without reserve. For the present, believe me, inpain and sorrow I take my leave."

  With these words, the officer retired.

  Butler paced to and fro through his narrow chamber for some minutes, ashis mind revolved the extraordinary and unexpected disclosures which hadbeen made to him in this short visit. A thousand conjectures rose intohis thoughts as to the nature of the supposed charges that were to bebrought against him. He minutely retraced all the incidents of his lateadventures, to ascertain how it was possible to found upon them anaccusation of violated faith, or to pervert them into an imputation oftreason against the present doubtful and disputed authority of theself-styled conquerors of Carolina. If his attempt to join Clarke wastreason, it could be no less treason in the followers of Gates to arraythemselves against the royal army; and, that every prisoner hereaftertaken in battle was to be deemed a traitor to the contested power ofCornwallis, seemed to be a pretension too absurd for the most inveteratepartisans to assert. There was nothing in this review of his actionsthat the most ingenious malice could pervert into an offence punishableby the laws of war, by other rigor than such as might be inflicted uponan ordinary prisoner taken in arms. Still, there were unhappy doubts ofsome secret treachery that rose to his reflections: the perfidy ofAdair, manifestly the effect of a bribe; the ambuscade promoted andmanaged by James Curry; the bloody purpose of the brutal gang whocaptured him, frustrated only by the accidental fray in which Blake waswounded. Then the "doubtful givings out" which fell from the lips ofsome of the soldiers at Blackstock's, of his case still being one oflife and death; the insinuation of the savage Habershaw, at the sameplace, conveyed in the threat of twisted hemp; the knowledge which hispresent keepers affected to have of his rank and consequence, of hispast life and present aims; and, above all, his being brought forimmediate trial, in a matter affecting his life, before the very man,now in the capacity of a military commander, who had heretofore beenactive in promoting the design of confiscating his estate. All theseconsiderations, although unconnected with any circumstance of specificoffence within his knowledge, led him into the most anxious andmelancholy forebodings as to the result of this day's proceedings.

  "I am doomed to fall," he said, "under some secret stroke of vengeance,and my country is to have in my case another stirring appeal against theenormity of that iron rule that seeks to bow her head into the dust. Sobe it! The issue is in the hand of God, and my fate may turn to theaccount of the establishment of a nation's liberty. Oh, Mildred, Itremble to think of thee! Heaven grant, my girl, that thy fortitude maytriumph over the martyrdom of him that loves thee better than hislife!"