Part 31 (2/2)
Our Minute Boys were all of the same mind, and it gave me no little satisfaction to know that my company were of the mind that c.o.x had been fully punished for his wrong-doing. Without any delay we stated our views in few words at the top of a sheet of paper, and each member signed his name, after which I carried it to headquarters.
It was Colonel Gansevoort himself whom I saw, and he asked, after glancing over the list of names:
”How does it happen that you lads arrived at a decision so quickly?
Desertion is a very serious offence, and, because of the lesson which others may receive, should be punished severely.”
”True, sir,” I made bold to say; ”but among those who signed the paper are two who were prisoners among the savages, and, while not havin' been subjected to great torture, they have a fair idea of what c.o.x must have suffered.”
”Are you speaking of yourself and the old soldier?”
”Ay, sir.”
”And yet because of what c.o.x has told St. Leger you may soon be again in the power of the Indians.”
”That can never be, sir,” I replied, gravely. ”We know full well you will not surrender, however sore our plight, therefore the savages must take their prisoners in a fight, an' one need not be captured alive.”
”Then you would rather die with a musket in your hands than fall into their clutches?”
”A good many times over, if that could be, sir,” and so great was the horror in my heart through simply calling the possibility to mind that the colonel must have understood I spoke no more than the truth.
”Well, my lad, I will tell you this much for the gratification of yourself and friends: When it comes, if it ever does, that I am convinced, because of lack of food, ammunition, or any other contingency, that we cannot hold the fort, I will lead as many of the garrison as choose to follow me in an attempt to cut our way through the enemy's lines. I, like you, prefer to die fighting, rather than at the stake.”
These words gave me greatest relief of mind, even though to do as the colonel promised was much like going to certain death, and I asked:
”May I repeat to my comrades what you have said, sir?”
”Ay, that you may, lad, and unless succor comes soon I shall speak quite as plainly to all the garrison, for to-morrow morning the rations are of a necessity to be cut down one-half, which will give our discontented men good chance to talk of starvation.”
It would have given me greatest satisfaction to ask him a few questions concerning our supplies, which, when he made the statement to the garrison, had seemed so plentiful; but, fortunately, I had sense enough to understand that, for a lad like me, to make searching inquiries of the commandant of a fort was something which the most easy-going officer would not tolerate for an instant.
Therefore, thanking him for having given me the a.s.surance which he had, I took my leave, going with all speed to the barracks that I might acquaint Sergeant Corney with what I had heard.
”It's good news, lad, though not much different from what I've come to expect from sich a soldier as the commandant. Now we've nothin' in particular to worry about, seem's there won't be any question of takin'
advantage of the Britisher's offer, which would be kept in the case of all hands much as it was when our poor fools deserted. But what is this about short allowance? I thought it was proven to us that we had supplies in plenty for many days to come?”
”I can only tell you what the commandant said.”
”I reckon he'll explain matters when he tells us why the rations are short, an' that he'll have to do in order to satisfy some of the imitation soldiers we've got in this 'ere fort.”
Then the old man went to his post of duty, and I rejoined the Minute Boys over the sally-port, where every member of my company was aching to get a fair shot at one of Thayendanega's curs.
The Indians were not inclined to show themselves on this morning after we gave our surprise-party. I fancy they had come to understand it wouldn't be an easy matter to get the best of us, and were having considerably more of fighting than was pleasing.
Never one of the painted snakes came within range of our rifles. At some time during the night they had plucked up courage enough to drag off their wounded, and, if they visited the British or Tory camp that day, it was after making such a detour through the thicket as kept them screened from our view.
In the trenches the white portion of St. Leger's army worked like men who feel the whip behind them, and our people succeeded in sending six to the hospital or their last resting-place, without receiving a scratch.
<script>