Preston Fight Part 26

"I will see him at once," replied Wills.

He then went forth with Sir Henry, and in front of the old house, where he had fixed his quarters, he found a large party of stalwart-looking young fellows armed with the weapons described. At their head was a st.u.r.dy-looking individual, of middle age, clad in a suit of black, and having a well-powdered wig on his head. Notwithstanding his decidedly clerical appearance, he had a brace of pistols in his belt, and a sword girt by his side.

General Wills could not help smiling when he beheld him. Still he perceived at a glance that the parson would prove serviceable, and he therefore gave him a hearty welcome.

"I am very glad to find, Mr. Woods," he said, "that you have come to a.s.sist the Government at this crisis. Rest a.s.sured your conduct will be appreciated in the right quarter."

"I and a portion of my flock have come to fight for the king, general," replied the minister. "We will uphold him against a Popish Pretender. We are ready to take any part you may be pleased to a.s.sign us, and I promise you the rebels shall meet with a stout resistance from us."

"They shall," cried the men, brandishing their scythes and bill-hooks.

"I thankfully accept your offer," said Wills. "I am sure you promise no more than you will perform. To-morrow morning, at an early hour, I shall march to Preston to give battle to the rebels, and you shall go with me, or rather shall march on before me-so that you can take up a position before I come up. Do you know Penwortham-about two miles below the bridge over the Ribble?"

"I know the place well, general," replied Woods. "It is on the south bank of the river, which is there fordable."

"Exactly. It is that ford I wish you to guard. I must tell you that it may become a post of danger, as some of the rebels may attempt to escape that way."

"I don't care for danger," said the valiant pastor; "and I hope I shall take many prisoners."

"If necessary, a party of men shall be sent to support you," said Wills.

"I trust we shall not need support, general," said the pastor, resolutely. "Before the day is over I fancy my followers will have got some better arms than they now possess."

"Decidedly, you ought to have been a soldier, reverend sir," observed Wills. "You would have done credit to the profession. Now, will you remain here for the night, or march on with your men to Chorley, so as to have less to do to-morrow?"

"We will adopt the latter course, general," replied the pastor. "We will halt for the night at a small place called Whittle-in-the-Woods, about six miles from Penwortham. We can take up our post early in the morning. Have you any further orders to give me?"

"None," replied Wills. "But I hope you will take some refreshment before you set out on your march."

"All is ready for you," said Sir Henry Hoghton, advancing. "Come with me and bring your men with you."

Parson Woods willingly complied with the invitation, and saluting the general in military style, accompanied Sir Henry to the mess-room of the militia, where a substantial repast awaited him and his men.

Thoroughly recruited, and in very good spirits, the warlike pastor commenced his march to Whittle-in-the-Woods.

Go To Table of Contents

BOOK THE EIGHTH.

THE DEFENCE.

I.

The Barricades

RUDELY awakened from his slumbers at a far earlier hour than he usually allowed himself to be disturbed, by the intelligence that Wills was marching to attack him with his whole force, and scarcely able, even then, to credit the unwelcome news, and with an aching head, General Forster attired himself in haste, and, ordering a small troop of horse to attend him, rode forth to reconnoitre.

On reaching the Ribble Bridge, he found a party of Highlanders placed there, and was informed by Colonel Farquharson, who commanded them, that the king's army was certainly approaching.

Still doubting, the general rode on for a few miles further, when he descried the vanguard of the enemy, and quickly turned back.

In the interval the Highlanders had left the bridge, their place being taken by three hundred of Lord Derwent.w.a.ter's men, under the command of Captain Shaftoe. Angry that this change should have been made without his sanction, Forster ordered Shaftoe to abandon the bridge and return to the town.

The order was very reluctantly obeyed. Captain Shaftoe would fain have proceeded to Penwortham to dislodge Parson Woods, but was not allowed.

Immediately on his return to the town, General Forster summoned a council of war, which was attended by all the English and Scottish leaders. They were quite alive to the danger of their position, and evidently had very little reliance either on the judgment or skill of their commander.

Under these circ.u.mstances the advice of Brigadier Mackintosh was urgently requested by Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and others.

"You have greater military experience than any of us, brigadier," said the earl. "What plan do you suggest?"

"Will you follow out my plan, if I offer it?" said the brigadier.

"We will," replied the earl. "If we waste time in discussion, the enemy will be upon us."

"Aweel, then," said Mackintosh. "It will be useless to defend the bridge, since the river is fordable in many places, nor do I think it would be safe to risk a battle outside the town, because the Highlanders have not yet learned to face cavalry. Nothing frightens them so much as a charge of horse. For this reason I would have the battle take place within the town, where the cavalry, of which the enemy's force chiefly consists, will be least serviceable, and where the Highlanders will fight well. Barricades and intrenchments can be thrown up in different parts of the streets so as to impede the advance of the enemy, and a destructive fire can be poured upon them from the roofs and windows of the houses."

All approved of the plan, except Forster, and he was overruled.

"How many barricades shall we require?-and where do you propose to erect them?" said Lord Widdrington.

"Four will suffice," replied the brigadier. "In fact, we haven't time to form more. The first shall be placed a little below the church, and as it is likely to be the chief object of attack, I will take the command of it myself."

"Why not make it at the extreme end of the street, so as to prevent the entrance of the enemy?" said Forster.

"There are so many lanes and avenues thereabouts that I should require more men than I possess to defend the post," replied the brigadier. "The second barrier will be best placed, in my opinion, at the back of the house now occupied by Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, and I would have it commanded by Lord Charles Murray."

"I accept the post," replied the gallant young n.o.bleman.

"The third barrier should be in the Fishergate," pursued the brigadier; "and it would be well served by Lord Strathmore's men, under the command of Captain Douglas."

"I am glad you have named me to a post of danger, brigadier," said Captain Douglas. "I'll do my best to maintain it."

"The last battery must be near the windmill in the Lancaster avenue," said the brigadier; "and I will confide it to my kinsman, Colonel Mackintosh, and his men."

"I'll take it," replied the colonel; "and keep it-as long as I can."

"And now let us set to work at once," said the brigadier. "We haven't a minute to lose."

Thereupon they all went forth, and each person, to whom the construction and command of a barricade had been committed, called his men together, and proceeded to the appointed spot.

Such extraordinary exertions were made, and so many hands employed, that in an incredibly short s.p.a.ce of time intrenchments were thrown up, and strong barriers formed.

The Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter and Charles Radclyffe a.s.sisted in person in the formation of the Churchgate barrier. Stripping off their coats they worked like pioneers, and were greatly encouraged by the presence of the countess and Dorothy Forster.

As soon as the Churchgate barrier was completed, two of the ship guns brought from Lancaster were placed upon it and entrusted to the management of Tom Syddall and some of his men.

While these defensive preparations were going on, all the houses in Church-street and the Fishergate were filled with Highlanders and dismounted troopers, ready to fire upon the enemy from window, roof, and cellar.

In these two streets were the best houses of the town, and here Brigadier Mackintosh antic.i.p.ated that the chief attack would be made.

The church, as already mentioned, was surrounded by an extensive churchyard, and here-as the most available place for the purpose-a strong force was collected.

On the north side of the edifice were posted the Lowlanders and Northumbrian gentlemen-the latter being now dismounted-under the command of Colonel Oxburgh and Colonel Brereton, who had lately joined as a volunteer.

On the south side were planted the Borderers, likewise dismounted, under the command of Captains Douglas and Hunter.

In a small street adjoining Sir Henry Hoghton's house a small barrier had been formed by Captain Wogan and his regiment.

All the reserves were posted in the marketplace, and here were kept the horses of the dismounted troopers.

While the barriers were being formed, General Forster, attended by a small party of men, rode from point to point to give directions, which were not always obeyed.

Having finished his survey he entered the town-hall, where a great number of ladies had taken refuge-among whom was Mrs. Scarisbrick-and a.s.sured them they had nothing to fear.

"The enemy will never be able to penetrate the centre of the town," he said. "All the fighting will take place at the barricades. We shall soon force them to retreat."

"I am glad to find you are so confident," said Mrs. Scarisbrick. "For my own part I confess I feel very uneasy-though I don't doubt the bravery of our troops."

"My preparations are so well made that we are quite una.s.sailable," said Forster. "The barriers will never be pa.s.sed. Lady Derwent.w.a.ter and my sister entertain so little apprehension of the result of the attack that they do not mean to quit Sir Henry Hoghton's house, but will station themselves on the roof to witness the attack on the battery."

"I begin to think I should like to see the commencement of the attack," remarked Mrs. Scarisbrick. "It must be a very curious sight. And since you say there is no danger-"

"I don't say so," interrupted Forster. "On the contrary, there is very great danger. Stay where you are. You are quite safe here."

"No, I will go," she cried. "My curiosity is aroused. You shall take me to Sir Henry Hoghton's house."

"Don't ask me!" he cried. "I won't do it."

The lady, however, being determined, he was obliged to comply.

Ordering a trooper to follow him with his horse, he conducted her to Church-street, which was now full of soldiers, and left her at the entrance to Sir Henry Hoghton's house. She would not allow him to go further, saying, she could easily find her way to the roof.

II.

What the Countess and Dorothy beheld from the summit of the Mansion

NO position in the town, except, perhaps, the tower of the church, commanded so good a view of the proceedings as was obtained from the summit of this lofty mansion.

Part of the roof was flat, and protected by a bal.u.s.trade, and it was here that the countess and Dorothy Forster were stationed.

They had come there, after witnessing the completion of the barricade at which the earl had a.s.sisted, and contemplated the scene with extraordinary interest.

From this spot they could clearly distinguish the movements of the enemy. They saw General Wills issue from the Wigan lane with his infantry and cavalry, and draw up in the fields to survey the town, and they could not help contrasting the appearance of the king's soldiers with that of their own undisciplined troops.

After a time, they saw two brigades of horse and dragoons move off towards the other side of the town, and though these troops soon disappeared, the object of the movement was clear.

An attack was about to be made on the Lancaster avenue. Nor could it be doubted that a simultaneous attack would be made on the south by the forces left behind.

This conviction sent a thrill of terror through the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the two lookers-on. But they were rea.s.sured when they perceived that both streets were now very strongly guarded-that the trenches were completed and cannon mounted on the barricades-that not only were troops thickly planted at the barriers, but the roofs and windows of all the houses were occupied by Highlanders and other soldiers-that the churchyard, which was almost opposite them, was full of troops-showing that if the enemy was ready to make the attack, their friends were prepared for a gallant defence.

Nor was this all. Looking towards the Broadway at the back of the garden, they could descry the barricade commanded by Lord Charles Murray, and saw that it was guarded by a large party of Highlanders, while the advanced guard of Northumbrian gentlemen, commanded by Captain Wogan, could likewise be seen posted at the end of a narrow street at the left.

In a word, all the approaches, so far as discernible, seemed well protected. The access to the market-place from Church-street was blocked up by cavalry.

Nor could they entertain any doubt that the preparations on the other side of the town were equally efficient. They felt sure that the Lancaster avenue would be well guarded by Colonel Mackintosh and the Clan Chattan. The spectacle thus presented to their gaze dispelled any misgivings, and filled them with ardour.

At this juncture Lord Derwent.w.a.ter appeared on the roof, attended by Father Norman and Newbiggin.

"You must quit this place immediately," he said. "The attack is about to commence. Father Norman and Newbiggin will take you to the town-hall, where you will be safe."

"We shall see nothing at the town-hall," said the countess. "I don't think we are in the least danger here."

"You cannot remain," said the earl. "The lower part of the house is occupied by Captain Innes with a party of Highlanders, and when the attack commences, some of them will come to the roof."

"Let us stay till then," entreated Dorothy. "We must see the commencement of the attack."