Preston Fight Part 27

"I will not stir from the post at present," said the countess.

"I shall never forgive myself if any disaster occurs," said the earl. "I ought not to have consented to your remaining here so long. Why did you not yield to my entreaties? Had you set out yesterday, you would now be far on the road to Dilston."

"You must blame me more than the countess, my lord," said Dorothy. "I besought her to stay, and she yielded to my request."

"Commit no further errors," said Father Norman. "Quit this dangerous position immediately, and repair to the town-hall as suggested by his lordship."

"Must we really go?" said the countess, with an appealing look to the earl. "Do let us stay for a few minutes longer!"

"Well, I consent," he replied. "But only on the condition that you depart when Father Norman deems it prudent to do so. I commit them to your care, father."

"Be sure I will watch over them, my son," replied the priest.

"Newbiggin, I need not give any commands to you," said the earl. "You will attend to your lady and Miss Forster."

"With my life," replied the butler.

Scarcely had the earl taken his departure than Mrs. Scarisbrick made her appearance on the roof, and took up her station by the other ladies.

"I am just in time," she said, after greetings had pa.s.sed between them. "General Forster says there is no danger here."

"I hope not," replied Dorothy. "But we shall not remain here long."

Meantime, the Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter had proceeded to the adjacent barrier, and taken up a position with Brigadier Mackintosh, who had likewise been joined by Lord Kenmure and the Earls of Wintoun and Nithsdale.

III.

The Commencement of the a.s.sault

A STRANGE and portentous quietude now prevailed, like the awful hush preceding a storm. All the insurgent troops were in position, and in momentary expectation of the attack.

The barricades were manned, the houses occupied with soldiers as we have mentioned, and the churchyard filled with troops. But not a sound proceeded from this vast collection of men.

Never before had Preston beheld such a sight. Except in the market-place, all business was suspended throughout the town, but here the houses were open, and the Mitre and the Bull were thronged.

Terrified to death at the thought of the approaching conflict, almost all the residents in Church-street and Fishergate had quitted their houses, and repaired to the centre of the town. It was the same thing in Friargate, and in many houses in the Lancaster avenue.

Thus in fear and trembling did the inhabitants of Preston await the commencement of the a.s.sault.

At length, a murmur arose from those stationed on the roofs of houses, and everywhere were heard the words, "They come."

Then the countess and Dorothy, with hundreds of others who were gazing eagerly towards the Wigan avenue, beheld a body of red-coated foot soldiers issue from the lane, and march towards the street.

These were Preston's foot. Captain Preston was with them himself, but on this occasion the regiment was commanded by Lord Forrester, who rode at their head.

The men looked very well, and presented a very gallant appearance. They were supported by two hundred and fifty dragoons, selected from five different regiments, each party being commanded by a captain, and the whole being commanded by Major Bland and Major Lawson.

Then came two regiments of dragoons under the command of Brigadier Honeywood.

Casting a rapid glance along the street, Lord Forrester instantly saw how matters stood, but ordered his men to attack the barricade, which presented a very formidable appearance with the cannon mounted upon it, and the troops collected behind it.

But the a.s.sailants had not advanced far, when such a terrible fire was poured upon them from the barricade, and from the roofs and windows of the houses, that they halted.

By this deadly discharge nearly fifty men were killed, or severely wounded. Loud shouts arose from the defenders of the barricade, and stifled the groans of the wounded.

The fire of the defenders was instantly returned by the a.s.sailants, but with comparatively little effect.

Urged on by Lord Forrester and Captain Preston the a.s.sailants marched on, but were checked by a second discharge quite as terrible as the first, while the cannon being well directed by Tom Syddall and his men, did great execution.

Thus much did the countess and Dorothy see, but they beheld no more. The spectacle of that street, filled with dying and dead, was too much for them, and they covered their eyes to shut out the dreadful sight.

"Shall I take you hence?" said Father Norman.

"Yes-yes!" cried the countess.

Casting one look at the barricade, and seeing that the earl was safe, she instantly quitted the roof with the priest and Newbiggin. The other ladies followed. The party did not venture into the street, but made their way through the garden at the back of the house. As they were speeding along, another discharge of musketry took place, accompanied by the roar of the cannon.

At the same time distant firing was heard on the north side of the town, showing that the attack had likewise begun in this quarter. A sergeant, despatched by Captain Innes, made way for them through the crowded street to the market-place.

No sooner had they reached the town-hall than the countess and Dorothy withdrew to a private room, with the priest, and spent some time in earnest devotions.

IV.

Altercation between Forster and Mackintosh

FINDING it impossible to force his men to attack the barricade in the face of this incessant fire, Lord Forrester did not attempt any further advance for the present, but retiring to the end of the street, where he was sustained by the dismounted dragoons and Honeywood's regiment, directed Captain Preston to lead a party of men through a narrow pa.s.sage which he had observed to the back of the street, and, if possible, get possession of Sir Henry Hoghton's House.

Captain Preston at once obeyed the order, but on reaching a thoroughfare, called the Broadway, at the back of the houses, he found his advance checked by the small barrier commanded by Captain Wogan. However, he unhesitatingly attacked it, but was repulsed.

While heading a second a.s.sault he was struck down by a shot, and would have instantly been cut to pieces if Captain Wogan, at the hazard of his own life, had not dashed to his a.s.sistance, and saved him from the swords raised against him.

Having succeeded in bringing off his wounded foe, the generous Wogan consigned him to the care of a surgeon. But all aid was unavailing. Preston, than whom there was not a better or a braver officer in the king's service, was dead.

Hitherto General Forster had taken no part in the defence, but during a cessation of firing he rode up to the Churchgate battery, and called out to Mackintosh in a loud authoritative tone: "Brigadier! sally out at once with your Highlanders upon the enemy."

"Na, na, general," replied Mackintosh. "Were I to part my foot from the horse, they might be cut off."

"I don't see why that should be," rejoined Forster. "But if you are afraid of the foot, sally out with the horse."

"I cannot obey you, general," replied the brigadier; "and for this reason. In sallying out, as you suggest, the cavalry wad have to pa.s.s through the fire of our ain foot to their great detriment; and if they failed in the attempt, they would be unable to retreat, and thus the Highlanders would be pent up in the town."

"I don't see the reason," cried Forster, angrily; "but I perceive you are resolved not to obey me."

"I won't sacrifice my men, general," rejoined the brigadier.

"Then you will take the consequences, sir," said Forster; "for, by Heaven! if I survive this day, and the king comes to his own, I'll have you tried by a court-martial."

Mackintosh shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.

Just then the firing recommenced, and Forster withdrew to vent his anger elsewhere.

Learning that Mackintosh had stationed Captain Innes with a party of Highlanders in Sir Henry Hoghton's house, he immediately removed them, without alleging any reason for the step, and ordered Captain Maclean, with a company of gentlemen volunteers, to take the post.

V.

How the two large Houses in Church-street were taken by the a.s.sailants

DURING Forster's altercation with the brigadier, Lord Derwent.w.a.ter proceeded to the churchyard. He had now no fears respecting the countess and Dorothy, for he knew they had reached the town-hall in safety.

Scarcely had he entered the churchyard, when he perceived Captain Gordon, and calling him, said: "You are the very man I want. Go instantly to the top of the church-tower, and let me know the movements of the enemy."

Captain Gordon obeyed, and as soon as he reached this exalted position he looked carefully around.

We have already mentioned that the tower in question was singularly low, but from its position it commanded an entire view of the operations.

From this post of observation Captain Gordon could see Brigadier Honeywood with his regiment of dragoons stationed at the end of the street, but he did not concern himself with them, his attention being particularly attracted to the movements of Major Bland, with a large party of dismounted dragoons, attacking the battery commanded by Lord Charles Murray.

Lord Charles was defending himself vigorously and successfully, when another party was seen approaching to attack him in the flank.

Thereupon Captain Gordon gave a signal to the Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter, who immediately put himself at the head of a hundred of his gentlemen and hastened to Lord Charles's a.s.sistance.

Suddenly appearing in the back lane, and flanking the enemy with a close fire, the earl quickly put them to confusion and flight.

But, while retreating, the dragoons burst open the door at the back of Sir Henry Hoghton's garden, drove out Captain Maclean and the volunteers placed there by General Forster, and took possession of the mansion.

Almost at the same time, the large house belonging to Mr. Eyre, on the opposite side of the street, which had served as General Forster's headquarters, fell into the hands of Brigadier Honeywood.

On observing this, Captain Gordon immediately descended from the church-tower, and sought out General Forster, whom he found near the entrance to the market-place, and told him what had happened.

"By the possession of these two houses, general," he said, "the enemy have secured most commanding positions, which will not only afford them shelter from our fire, but enable them to do us great damage. They must be retaken at any cost, but I would recommend as the shortest way that both houses be demolished by our cannon."

"I cannot consent to their destruction, sir," replied Forster. "The body of the town is the security of the army. We must dislodge the enemy-not destroy the houses."

"But do you not perceive, general, that by this course you are affording security to the besiegers," said Captain Gordon. "Reinforcements are sure to arrive, and then we shall never be able to drive out the enemy."

"At all events, the attempt shall be made before I have recourse to cannon," rejoined Forster. "Let both houses be attacked in front and rear-but mind! cannon must not be used."

Scarcely able to control his anger, Captain Gordon went away.

On his return, he found that a vigorous attempt was being made by Lord Derwent.w.a.ter to dislodge the enemy from Sir Henry Hoghton's house, and a sharp conflict was then going on in the garden.

An attempt was likewise being made to recover Mr. Eyre's house by a large party of dismounted troopers headed by Charles Radclyffe and Captain Shaftoe.

Brigadier Mackintosh would have quickly knocked down both these houses, but on learning that General Forster had positively prohibited the use of cannon, he desisted.

VI.

Houses burnt by the a.s.sailants

WITH the exception of the loss sustained by the capture of these two important houses, and which had been entirely caused by Forster's gross mismanagement, the insurgents had not only held their own, but obtained decided advantages over the enemy.