The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War Part 15

"The devil is in our midst," Murray said darkly, "and must be extirpated."

"He must indeed, Chaplain," Lovell said and looked at Marston, "so add a command in tonight's daily orders. No man is to supply rum to the Indians. And, of course, add a mention regretting the death of Major ..." he paused.

"Littlefield," Wadsworth said.

"Littlefield," Lovell went on as if there had been no pause. "Poor Littlefield. He came from Wells, did he not? A fine town. Perhaps his men can block the isthmus? Oh, and Marston, make some acknowledgment of the marines, will you? We must give praise where it's due, especially if we're to request the use of them again." He mopped the grease on his plate with a piece of bread and put it into his mouth just as a hard knock sounded on the cabin door. Before anyone could respond the door was thrust open to reveal an indignant Lieutenant-Colonel Revere who came to the table's end and stared at Lovell who, his mouth full, could only wave a genial greeting.

"You ordered me to go ash.o.r.e with the guns," Revere said accusingly.

"So I did," Lovell managed to say through his mouthful, "so I did. Are they emplaced already?"

"You can't mean me to go ash.o.r.e," Revere said, with evident indignation. He gave his enemy, Major Todd, a dispa.s.sionate glance, then looked back to the general.

Lovell gazed at the commander of his artillery train with some bemus.e.m.e.nt. "We need guns on Cross Island," he said finally, "and a new battery. Your task, surely, is to emplace them?"

"I have duties," Revere said forcefully.

"Yes, Colonel, of course you do," Lovell said.

"Your duty is to establish a battery on the island," Wadsworth said forcibly.

"I can't be everywhere," Revere declared to Lovell, ignoring Wadsworth, "it isn't possible."

"I believe my orders were explicit," the general said, "and required you to take the necessary guns ash.o.r.e."

"And I tell you I have responsibilities," Revere protested.

"My dear Colonel," Lovell said, leaning back from the table, "I want a battery on Cross Island."

"And you shall have one!" Revere said firmly. "But it isn't a colonel's job to clear ground, to dig magazines, or to cut down trees to clear fields of fire!"

"No, no, of course not," Lovell said, flinching from Revere's anger.

"It is a colonel's job to establish and to command a battery," Wadsworth said.

"You'll have your battery!" Revere snarled.

"Then I shall be satisfied," Lovell said soothingly. Revere stared at the general for a brief moment and then, with a curt nod, turned and left. Lovell listened to the heavy footsteps climb the companionway, then let out a long breath. "What on earth provoked that display?"

"I can't say," Wadsworth answered, as puzzled as Lovell.

"The man is a troublemaker," Todd said acidly, throwing an accusing look at Wadsworth, who he knew had cleared Revere's appointment to command the artillery.

"A misunderstanding, I'm sure," Lovell said. "He's a very fine fellow! Didn't he ride to warm you at Lexington?" he asked the question of Wadsworth.

"He and at least twenty others," Todd answered before Wadsworth could respond, "and who do you suppose was the one rider who failed to reach Concord? Mister Revere," he stressed the "mister" maliciously, "was captured by the British."

"I do remember Revere bringing us warning that the regulars were coming," Wadsworth said, "he and William Dawes."

"Revere was captured by the British?" Lovell asked. "Oh, poor fellow."

"Our enemies let him go, sir," Todd said, "but kept his horse, thus showing a nice appreciation of Mister Revere's value."

"Oh, come now, come," Lovell chided his brigade-major. "Why do you dislike him so?"

Todd took off his spectacles and polished them with the edge of the flag. "It seems to me, sir," he said, and the tone of his voice indicated he had taken the general's question with great seriousness, "that the essentials of military success are organization and cooperation."

"You're the most organized man I know!" Lovell put in.

"Thank you, sir. But Colonel Revere, sir, resents being under command. He believes, I a.s.sume, that he should command. He will go his own way, sir, and we shall go ours, and we shall receive neither cooperation nor organization." Todd carefully hooked the spectacles back over his ears. "I served with him, sir, in the artillery, and there was constant abrasion, irritation, and conflict."

"He's efficient," Lovell said uncertainly, then more vigorously, "everyone a.s.sures me he's efficient."

"In his own interests, yes," Todd said.

"And he knows his guns," Wadsworth a.s.serted.

Todd looked at Wadsworth and paused before speaking. "I do hope so, sir."

"He's a patriot!" Lovell said in a tone of finality. "No one can deny that! Now, gentlemen, back to work."

The moon was full and its light whispered silver across the bay. The tide was ebbing to carry the Pen.o.bscot's waters out to the wide Atlantic while on Cross Island the rebels were digging a new emplacement for the guns that would hammer Mowat's ships.

And on the bluff the redcoat picquets waited.

General McLean had been inordinately grateful for the two days' respite the rebels had granted him. The enemy fleet had arrived on Sunday, now it was late on Tuesday evening and there had still been no attack on Fort George, which had given him the opportunity to emplace two more guns and to raise the parapet by another two feet. He knew only too well how vulnerable his position was. He was resigned to that. He had done his best.

That night he stood at Fort George's gate, which was nothing more than a brushwork barricade that could be pulled aside by the two sentries. He gazed southwards, admiring the sheen of moonlight on the harbor water. It was a pity that the artillerymen had been driven from their battery on Cross Island, but McLean had always known that position was indefensible. Wer alles verteidigt, verteidigt nichts Wer alles verteidigt, verteidigt nichts. Making that battery had consumed men and time that might have been better spent on strengthening Fort George, but McLean did not regret it. The battery had done its work, deterring the American ships from entering the harbor and thus buying the last two days, but now, McLean supposed, the rebel ships would make their a.s.sault and with them would come the rebel infantry.

"You look pensive, sir," Lieutenant Moore joined the general in the gateway.

"Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"

"I am, sir. This is but a dream."

McLean smiled. "When are you on duty?"

"Another two hours yet, sir."

"Then you might accompany me," the general suggested and led the way eastwards. "You heard the enemy approached the bluff again?"

"Major Dunlop told me, sir."

"And withdrew again," McLean said, "which suggests to me they are trying to deceive us."

"Or lack the nerve to make an a.s.sault, sir?"

McLean shook his head. "Never underestimate an enemy, Lieutenant. Treat every foe as though he holds the winning cards and then, when his hand is declared, you won't be unpleasantly surprised. I think our enemy means us to believe he will a.s.sault the bluff, and so force us to commit troops there, while in truth he plans to land elsewhere."

"Then post me elsewhere, sir."

"You will stay on the bluff," McLean said firmly. The general had decided to thicken the picquet line facing north towards the marshy isthmus that joined Majabigwaduce to the mainland, for he still believed that to be the likeliest enemy approach. That picquet line should delay the rebels, and the tangle of the abatis would hold them for a few more moments, but inevitably they would break both those defenses and charge the fort. "If the enemy does land on the neck," he told Moore, "then I shall recall your picquet and you'll help defend the fort."

"Yes, sir," Moore said resignedly. He feared battle and he wanted battle. If the main fight tomorrow, if a fight even came tomorrow, was to be at the neck then Moore wanted to be there, but he knew he would not change McLean's mind, and so did not try.

The two men, one so young and the other a veteran of Flanders and Portugal, walked the path just north of the Hatch cornfield. Lamplight glowed bright from the windows of Doctor Calef's house, their destination. The doctor must have seen them approach in the moonlight because he threw open his door before McLean could knock. "I have a house full of women," the doctor greeted them morosely.

"Some men are more blessed than others," McLean said. "Good evening to you, Doctor."

"There's tea, I believe," Calef said, "or something stronger?"

"Tea would be a pleasure," McLean said.

A dozen women were gathered in the kitchen. The doctor's wife was there, as were Colonel Goldthwait's two daughters, the Banks girls, and Bethany Fletcher. They sat on chairs and stools about the big table, which was covered with sc.r.a.ps of cloth. It was evident that the evening gathering was ending, because the women were stowing their work into bags. "A sewing circle?" McLean asked.

"War doesn't stop a woman's work, General," Mrs. Calef answered.

"Nothing does," McLean said. The women appeared to have been making and mending clothes for children, and McLean remembered his own mother joining just such a group every week. The women would talk, tell stories, and sometimes sing as they darned and st.i.tched. "I'm glad you're all here," McLean said, "because I came to warn the good doctor that I expect a rebel attack tomorrow. Ah, thank you," this last was to the maid who had brought him a mug of tea.

"You're sure about tomorrow?" Doctor Calef asked.

"I cannot speak for the enemy," McLean said, "but if I were in his shoes then I would come tomorrow." In truth, had McLean been in the enemy's shoes, he would have attacked already. "I wished to tell you," he went on, "that in the event of an a.s.sault you must stay indoors." He looked at the anxious lamplit faces around the table. "There's always a temptation to witness a fight, but in the confusion, ladies, a face seen through smoke can be mistaken for an enemy. I have no reason to believe the rebels will want to capture any of your houses, so you should be safe inside your own walls."

"Wouldn't we be safer inside the fort?" Doctor Calef asked.

"The very last place to be," McLean said firmly. "Please, all of you, stay home. This is excellent tea!"

"If the rebels ..." Mrs. Calef began, then thought better of what she had been about to say.

"If the rebels capture the fort?" McLean suggested helpfully.

"They'll find all those sworn oaths," Mrs. Calef said.

"And take revenge," Jane Goldthwait, whom everyone called Lil for a reason long forgotten, added.

"Mister Moore," McLean looked at the young lieutenant, "if it looks likely that the fort will fall, then you will be responsible for burning the oaths."

"I'd rather be killing the enemy on the ramparts, sir."

"I am sure you would," McLean said, "but you will destroy the oaths first. That's an order, Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir," Moore said in a chastened voice.

Over six hundred local people had come to Majabigwaduce and signed the oath of loyalty to King George, and Lil Goldthwait was right, the rebels would want revenge on those folk. Dozens of families who lived about the river had already been forced from their homes in and near Boston and now they faced yet another eviction. McLean smiled. "But we place the carriage in front of the horses, ladies. The fort has not fallen and, I can a.s.sure you, we shall do our utmost to repel the enemy." That was not true. McLean had no wish to stand to the last man. Such a defense would be heroic, but utterly wasteful.

"There are men here who would willingly man the walls with you," Doctor Calef said.

"I am grateful," McLean replied, "but such an action would expose your families to the enemy's anger and I would rather that did not happen. Please, all of you, remain in your homes."

The general stayed to finish his tea, then he and Moore left. They stood a moment in the doctor's garden and watched the flicker of moonlight on the harbor. "I think there'll be a fog tomorrow," McLean said.

"The air's warm," Moore said.

McLean stepped aside as a group of women came from the house. He bowed to them. The Banks girls, both young, were walking back to their father's house on the western side of the village beneath the fort, while Bethany Fletcher was going directly down the hill to her brother's house. "I haven't seen your brother lately, Miss Fletcher," McLean said.

"He went fishing, sir," Bethany said.

"And hasn't returned?" Moore asked.

"He's sometimes away for a week," Bethany said, fl.u.s.tered.

"Mister Moore," McLean said, "do you have time to escort Miss Fletcher safely home before you report for duty?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then pray do so."

"I'm safe, sir," Bethany said.

"Indulge an old man's wishes, Miss Fletcher," the general said, then bowed, "and I bid you a good night."

Moore and Bethany walked downhill in silence. It was not far to the small house. They stopped by the woodpile, both feeling awkward. "Thank you," Bethany said.

"My pleasure, Miss Fletcher," Moore said, and did not move.

"What will happen tomorrow?" Bethany asked.

"Maybe nothing."

"The rebels won't attack?"

"I think they must," Moore said, "but that is their decision. They should attack soon."

"Should?" Bethany asked. The moonlight glossed her eyes silver.

"We sent for reinforcements," Moore said, "though whether any such will come, I don't know."

"But if they attack," Bethany said, "there will be a fight?"

"It's why we're here," Moore said and felt his heart give a lurch at the thought that tomorrow he would discover what soldiering really was, or perhaps the lurch came from gazing at Bethany's eyes in the moonlight. He wanted to say things to her, but he felt confused and tongue-tied.

"I must go indoors," she said. "Molly Hatch is sitting beside my mother."

"Your mother is no better?"

"She will never be better," Bethany said. "Good night, Lieutenant."

"Your servant, Miss Fletcher," Moore said, bowing to her, but even before he straightened she was gone. Moore went to collect his men who would take over the picquet duty on Dyce's Head.