The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War - xaviantvision

mounted more than three hundred cannon, while the twenty-one transport ships would carry the men, the supplies, the guns, and the fervent hopes ofMassachusetts. Lovell was proud of his state. It had made up the deficiencies in the supplies, and the ships now carried enough food to feed sixteenhundred men for two months. Why, there were six tons of flour alone! Six tons!Lovell, thinking of the extraordinary efforts that had been made to provision the expedition, slowly became aware that men were shouting at the Warrenfrom other ships. The anchor was still not raised, but the bosun ordered the seamen to stop their chant and their work. It seemed the fleet would not leaveafter all. Commodore Saltonstall, who had been standing by the frigate's wheel, turned and paced back to Lovell. "It appears," the commodore saidsourly, "that the commander of your artillery is not aboard his ship.""He must be," Lovell said."Must?""The orders were plain. Officers were to be aboard last night.""The Samuel reports that Colonel Revere is not on board. So what shall we do, General?"Lovell was startled by the question. He had thought he was being given information, not being asked to make a decision. He stared across the sunsparklingwater as though the distant Samuel, a brig that was carrying the expedition's cannon, might suggest an answer."Well?" Saltonstall pressed, "do we sail without him and his officers?""His officers?" Lovell asked."It transpires," Saltonstall appeared to relish delivering the bad news, "that Colonel Revere allowed his officers to spend a last night ashore.""Ashore?" Lovell asked, astonished, then stared again at the distant brig. "We need Colonel Revere," he said."We do?" Saltonstall asked sarcastically."Oh, a good officer!" Lovell said enthusiastically. "He was one of the men who rode to warn Concord and Lexington. Doctor Warren, God rest his soul,sent them, and this ship is named for Doctor Warren, is it not?""Is it?" Saltonstall asked carelessly."A very great patriot, Doctor Warren," Lovell said feelingly."And how does that affect Colonel Revere's absence?" Saltonstall asked bluntly."It," Lovell began and realized he had no idea what he could answer, and so he straightened and squared his shoulders. "We shall wait," he announcedfirmly."We shall wait!" Saltonstall called to his officers. He began pacing his quarterdeck again, starboard to larboard and larboard to starboard, occasionallyshooting a malevolent look at Lovell as though the general was personally responsible for the missing officer. Lovell found the commodore's hostilityuncomfortable and so turned to stare at the fleet again. Many ships had loosed their topsails and men now scrambled along the yards to furl the canvas."General Lovell?" a new voice disturbed him and Lovell turned to see a tall marine officer whose sudden presence made the general take aninvoluntary step backwards. There was an intensity in the marine's face, and a ferocity, that made the face formidable. Just to see this man was to beimpressed. He was even taller than Lovell, who was not a short man, and he had broad shoulders that strained the green cloth of his uniform jacket. Hewas holding his hat respectfully, revealing black hair that was cropped short over most of his scalp, but which he had allowed to grow long at the back sohe could wear a short pigtail that was hardened with tar. "My name is Welch, sir," the marine said in a voice deep enough to match his hard face, "CaptainJohn Welch of the Continental Marines.""I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain Welch," Lovell said, and that was true. If a man must sail into battle then he would pray to have a manlike Welch at his side. The hilt of Welch's saber was worn down by use and, like its owner, seemed made for the efficient use of pure violence."I've spoken to the commodore, sir," Welch said very formally, "and he gave his consent that my men should be at your disposal when not required fornaval duties.""That's most encouraging," Lovell said."Two hundred and twenty-seven marines, sir, fit for duty. Good men, sir.""I've no doubt.""Well-trained," Welch went on, his unblinking gaze fixed on Lovell's eyes, "and well-disciplined.""A most valuable addition to our force," Lovell said, unsure what else he could say."I want to fight, sir," Welch said, as if he suspected Lovell might not use his marines."I am confident the opportunity will come," Lovell said uneasily."I hope so, sir," Welch said, then at last turned his gaze away from the general and nodded towards a fine-looking ship, the General Putnam, one offour privateers that had been commandeered by the Massachusetts Navy because their owners had balked at volunteering their craft. The GeneralPutnam carried twenty cannons, all of them nine-pounders, and she was reckoned one of the finest ships on the New England coast. "We put a score ofmarines on the Putnam, sir," Welch said, "and they're led by Captain Carnes. You know him, sir?""I know John Carnes," Lovell said, "he captains the Hector.""This is his brother, sir, and a fine officer. He served under General Washington as a captain of artillery.""A fine posting," Lovell said, "yet he left it for the marines?""Captain Carnes prefers to see men up close as he kills them, sir," Welch said evenly, "but he knows his artillery, sir. He's a very competent gunner."Lovell understood immediately that Saltonstall had despatched Welch with the news, implicitly suggesting that Colonel Revere could be left behind andreplaced by Captain Carnes, and Lovell bristled at the suggestion. "We need Colonel Revere and his officers," he said."I never suggested otherwise, sir," Welch said, "merely that Captain Carnes has an expertise that might be useful to you."Lovell felt acutely uncomfortable. He sensed that Welch had little faith in the militia and was trying to stiffen Lovell's force with the professionalism of hismarines, but Lovell was determined that Massachusetts should reap the credit for the expulsion of the British. "I'm sure Colonel Revere knows hisbusiness," Lovell said stoutly. Welch did not reply to that, but stared at Lovell who again felt disconcerted by the intensity of the gaze. "Of course, anyadvice Captain Carnes has . . ." Lovell said, and let his voice trail away."I just wanted you to know we have an artilleryman in the marines, sir," Welch said, then stepped a pace back and offered Lovell a salute."Thank you, Captain," Lovell said, and felt relieved when the huge marine strode away.The minutes passed. The church clocks in Boston struck the hour, the quarters, and then the hour again. Major William Todd, one of the expedition's twobrigade majors, brought the general a mug of tea. "Newly made in the galley, sir.""Thank you.""The leaves captured by the brig King-Killer, sir," Todd said, sipping his own tea."It's kind of the enemy to supply us with tea," Lovell said lightly."Indeed it is, sir," Todd said and then, after a pause, "So Mister Revere is delaying us?"Lovell knew of the antipathy between Todd and Revere and did his best to defuse whatever was in the major's mind. Todd was a good man, meticulousand hardworking, but somewhat unbending. "I'm sure Lieutenant-Colonel Revere has very good cause to be absent," he said firmly."He always does," Todd said. "In all the time he commanded Castle Island I doubt he spent a single night there. Mister Revere, sir, likes the comfort ofhis wife's bed.""Don't we all?"Todd brushed a speck of lint from his blue uniform coat. "He told General Wadsworth that he supplied rations for Major Fellows' men.""I'm certain he had cause for that.""Fellows died of the fever last August," Todd then stepped a pace back in deference to the approach of the commodore.Saltonstall glowered again at Lovell from beneath the peak of his cocked hat. "If your damned fellow isn't coming," Saltonstall said, "then perhaps wemight be allowed to get on with this damned war without him?""I'm sure Colonel Revere will be here very soon," Lovell said emolliently, "or we shall receive news of him. A messenger has been sent ashore,Commodore."Saltonstall grunted and walked away. Major Todd frowned at the retreating commodore. "He takes after his mother's side of the family, I think. TheSaltonstalls are usually most agreeable folk."Lovell was saved from responding by a hail from the brig Diligent. Colonel Revere, it seemed, had been sighted. He and three other officers werebeing rowed in the smart white-painted barge that served Castle Island, and the sternsheets of the barge, which was being rowed by a dozen blue-shirtedmen, were heaped high with baggage. Colonel Revere sat just forrard of the baggage and, as the barge came close to the Warren on its way to the brigSamuel, Revere waved up at Lovell. "God speed us, General!" he shouted.