The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War - xaviantvision

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"And a proper Scottish one too," McLean said reprovingly."That as well, sir," Lawrence responded stoutly.The brigadier walked north along the rampart. It was a pitiable thing for a defense, no higher than a man's waist and protected by just two cannon andby a row of wooden spikes in the shallow ditch. McLean had made his dispositions, but he was too old and too experienced to deceive himself. Theenemy had come in force. They outnumbered him in ships and men. He reckoned there were only two places they might come ashore. They would eitherbatter their way into the harbor and land on the closest beach, or else put their men ashore at the neck. The companies he had sent to those places woulddoubtless give a good account of themselves, but eventually they would be forced to retreat into Fort George, and then the rebels would advance againstthe pathetic ramparts and his cannon would greet them, but what could two guns do against three thousand men or more?"God's will be done," McLean said.By nightfall, he reckoned, he would be a prisoner. If he was lucky.Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Revere sat in a corner of the Sally's overcrowded stern cabin. It was dominated by an unlit black-lead stove around which theexpedition's senior army officers were gathered. Captain Welch, whose marines would join the militia for the assault, was also present. General Lovellstood on the bricks that surrounded the stove, but the cabin beams were so low that he was forced to stoop. A freshening wind buffeted the sloop, makingher quiver and jerk on her anchor rode. "General Wadsworth has good news," Lovell opened the proceedings.Wadsworth, even taller than Lovell, did not stand, but stayed seated on a sea chest. "We've been joined by forty-one Penobscot Indians," he said. "Theenemy attempted to subvert the tribe with wampum and promises, but they are determined to fight for liberty.""Praise God," the Reverend Jonathan Murray put in."And more Indians will come, I'm sure," Wadsworth continued, "and they're stout fellows.""They're damned savages," someone muttered from the cabin's darkest corner.Wadsworth pointedly ignored the comment and instead gestured to the good-looking young man who squatted at the cabin's edge, "And MisterFletcher was in Majabigwaduce just yesterday. He tells us the fort is far from finished, and that the enemy numbers less than a thousand men.""Praise be," the Reverend said."So this afternoon," Lovell took over, "Commodore Saltonstall will attack the enemy's ships!" He did not explain that the commodore had refused to sailhis squadron into the harbor, but had rather elected to bombard the sloops with long-range gunfire. "We pray for the navy's success," Lovell continued,"but we shan't leave all the fighting to them! We're going ashore, gentlemen. We shall attack the enemy with spirit!" The fierce look that accompaniedthese words was rather undercut by the general's cramped posture. "Captain Welch will land on the right, leading his marines.""God bless them," the Reverend interjected."Colonel McCobb will detach two companies to support the marines," Lovell said, "while the rest of his splendid regiment will assault in the center."Samuel McCobb, who commanded the Lincoln County militia, nodded. He had a lean, weatherbeaten face in which his eyes were very blue andagainst which his mustache was very white. He glanced at Captain Welch and seemed to approve of what he saw."The men of Cumberland County will attack on the left," Lovell said, "under Colonel Mitchell. Colonel Davis will assign boats to each transport, isn't thatright, Colonel?""The orders are written," Colonel Davis said curtly. He was one of Lovell's aides, responsible for liaising with the civilian skippers of the transports."And what about us?" a man of about Wadsworth's age asked. He wore homespun and deerskin, and had a strong, enthusiastic face darkened by thesun. "You're not leaving the men of York County out of the game, are you, sir?""Ah, Major Littlefield," Lovell acknowledged the man."Our fellows are eager to assault, sir, and they won't be happy being left aboard the ships," Littlefield said."It's a question of boats and lighters," Lovell replied. "We don't have enough to land every man together, so the boats will return for the York Countymilitia.""So be sure to have your fellows ready," Colonel Davis said."And you make sure you leave some of the fighting for us!" Daniel Littlefield said, looking disappointed."We don't have enough landing boats?" Revere spoke for the first time. He sounded incredulous. "Not enough boats?""Nowhere near," Davis said brusquely, "so we land what men we can, then the boats return for the rest.""So what about my guns?" Revere asked."General Wadsworth will command the attack," Lovell responded, "so perhaps he can answer Colonel Revere?"Wadsworth smiled at the indignant-looking Revere. "I am hoping, Colonel, that your guns will not be needed.""Not needed! I didn't bring them all the way here just to be ballast!""If our information is right," Wadsworth said emolliently, "then I trust we shall capture the bluff, and then advance straight on the fort.""With speed," Welch insisted."Speed?" Lovell asked."The faster we go, the greater the shock," Welch said. "It's like prize-fighting," he explained. "We give the enemy a hard blow, then hit him again whilehe's dazed. Then hit him again. Keep him dazed, keep him off-balance and keep hitting.""Our hope," Wadsworth said, "is to advance with such fervor that we shall overrun the fort before the enemy gathers his wits.""Amen to that," the Reverend Murray said."But if the fort is not captured immediately," Wadsworth was talking to Revere again, "then your guns shall be fetched ashore.""And any guns we capture," Revere insisted, "belong to the State of Massachusetts. Isn't that right?"Captain Welch bridled at that, but said nothing."Of course," Lovell said. "Indeed, everything we capture shall belong to the great State of Massachusetts!" he beamed at the assembly."I believe, sir," John Marston, the general's secretary, put in quietly, "that the Council decreed that all plunder taken by privateers would be deemed astheir private property.""Of course, of course!" Lovell said, disconcerted, "but I'm sure there will be more than sufficient plunder to satisfy their investors." He turned to theReverend Murray. "Chaplain? A word of prayer before we disperse?""Before you pray," Captain Welch interrupted, "one last thing." He looked hard at the men commanding the militia. "There's going to be noise andsmoke and confusion. There will be blood and screams. There will be chaos and uncertainty. So have your men fix bayonets. You're not going to beatthese bastards volley to volley, but sharp steel will scare the shit out of them. Fix bayonets and charge straight at the enemy. Shout as you charge and,believe me, they'll run." He paused, his hard eyes looking at each of the militia commanders in turn who, all except for Major Daniel Littlefield who hadnodded enthusiastic agreement, appeared somewhat daunted by the marine's grim words. "Use sharp steel and blunt courage," Welch growled, "and wewill win." He said the last four words slowly, distinctly and with a grim emphasis.The cabin stayed silent as the men contemplated the marine's words, then the Reverend Murray cleared his throat. "Gentlemen," he said, "let us bowour heads." He paused. "O Lord," he continued, "Thou hast promised to cover us with Thy strong wings, so protect us now as we go'" He was interruptedby the sound of a cannon firing. The noise was sudden and shockingly loud. The echo of the gun rebounded back from the bluff, then the afternoon wasriven by gunfire, by cannon after cannon and by echo after echo, and the rest of the prayer went unspoken as men hurried on deck to watch CommodoreSaltonstall's warships make their first attack.
From the Oath demanded by Brigadier-General Francis McLean of the inhabitants around the Penobscot River, July 1779:Calling the most great and sacred God to the truth of my Intentions, I do most solemnly promise and swear that I will hear true Allegiance and be afaithful subject to his most sacred Majesty George the Third King of Great Britain France and Ireland, and of the Colonies of N. America, Nowfalsely stiling themselves the United States of America . . .From the Proclamation to the inhabitants of the Penobscot region, issued by Brigadier-General Solomon Lovell, 29th July 1779:I do hereby assure the Inhabitants of Penobscot and the Country adjacent, that if they are found to be so lost to all the virtues of good Citizens . . .by becoming the first to desert the cause of Freedom of Virtue and of God . . . they must expect to be the first also to experience the justresentment of this injured and betrayed Country, in the condign punishment which their treason deserves.Excerpt of letter from Colonel John Frost, Massachusetts Militia, to the Council of Massachusetts, July 20th, 1779:I would beg leave to inform your Honors In calling for Officers from the third Regiment in the Brigade to my Surprise I found that their was neitherOfficer in said Regiment . . . that had a Proper Commission the reason is all the Officers in said Regiment were Commissioned in the year 1776with the Stile of George the Third King and Colonel Tristrum Jordan then commanded said Regiment but did not take proper care that theCommissions were altered agreable to an Act of this State . . . should be glad of your Honors Direction about the Affair and shall wait your HonorsOrders.
Page 2 and 3: THEFORTA Novel of the Revolutionary
Page 5 and 6: A voice in the darkness, a knock at
Page 7 and 8: A Note on Names and TermsIn 1779 th
Page 9: Chapter OneThere was not much wind
Page 12 and 13: ecome a base for Britain's Royal Na
Page 14 and 15: "I bloody hope so," Moore said with
Page 16 and 17: Chapter TwoLieutenant-Colonel Paul
Page 18 and 19: magazines that would keep the ammun
Page 20 and 21: "So you will take the oath?" McLean
Page 22 and 23: Excerpts of a letter from the Selec
Page 25 and 26: inflate a company into a battalion
Page 28 and 29: "The world would be better without
Page 30 and 31: So now one less man would sail east
Page 32 and 33: Chapter FourThe fleet sailed eastwa
Page 34: "We were maltreated in Boston," Cal
Page 37: Tyrannicide had also confirmed that
Page 41 and 42: "Plug it!" Little shouted at the ma
Page 43 and 44: "You promoted me to general yesterd
Page 45 and 46: "Long as it takes."They had to wait
Page 47 and 48: Chapter SixThe daylight was fading.
Page 49 and 50: "He's a patriot!" Lovell said in a
Page 51 and 52: "What are you doing?" Revere again
Page 53 and 54: A rowboat banged against the Centur
Page 55 and 56: Chapter SevenThe first shots crashe
Page 57 and 58: sir," McClure shouted over the musk
Page 59 and 60: Solomon Lovell's heart seemed to mi
Page 61 and 62: From Brigadier-General Lovell's des
Page 63 and 64: emembered the tall American in his
Page 65 and 66: "We thought him indestructible," De
Page 67 and 68: could conceal men from the guns of
Page 69 and 70: Chapter Nine"Where the devil is Rev
Page 71 and 72: "Then they will have something to f
Page 73 and 74: They would attack the battery.In th
Page 75 and 76: Hundreds? He wondered. Maybe two hu
Page 77 and 78: Chapter TenThe sun had not risen wh
Page 79 and 80: Praise the Lord, Wadsworth thought,
Page 81 and 82: marsh. The rebels patrolled that gr
Page 83 and 84: Letter from Brigadier-General Lovel
Page 85 and 86: on their flank?" Easily, Wadsworth
Page 87 and 88: Commodore Saltonstall declared he w
Page 89 and 90:
ecome mired in pessimism and it nee
Page 91 and 92:
Chapter TwelveAnd, suddenly, there
Page 93 and 94:
at their sterns. Away to port was C
Page 95 and 96:
need men willing to make that attac
Page 97 and 98:
timber splinter to drive cloth into
Page 99 and 100:
Chapter ThirteenA Royal Marine at t
Page 101 and 102:
The fifty men filed through the aba
Page 103 and 104:
dared to hope that the British woul
Page 105 and 106:
From a letter by General Artemas Wa
Page 107 and 108:
the powder charges were being carri
Page 109 and 110:
fire, of the sparks flying and fall
Page 111 and 112:
Historical NoteThe Penobscot Expedi
Page 113 and 114:
on which Carnes was expertly equipp
Page 115 and 116:
About the AuthorBERNARD CORNWELL, "
Page 117 and 118:
CopyrightT HE FORT. Copyright (c) 2
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The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War - xaviantvision

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