The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War - xaviantvision

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"Ah ha! He wants real soldiers, does he?" Gates drank his second cup of tea, poured a third, then sat again. "Who pays for this?""Massachusetts," Adams said. God knew Massachusetts had already spent a fortune on the expedition, but it seemed another fortune must now beexpended and he prayed that Brigadier-General McLean had a vast chest of treasure hidden in his toy fort or else the State's debt would be crippling."Rations, transport," Gates insisted, "both must be paid for!""Of course.""And how do you convey my troops to the Penobscot River?""There is shipping in Boston," Adams said."You should have asked me a month ago," Gates said."Indeed we should.""But I suppose Massachusetts wanted the battle honor for itself, eh?"Adams gently inclined his head to indicate assent and tried to imagine this irascible, touchy, resentful Englishman in charge of the Continental Armyand was profoundly grateful for George Washington."Lieutenant!" Gates barked.The pale lieutenant appeared at the door. "Your honor?""My compliments to Colonel Jackson. His men are to march for Boston at daybreak. They march with arms, ammunition, and a day's rations. Fullorders will follow tonight. Tell the colonel he is to keep a detailed, mark that, detailed, list of all expenditures. Go."The lieutenant went."No good shilly-shallying," Gates said to Adams. "Henry Jackson's a good man and his regiment is as fine as any I've seen. They'll finish McLean'snonsense.""You are very kind, General," Adams said."Not kind at all, efficient. We have a war to win! No good sending fart-catchers and pillow-biters to do a soldier's job. You'll do me the honor of diningwith me?"Samuel Adams sighed inwardly at that prospect, but liberty had its price. "It would be a distinct privilege, your honor," he said.Because, at last, a regiment of trained American soldiers was going to Penobscot Bay.
Letter from Brigadier-General Lovell to Commodore Saltonstall, August 5th, 1779:I have proceded as far as I Can on the present plan and find it inafectual for the purpose of disloging or destroying the Shiping. I must thereforerequest an ansure from you wether you will venter your Shiping up the River in order to demolish them or not that I may conduct my Selfaccordingly.From the Minutes of Brigadier-General Lovell's Council of War, Majabigwaduce, August 11th, 1779:Great want of Discipline and Subordination many of the Officers being so exceedingly slack in their Duty, the Soldiers so averse to the Serviceand the wood in which we encamped so very thick that on an alarm or any special occasion nearly one fourth part of the Army are skulked out ofthe way and conceal'd.From the Journal of Sergeant Lawrence, Royal Artillery. Fort George, Majabigwaduce, August 5th and August 12th, 1779:The General was very much surprised to see so many Men leave the Fort today to take shots at the Enemy without leave. He assures them thatany who may be Guilty of this again shall be most severely punished for disobedience of orders.
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THEFORTA Novel of the Revolutionary
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A voice in the darkness, a knock at
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A Note on Names and TermsIn 1779 th
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Chapter OneThere was not much wind
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ecome a base for Britain's Royal Na
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"I bloody hope so," Moore said with
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Chapter TwoLieutenant-Colonel Paul
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magazines that would keep the ammun
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"So you will take the oath?" McLean
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Excerpts of a letter from the Selec
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inflate a company into a battalion
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"The world would be better without
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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 and 38: Tyrannicide had also confirmed that
Page 39 and 40: From the Oath demanded by Brigadier
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: marsh. The rebels patrolled that gr
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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