But it wasn’t his house. Inside there were broken deck beams, buckling supports and seawater was pouring in through gaping shot holes. Small fires had also broken out and more sickening smoke wafted in the air amid the moans and screams of dying men. Those who weren’t injured seemed to run about aimlessly in panic, abandoning their duties of firing the guns or shoring up damage. He didn’t know why, but he started to stumble his way aft toward the stern. Partway there he came upon the dismembered body of Captain Wilson which had by all appearances been torn apart by enemy shot. He was a bloody mess and had been cleanly decapitated. The severed head made a grim sight as it lay next to what was left of the body to which it was once attached. But suddenly the eyes opened and the head spoke to him as it lay on its side
“Didn’t I send you to Philadelphia?” it asked, harshly.He was sorry - so very very sorry he hadn’t made it there. He had failed his captain. He was so ashamed he wished he could hide.But now someone was yelling to him.“Sir! Please, sir!”He couldn’t find who was calling out to him.“Sir!”He had to find them and help them, he was their captain! He was responsible for this!“Please sir! Wake up sir!!”Allison sat up at his desk with a start. Doing his best to shake off the disorientation, he half believed he had actually yelled out loud when he woke from that horrid dream, but he wasn’t quite sure. Midshipman Peter Fortescue stood over him, hat in hand, and looking nervous. The fact that one of his midshipmen had come upon him asleep at his desk, face-planted into the middle of a logbook was inexcusable. Allison wondered why Fortescue had entered without permission.“Mr. Fortescue, do you make a habit out of entering a senior officer’s quarters without permission?” Allison asked sternly and with annoyance.“No sir. My apologies sir, but... it’s that time sir. The one thing you said you wanted to know about immediately. I certainly would not have disturbed you otherwise, sir.”“Indeed?” Allison asked, the tone in his voice hinting that Fortescue had forgotten something. He was willing to let the indecorous situation in which he had been discovered slide, but Fortescue would make his report properly. That was a formality that would not be neglected.Fortescue picked up on his insinuation instantly. He stood at attention, hat beneath his arm and delivered his report. “The First Lieutenant sends his compliments and wishes to inform you that we will cross thirty-two degrees, eighteen minutes north latitude at a point proximate to the middle distance between Bermuda and the coastal Carolinas in less than fifteen minutes, as set down in your orders. The time of arrival will be approximately six hours behind, sir.”Not bad, all things considered, thought Allison . Despite the storm, which had at one point actually threatened to keep them from weathering the Carolina barrier islands, they had made up a great deal of time.“Very well, Mr. Fortescue, my thanks. You may return to duty,” he replied.The midshipman turned and was about to head out the door when Allison stopped him.“Oh, and Mr. Fortescue, I’m sure that when I walk about I won’t overhear any of the crew snickering about the captain being found with his nose buried in a logbook on his desk?”Fortescue looked serious. “No sir. I would never!”Allison made an obviously feigned look of honesty. “You are of course aware that a certain derangement of my eyesight makes reading difficult and that I often have to get my eyes very close to make out what’s written on the page? Don’t you? We can’t all have the eagle eyes of men like you who can make out the sails of a small cutter, hull down, on the horizon!”His midshipman smiled at the shared joke and Allison immediately knew the incident would never be mentioned again to anyone. “Yes sir,” he answered, “of course!”“There’s a good man! Dismissed.”Fortescue obediently left and shut the door behind him. He was a good young man. Promising things lay ahead for him if he continued to work hard and Allison would do everything he could to make sure he was ready. Fortunately he would be better able to assess the progress of that young gentleman as well as the rest of the crew, now that he would know their mission.He leaned back in his chair with a smile, reflecting upon everything that had happened up to this point. The hour which had all but obsessed him since he had been appointed to this command was nearly at hand! He reached down and patted the locked drawer. I’ve waited this long. I might as well do this properly and wait until we’re actually there.Once again, his thoughts wandered off to muse upon the night he spent in Trenton and his arrival in Philadelphia.The fire had died down to glowing embers. Allison had lain in bed looking at the ceiling with wide open eyes for hours, noting every change in the light that emanated from the hearth as it gradually diminished in strength. Restless, he got up and walked to the fireplace. He laid kindling and grabbed a poker to stir the ashes and try to bring it back to life. But the poker looked a lot like the one the soldiers used to torture the spy at the storehouse that night and just touching it made him feel sick. He had seen, first-hand, some of the nastiest corporal punishment the Navy prescribed for a crew at sea, and yet the grim happenings at the end of the night still haunted him. He replaced the metal rod where he found it and forgot all about rebuilding the blaze.Even though his accommodations were quite superior to those he had endured in the New Jersey countryside the previous night, Allison couldn’t sleep. He had been out so late that there wasn’t a thing to be had from the kitchen at the inn when he finally returned, but he was sure he couldn’t have eaten anyway. His appetite had been all but wiped out. The brutal treatment of the French spy certainly had a lot to do with that, but he had to admit he was a good bit disappointed with himself as well and that rankled almost as much. He had allowed the enemy to lay hands on the information he carried, which wouldn’t have happened if he had simply thrown it into the fire the night before. He had noticed a few subtle facts, particularly about the coachman, which seemed out of place; but they hadn’t prompted him to take any action or precautions. True, drawing the right conclusion in that instance would have been difficult in the extreme given his situation, and of course the mysterious “H” had actually warned him against drawing conclusions in the very document around which the whole debacle revolved.Feeling restive, he lit a taper, sat down at the small table in his quarters and re-read the letter Maxwell presented him with at the tavern:12 September, 1757Lieutenant Rane Allison , formerly of HM Warship Praetorian,If you find yourself reading this message, then all has proceeded according to plan, and the assessment of Major Maxwell was made in your favor. I congratulate you on passing this very necessary, but admittedly very clandestine test.At the time of my writing this, there is no way for me to know exactly how your journey progressed and what may have transpired during the time you have been traveling. I can only say that your cooperation and compliance is appreciated far more than you could ever know as you read this note.Barring unforeseen difficulties, you will arrive at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, before the end of the day tomorrow. At eight in the evening, you will be met there by Lieutenant Henry Caldwell of the Royal Navy, who will have been personally instructed on what you are to do upon reaching that destination.I must take this opportunity to reiterate my previous request regarding speculation and conclusions about your near future. Be assured, full knowledge of that most important of subjects is very close at hand.Once again, you are directed to destroy this message in the most complete manner possible after reading it.Your obedient servant,H.Allison immediately got up, walked back to the now nearly cold hearth and placed the paper and envelope on top of the ashes. He held the lighted taper to two of the four corners and watched as “H’s” latest message was consumed and obliterated. It had been a far more personal communication than the first letter he had received from the mysterious sender, and gave hints that he knew something about the “convergence” of operations Maxwell had mentioned. Allison hoped this latest communication truly heralded the coming of an explanation as it promised. When will this all start to make sense?The letter had burned down to nothing in a matter of seconds and Allison now blew out the candle, allowing the room to be shrouded in near total darkness. As he stood there in the gloom, he couldn’t believe what he had been through in just two days. Before that time, he had conducted himself in a manner that did him credit aboard Praetorian and finally earned his commission as a result. But, in the blink of an eye, all order and stability in his life had been whisked away, leaving him almost completely ignorant of why. In short order, he had been constantly subjected to cold, wind and rain, was drugged by a French spy, had lost a secret document, personally waded in the mud to free a broken down carriage, and was party to a rather violent interrogation which would almost certainly result in a public hanging for the subject in question on the morrow. Allison was glad he was not required to be present for the last part.But something else weighed heavily on his thoughts. The words unorthodox and irregular, laden with foreboding, just wouldn’t leave his mind. Maxwell’s peculiar talent for scrutiny and presentation had driven them into the deepest recesses of his brain from where they could not be expelled. The arrogant Scotsman had a way about him that he swore could make even the most hardened of battlefield veterans uncomfortable and put them squarely on a knife’s edge. Even so, Allison had to grudgingly admit it probably made the man a good commander and a very effective leader.So now that this experience in Trenton was through, witnessed to the fullest by Allison , just what did it portend for him? The Major’s domineering litanies told Allison that his propensity for action had to become more polished. His repertoire would need to include uncommon tactics that weren’t likely to be found amongst accustomed training regimens. He had also been told that sharp wits were an asset in his new appointment, but to what end? One could say that about a great deal of military occupations.Related Chapters
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 12
He at last gave up thinking about it during those early morning hours, finally realizing that he needed to take advantage of whatever little time remained before morning to try and sleep at least a little. He climbed back into bed, just as the cold began to encroach upon the room since a fire was no longer burning in the hearth. He shut his eyes and did everything he could to keep his overactive mind from working against his will - but it proved to be of no avail. It seemed he would never be able to take the advice of the quasi-omnipotent, all-knowing Mr. “H” no matter how hard he tried.“Lieutenant Allison , I presume?” the naval officer called down from the saddle as he pulled the horse up short on the cobblestones.“Indeed I am.”The man dismounted and walked briskly into the pale glow of the lamplight where Allison could see his face. He touched his hat. “Lieutenant Henry Caldwell, sir.” After rendering the salute, he immediately gestured toward a group of porters who were riding
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 13
As he stepped across the threshold, Allison immediately felt the warmth he had been anticipating. He removed his hat and momentarily closed his eyes as the more comfortable ambient air began to relieve the chill the rain had given him for the last few hours. He heard Caldwell step through and shut the door behind them. Before his eyes had reopened he heard a female voice calling out from somewhere further inside and moving closer as it spoke.“Oh... good evenin’ gentlemen. Welcome, both of ye, to the King’s Arms.”Allison opened his eyes and saw a reasonably well-dressed woman of middle age standing in front of him. Her graying hair was tied tightly back into a bun and a thin smile was on her lips. Despite the gentle politeness of her greeting, he could detect a hint of nervous apprehension in her manner. After glancing quickly behind her, she turned back to the two uniformed naval officers in front of her.“I assume both of ye young men are here to see His Honor the Admiral.”“Inde
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 14
“Of course, sir,” Allison said, once again giving an obligatory answer. Although he couldn’t help wondering just how inconspicuous an inn in the middle of the city being guarded by redcoats would appear, even at night. Though it was certain no one could get close enough to hear or see anything of importance.“Well then, Mr.Allison ,” Haig continued, “I suppose this has all been a bit of a shock, though a pleasing one, I trust?”“Yes, sir,” Allison answered, not in obligatory fashion this time, but perhaps only a half truth. Part of him was actually quite bewildered, and it was that part which didn’t allow him to offer up a more substantial answer in that instance.“Glad to hear it, young man. Glad indeed,” Haig answered in a manner which suggested that he could read Allison ’s trepidation as he would a book. But then he spoke reassuringly, “I know from personal experience that the burdens of command are never borne with ease. That is why decisions like the one that lead to you being
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 15
“The governor himself, as I recall,” Allison said, beginning to remember that man’s proud nature and barely-concealed air of self-importance. “Governor Basteros was invited to dinner onboard Vigilance as thanks for the rescue and return of the crew of an English cutter that was wrecked along the coast during a terribly bad storm. It was seen as a reciprocal gesture of good will between nations which had until only very recently been at war.”Haig gave a short chuckle then asked, “And how precisely did you view the situation, Lieutenant?”“It was only fitting and proper, my lord,” Allison answered dutifully. “It was an honorable show of gratitude and respect amongst gentlemen, the virtue and decency of which could never be diminished by previous enmity.”Haig just then stopped as he was raising the port glass to his lips and gave Allison a sidelong look of disapproval. It may have been slight and transient, but Allison understood its meaning straightaway. I didn’t ask you for the c
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 16
“There was a particular instance that occurred but two years ago during your time aboard Praetorian,” Lord Haig began. “She was patrolling the coast off northeastern Nova Scotia near French territory when you made note of a strange occurrence one night. This, I believe, is something you remember well.”“Yes, my lord,” Allison answered, “We were acting in support of the squadrons which were operating off the south coast of Newfoundland and the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They were positioned in response to reports which stated that the French were planning to send a sizable fleet of ships, some containing regular infantry reinforcements, to Quebec. We were to take up a position further southward to scout for enemy movements in that area. One night we had actually sailed far enough to the North along the coast that the Fortress of Louisbourg itself came within sight on the horizon.”“What did you see there, Lieutenant?” Haig asked.“It was extremely difficult to make out at firs
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 17
“Well, young man,” he said, changing the subject, “there are of course more instances which serve to illustrate your innate talents, but I think these two suffice to exemplify the foresight and powers of deduction that have made you a perfect choice for this command. They’re certainly abilities we wish every officer could apply so well, but absolutely vital for a mission like yours.”I will be damned, there it is again! What mission?! Allison nearly gave voice to the question, but it was almost like the Admiral was reading his mind.“And before you ask the obvious, my good man,” Haig said pointing at where Allison had placed the envelope he gave him earlier, “read the letter I gave you.” He stood and Allison obligingly did likewise. “Your belongings have been sent to your quarters and I believe Mrs. Hall has everything ready for you. The hour is frightfully late, now go get some sleep, you’ll be needing it in the days ahead.”Haig offered his hand and Allison took it firmly. “Cong
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 18
The door opened slowly as another lieutenant entered, encumbered by what looked to be a large, paper-wrapped sack carried in his arms. He pushed the door open with his knee and awkwardly sidled around it to let himself in. The man walked up to Allison and offered him his burden.“Lieutenant Bale, sir. Admiral Lord Haig sends his compliments and hereby formally presents you with your orders for His Majesty’s Ship Philadelphia. He also bade me tell you to make sure you follow all previous instructions regarding when their contents are to be made known.”“It goes without saying that their contents are rather substantial. That entire... thing, constitutes my orders?”“I was told nothing of their contents, sir, but I think this is meant to be read first - when the time comes of course.” Here Bale tilted the sack forward to reveal that there was an envelope attached to the outside, tied to the bigger package with twine. It was about the same size as any of the others Allison had been sent
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 19
It was time to open his orders. Allison took the small key from his coat pocket and inserted it into the lock on the wide, deep bottom drawer of his desk. He turned it until he heard an audible click and felt the lock release. After he opened the drawer he remembered just how much trouble it had been to fit the bulging sack and its contents into the space available and it was something of a struggle to dislodge. He heard the tearing of paper as the burden was finally extracted from its place of safe-keeping and Allison realized that some of the wrapping had been ripped away as it was pulled free. It didn’t matter. The moment had finally come to reveal not only the sack’s physical contents, but hopefully a great deal more about the mission with which Allison and his new command would be tasked. He fervently hoped that wonder, speculation, and doubt would find at least some degree of satisfaction and assuagement.He knew the smaller of the two packets was to be opened first, but even
Latest Chapter
Chapter 112
“Qui êtes-vous? Parlez, maintenant!” growled the sergeant threateningly, insisting they speak.Caldwell was just about to feign a weak answer when a volley of musketry crackled from a nearby alleyway. Five of the French soldiers immediately crumpled to the ground, while the sergeant and the one remaining foot soldier wheeled around to face whatever it was that just surprised them. All at once a group of yelling, shadowy forms charged through the floating cloud of smoke left by the musket discharge. Seen in the guttering light of the lanterns which had been dropped to the ground, the last standing soldier uttered a disgusting gurgle as the blood-soaked point of a bayonet protruded through the back of his neck. At the same time, two attackers grabbed the reins of the sergeant’s horse while a third pinned the man’s sword arm and pulled him down bodily from the saddle. The third assailant then brandished his own sword and slammed the point into the sergeant’s chest several times before dr
Chapter 111
“Arrêtez!” came the shouted command in French to stop. Before the two disguised British officers could even react, five of the vigilant fellow’s nearby brethren had moved in to surround them. Taken unawares, Caldwell and James instinctively raised their hands. The discovered men were then promptly urged out into the clearing by the soldiers’ bayoneted muskets. The man who had originally discovered them made no effort to interrogate them or to find out who they were. He immediately began to call out to another a short distance away whom Caldwell could tell from the soldier’s address was a sergeant. The men who captured them then began to walk them in that general direction.This was dire. Everything the Philadelphia men had accomplished was about to be brought to nothing by a wretched barking dog. Almost as if to taunt the men it discovered, the vile scrawny creature was still milling about nearby yapping and growling toothily at them while wagging its tail. Both British officers knew
Chapter 110
“Well, what now?” James asked as he and Caldwell ducked back behind the pile of logs. “We can congratulate ourselves after a fashion for making it here under such horrid conditions, but that alone will serve no purpose. I’m forced to repeat my previous question: how do we determine just who or what is in there?”Caldwell looked as if he was about to reply with something less than definite when providence managed to intervene on their behalf yet again, though it was not at first clear exactly what was happening. Shouts and calls echoing up from further down the narrow road preempted Caldwell’s response. Both men ducked down and silently moved further to their right so as to observe the unfolding scene from the screen of heavy brush.A torch-bearing advance guard of marching soldiers, conceivably a detachment of the large unit which had come toward Saint-Pierre earlier, tramped up the slope. Following behind were even more men, with muskets at the ready, escorting what was clearly a gr
Chapter 109
Caldwell shook his head. “We can’t have more than three hours of darkness left to us at this point... but I’ll be buggered if I simply turn about and run off with our task undone. I couldn’t so much as face the Captain if we did that.” He then lifted his head and looked intently off into the darkness to the East.James grasped his thinking almost immediately and he didn’t like it one bit. “Oh... oh no! Not again! Henry, are you daft? I’d swear our last trip through the rills and ridges out there made me bleed far more than that splinter in the arm ever did!” He held out the still bandaged forearm to which he referred.“There’s no help for it, I’m afraid,” Caldwell told him. “Anyway, I do believe there’s another rise just east of here that will more than suit our purpose. It should be an easier ascent than the first ridge we scaled, at least at initially, and we should be able to move up onto higher ground by concealing ourselves on its southern slope and moving under the trees.” He r
Chapter 108
“Well, this is rather tedious – and distressing, I might add,” Caldwell told him. “Given the time we noted seeing the soldiers outside Le Carbet, which is just ahead, I’m all but certain they should have reached this particular point on the road at least a half hour ago if they were on the same schedule.”“A varied timetable?” James suggested.“I suppose something like that would only make sense,” Caldwell conceded, “unless they were delayed for some unknown reason.”James held his palms up. “Well, then what should we...”“SHHHH! Quiet! Lower yourself down and stay still! Something is coming!” Caldwell rasped, cutting him short.The second lieutenant quickly complied and did his best to listen to the approaching sounds which were just now becoming audible to him.As if in answer to their question, voices were heard echoing in the distance off to their right. Though they were still too far away to make out anything being said, it sounded like a series of shouts or calls being relayed
Chapter 107
“You’ve both performed superbly, as evidenced by the information with which you’ve returned. However, the problem we now face with the two of you being more recognizable to local inhabitants requires a form of mitigation. After some deliberation, I’ve decided that you are in fact quite right about the language difficulty inherent in sending other men. For that reason one of you – that is you Henry – will have to return. I am not unmindful of the dangers this entails, so it would be advisable for you to vary your attire and outward appearance as much as you can manage.”The two officers listened obediently, but their discomfiture with the new arrangement was palpable. Allison expected nothing less, and he went on to address the concerns that he knew troubled them.“William, you are by a wide margin the most experienced and practiced in these matters, but given the additional precautions I have decided to enact, your talents will be needed in a different capacity.”Allison now turned
Chapter 106
“We made use of the man’s almost messianic view of LaTour to draw more useful information from him,” Weyland said. “Incidentally, he told us that LaTour does in fact hold a regular commission in the French Navy. His letter of marque is held only for the benefit of his men, who are employed in an auxiliary fashion.”Allison shook his head. “I need only have you recall the damage those ‘auxiliaries’ caused with a single broadside when we met them at sea off Antigua to reiterate my previous warning. Even so, the facts you give stand to reason and confirm something we’ve all but suspected up to this point. What else?”Caldwell picked up the narrative. “LaTour is a figure who, by all accounts, places great importance upon putting himself in the public eye for reasons he himself might refer to as esprit de corps – morale of the whole. However, much as he purposefully strode along Saint-Pierre’s streets in the past, gifting shopkeepers and citizens with the odd item of value, these activiti
Chapter 105
It proved to be more than many of the knaves and blackguards in that establishment could ignore, and the majority quickly lost interest in the prospect of punishing the strangers so as to fight over their valuable coins. With a loud cacophony of shouts and yells that was horrible to hear, men were suddenly jostling, shoving, swinging and kicking to get at the treasure that had just been dropped before them. Others were rolling on the floor, wrestling and even biting for the chance to scoop up what they could.Brossard and Guiteau wasted no time in bolting for the door. After leaping over the bodies of several men who were wrangling with one another to get at the coins scattered about the wooden floor, they discovered that not quite everyone had been distracted by their desperate gamble. Brossard had to swing his pistol by the barrel and brain one onrushing assailant to get by him while Guiteau threw his shoulder into another, knocking him down to barge his way past. Then the wide door
Chapter 104
The old sailor paused again, looking back and forth from Brossard to Guiteau as though he expected one of them to ask the obvious question he’d left unanswered. When his audience didn’t offer this time, he continued.“Obviously something of importance is being stored up there. Wagons which are always covered, usually with armed men riding aboard, make their way up and down at times, winding along the wide path that switches back on the hillside. I’m told regular army troops are actually posted to keep the place under guard.”“Does it belong to LaTour himself?” Brossard asked.Rougebec shook his head. “People suggested that at first, but then another story started circulating. A friend of mine told me. He said whatever happens up there is overseen by some high-up government official, an aristocrat of some standing from the old country by all accounts.”“And no one knows who this man is?” Guiteau questioned.“Nope, but word is not even Baron de Beauville, the governor himself, interfere