Ram; being the tale of one Ramillies Anstruther, 1704-55 .. (60 page)

"What's wrong? Is it Indians? Lud, what must I do?"

"Remain here, dearest. There're no Indians yet, but war's declared at last, so I'm readying our people."

"It's not safe here!" she moaned. "If ye've no care for me, think of Diccon. I must take him to Savannah or Charles Town."

"Both could be attacked by ships. You'll be well guarded here."

"Oh, you're cruel!" She ran out, sobbing.

Joseph marched in. "Sir?"

Ram told him the news and added: "I want an inspection. We'll mount every horse we can without using the brood mares."

"It's a relief it's come, sir," Joseph commented. "Peg-Leg and me, we've talked of it often. He wants more guns for the Lass"

"Good. Then we'll have horse, foot, guns and a navy!"

An hour later, Ram was inspecting men, mounts and equipment, with the anxious women and the excited children looking on.

After announcing the declaration, he added: "We await the general's orders. But with Argyle's garrison cut to six, we may have Indian raids." He turned to the women. "Have no fear. If things go ill, I'll send you and my lady to safety in Virginia."

Later, he held a war council. "Tom, what extra hands d'ye need?"

Peg-Leg grinned. "There's been talk in Savannah of fitting out privateers if war came. So I dropped word I might seek letters of marque, and a dozen good rogues said they'd ship with me."

"So you'll need none from us," Ram said, and asked Rob to report.

"Ranger troop, fifteen men and one sergeant," Rob read from his list. "Foot platoon, ten and one sergeant; garrison here, ten and myself."

"Add Tommy Buller as a private, and young Larry White will act drummer," Ram amended. "That's all. Double guards from now on, and no stock out to graze beyond the hedges without an escort."

"Anastasia Hand at ye Siege of San Augustin June 15, 1740 Dearest Lucinda.

Att last I have Time to write. Ye Siege prospers. Our men are wel save Arthur Tadder who has broke his Arm and I am sending home, as wel as Larry White who has an Ague. I have Ague too but am taking Jesuits bark. My dearest love my wife

Aff'tly Ramillies Anstruther.

Ram cursed his swimming head, swiped at a mosquito and began a letter to Peg-Leg, He wrote of how the British and the Creeks had captured the outlying forts and advanced south from St. John's River, until now they were investing Fort San Marco and the town. His rangers patrolled the western—inland—side of St. Augustine; Colonel Palmer, the Carolina veteran who commanded the Highland Company, Ram's foot platoon and more rangers, covered the north; while Vanderdussen's Carolina Regiment occupied a sandspit northeast of Moosa. Oglethorpe's Foot was on Anastasia Island, across the Matanzas River from the fort and town, supported by warships. But, he concluded:

" 'Tis not like Flanders, where we battered great Breaches. Here our Shott but enter the Tabby walls like Weevils boring into Biscuits, for that soft-cored Stone swallows Iron without hurt."

Leaning back, he stared at the inner door, from behind which came the low tones of Oglethorpe and Captain Warren, the senior naval officer. A few days before, this hut had been an enemy lookout.

James plans finely but attempts too much himself, he thought gloomily. Damme, he fears to trust anything to others!

The door opened and Warren came out, his sea-bitten face wet with sweat. Bowing jerkily to Ram, he left.

"Colonel!" Oglethorpe called, and Ram went in. "What from your side? Do they give signs of making a sortie?"

"None. We patrol both banks of the San Sebastian, but thus far we've caught only a half-breed. He'd a letter begging the commander at Tallahassee to come to the relief."

"You've outposts on the St. John's?"

"Toonahowi and Hillispilli and their Yamacraws guard every ford." Ram frowned. "On my way here, I came upon Colonel Palmer. I thought 'twas agreed he'd keep to the open, as I do. It seems each night he's roosting back at Moosa."

Oglethorpe swore. "WTien we took it, I purposely made it untenable by knocking down the gates and making gaps in the walls. What does he hope for, cooping himself up there?"

"I said the same—pohtely," Ram shrugged, "and was told he was fighting Indians before I was breeched."

"True, he did well when Carolina attacked here in '15. But the

Dons have better leaders now. I'll insist he camps in the open." He began writing an order.

"Captain Mackintosh agreed with me, privately," Ram said. "Feels they should camp with a circle of Creeks around 'em and never the same site twice. Oh, I've brought my drummer boy away from 'em. He's an Ague, so I'm sending him home with my hurt man."

The general nodded. "Warren says the hurricane season nears. Monstrous the ships arrived late, so reinforcements got into the town. Now the captains fear being driven ashore by easterly storms."

"Tlien what use are they?" Ram growled. "They lie too far out to bombard the fort; they can't even destroy the half galleys in the harbor. James, Davis is a double-dealer, but he knows every sounding in the channel. With a pistol at his head, we could make him lead cutting-out craft to take the Spanish ships."

"Warren thinks the risk too great," Oglethorpe sighed. "The season grows late and fe\ers are working havoc. Lord, with the ships bombarding, we could have breached these cheesy walls and stormed."

"Demonstrate from this side, and I'll gain footing in the town. We could get guns across at night and ring the fort from all sides."

James caught Ram's infection. "Good! 'Twould be heavy work, getting guns over marshland, but doubtless we could, with Indians helping." He looked up as Hugh Mackay entered. "One moment, Captain."

"I'll deliver Palmer's order on my way back, sir," Ram offered, taking the paper. He grinned at Mackay. Though flushed with fever, the latter grinned back. His return from the London court-martial had been triumphant; it was Cochrane who had been dismissed.

Outside, Ram stood looking toward Fort San Marco, over which mortar bombs were bursting. But its walls seemed untouched as ever, and a retaliatory cannon ball hit a dune near him, showering him with stinging sand.

"Corporal!" he shouted. Hilary hurried around the hut. "We return. You've seen Tadder and the boy safe aboard?"

"Aye, Colonel. Sails termorrer morn. Fair cut up, they are, 'avin' ter go 'ome."

"I'll have 'em back when they're recovered," Ram said, as they walked shoreward. "Hilary, it comes to me your seven years' sentence

must be over, and your indentures too. When the campaign's done, I'll tear up your papers. Then you'll return to London, eh?" "London?" The cockney halted. "Wiv you, yer mean, sir?" "Or without."

"But wot would I do there, sir, wivaht you? I'd git ter wenchin' againe. Fust fing, I'd be copped—an' then, Tyburn!" Hilary gulped. "Colonel—wot 'ave I done, ye want ter send me back?"

"Fool!" Ram laughed. "You're the best servant I've ever had. I but thought now your time's up, you'd want to go home."

Boarding the moored dinghy, he took the tiller and Hilary the oars. Not until the craft was out in the channel did the latter say hoarsely: " 'Ome? Only 'ome I want is wiv you." He glanced at his shoulder knot. "Corp'ril—me! I'm a man nah, becos you made me one." He insisted he only wanted to keep on serving the "gent" who once had shared stinking straw with him in the roundhouse.

They landed on the sand spit and were challenged by a Carolina sentinel. Vanderdussen himself came up with old Colonel Barnwell. "May I hope, sir, ye'll sup with us?" the former invited. Ram glanced at the waning sun. "I've too far to go to rejoin my command," he refused regretfully.

Vanderdussen then asked if Oglethorpe had planned any new operations. "Mr. Barnwell and I feel we need an inspiring deed to encourage our fine young volunteers, sir, for today they received cursed bad news." He lowered his voice. "Another Negra insurrection-devilish bad. All the planters are alarmed."

Ram swore. Mazzique was in Savannah's jail, so other enemy agents must have incited this new rising. The Carolinians, of course, would want to rush home to protect their families. "You'd best inform the general of this," he suggested. "Now, sir, I'd be obliged if your boatman will put me back on the main."

Both colonels escorted him across the sand peninsula to the San Marco River, where an outpost guarded a hidden dinghy. Soon he and Hilary were ferried over and, muskets cocked, moved cautiously to where they had staked out their horses in some undergrowth.

They should be well within Palmer's outpost line; but, fearing the

stubborn old man had withdrawn his outlying pickets and gone to

camp again in dismantled Fort Moosa, Ram led his horse cautiously.

Paralleling their route ran a creek, flowing from the northwest

and emptying into the San Marco; upstream, it passed near Moosa itself. Suddenly Ram halted. Above croaking bullfrogs and the splash of rising fish, he heard the cocking of a musket.

Hand over his horse's muzzle, he listened warily. Yes, from the creek came squelching feet in mud, then an oath in Spanish.

"Canoes! Boats!" Hilary whispered.

More sounds. A large party was landing—an enemy sortie? If Palmer had indeed holed up at Moosa again, he could be trapped.

"Mount." If the enemy heard him, they might think he headed a large force coming to attack them. His horse splashed through a boggy patch and Hilary's mount, following, added to the noise. There came urgent Spanish shouts. The full moon was up now, but heavy brush blocked Ram's view of the creek and the men there.

A figure broke into the open, a grease-glistening Indian.

"Guard your left!" Ram warned Hilary, cocking a pistol. How far to Moosa? Near enough for shots to be heard? If Palmer wasn't there, then he'd been a fool to give himself away here. But his foot platoon was with the old man.

More Indians raced from the left.

"Charge!" he bellowed, as if leading a full horse regiment. Thorns tore his deerskin overalls, tough-limbed bushes almost dragged his feet from the stirrups. A glinting gun barrel made him stretch along his horse's neck. He heard the report but not the bullet. A brave was ahead, bow drawn. Ram fired at him, then had to fight his horse, which was trying to bolt.

By the time he'd checked it, the Indians were left behind, venting futile war whoops. Hilary yelled a deadly Uchee insult back at them.

Then a clearing, and beyond it a dark mass. Moosa.

"Alarm!" Ram yelled, "Stand to your arms! Anstruther!"

The whooping in rear was swelled by more voices, but the fort was close, lights visible through its broken walls. Perhaps Palmer had left only a small detachment there. If so, it would stand no chance.

He veered to enter its gateless entrance. A challenge came in broad Scots, then he and Hilary were within and had dismounted.

"Stand to!" he panted. "A big attack is at hand."

"I'm Colonel Palmer." The Carolinian came forward, just as a sentinel fired.

John Mor Mackintosh shouted orders in Gaehc. Ram yelled for his own sergeant, Will Strang, who hurried to him. "Bid your men aim low. There's Indians and Spanish." Balls whizzed through the gaps in the palmetto-log walls as Ram made toward the gateway, guarded by the Highland platoon, which was firing well. But men in it were being hit and now the moonlight revealed a dense mass of Europeans, Negroes and Indians, shooting as they advanced. Even as he was estimating their strength, from the rear came yells, whoops, oaths in English, Gaelic and Spanish. Attackers were swarming through a wall gap.

Sword out, he ran toward the melee. It was hard to tell friend from foe, but he did recognize two of his own men by their red-faced blue coats. One howled and went down, transfixed by an arrow.

Palmer was yelling for everyone to rally around him when his voice trailed into a choking gasp.

More enemy poured in; hundreds. As Ram spitted an Indian, a Negro leaped toward him, musket butt upraised. A figure intervened and there came a horrible, soggy thud. His would-be rescuer fell, and briefly Ram stared down at the bloody mass that had been a face. He saw the corporal's knot. Hilary! Hilary]

Now he was fighting for his own life. He'd already lost his musket and both pistols were empty. He flung one at a foe, clubbed the other in his left hand while he swung his saber with his right.

He cut his way to where Mackintosh had rallied some Highlanders. Their broadswords were taking bloody toll, but from every angle marksmen were firing into them and each ball was hitting flesh.

A screeching brave leaped forward to scalp a dead Scot, but Ram brained him with the pistol butt. A Spaniard kept shouting for the defenders to surrender. Mackintosh roared back his defiant "Loch Moighl" and his clansmen took it up. Then a thick mass of Spaniards, Negroes and Indians overwhelmed them. Ram glimpsed John Mor going down, and the latter's young son, Willliam, in the hands of a huge Negro. Magically, the boy spun like a dancer, unwinding himself from his breachan feile, so that plaid and kilt alone were left in his captor's hands.

A jar went up Ram's right arm. An Indian's hatchet had sheared off his blade near the hilt. Then he was struggling to break the lock of viselike arms. Their owner's odor gagged him as he did the

only thing he could—stamp on the brave's moccasined feet. A howl, and the arms parted. Sobbing for breath, he tore off his sword belt and used his scabbard as a flail.

Realizing he was near a wall gap, he glanced around. Resistance was ending, the massacre had begun.

He lunged through the gap and ran toward a clump of undergrowth. He tore off his coat and waistcoat. He must reach his rangers, lest they too be surprised. But first he must find cover and catch his breath.

Then the clump. He flung himself down, oblivious of the lacerating thorns. Gradually his breath came less painfully. He stared fort-ward. The shooting was over, but terrible whoops continued. Soon a mass emerged from the gateway; a core of captives enclosed by Indians, who were beating them with gun butts. Bonfires, evidently to signal victor}', were blazing. Around these, figures danced and yelled. A prisoner was flung into one, and when the tortured, screeching man, clothes alight, rolled free, he was tomahawked and his scalp torn off.