War 1812 (14 page)

C
aptain Clay Gesslin had
a party of skirmishers spread out when Jonah’s group rode up. Stepping from behind a tree, Gesslin flagged down the riders. As they pulled up, Gesslin asked, “You pleasure riding or you got a purpose?”

Smiling, Jonah replied, “It was such a pretty day I couldn’t see wasting it sitting around camp.”

The soldier then saluted Gesslin. “Private Lewis, sir. I’m looking for Colonel Johnson.”

“He’s back at the battlefield,” Gesslin said, a somber tone to his voice. “Most of those killed were Kentuckians, so the colonel felt it was time they were given a decent burial.” Gesslin then called to one of his men to take charge until he returned and escorted the group to Colonel Johnson’s location.

Arriving at the site where the massacre had taken place, Jonah and Moses watched from their horses as Colonel Johnson’s men reverently dug graves for those bodies still intact. Johnson could be seen speaking with General Harrison’s dispatch rider. The colonel then rode over to a sergeant and instructed him to finish with the graves already dug then prepare to ride out. Jonah, Moses, and Gesslin rode up to the colonel once he had given his orders.

“I hear Perry has had a great victory,” Colonel Johnson volunteered.

“Yes sir,” Jonah replied.

When he didn’t add anything else, Johnson prompted him. “They tell me you were with Perry during the battle.”

Shaking his head, Jonah gave a quick narrative of Perry’s battle. When he finished, Johnson said, “A remarkable man, our commander.”

“He is that,” Jonah agreed. “Tried to get me to volunteer for the Navy. I respectfully declined, of course.” This brought a chuckle from Johnson and Gesslin.

Colonel Johnson then asked a very direct question. “So, you think it’s time to press the enemy, Mr. Lee?”

Without hesitating, Jonah replied, “I do, sir. I see no need in allowing the British to regroup. If we wait, winter will be here and that will mean we will be forced to wait until spring to engage the enemy. Who knows what they will have waiting for us by then. I feel the time is right, Colonel. We have to push now. The destiny of our nation may well depend on how fast we act.”

Colonel Johnson sat staring at Jonah for a minute or so. “You and I are of one mind, sir. Let’s hope we can persuade our leaders to forego too much caution and move.”

“Maybe a little nudge,” Gesslin spoke for the first time.

Without thinking, Jonah volunteered, “More like a kick in the arse.”

Colonel Johnson bellowed out in laughter upon hearing this. “Tell me, Captain Gesslin, is Mr. Lee from Kentucky?”

“I don’t think so, sir,” Gesslin replied, grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, he ought to be. He speaks like a Kaintuck.”

The trip back to Camp Seneca was a miserable ride. The sky grew gray as angry clouds gathered, and the wind started blowing. Then the rain started falling in sheets. Soaked clear through, the men could feel the wet cold all the way through to their bones. A couple of riders would have been able to find enough shelter to protect them from most of the weather, but with twelve hundred men, they pushed on. The horses slogged through the mud until those bringing up the rear had to struggle to get through the quagmire caused by those in the front.

Once on a stretch of high ground, the order was given to dismount. Walking, the mounted rifles gave their tired mounts a breather. After thirty minutes of walking the order was given to mount. As they rode on, Jonah heard some of the men talking. They had friends, neighbors, and relatives among the dead at the River Raisin. The grisly sight of mutilated bodies still not buried from the previous winter angered Jonah. He could only imagine the rage these men felt as they buried their friends and comrades. There would be no quarter given from this group.

General Harrison was once again in good humor when Jonah returned to camp in company with Colonel Johnson’s men. An officer’s call was held, and Harrison explained that he had called on Governor Shelby of Kentucky for another fifteen hundred men to help in pursuit of General Proctor.

Governor Shelby would be given the honor of leading his Kentuckians. Governor Shelby was called ‘Old King Mountain’ by his men. This was a tribute to the governor for his victory at King’s Mountain during the first war against the British in 1780, the same year General Harrison was born. The news was music to Jonah’s ears. The music was made even sweeter when he discovered a meeting was to be held the following day with Commodore Perry. He had transferred his flag to the
Ariel
and they would go aboard to map out the strategy that the combined forces would use in their attempt to defeat Proctor and the British army. After the officer’s call, Jonah headed back to his tent to have a nightcap and rest his weary, achy body. Moses would be awake and hopefully he’d have something for them to eat. However, on arrival, he found Captain James Hampton and Clay Gesslin sipping bourbon from the stone jug.

Gesslin introduced Hampton to Lee and stated they’d been enjoying Moses’ good cooking while they waited.
I hope there’s some left,
Jonah thought.

Taking a sip of the bourbon, Gesslin looked at Jonah and asked, “Know what James does?” Not giving Jonah time to speak, he answered the question, “He handles the Canadian and Indian spies. He’s got a bit of information that will plumb perk up your ears. I told him you was from Washington and would be interested in what he’s found out.”

“Has General Harrison been informed?” Jonah asked, wondering if the general had kept something from him.

“Oh, he’ll tell the general after he’s talked with Colonel Johnson.”

“Colonel Johnson,” Jonah repeated, not sure he was hearing right.

“Captain Hampton is from Kentucky,” Gesslin said, as if that explained it all.

In fact, it did explain a lot. Jonah had already decided that most of the damn army was made up of Kaintucks. So there was little doubt where Hampton’s first loyalty lay.

“How did you come to be involved with the Canadians?” Jonah asked.

“My mother, sir, is from York.”

“I see. And what seems to be the attitude of the Canadians?”

Turning up his cup, Hampton drained the last of the bourbon and then stared into the empty bottom as in disbelief that it was all gone. Moses passed the jug, and Hampton poured half a cup.

“I’d say the general feeling varies considerably. Some support the Redcoats fully, others half-heartedly, but there’s a bunch who want nothing to do with them and would like to see York become a part of the United States. All but the staunchest loyalist have had their fill of the Redcoats high-handed ways and taking what they want without so much as a thank you.”

“I see,” Jonah replied. This was much as he’d been told. “Well, Captain, what have you heard that you think will be of interest to me?”

Taking another swallow of Jonah’s bourbon, Hampton replied, “It’s the Indians. They are fed up with the British and are deserting in droves. Tecumseh is finding his power is weakening and has confronted Proctor openly. He’s said to have compared Proctor’s conduct to that of a fat animal that carries its tail on its back until trouble comes along. Then, when frightened, it tucks its tail between its legs and runs off.”

“That’s calling the kettle black,” Gesslin volunteered. His words were a little slurred after helping himself to Jonah and Moses’ jug.

“There’s more,” Hampton went on. “We are told Fort Malden and Amherstburg cannot be defended. Not only is there no food, but Barclay had the guns removed from the fort to be mounted on his ships so he could do battle with Commodore Perry. We’re told Proctor has left his army under his second in command, Colonel Augustus Warburton, while he’s packed up his wife, his personal belongings and skedaddled.”

Hampton started to continue but paused as he let go a long and loud belch. “Pardon me!” he exclaimed, reaching for the jug once more only to find Gesslin had already drained the last of its contents. “Had to happen sooner or later,” he mused.

“What?” Jonah asked

“The well has gone dry,” Hampton answered, as he belched again. When he took a deep sigh but didn’t continue, Jonah prompted him.

“You were saying?”

“Saying,” Hampton repeated, his eyes now looking heavy and glassy. “Oh, yes. We were told Proctor has promised Tecumseh he’ll make a stand. However, our sources don’t know when or where the stand will be.”

Chapter Sixteen

A
few days later, the
decision was made to go after the British from two fronts. Colonel Johnson would go over land with his mounted rifles, while the infantry would be transported on Commodore Perry’s ships. For two days, beginning on September 25th, Perry transported the army to a forward position. Seeing the American warships caused a panic among those loyal to the British, as their army had fled, leaving no one to protect them.

Harrison’s troops were put ashore in small boats at a landing some three miles below Fort Malden called Hartley Point. Expecting the worst, Perry had loaded and run out his cannons should a covering fire be needed. There was little need, however, as the army landed without being fired upon by cannon or musket. Sending out an advance party, they came upon a farmer’s wife. She attempted to run but was quickly cut off. Once she realized her captors were not looking to harm her but only wanted information, she quickly told them how just the day before, Proctor’s army had retreated.

She went on to say they had burned most of the public buildings and destroyed everything they thought the Americans might use, including all the food they couldn’t carry with them. The lieutenant sent a dispatch back to General Harrison. When he came ashore, he had his drums and fifes playing “Yankee Doodle.” The British army had retreated until they were now back on Canadian soil.

Expecting Harrison to immediately set out in pursuit of the British, his officers were astonished when the general made no attempt to hurry after the enemy. Entering Amherstburg at the head of his army, Harrison seemed content and relieved he’d been spared a battle. The charred remains of Fort Malden stood silent and eerie. Would it have been different if Barclay hadn’t stripped the fort of its guns? More than one soldier glared upon the ruins as they passed it.

“Sir… General Harrison, sir.”

Turning to see who was addressing him, Harrison found Captain Hampton with one of the city’s residents.
One of Hampton’s spies most likely,
Harrison thought. “What is it, Captain?”

“I have word, sir that Tecumseh has just left. If you take my glass, you can see him sitting astride his horse on yonder hill.”

Taking the offered glass, the general fiddled with the focus then replied, “Yes, I see him. He’s just sitting there… watching.”

“Shall we send a squad after him, sir?”

“No, Captain. He would be gone before you could get out of town.”

“We could try, sir.”

“No, Captain. Return this man to his home and then go back to your unit.”

“Yes sir,” Hampton replied dejectedly.

When Harrison finally gave the word to move out, he decided it would not be good to leave the city without a force to keep control should the British or Indians return.