John De Morgan

“ The boy appealed to the crew of a boat which had just reached the wooden dock.
"Ay, ay, sir, and as brave an officer as ever carried a sword."
The midshipman stepped into the boat, the men dipped their oars, and the crowd watched the boat glide over the water until the Essex, a thirty-two gun frigate, was reached.
"What did I tell you?" asked the old salt who was known as Sam Buller, "what did I tell you? Going to war with chits of boys, not old enough to be a cook's slavey, as officers."
"Say what you like, that boy may not be as strong, but he is as brave as any man in the service." ”

“ To those who survive no honor will be begrudged, no reward will be too ample for a proud country to bestow.
"We shall meet the foe. We shall cross swords with the hirelings of a tyrant. Our arms will be triumphant, for justice is with us, and God will bless our swords. To-morrow we march to Massachusetts, to join our brothers there, and all the world shall ring with the doings of the Governor's Guards of Connecticut." ”

“ A well-aimed shot cut away the mizzenmast, which fell alongside, suspended by the cordage.
"Hurrah, Jack Creamer!" shouted a captain of a gun to the lad, whose face was as black as the ace of spades, from the powder and smoke.
"Huzza, cap'n!" responded Jack. "You've made a brig of her."
Captain Decatur heard the boy's remark and added cheerily:
"Ay, ay, my lad! Now let the next shot make a sloop of her."
Decatur was everywhere.
His activity was almost marvelous.
It seemed almost impossible that one man could accomplish so much and continue to be so cheerful. ”

“ True, the garrison was small, but it was intrenched behind strong walls, a well-filled moat and a line of breastworks carefully designed, and improved bastions.
Allen called all his men together and addressed them.
"It is for your country that you will risk your lives," he said, "and while you take care not to run into needless danger, remember that only the daring will succeed. If we enter the fort, as we shall undoubtedly do, set up a shout which shall make the garrison think we have eight hundred instead of eighty men. Be brave, and the victory will be ours." ”

“ I am proud to have you, Tempest, and I don't think you will ever rue the day you became first officer on the Lively Bee."
"I accept your generous offer."
"You have done well. I am a good skipper, I can steer a vessel as well as any man, and I can fight, but sometimes a little science which you naval fellows have is very useful. I shall expect you to be as ardent an enemy of the British as I am. Show no quarter, have no mercy, send every British ship to Davy Jones' locker if you can't take it captive. Let your motto be, as mine is, eternal hatred to British rule." ”

“ Though the tory had failed, he felt a respect for Allen, who had been so bold and courageous, and, though Allen never knew it, he was the means of saving Vermont from any attacks of the British.
Allen served his State and defended it against enemies without and within. He lived to see it recognized as a State, free and independent.
He also witnessed, with shame, the treachery of Benedict Arnold, and was glad that he had never recognized the traitor as a man of honor. ”

“ The bird taken from the wild freedom of the forest is cared for in its gilded cage, but it prefers freedom, even with all its dangers."
"You are free, Miss Decatur—free as any one under our flag can be."
"Under your flag, sir—yes! But your flag is one which covers traitors and oppressors. Its every fold is dyed in the blood of true patriots who have fought against it."
"You do not know——" interrupted Vernon.
"Do I not? Have I not a brother who maimed himself for life rather than fight under your flag?"
"You are wrong. The Stars and Stripes float from the peak of this ship." ”

“ Warner stood on a chair and waved his hand for attention.
"I have heard," he said, "that Gen. Gates is pressing the people of Boston so hard that the English are getting themselves disliked in that city, and I should not be surprised if a rebellion was talked of."
"The sooner the better, say I."
"Yes; why should England govern us?"
"We are too far away. The king——"
"Leave his name out of the question. We can be loyal to him, even if we become independent as a new nation."
"We want no kings——"
"Silence!" shouted Allen; "I will not listen to treason to the king." ”

“ The lightning flashed and leaped about like phantasmagoric demons, as if mocking the sailors in their frantic dread.
"Cut away the foremast—look lively, men!"
Lieutenant Tempest had been prepared for this order, and with an ax severed the distended shrouds, which flew wildly in the air, lashing the sea as they fell.
The remaining straps parted with sharp reports before the ax descended, and the unsustained mast, after a few vigorous blows by the daring hand of the young officer, snapped off a few feet from the deck. ”

“ One can easily imagine the consternation in that brilliant assembly when Bob, the powder-monkey of the privateer, took upon himself the duties of toastmaster, and asked that distinguished gathering of banqueters to drink to the officers and crew of the Lively Bee.
The diplomatic corps looked aghast.
There wasn't one of the nations they represented but would employ privateers if at war, but they would not just then acknowledge it.
As one quaint old sea dog put it.
"A privateer is a man who does all the dirty work in a naval war, receives all the kicks, and watches others enjoy the glories." ”

“ When Benedict Arnold was alone he showed by every line on his face how pleased he was with the suggestion made by his old-time friend.
"It is the opportunity of my life. What does Ethan Allen know about war? He is a country farmer, and can fight a sheriff's posse, and perhaps a few soldiers in his mountains; but to take Ticonderoga? Bah! He will fail unless I help him, and then the glory shall be mine." ”

“ As one of the prisoners quoted the words of an older rebel in England:
"The noblest place for man to die
Is where he dies for man."
So all felt that if they were to be hanged in England they would be tried, and on their trial they would be able to make their defense and let the world know under what grievances the American colonies were suffering. ”

“ Will you tell me what you know of the battle?"
"If your honor would like to hear it."
"I am waiting."
"Well, sir, I don't know as how you would care about hearing about what we thought of you when we saw you bearing down on us."
"Of course you were confident of victory?"
"That's true. And many a bet we made as to the amount of prize money we'd receive. You see, your honor, the men who gets most of the fighting, and who have to work the hardest, gets the least of the prize money. But when your boat fired I heard such a strange noise. It was like the tearing of sails just above our heads. ”

“ A company of soldiers had been quartered on one of the farms by the English, and Allen was unprepared for the encounter.
When he found he was in for a fight, he felt better satisfied to think he met foemen worthy of his steel, instead of a set of half-fed and badly armed farmers' men.
The English can fight well, and Allen knew that his troops were inferior in every way to the enemy, but he did not hesitate.
"Men, we are outnumbered, but we are not beaten; shall we retire as prisoners, or fight until death claims us?"
"Fight!"
"We cannot surrender without a struggle." ”

“ Captain Vernon gave the command in a loud, ringing voice:
"Oars down! Give way!"
The oars fell into the water with splendid precision, and the boat made a spurt forward.
"You will find, Mr. Tempest, that on board the Lively Bee we have such discipline that we move like machines."
All the rowers bent to their work, and the captain cheered them with words of praise.
At times he would pretend to be angry.
"You lazy lubbers, are you asleep? Come, rouse up, or we'll never reach the Lively Bee." ”

“ Let us tell the king plainly what we want. Let our petition be backed by a good army, and we shall win."
"What do you propose?" asked Jefferson.
"I propose that we organize an army, not of one colony, but of a confederation of all colonies, and that we appoint a commander-in-chief, a man who shall be able to organize the army and to lead it, ay, even if it be necessary until we have entire independence."
"Where could we find such a man?" asked one of the Northern delegates.
"We have one here. The man who saved the wreck of Braddock's army is just the one to build a nation. ”

“ When the privateer was within a few yards of the English brig her tall spars were for the first time visible.
[Pg 103]
A fusillade of pistol shots rattled through the rigging, but did no serious damage.
The privateersmen crouched below the bulwarks of their taut little schooner until her bow passed over the waist of the brig.
Then, with a ringing cheer, these daring men sprang up and made a simultaneous leap into the Caroline's rigging.
They swarmed to her deck like a crowd of wasps, bent on stinging their victims to death.
Cutlasses were vigorously used. ”

“ Tell me about it, and I think all can be rectified."
"It is too late."
"Not so; it is never too late for a great nation to rectify a wrong done to even the humblest of its subjects, let alone a man of such undoubted courage and rectitude as Gen. Arnold."
"I am not a general, but only a captain—in this adventure only a private."
"You should be a general. If the king knew you as well as I have learned to do in these few hours, you most likely would have the control of the army in the colonies." ”

“ No tidings had been received of the Lively Bee, and Bertha was beginning to feel uneasy; her face was getting wan, her eyes were losing their luster.
Great excitement was of daily experience; sometimes the news making the people hilarious with joy, and at others plunging them into the depths of despair.
Washington was in mourning for the loss of Lawrence, who, though wounded, had shouted to his men:
"Never give up the ship!" ”

“ As he spoke he fell back so that he was beside Ethan Allen.
"You come from York?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Ah, monsieur, it is a pity that the Yorkers like us not."
"But they do like you."
"You may; your heart is large, and you would buy from a poor Canadian; most Yorkers would steal the skins and kill the Canadian."
"You are wrong. The Yorkers are very anxious to be friends with the people of Canada." ”

“ The Lively Bee, privateer, had won the laurels of war, though she had not shared in the prizes, and Captain Vernon saw that the crew were getting somewhat dissatisfied. He called all hands on deck.
"Men, under the shadow of the U. S. frigate Constitution I offer you terms," he said.
All listened attentively, for all were in wonder as to his meaning.
"You are all fighters, and I believe desire to see the Stars and Stripes honored on the sea as well as on land. Is not that so?"
"It is. I can speak for all hands, captain," said Mr. Scarron. ”

“ The Second Congress assembled in Philadelphia in September, 1774, and pledged the colonies to support Massachusetts in her conflict with the English ministry, and after petitioning the king and the English people, adjourned to meet, as it happened, on the very day that Ethan Allen captured Ticonderoga.
The members of that Congress were all loyal to England. The time for independence had not come.
But what a galaxy of men!
There were such giants among men as Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Samuel and John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. ”

“ Tempest had lost consciousness, but, as Dacres said, "while there is life there is hope."
"Pull hard, you lazy fellows," shouted the English captain. "A few minutes' delay, and one of the bravest men I have known will be dead."
The men bent their backs, and the oars dipped the water. Never had boat sped along so fast.
Eagle was rubbing Tempest's stomach and chest as he lay in the boat.
A loud cheer greeted the little crew as the boat was made fast alongside the Constitution, and when Lieutenant John Tempest of the Lively Bee, privateer, was lifted on deck, another cheer rent the air. ”

“ A man stepped forward and announced himself as Alston, a sheriff duly appointed by Gov. Tryon, of the Colony of New York.
"It is enough."
"You surrender?"
"No, by heaven, no! The Yorkers have no power over me. I hold my farm from New Hampshire, and only to the governor of New Hampshire will I relinquish it."
"Then we shall use force."
"So shall we."
"It is treason."
"It is loyalty to my country. Boys, these men are crazy; they are so because the moon is at the full."
Instantly the Green Mountain Boys were ready to resist any attack. ”

“ Again and again did the crew of the Lively Bee repeat the chorus, and as they sang the anchor was weighed, the sails all set, and the privateer was skimming the water as proud and trim as ever.
"She is a taut little craft," said Vernon exultingly as he looked from deck to rigging. ”

“ Allen was standing on deck looking over the finest harbor in Europe, when his attention was called to a small boat hailing the war ship.
Some men climbed up on deck and asked for Col. Allen, of America.
Allen was so close that he could not help hearing, and he answered that he was Ethan Allen.
John Hays, a merchant of Cork, clasped Allen's hand and tried to speak, but, instead of words, tears flowed down his cheeks and his voice was choked.
When he did master his emotion he exclaimed, with patriarchal fervor:
"Heaven bless you and all brave men like you who are fighting for liberty." ”

“ The people had not realized what war meant, they had not yet faced the dread monster, as in a few months they were destined to do—when the British marched into their city and burned the Capitol and the White House.
That was not dreamed of then, and the people feasted only on the news of distant conflict.
"If the war does not end by the New Year," said Vernon to Bertha Tempest, "I shall fit out another privateer." ”

“ Allen rose in the dignity of his manhood, and rather startled his own friends by saying:
"I never asked a man yet to disobey orders. Do your duty. I will go with you to Sabrevous; but, mark me, I shall hold your government responsible for my loss of time and for the indignity of this arrest."
Eben Pike had not been under arrest, and now he stood at the door, waiting developments. He saw clearly what should be done. If Allen was condemned, then Montgomery must be informed, and a quick move made on Sabrevous and Allen liberated. ”

“ He reported to Captain Hull, and was asked to describe the state of the Guerriere.
"I came on deck about half-past seven," he said, "and beheld a scene it would be impossible ever to forget.
"All the ship's masts were gone, and as she had no sails to steady her, she was rolling like a log in the trough of the sea."
"Were many killed and wounded?" asked Captain Hull.
"The crew were busy throwing the dead overboard," answered Orne; "the decks were covered with blood, and looked more like a ship's slaughter house. The cockpit is filled with wounded men." ”

“ Into this space thirty-four American prisoners were pushed, handcuffed in pairs.
Allen refused to enter.
The captain asked who he was that he should dare to disobey orders.
"I surrendered to the British under a pledge that I should be treated as a prisoner of war, and I demand that we shall all be treated as human beings, not as cattle."
The captain laughed brutishly.
"Ha! ha! ha! That is good! Do you think I would treat cattle that way? They would all be dead before they reached England. No, no, my dear rebel! you are treated as rebels, not cattle." ”

“ The surgeon in the cockpit got his instruments and bandages ready, the powder-monkeys were in line, the middies strutted about every bit as proud as peacocks, and all the officers waited for the action to commence.
The first gun fired was from the American ship.
The ships were rolling in a manner fatal to good aim.
Half an hour was devoted to throwing away good ammunition, for no other object was gained.
A terrific shout went up from the Yankees as they saw that the Englishman's mizzen topmast was shot away. ”

“ Half an hour more, and then Allen knew that Brown had not crossed.
His position was critical.
He would have retreated had it been possible, but he would be seen by the enemy, and a fire opened on the canoes would speedily sink them.
"Men, we are lost. Brown has failed to cross the river. If we could retreat we would, but that would mean death without glory. We must stand our ground and die with glory. Our country must never say we were cowards."
There was a suppressed cheer, and Allen knew that his few men were ready to make a determined stand. ”

“ Hot showers of grapeshot and rifle balls flew."
"In God we'll trust!" said Tempest, and Bertha Decatur drew nearer to him, as she whispered lovingly:
"He will protect us!"
Then, with a feminine fear, she asked:
"Do you think we shall have to fight?"
"I am afraid so; but if we do—can you be brave, my darling—can you bear to hear the truth?"
"Tell me what it is you fear."
"If we fight we shall be beaten. Against such as yon ship we have no chance. And if the other is a Britisher, we are doomed." ”

“ A like reception Eben met with at Peleg Sunderland's and James Breakenridge's houses.
Within an hour thirty of the Green Mountain boys had gathered in the home of their colonel, Ethan Allen.
"Boys, we are in for it this night. Remember that it is your own kith and kin that will be opposed to you. They are brothers, all these Yorkers, and we do not want to be the first to shed blood; but if they fire, that will be our signal. By the great mountains! we will give two bullets for their one, and may victory be with the right!" ”