Excerpts from General Solomon Lovell’s Proclamation to his troops, August 12th, 1779:We have now a Portion of our Enterprise to compleat, in which if we are successful, and I am confident we must be, being in superior numbers and having that Liberal Characteristic “Sons of Liberty and Virtue” I again repeat, we must ride triumphant over the rough diabolical Torrent of Slavery, and the Monsters sent to rivet its Chains. . . . Is there a man able to bear Arms in this camp? that would hide his Face in the day of Battle; is there an American of this Character? is there a man so destitute of Honor? . . . Let each man stand by his Officer, and each Officer animated, press forward to the Object in view, then shall we daunt the vaunting Enemy, who wishes to intimidate us by a little Parade, then shall we strike Terror to the Pride of Britain.
From a Despatch to Commodore Saltonstall from the Continental Navy Department, August 12th, 1779:Our Apprehensions of your danger have ever been from a Reinforcement to the Enemy. You can’t expect to remain much longer without one. . . . It is therefore our orders that as soon as you receive this you take the Most Effectual Measures for the Capture or Destruction of the Enemies Ships and with the greatest dispatch the nature and Situation of things will Admit of.
From an Order In Council, Boston, August 8th, 1779:Ordered that Thomas Cushing and Samuel Adams Esqrs be a Committee to wait upon the Capt of the French Frigate to know of him whether he should be willing to proceed to Penobscot with his Ship for the purpose of reinforcing the American fleet – who reported that they had waited upon his Excellency the Chevalier De la Luzerne who informed them that he would speak with the Capt of said Frigate and if possible influence his proceeding to Penobscot.
From a report received in Boston, August 9th, 1779:Gilbert Richmond first Mate, of the Argo – declares that on the 6th Instant, off Marthas Vineyard – he fell in with eight sail of Vessels – supposed to be of force – steering So Et with a view of weathering the S. Shoal of Nantucket – The Commodore carried a poop light. The informant thinks – they were about 40 Miles So of the West end of the Vineyard.
Chapter Twelve
And, suddenly, there was hope.
After the disappointment of the previous day, after the ignominious flight of the militia from an enemy force scarce a quarter its size, there was suddenly a new spirit, a second chance, an expectation of success.
Hoysteed Hacker was the cause. Captain Hacker was the tall naval captain who had captured HMS Diligent, and he was rowed ashore at first light and climbed to the clearing in the woods that served as Lovell’s headquarters. “The commodore has vanished,” he told Lovell who was taking breakfast at a trestle table.
“Vanished?” Lovell gazed up at the naval captain. “How do you mean? Vanished?”
“Gone,” Hacker said in his expressionless, deep voice, “vanished. He was with the sailors who were attacked yesterday, and I suppose he was captured.” Hacker paused. “Maybe killed.” He shrugged as if he did not much care.
“Sit down, Captain. Have you eaten?”
“I’ve eaten.”
“Have some tea, at least. Wadsworth, did you hear this news?”
“I just did, sir.”
“Sit, do,” Lovell said. “Filmer? A cup for Captain Hacker.” Wadsworth and Todd were sharing the bench opposite Lovell. Hacker sat beside the general who gazed at the big, impassive naval officer as if he were Gabriel bringing news from heaven. Fog drifted through the high trees. “Dear me,” Lovell finally comprehended the news, “so the commodore is captured?” He did not sound in the least dismayed.
“Or killed,” Hacker said.
“Does that make you the senior naval officer?” Lovell asked.
“It does, sir.”
“How did it happen?” Wadsworth asked, and listened as Hacker described the unexpected attack by the British marines who had driven the sailors southwards from the battery on Haney’s land. The commodore had been separated from the rest who had all made it safely back to the river’s bank south of Cross Island. “So no casualties?” Wadsworth asked.
“None, sir, except perhaps the commodore. He might have been hurt.”
“Or worse,” Lovell said, then added hastily, “pray God it isn’t so.”
“Pray God,” Hacker said equally dutifully.
Lovell flinched as he bit into some twice-baked bread. “But you,” he asked, “you are now in command of the fleet?”
“I reckon so, sir.”
“You’ve taken command of the Warren?” Wadsworth asked.
“Not formally, sir, no, but I’m the senior naval officer now, so I’ll move to the Warren this morning.”
“Well, if you commmand the fleet,” Lovell said sternly, “I must make a request of you.”
“Sir?” Hacker asked.
“I must ask you, Captain, to attack the enemy shipping.”
“That’s why I came here,” Hacker said stolidly.
“You did?” Lovell seemed surprised.
“Seems to me, sir, we should attack soon. Today.” Hacker pulled a ragged piece of paper from his pocket and spread it on the table. “Can I suggest a method, sir?”
“Please,” Lovell said.
The paper was a pencil-drawn chart of the harbor which marked the enemy’s four ships, though Hacker had put a cross over the hull of the Saint Helena, the transport which lay at the southern end of Mowat’s line. She was only there to stop the Americans sailing around Mowat’s flank and her armament of six small guns was too light to be a cause of concern. “We have to attack the three sloops,” Hacker said, “so I propose taking the Warren in to attack the Albany.” He tapped the chart, indicating the central sloop of Mowat’s three warships. “I’ll be supported by the General Putnam and the Hampden. They’ll anchor abreast of the North and Nautilus, sir, and give them fire. The General Putnam and Hampden will be hit hard, sir, it’s unavoidable, but I believe the Warren will crush the Albany quickly enough and then we can use our heavy guns to force the surrender of the other two sloops.” Hacker spoke in an expressionless tone which gave the impression of a slow mind, an impression that Wadsworth realized was quite false. Hacker had given the problem a great deal of impressive thought. “Now, sir,” the naval captain continued, “the commodore’s concern was always the fort and its guns. They can plunge shot down into our ships and for all we know they might have heated shot, sir.”
“Heated?” Lovell asked.
“Not a pleasant thought, sir,” Hacker said. “If a red-hot shot lodges in a ship’s timber, sir, it can start a fire. Ships and fire aren’t the best of friends, so I want to keep the enemy’s shots away from the leading ships as far as that’s possible. “I’m proposing that the Sally, Vengeance, Black Prince, Hector, Monmouth, Sky Rocket, and Hunter should follow us into the harbor and make a line of battle here.” He indicated a dotted line which he had drawn parallel to the harbor’s northern shore. “They can shoot up at the fort, sir. They’ll do little enough damage, but they should distract the enemy gunners, sir, and draw their fire away from the Warren, the General Putnam, and Hampden.”
“This is feasible?” Lovell asked, scarcely daring to believe what he was hearing.
