The silence in the room was accentuated by the humidity clinging to everything. Wake didn’t understand what Chase was saying. It didn’t make sense. There must be more.
“All right, Mr. Chase, what about my messengers?”
“They came in and Major Martin and later Colonel Wherley heard their reports, sir. When I asked about following up on them and sending troops to you, the colonel said it was unnecessary, that you and the rest of the landing party would be coming back. He was, well, he seemed . . . ”
Chase paused, obviously uncertain of how to proceed. Wake waved him onward with his hand. “Say what you have to say, Mr. Chase. The men in this room have no time for politeness. Be blunt. We all owe that to each other.”
“Aye aye, sir. Well, the colonel seemed to be pleased that you would have to retreat back to his lines at the beach. Seemed to gloat over it, sir. Wanted you to have to retreat from the enemy, sir. Was that your impression, Ford?”
A burly bosun’s mate in the dark corner in back of the hut spoke quietly. “Aye, sir. The man looked like he enjoyed the thought o’ Captain Wake havin’ failure with the Rebs, sir. I think he hates us sailormen, sir.”
Wake knew the information was potentially explosive. The man had withheld help from a naval landing force under attack. This testimony could result in Wherley’s court-martial.
“I see. And then how did you come to take your men up to us then, Mr. Chase?”
“We heard the firing stop and couldn’t stand it any longer, sir. Order from the army or not, we had to find our mates and help. Simple as that, sir. I disobeyed a direct order from Colonel Wherley.”
A commotion erupted at the doorway as a petty officer swore at a man just walking in who stepped on his feet. The oaths stopped and Ford muttered as the other man pushed his way to the center of the group. “It’s that army lieutenant, Captain Wake. He wants to join the meeting.”
Hammersley stood in the middle of the gathering, looking around at the men who made no disguise of their disgust for him. Wake shook his head and sighed.
“Lieutenant Hammersley, you seem to have an uncanny knack for arrivals at the wrong time. Where have you been?”
Hammersley’s condescending demeanor had returned. Wake was amazed he could still summon it up after his experiences that day.
“Well, Captain Wake, as I presume I evidently should call you, since you are the captain of a ship even though you are but a lieutenant, I have been right where you left me. With no orders, no support, and no help. The Rebs got into that trader’s hut and I had to wait against the wall of some decrepit hovel next door until you decided to have your visit with that scum Reb colonel. Then I waited around for the report you should have given me of your conversation with the Reb, but you left for somewhere. I have been waiting for quite some time, Captain Wake, and Colonel Wherley will not be impressed by what I will have to report to him.”
Wake rotated and stretched his neck muscles. They were tense and hurting. He did not need this army officer and his attitude.
“Lieutenant Hammersley, the message is still the same as the others I have sent. We hold the crossroads. Send the regiment now, and especially the surgeon for our wounded. We have held off the enemy and it is safe for the army to come up here now. Go tell your colonel that. Tell him now, Hammersley.”
The army officer’s chest began to expand, his jaw jutted out and his voice deepened.
“The effrontery of those remarks will not be forgotten, sir. You will answer for them! We have heard of your lack of decorum when in company of army officers before this, Captain Wake.”
“You must have misunderstood me, Hammersley, this interview is over. You are incapable of assisting here. You are only capable of hindering us. Now go to your precious colonel and his parade ground regiment and get the surgeon here for the men wounded in the battle. I said get out! Now!”
Hammersley did not deflate his stature. Instead he stood there in the soundless room and spoke back to Wake in a sullen hiss. “Yes, . . . yes I’ll go now. I’ll need four armed men and a petty officer for an escort. I will leave right now.”
Wake smiled for the first time since seeing Hammersley at the meeting. “No men to spare to protect you, Hammersley. We may be attacked again and I need every sailor on our defenses. Now that you have had the honor of seeing that famous elephant, I’m sure you are man enough to protect yourself. You can’t get lost, just follow the road. Now get the hell out of here or take a musket and stand in the lines with the men for the next attack.”
Hammersley stepped backward slowly, the men around him clearing away from the soldier. His mouth opened, but no words came out. When he had backed his way to the doorway they finally came out, petulant and high-pitched.
“You’ll regret this, Wake. You’ll regret this.”
After he’d left, everyone looked at Wake for a response to Hammersley’s bizarre behavior, but there was too much to be decided and no time to be distracted.
“So much for the pride of the army, men. Now, let’s go over our dispositions of men and then I will tell you of my impressions of my meeting with the enemy commander.”
Each detail gave a report on their casualties, as well as their remaining ammunition, food, and water supplies. Then officers and petty officers closed in around Wake as he went over how they would
