At last a shot came through the embrasure at which was a gun I was on the point of firing. Suddenly I felt my arm jerked up--the match dropped from my nerveless arm, and I fell. At that moment the signal was given to cease firing. Another flag of truce was going forth. I felt that I was desperately wounded--I believed that my last hour had come.
It was just then four o"clock. This was nearly the last shot fired during that hateful and fratricidal war. Angels were rejoicing that blood had ceased to flow, though proud British hearts were sad and humbled at the thoughts of their defeat. That hour struck the knell of England"s supremacy in the West, and gave forth the first glad notes of the establishment of American Independence. Directly afterwards the cannonade from the side of the enemy ceased along the whole extent of their line.
My men, when they saw me on the ground, lifted me up, and placed me on a litter already deeply stained with blood. O"Driscoll arrived, and sincere was the sorrow and commiseration he expressed when he saw me. I inquired for Colonel Carlyon, and entreated that I might be conveyed to where he was.
I felt a longing desire to see Madeline"s father once more, and to send by him, should he survive, my last message of love and devotion to her.
I thought that he would not hesitate about delivering them.
"I will inquire where your friend the colonel is," answered O"Driscoll.
"He was removed, I know, for the house where he lay was too much battered to be longer tenable. I am uncertain to what quarters he has been removed."
My heart sank within me when I heard these words, for I fully believed that Colonel Carlyon had been killed, and that O"Driscoll was unwilling to wound my feelings by the information. My men now moved on with me through the town. I need not again describe the scenes I witnessed--the dead scattered about, piles of ruins, houses battered and blackened, the remnant of the inhabitants wandering about looking for their lost friends, maimed and wounded soldiers and seamen--gaunt, pale and starved--others still unhurt, looking angry and sullen at the thought of our defeat. Officers were standing about in groups, greeting each other with vexed and sorrowful looks. I was suffering too much physically to feel deeply on the matter, but my sensations were of a very mixed character, and I do not feel that it was derogatory to my character, as a loyal subject of his Majesty, or as a British officer, to say that I heartily prayed that the war might be over, even though the proposed humiliating surrender might be the last great event connected with it.
After I had been conveyed through several ruined, half-burned streets, my bearers at length stopped at a house where O"Driscoll told me he believed Colonel Carlyon was to be found.
Such was the case. Though sitting up, he was unable to walk. The expression of sorrow and commiseration which lit up his countenance, and the kind words with which he greeted me, gave me the a.s.surance that I was regarded by him in the light I desired. It was some time before a surgeon could attend me--so many more urgent cases demanding the care of the medical men in every direction. In the meantime notice was brought us that a cessation of arms had been agreed on, and which time was afterwards increased till the following day.
Like a father or a fond brother did Colonel Carlyon tend me all that night, refusing to lie down till my wounds had been dressed, and I had sunk into the slumber I so much needed.
19th.--The day--painful, though scarcely to be called humiliating, to the brave army which had so heroically endured that desperate if not protracted siege--at length arrived. Lord Cornwallis, finding that our enemies had resolved to grant us alone the terms which they had previously offered--that we had not as yet experienced the effect of the fire from the flanking redoubts, armed with numerous pieces of heavy artillery ready to open on us--that our garrison was now reduced to scarcely three thousand effective men, in want both of provisions and ammunition--felt that the only course open to him, to prevent the horrors of an a.s.sault, and to save the lives of the remainder of his troops, was to accept them. Accordingly, at noon, the army surrendered prisoners-of-war to the United States of America, while the navy became prisoners by arrangement to the Compte de Gra.s.se. At one o"clock a regiment of American troops, followed by one of French, took possession of the works, with drums beating and colours flying, when the British flag was struck, and that of America displayed in its stead. At three o"clock the British troops marched out, with drums beating and colours cased, towards the enemy"s lines. There in a wide field were drawn up the armies of the allies, with the generals ready to receive them.
Proud and happy, indeed, must Washington and his brethren-in-arms have felt at this, to them, glorious termination of the struggle.
Sullen and sad looked our men, I was told, as, with gestures of impatience and vexation, they grounded their arms, and then marched back into the town. At the same time the enemy took possession of all our lines and works. My wounds, though severe, were not dangerous, and I was able to take an interest in all that was going forward, and to receive the visits of friends who came to inquire after me and to offer me a.s.sistance. With regard to the condition of the garrison on the day we surrendered, I can state positively that, on a correct muster, we were unable to march out more than two thousand five hundred men. We found, therefore, that we had lost, in killed and wounded, upwards of a thousand, and from sickness four hundred and fifty. From this calculation it will be seen that we had about a hundred and ten killed and wounded every day after the enemy opened their batteries. The remaining troops were at Gloucester, on the other side of the river, the works of which they bravely defended to the last.
The ruinous condition of the town and works, which altogether did not cover half a mile of ground in length and nothing like it in width, may be conceived by the accounts I have already given. I may remark that from one end to the other it was strewed with shot and sh.e.l.l, and had truly the appearance of a ploughed field. I must not close my account of the public events of this memorable period without speaking of the civility and humanity the English prisoners received from the French--so different to that which I experienced when I fell into their hands at Saint Domingo. They showed evident compa.s.sion for our condition, and not only rendered us every delicate attention in their power, but gave the officers a captain"s guard of grenadiers to guard them from the insolence and abuse of the American soldiers, who showed, it was said, much disposition to ill-treat and rob them. The excitement and the great exertion made by all had hitherto kept at bay the attacks of sickness from many who now began, their toils over, to succ.u.mb to them.
Intermittent fevers appeared, and few, I believe, escaped. Among those who died was my gallant friend and brother-officer, Lieutenant Conway, whose name I have before frequently mentioned. For my own part, I received the greatest personal kindness both from Americans and French.
Those especially who had at any time received any attention from the English seemed anxious on this occasion to exhibit their grat.i.tude.
Among them I must particularly mention Monsieur Clenard who commanded the Compte D"Artois, the French ship we and the Bienfaisant took off Ireland. He now commanded one of the ships of war in the French fleet.
He showed the Charon"s, in particular, every mark of esteem and kindness. So did a French officer we took in the Peggy privateer, when we went in search of the French fleet, and whom we had properly treated when he was on board us. Such conduct reflects the highest honour on the French, and authorises them to expect, should any of their people at any time by the chances of war fall into our hands, the same kindness and consideration.
The American officers were not backward in the same liberal and generous conduct. I had on one occasion--I omitted to mention it--an opportunity of showing a favour to the son of a Colonel Matthews in the American army. Colonel Matthews immediately came and offered money, servants and horses, and invited me to his house as soon as I could be moved. Mr Jones also, a gentleman residing at Hampton, whose family I had met there, sent the instant he heard we had been defeated to ascertain how he could best serve me, and wrote to a.s.sure me that, should I decide to remain on my parole in America, he would request General Washington to allow me to reside at his house, and that money or anything he had was at my service. Just at the same time I received a similar message from Mrs Langton, whose house was not more than seven miles from York Town.
I need scarcely say that, grateful as I felt for all the other offers of kindness I had received. I resolved, should I have the power, to accept hers. The public events which took place on the days subsequent to the surrender may not be considered of general interest. On the 20th the French ships of war came up the harbour, and on the following day the British troops were marched into the country, where they were to be distributed, and kept as prisoners of war till the conclusion of peace.
The seamen still remained in the town. On the 21st, paroles of honour were granted to the officers of the Navy, who were to go to Europe in flags of truce with all the seamen and marines. Every exertion was made to fit out the vessels remaining in the harbour for this purpose, but it was not till the 2nd of November that they were ready to take their departure. On the very day we capitulated, Sir Henry Clinton, with a large fleet of line-of-battle ships and frigates, with seven thousand of his best troops, set sail from New York. He did not appear off the Capes of Virginia till the 24th, when, hearing what had occurred, he returned to New York. It was not, however, till the 26th of January, 1782, that a treaty of peace was signed at Paris, the happy news of which reached Philadelphia on the 23rd of March. But I am antic.i.p.ating events.
Colonel Carlyon was sufficiently recovered two days after the surrender of York Town to be removed to Mrs Langton"s, but several days elapsed before I was able to follow him, when I obtained permission from the commodore as well as from the Compte de Gra.s.se, to remain in America till my health was restored. I had an affectionate parting with O"Driscoll and with my old follower, Tom Rockets, who were the bearers of many messages from me to my family.
"Tell them, O"Driscoll," said I, "that though I am a loyal subject of King George, I see no reason why I should not win the hand, as I believe I have the heart, of a daughter of America."
"You"re right, my dear boy," he answered. "You"ll be doing the most loyal thing in your power, for you"ll be winning back a subject who would otherwise be lost, and gaining many little subjects too, maybe, old fellow," he added, with a poke in my wounded ribs which almost upset me.
At length a litter was brought into my room, and I was carried in it on men"s shoulders to the house of my friends. What words of mine can do justice to the generous kindness and the delicate attention with which I was treated by all the family, and the marks of tender affection I received from one who was there to welcome me? When I first looked up, after I had been placed on the bed prepared for my wounded form, Madeline stood by my side. My wounds healed. I rapidly recovered my strength, and then the depressing feeling of my poverty, of my utter inability to support a wife as I desired that Madeline should be maintained, came over me. She ascertained the cause of my despondency.
"But papa can obtain employment for you," she remarked. "Why not, when there is peace, leave the British Navy and enter that of the United States? Surely it is equally honourable!"
Little did she know, when she said that, how, with all its faults, I loved the glorious Navy of England: I perhaps scarcely knew myself, till the sensations which the suggestion conjured up in my bosom told me.
Even the idea of quitting the sea and following some occupation on sh.o.r.e had not the attraction for me which might have been supposed. Still I had resolved to adopt the latter alternative if her father would bestow her hand on me. He had been absent for some time, attending to public affairs. At length he returned. I explained to him my position. I thought he looked grave and sad as I went on speaking.
"I have been under a mistake," he observed. "I thought that you were in the expectation of receiving a good property, and that you would have the means of supporting my dear child. This war has ruined my estate, and I am but little able to leave her anything. It will be better for you both to part; I grieve that you should have again met."
These words pierced me to the heart, and overthrew all the bright visions I had conjured up. They were so unlike, too, what I expected to hear from him. I pressed my hands on my face and groaned. I dared not meet Madeline. I thought that, too probably, he would prohibit me from seeing her again. I sat the picture of despair. Just then a negro servant entered the room, and gave a packet of letters to the colonel.
He handed me one with a black seal. Another blow. Some other member of my family dead. It is too bitter. I cannot stand this. I"ll go to sea again, and hope that in mercy I may lose that life which has become too burdensome to bear. Such thoughts, (wrong and impious I know they were), pa.s.sed through my mind as I kept the letter in my hand before breaking the seal. I looked at the superscription. It was from my dear sister Jane. I tore it open. The contents soon riveted my attention.
It was not long. One pa.s.sage ran thus:--
"Some weeks ago, our old relation, Sir Hurricane Tempest, much to our surprise, sent to ask one of us to go and nurse him, saying that he was, he believed, on his death-bed, and beseeching us to have compa.s.sion on a friendless, childless old man. The lot fell on me. I found him very different to what I expected, and interested in all matters concerning us. Do you remember, Hurry, rescuing an old gentleman from the mob in London during the Lord George Gordon riots? That was Sir Hurricane himself. He knew you; and when I told him about you, and that you had fallen in love with an American lady, the daughter of a rebel, and that you had no means of marrying her, he answered, "But he shall have the means. I"ll give them to him. I like his spirit. I like her. Her friends have espoused the right side--the side of liberty. They were not afraid to stand up boldly against tyranny and injustice. Tell him I shall be happy to welcome the little rebel as my niece, if I live, and, at all events, to know that her children will inherit my property."
Soon after this our kind old uncle died, and he has left you, as far as I can understand, fully three thousand a year."
How my heart bounded when I heard these words! I handed the letter to Colonel Carlyon. He rose and took my hand.
"I had not intended to be very stern when, just now, I spoke to you," he said, and I knew that he spoke the truth. "I wished to ascertain whether your affection for my daughter was as great as I was a.s.sured it is. I know that you are eager to give her, before she hears it from others, the satisfactory information you have received. Go and tell her."
I did. A few days subsequent to the news of peace being received, we were married. After a tour in the States she accompanied me to England, and my American bride won golden opinions from all the relatives and friends to whom I had the happiness of introducing her. A dutiful and affectionate wife she has always been to me, and I have had just cause to be thankful that I married the Little Rebel.