1812: The Rivers of War (28 page)

He could see it all in his mind, quite vividly. The enemy could eventually seize the impromptu fortress, but that would take time and require heavy casualties, neither of which the British could afford. This raid of theirs, Driscol was well-nigh certain, was a risky gamble on their part. There was no possibility that the British forces could hope to hold the area for more than a few days. Washington was just too close to the centers of the U.S. population. Their real target was New Orleans and the mouth of the Mississippi.
That
, they could hold, if they took it.

This was simply a diversion, he thought, to keep Americans confused and befuddled while the enemy organized their main strike in the Gulf of Mexico. But, that being so, Admiral Cochrane couldn’t afford to suffer many casualties here. He’d need those soldiers later. And if Cochrane allowed his little army to spend too much time in Washington, the risk would grow by the hour that they might be cut off and captured by American forces coming to the capital city from the surrounding area.

Driscol suspected that this entire operation was really Rear Admiral Cockburn’s pet project, which he’d foisted on a somewhat reluctant Cochrane. Cockburn seemed to take a special glee in burning American property. He was said to be much offended by the way he’d been portayed in American newspapers, none more so than Washington’s
National Intelligencer
.

Driscol looked down at the aggrieved sailor and his companions.
They could be a start, coupled with his few dozen young dragoons …

Then, mentally, he shook his head. He was a practical and hardheaded man, and he knew full well that he was not the officer to rally broken and confused troops like these. His new rank notwithstanding, Driscol was a sergeant by training and by temperament. If someone else rallied some troops, then—oh, certainly—he would know what to do with them. He’d keep them firm, if nothing else. But the rallying itself had to be done by a different sort of officer.

It didn’t even have to be a commander like Winfield Scott, for that matter. Military skill, knowledge, and experience wasn’t really needed here. Someone like General Jacob Brown would do splendidly. Brown was almost as tall as Scott, possibly even more handsome and imposing looking, and every bit as decisive. And he could speechify well, too.

Decisiveness aside, Driscol was none of those things. He knew perfectly well how he appeared to the sailors who were staring up at him. Squat, troll ugly, weathered, and battered by life—and now missing an arm, to boot. A figure to bolster men, not to inspire them. The fact that he’d appeared before them on a wagon driven by a Negro instead of riding a horse didn’t help any, of course.

Then again, maybe inspiration could be found up ahead. The president’s mansion was only a short distance away.

“Fall in with us,” Driscol commanded, pointing to the impressive-looking edifice. “Let’s see if there’s someone in command there who isn’t a fool and a poltroon.”

“He’s a traitor, I tell you!” the sailor insisted. But he and his mates seemed to be relieved to find someone willing to take charge.

As the sailors started to take their positions, Driscol leaned over and bestowed a smile upon them.

“A lesson here, lads, which I’ve spent a lifetime learning. Never explain something on the grounds of wickedness, when simple stupidity will do the trick.”

The sailors looked dubious. Driscol nodded his head firmly. “Oh, yes, it’s quite true. Brigadier Scott even told me an ancient philosopher had proved it. Fellow by the name of Ockham.”

He straightened up in the wagon seat. “The English, of course, being the exception that proves the rule.”

“You know Brigadier Scott?” asked one of the sailors. For the first time, the expression on his face and that of his mates as they looked up at Driscol was not
and who is this ragamuffin?

Before Driscol could answer, McParland piped up. The young private was sitting atop the foodstuffs stacked in the wagon bed.

“Sure does! He was the brigadier’s master sergeant. Got a field promotion to lieutenant after he lost his arm at the Chippewa.” Pride filled the youngster’s voice. “He was in my regiment, the Twenty-second. I was right there when he got wounded. Sergeant Driscol never even flinched. Just had me bind up the wound while he kept shouting the firing orders.”

Now they were genuinely impressed. That still wasn’t the same thing as inspiration. But it was a start.

As his ragtag little army continued toward the president’s house, Driscol turned his head, to give McParland a meaningful look. He’d learned by now that the seventeen-year-old boy was quick-witted, despite his rural ignorance. McParland took the hint, and slid off the wagon. He’d walk alongside the sailors the rest of the way, regaling them with tales of exploits.

Mostly his own, of course.

“Whatever you do …” McParland’s voice drifted forward. The boy still hadn’t learned that a “whisper” addressed to a dozen people carried almost as far as a shout. “… don’t
ever
cross the sergeant. Uh, lieutenant, I mean.” A few words faded off; then: “… not sure he’s really human. A lot of the fellows thought he was one of those trolls you hear about in …”

It was all Driscol could do to maintain a solemn face.

“… made the mistake of arguing with him over an order when I first showed up in the regiment. Next thing I knew he had me in front of a firing squad.”

Driscol didn’t need to turn around. He could practically see the wide eyes of the young sailors.

“—’strue! The muskets was loaded with blanks, o’ course, or I wouldn’t be here today to tell the tale. But I almost pissed my pants—and let me tell you, I never argued with the sergeant again.

“
Nobody
does, what knows him. He tells you to jump into a lake, all you ask is ‘how far’.”

A good start, indeed.

“I
will
have those twelve-pounders, sir!” Sam Houston insisted, rising in the saddle. “What’s the gol-derned use of hauling the things all the way to Georgetown?”

After clambering aboard his own horse, William Simmons glared at him.

“None, Captain, for all I know! But General Winder has given explicit orders for all troops to abandon the capital and rally at Georgetown. Unless you intend to be insubordinate, you must follow his orders. And so must I—and I will
not
have these guns fall into the hands of the enemy!”

Sam studied the man for a moment. Simmons was an accountant for the War Department, for whom the entire day had been hours of sheer chaos. The intense heat of an August day in Washington didn’t help matters. There were clouds gathering in the sky, but the humidity was as intense as ever. By now, in the middle of the afternoon, the man was a festering bundle of weariness, anger, uncertainty, and confusion.

Unfortunately, although he was a civilian, Simmons’s position gave him something in the way of authority here, for the mob of militiamen who’d gathered around the president’s house. The fact that Simmons had taken it upon himself to order the mansion’s sole remaining servant to bring out the presidential brandy and serve it as refreshments for the soldiers had sealed the matter.

So.

There was no point in pulling out lofty citations from the
Iliad
in this situation. That left wheedling and conniving. Sam was good at both of those, too, if his mother’s opinion was anything to go by.

Sam gave the accountant his most winning smile, then pointed to the carriage of the nearest twelve-pounder, perched beside the front gate of the president’s house. “I ask you to consider something, sir. These are ornamental guns, you know. Look at the carriages. Purely decorative! Those wheels will break long before you could reach the heights of Georgetown.”

Simmons stared at the two cannons. Sam’s statements were …

Preposterous. The field guns were perfectly serviceable, and their carriages in splendid condition.

Before he could say anything, however, Sam hurried on, now
speaking quietly. “It’s an explanation, after all, should General Winder ever inquire about the matter.”

For a moment, Sam thought Simmons’s angry expression was aimed at him.

“That’s hardly likely!” the accountant snapped. Then, sourly: “I was dismissed from the War Department just last month, you know—after twenty years of service.” His expression turned more sullen than ever. “Twas due to a clash between myself and Secretary of War Armstrong, concerning proper accounting procedures. All the sense in the world is wasted on men like him and Winder.”

For a moment, Sam considered using Simmons’s newly admitted lack of authority against him. But that wouldn’t do much good with the militiamen who surrounded them. In Sam’s experience, men were prone to support any fine fellow who handed out free liquor.

Again, Odysseus was called for, not Achilles.

“It was certainly unfortunate that Secretary Armstrong chose to place General Winder in command of the city’s defenses. What could he have been thinking?”

“What, indeed!” Simmons barked. He gazed for a moment longer on the twelve-pounders, before his eyes came back to Sam.

“And just what do
you
propose to do with them, my fine young captain? Two twelve-pounders will hardly hold off the enemy.”

Truth to tell, Sam didn’t really have a good answer to that question. All he knew was that the moment he caught sight of those two splendid guns, when he and his companions arrived at the president’s house, he was bound and determined to do
something
with them.

But this was no time for public uncertainty. “General Jackson had but a six- and a three-pounder at the Horseshoe Bend, you know. I was there, and I can tell you they gave excellent service.”

That was a black lie. The things had been completely useless, and Sam had the scar on his leg to prove it. Nevertheless, he pressed on with assurance and good cheer. “These will do well enough, Mr. Simmons.”

“And how do you even propose to use them? You told me you
were an infantry officer, not an artilleryman. You’re facing British regulars here, Captain, not wild savages.”

Mention of “wild savages” drew the accountant’s skeptical eyes to Sam’s small group of companions.

Fortunately, Sequoyah and the Ridge children had donned American clothing that morning.
Unfortunately
, the Rogers brothers had done no such thing. James hadn’t even bothered to tuck away his beloved war club.

Tiana Rogers was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, she too had outfitted herself in American apparel for the occasion. On the other hand, the big girl was far too imposing and good-looking, in her exotic way, not to draw attention to herself.

Skepticism was growing rapidly in the accountant’s expression. Sam drew himself up haughtily.

“A delegation from the Cherokee Nation, sent here expressly by General Jackson. Even includes two of their princesses.”

Nancy Ridge looked suitably solemn and demure.

Tiana, alas, grinned like a hoyden.

Best to distract the accountant
, Sam thought hurriedly. He pointed a finger at John Ross, whose appearance and uniform made him look like a white man. “Lieutenant Ross here is a wizard with artillery, sir. Very experienced with the big guns.”

John’s eyes widened. Sam ignored him and pressed forward.

“Oh, yes,” he said, chuckling. “General Jackson gave him no choice in the matter, seeing as how the lieutenant can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a pistol or a musket. But give him a
proper-size
gun—!”

Wide as saucers.

Forward, ever forward.

“Indeed so. Ross is
murderous
with the big guns. He’ll wreak havoc upon the enemy, Mr. Simmons, be sure of it! Grapeshot is his preferred ball, of course.”

Then, Sam decided it was time to add a modicum of truth to the matter. Just a pinch.

“Look, Mr. Simmons,” he said softly, almost conspiratorially “I don’t honestly know if the lieutenant can make good his bloodthirsty boasts. Achilles himself would be daunted by the task. But if nothing else, he and I are determined not to let the British come into the city. Certainly not without at least firing some shots.
We need those guns, sir
.”

By now, a large crowd of soldiers had gathered around the
two men on horseback. While they’d been arguing, a new batch of men had come up and pushed their way to the front of the mob. These looked to be under some sort of discipline, at least, even if the lieutenant in command had only one arm and was riding on a wagon instead of a horse.

On the positive side, the newly arrived officer was glaring at Simmons, not Sam. Quite a ferocious glare it was, too. The one-armed lieutenant’s face looked as if it belonged to Grendel’s brother, or one of the monsters in the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales.

Simmons spotted the same ogre’s glare. He threw up his hands.

“Oh, do as you will, then! The cannons are yours, Captain Houston, if you’d be such a fool.”

And with that, he rode off.

Driscol arrived in time to hear most of the exchange. He didn’t think he’d ever heard such a magnificent pile of lies, exaggerations, and pure hornswaggling in his entire life.