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and reached their own camp without losing one of their number。
Chapter 80。 The Bloody Saranac
Sir george Prevost had had no intention of taking Plattsburg；
till Plattsburg's navy was captured。 But the moral effect of
McGlassin's exploit must be offset at once。 He decided to carry
the city by storm a matter probably of three hours' work。
He apportioned a regiment to each bridge； another to each ford
near the town； another to cross the river at Pike's Cantonment；
and yet another to cross twenty miles above； where they were to
harry the fragments of the American as it fled。
That morning Plattsburg was wakened by a renewal of the
bombardment。 The heavy firing killed a few men knocked down a few
walls and chimneys； but did little damage to the earthworks。
It was surprising to all how soon the defenders lost their
gun…shyness。 The very school…boys and their sisters went calmly
about their business； with cannon and musket balls whistling
overhead； striking the walls and windows； or； on rare occasions；
dropping some rifleman who was over…rash as he worked or walked
on the ramparts。
There were big things doing in the British camp regiments
marching and taking their places storms of rifle and cannon
balls raging fiercely。 By ten o'clock there was a lull。 The
Americans； from the grandfathers to the school… boys； were
posted； each with his rifle and his pouch full of balls； there
were pale faces among the youngsters； and nervous fingers； but
there was no giving way。 Many a man there was； no doubt； who；
under the impulse of patriotism； rushed with his gun to join the
ranks； and when the bloody front was reached； he wished in his
heart he was safe at home。 But they did not go。 Something kept
them staunch。
Although the lines were complete all along the ramparts； there
were four places where the men were massed。 These were on the
embankments opposite the bridges and the fords。 Here the best
shots were placed and among them was Rolf； with others of
McGlassin's band。
The plank of the bridges had been torn up and used with earth to
form breastworks； but the stringers of the bridges were there；
and a body of red…coats approaching； each of them showed plainly
what their plan was。
The farthest effective range of rifle fire in those days was
reckoned at a hundred yards。 The Americans were ordered to hold
their fire till the enemy reached the oaks； a grove one hundred
yards from the main bridge on the other bank。
The British came on in perfect review…day style。 Now a hush fell
on all。 The British officer in command was heard clearly giving
his orders。 How strange it must have been to the veterans of wars
in Spain； France； and the Rhine； to advance against a force with
whom they needed no interpreter。
McGlassin's deep voice now rang along the defences； 〃Don't fire
till I give the order。〃
The red…coats came on at a trot； they reached the hundred…
yard…mark。
〃Now； aim low and fire！〃 from McGlassin； and the rattle of the
Yankee guns was followed by reeling ranks of red in the oaks。
〃Charge！〃 shouted the British officer and the red…coats charged
to the bridge； but the fire from the embankment was incessant；
the trail of the charging men was cluttered with those who fell。
〃Forward！〃 and the gallant British captain leaped on the central
stringer of the bridge and； waving his sword； led on。 Instantly
three lines of men were formed； one on each stringer。
They were only fifty yards from the barricade； with five hundred
rifles； all concentrated on these stringers。 The first to fall
was the captain； shot through the heart； and the river bore him
away。 But on and on came the three ranks into the whistling；
withering fire of lead。 It was like slaughtering sheep。 Yet on
and on they marched steadily for half an hour。 Not a man held
back or turned； though all knew they were marching to their
certain death。 Not one of them ever reached the centre of the
span； and those who dropped； not dead； were swallowed by the
swollen stream。 How many hundred brave men were sacrificed that
day； no one ever knew。 He who gave the word to charge was dead
with his second and third in command and before another could
come to change the order； the river ran red the bloody Saranac
they call it ever since。
The regiment was wrecked； and the assault for the time was over。
Rolf had plied his rifle with the rest； but it sickened him to
see the horrible waste of human valour。 It was such ghastly work
that he was glad indeed when a messenger came to say he was
needed at headquarters。 And in an hour he was crossing the lake
with news and instructions for the officer in command at Burlington。
Chapter 81。 The Battle of Plattsburg
In broad daylight he skimmed away in his one man canoe。
For five hours he paddled； and at star…peep he reached the dock
at Burlington。 The howl of a lost dog caught his ear； and when he
traced the sound； there； on the outmost plank； with his nose to
the skies； was the familiar form of Skookum； wailing and sadly
alone。
What a change he showed when Rolf landed； he barked； leaped；
growled； tail…wagged； head…wagged； feet…wagged； body…wagged；
wig…wagged and zigzagged for joy； he raced in circles； looking
for a sacrificial hen； and finally uttered a long and
conversational whine that doubtless was full of information for
those who could get it out。
Rolf delivered his budget at once。 It was good news； but not
conclusive。 Everything depended now on MacDonough。 In the morning
all available troops should hurry to the defence of Plattsburg；
not less than fifteen hundred men were ready to embark at daylight。
That night Rolf slept with Skookum in the barracks。 At daybreak；
much to the latter's disgust； he was locked up in a cellar； and
the troops embarked for the front。
It was a brisk north wind they had to face in crossing and
passing down the lake。 There were many sturdy oarsmen at the
sweeps； but they could not hope to reach their goal in less than
five hours。
When they were half way over； they heard the cannon roar； the
booming became incessant； without question； a great naval battle
was on； for this north wind was what the British had been
awaiting。 The rowers bent to their task and added to the speed。
Their brothers were hard pressed； they knew it； they must make
haste。 The long boats flew。 In an hour they could see the masts；
the sails； the smoke of the battle； but nothing gather of the
portentous result。 Albany and New York； as well as Plattsburg；
were in the balance； and the oarsmen rowed and rowed and rowed。
The cannon roared louder and louder； though less continuously； as
another hour passed。 Now they could see the vessels only four
miles away。 The jets of smoke were intermittent from the guns；
masts went down。 They could see it plainly。 The rowers only set
their lips and rowed and rowed and rowed。
Sir George had reckoned on but one obstacle in his march to
Albany； an obstruction named MacDonough； but he now found there
was another called Macomb。
It was obviously a waste of men to take Plattsburg by front
assault； when he could easily force a passage of the river higher
up and take it on the rear； and it was equally clear that when
his fleet arrived and crushed the American fleet； it would be a
simple matter for the war vessels to blow the town to pieces；
without risking a man。
Already a favouring wind had made it possible for Downie to leave
Isle au Noix and sail down the lake with his gallant crew； under
gallant canvas clouds。
Tried men and true in control of every ship； out… numbering
MacDonough； outweighing him； outpointing him in everything but
seamanship； they came on； sure of success。
Three chief moves were in MacDonough's strategy。 He anchored to
the northward of the bay； so that any fleet coming down the lake
would have to beat up against the wind to reach him； so close to
land that any fleet trying to flank him would come within range
of the forts； and left only one apparent gap that a foe might try
to use； a gap in front of which was a dangerous sunken reef。 This
was indeed a baited trap。 Finally he put out cables； kedges；
anchors； and springs； so that with the capstan he could turn his
vessels and bring either side to bear on the foe。
All was ready； that morning of September the 11th as the British
fleet； ably handled； swung around the Cumberland Head。
The young commander of the Yankee fleet now kneeled bareheaded
with his crew and prayed to the God of Battles as only those
going into battle pray。 The gallant foe came on； and who that
knows him doubts that he； too； raised his heart in reverent
prayer？ The first broadside from the British broke open a chicken
coop on the Saratoga from which a game…cock flew； and； perching
on a gun； flapped his wings and crowed； so all the seame