Read Online Liberty 1784: The Second War for Independence by Robert Conroy - Free Book Online Page B

midshipman in charge of the men sent to get special supplies for the officers. These included wines, tobacco and other expensive foodstuffs that mere sailors and marines would never smoke or taste. The bulkier normal supplies had already been loaded and getting these luxuries from local merchants was the last of their tasks.
    A narrow alley appeared to his left. Owen took a deep breath, turned, and darted down it.
    “Owen, what the devil are you doing?”
    Christ, he thought. It was Alan, another marine. Owen had lost track of where he was. At least the sod hadn’t hollered. The rest of the unit had disappeared around a corner. “Sorry,” Owen said and hit him in the stomach with the butt of his musket. Alan crumpled. Owen quickly stripped off Alan’s jacket and tied him up with it, stuffing Alan’s own filthy kerchief in his mouth. He hated doing it, since Alan was a decent sort, but he was also a loyal Englishman who would have called for help.
    He pulled some trash over his former companion and headed down the alley. If it was a dead end he would have a lot of explaining to do. It wasn’t. He continued on, even crossing several narrow and garbage-strewn streets without anyone noticing. Better, he heard no hue and cry behind him. They hadn’t even noticed he’d gone.
    Owen’s luck smiled on him again. Despite the hour, laundry hung on a line and it included articles of men’s clothing. He grabbed a couple of shirts and pants and headed away. He found a niche and changed quickly. The clothing was big but it would suffice. Except for being very large around the shoulders and arms he was small to begin with and the damned Americans were so much larger than ordinary Englishmen. Now in civilian clothes, he hid his musket and uniform underneath a pile of rubbish and looked for a way off Manhattan. He hated leaving the weapon, but no one in New York walked around armed with a Tower musket. He kept the socket bayonet. He decided he would feel naked without some sort of weapon.
    Again luck favored him. He reached the Hudson River and spied a small boat tied up to a small dock. He jumped into the boat, cast off, and headed downstream in the dark waters. He used an oar to steer the boat in the direction of the black blur that was the land to his right front. If he made landfall on what he thought was Staten Island, he would be free. If he missed, he ran the risk of being swept through the narrows and out to the ocean where he would doubtless die.
    * * *
    Fitzroy and Danforth eyed each other as they followed their respective leaders, Burgoyne and Cornwallis, into the small room off Cornwallis’ quarters at Fort George. Cornwallis closed the door, which quickly made the room stuffy and uncomfortable. There was a table and chairs, and a large map of the colonies was pinned to the wall. They took their seats.
    “First of all, General Burgoyne, I am so thankful that you have accepted Captain Danforth onto your staff.”
    Burgoyne smiled. “He and I have much in common. And may I assume that he will be your eyes and ears while on the expedition?”
    If Cornwallis was surprised by the bluntness of the comment, he didn’t show it.
    “But of course. Although one wonders just how he can be my eyes and ears when he’s five or six hundred miles away.”
    “A good staff officer can accomplish miracles, gentlemen,” Danforth said with an impish grin. The comment caused both generals to laugh, which released any tension that might have been in the air. Danforth was Cornwallis’ spy and now everyone knew it. Fitzroy thought he’d have been court-martialed if he’d said anything so cheeky.
    Cornwallis continued. “As you were busy seeing to the forces you just landed, I took the liberty of giving orders to those parts of the garrisons of Charleston and Boston that will report to you. I hope you don’t mind.”
    If Burgoyne was upset by the gentle reminder that the army still belonged to Cornwallis, his superior, he didn’t show