The Boy Spies with the Regulators

I understood that the word for the attack would not be given until the convoy was opposite the center of our line, so that we might completely encircle it to prevent escape in either direction.

Then came half an hour of suppressed excitement, during which I could distinctly hear the beating of my own heart, and finally, the rumble of wheels in the distance, proclaiming the near approach of our prey.

The train consisted of two heavily laden carts convoyed by twenty men, as I could see when the force was nearly opposite my hiding-place, and these details had no more than been noted when Master Howell's voice rang out like a trumpet:

"At them, lads! At them, and make certain none escape you!" To those we were about to attack it must have seemed as if the thicket itself suddenly sprang out toward them, and before they had time to draw up in line ready to receive us, the party was completely surrounded.

I would have been ashamed had there been no show of resistance, for the convoy was made up of Carolinians, and, whether they were for the king or the people, it behooved them to display courage.

At the word we could have shot all the little company down, most likely at the first volley, and in order to save bloodshed Master Howell cried sharply:

"Surrender, you of the convoy! We are full two hundred strong, and there is no good reason why you should throw away your lives!"

While one might have counted ten a deep silence, save for the pawing or stamping of the horses, fell upon all that gathering in the road, and then the leader of the convoy, having seen that there was no hope of accomplishing anything by resistance, said curtly:

"We can do no less than obey your order to surrender."

"Lay your arms on the wagons, after having dismounted, and then march toward the south."

No one spoke while this command was being obeyed until, the men having marched down the road a dozen yards or more from the hindermost wagon, Master Howell called upon them to halt.

Then ten men were told off with orders to guard the prisoners, and when this squad had taken position near the convoy, our leader said in the tone of one who has already mapped out his course of action:

"You will march your squad well to the westward of Salisbury, and endeavor to gain our headquarters. Do not take any chances of coming in contact with Waddel's force, and see to it that not a man escapes. You may set off at once, gentlemen."

The prisoners were first searched to make certain they had no weapons concealed about them, and then the little party rode slowly up toward Salisbury counting on striking into the thicket before coming within dangerous distance of the town.

When the party had disappeared in the distance, we set about taking possession of the ammunition.

As a matter of course it was impossible for us to take the wagons with us, therefore each man was ordered to carry such portion of the powder as he could strap to his saddle, and we set about the work, the greater number of us stripping off our outer shirts, which we converted into bags by tying up the neck and sleeves.

So great was the supply that even when each trooper had all he could conveniently carry, there yet remained a full third of the whole, and this we proceeded to destroy by pouring it into the tiny creek which bordered the western side of the road. Then the horses were unharnessed and set free from the carts, which we left where they were in the highway, and our company formed in line once more.

I had supposed that we would be ordered to join the main body of Regulators; but in this I speedily found myself mistaken, for we rode directly to the Yadkin River, and crossed it, going immediately into camp in a grove of live oaks.

Once this had been done Master Howell sent off five men as scouts, and soon we came to know that this last detachment was gone to spy upon General Waddel's force.

"Yes," our leader said decidedly in reply to a question from one of the older men, "I count on attacking the force which is now at Salisbury. It would be little less than criminal to let slip such an opportunity as is now before us. Waddel is short of ammunition, now we have captured his supply, and I'm of the opinion that he will make an effort to join Tryon, in which case we have him at our mercy. It will not cause us more than two days in time, and we shall be doing great service by preventing the union of the forces."

Now indeed were we doing something in aid of the cause, and my heart leaped high with joy, for it was reasonable to suppose that, in case our leader accomplished all he had set himself, the main body of the Regulators could readily take care of Governor Tryon's army.

It was at this time, although we did not come to know of it until after several days, that Master Rednap Howell showed himself to be a great leader, inasmuch as he caused to be conveyed to General Waddel, without trouble or inconvenience to ourselves, that information which we desired him to have, and the task was performed in this fashion:

Those who had in charge the captured convoy were instructed to allow one of them to escape, after the party were so far north of Salisbury that there would be little likelihood of pursuit, and then it was certain the fugitive would take refuge with Waddel's force.

All this was done in accordance with Master Howell's orders, and thus it came about that when we were on the easterly bank of the Yadkin, the general came to the conclusion that his wisest course would be to join Tryon with the least possible delay, regardless of the fact that the powder had been lost.

Within twelve hours after we had made a camp in ambush, one of our spies came hot foot from Salisbury with the word that the king's forces at that town were making ready for the march. In addition to this information we learned considerably to our surprise, that Waddel's men were in a state of disorder nearly approaching mutiny. With but few exceptions they were members of the militia, and openly avowed that they would not fight under any consideration; others were favorably inclined toward the Regulation, and already had many deserted.

We were unprepared for such good news; but it did not require much reflection for Master Howell to hit upon a course of action which promised success.

Without delay two of our party, the eldest among us, were sent with all speed under a flag of truce for an interview with the general. They were instructed to warn the commander to remain where he was, or retreat to the coast, as might best please him, otherwise we would at once engage him.

It was only natural Waddel should believe that the entire force of Regulators was within striking distance, and while his men were so sadly disorganized he could not well risk an encounter.

We remained in hiding, ready to mount at a moment's notice, and before our messengers returned one of the scouts came in with the word that the militia was crossing the river, evidently bent on making at least one effort to join Tryon.

Five minutes after this information was received we were riding out of the thicket toward that road which it would be necessary for the general to take if he counted on meeting the governor, and within two hours we were in advance of the king's poor soldiers, ready and eager for an engagement.

It was only natural that Sidney and I should be among those who most desired to be led against the enemy, for now, the first time in two years, might we add to whatsoever good reputation we had made as Regulators, and we put aside the possible danger in the belief that we would succeed in distinguishing ourselves.

Skirmishers were sent out to learn when the enemy approached, and the remainder of us waited in anxious expectancy the moment when we might come face to face with the foe.

In this we were doomed to disappointment, however.

Waddel also had skirmishers in advance, and immediately his men came in touch with ours they retreated, and soon word was brought that the entire force was retreating across the river again.

Now began a chase, when our horses were fresh, but handicapped considerably by the loads of powder they carried, and we were positive success would be ours whenever we could come within range of the foe.

All evidence of military formation was lost sight of as we forded or swam our horses across the river, and in less than half an hour we were among the rear guard; but even this did not satisfy Master Howell. He believed the time had come when we might make prisoners of the entire force, and panted for the glory of capturing General Waddel himself.

To effect this fifty of us whose horses were fleetest, and among the number Sidney and I, were directed to make a detour across the country in order to strike the enemy in front before he could gain shelter in Salisbury, holding him there at whatsoever cost until the force was absolutely surrounded.

How we rode that day! The horses were sent forward at racing speed, regardless of the danger that they might be foundered by carrying such a weight, and Sidney and I were among the foremost when we broke cover directly in advance of the retreating column.

"Look after the general!" Sidney shouted as we pressed on, our horses running neck and neck. "Now has come the time when we can make names for ourselves which will not soon be forgotten!"

We could see the leader and his officers plainly, and rode directly toward them without taking heed as to whether we were followed; but there yet remained a sufficient number of the men who were loyal to the king to prevent us from carrying out the plan.

We speedily found ourselves confronted by a squad of twenty or more who stood bravely in line while their officers rode swiftly away, and this little party must be attended to before it might be safe to push on in pursuit of the prize.

We drew back within the shelter of a clump of trees, where we were joined by a dozen or more of our men, and then began the first real fight in which I ever took part.

There was no room in my mind for fear. I thought only of what might be done if we could disperse the party, and I fired and reloaded without realizing that my one desire was to take human lives.

The militia held their ground well, and both sides were at a disadvantage because of trying to take aim while in the saddle. With such marksmen as we had among us that squad of the king's men should all have been disabled within ten minutes, and yet half an hour passed without any perceptible advantage on either side.

Three of our men were down, and four of theirs had dismounted or been knocked out of the saddle; but by such time the general and his officers had surely succeeded in making good their escape.

From the sounds of firing which came from every direction we knew full well that all our party was engaged, and the question had just come into my mind as to whether this force of Waddel's had been as badly demoralized as we were led to believe, when I heard shouts in the rear, and a moment later saw Master Howell ride up with eight or ten men at his back.

"Throw down your arms, and surrender!" he cried to our adversaries. "The remainder of the command have yielded, and you can do Tryon no good by holding out longer!"

In a twinkling the men came forward empty-handed, and the fight was won; but I failed to feel any great elation because of what we had lost, while Sidney was furious with rage.

"But for their holding out, we two might have captured Waddel with, perhaps, some of his officers. It is a clear case of cheating, and we have got the worst of it!"

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," I cried laughingly, for my sorrow was dissipated by Sidney's rage. "We never counted very surely on capturing the general, and should thank our lucky stars that we have deprived him of his force, for thus have we weakened Tryon."