Corporal 'Lige's Recruit: A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga

At about the time Isaac finished the letter to his mother the encampment was in a state bordering on insubordination.

Colonel Arnold’s recruits raised in Stockbridge insisted that their leader should command the forces, not only because he was authorized to do so, but owing to the fact that he had the money and ammunition necessary to carry out the plan, while the members of Colonel Allen’s regiment, known as the Green Mountain Boys were equally determined that such honor as might be gained should be their colonel’s, and in a brief space of time these new-fledged patriots were ripe for riot.

Now was come the hour when Corporal ’Lige had shown him some portion of that consideration which he believed due his experience in military affairs.

Those members of Colonel Easton’s militia regiment which had joined the expedition, jealous because their leader had given way to Colonel Allen, now demanded loudly and publicly that he must lead the party or they would turn back.

Inasmuch, however, as this portion of the troops amounted to fifty or thereabouts, they had a small showing when the Green Mountain boys, who were more than two hundred strong, came forth in turn with their threats.

Colonel Allen was to be retained first in command, as had been decided upon the previous evening, or they should march back to Bennington without an hour’s delay.

On the other hand, the men from Stockbridge insisted that Colonel Arnold was the lawful commander because he was the only one who held a commission for such purpose, and threatened that neither money nor munitions of war should be given up unless his claims were fully recognized.

On this morning of the eighth of May the men were divided into three divisions according to their opinions, and it seemed much as if the officers were willing they should settle it without interference, for those highest in command remained in council among themselves, giving no heed to the threats which were uttered here and there until it seemed positive personal encounters must soon take the place of words.

The men from round about Pittsfield, recognizing the need of a leader in what might properly be termed a mutiny, selected Corporal ’Lige as if by common consent, and Isaac had but just written his mother’s name on the missive which had cost him so much labor, when he and the corporal were surrounded by the faction to which belonged their neighbors and friends.

One of these, a butcher, whose home was in Pittsfield, thus addressed the old man, using at the beginning of his remark just that compliment best calculated to please him.

“You, who have had so much experience in military affairs, Corporal ’Lige, should be able to settle this matter without any great loss of time, for according to my way of thinking it must be arranged among the men themselves, or not at all.”

“I have seen plenty of fightin’,” the corporal began slowly, as if undecided what words had best be used; “but it was in the king’s army, as you well know, and there every one in command held their commission from his majesty, which plainly said he was to be the leader. Now it seems in this ’ere case that the only officer who has any real authority is the one from New Haven – ”

A chorus of derisive howls interrupted the old man, and not a few of his neighbors accused him of being a traitor because he was apparently on the point of giving his decision in favor of the stranger.

Waiting patiently until they had exhausted their anger, and were silent once more, he continued placidly:

“As I said before it seems to me the only one with any show of authority is the officer from New Haven; but,” and Corporal ’Lige emphasized this word, “but what do you know of this ’ere Massachusetts Committee of Safety? Accordin’ to my way of figurin’, that body of men are lookin’ out for matters round about Boston, and we’ve got with us recruits all the way from Pittsfield up to Bennington, none of whom are given overmuch to heedin’ what the Boston folks think is right or wrong. Therefore I say, that while the officer from New Haven seems to have the only real authority, it strikes me that his commission does not extend as far as this ’ere spot, where we are encamped.”

Again he was interrupted; but this time by cries expressive of satisfaction and good will.

“We were the ones who started the idea of taking the fort,” a recruit from Pittsfield cried, “and that being the case I hold we’ve got the right to say who shall lead us.”

“But the Green Mountain Boys won’t go except their colonel is in command,” another added, and a third cried:

“The men of Stockbridge will hold to Colonel Arnold, and won’t go on under another.”

“Well, I’ve heard all that before,” Corporal ’Lige said in a tone of fine irony. “If you have come to me to repeat the same story that has been goin’ ’round the encampment since daybreak, why then you are wastin’ your time. If you want my opinion so that this thing can be put right in short order, hold your tongues, an’ I’ll give it.”

“Let Corporal ’Lige finish.”

“He is soldier enough to know what should be done.”

“Go on, corporal, go on.”

This evidence of popularity was most pleasing to the old man, and smiling benignantly upon those nearest, he said, with the air of one who cannot be in the wrong:

“This is how it must be done: Let them as come with Colonel Easton, stick to him; the Green Mountain Boys shall hang to the tail of Colonel Allen’s coat, and the Stockbridge men may follow Colonel Arnold. That makes three bands of us. Now, mark you, lads, there are three sides to that ’ere fort – one apiece. Let us meet here at whatever hour you will, and then start on the minute, each troop taking a different course, an’ them who arrive first an’ capture the fortification, gets the credit.”

“But we are needing what Colonel Arnold brought with him,” someone cried.

“Ay, and you would have heard me fix that if you’d waited. Where did this ’ere Massachusetts Committee of Safety get these munitions of war an’ this money? Why, they got it out of the province, of course. And where did we come from? Why, we come from the province of Massachusetts, of course. Then who does this money and these munitions of war belong to? Why, they belong to us, of course. Now, as near as I have heard, there are only fourteen following Colonel Arnold. How long will it take us to lay our hands on all that stuff? Then I guarantee that Colonel Easton – for if he wants me to do it I’ll help him in conducting the campaign – will march straight through an’ take Ticonderoga before you’ve had time to say Jack Robinson. Never mind what the Green-Mountain Boys do, an’ as for the Stockbridge men, they ain’t enough for the countin’.”

The advice which Corporal ’Lige had given met with the unqualified approval of all whom he addressed, and instantly shouts were raised in his honor until those recruits who were not in the secret looked about them in alarm and dismay as if fearing an attack.

Isaac was frightened, of that there could be no mistake.

It seemed to him as if an immediate and unquestionably dangerous encounter could not be prevented, for already were the men hanging about Corporal ’Lige in a dense body as bees hang about their queen when swarming, all urging that he lead them on to wrest from the Stockbridge men the property which he had proven did not belong to them.

Isaac glanced this way and then as if trying to determine in which direction it would be safest to flee, but at this moment his eyes fell upon a lad of about his own age, who had come in from the highway and was staring about him in perplexity.

CHAPTER V. NATHAN BEMAN

In his fear and trouble it seemed to Isaac as if this stranger might render him some valuable assistance.

It was as if he stood alone amid the recruits, now that Corporal ’Lige had been claimed, so to speak, as leader of the Pittsfield faction, and the lad needed some one to whom he could appeal for advice.

Therefore it was that while the new-comer was staring about him as if distracted by the tumult, Isaac approached in the most friendly manner as he asked:

“Are you a recruit?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you belong to the soldiers here?”

“Do you call these soldiers?” the stranger asked almost contemptuously.

“Well, if they ain’t, what do you call them?”

“They look to me like a crowd of folks what was goin’ to have a fight pretty soon.”

“That’s jest what I’m afraid of. Say, do you live near here?”

“No, I came from Shoreham. We heard there was a crowd comin’ to take Fort Ticonderoga, an’ seein’s how they didn’t get along very fast, I thought I’d come an’ hunt ’em up. Do you count yourself a soldier?”

“I did when I left Pittsfield; but I’ve kind’er got over that feelin’ now. What’s your name?”

“Nathan Beman.”

“Mine’s Isaac Rice.”

“What made you come out with a crowd like this?”

“All the folks ’round our way was enlisting, and they said it was the duty of everybody to fight against the king. Besides that the corporal was going, an’ he agreed to put me through in great shape.”

“Who’s the corporal?”

“That’s him over there with the red coat on.”