Long Knife by JAMES ALEXANDER Thom

Author:JAMES ALEXANDER Thom
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307763167
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2010-08-17T22:00:00+00:00

22

VINCENNES, WABASH VALLEY

December 17, 1778

LEONARD HELM STOOD ON THE PARADE GROUND IN FORT SACKVILLE, using all his self-control to hold back tears of rage. The French militiamen of the garrison were dispersing out through the fort’s main gate, carrying their personal effects, with all the shamefaced demeanor of whipped curs. They, who had been so cocky in parades and on guard duty, were deserting him en masse now that they had learned a British army was on its way.

Helm chewed tobacco furiously, his gray chin whiskers moving up and down with his ruminations, and watched the departing Frenchmen in disgust. He spat in their direction. He fingered the pistol in his belt and spoke to the American aide at his side.

“Last one out I got half a mind t’ shoot in th’ butt!”

“Aye.”

“But that wouldn’t do no good. Well, son, looks like that leaves you and me an’ a score of Frenchies who ain’t yet quite petrified, t’ defend this trap again’ General Hamilton’s army and a half-thousand redskins. Hope you’re feelin’ perty spunky.” The soldier nodded with a gray half smile. “Shut that gate once all th’ mongrels has gone,” Helm said, “an’ turn that cannon on it. Maybe we c’d at least give Mister Hamilton a taste of grape-shot when ‘e busts in. Now I got t’ go write a letter to Cunnel Clark. Get one o’ them lopers provisioned fer a quick run over t’ Kaskasky, an’ send ’im to me. One we can trust. If there is such a thing.”

The soldier saluted and Helm set off across the dismal compound to his quarters. He hated having to write letters of any kind, but this was going to be the most distasteful one ever.

Good ol’ George, he thought. This is gonna piss him somethin’ turrible.

God damn this place to hell anyway, he thought. He looked around at the decaying palisades, where there were gaps big enough to stick a fist through. There wasn’t a firing platform for marksmen. There wasn’t even a serviceable well. The British had neglected the place before they left it in the hands of the French, and the French had neglected it as they neglected, it seemed to Helm, everything but their pleasures. Helm himself had not been able to get repairs started on the place because of his constant negotiations with Wabash tribes.

Just as well it’s in this condition, he thought. Since we have no one to defend it, they’s no sense giving Hamilton a good stockade.

Helm went into his cold, bare office, drew a small sheet of paper onto his desk, and trimmed a quill. Chewing his lower lip with the effort, he wrote.

December 17, 1778

Dear Sir—

At this time there is an army within three miles of this place. I hear’d of their comin several days beforehand Sent spies to find the certainty the spies being taken prisoners I never got intelligence till they got within 3 miles of the town as I had calld the militia & had all assurance

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