To Distant Shores by William C. Hammond

Author:William C. Hammond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McBooks Press
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

THAT VERY AFTERNOON, MANALA AND HOHONA BEGAN FAMILIARIZING the American officers with the pa’s defenses. The midshipmen joined them after Richard explained to Chief Nene that despite their youth, the three junior officers were well versed in the military arts. Plus, the older seamen trusted them and deferred to them. Nene had grunted his approval.

At the end of the day, the Americans were left with two contradictory impressions. The first impression was that this fortress had been in place for many years and had successfully withstood numerous attacks. The second was that what had succeeded in the past might not succeed in the future.

Nate Donahue went further: “This fort belongs in the last century.”

“How so?” Richard asked him.

“For close fighting,” Donahue declared, “these defenses are brilliant. No West Point engineer could have designed them better, and that includes your friend, Captain Lee.”

That was high praise. Robert Edward Lee was hailed in American military circles as the finest engineer of his age.

“As you are aware,” Donahue continued, “Lee has stressed the critical importance of interior lines within a defensive position. This place has more interior lines than I’ve seen anywhere else. Nene’s warriors can fight from trenches at two different locations. If the enemy does manage to reach the outer wall—the pewhairangi, I believe Hohana called it—the defenders can use firearms or jab spears at them through gaps in the palisades. If by some miracle the enemy is able to breach that wall, the defenders will have retreated to the space between the walls and can pick them off as they come over the wall.” He continued ticking off points on his fingers. “If necessity demands, they can retire inside the inner wall while those on the platforms give the attackers a hot dose of enfilading fire. If the enemy manages to force entry into the pa itself, they are met by defenders in a second set of trenches. If the attackers get past those trenches, Nene’s people can retreat up the hill and fight from the advantage of high ground. And if all else fails, they can use their interior lines to flee into the bush and fight Indian style from there.” He shook his head in wonder. “This was designed by a genius!”

“You sound awfully impressed, Nate,” Brengle said.

“Damn right I’m impressed,” Donahue declared flatly. “Twenty, thirty years ago I would have declared this fortress to be impregnable. Today, I would not say that.”

“Why not?”

“Cannon, Mr. Talmadge,” Donahue replied succinctly. “A remarkable invention. These walls may be strong enough to withstand musket fire, but even a dullard wielding a six-pounder could chew them up in no time. On the other hand, the attackers would need to address the defenders in the rifle pits before they could swarm inside the pa, and I can assure you that would be no small matter.”

“That same thought had occurred to me,” ventured Hugh Zabriskie. “But the enemy we’re expecting won’t have cannon, will they?”

“Not likely, Hugh, but possible,” Richard said. “We need to prepare, in case.

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