Because Alec stood silent when his brother had thus spoken, I understood that it would be useless to make any effort at persuading the captain into recalling the command given, and swallowed my disappointment as best I might.
Therefore it is that I am all the more willing to pass over the capture of Fort George with the fewest possible words.
Late in the afternoon the boats, which I have said had been built at Five-Mile Meadow, were pulled around to Four-Mile Creek, and this work brought on a general fire between the forts and batteries in the immediate vicinity; but, save for the destruction of several houses along the river bank, no injury was inflicted on either side.
From sunset until midnight the heavy artillery and a portion of the troops were embarked on the Madison, the Oneida, and the Lady of the Lake, while the remainder of the force, including the horses, were taken on board the newly constructed boats.
It can well be supposed that no heed was given to sleep after the work of embarkation had been concluded; all awaited the signal for the advance, knowing it must speedily come.
It was near to daybreak when our squadron got under way, and Alec and I stood on the after part of the Madison vainly trying to see, in the darkness and the fog, what was being done.
We could hear on every hand the murmur of voices, the creaking of oars in rowlocks, the neighing of horses, and the flapping of sails; but could see nothing.
It gave one a most singular sensation to be shut in by the dense, gray vapor, and yet to know from the various noises that on all sides were men making ready to take the lives of others, or to sacrifice their own.
The officers of the expedition, and among them as a matter of course was Captain Perry, remained by themselves, as was proper, and we two lads would have given much just then could we have had speech with Alec’s brother, in order that he might explain certain movements which to us were mystifying.
Then, suddenly, as it were, the heavy mist lifted and the sun shone out clear and warm, lighting up the waters which were covered here, there, and everywhere, seemingly as far as the eye could reach, with vessels and small boats, all laden with men and implements of warfare.