I guess you all know the scene, but probably not from this POV ...
Chapter 2 Clear decisions
It was early in the day. The morning mist still clung to the ground and the air was chilly. The sky was dark and grey, but in the distance the sun began to crawl over the hills and added orange and red tones to it. Soon it would be bright enough for the Green Dragoons to ride out and began their deadly search for surviving enemies still lurking in the area.
"I believe we are going to have excellent weather today", Tavington said stepping out of his tent.
He already had sent for water and cleaned himself up. The camp was still calm. Only a few moans from the tents were emerging, but most of the wounded soldiers had been taken care of. Some died and some were still in tremendous pain. But most soldiers had already returned wearily from a night filled with fighting. They were going to rest and the Dragoons were starting their work.
Bordon was short behind his superior, also back in uniform. He adjusted his helmet and answered Tavington's weather statement after looking up: "Should make it easier to scout out any rebels still hiding."
The Colonel nodded. They strode down meeting with the other Dragoons. Together they strode to the mess tent, took little time to eat, before they were ready to ride out. Tavington approached his large brown horse, which he had left here before the battle. He preferred him to the other horses at his disposal. Forge was well trained and strong, he had been an excellent acquisition. He seldom got tired and together they had fought many battles. Tavington grabbed the saddle and mounted his horse.
The other Dragoons followed his example and after he gave the order to ride out of the camp, they left in an orderly formation.
An informant from the Captain told them were the fleeing troops were headed to last time they were seen. Since the latest and heaviest fighting were reported east of the Black Swamp the Colonel lead his men there. Of course fresh regular troops were already covering the mentioned areas, but he had the feeling that there they would find the most trouble. He had his men spread out and except for two regulars and a few militia they encountered no enemies.
It was about an hour later that one of the riders discovered a farm in the distance and footsteps in the ground that indicated their regulars marched into that direction.
"Shall we have a look", he said to Bordon, who seemed to be a bit sceptical about the Colonels choice to cover this area. He just nodded, doubting that they found anything of interest at that farm. Obviously Tavington had not that much confidence in their regulars.
As they arrived riding alongside that shining white fence, they already saw that scattered British regulars were standing around numerous wounded that were lying around in front of the farm's main house. He signalled halt to his men and went forward. Looking right and left he saw to his great surprise at least as many rebel wounded as there were of their regulars. It was like someone was trying to keep up the balance.
He hated it when someone tried to remain neutral. Not to mention that it could be extremely dangerous to have someone with a farm so far outside who was known to stand neutral. Some like this could easily turn to giving help to the rebels, he did not liked that thought at all. The fresh regulars stood around like they did not knew what to do. This Captain reeked of incompetence and uncertainty. It was about time somebody put an end to this ugly display. Time to show strength. The strength of his majesty's army.
The Colonel addressed one of the officer: "Lieutenant? Have a detachment take our wounded to our surgeons at Winnsboro!"
The man acknowledged the order with a short: "Yes, sir."
Then he hurried to prepare a few of their soldiers to complete the task. Tavington was just beginning to organizing the situation.
"Fire the house and barns!" he ordered.
He could see the disbelief in the eyes of the group of people on the front porch and rather bored he added: "Let it be known if you harbour the enemy you will lose your home."
William saw that the man standing with the children had to strain himself from doing something he would probably regret. Unluckily he was smart enough not to question his decision. If the man had been dumber, it would have made things far easier for him. But it could not be helped at the moment, so he turned his attention to his third objective.
"By standing order of his majesty King George all slaves of the American colonies who fight for the Crown will be granted their freedom with our victory", the Colonel repeated the phrase he knew quite well. Also he thought it to be a shallow promise, he tried to add some smiles to sell it.
"Sir - we're not slaves. We work this land. We're freedmen," one of the blacks addressed him slowly.
'Wasn't that nice?', William thought annoyed. Inhaling with a certain dangerous undertone he told them: "Then you are freedmen who will have the opportunity and the privilege of fighting in the king's army, aren't you?"
He tried to make it clear that there was no alternative, he would dismantle this place and the last thing he needed is to leave this family with workers to rebuild. His intention was to strip that man naked so he could warn everyone what happened to men who aided the rebels. Then his attention was drawn to a red coat emerging from the house, bringing a leather case towards him.
"Rebel dispatches, sir", he informed the Colonel.
Tavington opened and studied a page. Then without looking up he asked: "Who carried this?"
But as after a few seconds no one answered his question he looked at the Lieutenant in command of this unit. Disgusted he turned away from that display of incompetence, that radiated from the man as his mouth snapped opened like a fish lying on a dry ground. So he asked again, this time with more power in his voice.
As expected he got his answer, he was a bit surprised to see the confessor standing on the front porch. William looked curious at the young blond man. He was obviously a colonial regular, as one could see more clearly as the man put on his jacket quickly. Still it gave him the right idea, in case Cornwallis bragged about not obeying his precious rules.
He hard the dispatch rider telling him that the people here had nothing to do with the documents. As if giving care to him was not enough of a crime. Not to mention that even if they did had something to do with the dispatches, it was doubtful that they would say so. Quickly he had made up his mind.
"Take this one to Camden. He is a spy. Hang him, put his body on display", he ordered handing the dispatches back. They would be quite useful to them.
Again someone tried to argue with him. How he hated these petty civilians. He ignored the ramblings and went on to the last instructions, before they would ride on. "Destroy the livestock. Save the horses for the Dragoons."
Again the man, who's bloody white shirt showed that he had been assisting the wounded, and who now had moved from the porch for the first time, tried to catch his attention. More firmly came the request this time: "Colonel, this is a uniformed dispatch rider carrying a marked case. He cannot be held as a spy."
Did that farmer thought he could lecture him? With a hint of sarcasm Tavington told the man: "We are not going to hold him, we are going to hang him." He enjoyed making that joke, after all with General Cornwallis he could not.
"Colonel ..", the persistent man began, but was interrupted by the spy. "Father!"
It was quite an interesting display, chuckling he addressed the father: "Oh, I see. He's your son. Perhaps you should've taught him something of loyalty."
William believed that to be the truth, if the father was looking for someone to blame, he should start looking at his own contributions to his son' situation. They should be grateful that he was letting them life, sending a son to war on the rebel's site could hardly be considered as remaining neutral.
"Colonel, I beg you, please reconsider", the father pleaded, only annoying the leader of the Green Dragoons further.
"By the rules of war-", the plead continued and hit the wrong mark.
Tavington had to take this rules of war nonsense from Cornwallis, but here, nobody was pulling that ridiculous agenda at him. A joke contributed by fat old officers who knew the real war only from a distance.
"Rules of war?", the Colonel snapped. "Would you like a lesson, sir, in the rules of war?"
He drew his pistol at the man studying his opponents face. Again the man hold his defensive position, but his eyes had still this glow of defiance. He moved his arm, taking a new aim: "Or perhaps your children would?"
Without hesitation the man jumped into point blank, shielding his family. Finally he had understood the situation. Tavington knew he had made his point clear, seeing the fear in the man's eyes. Maybe Cornwallis thought it a bit over the top to shoot the children of rebels, he did not. All rebels started out as children and were only bound to pick up their weapons to take revenge.
"No lesson is necessary", the father added, but Tavington was already aware of that and had turned his attention to the helpless Lieutenant, who addressed him.
"Sir?", he asked with faint voice. "What of the rebel wounded?"
What a pathetic question for a British officer. There was only one solution that made sense. "Kill them."
The officer did not liked that, Tavington realised that, but either way the man had to learn that war was bloody, dirty and ugly, or he would get killed. Maybe both. He began to turn his horse, his job here was finished. The foot soldiers began to move in with torches, binding up the young man, who was to be hanged and got in position to shoot the rebels who were lying helplessly on the ground.
Then something stopped Tavington from leaving, at first he could not believe what happened. Someone tried to free the dispatch rider. After he had turned again he saw one of the elder boys bumping one of the British soldiers to the ground, yelling his brothers name, telling him to run. The most pathetic sight the Colonel had seen all monthy. A stupid rebellious child fighting against an unmoving, lethargic man.
He brought up his weapon, his lips pressed flat in disgust, he stopped it once and for all. Since he was an excellent marksman, the boy was hit right through the heart. The kid did not even saw it coming. The father rushed by, caught him shortly after his knees hit the ground. The man turned his unbelieving eyes on Tavington. The Colonel was quite unbelieving himself, but not about his actions, but wondering what had that dumb kid had been thinking. There were over a dozen riders and even more soldiers around and his brother was wounded and in no condition to run anyway. A pathetic stupid action, that called only for one reply.
"Stupid boy."
The father did not even seemed to realise 'the Butcher' was too annoyed by this delay of his departure to even think about what he had actually done. He simply addressed the lieutenant who was now back in charge and rode off. The Dragoons following him while the air behind them filled with smoke from the burning buildings.
There was an uneasy silence between the men during the first couple of miles. Not long after they left Tavington and Bordon rode a bit ahead. As expected the Captain shared his thoughts of the occurrence with him.
"Don't you think you have been a bit harsh. If this goes on you might alienate all of our officers."
"So also think I acted too harshly?", Tavington studied his friend with interest.
"Was it really necessary to shoot the kid?", Daniel asked carefully.
The Colonel gave it a short nod and smiling he replied: "Maybe not, but for sure it was not that much of a loss. I never saw so much stupidity in one place."
Bordon shrugged his shoulders. There was not much to argue. He knew not much about the private life of his highly admired superior, but it seemed he lacked all understanding about family bounds. Judging from what was known about Tavington's father and what he had let slip during their talks, it was not that surprising.
Also he knew no love for his wife, not even physically, but he loved his two boys and his little baby girl. It might have been stupid, but enemy or not, who could one stand by and watch a loved one carried away to his certain death? Bordon let his eyes strife the beautiful open country. Also knowing it would never happen, he caught himself thinking, what might be if he could make his superior understand. But of course Daniel knew that would never happen and feared that it might not do any good anyway.