Three days after the wedding, Charlotte Tavington was packed and ready to make the move to the plantation. She'd not had all that much time to spend with her new husband since their wedding, as he'd been busy making final preparations to take his dragoons into the field. The newly-married couple had only seen one another in the mornings at breakfast and when they went to bed together at night.
Charlotte hadn't had much time to miss him, however, as she'd been busy with the packing and also briefing Matthew on things she wanted the staff to do while she was away. She'd left the butler in charge of the other servants during her absence, which she expected to be several months at least.
She'd had Ruth to iron her second-best riding habit and had packed another in her bags. William had insisted that she ride horseback, rather than in a carriage, as he suspected that there was a strong possibility of engaging rebel partisans on their way up the Santee. He'd ridden with her several times and was satisfied with her riding skills in case of such an emergency. Ruth, however, would be riding double with one of the younger dragoons, as she was not in any way a horsewoman.
On the morning of their departure, Charlotte and Tavington rose at 5:30 am in order to get an early start to the day.
William had hurriedly dressed, then went downstairs for his morning tea, while Ruth came in to help Charlotte with her stays. As Ruth pulled out a new set of stays from her wardrobe, Charlotte frowned, then said, "I think I'll wear jumps with my riding habit, rather than my stays. It will be more comfortable for a long ride that way."
"As you wish, Missus Tavington," Ruth murmured, as she returned to the wardrobe to get the required item. The young servant preferred wearing jumps to stays most of the time herself.
Within a short time, the newly married woman was ready to go. As she headed to the door, she told Ruth, "Make sure one of the men carries our things downstairs so they can be put onto the pack horses. After that, have cook to prepare us some food to take on the trip."
After the servant had rushed off to carry out her orders, Charlotte picked up a valise which contained all her jewellery, as she did not wish to leave it behind during the unsettled conditions that prevailed during wartime. During the trip to the plantation, however, the only jewellery she'd wear would be the wedding ring William had given her. She'd kept the old band John Selton had given her for sentimental reasons, but she'd never wear it again.
Satisfied that all was in order, she shut the door behind her for the last time before making her way downstairs to have breakfast with William.
The newlyweds ate breakfast hastily, eager to be off on their journey. As they rose from the table to leave, Tavington told Charlotte, "I've had a standard saddle put on your horse. You'll have better control that way and will be able to move faster if need be than on a sidesaddle. I hope that won't be a problem for you?"
"Oh, no," Charlotte assured him. "I'll be fine. I rode astride all the time as a girl growing up." After a pause, she added, "I'd much rather assure my safety than my modesty in any instance."
"Quite right," Tavington agreed briskly. "And you shouldn't be showing much more than your ankles and lower calves riding astride, anyway."
Nearly an hour later, they were proceeding steadily inland, heading north from the outskirts of Charles Town. Charlotte rode alongside William, with James Wilkins on the other side of her and Captain Bordon directly behind. Ruth rode double with a young cornet, alongside Captain Bordon. Two hundred and fifty dragoons accompanied them, so Charlotte felt quite safe. Indeed, it was obvious that the sight and sound of the large dragoon group thundering past was intimidating to people they'd encountered as they occasionally passed small farms. She'd noticed mothers grabbing their children as they approached, shepherding them inside, while the men also found reasons to make themselves scarce while the horsemen passed.
William Tavington made careful note of each farm they passed, but did not intend to stop and investigate them at this particular time, unless there was a strong indication of treasonous activity, as he wanted to get Charlotte safely to her plantation first. They'd not yet reached the area that the Lord General had indicated was the prime trouble spot, so the dragoon leader felt justified in taking this particular course of action at the present time. He had a small detachment of dragoons scouting ahead for any possible trouble spots, plus some others reconnoitering the surrounding areas.
It was a clear, sunny day and it had not rained in some time, so the dragoons made swift progress toward their destination. Their pace was somewhat slower than Tavington would like, so as to allow Charlotte to keep up with the dragoons, but not so slow that they shouldn't reach her home by nightfall. He was delighted at how good of a horsewoman his new wife had proven to be.
Shortly before noon, one of the dragoons, who'd been scouting ahead for a good place to stop for the midday meal, appeared out of the woods and came riding swiftly to his commander.
"Sir, there's a farm about a mile up ahead,' the young dragoon reported once he was alongside Tavington and had adjusted his horse's pace to conform with that of the group.. "It's about average size. I saw a farmhouse, barn, five slave shacks, and a few outbuildings. The farmer was working the fields, along with a handful of slaves. The wife was out front doing laundry, and there were a few kids each doing chores. I also noticed a creek running behind the property that should be sufficient for watering the horses."
"Thank you, Private," Tavington briefly acknowledged, after which the younger man rode off to rejoin the group.
Turning back to Charlotte, he said, "I'd imagine you're more than ready to take a break. We'll stop at that farm ahead for about an hour or so, to eat and rest while the men water the horses."
"Oh, yes," Charlotte agreed with a small smile. "I'll be quite glad to get off this horse for a while and walk around."
"If we are in luck, the woman of the house will have the noon meal ready when we arrive," he told her.
"Do you suppose she'll offer to feed us?" she asked doubtfully. "After all, we brought plenty of food with us."
"Whether or not she offers, she will feed you and I, plus Bordon and Wilkins," the dragoon said confidently. "It is the duty of every citizen to come to the aid of the King's soldiers. It's not as if I expect every dragoon to be given a meal, though we will use their creek for the horses." After a pause, he continued, "And I would imagine they will be inclined to be hospitable, considering that I am accompanied by such a fine lady."
Charlotte gave him a sly smile,, then murmured, "Perhaps the lady of the house will be dazzled by your dashing masculine appeal instead."
"Perhaps," he agreed, returning her grin. "But in either instance, we will not go hungry."
A short time later, the dragoon unit arrived at the farm at a fast canter. Tavington noticed that as soon as the woman of the house noticed their approach, she urgently whispered something to a boy around eight years old, who then ran off in the direction of the fields behind the barn. The dragoon commander made a mental note of this, then turned to Bordon and said, "Have some men look around discreetly to see if they can come up with any evidence of rebel activity."
"Yes, sir," Bordon acknowledged. Bordon was a master of stealth and if there was anything irregular about this homestead, James Bordon was the man to find it.
Tavington then turned to Wilkins. "Do you know these people?"
"No, sir," the other man replied. "I can't say that I do. But I'll keep my ears open and perhaps one of them will say something to give me a hint as to their associations."
"Good," Tavington said. "You'll stick close to the farmer, while Bordon will slip away to supervise a investigation of the property."
As the column of dragoons reached the house, Charlotte saw a tired-looking, rawboned woman clad in a rumpled shortgown and petticoat outfit protectively gather her remaining three children around her. She looked up at Tavington nervously, trying to hide the fear that she felt.
At the same time, an equally weary man, dirty from his labours, came loping toward the farmhouse with his son following close behind. He glanced over his shoulder one time at a middle aged slave standing in the doorway to the barn, who gave his master an almost imperceptible nod.
Tavington noticed the exchange between the two men. Speaking in a low tone, he said to Bordon, "Did you notice that?"
His second in command nodded affirmatively. "I'll check into it."
Turning his attention back to the farm couple, Tavington addressed the husband, who now stood in front of his wife and children, in a vain attempt to shield them.
"What do you need?" the farmer asked Tavington nervously. "I haven't done anything wrong. I'm just a farmer trying to mind my own business and feed my family."
"I didn't say that you had," Tavington replied smoothly, raising an eyebrow. "Just so long as you are loyal to King and Country." After a meaningful pause, the dragoon looked him straight in the eye and demanded, "You are loyal, are you not?"
"Y-yes, sir," the farmer hastily affirmed. "I have no interest in fighting your men."
"Excellent," Tavington said, as he removed his riding gloves. "I am Colonel William Tavington of His Majesty's Green Dragoons and the reason we have stopped at your farm is to rest our horses and to take the noon meal. Might I know your name?"
"I am Elijah Draper." the other man supplied. He did not introduce Tavington to his wife and children.
After briefly nodding at the man's reluctant introduction, Tavington continued, "My men will require the use of your creek to water the horses." Looking at Draper's wife for the first time, then indicating Charlotte with one hand, he said, "My wife and I, and a couple of my officers will eat with your family. I trust that you have a meal ready or nearly so?:
Glancing anxiously at her husband, who gave her a nod, she replied, "Yes, sir. I have a stew cooking and there's some fresh bread."
"Excellent," Tavington said, as he dismounted.
"I'm sure it will be quite lovely," Charlotte said with an encouraging smile to the farm woman, after Tavington had helped her down from the horse.. She did not notice the woman narrow her eyes slightly to hear Charlotte's South Carolina accent
Taking his wife's hand to follow the farm couple inside, he gestured to Lieutenant Ogilvie. "You're with us." He then indicated for a couple of dragoons to precede the farm family into their home, then motioned to a few others to remain in front of the house, along with Ruth. Bordon unobtrusively slipped away to take a discreet look around the homestead.
A few minutes later, the Tavingtons sat around the roughly fashioned wooden table, along with Wilkins and Ogilvie, eating the stew Mrs Draper had reluctantly dished up for them. The farmer stood awkwardly by the fireplace, as his uninvited guests ate the meal intended for his family. His wife busied herself with feeding the children and had also fixed a plate for Ruth to eat outside, sending the oldest girl to take it to her.
As he ate, Tavington noticed the farmer several times taking surreptitious looks out the window. This wouldn't do, as he didn't want the man to see Bordon searching his property.
Turning toward the farmer, Tavington asked suddenly, "So, what do you know about partisan activity in this area? Do you think any of your neighbours have joined the rebel militia. I've heard reports of recruiting activities in this area."
"I haven't heard of such doings," Draper insisted. "Of course, I mind my own business and keep busy tendin' to my farm. I don't have the time to runnin' all over the countryside worrying about politics when I've got a family to feed. Farmin' takes all my time."
Tavington exchanged a glance with Wilkins, raising one eyebrow. Neither man believed the farmer was as clueless as to what went on in the area as he was trying to portray.
"Is that so?" Tavington said to the farmer. "Somehow, I find it hard to believe that you can be so ignorant about your neighbours' activities.
Draper exchanged a meaningful glance with his wife, who began to edge toward the door.
The dragoon leader turned his attention to the retreating woman. "Where are you going, Mrs Draper?" Tavington demanded in a deceptively soft voice. "Don't you know it's rude to leave one's guests unattended?"
"I need to fetch more water," she explained.
"Oh, that can wait," Tavington purred. "Do come sit down. I insist."
At hearing their commander's words, two dragoons who had come in with the group casually drifted toward the door, effectively blocking the exit. The Drapers would not be leaving their home until the Colonel gave the word.
A short time later, Bordon's head appeared in the doorway. The dragoon guards parted to allow him entrance, then took up their former positions.
"A word with you, Colonel, if I may?" Bordon said in a low voice.
After excusing himself and beckoning to Charlotte and Wilkins to follow them outside, Tavington turned to Bordon as soon as they were out of earshot of the farm couple, who remained under guard inside, and asked, "Well? Did you find anything?"
"Oh, yes," Bordon assured him smugly. "I found a sizable cache of muskets and rifles hidden in the barn covered with hay, behind some farm equipment. I questioned the slave who'd been left guarding the barn and after a bit of persuasion, he revealed everything to me. He also told me that his master recently had a visit from Thomas Sumter himself and some of his men, who'd left the weapons here for safekeeping." After a pause, Bordon laughed sardonically, then said, "It seems as if Draper is a cruel master, so the slave was only too willing to betray him."
"Good work, Bordon," Tavington enthusiastically told his second in command. "Get some men to collect the weapons, assign some others to fire the house and barn, Have some men to take anything of value, particularly horses. We'll hang Draper, but make sure to pick a spot to do it where Mrs Tavington won't have to witness it. Tell the slave he can take anything he wants from the house before it's fired as a reward for the information and I'll write him out a pass that should see him and his family safely to British lines. Tell him, there will be a job serving the King waiting for him when he gets there. Also, leave one of the slave shacks standing for Mrs Draper and the children and leave them enough food to get by with until some of their own people check on them."
"Right away, sir," Bordon said, then hurried off to assign dragoons to attend to the various tasks.
Giving his attention to Wilkins, he said. "Have the Drapers brought outside."
After Wilkins had left to carry out Tavington's order, Tavington turned to a burly sergeant. "I'll need you and a couple of men to stay here to guard Mrs Tavington and her maid. Be ready to mount up at a moment's notice."
"Yes, sir," the man said, coming to attention.
Walking over to Charlotte, who was standing a small distance away under a tree with Ruth, Tavington took her hands and spoke to her quietly, "We've run into a few complications here, I'm afraid. It seems that the Drapers aren't Loyal, after all, as Captain Bordon has found some weapons Draper had been stockpiling for the rebels. I must mete out the proper punishment, as is my duty. I ask that you remain here with the sergeant and these men, for your own protection. We'll be leaving shortly, so be ready to mount up."
"All right, William," Charlotte said softly, briefly putting a gentle hand on his arm.. "Please, be careful."
A moment later, two dragoons hustled the Drapers out into the yard, followed by Wilkins and Ogilvie, along with four anxious children.
Tavington walked slowly around the nervous farmer, giving him a hard gaze as he did so. "It seems you lied to me when you told me you were a Loyalist," Tavington said in a deceptively soft voice. Whirling around suddenly, the dragoon leader snarled, "Did you think I was simple and would not discover your deception?"
"I d-don't know what you're talking about," Draper protested uselessly.
"Don't you?" Tavington demanded coldly. "Let's refresh your memory, shall we?" Gesturing to the dragoon who held his arm to bring him along, the group headed to the barn.
Charlotte watched apprehensively, as her husband and several dragoons escorted Elijah Draper to the barn, followed by his terrified wife and children. She knew her husband was merely carrying out the duty that had been entrusted to him, but she couldn't help but feel a sorry for the wife and family.
Moments later, the dragoons shoved Draper into the barn, where Bordon was waiting with the uncovered cache of weaponry. Other dragoons prevented Mrs Draper and the children from entering the barn.
Tavington yanked up a Brown Bess musket from the pile and brandished it at Draper. "Well?" he demanded. "It seems you forgot to mention these when I asked you about rebel activity in the area."
"I never saw those before in my life!" Draper insisted unconvincingly. "I don't know how they got there!"
Rolling his eyes, Tavington said, "Elijah Draper, you are guilty of treason. The sentence is death by hanging, to be carried out immediately." He gestured to two dragoons who dragged the hapless farmer back outside to a large tree on the side of the barn opposite from the one that faced the farmhouse.
Other dragoons had already suspended a rope from the tree and fashioned a noose. At the sight of the rope, Draper uselessly struggled to get away from his captors. Soon, however, he was under the tree, where dragoons quickly bound his hands.
Realizing he could not avoid his fate, Draper called out to his wife, "Mattie! Don't let the children see this!" Giving his family one last glance, he said, "I love you all."
"I love you, too," she called out before hustling the children around the other side of the barn.
A horse was brought under the tree, after which the condemned man was hoisted upon it, then the rope around his neck tautened. After a nod from Tavington, one dragoon slapped the horse's flank. The horse ran, leaving Elijah Draper dangling in the air.
Death came quickly for the rebel farmer. After Tavington was certain that he was dead, he turned away and began heading back to the farmhouse, where Charlotte waited for him. Dragoons were already carrying out the other tasks he'd ordered.
As he headed to the house, Mattie Draper followed behind him, "Please, sir! What is to become of us?"
Not breaking stride, Tavington told her, "Perhaps you should have chosen a husband who would have remained loyal to the King." After a pause, he muttered. "I have ordered that one of the slave shacks be left for you and your children, along with sufficient food. It should be enough to last you for awhile." The dragoon quickened his pace, creating distance between himself and the grieving woman.
As he reached the house, dragoons had just set it ablaze. Looking back toward the barn, he saw that the last of the weapons had been removed and distributed among his men, after which they threw several torches inside.
"Mount up," he told the dragoons by the house, then helped Charlotte to mount. Within moments, the dragoon troop was once more on its way, leaving devastation in its wake.
Quite some time later, Tavington belatedly realized that Charlotte had said little since leaving the Draper farm. Turning to his wife, he said, "Let's ride ahead a little bit."
Once the couple was out of earshot of the other dragoons, Tavington asked, "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"I'm fine," she said. "Just somewhat tired, that is all."
"Please speak freely," Tavington urged. "I know you have something on your mind."
"Very well, then," Charlotte relented. Taking a deep breath, she continued in a low voice, "I don't mean to tell you your duty, but I was wondering why you couldn't have taken that man prisoner instead of hanging him? I felt so sorry for his wife and children."
Tavington exhaled a gusty sigh. He loved Charlotte's gentle, compassionate nature, so he could not be angry with her for her question. After a long moment, he replied, "He was guilty of treason, and the sentence for that is death. I'm afraid that the rules of war leave little room for compassion, my dear."
"Should he not at least have had a trial?" she asked softly. "Could you not have given him quarter and then let him be dealt with back at headquarters?"
"If he'd been a uniformed Continental soldier, then, yes," Tavington explained. "But the man was a partisan, thus deserving no quarter." After a pause, he concluded, "But the quick death I gave him is certainly more merciful than the slow death he would have had rotting away in the prison hulks."
"I understand,' she said slowly. "But I hate it. War is such a terrible business."
"Yes, it is," Tavington agreed. "That is why I intend to do my duty swiftly and to the best of my abilities to help bring it to a close as quickly as possible,"
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Author's Note: The word "partisan" in the 18th century was used much like we use the word "terrorist" today. Prisoners taken by the British were mainly held in the holds of old ships, referred to as "prison hulks", which were anchored in Charles Town. They were hot, crowded, rat infested and damp. Combined with scant and often spoiled rations, many did not survive this ordeal.
No one guessed the origin of the chapter title "Haste to the Wedding". I got it from a chapter of the same name in Laura Ingalls Wilder's "These Happy Golden Years".
I've posted a new blog entry, "More Clothing Notes", that corresponds to this chapter. You can access my blog from my profile.
Next Chapter: An Arrival and a Skirmish
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