"I wish it was always this easy," Banastre Tarleton said to William Tavington two days later as they started back toward Camden from Fishing Creek. Laughing heartily, he continued, "Who would have thought that Sumter would be as incompetent as Gates?"
"They outnumbered us nearly eight to one, yet we routed them soundly, hardly breaking a sweat doing so," Tavington noted, grinning fiercely. "It's a very good thing Sumter didn't have the sense to establish sufficient pickets. And the ones he did have didn't see us until it was too late!"
"I've always maintained that the element of surprise is often the decisive element in winning a battle, especially against superior numbers," Ban said. "It's important to keep them off balance. And that's why I drive my men as hard as I can, so we can turn up where we're least expected and be all over the rebels before they have time to react sufficiently. It worked well at Lenud's Ferry and it worked well again here!" After a pause, he added, "You know my motto: 'Swift, vigilant, and bold'."
"It seems to have worked well for you so far," Tavington agreed. "And it's worked when I've applied the same tactics as well."
With a short bark of laughter, Tarleton pointed out, "Why, we nearly caught Sumter with his breeches literally down! As it is, he just managed to get away by the skin of his teeth, having to leave his boots and tack behind."
Both men laughed uproariously at the notion of the Gamecock jumping barefoot onto an unsaddled horse in his haste to flee.
"Today certainly has not been his lucky day," Tavington noted, still chuckling, as he gestured to several wagons stuffed with supplies lumbering behind them.. "He captured a goodly number of our men and a supply train yesterday, only to have us show up and take it all back today, plus take 300 of his men prisoner."
"And what a haul!" Tarleton enthused. "Between Gates' baggage train and what we took today, we'll be well-stocked for some time to come." Laughing again, he added, "I think that when I return to England at the end of all of this, I could have quite a career ahead of me as a highwayman!"
Tavington chuckled at the younger man's imagination. "Would you be a modern day Robin Hood and steal from the rich to give to the poor?" he asked. "Somehow, that doesn't quite fit. I rather think you'd simply steal from everyone to make yourself rich."
"Naturally," Tarleton replied, grinning roguishly. "I can just imagine all the women swooning over me if I wore long green hose, too."
"They already swoon over you now!" Tavington laughed.
"What can I say?" Tarleton asked rhetorically. "I just have a way with the ladies. And it's not as if you don't do just as well with them yourself."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A couple of days later, the dragoons neared Camden along with their men and the long wagon train of re-captured supplies and prisoners. The dragoons could have made much better time, but they'd been limited by the plodding pace of the wagons and men on foot. Fortunately, they'd be able to cut most of the slower elements loose at Camden and would be able to pick up the pace for the rest of the trip to Fort Carolina.
Though it was only mid-afternoon, Tavington yawned loudly, worn out from so many days living out of the saddle.
"Tired, Will?" Ban inquired, looking a bit weary himself.
"A little," the other dragoon admitted. "I'll be glad to get back to the fort and be able to sleep in a real bed again." Frowning, he continued, "But there will be at least one more night of sleeping on the ground, as we'll still have some of the damned supply wagons with us all the way to the fort."
"I've got a better idea than that," Ban told him. "Why don't you and I stay overnight here in Camden after we turn over the prisoners and supply wagons? I happen to know just the perfect inn in Camden where we can relax and engage in a fine bit of debauchery. It has a tavern on the bottom floor and a brothel right next door.
"I know the place," Tavington replied, chuckling lowly. "It sounds like just exactly what I need."
"We'll have us a good meal, drink some booze, play some cards, and then each find a willing woman to bed down with for the night," Tarleton said eagerly. "And in the morning, with our horses equally well rested, we'll be easily able to catch up with the rest of the group."
"Sounds like an excellent plan," Tavington agreed. "But I think I'll have the good meal with just a bit of ale, then off to bed with a comely wench. I don't have the blunt to gamble with, nor do I care to wake with a hangover in the morning."
"Suit yourself," Tarleton said, shrugging.
About an hour and a half later, they turned the prisoners over at Camden's stockade and had also left most of the supply wagons at the garrison in town. Tavington and Tarleton had each instructed their dragoons to keep going with the infantry and the now smaller wagon train to where the group would camp on the southern outskirts of Camden.
Once all this was done, the two dragoon colonels rode down the street to the inn at a leisurely pace. There was a stable conveniently located just across the street from the inn, so after making sure their horses were comfortably stabled for the night, they made their way inside the inn. After paying for their rooms, the two men went through a door into the tavern, which was located on the other side of the staircase that led to the rooms upstairs.
Sullivan's Tavern was full of British officers from several different units as the two dragoons entered the large room. If the noise level was anything to judge by, nearly everyone was having a raucously good time. Both Tavington and Tarleton each nodded perfunctorily at men they knew as they made their way to an empty table in a corner.
No sooner had they seated themselves than a buxom red-haired serving wench bustled up to wait on them.
Looking down on both men with a seductive smile, she said, "What will you handsome gentlemen have?"
"I think I'd like to have you, actually," Ban replied, pulling the laughing serving girl onto his lap.
Still laughing, as he reached under her petticoats, she eventually stood up after letting him get a bit of a feel. "All in good time, dear sir," she told him with a wink. "But you should eat something first, to make sure you have the stamina to handle me!"
"Oh, I'd be able to handle you, and a couple of your friends, besides," Ban bragged confidently.
The serving girl rolled her eyes at him, figuring it was mere braggadocio.
"It's true," Tavington put in. "He's well known at Fort Carolina for taking women on two and three at a time."
"How about you, Colonel?" she demanded, twitching her hips suggestively at him. "Do you think you can handle me?"
"Most assuredly," he promised her. "But, as you said, we need to have something to eat first. I'll have the special of the day, if you please. And I'll also have ale." Turning to Tarleton, he asked, "What do you want, Ban?"
"The same," the shorter dragoon replied, his eyes still fixed on the swaying backside of the serving wench.
"Coming right up," she said before hurrying off, looking once over her shoulder to wink at them.
"So, that's your choice of bed partner for the night?" Will asked Ban. "I think I would prefer to see who else is available first before making a decision."
"You don't find her attractive?" Ban asked, surprised.
"Oh, she's certainly comely enough, but considering we're only going to be here the one night, I would just prefer to know all my options first," the other dragoon reasoned. "And you never did answer my question."
"I think she's new here, so I'd like to give her a try," Ban told him. "At least I didn't see her on my last pass through here."
"Fair enough," Tavington conceded.
After leaving the dragoons' table, the serving girl headed to the back door to go out to the separate kitchen building that served both the tavern and the brothel. Both establishments were owned by one enterprising man, Brian Sullivan, who had previously driven freight wagons for the British army all through the French and Indian war.
As the red headed woman reached the door, she nearly collided with another serving girl intent on the same goal.
"Abby, look where you're going!" the other woman mildly scolded "I'll bet those two handsome dragoons have you completely addled." Putting an understanding hand on the other woman's shoulder as they walked to the kitchen, she confided, "But I don't blame you, though. I'd be a bit addled, too, if it had been those two that I'd waited on."
"I think the short, red-haired one is going to want me for tonight, Lucy," Abby confided. "He seemed very taken with me."
"Oh, you'll have a very good time with that one, let me tell you," Lucy told her with a wicked grin. "Do you know who he is?"
"No, I haven't a clue," Abby replied. "But he was very charming, that's for sure."
"It's 'Bloody Ban'," Lucy said "I've been with him before and he wore me out."
"I've heard of him," Abby ventured. "He's the one who gave the rebs a licking up at the Waxhaws some time back,"
"Well, it looks like that you're the one he's going to give a licking to next," Lucy said, with a lewd chuckle.
"I can hardly wait," Abby said, giggling. "Who was the other man with him? He looks like he could show a girl a good time, too."
"Oh, most definitely," Lucy told her with a knowing wink. "He's "Butcher" Tavington. I've been with him before, too. He's definitely well worth a tumble." After a pause, she said, "In fact, I think I'll go see if he wants my company tonight. And I'd better do it soon before one of the other girls gets to him, as he's quite the popular one around here."
"All right, then," Abby said as they entered the kitchen.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Some time and several ales apiece later, Ban and Will leaned back in their chairs, feeling comfortably full and content.
"Ahh, what a good meal," Tavington said, just before a satisfied belch erupted from his mouth. "It's too bad we can't take the cook back to the fort with us."
"It's probably just as well," Ban said, rubbing his stomach. "We'd all get fat eating this food all the time."
"No doubt," Tavington agreed ruefully.
"I'm about ready to go find a card game," Tarleton said, stretching his arms out before standing up. "I'll just have a peek in the back room to see if anyone is back there playing.. Are you with me, Will?"
"I think not," Tavington said, yawning. "And you probably shouldn't either, considering you didn't exactly leave the fort overburdened with funds. Personally, I'd much rather find a lusty wench and retire for the night."
"Maybe you're right," Tarleton said reluctantly. Brightening, he added, "A lusty wench does indeed sound like just the thing right now, now that you mention it."
"I'm going to get a bath first," Tavington decided. "I haven't had one since we left the fort and I know I stink."
"I'll see you bright and early in the morning, then," Ban said. "Have a good time."
"I intend to," the other dragoon said, turning to leave. As he headed to the door that led to the stairway going to the inn's rooms, he met the flame haired wench that had served them accompanied by a green-eyed brunette,
"Colonel," the serving girl greeted as she passed him. "I hope you enjoy your stay." She did not wait for his reply, but continued on, as she was intent on intercepting Ban Tarleton before he left the room.
Her brunette companion, however, stopped to speak to him. "Colonel Tavington?" she drawled in a sultry voice, as she leaned forward slightly.
"Yes?" He looked at the attractive woman closely for a moment, then almost belatedly recognized her. "Ah, yes, Lucy, I believe?"
"That's right," she said, smiling, pleased that the handsome dragoon had remembered her. Gesturing toward Abby, who was now laughing with Ban Tarleton, she continued, "Abby told me that you might be looking for company for tonight. I'm free tonight, if it pleases you."
Looking down at the emerald eyed woman and remembering the deliciously erotic night they'd spent together some weeks back when he'd last been on patrol in this area, he murmured in a husky voice. 'It does please me."
After reaching up to idly cup one breast, he continued, "But first, I need to get a bath, as I've been living out of the saddle for nearly a week now. If you would be so kind as to arrange to have a bath brought to me, you may join me in about an hour. I'm in room three."
"Yes, sir," she said. "I'll be there."
A half hour later, William Tavington was relaxing in the tub that slaves had brought to his room. His uniform was draped over a chair by an open window, where he hoped it would air out sufficiently.
He'd washed his hair first before the water got too dirty, and was now scrubbing off the effects of a week in the saddle on muddy and dusty roads. The dragoon stretched languidly in the tub, feeling like a new man as he stood and reached for a linen cloth to dry himself with.
As he combed out his long raven hair by the mirror, he idly thought that at least he would be returning to Charlotte tomorrow reasonably clean and well-rested, though he would want to bathe again before they celebrated their reunion properly.
A bold knock came at the door as he finished combing his hair, interrupting his pleasant reverie about tomorrow's reunion with his wife.
"Who is it?" Tavington called out.
"It's Lucy, sir," the young woman replied. "Are you ready for me?"
"Yes," he said, giving his hair a final few strokes. "Do come in." All thoughts of Charlotte immediately vanished, as his mind turned to the pleasures soon to come.
Lucy inhaled audibly when she entered the room and found a very naked William Tavington standing by the mirror, completely comfortable with his nudity.
"Like what you see?" He asked as he turned to allow her to view his rising erection. He was well aware of the effect he had on women and Lucy's reaction only served to increase his arousal.
"Oh, my, yes," she breathed. "I can't wait to have you inside me."
"Patience, my dear," he said smoothly, giving her a feral grin. "The sooner you remove your clothes, the sooner your wish will come true."
As Tavington seated himself on the sofa by the window, he leaned back to watch her disrobe. Aware of his scrutiny, Lucy made a show of it, removing each article of clothing in a dramatic fashion.
Once she stood completely naked before him, he gestured lazily to her. "Come here and get on your knees."
The young harlot obeyed quickly, positioning herself between Tavington's spread legs. Staring avidly at his rigid shaft, she took it gently into one hand.
"That's it, take it all in," he murmured lowly as her mouth descended upon his waiting cock. He pushed her head down further as he spoke, with his fingers entangled in her hair.
"Unnnh," he groaned as he felt the head touch the back of her throat. He leaned back, his head against the wall with eyes closed, as her tongue began its magic upon him.
For the next few minutes, as Lucy's head bobbed up and down, Tavington's world was reduced to the exquisite pleasure that her ministrations generated.
As he felt his pleasure inexorably spiralling toward completion, he suddenly pushed her head back. "Not like this," he growled.
Staggering to his feet, Tavington pulled her up and led her to the bed. He pushed her down to sit on the edge of the bed, then pulled both her legs high to place them over his shoulders. After bending his knees slightly and bracing them against the mattress, he entered her in one smooth movement, Once comfortably situated, he began to thrust, at first slowly and deliberately.
When he felt himself drawing near completion, he picked up the pace, now ready to come. This elicited blissful moans from Lucy, who was lying on her back looking up into his face, as he grunted with effort. Seconds later, his climax washed over him, and he came with one last, satisfied grunt.
He pulled out immediately, then went to retrieve a few coins from his jacket. Returning to sit beside Lucy, who was now sitting up on the bed, Tavington handed her the coins, then drawled, "I would ask you to stay the night, but I must leave rather early in the morning and I need to get some sleep."
Lucy dressed quickly and as she headed to the door to leave, Tavington said, "I enjoyed it, my sweet."
"So did I," she told him. "I hope you'll choose me again the next time you're in Camden."
"Most certainly," he assured her.
After Lucy had left, Tavington went to bed right away, even though it was not all that late. He fell asleep within moments, feeling content and satisfied, looking forward to returning to Charlotte at the fort.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Historical notes: The Battle of Fishing Creek took place two days after Camden. During his pursuit of Continental and militia stragglers from Camden and the capture of their baggage train, Tarleton got information about Sumter's whereabouts and decided to follow up on it.
Sumter, who was not at Camden, had heard of the American defeat there and had pulled back behind the Wateree River to avoid the British and had set up camp. He'd engaged the British twice on the day before his encounter with Tarleton, capturing prisoners and supply wagons. Not believing that any British pursuing from Camden could reach them this soon, the American camp was not alert to danger, and the security measures taken were decidedly insufficient.
Thomas Sumter's nickname, "Gamecock", was given because, despite his small stature, he was a fierce fighter, just like a gamecock.
Tarleton, who was well known for hard riding pursuits, had several of his infantrymen to ride double with his dragoons in order to cover the ground quickly and surprised Sumter and his men, who were essentially asleep at the switch. Sumter was indeed napping underneath a wagon and had to run for his life, not even having time to put his boots on or to saddle his horse.
The battle of Lenud's Ferry, fought the previous May, was another of Tarleton's signature "blitzkrieg" maneuvers. Acting on information from local loyalists, Tarleton surprised the Americans who had chosen this location as a resting place. He and his men raced into the American camp, cutting down the unprepared forces. Tarleton's opposite number, Lt. Col. William Washington had to run, or rather, swim for his life, when he jumped into the river to get away from Tarleton.
Tarleton adopted the motto "swift, vigilant, and bold" after participating as a knight in a mock medieval tournament during the Mischianza fete in Philadelphia in 1778, where he carried a trophy with these words inscribed on it.
"By the skin of one's teeth" and "booze" were both used during this time. I looked them up to make sure.
Brian Sullivan's previous occupation as a freight driver during the French and Indian War was patterned on that of the future American general, Daniel Morgan, who gave Tarleton "a devil of a whipping" at Cowpens in January of 1781.
"Airing out" sweaty clothes between washes was a common practice during this time.