When we was disembarked, we marched along the eastern Shore of Hog Island, making for its far End, where we would ford a few feet of Water to Noddle’s. We could see — at some half mile’s Distance — other Patriot bands similarly headed.
We forded over to Noddle’s Island across the low Channel, climbing up the Rocks in double File, crouched like Crabs for Footing. Having gained this second Island, we proceeded to cross to its other Side to advance, we fearing the Tory Mansions at the far end, which should be able to spy us, did we keep to the eastern Shore. We marched another mile or so Silent, with the dire Expectation of Grapeshot & Cannonade. Still, no Missile interrupted the Scene, which was only the Grasses & the Cattle & Swallows above a few gray Trees.
Then heard we on the Sea Wind the Whicker of Sheep; & there burst over the Crest of a Hill a powerful Load of them with Patriots behind them whooping & swinging Switches, driving them to the Channel. Parliament’s Sheep were thick about us & so was their cries, too, & we raised our Hands and Muskets & laughed as they passed, to feel the Running & Bumbling of these Beasts all about us, scampering on the Clods.
Near Silence fell after they was passed, the Silence of the Grass & the Sky; & in that Silence, there was a distant Crackle.
Nought to it. A distant Popping. The Sjt. ordered Shem mount the Hilltop & survey. Shem come running back down & told us that the Enemy was alerted up & that Smoke arose from the far End of the Island & that they was on the Move.
We kept forward, though, moving toward them, and came upon a Valley with a Farm House of Stone, fallen to Bits, & a Paddock of Horses. As you can reckon, I was full by now of Apprehension & everywhere in the Grass & Hollows saw Redcoats. Capt. Draper desired we Requisition the Horses for the Cause — most, to deprive the Enemy — but no one had the slightest Halter to lead the Horses with, & they appeared greatly skittish from the Detonation of some few Minutes before. There was much Argument, & Mr. Wheeler saying to try to drive the Horses, & others saying leave them; finally Capt. Draper raising his Voice & saying we could not leave, without we had completed our Commission — and so he ordered we Shoot the poor Beasts.
It was no orderly Execution but rather a Rout; & it was Pitiable. In the first Volley, Mares spun, Legs broken, Skulls crushed, & the rest charged the far Wall of the Paddock & leaped it or crashed through it & coursed up the Hillside away from us. In the 2nd Volley more collapsed screaming & the Hollow was now filled with Smoke & at the 3rd Volley the wretched Brutes were dragged howling back down the Hill by their own dead Quarters & their Foals blasted & splayed. Mares cried for their own particular Young & struggled to drag their broken Limbs through the Grass.
Our gruesome Task complete, shattered Horses still screaming on the Hillside, we was ordered to Retreat & did so, around the Hill, and run — i’faith, I have never run so swift — over the Fields. We passed other Corrals, now emptied. Smoke was thick & black & gray & white against the Grasses.
The Corporal was in a pet with Capt. Draper, saying that slaying the Horses had been an infernal Waste of Powder & Shot; to which Capt. Draper replied sharply, “You shall be another.”
We passed through Valleys & over Hillocks of Grass & saw Smoke ahead of us.
We came to a Barn that burned full of Hay. Patriots were ringed about it, devastating the Fields with their Torches. The Meadow was a-fire. Flames snapped all around them & the Smoke was great & the Men skipped backwards through the Grass like Morris-dancers, trailing their flaming Pickets.
We fled onwards.
Now we came to the north-western Shore of the Isle. We could see the wide Channel & even Boston-Town, & — my God, I do not jest — there, drawing up, was a Sloop & a Schooner, discharged Boats with Parliament’s Marines to protect their seized Animals.
We still had a Mile, we reckoned, before we reached the Channel to Hog Island & from thence back to Land.
We was sore afraid & wished only to get off these infernal Islands alive, & Sis, well can ye see the Boundary-stone of my Valor here — that it is set too close to the comfortable Dooryard, the Garden-Gate, the Pipe & Can of Flip.
Now, the Fires having greatly advanced, Livestock was pouring out of the Folds of the Hills down towards Hog Island without any Human Encouragement. Drovers were already there, ushering them across the Current between the Isles.
We reached the Stream & begun to Ford the Sheep, John & Shem butting Heads with Rams. For some Half an Hour we splashed in the Sea Water between the Isles.
Another Detachment of Militia broke from the Hillside & beat their way towards us. They hollered that the Marines came on apace & that we had best flee. Oh, Shun, you scarce can think of the Panic this Word occasioned.
We hurled ourselves across the Ford, waist-deep, & the Current running thick and strong with the Tide — & I slipped & almost dropped my Musket — had not Prince been standing by & seized my Arm & guided me. (May he be similarly propped by Hands Angelical.)
The Ships now fired upon the Shore. We was terrified of the Grapeshot, which we could hear Strike the Sand — so when we gained Hog Island Shore, we hurled ourselves into a Ditch quivering & there remained.
Twelve of us lay there without Speech, sensible always of the Crack of Gunshots & the Blast of the Cannon. Bewildered dumb Beasts wandered by, bleating.
Shun — as I lied there, devoid of Motion, besieged by Greenhead Flies, which Insects took no Mercy, but charged from the Sand & bit us like Voluptuaries — I thought only of you & Ma & how all I did must tend towards your Protection. I cast us already in a Time after this War, when I shall be Home & we shall work together in the Garden & jest — and I shall tell these Tales — & I beat at Heaven’s Gates, demanding that such a Time should come, and me ALIVE.