The Glorious Cause (48 page)

Lafayette could hear urgency in the man’s voice, tried to see his expression.

“You sent the general . . . you believe we are to be attacked?”

“Those are professionals out there, Mr. Lafayette! The very notion that your outrageous band of amateurs, these farmers, can dare to stand in the same field with the might of King George’s finest soldiers! The more I consider the arrogance . . . Washington, Greene, the rest of you! Tell me,
General
Lafayette, what do you know of the British army? What have you come here to do? You dare to hope that these militia will make some brave show? We cannot stand up to them on this ground or any other.”

He fought through the shock of Lee’s words, felt a hot burn on his face. He stared down through the darkness, said in a low voice, “Sir, we have . . .
you
have General Washington’s orders. We are to attack the British in the morning. Do you intend to carry out those orders?”

Lee’s voice burst out across the field. “How dare you question me! Certainly! I will follow the instructions I have been given!” He leaned closer, said, “Let me advise you,
General
Lafayette. I will bear no responsibility for the outcome. I have warned Washington, and I am warning you.”

N
EAR
M
ONMOUTH
C
OURT
H
OUSE,
J
UNE 28, 1778

They began the march at three o’clock, none of the commanders having received orders as to their places on the field. By the first light, they could see the ground before them, deep, winding ravines, roadways cutting through on narrow causeways, curving stretches of high ground. Beyond the ravines were high rolling fields, and farther still, the small village, the main road cutting through small houses and the one large courthouse. He could see the vast field was alive with motion, that what had begun as the British march had been abruptly halted, vast formations of red-coated troops forming to receive them. He was surprised to see that the Americans, who had actually marched beyond the British position, were in position to cut off their march completely, turn the lead units back into their main body. He glassed the wide field with a rising excitement, thought, This is truly a . . . marvelous opportunity. With enough of a thrust, they may be driven completely away from this ground, with no escape but the way they have come. He looked to the west, the sky still dull gray. He knew Washington would be on the move already. If there is good fortune on this ground, General, you will arrive in time to confront disarray in the enemy lines. The result could be a perfect rout!

Several of the regiments had crossed over the last of the ravines, and the larger body of men was swarming along the causeways in tight precision, the astounding result of von Steuben’s good work. Lee was riding the ridges, and Lafayette moved with him, could only wonder about the man’s strange temperament, none of last night’s doubts evident in Lee’s actions. The brigadiers were sending word in now, aides for Maxwell and Varnum, Grayson, Stewart and Wayne, all seeking orders, some final command that would send the great wave forward against an enemy who was already showing signs of disorder. Lee listened to the requests, sat firmly, silently, raised his field glasses, said, “What are they doing? Is that . . . who is that? Wayne? Varnum? He is too far advanced. Order those men on that rise to countermarch! Where is Grayson?”

The swirl of men around Lee seemed to settle into a strange paralysis, and Lafayette said, “I will find out, sir.”

He had no orders, spurred the horse away from the huddled couriers, rode along a narrow strip of high ground. The field beyond was now a mass of troops, a solid line of white and brown. He reached the field, rode hard, the horse skipping through short grass, saw horsemen near the crest of the hill, moved that way. He would not allow himself anger, not yet, the ground in front of him too near an eruption of chaos. He could see Wayne, shouted as he reined the horse, “What is your situation, General?”

“My situation? See for yourself! The enemy is pulling away! They’re giving ground, and we haven’t begun the attack! Do you have orders? Are we to attack?”

He could see beyond the lines of Wayne’s men, scattered groups of red, some moving behind fences, others slipping into patches of woods. Far up on the main road, a column was advancing, flags and horses, more British troops moving to the field. My God, the time is . . . now! We should reinforce these men! He gripped the reins in frustration, said, “We have no orders, General Wayne! General Lee is concerned you are too far in advance!”

“Too far . . . ? By damn, send me another brigade, and I will sweep the enemy off this ground! What manner of plan is there?”

Lafayette could see the faces of the men, the good troops watching him, hearing the words of their commander.

“I have nothing to tell you, General Wayne, except . . . in the judgment of General Lee, you are in the wrong position.”

“Well, then, sir, you may go back to General Lee and advise him I will correct my error.”

Wayne spun his horse around, moved out in front of his men, shouted, “Do you see the enemy?”

The line erupted into a loud cheer, and he caught Wayne’s eye, a quick nod, the man now turning away, his sword in the air, his troops moving in one sharp line toward the uncertain formations of the British.

Lafayette would not watch, knew that Wayne was right, but it was only one brigade, and the enemy would surely re-form. He pulled the horse back toward the ravine, his heart pounding in his ears, thought, Lee has no plan! There is no plan at all! He is sending orders to men he has never met, to troops he has never seen, in positions he has not scouted. God help us, this day may depend on the brigadiers, after all!

The fight was beginning along Wayne’s front, more of the British units coming into line. He drove the horse furiously along the pathway, could see a rising cloud of smoke sweeping across the field, drifting toward the deep ravines.

Far to his right, a new line of British troops was advancing, bayonets forward, and he held up the horse, searched for Wayne, could see a swath of white in the field, a burst of smoke and flame, volley after volley finding targets Lafayette could not see. The fresh British troops began to shift position, seeking their avenue into the fight, and Lafayette was suddenly jolted by a sharp blast, grabbed the horse’s mane, pulled himself around. There were cannon now, guns firing across the ravine, more guns unlimbering, turning into position. They began to fire in regular rhythm, and he pushed the horse down into the low ground, then climbed up, the sulfur smoke choking him. He reached the level ground again, could see Knox moving among the guns, and he rode that way, Knox aiming the guns, the round man animated, cheering his men. The British began to answer, and he felt the air ripped above him, a sharp whine, solid shot punching the ground. Knox began to wave at him frantically, and he thought, Yes, this is not the place to be. He could see the British across the ravine, the perfect formation shattered, men drifting away up the rise, some already over the crest. Knox continued to fire his guns, and Lafayette searched through the smoke, tried to see Wayne, could see only swaths of white shirts, men with bayonets, still advancing, still driving forward. He turned to Knox, shouted through the cannon fire, “What are your orders? Has General Lee placed you here?”

Knox looked at him, smiled, pointed toward the British, said, “I am to place my guns to the greatest advantage. I do not require General Lee’s guidance on that account.”

Across the ravine, the firing was slowing, the smoke beginning to clear, and he searched again, could see men on horseback, thought, I must report to General Lee what has happened. Knox had ceased firing, the targets too few, and Lafayette spurred the horse back toward the ravine, crossed the narrow path again. He rode hard, moved toward the horsemen, saw Wayne watching him, and as he slowed, Wayne said, “Well? What of Varnum? Where is Scott? I have heard nothing from Lee, not a word!”

Lafayette had no answer for him, said, “I have not as well. I last observed Varnum countermarching . . . back there. Scott was to have advanced on your left flank.”

“Well, I don’t see him, do you? Countermarching? What in hell is Lee doing?”

“General Wayne, I do not believe General Lee is aware of your disposition.”

“Well, you may tell him that my men are very aware! Those were Cornwallis’ troops over there! And we ran ’em out of the field! They’ll be back before long, and will probably have half of Clinton’s army with ’em! You go back to General Lee and tell him we need troops on this ground now! Sir!”

Wayne was shaking in anger, and Lafayette said, “I will go. Try to hold here if you can.”

There was musket fire now, more smoke rising farther to the left, along the ravine. Wayne shouted something, moved back toward his men, and Lafayette spurred the horse. The air was cut by a sharp thunder again, and he could see Knox in motion, the guns shifting position.

He drove the horse hard again, one eye on the thick lather that coated the animal’s neck, slowed as he moved past Knox, tried to see out to the other flank, the men who should be advancing. But the brush was too dense, and clouds of smoke were still drifting through the ravines. He patted the wetness on the horse, but there was no time for gentleness, and he pushed back across the middle ravine. He expected to see Lee where he had left him, but the ground was empty. He pushed on, could see a narrow trail, thick with fresh troops, thought, Who? Varnum? Dickinson? He turned the horse, moved in behind them, but the men were not holding formation, were milling around. Lafayette saw Charles Scott, the Virginian, sitting high on a horse, staring out toward the sound of Knox’s guns, and he moved close, said, “General Scott, are you to advance? General Wayne has made a sharp fight, he requires protection on his flank.”

Scott looked at him, and Lafayette saw disgust, the man pointing back toward the main road.

“That man has given me no orders to advance. I have done nothing but march these men back and forth. I was instructed to take command of Varnum’s brigade, and someone else would take command here! It’s madness! The man’s back there spitting out instructions like he’s never been on a field of fire! If Wayne commences another fight, I will move these men out there on my own authority!”

Moving away, Scott began to gather his officers, giving his own instructions. Lafayette felt helpless, looked back toward the main road, thought, How can this be happening? I must find him!

He crossed the last ravine, moved toward the road. He could hear a swelling tide of musket fire behind him, looked out across the open ground again, his view blocked by distant clouds of smoke. There was more musket fire far to the left, another confrontation with troops led by someone . . . who? He felt himself losing control. I must know. Does anyone know? Far down the road he saw Lee, a cluster of officers, and he spurred the horse, passed by another regiment still in the road, a formation doing nothing. He reached Lee, saw the man sitting on his horse, watching calmly as the small eruptions of fire opened beyond the rugged ground.

“Sir! On the right flank, General Wayne has driven the enemy back. But they are forming for a counterattack. General Wayne requests reinforcements.”

Lee seemed calm, looked past him, shouted, “Where is General Scott? Did he not receive my order to march to the left?”

The aides were scrambling, men arriving from all directions, a cascade of questions, and Lee said, “Enough! Gentlemen, there is no cause for confusion! We must determine where our greatest strength lies.” He seemed to see Lafayette for the first time.

“Did you say Wayne? What in the devil is Wayne doing out there? Did I not order him to pull back? He is certainly too far in advance.”

“Sir, General Wayne’s brigade has driven the enemy! If we provide reinforcements, he is certain to carry that part of the field. General Knox has placed his cannon in a most advantageous position. They must be protected!”

The sounds of musket fire were increasing, rolling toward them, and Lafayette turned toward the fight, could see nothing for the wave of smoke. The cannon began to punch the air again, and Lafayette turned to Lee, said, “Sir! We must move closer! The enemy is sure to counterattack! We must coordinate the brigades! I would suggest, sir, a general advance, all along the line! The enemy is not yet formed! The advantage is ours, sir!”

Lee stared past him toward the smoke, seemed to focus for a moment, raised his field glasses, said, “We cannot stand against them. We have no choice. We must retreat.”