28. CHAPTER XXVIII.
NEGOTIATIONS.
President Randolph sat alone in his chamber at the farm-house.
He was in the act of breaking the seal of a letter
just received from a friendly correspondent in the camp of
the enemy. This was Major S—, an aide-de-camp of the
late General Hudson. Major S— resolved to dissemble
for the purpose of serving his benefactor and his country,
and Ruffleton besought the Major to retain his position in
the staff. The letter ran as follows:
“Ruffleton has conspired with the British Government
for the overthrow of the Republic. The latter has stipulated
to furnish money, ships, and men, if need be. But time
will be required to consummate the treaty. More British
ships are daily expected. Ruffleton will temporize with
you. He must gain time. Many thousands of fanatics are
on the way hither to join him. Although he will be apparently
reasonable in his demands, he has no intention to
permit either Crook or yourself to withdraw without a
battle. His purpose is to destroy you both, and he will be
in readiness at any hour to begin the assault. He has sent
agents to charter or seize the shipping at the wharves, and
the steam ferry boats.”
This was written in characters, for which the President
alone had the key.
“General Valiant,” said the President, in a low voice.
A door opened, and the General entered from an adjoining
room. “General,” continued the President, with his usual
calm smile, “I want a spy or deserter.”
“Wiry Willy?” asked the General.
“Did he not go with Mary Penford and the rest?”
“No, sir. He said you did not name him as one of the
party.”
“I did not; but I thought he would go. Yes; he will
answer.”
“I will have him sent immediately.”
The General returned to his apartment. The Proclamations
had been struck off in the camp, a press being kept
by Randolph for such purposes. The President, having
been applied to by the Governor of New Jersey, who was
conservative in his politics, and it being impracticable to
assemble the Legislature, for aid in the suppression of domestic
violence, now required all insurgents to return to their
homes, and to abstain from the commission of unlawful acts,
or else they would be declared the enemies of the country,
and proceeded against in accordance with the powers conferred
on him by the Constitution of the United States.
And in a supplementary notification, the country was informed
that in pursuance of the decree of the Richmond
Convention, General Crook was upon the eve of retiring
from the State of New Jersey; and, through the mediation
of the Federal Executive, General Hudson had agreed upon
a basis for an armistice, having that object in view, when
an assassin, supposed to have been employed by some one
averse to measures of pacification, put an end to his existence.
“Willy,” said the President, when the faithful messenger
appeared, “can you go, without risk, into Ruffleton's camp?”
“Oh, yes, sir. A friend of mine in his army has told him
how near they came to hanging me at New Castle.”
“And that event, that lucky event, will serve you now?”
“I think so, sir. I am willing to make the venture.”
“Very well. You can give Ruffleton some intelligence
that will please him, and inspire his confidence. Say to
him the 30,000 prisoners taken in Maryland are now in
Sussex county, Delaware, loosely guarded, and with the
slightest assistance from the British fleet they could be
landed in a few hours on the Jersey side of the water.
Why do you stare, Will?”
“Because, sir, what you have said is precisely so!”
“Certainly. My diplomacy is without falsehood. I have
two objects, Willy. One to get rid of a troublesome mob
of useless vagabonds; the other, to tempt the British to
commit an act of intervention. And, further, it will serve
to convince the Northern people that the prisoners have not
been massacred, as the newspapers report.”
“I will start immediately, sir,” responded Willy, withdrawing.
A moment after, General Valiant returned, accompanied
by General Crook.
“Well, General,” said Randolph, “everything conspires
to convince me that we are on the eve of a battle. In the
course of two or three days more, Ruffleton will have an
immense force—perhaps 300,000 men!”
“We shall beat them,” said Valiant.
“Certainly we shall,” said Crook, “with the aid of Randolph's
horse and artillery. But Hudson's men fought like
the d—l! My killed and wounded, disabled and missing,
amounted to 25,000.”
“And Hudson's loss was equally as great,” said the President.
“I should have beaten him, Randolph, if it had not been
for you.”
“His apparition!” said Valiant. “He struck not a blow
—fired not a gun.”
“Neither did he strike at Bladensburg.”
“Crook,” said the President, “I interposed, partly, to
save you from destruction. If you had beaten Hudson that
day, the next week you would have been enveloped by half
a million of Northern avengers, and then I should not have
been able to save you. Now, the conservative men of the
North, who approved my conduct, will be influenced by
me. They will regard my proclamations, and keep aloof.
Nine-tenths of Ruffleton's host of warriors are desperate
fanatics, but they will fight like demons.”
“All except the Quakers,” said Crook. “I have five
hundred of them prisoners, and all the morning we have
been trying to organize them into a regiment; but in vain.
They would die first.”
“Have you tried to make them work on the entrenchments?”
asked the President.
“No, sir, I didn't think of that. Excuse me a few minutes.”
Saying this, Crook hastened out.
“The cotton lords,” said Randolph, “can never forgive
the Quakers. And the Quakers of New Jersey will remember
Crook. But here is Wiry Willy, returned already.
Well? They did not hang you?”
“No, sir,” said Willy. “General Ruffleton was in too
fine a humor for that. He has sent off an express to the
British Admiral; and he said, in my hearing, that in a day
or two he would withdraw the Northern army from New
Jersey, and confirm the agreement subscribed by General
Hudson.”
“Enough!” said the President. “Here is a note for
General Blount. Lose no time, Willy, in placing it in his
hands, and he will not delay in coming to our aid. We
must be prepared to fight like lions,” he added, as Crook
returned and Willy departed.
