TALL TALES

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Walt told Eddie he was so glad Millie had found love. He also thanked his good friend for the extra troops and weapons, but above all that he was back to defend their homes they had worked so hard to build. Both knew it was only a matter of time before a larger contingent of Redcoats would march onto their property once again and that this time they would be more prepared and greater armed '' to put down those pesky rebels''. The five landholders had devised a strategy that if one was unable to hold off the Redcoats they were to flee to the adjoining property with their remaining man power, arms and specially ammunition to boost its defense. If the other four fell before Lowell Plantation then everything that could be salvaged was to to be transferred to it as the last bastion against the British and which already had 100 Southern militia and French troops, plus 15 cannon, 35 mortar and sufficient ammunition to hold out a siege for at least 10 days...
 
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The four Captains, three regular French and Captain George of the American Militia numbered 600 if at full strength. There had been casualties at the Neck.
Captain George's militia numbers, and the manors' had been bolstered by the 'Volunteers' mixed in all roles.

French Captain Ulysse spoke to Mr Lowell:
"I know they know the heart of our resistance is here at Lowell Manor mon amie Monsieur Lowell so I wish me and my weary company stay here with you, to defend yours and Eddie's manors. Your people love you and you have many Volunteers, Negros too obviously of their own volition. I will stand by you with your Captain George. My two comrade Captains Edouard and Leon with a Company each will help defend your neighbours' manors, small towns, roads, villages, whatever and your advice and stratagem are most welcome. They and I will adhere to it."
 
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Corporals Bonaparte and Milli along with her Simon and 3 other Militia horsemen, and ten French Cavaliers rode fast around the local surrounds, villages, towns, ... and to alert all that the British were coming. They chased off some 5 English Calvary with their numbers firing a volley of pistols at them. A horse got hit in its rump, slowed down and the rider was captured and questioned ineptly in broken English by Cpr. Bonaparte.
Milli was more concerned about tending to the horse's wound.

Bonaparte ascertained from the captured Redcoat Sergeant that Charles Town was surely about to surrender with such superior numbers and force against them. All the American ships and warships had been destroyed or captured. Three huge British ships of the line were constantly bombarding Charlestown with huge long range cannons as were the British cannons just north on the Peninsula, now in control of the Neck.
"You might as well surrender now you silly little french frog" spat the Englisher.
Bonaparte pistol whipped him breaking teeth and lip at that insult and had him hog tied naked to his wounded horse. He and also Milli interrogated him then as to how these approaching Redcoats would be coming.

Milli's feather trick did the job to howls of laughter.
Bonaparte handed Milli the musket grease with good brandy poured on it.

There was at least four Redcoat companies coming north into South Carolina. Each Company had four platoons of 35 men and cavarly each. With auxiliaries 150 per company and two Companies were headed towards Lowell Manor. Three hundred men, 80 on horse. The other two companies were to subdue the other manors, small towns, villages, ... and to establish bases... , ouch, .. like Lowell manor.

Milli shouted"Back to Lowell manor all. Simon, you and your brother Hugo, ride back to Lowell manor full speed with the news. We bring the Ass on his Horse"
 
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Having French Captains Ulysse , Edouard and Leon with a company of battle hardened troops each certainly lifted Walt and Eddies spirits after hearing of the huge British force heading their way. It was to be a last stand for the SCA plus militia forces in South Carolina and the last chance to stop the British returning their state to royal occupation. The stand was to go down in American history as the Battle of Lowell Platation.
By the end of that day in late April, 1780, Lowell and Marshall manors had 500 French and American able bodied defenders, 42 cannon, 98 mortars and ample stocks of amminition. ammunition. Most cannon and mortars had been secreted in the woods, others front and back of the manors. That evening scouts reported movement of men on foot and horse driven carts heading from the Shultz and Flahertry properties. Shortly after both land owners rode towards Lowell Manor to tell Walt that their respective properties had been overrun by Redcoats and that their men and weapons were now at his disposal....
 
Riding towards Lowell manor were Corporals Milli and Bonaparte, 12 horsemen and their captured angry Redcoat Sergeant hog tied naked to his wounded horse. Milli had removed the greased feather.

Taking back tracks they had to cross a major track when they saw a group of forty Dragoons in the distance who spotted them too and spurred their horses towards Milli's little squad.

Slapping their prisoner's horse's wounded rump it went galloping towards the Redcoats.
"Follow me" yelled Milli "ride hard!"
"Dépêchez-vous, dépêchez-vous!" (hurry, hurry) yelled Cpr Bonaparte to his ten French Cavaliers. He took the rear with his sabre drawn. Milli was up front leading the way through mazes of narrow tracks she knew from her childhood. Almost there, the main track to Lowell manor was close. Bursting out of the undergrowth Milli was confronted by columns of Redcoat troopers whose Captain ordered them to fire at will. Loaded muskets ripped into the the front of Milli's horsemen, horses and Cavaliers. It was carnage with horses and men falling riddled with musket balls, including Milli. She took seven shots with one through her forehead. She was dead before she hit the ground.

Five Cavaliers led by Cpr Bonaparte burst out with sabres slashing and hacking. Two more Cavaliers were shot dead and two more were wounded including Bonaparte himself. They broke free trampling over Redcoat troops. Bonaparte slashed open an officer's neck who was pointing a pistol at him without breaking stride. Shouting to his three men to hurry one was shot in the back at range. He stumbled, fell and died.

Galloping into Lowell's Rose garden with just two men, and only one unwounded he cried out in anguish and pain "They're coming, the Redcoats are coming, ...."
 
When Eddie and Walt heard of the death of Milli they both wept like children. Her body was laid in the manor's small chapel, time for a memorial after beating off the approaching Redcoats. The first volley from one of their cannon landed beside Lt Murphy and four of his men. All were killed instantly. When Wilt was told he only felt this was poetic justice as it was the Irishman's foolishness that had put his family in lethal danger. Walt did not want to admit it to himself but he had a mind to put a bullet into the head of the man himself, if he was not killed in battle.

From the roof of Lowell Manor, Walt put a spy glass to his eye and pointed it at the approaching British. He estimated their numbers at between 400 to 500 troops, some 30/40 cavalry, 20 weapons carts and at least 40 cannon and mortars. He then noticed that about one company of Redcoats plus some 15 cavalry plus substantial numbers of cannon/mortar and ammunition carts veered off to the left towards the Harrison and Jackson properties. Walt breathed a sign of immense relief. He yelled down to the assembled defenders, ''ready yourselves men as those dastardly British will be here shortly, load the howitzers and mortars."

At that moment another volley of cannon fire was heard with one ball doing no damage except to part of the rose garden while the second exploded among a group of the Militia, followed immediately by blood curdling screams...
 
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Richie said:
From the roof of Lowell Manor, Walt put a spy glass to his eye and pointed it at the approaching British. He estimated their numbers at between 400 to 500 troops, 40 cavalry, 20 weapons carts and at least 40 cannon and mortars. He then noticed that about one company of Redcoats plus some 10 cavalry, 15 cannon/mortar plus 5 weapon carts veered off to the left towards the Harrison and Jackson properties, which were not as yet in British hands..
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A concerned look came over Eddie's face and he turned to Walt and said "see, our howitzers are 30 yards short again. Do you see that Walt?" 'Not really' said Walt. "Nor moi" said Captain Leon directing the fire.
"Have a look through my telescope then" said Eddie " it was a gift from a drunken and loquacious Sir Zac Newtown."

Leon raised his eyebrows at the mention of the name and put the fine telescope to his eye.
Within a few heart beats Leon cried "Mon Dieu, c'est fantastique!
HOWITZERS INCREASE ELEVATION BY TWO DEGREES AND LEFT ONE DEGREE, DO IT NOW! FIRE WHEN READY"

"Use Zac's scope Leon, better in your hands than mine. Blow them to bits for my Milli." Both Walt and French Cpt. Leon gave Eddie a hug.

Below French Captain Ulysse hearing that Redcoats hauling 5 carts of cannons and mortars, guarded by a squad of Dragoons along with a whole Company were marching towards the Jackson and Harrison properties ordered a French Cavalier Lieutentant Descarte with 33 mounted Cavaliers to, with volunteer guides, take the back tracks from behind Lowell manor to intercept, harry and destroy the armory headed towards the Harrison and Jackson manors. Descarte said "I think of them dead, therefore they are dead!" as he charged off with his Cavaliers.
 
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Cavalier Lieutentant Descarte may be cavalier but he was also smart. Telling his men to shoot the Redcoat's armory cart horses and wagoneers as a first priority followed by men throwing fire bombs into the then stationary gunpowder laden carts would be his best chance to thwart the Britisher's advance on the Jackson and Harrison's manors. It had to be a fast hit and run attack given the Redcoats superiority in numbers.

Three of the five armory carts exploded into vast fireballs the other two were stopped with thier horses incapacitated or killed. Ten of Descarte's cavaliers were casualities, killed, wounded or captured. The remnants split into two groups to warn the Harrison and Jackson manors of the Redcoats' march upon them.
 
Eddie had his men posted in Lowell Wood and as the British armory carts passed he ordered them to use the Lieutentant Descarte hit and run strategy of shooting the cart horses and wagoneers then throwing fire bombs into the stationary gunpowder laden carts and disappearing back i8nto the woods. The Redcoats were caught by complete surprise and barely had time to return fire before a series of explosions rocked their ranks followed by screams of agony. This strategy had thwarted the Redcoat advance on the Jackson and Harrison's manors and it worked also to save Lowell and Marshall manors, forcing their commander Colonel William Wentworth to order an immediate retreat back to the river only to run into three platoons of Southern Continental troops and Irish militia. A further 60 British fired their last shot in anger but alas the brave Americans and Irish were also routed with the few remaining survivors able to secret themselves in the woods and later make their way back to the safety of the Lowell property. It had been a good first day for the defenders with less casualties than expected, but Walt and Eddie knew the Redcoats would return with reinforcements....
 
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The wounded were treated with great respect and care. The fallen were buried with honours and blessings from a young Baptist Minister. The mood was somber despite the victory of the day.

French Lieutenant Desecrate returned after warning neighbouring manors of the Redcosts approach. Captain Ulysse promoted him to first Lieutenant for his courageous act of destroying many of the Redcoat armory carts. A third of his platoon of Cavaliers had fallen in that brave action, with his dead and wounded retrieved later for care and burial at Lowell manor.

Battlefield promotions of NCO's and junior Officers were made to fill the gaps left by the wounded and fallen French, Irish and Americans.
Millicent Marshall was buried separately in a shady corner of the rose garden with her beau Simon shedding many a tear. He was promoted to Sergeant and his brother Hugo a Corporal.
Their steely conviction was palpable to all. Vengeance was in their eyes.

The brave Militia, Irish and Americans, who harried the Redcoats retreat took a beating and made it to Lowell manor with more wounded to be cared for. Their Captain Henry Drinkwater was badly wounded but told of the pounding Charles Town was taking.
"They won't last much longer" he said. "More Redcoats have landed south of the Neck and surely more will head this way.
His first Lieutenant Peter Throughgood was promoted to acting Captain of the Brigade in Drinkwater's stead, which had only 300 men left out of 800. The British paid dearly for those lives.
Three hundred more Militia was enough to seriously bolster the defence of the manors.

Sergeants O'Reilly and Bonaparte with a dozen of their men complained of sacrilege as they made more bottled fire bombs from finest whiskey, brandy and Irish potcheen. Catholic prayers were said and sips taken, as a communion of spirit with the soldiers.
 
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Terry we probably need to wrap this story soon. Has been fun, but time for another less harrowing one. Also Jessica can rejoin us too. What of the ending, the deaths of Walt, Eddie and their families and the destruction of Lowell and Marshall manors?
 
Richie said:
Terry we probably need to wrap this story soon. Has been fun, but time for another less harrowing one. Also Jessica can rejoin us too. What of the ending, the deaths of Walt, Eddie and their families and the destruction of Lowell and Marshall manors?
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Agreed, and very soon following the history to a benign end.
 
Terry I somehow got stuck with The West Australian in my In Box. I want to read it but am unable to , also unable to unsubscribe. Do you have a solution.
 
Richie said:
Terry I somehow got stuck with The West Australian in my In Box. I want to read it but am unable to , also unable to unsubscribe. Do you have a solution.
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Hi Craig,
it could be spam or a scam email. You can send it to your junk mail or spam folder and don't click on any links. Not even unsubscribe which you said it lacks. That's suspicious.

You can also check its IP address by hovering over it with a mouse or clicking on it like I do once it's in my spam folder. If it's long winded gobbledygook it's most likely a scam and by assigning it as junk mail any similar emails will go to Junk.
Unfortunately most scammers change their IP address with each new email they send out. Likewise phone scammers change their numbers every call. Scum sucking bottom dwellers!

I get heaps of scam calls and emails which I clean out every morning. The nasty new dark world!
In fact, any email I don't recognise I send to junk. I've developed a good nose to sniff out scams but even I get sucked in occassionally, like when I got a supposed email from my daughter saying it had photos my girl had promised to send me! It was a scam and goodness knows how they knew to con me so. Once I looked at the contents I sent it to the rubbish bin and emptied the bin. They are getting smarter and more cunning.
 
Do you subscribe to the West Australian. I like that publication so are you able to send me a link to bypass the paywall. Also I did respond to your two emails.
 
No I don't subscibe to the West Australian Craig, sorry.
I replied to you with a long email this morning and am working on my next post here in Tall Tales. The end is nigh!
 
French Captain Leon atop the roof of Lowell manor with an array of cannons and howitzers and runner boys at his command was the first to see the approaching horsemen with the use of Lieutenant Marshall's fine telescope.

Six horsemen, two red, two blue and two green uniforms hoisting white flags.

"Hold fire, Hold fire all" he shouted to his cannoniers and loudly to the many below dug in about the manor and surrounds. Boy runners were sent to let others know, especially the hundreds around Marshall manor.

"Six riders approach with white flags".

Many eyes watched the approach of the six riders into Lowell manor. Two Redcoat Dragoons, two French Cavaliers and two American Cavalry rode calmly to the grand porch where Walt, Eddie and Captains George and Ulysse waited.

Walt and Eddie immediately recognised Major Banbury commander of Charles Town's militia. He rode up first doffing his hat. He introduced Major Carmichael of the British Redcoats, representing Colonel Wentworth, and Major Gariepy commander of the French forces in Charles Town.

Major Banbury spoke first. "Our commander of Charles Town, Major General Lincoln, has surrendered Charlestown to the British under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton. The terms of the surrender are that all Continental Regulars are to taken prisoner, the Charles Town Militia are to surrender all their arms and then will be allowed to go about their normal lives under the governance of the British.
The French Regulars are to surrender their arms too and march back to Pennsylvania.
Any questions?"
 
Redcoat major Carmichael then dronned on about detailed conditions which Eddie thought were not too punitive for Walt or himself. They were expected to keep their businesses running with contracts from the British. Eddie was told he could keep his armory work going supplying the British needs. Taxes would be higher but not impossible.

Within months life was starting to return to normal, for most. Eddie's forges were running hot as were Walt's spinning machines. Cotton was in high demand and prices were high.

Four thousand Redcoats or five Battalions marched past the plantation manors into Southern Carolina that soon surrended to the British. That battle was lost but the northern colonies still stood firm in their defiance of rule from the British Empire.
Time would tell.

A battle of another kind was starting to emerge showing glimpes of itself here and there. Eddie's freed Negros whispered to him about farflung notions of abolishing slavery. Eddie was very sympathetic to that idea and helped where he could, even helping and hiding runaway slaves. New identities and papers old Angus and he created from his experience in Petticoat Lane, London. Walt was happy to help a bit and turn a blind eye when needed. Many dead Negros were rebirthed and added to the work forces of the plantation and forges.
The new British rulers weren't overly concerned about such trifling matters as convoys of their forces arrived at Charles Town. Collecting taxes and organising thousands more men took their focus.

In honour of his wild and brave daughter Milicent, Eddie took her beau Simon and his brother Hugo under his wing with good positions in his business. That proved to be a great move and Eddie's and Walt's own sons became firm friends with them.

Then the tide turned.
 
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That was a peaceful then volatile page of history in the birth of America that you and I managed to bring to life Terry. What a shame these story threads dont lure more members. Was the same on the Seniors forum if you recall.
 
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