House on the Hill

House on the Hill

“Father, hurry, please! The redcoats are almost here: we must go now!” Madeline Forte cried as she moved the small hidden lever. A panel slid open; her father William Forte hustled down the steps, Madeline close behind him. They would hide in the escape tunnel until dark, then make their way toward Charleston, South Carolina, and safety. Captain Matthew Carrollton banged on the huge oak door of the Forte plantation. When there was no response, he broke a window and climbed in. The entire house was deserted. How had all the slaves and their people managed to escape, and where were William and Madeline Forte? Evidently, his intelligence was wrong; those damn Tories! He motioned for his men to remount; they would try another day to capture the two Fortes. Madeline waited patiently, listening for the pounding of hooves, but she heard nothing. They sat in the tunnel; there was some food that her Mammy kept in the tunnel just for this type of emergency. Darkness fell quickly in late November, as William and Madeline saddled their horses and made their escape. They galloped toward the DeVoe plantation, hoping to find a place to hide until the British tired of looking for them. Madeline slowed her horse, watching to see if Mary, her cousin, was there. Mary, her chestnut hair long and hidden under her black cloak, began walking toward the hill where she and Fran planned to build their plantation. Mary paused when she heard the whicker of a horse; she looked up to see Madeline. Madeline, dismounted:

“Mary, my father is in grave danger; the British major has a warrant for his arrest. Is there some place we can hide?” Mary sighed: “Yes, I am meeting Fran tonight; he will know where it is safe.” Madeline felt relief as she realized that Mary was going to help her. “In the meantime, Maddie, stay hidden; mother and father are Tory sympathizers. I will return with Fran as soon as I can.” Mary took a small wooded path toward the hill where she met Colonel Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”. They kissed then Mary began: “Fran, Maddie is here. She and her father William, are being pursued by Major Matthew Carollton. She did not tell me why but she is terrified. Fran is there somewhere you can hide them?” Marion thought for several moments: “Yes, our camp is safe, bring her and her father up the hill, I will send two of my men to escort them. Please apologize to them both, but they will be blindfolded until they reach the camp. I can’t risk the British finding our camp. Now, Mary, my love, I will see you in a few days.” Colonel Marion strode down the hill, Mary just behind him. William and Madeline waited deep in the brush until Mary and Fran arrived: “Uncle William, this is Colonel Francis Marion.” William put out his hand to shake the Colonel’s, when the snap of a small twig and heavy footsteps became clear. Colonel Marion drew his sword, pulled his pistol out, and prepared to fire. Then he heard the hoot of an owl, Tom Dinwiddy: “Colonel, redcoats are coming this way.” He saluted, then sprang back into the woods. Colonel Marion promptly began to move his two charges; fifteen feet and he stopped, blindfolded William and Madeline, then they proceeded to camp. Later, toward early morning Colonel Marion sent for Madeline and William: “Sir William Forte, I thought I recognized you; what possible reason could Major Carollton have to chase you and Maddie into South Carolina?” William cleared his throat: “that is simple, I have Cornwallis’ plan of attack on Charleston. I was visiting one afternoon, and saw them just sitting there, so I took them.” William pulled several papers from his pocket and handed them to Colonel Marion. “Madeline and I are very thankful you can accommodate us.” Jonas Huckston knew his time was short, he decided he had to at least attempt an escape, when Colonel Banastre Tarleton sent for him: “Mister Huckston, you are to be hung in two days, however I have a proposition for you, I want Colonel Francis Marion. I also have a plan: “You are going to escape, find Marion’s camp, draw a map to the camp. When that is done, you are free.’ Jonas readily agreed; he decided he would save his neck, do what the Colonel asked, then return to England. Jonas began to devise a plan; he had no idea who Colonel Marion was nor where to find him, but he would attempt to find someone who did. He strode toward the closest tavern, The Pig’s Knuckle. It was crowded; it seemed a good place to begin his quest. He entered the tavern, cleverly averting his eyes, scanning the possibilities of finding a braggart. His eyes roamed the room, then locked on a man with a tail on his hat. He decided to take a chance, hoping this was one of Marion’s men. He strode over to where the man sat: “Where may I join Marion’s men, he inquired carefully. The man glared at him: “No, I ain’t one of Marion’s men; let me drink my ale in peace. Jonas merely shook his head; surely there must be at least one of Marion’s men here somewhere. Things were not going well for Jonas; if he did not deliver Colonel Francis Marion, he was a dead man. Just as Jonas finished his ale, a tall, distinguished gentleman strode into Pig’s Knuckle; the barkeep brought a large ale over to where the man sat. Peter Auree scanned the crowd as the barkeep motioned to Jonas. Jonas stood up and strode toward Peter: “Are you one of Marion’s men? My name is Jonas Hucston, late of his majesty’s army.” The first thought that entered Peter’s mind was: ‘I don’t trust this man, but he could be useful.’ Peter motioned for him to sit down. Twenty minutes later, Peter left with Jonas; they rode toward Snow Island and Marion’s camp. Peter took Jonas to meet Colonel Francis Marion, a meeting both would regret. Colonel Tarlton waited for several days before leaving to pick up prisoners in Charleston. Tarlton saw Jonas striding along a cobbled walk. He rode over to him: “Have you located that damn Swamp Fox’s camp?” Jonas knew he could not take Tarlton there: “Yes, sir, it is Sullivan Island.” Tarlton, smiled a genuine smile: “Thank you, Jonas, you are free to go.” Jonas just nodded and strode off toward the Pig’s Knuckle. When he was sure Tarlton was gone, he returned to the small barn in the back of the tavern. He chuckled to himself as he thought about Tarlton riding in the swamp for hours, served him right. Jonas mounted his horse and rode back to Snow’s Island, where he spoke to Colonel Marion: “Colonel, I was forced to give Colonel Tarlton your location, or be hanged. I informed him your camp is on Sullivan Island.” For the first time in a very long time Francis Marion smiled a weary smile: “Well done Jonas, very well done but why?” Jonas began: “after being her among you and your men, I could not betray you or them. I don’t know what kind of militia man I will make, but I wish to try.” The colonel nodded his understanding as he strode over to the tent where the Forte’s were located: “William, I gave those papers to General Gates, he is planning to cut Cornwallis off before he enters Charleston again with his entire force. The war will hopefully end before long and you both can return home and enjoy the freedom you fought for.