Daughter of
the Revolution: Part 9
Abby and Rose
do battle. Three slave girls give pleasure.
based on a post by Seethegood. Listen
to the ► Podcast at Connected.
Chapter 12
2:00 am when a pounding at the front door and frenzied shouting woke the house.
George was first to the door and threw it open to admit a sweat drenched
messenger. He was nearly inarticulate but managed to convey that the bridge
Abby and her companions had secured was under heavy attack by redcoats from the
south. George ordered the man to grab a couple of slaves and ready their mounts
for immediate departure. While the men hurriedly dressed, the sound of cannon
fire reached their ears, hastening their efforts to make good speed.
James insisted on responding as well and soon all the men departed for the
battle, well
armed with rifles and sabers. The girls all huddled in the parlor to discuss
should we do, Abby? Stay here and wait for wounded to arrive?" asked June
calmly. Abby was pleased with her friend, she'd come such a long way from being
a scared slave girl to become a dependable woman that handled stress quite
Maddy stay here with the doctor and prepare for the wounded. Collect all the
women you need from the cabins and do all you can to get ready for them. Rose,
you and I are going for a ride. I can't sit here and do nothing. Are you
hesitate a second. "You're damn right I'll go. I hate the idea of our men
out there in harms way and us doing nothing about it."
dressed and head out. June, good luck, we'll be back when we can." Abby
went to her and gave her a tight hug and a quick kiss before going to her room
the stables, Abby slipped into her father's office and picked up a spyglass
she'd noticed there earlier, hoping it might come in handy. She also grabbed
her and Rose's squirrel rifles along with her rapier. Together, they swiftly
saddled their mounts and headed down the road to the bridge. Luckily, there was
a full moon that lit their way and they could navigate quite easily. The two
were a hundred yards or so away from the bridge when a cannonball went bouncing
and rolling past them with enough momentum to cause serious damage or certain
death if it hit a person.
that was kinda close," Rose commented with an adventurous smile.
so. Let's sneak up behind the troops and see what's happening," Abby
answered. She felt a surge of adrenaline and grinned back at Rose. "Just
like old times!" she exclaimed happily.
girls saw the shapes of men at the bridge abutment. Abby's immediate concern
was being recognized by the militia men and not getting shot.
Winston!" She called out loudly.
in, Mistress Abigail!" a man shouted. "We see you!"
approached the men and Abby asked how the battle was going.
rough," the senior man said. "Most of our cannon are exposed as well
as a few of theirs. However, they have two or three that are dug in deep on the
far hillside and we're having hell trying to take them out. They're picking us
off willy nilly and we're taking too many casualties."
the General and my men at?"
in the thick of it, of course, with our cannon on the front. They're trying to
take out the British guns but haven't had any luck so far. Your man is on the
west side of our line directing fire and trying to sweep the enemies flank with
mounted troops. It'll be easier for us when the sun rises but until then we're
mostly shooting at muzzle flashes in the tree line. They can see us better
because we're mostly stuck in this open field protecting the bridgehead."
understanding and nudged her mount forward.
perhaps you should stay here and go no further. We have orders that no one
other than militia cross the bridge," the man said nervously.
General's, Mistress. He was most explicit."
fidgeted as she was deciding whether to obey the man or not. He thought she was
ignoring him and he cried out almost in despair.
Mistress! Don't go! I'd be in horrible trouble if you crossed."
nothing more than to join her men but knew it was impossible for her to do. She
couldn't ignore the man's well being, while not being sure of how strict his
punishment may be when Nathan found out his indiscretion.
well. We'll return to the house and wait until the battle is over. We can't do
much anyway to affect the outcome. Good luck, Sir."
what are we up to? You never give in easily," Rose asked quietly as they
slipped back down the road.
mischievous smile. "Damn right we aren't giving in. I want to head east
and turn their flank. If you remember from when we arrived, we can cross the
creek bed with our horses a couple miles from here, then we'll sneak into the
trees where those cannon are dug in and see what we can do. I'm betting the
majority of redcoats are on the battlefield and there's just a skeleton crew on
the big guns. We need to get crackin' though because daylight is coming."
nearly three hours to stealthily flank the redcoats and sneak in behind the
easternmost cannon. They tied the horses to trees and quietly slid in the last
50 yards where there were three soldiers loading and firing the cannon down on
the militia. She told Rose her plan and together they pulled it off splendidly.
When the soldier firing the cannon touched the flash hole with his taper, the
girls timed their shots perfectly with the detonation of the cannon and two
redcoats went down. The third was left standing in surprise wondering what had
happened. He crouched low and peered over his escarpment looking for militia
men to his front as a source of the gunfire that killed his compatriots. Abby
quickly reloaded and waited until she heard the next cannon to the west fire,
then she emptied the man's skull with a brilliant shot to the brainpan.
two brave women moved on to the next cannon. The plan went like clockwork at
first and they handily killed the first two, but the third man had his wits
about him. When his companions tipped over dead, he spun around and seeing the blackpowder smoke from
the girl's rifles, charged them immediately. He pulled a pistol from his waist
belt and fired at Rose, narrowly missing her head and she ducked involuntarily
as the bullet cracked by her ear. Abby bravely met him with her rapier drawn
and he pulled his saber just before they clashed. He was a large man and the
momentum of his charge bowled her over as she parried his blow.
nearly senseless and she struggled to rise, knowing she was too slow and sure
death was coming. Suddenly, the man let out a cry of agony and Abby looked up
in a daze to see Rose fastened to his back with her teeth buried in his neck,
growling like a lioness. The man was a seasoned fighter and he threw himself
backwards, crushing Rose between his broad back and the unyielding ground. The
breath flew from her body with a loud grunt and she lost her grip on the
redcoat. He scrambled to his knees just in time to receive Abby's dagger under
his chin, the blade puncturing his upper palate and driving deep in his brain.
He stiffened up like an oak tree and slowly tipped over on the ground, his
heels beating a tattoo on the forest floor as his body spasmed and rattled out
dagger out and slashed his throat open for good measure, then knelt beside Rose
who was on her hands and knees gasping for breath.
are you okay?" Abby cried in consternation. Rose whooped for breath
a few more times and finally nodded her head.
so, that fucker knocked me for a loop," she gasped out.
the redcoat son of a bitch," Abby agreed shakily, she was still collecting
herself from the man knocking her ass over teakettle. "I should know by
now to shoot the biggest, meanest bastard before the little scrawny ones,"
she wisecracked with a rueful smile. The girls hugged tightly, then Rose kissed
Abby softly on the lips and said, "I sure love you honey, thanks for
love you, sweetheart. We'd better tidy up that last cannon before they kill
final cannon was manned by only two redcoats who were fixated on putting
cannonballs downrange. It was a simple task to head shoot them both with well
placed shots from their squirrel rifles. Rose recovered their horses while Abby
pulled out her spyglass and perused the ongoing battle below them. Their
vantage point was facing north and about a hundred feet in elevation higher
than the razed tobacco field in front of them.
George, William, and the General along with Major Moore and they were literally
fighting for their lives. Somehow they'd become separated from the main body of
militia men and were slowly being pushed back to the steep creek bank by the
breath in consternation, then sprang into action. "Rose, help me load the
cannon, quickly now! Our men are in trouble!" Frantically, they rammed
home powder and shot, then Abby dialed in the elevation on the rear screw until
she was satisfied, then she grabbed the long pole used to lever the tongue of
the carriage for windage. She did her absolute best to align the barrel with
her intended targets, then put her spyglass to her eye.
Rose!" she called out. There was a mighty blast and she watched the ball
sail just behind the redcoats and plow into the ground throwing up a giant
cloud of dust and dirt. What she thought was an officer spun about and
furiously waved his hands in her direction. Apparently, he thought his men had
fired a short round and he was berating them angrily. Abby chuckled grimly and
together the two women reloaded as fast as they could. Abby raised the muzzle a
touch and waited patiently until the men bunched up as their officer shouted
orders over the din of battle, pointing here and there as he plotted how to
finish off the militia men.
look through the glass at her father and his companions. They were laying prone
in a small depression and shooting as fast as possible at the redcoats. Nathan
turned his head and she saw his lips moving as he barked out an order. The men
pulled their sabers and laid them at hand for their last ditch defense. She
looked down her line of fire and hoped the ball wouldn't carry to far and hurt
the best I can do, Rose. The redcoats look like they're getting ready to charge
our boys. Say a prayer and let 'em have it!" The concussion of the shot
fluttered her blonde hair about her face but she didn't flinch at the sound.
She watched the ball rip downrange and tear through the soldiers, arms and legs
pinwheeled
through the air along with a faint, pink mist. At least half of the men went
down and the rest went to ground, perhaps a half dozen or so. The officer
screamed and shouted, urging the men to get up and charge ahead. They slowly
began to gather themselves and assault towards the trapped men.
horses, Rose! We need to ride down and help! Let's go!" Abby cried. They
hurriedly jumped in their saddles and Abby led the way at a dead run down the
hill and across the smoking field of battle. She was fixated on the soldiers
that were now running towards their intended targets and she spurred her mount
viciously. The girls gained on the redcoats rapidly and Abby called out to
Rose. "Trample them down, Rose! Run right through them!"
haze of battle she heard her father bellowing frantic orders. "Cease fire!
Cease fire! Friendlies coming in!" Less than a handful of seconds later
she smashed into the running line of redcoats. She tried to hold her horse
steady but his legs tangled in redcoat bodies and he went down with a neigh of
terror, tossing Abby high in the air. While airborne she heard Rose's horse
connect with enemy bodies and her high voice yelling in anger. Abby plowed into
the ground on her left side and slide to a painful halt, her shirt ripped
George shouting for the men to charge as she staggered to her feet. Two
redcoats were left upright and one of them was almost on her, his bayonet
poised to impale her. She swiftly drew her rapier, but as she cleared the
scabbard the man's head snapped sideways and his brains scattered over the
smoking field. Rose had put him down with a well placed shot. The second man
whom appeared to be the officer stood alone, the last among his men to be
standing. He drew his saber and advanced towards the charging men, determined
his familiarity with his steel and the confidence in his stride that he would
be a formidable opponent. She ran to confront him and heard the militia men
calling out to her in dismay. Ignoring them, she addressed the officer with her
sword and he was startled beyond words. One moment he was fighting militia men,
the next he was braced by a beautiful blonde with nearly naked breasts and
dazzling blue eyes, along with a razor sharp rapier.
was merely an impediment, he casually swung at her with his saber, thinking she
was an easy win. She turned his blow with a strong wrist and her riposte lanced
his cheek wide open, so wide she saw the white of his teeth appear before being
covered in a sheet of bright red blood. He cried out in surprise and she
watched his eyes harden instantly. He came at her with purpose and suddenly she
was in the fight of her life.
good, as good as her father and possibly better, she thought. She watched his
eyes carefully as they danced with death and she parried his blows numerous
times in just a few moments. George and his companions arrived, panting for
breath and in awe of the sight before them. Little Abby was holding her own!
Suddenly, he made a lightning quick thrust and stabbed her deep in the thigh
just above her knee, she tripped, then went down, and with a long stride, the
redcoat pounced. She deftly rolled into him and between his outstretched legs.
The men saw a flash in her left hand as her dagger took the officer in the
groin and his femoral artery was parted in an instant.
agony and collapsed on the ground, pouring blood like a fountain. Abby swiftly
stood up and kicked his saber from his grip, then straddled his body. "You
shoulda stayed
home, redcoat," she said calmly. "You've been killed by a simple farm
girl." General Greene cried out loudly trying to stop her when he saw her
intentions, but he was too late. Her blade slid in the redcoat's throat and out
the back of his neck to bury itself in the ground. The officer squirmed and
whined pitifully as his life leaked into the dirt, Abby holding his eyes locked
with hers until he died horribly, choking on his own blood.
rapier free and then kicked him in the head using her good leg.
"Cocksucker," she cursed. "If you wanna try to kill my men you
better bring a tougher army."
Enough!" George said sternly.
own, father! He was trying to kill you and William!" she cried out in
your life, George. Damn it, man. Take it easy," Nathan commanded.
Suddenly, a shot cracked overhead and they all hugged the dirt. A number of
redcoats remained on the field advancing from the west and they began to pour
heavy musket fire on the companions. From the far side of the treeline a cannon
roared and grapeshot scythed through the troops, killing several and hastening
their assault against George and his people. Another round of grapeshot ripped
through them and before their bodies hit the ground a battle cry was heard from
the trees. "Winston! Winston!"
