The Rifleman Read online

  A FIDELIS BOOKS BOOK

  An Imprint of Post Hill Press

  ISBN: 978-1-64293-314-7

  ISBN (eBook): 978-1-64293-315-4

  The Rifleman

  © 2019 by Oliver North

  All Rights Reserved

  This book is a work of historical fiction. All incidents, dialogue, and characters aside from the actual historical figures are products of the author’s imagination. While they are based around real people, any incidents or dialogue involving the historical figures are fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or commentary. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Though this is a work of fiction, historical fact has been as accurately portrayed as all available resources allow. Many dates and times in particular we found to be unreliable from any single source. Also, history is often interpreted from the perspective of the original recorders as well as those coming later to retell the events.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publisher.

  All Scripture is from the King James Version of the Bible, in the public domain.

  Maps and end sheets by George Skoch

  Copyediting by Amanda Varian

  Interior design by Xcel Graphic Services - www.xcelgraphic.com

  Post Hill Press

  New York • Nashville

  posthillpress.com

  Published in the United States of America

  For Elizabeth Stuart

  With Whom I Fell In Love Over Five Decades Ago

  And In Whose Veins

  Flow The DNA Of Revolution

  CONTENTS

  DEDICATION

  PREFACE

  THE LETTER

  TO THE READER

  chapter one

  A DEATH IN THE FAMILY

  chapter two

  FAREWELL AND A CALL TO DUTY

  chapter three

  LISTEN AND LEARN

  chapter four

  PLANTING THE SEEDS OF WAR

  chapter five

  A CALL TO ARMS

  chapter six

  SELECTING THE BEST RIFLEMEN

  chapter seven

  THE LONG MARCH TO BOSTON

  chapter eight

  1775: THE CONTINENTAL ARMY—FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE

  chapter nine

  1775: THE ORDER IS GIVEN

  chapter ten

  1775: A SORTIE DELAYED

  chapter eleven

  1775: RIVER-READY BATTEAUX?

  chapter twelve

  1775: WINTER IN THE FOREST PRIMEVAL

  chapter thirteen

  1775: QUEBEC—SETTING THE STAGE FOR BATTLE

  chapter fourteen

  1775-1776: QUEBEC—THE FORLORN HOPE

  POSTSCRIPT

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  PREFACE

  This is a war story. It’s about real people and events before and during the American Revolution. The central characters in this work—Daniel Morgan, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Charles Mynn Thruston, and Generals Arnold, Knox, Greene, Lee, Gates, and a host of others—actually did the deeds at the places and times described herein. So too did their accurately named foreign and native adversaries. As you will see, our war for independence was a most un-civil, civil war.

  If Daniel Morgan were alive today, he would be my near neighbor in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It was while visiting a nearby gristmill Morgan and Nathanael Burwell, a fellow Revolutionary War hero, built in the late 1700s [now restored and operated by the Clarke County Historical Association], I became fascinated by this unsung national hero.

  The history of what Daniel Morgan and his Virginia Riflemen endured and accomplished is recorded as accurately as a decade of research permits. Their story is told here from the point of view of Nathanael Newman, Adjutant to Daniel Morgan, and fictional ancestor of Peter Newman, the protagonist in my earlier novels: Mission Compromised, Jericho Sanction, The Assassins, Heroes Proved, and Counterfeit Lies.

  Though dialogue has been created to give context, the essential facts of the extraordinary events leading up to and throughout the painful birth of this nation are accurately presented. Where necessary, I have reproduced written reports, official records, and the correspondence of eyewitness participants in these dramatic proceedings.

  Hopefully, by the end of this book you will be inspired—as I am—by the men and women who persevered through the brutality and privation of a vicious war to forge a new nation and create a form of government then unknown elsewhere on this planet.

  They were a tough, resilient, and ultimately, very wise people. Their extraordinary courage, tenacity, and faith are exhibited by the brave young Americans with whom I served as a U.S. Marine; in the young American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen, and Marines I covered for nearly two decades at FOX News; and by the Hurt Heroes and their families aided by Freedom Alliance.

  As many readers already know, I’m grateful to have spent most of my life in the company of real American heroes. I’m looking forward to spending eternity in the company of my personal American heroes and the Riflemen you will meet in this book . . .

  Semper fidelis,

  Oliver North

  Narnia Farm

  Clarke County, Virginia

  January 2019

  THE LETTER

  At Alexandria, Virginia

  Thursday, 25th August 1814

  To my Sons, Henry, James, & Peter & Daughter Grace:

  Please forgive this hastily composed Missive. It is most Important that you follow Carefully my Instructions below should I fail to return from this Mission Defending our Commonwealth.

  For the third occasion in my lifetime, a British Monarch has Invested our shores and Invaded our Lands. In 1756 George II sent his Army here and they were occupying our lands when I was born in 1758. The lunatic, King George III, besieged us again for thirteen years starting in 1768. And now his wastrel son, the Royal Prince Regent, once more threatens our Tranquility, Safety, and Livelihood with a third British Incursion.

  As you know, my unit of Virginia Mounted Militiamen was mustered to Duty in Winchester on Sunday, 21st August after a British Invasion Force disembarked from their Fleet in Maryland’s Patuxent River and started moving toward our new Capital, the District of Columbia. By nightfall we assembled 103 officers and men, 115 horses and a wagon loaded with victuals, powder, and shot and headed East with dispatch to join Colonel George Minor, Commander of the Virginia Militia.

  By dawn on Tuesday, despite terrible heat and the loss of a half-dozen horses, we crossed the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap and proceeded, as ordered, East on Georgetown Turnpike. That night a dispatch rider from Colonel Minor arrived with orders directing my Rifleman to halt on the Southwest bank of the Patomack River; hold the new Finley-Chain Bridge; and await further orders.

  Before first light on Wednesday the 24th there began a steady stream of panicked Citizens fleeing our Capital across the bridge into Virginia. Among them was a State Department clerk, Stephen Pleasonton, carrying orders from Secretary of State James Monroe to “Make safe and take best care of the Books and Papers of the Gov’t.”

  We were still awaiting orders to cross the River so I dispatched 20 of my men to requisition as many horses and wagons as they could find and bring them to me. Well before noon, our loyal militiamen returned with 22 wagons, carts, and carriages. With the sound of cannon-fire from North of the city,
I ordered them to accompany Mr. Pleasonton into the nearly deserted Capital.

  In less than two hours all the transports were back on the Virginia side of the bridge, loaded with Government Documents sewn into linen sacks. It was then Mr. Pleasanton confided to me that he was carrying, inter alia, The Original Declaration of Independence and General Washington’s Commission as Commander of the Continental Army.

  The State Department clerk originally intended to store the records and documents at Edgar Patterson’s Mill—just a few hundred yards up-river from the bridge. But I pointed out if the Redcoats succeeded in taking the Capital they would surely attack the Foxhall Foundry in Georgetown and likely force their way over the bridge to plunder and pillage Patterson’s Mill.

  One of my officers, Lieutenant William Binns, suggested the Precious Cargo be dispatched further West, to Leesburg for storage in the basement of a sturdy house he inherited from his father. He pointed out “the all-brick home has a spacious barrel vault in a dry basement and the place is secured by Rev. John Littlejohn, the former Sherriff of Loudoun County.”

  Mr. Pleasonton agreed to store our Government’s Papers “in a place protected by a law officer who is a man of God.” Since my Militiamen still had no orders other than holding the bridge, I directed Lt. Binns and 25 of our mounted militiamen to accompany Mr. Pleasanton and the horse-drawn vehicles conveying our Government’s Most Important Documents to Leesburg.

  As they prepared to sally forth at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a carriage and cart came racing across the bridge. In the carriage, accompanied only by a manservant and a single Dragoon of the Presidential Guard, was Mrs. Madison. The President’s wife hastily informed us the American Army has been defeated at a place in Maryland called Bladensburg and British troops were now on the march into the Capital. Further, she said, “My Husband was at the fight and is now in flight, whereabouts unknown, with the Remnant of our Army.”

  Mrs. Madison acknowledged She departed the Executive Mansion in great haste bringing little more than some Presidential Correspondence and a Portrait of our First President, General George Washington, rolled up in a tablecloth. She also revealed a Courier, dispatched by her Husband, had instructed her to meet the President at Wiley’s Tavern on the Georgetown Turnpike once he escaped the clutches of the British.

  Since Georgetown Turnpike was the Route the Pleasonton expedition would be taking to Leesburg, and fearing She would be captured, I convinced Mrs. Madison and Her Escort to join Lt. Binns’ Motley caravan. He placed Her carriage near the Van of his unit with four of our Militiamen as Mounted Guards and they departed up the hill in the midst of a terrible downpour.

  Less than an hour afterwards there was a tremendous Explosion from East of the Capital. At dusk, a newly arrived Refugee from the City informed us the Blast had come from our Sailors blowing up the Magazine at the Navy Yard on the Anacostia River. By dark it seemed the entire City was ablaze.

  My now depleted Militia unit spent the night soaking wet at the Chain Bridge on High Alert. Thanks Be To God, the British stopped their advance after looting and burning nearly all the Government buildings in the Capital. The Executive Mansion, the Treasury, the Offices of State, War and Navy and the Capitol Building are now but smoking Ruins. The only Official Structure left unscathed in the City seems to be the Marine Barracks.

  This morning we have finally been Ordered into the Fight. A British flotilla is making its way up the Patomack heading for the city of Alexandria. Col Minor has directed my Virginia Militiamen to ferry over the River tonight to reinforce our Maryland Militia Brethren at Fort Warburton, across the Patomack from President Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. To our great Misfortune & Dismay, we no longer have Daniel Morgan to rally more Patriots against this Vicious, Unconscionable Assault.

  Now, should Misfortune befall me on this Mission, once the British have been defeated and order is restored, you must do your Utmost to retrieve two sets of Most Important papers:

  First, the aforementioned Official Documents and Records Lieutenant Binns has taken to Leesburg must be recovered and preserved. If necessary, seek him out or find Rev. Littlejohn or Mr. Stephen Pleasanton of the Department of State to aid you in this effort.

  Second, as you know, I have labored for nearly two decades seeking Fair Restitution and a Just Annuity for The Riflemen with whom I served during our First War For Independence. When he was in Congress, General Morgan was our advocate. But since his passing in July 1802, the task has fallen to me.

  Requests for compensating Widows, Orphans, and our Incapacitated Veterans have been repeatedly submitted to Congress without result. Now, with our Seat of Government in ashes, it is likely the only Complete Record of those Appeals resides in the correspondence I have accumulated, my draft Report of Service during the War For Independence and the Sworn Testimony of others with whom I served.

  To preserve said Claims for Compensation and Annuity from seizure or destruction by British Aggressors or Traitors in our midst, I sealed these files, my draft Report of Service, and my personal journals and recollections about those Momentous Days in a lead chest. Included therein is information about your Dear Mother of whom you have just the slightest memories.

  When we passed over the Blue Ridge on the night of the 21st, one of my Riflemen and I secreted the lead chest in the cairn beneath Washington’s Lookout atop Snicker’s Gap where we often picnicked when you were young. You all know the place.

  When the time is right, I urge you to do all in your power to also recover both the Official Government Records sequestered in Leesburg and the Documents I hid in the cairn.

  Please Retain my journal & recollections—particularly my correspondence with your mother which is intimate. The Volumes labeled, “Record of Service of our Riflemen,” are Official Documents. These & my Appeals for Restitution should be delivered to Secretary of State, James Monroe. Though a Republican, he is a Wounded Veteran, and Honorable Man and supports our appeals to Congress for Restitution.

  I send this in hopes you will aid in preserving Documents precious to you and our new Nation, And I pray you will carry on my Work to Ensure the Widows and Orphans of The Beloved Riflemen, with whom I served during our First War For Independence, Not Be Forgotten.

  Sic Semper Tyrannus,

  Nathanael Newman

  Rifleman, Morgan’s Rifle Company

  Lieutenant, Virginia Rifle Regiment, Continental Line

  Lieutenant Colonel, Virginia Militia

  TO THE READER

  The original hand-written letter dated 25 August 1814 on the previous pages was delivered to my office at Centurion Solutions Group [CSG] on Monday, 2 January 2018. The document, sealed in a plastic bag, was carefully wrapped in a USPS shipping box with a postmark and tracking number indicating it had been mailed on 30 December 2017 from Morgantown, WV. It had no return address. We ran it through our screening device to confirm it contained no explosives. The inner wrapping was accompanied by an undated, unsigned note: “General Newman: This is important. Please investigate.”

  My company, CSG, does sensitive work for the U.S. government so it took less than three days for the FBI Lab at Quantico to provide the following information in a 5 January 2018 email:

  “The only fingerprints and DNA on the USPS packaging and contents appear to be yours and that of CSG Operations Director, Daniel Gabbard.

  “The computer-generated cover note—‘General Newman: This is important. Please investigate . . .’—was created on a Hewlett Packard laser-jet printer on commonly available bond paper, manufactured in 2018 by Georgia Pacific.

  “A forensic analysis of the stationery used for the six-page letter dated 25 August 1814 and signed ‘Nathanael Newman’ indicates compatibility with that in use in the United States during the early 1800s. Each sheet bears a watermark: ‘RUSE & TURNERS 1813,’ indicating the paper was manufactured that year in Kent, England.

 
“Since this document appears to be genuine, we did no chemical, DNA, or fingerprint testing of the aging ink or paper.

  “However, non-invasive, spectrographic analysis of the text indicates the ink is most likely ‘Iron Gall’—a composition of ­Gallic acid [aka, trihydroxybenzoic acid], iron sulfate, gum Arabic, and water—a readily available, indelible medium commonly used for correspondence in the 18th and 19th centuries. Given the brown hue of the text, typical for Iron Gall ink as it ages, it appears the ink was likely applied to the paper in a time frame compatible with the date on the letter.

  “Finally, microscopic examination of the script indicates a left-handed person writing with a sharpened goose quill likely prepared the document. If other documents, known to have been prepared by the person whose signature appears on the letter dated 25 August 1814 exist, our handwriting analysts will be pleased to quickly confirm authenticity.”

  On Monday morning, 8 January 2018, it was 18°F in the Blue Ridge Mountains when Master Gunnery Sergeant Dan Gabbard, USMC (Ret.) accompanied me to Bears Den hostel along the Appalachian Trail. Using climbing lines, we rappelled down the west face of the overlook and found the “cairn” referred to in Lieutenant Colonel Nathanael Newman’s missive of 25 August 1814.