A fictional story by Jeannette Holland Austin
The boy did not awaken until early morning, when she brought him a cup of tea.
“Where am I?” He asked.
“What is your name.” She asked.
“Giles Duncan.” Giles sat up in bed and told his story. He was a boy living at home with his parents in Goose Creek when his two brothers enlisted in the American Army. Although Giles begged his father to allow him to also enlist, he staunchly refused. The brothers went away to camp, but when they returned home for Christmas and happily regaled stories of the great comradry had in camp, Giles begged to join. But was refused. After the brothers returned to their regiment’s camp near Charleston, Giles could bear it no longer, and yearning to be soldier, he walked by foot some forty miles to the brother’s campsite. Upon arriving, the brothers saw that he was starving, and but a thin morsel of a brother. Although they urged him to return home, Giles, after suffering the effects of the torrid sun and starving, was more determined than ever.
It was a beautiful day in March when the regiment marched to Charleston, where the American Army tragically lost. It was a major victory for the British because it rendered them total control of the port where they would prevent supplies and arms arriving in the city. But the capture also meant there was an overflow of prisoners. Although the British had six prison ships in the harbor, they had inadequate space to contain the prisoners.
Due to his small size, as he was not yet a man, Giles was physicially thrown into the hole of an anchored prison vvessel, the Esk. His hands and legs were tied to a wooden post. As more prisoners were crammed into the small space, the British periodically beat them to maintain control. The lack of food, crowded conditions, and the hot, steamy hull of the ship drew Giles into a great depression. As the guards performed their ritualistic beatings, he thought of his brothers, wondering if they had survived, and if he could find them. Finally, it was noted by a suffering soldier tied to his backside that the guards had left. The two wrangled free of the ropes, and maneuvered their escape to the upper deck. The gray clouds of a storm were seen stirring towards the ship. Neither questioned their ability to swim ashore but quickly jumped into the bubbling sea. When the heavy rain touched ground, the exhausted Giles was stumbling in the surf. Weak and exhausted, Giles remembered fainting in a wooded area.
“You are at Brennerei, a farm about ten miles from Charleston,” Dora said. “My husband found you in a brush near the road. You are in safe hands, and I will take care of you until you are well.”
Later, after several weeks, the boy spoke of his brothers who first joined the local regiment, and his yearning to follow. Forbidden by his parents, he remained at home for some weeks until he borrowed his father’s horse from the barn, and rode towards Ninety-Six where his brothers were stationed. His first battle was in Charleston,where he was taken onboard a ship, and severely beaten. Upon the injuries healing, he felt compelled to find the army.
“It is not safe yet,” Evan Schwartz said boldly. Other members of your regiment escaped, but it is unknown where they went. When we know that, we shall speak of it again. Meanwhile, you can help me by assisting the other prisoners distill ale.”
“Others?”
“There are two others. It is easy to get caught. Except for the others on this farm,you must take care not to be seen by those on the road.”
After several months passed, Giles was no longer hindered by his wounds.
“You will no longer sleep inside the house,” Dora injected, “use the barn, stables or the spring house on yonder creek.”
Giles found the other prisoners, Josh and Emmett, preparing to plow the field. It was early spring, a warm day, with a cloudless blue sky overhead. Giles had frequently assisted his father in planting the spring crops, and noting that the soil was not excessively wet, yet warm enough for seed germination, volunteered for the chore of planting the barley seeds at the same depth throughout the whole field for a uniform stand. By the end of summer, Evan’s crops produced sufficient grain to distill his ales, and in September, after the prisoners had filled four kegs, he decided that he was ready to take his first delivery to Dillon’s tavern.
to be continued
Trace your families for family stories! So easy to discover!
