John Masters (27 page)

The sergeant kicked him over the parapet, where he will lie till he recovers, if he does, for it is a 25-foot fall.

April 15:
The riot continues in the town, but I begin to think it is justified, for I learn that when the enemy shells knocked down walls and blew open houses, they revealed large stores of food and liquor which merchants have been hoarding against higher prices. All the soldiers—infantry, artillery, and even the engineer-artificers—are like madmen! I saw a dozen soldiers barbecuing a pig over a fire of pure cinnamon, worth near £.200. I watched a corporal of the Highlander eat 8 lbs. of beef in ten minutes. Others took the Virgin out of the Roman Catholic church and put "her" into the whirligig, as is done to loose women. I saw no officers anywhere. They are wise. Nor did I see any Germans take part in the debauchery.

April 23:
The fleet has sailed, and the harbor is empty again. The gunboats fired 300 shots into the town. It has been decided to name Miriam's boy David Eliott, the latter insisted on by Nahum, in the hope of obtaining the Governor's patronage for him; but in truth it is a noble name to carry; we would all be long since in the hands of Spain without him. Four men are hanging from the beams of burnt houses. They were caught looting the king's stores. No one is punished for looting private goods.

May 3:
The Governor inspected us today. We are the best battery. He was accompanied by a very handsome young navy captain. Captain Witham says he is Captain Roger Curtis, now the senior naval officer in this place. The sergeant says he's old Von. B.'s new bumboy and I've lost my market. The inhabitants who had come back to their houses from New Jerusalem, after so many months of discomfort and the Dons not firing, have now fled south again, where only the gunboats can hit them. The Governor is said to be supplying them with military tentage. My uncle and Abigail have stayed at home. A provost marshal has been appointed.

May 25:
Three Jews killed at New Jerusalem by gunboats. I knew them all well. Keep t
hink
ing of Abigail—not a queen, but a princess. She is only 29.

June
27: A few civilians are proposing to sue the Governor because he has knocked down their houses in the town, some for military reasons and others for storehouses. While we risk our lives they think only of their money. Captain Witham says the Horse Guards have not yet authorized the Governor to pay the staff officers who were appointed in 1779.... The recent rainstorm and the cannonading have uncovered many strange bones that were hidden under the rock slides. An infantry officer, Captain Drinkwater, has been around collecting them. I heard him tell Captain Witham that they were of animals, and perhaps of men, that lived before the Flood. A blasphemous idea, even for a Christian.

July 9:
Miriam to the battery in a dreadful state this morning because someone has dug up part of our cemetery. Why? The president has gone to complain to the Governor. She brought the baby, David, with her; he is a sickly child. Poor Emily hangs about me more and more, but I cannot even be civil to her, thinking of Abigail. How can womankind produce two such diverse beings?

July 15:
The gunboats continue their harassment. Yesterday a woman at New Town was blown dead out of her bed, stark naked. Captain Witham was on the batteries, and as soon as we heard the gunboats open fire, he directed all our guns on the enemy's camp. The sergeant says we will not let their infantry sleep, then they will petition to prevent the gunboats disturbing us. It is now known that it was Captain Witham who dug up the Jewish cemetery, to make a vegetable garden. The Governor has given him a reprimand, but not very sharp, I'll be bound, as he was trying to increase the food supplies. That means more to General Eliott than any religion. He is a very just man, it must be allowed. He treats all equally—like dogs.

August 2:
Abigail sent me a note asking me to visit them. I went joyfully and spent a pleasant evening with them. I told my uncle how magnificently she had comported herself the night of the rioting. She looks very beautiful. I try to think of her as my mother, whom I do not really remember.

August 3:
The Governor was here all morning while we experimented to see whether rope cleaning rods, such as the navy use, would be better than our wooden ones. Tomorrow we are to see what is the smallest amount of powder in the internal charge that will cause a shell to burst. The infantry below us have been firing their muskets with powder that has been dried, to see whether the range is thus increased. Another battery has been ordered to try firing round stones instead of cannonballs, to save metal.

September 10:
My uncle has asked me to pass word to him as soon as it is known that Captain Witham is to have the batteries. He always opens fire on the Dons as soon as he arrives and fires stray shots all night, with whole batteries firing now and then, so that the Dons always become much annoyed and open fire on the town with all their guns. When our captain has the batteries, everyone leaves for the south.

October 16:
A surgeon of the infantry has been found occupying a ward designed for 50 sick. He has been turned out. The sergeant says the surgeons think only of their own poxy skins and don’t give a*** for the soldiers. He is away an hour every day now getting medical instruction in case of need, as there are not enough surgeons or assistants. It is an idea of the Governor’s. The enemy’s siege lines get closer every day.

October 23:
General stand to arms last night, and at 1 o’clock all the batteries opened concentrated fire on the enemy’s works. We saw some flames, and when it came light, men were trying to repair the damage, and much smoke. We continued aimed fire until they desisted, but they will finish the repairs after dark.

November 1:
Last month the worst yet. Many new cases of scurvy and no more fresh fruit. The officers rioted, and many soldiers mutinied. The crew of
HMS Speedwell
tried to take their ship over to the Dons but were betrayed by a Spanish deserter who had been pressed into the navy. They will all hang. Naval discipline is both freer than ours and more brutal. I have seen two men dead by their own hands and hear of many more. Minorca is not expected to hold out much longer, and in America General Cornwallis has surrendered to the rebels. The war seems lost there. The sergeant says, "We’ll never surrender her. I’d blow Old Von. B. off a cannon first." Abigail sent me a cake, which I shared with all.

November 21:
The Governor and Captain Curtis passed through the battery early, going up toward Rock Gun. The sergeant said they should have taken a blanket these cold mornings.

November 22:
Captain Witham had the batteries, but no firing. He looked sulky and burst out 'twas not
his
will to sit idly while the enemy continued their works under his nose.

November 27:
A great day. Last night after retreat, when the gates had all been locked and night guards posted, we were stood to arms and new orders read. We were to make a sortie against the enemy works, the infantry to go in three columns, and some artillerymen with each column to spike the enemy guns and blow up their forward magazines as soon as they fell into our hands. More than 2,000 men were to go out. I confess to a feeling compounded of exhilaration and fear when the sergeant named me for the sortie. We filed out through the barriers, which had been quietly opened, a little after 3 o'clock. Twenty minutes later, going very slowly, we reached the enemy's works. I heard firing close ahead and in the light of a flare saw a Highlander put his bayonet into a Spanish soldier. The Spaniard fell, grimacing so horribly I felt the bayonet in my own entrails. Yet I was not afraid, and a moment later when a Spaniard rose out of the ground and raised his musket to fire at Captain Witham, I felled him with a blow of the ax I was carrying. Captain Witham took his comrades prisoner. For a time there was great confusion there in the enemy's forward works, with some Spaniards firing at us, some in postures of surrender, some lobsterbacks charging, some firing. I saw Cousin Abraham for a moment. Then we laid the charges and blew up the San Carlos battery. Captain Witham had found the keys of the battery and, bowing, presented them to General Eliott, who was there with a sword in a sling. He is 64 but in the enemy battery, the fires and explosions lighting his face, seemed no more than 40. We started back soon after 4 and all were inside the gates by 5. I do not know yet how many men we lost, but it was very few. I have not been able to sleep, reliving every moment of the adventure. I saw many examples of bravery and sacrifice performed by these simple soldiers I have despised. They are brutal only because we make them so.

November 28:
All the soldiers drunk. I spent an hour at home. Abigail is knitting me mittens so that I can work the gun in cold weather. She asked me to read the
Song of Solomon
to her in Hebrew.

December 4:
Captain Witham says I am a good fellow, and he is sorry he dug up our cemetery. The sergeant says I can have his sister and be blessed. It is announced that we suffered 5 men killed and 25 wounded in the sortie yesterday and brought back every item of weapons and equipment that we took out, save only a kilt of the 73rd. Considering how much a Scotchman can do, as I have seen, without removing his kilt, it is an astonishing mishap. Over half the fit men in the garrison went out on the sortie. The Governor took a great risk for a great end. Captain Witham says that he and all other officers were forbid to fire on the works because the Governor said the Dons always fought well if attacked or kept on the alert but became careless when there seemed to be no threat. It is clear now why he and Captain Curtis were at Rock Gun, looking down upon the enemy as though studying a map, so often this last month. There is no doubt that he is a great man.

December 15:
The chief credit for the sortie is now given to Brigadier General Ross, though General Boyd is the deputy governor. The Governor himself only went out "incognito" so pretends to have nothing to do with it. General Boyd is a Whig, while the Governor and General Ross are Tories. A sordid postscript to the adventure.

January 7:
The siege continues, the sortie fades in memory. Last month the enemy fired 13,156 shot and shell into the fortress. The sergeant says there are 450 scurvy in hospital. Guards and fatigues increase, so that even the artillery begin to murmur. We are supposed to perform a night guard or duty on only every third night, but I have been on night guards or fatigues the last nine nights and only now have a night in bed.

February 6:
On fatigue duty carrying powder to the upper guns three nights consecutively. This is more than any British soldier should be asked to perform. Three boatloads of lemons arrive from Lisbon.

February 24:
More lemons. The sergeant told me how they were obtained. A ship, the
Mercury,
was going to England with passengers, but the Governor gave the master secret orders to load with lemons in Lisbon and return here, while giving out that he was continuing to England. The master played his part, avoided the enemy cruisers, and returned. Some of the passengers, who expected to wake up in the Bay of Biscay, were reported to have had apoplectic seizures when they found themselves again moored under the shadow of the Rock. Nothing can stop the Governor.

February 26:
General Murray has surrendered Minorca to the Spanish, because of scurvy. Another wonderful evening with Abigail. She sings like an angel.

March 7:
The Spanish are up to some deviltry in Algeciras across the bay. Captain Witham looks important and says he knows what it is but is forbid to tell. I doubt it. Sixty more tents in the Spanish lines at the Orange Grove. I am distressed to find myself thinking lecherously of Abigail. How can I prevent it?

March 23:
Another regiment, the 97th, has arrived. Their ships slipped past the blockade, but their wives and baggage were taken. Now our guard duties will decrease. Captain Witham says that 10 gunboats have been sent from England in parts, with instructions how to put them together. This is to enable our navy to attack the enemy gunboats, which continue to harass us, though not so much as heretofore.

April 4:
It is announced that the Horse Guards have allowed the Governor's staff their extra pay for the first 6 months of 1779. It is a marvel how we survive, fighting the enemy in front and the Horse Guards behind. Lord North has resigned and Lord Rockingham taken his place.

April 12:
No decrease in guards or duties. Nearly 100 of the 97th dead of fever and the rest weakly. The first of our gunboats has been launched. Six shiploads of enemy soldiers, said to be two regiments, disembarked at Algeciras and marched round the bay to their camp. The jetty at the Orange Grove is being lengthened.

April 14:
David Eliott Conquy's 1st birthday. Miriam is determined that he shall be a Teacher when he grows up. It is the same they all hope for me. Abigail says I would make a wonderful teacher.

May 20:
The Governor is determined to get a battery on the point of rock above the cliffs here. It is too steep for a path, but Sergeant Major Ince of the Artificers says he can make a tunnel to the place. He has begun. The Spanish are cutting the masts and upper decks off some ships of the line in Algeciras. No one knows what it means.

May 27:
One hundred and fourteen enemy ships came this week, and 7,000 soldiers landed. Their tented camp spreads and looks like a great city. The sergeant says, with many oaths, that the enemy must be 20,000 men there, French and Spanish. They are estimating us at our true value at last. Personally, I feel strangely empty in the stomach when I look at that vast array and consider how few we are and how many sick and how many disaffected. But the Governor keeps us all in even greater fear, and respect, of him.