The knights of the horseshoe: a traditionary tale of the cocked hat gentry in the Old Dominion

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Chapter I. A Virginia Farm-iiousb

At a moderate distance from Yorktown (since so famous by the surrender of Cornwallis) there stood a plain-looking structure, covering a considerable portion of ground, embracing, under one common roof, a long range of’buildings of various dimensions, and surrounded with coollooking verandas, which extended entirely round the lower story of the house; here entirely clos- I ing one portion from view, with the extension of green slats, and there throwing open another from the ceiling to the floor, so that the inmates might choose sunshine or shade, as suited their fancy. Besides this main building there were others of various sizes and shapes, from the kitchen to the coach-house, forming altogether quite an imposing-looking establishment. One side of the dwelling commanded a fine prospect of the Chesapeake Bay, while the other faced a garden, at that day a curiosity in the colony. It extended beyond the reach of the eye landward, until it was lost in a beautiful green lawn, which fell off abruptly toward a little bubbling brook which wound its way around the extended bluff upon which the mansion stood. This garden was laid out afier the prim and rather pragmatical fashion of that day in the old country, and adorned with statues and grottoes, and curiously devised box-hedges. In the centre of these a jet d’eau constantly threw up its glittering spray, giving a most inviting air of coolness and repose to the place. The whole establishment was surrounded by a fence, painted white, the entrance to which was through a high, arched gate in the fashion of the times.

This was called Temple Farm, from a circumstance which will appear in the course of our narrative, and was one of the country-seats of Sir Alexander Spotswood, then Governor of Virginia, and Commander-in-chief of her Majesty’s forces in the colony.

Farther along the shores of the bay stood a double row of small white cottages, with a narrow street running between, and one large building of two stories in the centre, surmounted with a small cupola and weather-cock ; this was the negro quarter. Beyond this, again, stood the overseer’s house, still following the same line.

The whole settlement presented a most inviting prospect to the eye of the weary traveller ; and from the water was still more imposing, because on that side was one unbroken front, giving the idea of quite a village, from the number of the buildings. No one will wonder at the extent, even of this country establishment, when we state from undoubted authority that his exi celleney’s income at that time exceeded twenty thousand pounds per annum, independent of his officin ! salary.

It was near sundown of a sultry day in the summer of 1714 ; the dim blue outlines of Accomack nd Northampton could just be discovered across the misty surface of the bay. Sir Alexander Spotswood was seated in a large nrm-chair, in the front porch of the building, entirely alone, except his dogs, which were snoozin, ' > around his chair in various groups. He In 1 a pipe in his mouth, held from time to time in big fii gers while he blew aw. v the smoke, and cast hi- eve now and then alon.^ the surface of the water. He wore a cocked-h.,' on his head, which was thrown rather to one sin so as to exhibit a profusion of iron-gray hair, done up in the bob-wig fashion. His features were large and strong, but not unpleasing, especially when a smile broke over the otherwise bronzed and statue-like countenance. His face, from the brow to the chin, was covered with wrinkles— the sure guarantee that the youth of their possessor had not been passed in inglorious ease and luxury. He had a fine set of white teeth, which greatly redeemed his countenance from a look of premature age, assisted by an eye which, when under excitement, was black and brilliant with the unspent fires of youth or genius. Surmounting this weather-beaten countenance was a high forehead, falling back at the temple, so as to leave a hollow on each side, and thus to produce what is called, in common parlance, the hatchet face. His limbs were brawny and athletic, showing their possessor capable of extraordinary physical exertion. He wore knee-breeches, met by cloth gaiter-leggings, buttoned close to his well-turned limbs, which, truth to say, were, Virginia fashion, thrown over the banisters in the most careless attitude possible. Over his person lie wore a hunting coat, thrown carelessly back from off his shoulders, while near by rested a fowling-piece he had apparently just set down, being his almost inseparable companion in his long and celebrated walks.

While his Excellency thus lazily smoked away alone in the front of his house, the other portions of the building were by no means in the same state of dreamy repose. About the entrance-gate there was much bustle and confusion, incident to the departure of some guests and the arrival of others.

His extensive and princely hospitalities were renowned even in the Old Dominion, and his establishment, whether in town or country, was the centre and focus of all the elite of the colony. Over that portion he had already swayed a most happy and judicious influence, far better suited in its free-and-easy grace to the age of the country than the stately formalities of his predecessors. Upon occasions of public ceremony he by no means abated the pomp and paraphernalia of his office. His previous life had been too purely military for that, but that very education of the camp lent to the privacies of • his own home all the careless ease and grace so common to the undress of the camp.

His being thus seated so long and so indolently gazing out upon the slumbering waves was by no means accidental. Suddenly there appeared a faint flash and a quick report of fire-arms in the offing, followed almost instantaneously by two others, so faint and far off as just to be heard and seen. These reports proceeded from small-arms, and were very different from those of a vessel in distress, which idea, indeed, the dead calm of the bay itself precluded. Nevertheless, they seemed to rouse the governor; the pipe was thrown over the banister, his legs were drawn to the floor, and in the next instant he had snatched a spyglass and looked long and silently over the water. After he had hurriedly replaced his glass, he seized his gun and fired three charges as rapidly as he could perform the evolutions of loading and firing. He had no sooner done this than he ordered one of his servants to light a large pine torch, and having manned one of his boats, jumped in, followed by the boy holding aloft his burning brand. They steered out to a considerable distance from the landing, and then again he folded his arms and looked long and ardently as before over the expanse of waters, the oarsmen resting upon their oars.

THE KNIGHTS OF TIIE HORSESHOE.

While he is thus employed let us return to the mansion, over the windows of which various lights are now seen, indicative of some more Uisy life within than is usually to be found on summer evenings at an ordinary farm-house.

CHAPTER II. i

AN OLD-FASHIONED FIltESID* PARTY.

Before we introduce our reisers iuto tli , drawing-room, let us pause at th«» old-fashioned hall-door, and read the inscription over the coat of arms (the plate on whi< !: it ivas inscribed was in existence within the memory of many now living). We think it reads thus: “Patior et Portion ’’ the iwn appropriate that could be conceived for it., possessor: it was his life, both previous and subsequent, in an epigraph. Through this large old dining-hall we pass into a parlor well lighted up, and furnished with much taste and elegance. The room was nearly full of company ; and we shall proceed to introduce such of them as we take a fancy to.

But, before we do so, let us premise that that drawingroom contained at that moment the future fathers and mothers of some if the most celebrated characters of our counti i first, of course, we shall present the lady of tin lu.m-ion she was seated, with some hull do* -

her own sex, at a small t o il', a '.■■■! ii 'Mcy were working at the t medic, ■ .:dng all the while, sometimes with demon stand-

in/ a .a/ier ladies sim-

ihuli :• , . other parts of the

room. 1 a i , - o. notwithstanding the

still fash i i ; cradle costume and head-

dress in • a , was the very beau ideal of a rich far me wife. She looked quite young in con , i. , a u/i her husband, and possessed the n on'., - of a beauty that must have been formid • among courtiers of the royal household,

' , ni which atmosphere the general had plucked her. How many ladies thus transplanted would not have carried with them the faded pomp- mil ceremonies of their former sphen Not so, however, with Lady Spotswo-' ' N" -mo could ever have imagined that 1 figured in her

younger days with'' tormalities ot a

courtly circle, n ■ liole-heartedness,

n btmh-im ' ■ ; ■ i. n, a freedom of conver-

sation in the highest degiee enthusiastic sometimes, which we simple hearted republicans be lievc die* within the purlieus of the royal houseli ; She .coined to enjoy her company with ;i ughest relish, and, of course, she entertained tla-m with ease.

At an opposite table sat her two daughters : Ann Catherine, the elder, by the general called Kate, and Dorothea, the younger. The eldest of these was about seventeen, and the other about two years younger. However much we might lament the unromantic sound of their names, we cannot help it, having previously pledged ourselves to adhere to the real ones. Sure we are that ii we cannot interest our readers in them utui'T i ical we could not under fictitious one-. Id . t miliar with these (aye, and with their characters) almost from our youth, we shall use the govern ' ■> pi in lege, and abbreviate them whenever we please.

Kate, then, was a fair girl in every sense of the word, or, in other words. -In .a ,v blonde. Light hair, dress, and everything light ; even her voice and laughter seemed to indicate a light heart, and that is a very important point upon which to assure our readers. But in all this field of white there were shades of most delicate tints ; her eyes, though not white, were lightblue, and the lashes over them fell down so low sometimes as to form a fine shading for those laughing and rather mischievous, we should rather say rnerry, looking eyes.

It is a dangerous thing, looking too deep into the color ami texture of a lady’s eyes; they become very unfathomable, very, and have an aspect of wonderful profundity; and the longer one looks the deeper the, get, until, like looking down into the deep, deep -< a nr the high blue arch above, we begin to wonder at the height and depth. It is a kind of star-gazing which may bewilder the brain as well as another.

Occasionally slie would drop her needle id work, and clap he; hands with the most heartfelt delight at the salli<s of the youth standing over her chair. She wa. dressed with much simplicity, and her hair see.ved to follow the pyramidical fashion of the <l;>„v with great reluctance, for here and there -nay wandered down her pure, white net k- the expv^g;on 0f ber coun_ tenauce was rather arch, piodtL>(j by ft sljg|)t contraction of the outer angle of the %.c :lT1,i n constant dubiousness about her pouting tips, «s if they did not know their own intention, whether to laugh or not. On one side of her stood Bernard Moore ; and on the other sat the Rev. Commissary Blair, who will be described presently. Her changing countenance, as she turned to one or the other, no doubt forming a pleasing study to the youth at least. One while, all quivering with archness and pent-up mischief, and the next moment exhibiting the simplicity of childhood, as she caught the words that fell from the lips of the excellent prelate. She was a fine, tall girl, anil one who performed whatever was in tiuiid gracefully; it was impossible for bet o be awkward: all this did not seem the lestdi I education, hut appeared like nature

I ) rothea was a full, round, plump little figure, nut so tall as her sister, and of a beauty not quite so spiritual, and differing from her in many essentials, both of appearance and manners as well as character. Her hair was brown, her eyes hazel, her cheeks red. She wore an apron, with a bunch of keys dangling at her side, giving one an idea of domestic operations, for which she seemed to have a peculiar turn. She was slightly inclined to embonpoint, yet a neat, tidy, trim little figure.

Dorothea assigned to herself a humbler posi tion than that allowed to her more, brilliant sis. ter, hut the assent to llii* mu by in, m, mis universal in the court cii < ie» She « .i* it... i....,iuu with many, ami 1 ■ c I mbit, of saying someimi v or\ i.i.u^'ui things in her demure way. N a .. 1 1 b ilie ease, grace, and perfect self-possession of her sister, to be sure ; but, perhaps, they told better from popping out as unexpectedly to the hearers as the speaker. She was a decided pet of the old gentleman, and wa- nw'-ulv o> l»« found in his wake, wliou !w chose to throw off the cares and toils of ollii ial life lot the mope heart -cheering enjoyments of the social circle. If no one else laughed at her observations upon things and men, as they passed in review in such constant rounds of society, he did ; and it was no uncommon thing to see them sitting quite apart from the company, she chatting away most volubly, and he bursting every now and then into a laugh.

The two brothers were John and Robert. The former and elder of these sat apart from the rest of the company, dressed in the green uniform of the Rangers, of which corps he was an officer. His arms were folded, and he did not seem to be at his ease. His face had a general resemblance to that of the governor, and might once have been handsome, but it now bore the impress of early dissipation, and consequently of care and sorrow. The family seemed to look upon him with pain mid, commiseration, if not of sympathy, though it is questionable whether they understood exactly the cause of his general moodishuess. The Rangers, of which John was a captain, were composed of about twenty or thirty men each corps, and stationed at convenient distances along the then circumscribed frontier of the colony. He seemed to consider his present position, what it truly was, one of honorable exile; consequently he seized every opportunity to visit the capital. His presence at the fireside circle was by no moans a common circumstance. The sort of innocent gayety that prevailed there at all times had no channs for him. He was there now in the performance of imperative military duty, which he dared not disobey ; he had ridden express to communicate with the governor and wait his orders concerning frontier matters — which, indeed, he had done some time, and, as it seemed to him, without much chance of a speedy gratification of his impatience, for no governor appeared. Others in that little party began to feel some surb absence, for the evening was

s many of our ad of William y Blair, at the was at tl

'fifing the prise at big lo now on the \Vai The Rev. Coinmi readers know, wa and Mary College, much a school for ( for general purposes hale, hearty, red- faced ti t entirely in black velvet, with t. and broad, shining silver bit iJioes, and much addicted

which he carried often He was »V|y old gentleman, tho times. On present occasion he enjoyed the rn<St sallies of Kate, by wh:

'oore, the youth win time as savages as

He was a n, dressed his vrigMl his knees

trig .-.nutf.

he sat. Bernard a few vears erotic cm?

on the opposite sid\,f her chair> lmd beerl but a tew years emm-cipSW. rrorrl hls government; consequently !u fibrin awe of his old master, but still tin nenante*

'the more liv

■mg file,. r 1Ie wilJ

verbor, Rov*,rt

nome extern reme extern, tis moodish on — where ly impressions of his >. speak for himself.

The youngest son of was quite a lad, and thereto like all other lads, he was te; brother after the most approved i we will leave him for the present, wh -e introduce some more of that company to oi. '•aders.

There was walking along the room tall, gray-headed old man, of uncommonly t , i. lent countenance and prepossessing appearance. His hair was combed back from his high, polished forehead, and fell in long, white lock- upon his coat-collar. He was dressed very mu- : the same style as his friend the reverend cuinit ;- sary, and at first sight might readily have been mistaken for some venerable old father of the Church. Tt was Dr. Evylin, the most celebrated physician of bis day in the colony, and the bosom triend of bis excellency.* Ho stooped much in

“«■» tiu.li i> - trail' M a . I!,. , ,j

in his hand an ivory-heacUu

as himself. Occasionally he stopped to hear a few words of her ladyship, not addressed immediately to him, said a word or two- shook, his head, perhaps — or smiled assent, and .ed on. He was a man of few words but min -tight.” No one could converse in the room without ira-*

■ wns present.

Phare were m»»j »»!...« snug

little country fireside party, stowed away in one end of that old parlor, but it is needless to bewilder the reader with them at present. The various parties were grouped as we have described, when the door was thrown open by a man in livery and the governor entered. Nearly every one rose and bowed at his entrance, except his youngest daughter, who, as usual, ran up and threw herself into his arms. He, however, gently put her away and threw himself abruptly into a vacant chqir — a proceeding ’so very unusual with him as to attract the particular attention of every one in the room. It was now observed that his face was of an ashy paleness ; and her ladyship, who had approached and laid her hand upon his arm, started back in terror as she observed a spot of blood upon his face.

The whole party now gathered around his chair in the utmost surprise, each one inquiring what was the matter, some to the governor iu person, and others to those nearest him. ile told them that it was nothing— a mere scratch ; but there was excitement — subdued, it is true, but deep and intense excitement — in the,countenance of the veteran, which these words by r means allayed. lie heeded them not, hove. r, but, taking the arm of Dr. Evylin, walked ay in the direction of his library.

Chapter III. A Night F II K E R A L

We left the governor and his boat, in a preceding chapter, qui ly reposing upon the 1- v.; of the silent and motionless waves of the ( esapeake. He had not remained long in . po sition before the stealthy sound of mud oa:.

* We believe this fact is inscribed upo- is cc

taph at Williamsburg.

4:

was heard approaching. He stood up in his boat and leaned forward with eagerness to catch the sound, which grew more aud more distinct until the boat itself hove in sight, which proved to be a yawl, manned by sailors, and under the command of the second officer of a ship. This official, when the yawl came along side, rose and touched his cap, and inquired if he had the honor to address General Spotswood. He replied in the affirmative, when the mate handed him a sealed packet, which he broke open and glay-ed over by the light of the torch. WhiH ,e ,read the letter he trembled, and seemed aptated t01' one whose nerves had been brace; and hardened in the fierce school of contending aln}ieS- a'e you the box here?” said he afength, address.ng the same official. $ ^ .

He replied that it vy yawi-

The boats were S™le to gunwale and lashed togetj’e-7 while all hands proceeded to lift a b' ah°ut seven feet long and three broad int0 the governor’s boat, after which he uted out money to the sailor, and departed as he had come, having ordered the slaves to pull for the little inlet formed by the small stream before described. After rowing some half an hour the boat was run aground high and dry upon his own lands. The box was lifted out and placed upon poles, and the six oarsmen bore it through the garden until they came to the farthest extremity of the lawn, where had recently been erected a small, torab-like building,* with the ground -floor bare, and a new-made grave open in the centre. On one side of this the box was deposited and the negroes ordered to depart.

About half an hour afterward the governor returned, bearing in one hand a dark lantern, followed by his carpenter, with various tools on his shoulder. The door was again unlocked and the man ordered to open the box, which he proceeded to do, not without fear anil trembling. The outer boards being removed, exhibited a leaden coffin ; this, also, he was ordered to cut through. When it was completed the man was turned out and the governor- left alone. He then proceeded to roll down the lead about two feet : beneath this were various folds of what /“Ce had been white satin, but now sadly stained and tarni=bad , ho uiro.vise removed,

when o s:...^tly spectacle exhibited itself. It was the body of a large, fine-looking man, in the uniform of a general officer, his head severed entirely from the trunk, and all much disfigured with blood. The governor threw himself upon his knees and hung over this sad spectacle, and wept long and bitterly. Many times he took the last look of the features of that beheaded man before he finally assumed composure enough to close it again and summon the workman. This he did at length, and, having changed his apparel, appeared in the drawing-room, as we have seen.

About midnight, there sat round the table in the governor’s library himself, the reverend commissary, and Dr. Evylin. The countenance of the former exhibited still the same ghastly appearance, and those of the other two gentlemen were not unmoved. We shall break into their conversation at the moment.

“You say truly, your excellency, that secrecy in this business is of the last importance, not only to the due preservation of your proper authority, but for the interest of the colony itself, as at present situated.”

“I differ with you, my dear sir,” replied the doctor, “because I conceive that it can neither offend king nor council for one, however high in authority, to honor the remains of his own near kinsman with Christian burial.”

“You forget, doctor," rejoined the commissary, “that that kinsman died the death of a traitor.”

“ Hell and fury !” shouted the governor, striking his clinched fist upon the table. “ He died a patriot — a martyr — a victim!”

“Softly, softly,” said the reverend gentleman, laying his hand upon the arm of the governor,

* The remains of the temple were still standing a

few years ago.

“I only spoke the language of common rumor — of the government — of the laivs.”

“ May a thousand furies seiie the government — the laws and rumor, all together!”

“ Let me explain all thii,” mildly put in the doctor. “Thus stands d** case. Here is a gentleman, an office- ^ high rank, who is beheaded in Scotia--* f°r ^he alleged crime of high-treason — al,'Sed> remember,” seeing the governor again start. “This gentleman who suffered is the half-brother of another military man, who has been appointed governor of one of the colonies under the very government which beheaded his kinsman. This is not all — this government at home had the same suspicions of this very governor, and many of his friends shrewdly suspect that he was sent hither to keep him out of harm’s way — in other words, on account of former brilliant military services — that he was sent hither in a sort of honorable exile. Is it not so ?”

“You are right — you are right, doctor,” said the governor, between his teeth ; “go on.”

“Then the question presented is, shall he clandestinely inter these remains which have arrived here to-night, or shall he bury them openly in his own burying-grounds ? I think it better to make no mystery of it, and trust to the liberality and good-sense of the ministry, should they hear of it. Such a proceeding would be very natural, surely.”

“But you forget, doctor,” said the commissary, “that this thing is to produce a vast effect upon others besides the ministry, and the first effect too. Recollect the state of the colony. Every party at home is exactly represented here. It is useless to conceal from ourselves that the government of our friend meets with powerful opposition. What is it that prevents him from leading an army now across the mountains into that unknown El Dorado beyond but this very jealousy of his power and popularity ? And would this opposition dare, for a moment, to show head, were it not for the more than encouragement they receive at home ? Now, what effect would such a funeral have, when the subject of it was proclaimed through the colony? — that is the question.”

“ There is force in your reasoning,” said the doctor.

“ Besides, there is another point upon which we have not touched,” said the commissary. “The governor will, doubtless, desire to have his friend and kinsman interred with the rites and ceremonies of the Church ; now, as he is the secular head of that Church, and I am the unworthy representative of my lord bishop, how can we publicly bestow funeral honors upon one who has fallen like this unfortunate gentleman ?”

“You have settled the matter, reverend sir,” said the governor, musing — “ you have settled the matter ; and as every one seems now asleep, let us betake ourselves to our melancholy task.”

It was a most strange-looking group that of the two reverend-looking old gentlemen : the doctor, with his long ivory-headed cane, and the reverend commissary in his surplice, following the governor to a surreptitious grave, by the dubious light of a dark lantern. As they approached the temple they all bared their heads, and the clergyman, taking the lamp, commenced that most solemn and imposing ceremony of the English Church. When he came to the appropriate place the coffin was lowered by the doctor and governor, after which the grave was filled up, and they retired as they had come, the governor leading the way.

The mansion-house by this time, and all the surrounding scene, lay wrapped in the most profound repose ; not a single light relieved the dark outlines of the now gloomy-looking mansion, and even the statues, which in daytime gave a classic air of lightness and grace to the picture, now rather added to the solemn silence and mystic gloom by their shadowy figures. The late occupation of our three adventurers, too, added not a little to the sombre aspect of these dim outlines. There was that magnificent sheet of water, too, beyond, sending up forever its melancholy roar of the distant waves, and heralding the coming morn, with its broken fragments of misty drapery, towering up here in huge abutments, and there arching to the horizon. Away toward the ocean, between the dim outlines of Cape Charles and Cape Henry, the bay seemed relieved by a darker outline of clouds piled up against the sky like a chain of mountains.

CHAPTER IV. COUNTRY LIFE'j ITS DUTIES AND ENJOYMENTS

The next morning broke bright and cheerful, emancipated by the morning sun from the mists and clouds of the previous night. Kate Spotswood was up with the lark, brushing the dew from the grass and flowers with an elastic foot, which seemed made on purpose only to bound over Nature’s brightest and freshest beauties, so fawn-like were her movements. Yet her occupation on this morning seemed of a quite homely and domestic kind. She wore a sun-bonnet, and carried a basket on her arm. She took the path leading across the garden and down toward the brook, and in a few minutes ascended the rising ground opposite, leading toward the negro quarter. In the basket were various phials and papers, all labelled in the most careful manner, and arranged so as to be of instant use. She entered the door of one of the white cottages rather apart from and larger than the others, and called, in plantation language, the sick - house. Here, around a pretty extensive and well ventilated room, were arranged sundry cots, upon which lay about a dozen negroes ; some tossing in the restless delirium of fever, and others cadaverous with the hues of an ague. She approached their bedsides in succession, followed by an old crone, called the nurse, who scarcely ceased to bless her young mistress even to put a spoon between the teeth of a refractory patient. “ Gcfd a mighty, bress Miss Kate; poor nigger been dead but for her. She neber forget em ! neber ! ”