04 - The Last Day of Magic

January 1776

Nicholas Fisher, Charlotte Rose, and John Andre traveled ahead of the expedition train.  They were headed to Albany - Andre's final stop with the expedition.  The magician was told to turn Andre over to Philip Schuyler, the commanding General of the Northern Department, and then continue on to scout the crossing over the Hudson River.

Charlotte and Andre said brief and tearful goodbyes and then Andre was unceremoniously surrendered to Schuyler.  Just before the magician parted Andre slipped him a note.  Plans were made for Schuyler to escort Fisher and Rose to the two river crossings over the Hudson later that day but Schuyler was pulled away for other official business.  During the down time Fisher pulled out the note from Andre.  He read one line before realizing the note was intended for Charlotte; the note was given to Charlotte.

The note was a confessional.  In it Andre explained his feelings for Charlotte and his wish to be reunited with her again once his freedom could be secured.  He also explained how difficult it was to be parted from her due to the fact that he had experienced great heartbreak just a few years previous.  Andre had been betrothed to the wealthy and beautiful Honara Sneyd but Honara broke off their marriage because her feelings for Andre changed.  Andre was crushed.  Having nothing to keep him in England he joined the army and shipped off to the colonies with the Royal Fusileers.  Andre pleaded for Charlotte to not forget him and he vowed to come back to her.

Schuyler found time the next morning to bring Fisher and Rose to the crossings but by that time the expedition had caught up with them.  The cannons were already being dragged across the river as Schuyler lead Fisher and Rose down to Half Moon Ferry.  The crossing was going smooth but Schuyler believed that Sloss's Ferry, just a short ways away, was the safer of the two crossings due to shallower water.  He brought Fisher and Rose over to Sloss's Ferry to persuade them to use the other ferry.  Schuyler, Fisher, and Rose stood on horse back in the middle of the frozen river at Sloss's Ferry examining the site when they heard a sharp snap.

The noise echoed in the frigid air and off the river gorge walls as it made its way up the river.  They river was cracking and splitting beneath the their feet.  As they fled to the banks for safety they could hear shouts from the up the river where the expedition was crossing at Half Moon Ferry.  The three rode their horses hard back to Half Moon Ferry.  When they arrived they found the expedition in disarray; a large hole was visible in the river.  The men explained that the river just gave way and swallowed up one of the heavier 18 pound guns.  Fisher was relieved to hear that none of the men  went down with the gun, but the men didn't share his sentiment; they were devastated by the loss of the valuable weapon.

The expedition was called off for the day and the artillery were dragged back to Albany.  That evening the report was given to Knox.  Knox too was devastated by the loss of the gun.  Fisher and Schuyler were scolded for the debacle.  The men stayed up that evening formulating how best to proceed.  It was agreed that Sloss's Ferry was the better crossing but Knox wanted to be sure there would be no more loss of equipment.  He insisted that Schuyler mobilize the residents of Albany to assist the magician in thickening the ice.

The next morning a small army of men, women, and children, along with the artillery train, all went down to Sloss's ferry.  Fisher and Rose melted snow and ice for the citizens of Albany to carry in buckets to a reinforce a narrow strip of the Hudson.  When the ice was sufficiently thickened Knox ordered the sleds to cross the river - lightest guns first, heaviest last.  The crossing was a success.  The citizens of Albany stuck around all afternoon as the sleds crossed over one by one.  Spirits were high when the last sled pushed off to cross the Hudson.  Fisher and Rose were given the honor of escorting the last sled across.  The citizens cheered them on their way and Charlotte waved gallantly from the sled astride the largest 24 pound cannon.  That was when tragedy stuck.

In a flash the ice gave way and the sled toppled and sunk into the frigid waters of the Hudson.  Charlotte rolled to avoid being crushed by the cannon and escape the sled before it dragged her down with it.  She couldn't move fast enough, the cannon rolled over her wrist.  Charlotte escaped the sinking sled but her wrist was broken.  Helpless, she kicked and slide away from sled as it slipped beneath the surface.  Fisher came to her rescue instantly, scooping her up and carrying her to safety.

Knox's fears were realized and all their hard work seemed for naught.  Again they lost one of their largest pieces of artillery.  Fisher was still reeling from the catastrophe but something was gnawing at him, something wasn't right.  Then it hit him.  The ice failure wasn't natural, he could sense another magician's influence in the air.  Fisher scanned the opposing river bank, looking into the faces of the shocked citizens of Albany when his eyes locked with another man.  He found the culprit, another magician was present.  He shouted to seize the man.  Citizens sprung into action and the man was subdued quickly.

The next afternoon the captured magician was tried by a military court headed by Schuyler and found guilty of treason.  He was sentenced to death by hanging.  Less than 24 hours from the incident the man was hung.  The expedition was put on hold. The doctors of Albany tended to Rose's wrist and Fisher stayed by her side even as he was told that the citizens of Albany were organizing a salvage party to retrieve the lost cannon from the bottom of the river.  The salvage was successful and the 24 pound cannon was retrieved.  At a large ceremony in the center of the city the cannon was ceremoniously loaded.  Knox addressed the crowd and proclaimed that from that day forward the cannon would be known as the 'The Albany.'  Then Knox fired the cannon.  It was hard to say whether the boom of the cannon or the crowd was louder.