13 - The Last Day of Magic

July 1776

Things calmed down in New York in the days following the celebration over The Declaration.  Admiral Howe was still making his way across the Atlantic, and so the newly independent state militias settled back into their daily routines of reinforcing the city in preparation of defending their new country.

On July 12th at three in the afternoon, under perfect weather conditions the 20 gun Rose and 40 gun Phoenix loosed their moorings on Staten Island and set sail to round the tip of Manhattan and travel up the North River (Hudson).  Warning shots rang out from the American main battery once the ships intentions were clear.  The warning shots roused Knox and the magicians from their leisurely afternoon activities at the Kennedy Mansion.  The three grabbed their personal effects and rushed out into Broadway, within Bowling Green, just as the first volley erupted from Knox's cannons at the main battery.  The ground shook beneath their feet as 20 cannon erupted, sending over 500 pounds of shot hurtling towards the approaching British war ships.  The Asia and Phoenix quickly returned fire.  Nicholas had just enough time to grab Charlotte and duck behind the bare plinth, which until recently held the statue of King George III, as cannon balls bounced and barreled down Broadway, smashing through homes and shattering cobblestone streets.

People poured from their homes immediately. Broadway was choked with panicked citizens running for their lives.  The magicians and Knox tried to push their way through the throng of people but it was futile. By the time the second volley was fired from the battery, Knox had been separated from the magicians.  The magicians took shelter in homes when fired upon and moved up Broadway in between volleys.  It was several minutes and several volleys later that the magicians finally made their way to the battery.

Knox reunited with them at the battery and together the three climbed to the top of the walls to get a better view of their attackers.  The Rose and Phoenix were cruising at full sail and making their way swiftly out of range of the main battery.  Fisher went to work on slowing the ships down by trying to change the winds while Knox shouted commands to his cannon crews.  Charlotte was briefly pressed into service to assist one of the crews, but after the first shots rang out only feet from where she stood, she was so severely rattled that she was of no assistance to anyone from that point on.

Fisher and Knox worked tirelessly, leap-frogging on horse back from battery to battery up Manhattan Island over the next hour in a vain attempt to damage or even slow down the two massive vessels.  In the end, over 200 shots were fired from the American batteries, many of which found their mark, but the Rose and Phoenix slipped past without much trouble or damage taken.  The only casualties of the skirmish were 6 Americans who died when their cannon backfired and exploded as a result of improper loading.

At dinner that evening, Knox chided himself when relating the days action to Nathanael Greene for having not lead his men better.  Greene and Fisher attempted to encourage Knox for leading his men to stand and fire upon the enemy as they were heavily shelled themselves, but there was nothing that could be done to cheer up the young artillery general.  The passage of the Rose and Phoenix was rather inconsequential for the moment, but the ease of their passage highlighted a major weakness in the American's position on Manhattan Island - they could be easily flanked and cut off.  Greene and Knox made plans to scuttle ships in the river and create obstructions to funnel any future ships into killing zones to hopefully prevent the British from surrounding them and land-locking the entire army on Manhattan but both men feared the their efforts would deter further British movements.

Later that same evening warning shots were fired again from the battery indicating an incoming ship.  From the large windows on the second floor of the Kennedy Mansion, haloed by the blood-red light of the sunset, Knox could see the union jack flying high above the HMS Eagle - The flagship of Admiral Howe's fleet.  The long wait was over, action was certain to follow.

The following day Nicholas and Charlotte were surveying the main battery at the tip of Manhattan Island for damage with General Knox when cries of a boat approaching started from the men on the battery walls.  The approaching boat was a small landing craft flying a white flag and carried only two men.  The men were British Redcoats and they wore their full battle regalia despite the blazing summer heat.  The two men where pulled from their boat and held on the shore. Knox hailed the men from atop the battery walls, shouting down to them he demanded they declare their business.

The senior officer, a lieutenant, pulled from his coat a letter and held it aloft declaring that he wished to deliver a letter from Admiral and General Howe to "George Washington, Esquire."  Knox without hesitation replied to the man below that there was no such person in the army.  The lieutenant was dumbfounded by Knox's response, he stood staring back up at Knox not knowing how to respond.  Finally Knox shouted down to him again asking, "Surely you are a sensible man, have you not heard of General Washington?"  As soon as the lieutenant replied yes Knox pulled back from the rampart and ended the conversation.

Nicholas and Charlotte were just as confused as the lieutenant after the exchange.  They quickly asked Knox to explain his odd handling of the situation.  Knox explained that Admiral and General Howe were attempting to insult the commanding general by not recognizing his rank as general in the Continental Army and addressing him as an individual.  By not respecting Washington's rank the Howe Brothers were dismissing the validity of his command, and in turn relegating the men under his command to little more than an angry mob instead of a proper army.  Before Knox left the battery that afternoon he gave instructions to his men that they were to refuse any correspondence not properly addressed the General Washington.

Two days later the same men approached the battery, again with a letter in hand.  This time the letter was addressed to "George Washington, Equire, Etc."  The letter was refused by Knox's men.  Again two days passed and the men returned for a third time.  The same letter was presented, this time addressed to "George Washington, Equire, Etc., Etc."  The Knox's men quickly dismissed the letter bearer.

The game was finally put to a stop on July 20th when a new messenger arrived at the battery.  His name was Colonel James Patterson and he requested an audience with General Washington to personally deliver the letter.  Washington agreed to meet with Col. Patterson.  The meeting was arranged at Knox's residence, the Kennedy Mansion.  Refusing to be insulted by the British, Washington assembled a room full of his closest officers, and instructed them to dress in their full uniform.  Washington intended to meet with Col. Patterson and send a clear message back to the Howe Brothers that he too could play in their game of gentlemanly posturing.

With the help of the magicians, the reception served to belittle Col. Patterson and empower General Washington.  Indeed the atmosphere of dominance in the room was so strong that the Colonel acted as if he were addressing royalty when he spoke to Washington.  Patterson attempted at first to apologize for the confusion in properly addressing Washington, explaining that Esquire and Etc. were often used to imply everything that ought to follow when the exact rank or title of a gentlemen was uncertain.  Washington deftly deflected the thinly veiled insult by announcing that he was familiar with that line of etiquette but that Esquire and Etc. may also imply nothing at all or worse, anything at all.

Patterson once again attempted to deliver the letter to Washington, but Washington left the letter untouched and told the Colonel that any he would refuse any letter concerning his station as a public figure when it was addressed to him as a private individual.  Patterson was effectively shut down by Washington; to keep the conversation alive Patterson offered to verbally relate the contents of the letter.  Washington agreed.

Patterson related to Washington that Admiral and General Howe were appointed by King George III to act as commissioners to "accommodate this unhappy dispute," and that nothing would please them more than to reach terms with Washington concerning their recently declared revolution.  Washington again rose to the occasion and put Patterson in his place.  Washington explained that he was unable to discuss peace terms with the Howe brothers, only Congress could do that; Washington went on to call Patterson's bluff, pointing out that neither could the Howe brothers negotiate peace terms, they could merely offer pardons on his majesty's behalf.  Not allowing Patterson to respond, Washington followed up with the knockout punch saying, "men who have done no wrong seek no pardons, we are only defending our indisputable rights."

Patterson was stupefied by Washington's skilled word-craft.  There was nothing more for Patterson to say or do.  He took the untouched  letter and turned to leave.  Just before he reached the door he stopped and turned to Washington asking, "Has you excellency no particular commands for me to relate back to Admiral and General Howe?"  Without hesitation Washington replied, "Nothing sir, except my particular compliments to them both."

With that the reception was ended.  Washington had played his role to perfection and Patterson was sent back to the Howe brothers with a clear message, General Washington was not to be taken lightly, and the Americans would not be pacified by anything short of independence from Britain.  The stage was set, it would come to blows to decide who won and who lost.