Contents ▼▲
Front Matter A Name to be Proud of Ready for Sea The King's Gift Why I am an Adventurer The Signal for Departure A Lad's Portion The Allotment of Land An Unexpected Delay Our Arrival at Cowes We Put to Sea The Dove Disappears A Second Tempest An Unseemly Christmas The Port of Barbadoes The Arrival of the Dove Under Sail Again The Land of America The Land Given by the King Fear of the Brown Men Where to Build the City Taking the Island A Voyage of Discovery Visiting the Indians An Unexpected Meeting Captain Fleet's Story An Indian Werowance Indian vs. English Claims Seeking a Place for the City The Bargain The Village of Yaocomico What the Indians Look Like Indian Weapons and Tools Landing the Goods Counting Our Blessings The Susquehanoughs A Land of Abundance Buying Cattle Storehouse and Fort A Visitor from Virginia A Talk with the Indians Running up the Colors Settling Down Master William Claiborne Lord Baltimore's Claims Stirring up the Indians Winning Back the Indians Busy Times Indian Women as Servants Making a Canoe A Boat of Bark Indian Money A Generous Harvest Trouble at Plymouth Strange Religious Service The Dance Begins An Odd Ceremony William Claiborne's War Settlement on Kent Island We Prepare for War The Army leaves St. Mary's In Command of the Guard A Flag of Truce Captain Fleet Repents The First Prize of War A Battle is Fought The Return of the Fleet William Claiborne's Flight The City of Saint Mary's A Cruel Murder Mystery Remains Unsolved Master George Evelin A Fatal Accident Preparing for Action Ready for a Man's Duty I Wear the Uniform My New Name On Board the Pinnance Indians in War Paint The Arrival at Kent Island The Capture of the Fort Butler and Smith Captives Back to Claiborne's Fort I am Assigned New Duties A Narrow Escape Words of Praise

Calvert of Maryland - James Otis




Butler and Smith Made Captives

Governor Calvert, although not taking upon himself the command, since it was Captain Cornwallis's by right, kept his place in advance of the line, much against the wishes of our gentlemen, who claimed that he had no right to put himself in a position of danger, since, if anything of evil befell him, it would be worse, because of his being at the head of the province, than if another of our company suffered death.

But he insisted upon his right to take full share of the peril, and if there had been any thought of faint-heartedness in our minds, we must perforce have shown ourselves all courage after such an example.

It was near to two hours before we were come to the edge of the thicket which gave upon the clearing surrounding Butler's house, and there were we halted within shelter of the foliage, while Ensign Clerke, with ten musketeers, was sent forward to give the mutineer a chance to surrender.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

And this he did without parley, to my mind showing himself a coward because of not making some display of force after having openly declared himself an enemy to us of Maryland.

Neither the governor nor Captain Cornwallis had any converse with him when he came up in charge of the musketeers, hanging his head in shame and fear; but word was given that he be bound securely between two of our men, and again we took up our line of march, this time carrying the flag of Maryland unfurled in front of us.

Thomas Smith lived on what is known as Beaver Neck, his house standing on that side of the creek opposite Butler's, and when we were come to the shore it was to find that a small pinnace had been brought around to ferry us over:

Sergeant Robert Vaughan, with six musketeers, was sent across in advance, and then we had as little difficulty in making the mutineer Smith a prisoner, as we had had in taking Butler.