Somewhere in the Darkness
Time is one of those elements that no one seems to ever have enough of. Jacob Brenner was a man who's life was ruled by time. He had spent the last eight years of his life learning the art of war. Now a Captain in the US Army, he commanded a company in the first infantry division. The historic big red one. Today they were out on an exercise against a force supported by elements of the 3rd armored division.
As Jake directed his troops into place he realized he needed a better vantage point. Scanning the area surrounding the valley they were in he spotted a likely viewing point and headed for it along with his radio operator. In his hast he had forgotten his briefing on the armors live fire. The heights he had chosen were on the fringe of that live fires impact area. He had forgotten because he was focused on just getting a quick peek at the approaching force.
As they got out of their hummer and walked to the summit ,the sound of rifle fire erupted below the ridge. Running as fast as he could, Jake surged forward to get a look. His radioman followed climbing the incline with the heavy radio on his back. Below him Jake could see one of his platoons being engaged. As an armored column attempting to flank them, moved to their right. Taking a few steps back to meet his radioman Jake grabbed the phone and called the platoon. “Bravo two four be advised you have an armored column moving in on your right supported by infantry. Advise you pull back half a click and deploy tow, over”.
“Copy that Captain, we will pull back to the cross roads, over”.
Jake watched as the platoon started to withdraw confusing the approaching force. Smiling with self satisfaction he started to look for his other platoons. As he scanned the valley with his field glasses he almost missed the hissing scream of the first inbound round until it detonated two hundred yards to his left.
“Get out of here, he screamed to his radioman. We have wandered into the impact area”. The ground shook violently as the next 108mm round crashed to his left followed by yet another. Stones and dirt rained down on him as he started running for the reverse slope. He already knew the deadly effects of the 108mm guns, he had seen them in action on the battlefields of Iraq. He also knew he did not want to be on the receiving end of one of those shells. As the chased after the radioman he never even heard the whistle of the round that donated behind him. The concussion lifted him off his feet and hurled him violently through he air. The last thing he remembered seeing was his radio operator suddenly crouching behind a rock. The vicious force of the concussion slammed him back down to the ground and everything went black.
As he started to swim out of the blackness and silence the first thing he heard was shots being fired nearby. Then slowly the voice of a man entered his darkness. “Sir you need to get on your feet if you can. They are advancing on us sir”. As Jake opened his eyes he smiled realizing something was still very wrong. Kneeling over him was a young man wearing a 19th century uniform. Shaking his head to try to clear the cobwebs from his swirling mind he asked, “can you help me up soldier”?
The young man immediately helped him to his feet and started moving him towards the river. From the tree line the cannons covered the field with their deadly fire. Red coated troops emerged in the smoke and formed ranks. Jake looked back to see the outline of the skirmishers line only a hundred yards away moving their direction. Smiling again he thought he must be dreaming. Looking down at his right sleeve he could see he was wearing a blue uniform with big brass buttons.
An officer approached them and asked, “is the Major wounded”?
“Just a nick on his skull sir, the young soldier replied. But he is acting odd sir”.
“Take him straight away to the boats and cross back over to Lewiston. Tell the next wave to cross with haste we need reinforcements badly. See to it that the major is taken to our surgeon, the officer added. We can hold here for a while but we need those other troops here as quickly as possible”.
“Yes sir”, the young man replied then he hurried on to the river. There he helped Jake into a boat with other wounded men and started to cross the Niagara river. As they returned through the relentless cannon fire directed at the boats. Jake began to remember what he had studied at the war college. This had to be the battle of Queenston Heights he thought to himself. Yet try as he may he could not remember much other than it had failed due to poor coordination, and bickering between two key officers.
By the time they reached the docks on the US shore his head began to throb with pain. But his senses were returning and he tried to comfort the wounded around him the best he could. As the boat was docked he helped the other men from the boat and assumed command, as the dock came under heavy fire from the British mortars. He immediately sent the wounded men up the hill to the surgeon. Then he took charge of the docks sending the boats back loaded with fresh troops. He had assumed his part as a eighteenth century officer.
As the mid day sun warmed the autumn air he watched as militia that was boarding the boats refused to go, hearing the Mohawk war cries coming from the heights on the other side. Soon the boats began returning with the survivors of the ill-fated attempt on Queenston Heights. As the officer who had spoken to him earlier came ashore he asked him, “Major Bronson why are you not at the surgeon”?
Jake stood straight and saluted saying, “ I'm sorry sir but I found it necessary to take charge here in order to get the boats back to you as quickly as I could”.
“Very well, he replied, but see to yourself now man”.
“Yes sir”, Jake said as he followed a new wave of wounded up the hill into Lewiston. After being looked at by the surgeon Jake had a dressing applied to the grazing wound on his head and was sent back to his quarters to rest. A young lieutenant helped him since he had no idea where his quarters were. Everyone thought the head wound had left him senseless. If this were a dream it sure felt very real? But if this were real he wondered how could it be?
As he lay on his cot he slowly gave in to his fatigue and drifted off to sleep. When he awoke there were several officers gathered at a table in the barracks having their dinner. Slowly Jake sat up remembering the odd dream. Seeing the men at the table he reached up to his head to feel the dressing over the tender wound on his head. It was real he suddenly came to realize. But how could a twenty first century soldier be taken back through time he wondered to himself?
“Major Bronson, glad you could join us”, one of the men shouted to him.
Standing Jake slowly made his way to the table and sat down. “I'm sorry but I still seem to be a little out of it gentlemen, Jake said. I don't seem to recall anyone's name”.
The man at the head of the table smiled as he said, “Musket balls will do that”? Everyone started to laugh and Jake laughed along with them. Realizing a soldier is a soldier whether the year is 1812 or 2012. The life and companionship remains the same.
Smiling Jake said, “please gentlemen, I feel very odd”.
The man at the head of the table stood bowing as he said, “Captain Mathew Marks at your service Major. Then indicating down the right side of the table he said, Lieutenants Watson, Browne, and Guernsey. Then indicating the other side he continued with, Lieutenants Dunn, Baker, and Vanderveen. Your company's officers sir”.
Now Jake really felt at ease realizing he was still a company commander. “Thank you Captain Marks. Perhaps you could fill me in on the details of today's action”?
“We were soundly beaten back sir, Marks replied. Our troops at Buffalo failed to cross over and since they failed to engage Fort George we were quickly discovered and forced back. It also would appear that the rumor that Brock had left for Detroit was also in error since he obviously was directing the defense and the counter attack. Thus it would appear we will be here for the winter now in Lewiston instead of reaping the benefits of Upper Canada in Queenston. Then raising his glass he said, here's to US ale in Lewiston gentlemen, may It hold out until spring”.
The next morning Jake was summoned to a officers call with General Solomon Van Rensselaer who also had been wounded the previous day. Present at the meeting were all regimental and company commanders. Van Rensselaer was furious at being forced back. Yet while he praised Jake and the 13th regiment at successfully landing and forcing the British back into Queenston. He equally aimed his anger at the following troops and boatmen who had turned back under the fire of the British 18 and 24 pounder's. He also noted the deadly fire that the British had centered on their docks in Lewiston with their mortars. News had also reached him by way of spies that Brock had been a casualty in Queenston. A loss that was sure to enrage the British defenders. The three pronged winter campaign had been halted now on all fronts. Detroit had failed to invade across the river. The assault on Quebec and lower Canada was stalled. Fort George had not even been assaulted and his own attack pushed back. Now he planned for a long winter fearing a counter attack by the the new commander of Crown forces, Major General Roger Sheaffe. It was imperative now to worry only about defending against an invasion on his side of the river.
As the long cold days of winter came to Lewiston Jake took on his new role while continually thinking about what had brought him back to this time. Since he could not figure out the answer, he threw himself into his new duty's. He had become an example to his junior officers by his continuous drill of the men of the 13th.
By spring of 1813 he was transferred to the 25th regiment. Later that year in May he had lead a company of that regiment in the taking of Fort George. Fort George had been a great success for the Americans. Now his war college experience came into play as he went to speak with General Harrison. There he urged the general to pursue the retreating army toward York. He made a good case as he pointed out pursuit would not allow the British a chance to regroup or set defenses. Harrison saw the merit of his argument and ordered a full scale advance to keep the pressure on the retreating force.
For a month Jake and the men of the 25th spearheaded the assault. While Harrison's entire army followed closely behind. As the early days of June arrived another regiment was put forward and Jake and his men fell back to rest in their encampment near the Gage farm at Stoney Creek. A few days of rest had been earned, as the company set their tents to the right of the guns in the lane. Jake knew the implications of the location from his education at the war college. But now pressed with the burden of his knowledge he had to wonder if changing the course of history might not have other effects. He already knew what would happen here if he did nothing. He now had less than two days to weigh it in his mind. Was a single victory worth the possibility of changing the world? This was his mindset as he went to bed June 4th 1813.
The next morning as he watched his troops rise and start their day. Jake found himself torn between his love of his country and his knowledge of the fight that was coming this night. How could he commit these men who trusted his leadership to the horrors that were only hours away? As the day progressed he left the camp to wander the fields to the south. A chance to think the situation through. Even a hint of what was coming could change history and he knew that. Finally he decided he could only do one thing. As the sun started to set he returned to the camp prepared for the coming fight. While the men bedded down that night Jake sat by his fire waiting for what he knew was coming.
The opening event for him was the sound of a cheer from the British. Quickly followed by the sounds of musket fire. “To arms, to arms, he shouted. As his own men rose and moved to arm themselves the cannons in the lane began to fire. Then to one of his captains he yelled, form the men and have them load buck and ball”. If he could not change history he could at least put up a good fight. As he started to move down the hill the guns in the lane came under attack. Quickly he turned his men to support the guns. But it was already to late as the disciplined British moved towards them from the guns.
This was it Jake realized as he set to defending this field. “Fire, Jake screamed as the muskets of his line briefly lit the field. Quickly a return of fire re-lit he field as the advancing British force fired into his line. The mixed sounds of the resulting fire filled the darkness with muffled gasps and groans attesting to the accuracy of the British volley.
Then in the darkness Jake heard the command “Charge bayonets”, coming from the British lines.
Instinctively Jake ordered his men to fire one more volley. Then he screamed “fix bayonets”. They were close now as Jake could clearly make out every word the British officer uttered. As the two forces collided there was a confusing mixture of sounds in the darkness. Musket fire, cold steel on steel, screams of rage and pain. Jake waded into the fray sword in hand as he hacked away at anything that dared enter he space in front of him. Until a sudden shuttering blow from a rifle butt sent him into a deeper darkness of that night.
When he awoke he was in a hospital with a nurse standing over him. “Welcome back Captain, you were shook up pretty good. I'll bet your hungry, let me get the doctor”. Jake watched as the nurse exited the room and headed down he hall. So it was just a dream he thought. Yet it had felt so real.
When she returned the doctor was with her and he did a quick examination. “Well son your a lucky man it doesn't appear there is anything long term to worry about now. It is not everyday a man survives a blast like that. Only one wound, a stone must have grazed your head. It might be uncomfortable for a while but just a good headache I think.
Reaching up to his head Jake felt the bandaged wound. It was the same location and side as before. Now he again started to wonder. Then he realized no one was speaking. Both his doctor and nurse were watching the puzzled look on Jake's face. I'll get you something for that headache captain. Are you okay son, you have a strange look on your face”?
“Yes, Jake replied as he tried to understand this event. Yes I'm fine now sir”. As they left him alone in his room Jake knew he was back in his own time. But now he had a connection to a time and place and events that he might never really understand.
