A young officer awoke him with an order from Clark to go on duty
at once with Captains Worthington and Williams, who, under Colonel
Clark himself, were to take possession of the fort. Mechanically
he obeyed. The sun was far up, shining between clouds of a leaden,
watery hue, by the time everything was ready for the important
ceremony. Beside the main gate of the stockade two companies of
patriots under Bowman and McCarty were drawn up as guards, while
the British garrison filed out and was taken in charge. This bit
of formality ended, Governor Hamilton, attended by some of his
officers, went back into the fort and the gate was closed.
Clark now gave orders that preparations be made for hauling down
the British flag and hoisting the young banner of liberty in its
place, when everything should be ready for a salute of thirteen
guns from the captured battery.
Helm's round face was beaming. Plainly it showed that his
happiness was supreme. He dared not say anything, however; for
Clark was now all sternness and formality; it would be dangerous
to take any liberties; but he could smile and roll his quid of
tobacco from cheek to cheek.
Hamilton and Farnsworth, the latter slightly wounded in the left
arm, which was bandaged, stood together somewhat apart from their
fellow officers, while preliminary steps for celebrating their
defeat and capture were in progress.
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