The Standoff at Vincennes

The Standoff at Vincennes

I

The town had more than two roadways at its entrance. The guards were lax and might even answer a nonthreatening hail. It was a trick though. Tecumseth and the scouting party had come to understand this after nearly two years of intermittent fighting.

A peninsula abutted the town to the northeast and was reinforced with guard towers covered in iron cladding. Musketeers could often be seen moving about. The southern entrances were a warren of tunnels where infantry could emerge suddenly. The British had horses for the most part. The Americans and southern Iroquois were more numerous and liable to attack on foot, muskets blaring.

“We’ll camp half-a-day. Brother, rest until the sun is up then take Fire Sister halfway around those towers.” Tecumseth and his brother had four scouts with them. “We don’t want to surprise our allies if there are any. It’s been sometime since we knew who controlled this fort.”

They spent the afternoon scouting on this basis before returning to the small camp for dinner. Tek killed a rabbit outside one of the gates. They skinned it and let it warm over coals to avoid open flame.

“We only saw six people around the entrances all day. They have muskets though.” Tek had began eating a cold stew of roots and sour apples.

“Maybe they have two at night. We can kill them and get to their stores,” Fire Sister suggested.

Tecumseth shook his head. “Then we would need to flee immediately and our camp would be pointless. Brother, do you recognize them? Or dream of them?”

“No. Not yet. Six white men. Americans.” Tek was quiet when he spoke. He took a heftier bite of the stew then reached for his knife to begin cutting the rabbit meat.

“But you will, I imagine. Or one of us well. Better to be safe for this first night. Green Scabre and RIver Hwak can stay awake a few hours and watch our perimeter.” Tecumseth began getting his own sleeping roll ready then cutting off some rabbit meat.

The others quietly followed suit. Green Scabre was the first to finish eating. He stood and began a quiet circuit of the camp. River Hawk joined a few minutes later. There were seven scouts altogether. Tecumseth rolled over fitfully after eating and went to sleep. The others took turns on guard duty until stars were visible.