Napoleon's Guard Page 26
“I know it will be and I hope that Captain Dinsdale returns to buy the ship. The money for that is protected?”
“Of course sir.”
When I left the office I felt lighter in heart and I strolled back towards the Strand. I decided to head towards St Paul’s as a different route back to my inn when I suddenly saw someone I recognised. It was a brief view but I was sure that I had spotted Mr Lambert’s clerk. He disappeared into the warren of alleys that criss-crossed Covent Gardens. I pondered following him but I could see no reason to do so. He had, after all, been just someone who worked for the murdered shipping agent.
I had told the landlord that I would be leaving at the end of the week as I had with the stable. I was keen to leave debt free. I asked the landlord where I might purchase materials and equipment I might need for my new career and he directed me to Regent Street. The next day I left to equip myself for a life in the army. The landlord had been partially correct and Regent Street did supply me with some of the items I required but I had to travel to Savile Street and Cork Street to find the tailors and boot makers. As I walked along Savile Street I noticed how many military men appeared to live there.
Wilkinson and Son measured me for my boots. They did not appear to be worried by the short time I gave them to complete the task. “If you return in two days sir your two pairs will be ready.”
“Could you direct me to someone who can make me a uniform?”
“Of course sir. If you go to Cork Street and tell Mr Hogarth that I sent you he will provide what you require.”
As I left to visit the tailors I saw that this was a tightly knit community who helped each other. Mr Hogarth was a tiny, fussy little man who ordered his assistants around much as a sergeant major would. He was familiar with the regiment. “A fine regiment the 11th. I have made many uniforms for the officers. Now sir you would be wanting at least one dress uniform I take it?”
“Yes and two for daily use.”
“Of course and, if I might suggest extra overalls?” I nodded. “And the usual capes and greatcoats?”
I smiled and nodded. I could already see the pound signs in his eyes. Still I did not mind. I had money and what else would I be spending it on? What I did know was that I would be judged by my fellow officers on my appearance. None would know me and there would be no shared background as I had enjoyed in the 17th Chasseurs. It would be as though I was being reborn at the age of twenty four. The measurements and payments lasted well into the afternoon and I was quite weary. I had left Badger in the stables. The veterinary who had looked at him had cauterised the wound and recommended rest for a few days. As I did not know what we would be doing once we joined the army I was happy to comply.
I suppose I was distracted by the thoughts which ran through my mind and I failed to notice that I was being followed. As I walked through the Strand towards the inn I was suddenly aware of footsteps behind me. I also noticed that the street I was crossing was small and ill lit. There were four of them; the clerk from Mr Lambert’s and three hulking brutes. Two were before me and two behind.
I heard the clerk speak, “He’s the one Mr Gibbons. He is the one who spoiled Mr Lambert’s business.”
Mr Gibbons appeared to be the man in front of me who tapped a cudgel against his hand. “You spoiled a nice little earner for me. I was Mr Lambert’s silent partner.” He laughed, “At least until he grew another mouth. Now we have to start again. Nipper there, he knows all about ships so we can start again but we need you out of the way.”
“Listen, I am leaving London in a week. Let us just forget this whole thing eh?” I actually did not want to forget the whole thing but I did not want anymore trouble just before joining the Light Dragoons.
Gibbons laughed, “Nah! I don’t think so. The lads have got their eyes on your smart clothes and I fancy that nice sword of yours.”
I knew that it would be the man and the clerk behind me who would begin the attack and I knew that they would be watching for my hand going to my sword. If I tried to draw it they would be upon me and I would be helpless. I held my hands up as though in supplication and then spun around as quickly as I could. The clerk was just three paces behind me and next to him was a broad pugnacious looking man with a cudgel too. I grabbed the unfortunate clerk and picking him up I threw him at his companion. When they fell to the floor I whipped out my sword and whirled to face Gibbons and his companion. They were fast but I stabbed forwards and the tip of my sword pierced Gibbons’ hand and his cudgel fell to the cobbles. The second man swung a short sword and I pirouetted to allow it to slice into fresh air. He was too close for me to stab him and so I smashed the hilt of sword into his face. He screamed and put both hands to his face as one of the guards penetrated his eye. I whirled around just as the pugnacious man was beginning to rise. I swung my boot and it connected with his jaw. There was a crack as his jaw shattered and then he collapsed in a heap.
I placed the tip of my sword at Mr Gibbon’s throat. “Now I could easily kill all four of you and part of me wishes to do so but I have had enough deaths on my hands. I will be in London for a few more days. If I see any of you again then you will die.” I sensed a movement behind me and I swung my left elbow back as hard as I could. I edged Gibbons around so that I could see who it was. The clerk lay on the ground holding his bleeding nose. I stamped hard on his ankle and he screamed as it broke. “You are lucky to be alive.” I turned back to Gibbons. “Shall we end it here or have you not yet suffered enough?”
I saw the resignation in his face and he nodded, “Enough.”
I backed around so that they were all before me and walked out of the deserted street into the busy thoroughfare which led to my inn. The landlord looked at the blood on my jacket as he poured me a pint. He nodded, “Been busy?”
“You could say that. Do me a favour, if you see any strangers hanging around then let me know eh?”
He smiled, “How will I know them?”
“Look for bandages.”
He laughed.
Epilogue
I was not bothered again by Gibbons and his men. When my uniforms were made I packed them in my new chest with the rest of my purchases and left them at the inn ready for collection. I rode Badger to Horse Guards as his first outing since he had been healed. They were expecting me and an orderly took care of him for me. I was led through a labyrinth of corridors which appeared like a maze until we reached Colonel Selkirk’s office.
“Ah you came. I did wonder you know. Take a seat. We have much to do.” I sat down and he looked straight at me. “I assume that you have your new uniform already?”
“Yes I was not sure of the procedure over here.”
“If you had turned up at the barracks without one then they would have supplied you with one but it would have reflected badly upon you. You could have had David’s but…”
“I quite understand. I had spare uniforms made and bought all my own equipment.”
“Are you out of pocket?”
I knew that he wanted me to pay for it myself and I smiled. “I have funds Colonel Selkirk.”
“Good because the pay you receive as a captain will barely cover your expenses in the army but do not worry when you do little jobs for me you will have funds and I expect it to be quite profitable for you. Dangerous, of course, but profitable.”
“I expected that.”
“Now as I mentioned, peace is about to break out. We have just finished off defeating the French in Egypt and our soldiers will soon be home. We have just enough time for you to join your regiment before the news of the peace will be in the public domain. You will just get to know your fellow officers and the 11th will be placed on half pay.” He spread his arms, “That means that most will return to their estates but you, Captain Matthews, will be heading for France to discover what their plans are.”
And so I became a traitor to the land which had raised me. I was returning to France, not in glory, but secretly to spy on Bonaparte and the rest of the new F
rench Army.
The End
Glossary
Fictional characters are in italics
Albert Aristide-Lieutenant later colonel of 17th Chasseurs
Brigadier-Corporal in the French army
Captain Claude Alain-17th Chasseurs
Captain Jacques Hougon- Bonaparte’s Guards
Captain Robbie Macgregor-illegitimate son of the Count of Breteuil
Colonel Bessières- Napoleon’s Guards
Colonel James Selkirk- War department
Colpack-fur hat worn by the guards and elite companies
Divan- Egyptian parliament
Jean-Michael Leblanc-Trooper 17th Chasseurs
Kolzum- small town very close to Suez
Lieutenant Charles Chagal-17th Chasseurs
Lieutenant Louis (Tiny) Barriere-17th Chasseurs
Major Lefevre- Grenadier
Major Jean Bartiaux-mentor to Robbie
Maréchal-des-logis- Sergeant in the French Army
Musketoon - Cavalry musket
Outremer- the Crusader kingdoms of the Holy Land
Pierre Boucher-Trooper/Brigadier 17th Chasseurs
Pierre-François Bouchard-17th Chasseurs/Engineers
Pompey- naval slang for Portsmouth
Sergeant Delacroix-Bonaparte’s Guards
Sergeant Manet-17th Chasseurs
Sir John Moore- General
William Fortnum- owner of Fortnum and Mason
xebec-Mediterranean ship with oars and sails
Maps
Maps courtesy of Wikipaedia
Historical note
The 17th Chasseurs a Cheval only existed for a year. I have used them in the same way that Bernard Cornwall uses the South Essex in the Sharpe books. They have no history and can be where I wish them to be. None of the Chasseur regiments accompanied Napoleon to Egypt but I felt he needed scouts so that the 17th can have a glorious end to their career.
All the battles took place largely as described. Bonaparte did cross the Red Sea and was almost caught out by a rising tide. Although no attempt was made on his life, the man he left in charge, Kléber was murdered by a fanatic and so it was possible. He did put down a revolt in Cairo with savagery and he did fire cannons at the people sheltering in the mosque. He was ruthless. When he did escape from Egypt he sailed for 41 days to France and the Royal Navy did not find him. There are rumours that the Navy, Nelson and Sidney Smith were complicit in his escape as they thought he was a Royalist supporter and hoped he would return France to its pre-revolutionary status. As he did become Emperor it is not beyond the realms of possibility. The plague did devastate the army. There was even a rumour that Bonaparte had many of the victims poisoned when they moved from Acre.
The Palazzo Sessa was the home of the Hamiltons in Naples. Lady Hamilton and Nelson first enjoyed each other’s company there and Sir William was, apparently, complicit in the affair. Lady Hamilton was a good friend of the Queen of Naples. The Neapolitan aristocracy did revolt but the people opposed the revolution and the King and Queen had to flee Naples.
The broadsheet is the one Napoleon had displayed in the main cities after his ignominious retreat from Acre. General Kléber was assassinated by a Syrian student called Suleiman al-Halabi with a dagger in the heart, chest, left forearm and right thigh. The killer was later impaled and the other conspirators beheaded. General Menou took over and he surrendered the French army.
There was obviously a Mr Fortnum in 1800. My William Fortnum is fictitious but it is true that the fortunes of that company improved once they won the patronage of Queen Charlotte. In addition they profited from the war by creating hampers for the officers serving abroad.
The last major battle of this period was the Battle of Alexandria where General Abercrombie defeated the French under Menou. The French, ironically, were repatriated as it was not Admiral Keith who was in charge at this point. The next major battle was Trafalgar in 1805 and, apart from Cape Town, the next major fighting did not take place until 1808 when the British Army went to the Peninsula under Sir John Moore.
The books I used for reference were:
Napoleon’s Line Chasseurs- Bukhari/Macbride
The Napoleonic Source Book- Philip Haythornthwaite,
The History of the Napoleonic Wars-Richard Holmes,
The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data book- Digby Smith,
The Napoleonic Wars Vol 1 & 2- Liliane and Fred Funcken
The Napoleonic Wars- Michael Glover
Wellington’s Regiments- Ian Fletcher.
Thanks to Gregory Fremont-Barnes for the Wikipaedia map.
Griff Hosker November 2013
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