by Griff Hosker
Chapter 7
The sloop was what was known as a fast cruiser. Accommodation would be tight and I suspected that once Sir Arthur joined us I would be bunking with the officers whilst poor Sharp would have to endure the rigours of a hammock! As I watched, a detachment of ten marines under the command of a gruff sergeant boarded.
“The colonel has sent some lobsters as protection!” He pointed to the departing soldiers. The young captain reminded me of Jonathan. I discovered, during the voyage, that he had heard of him. I nodded. The Royal Marines might prove useful. “We shall have to hurry, Major, if we are to rendezvous with Sir Arthur. I have heard that he is an impatient taskmaster.”
I nodded. “He is that.” I had my written orders from Colonel Selkirk, there was no reason to wait. Lieutenant Commander Peter Delaney wasted no time in putting to sea. I had thought that ‘Black Prince’ was fast but she was as a sluggard compared to the sloop which fairly flew across the sea. I kept my new uniforms in my chest and wore my old one which had the crown in place of the pips. Salt air would do it no good anyway. Most of my luggage would travel with the squadron. They would be on a large transport.
We headed west to rendezvous with the transports carrying Sir Arthur and his troops from Ireland. There were nine thousand of them. Colonel Selkirk had also told me of the five thousand troops already in the area under the command of Sir Brent Spencer. When I had asked what the French were doing to allow British troops that close to Lisbon he had laughed. “They are being murdered by Spanish and Portuguese who ambush them and make their lives a misery. And, of course, the Spanish armies are doing better now. They have defeated a French army at Bailen so your old friend is not having it all his own way.”
I took some comfort from that. I had served Napoleon Bonaparte for some years and I had never seen him bested. Since then he had defeated everyone whom he met. I knew that he had not commanded at Bailen but it was a crack and Sir John was just the man to exploit it.
The fleet hove into view on the 13th of July. I did not envy Sir Arthur and his staff transferring to such a small ship. We lowered our sails and Lieutenant Commander Delaney sent a longboat for the general. There were just four people with him. He had a servant, John, a Military Secretary Mr Taylor and two young lieutenants who, I suspected, would be Sir Arthur’s dogsbodies.
The moment he clambered aboard he took charge. “Come on get this ship moving! I need to be in Portugal as soon as possible!”
“Sir!”
The young commander quickly organised the ship and we were under sail far faster than I had ever seen. I was impressed. Sir Arthur saw Sharp and snapped, “You, sergeant, help my man get my bags taken to my cabin.” Even though he had no idea where that was the resourceful Sharp saluted and headed below decks with the bags. Sir Arthur peered at me. “Do I know you, sir?”
“Yes, Sir Arthur, I met you in Denmark.”
“Ah the cloak and dagger chap. Matthews isn’t it?”
“Yes sir, Major Matthews of the 11th Light Dragoons. On temporary duty with Sir John Moore.”
His face clouded for a moment and he held out his hand. I took my orders and handed them to him. He read them and gave them back to me. “Walk around the deck with me I find it helps to clear the mind.” As the deck was pitching and tossing alarmingly I hoped he had his sea legs. “Until Sir John arrives I will be in command so that makes you my aide.” He glowered at me inviting a response.
“Yes sir. I shall be delighted.” I used a neutral tone to avoid giving offence.
“Good. You know the way I work so do not expect an easy voyage. I shall run you and your sergeant chappie ragged!”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Just so long as you know.” He suddenly stopped. “You are a strange choice as an aide. I mean you have neither breeding nor manners; why were you chosen?”
It was fortunate that I knew it was just his blunt manner and he had not intended to insult me or else I might have been upset. I told him of my mission to Portugal and my discoveries. He seemed impressed. “Of course if you can speak Portuguese then I might actually believe that you could be useful.” He nodded to the cabin door. On the other side were the lieutenants. “Those two are still wet behind the ears. I haven’t got time to teach them what to do. That will be your job.”
“Yes sir. Actually, Sir Arthur, I can speak Portuguese as can my sergeant.”
For the first time he smiled, “Good fellow then I may have misjudged you. Now all I have to do is defeat Johnny Frenchman before Sir John arrives and our names and reputations should be made!”
Sir Arthur never changed. I served with him, off and on for the next seven years. He was always rude, self centred and ambitious. He was the easiest man in the world to dislike and yet, like Napoleon Bonaparte a great general. I had not liked Bonaparte either!
True to his word he had the two of us working every hour in the day. The poor lieutenants, Smith and Brown became glorified servants. Even Sharp was given more respect than they were. To be fair he worked just as hard as we did and I was reminded of Bonaparte who would exist on just an hour or so of sleep a day. Sir Arthur slept a little more; that was the only difference. The maps I had acquired and my knowledge of the Douro valley were crucial.
In the odd moment where we just chatted he confided his plans to me. “We need to gain a quick victory so that we can establish lines of communication and put pressure on the French.” He had looked carefully at my face as he asked me, “I will need you as a scout, Major Matthews once we reach Portugal. I know from Selkirk that you have some talents in that area. Now I realise that may be beneath a major but I need someone who has a military mind and eye. You, I think have both. Battles are won by good soldiers who obey orders but a successful general uses the land to defeat his enemies. Your linguistic skills and your clever mind will be crucial to me.”
It was as near to a compliment as he had ever come. “I am flattered Sir Arthur and I will do all that I can to assist both you and Sir John.”
He laughed, “Diplomatically put. You are well aware, as I am, of the chain of command. However I am certain that Sir John will not wish your obvious talents to be wasted.”
As the Portuguese coast appeared on our port side Sir Arthur conferred more with the young commander of the sloop.
“I think we shall approach Oporto.” It was not a question it was a command.
“And if the French are there Sir Arthur?”
“Then we shall find a safer anchorage but we have Major Matthews with us and I believe he knows the port.”
I nodded, “If I might suggest, Sir Arthur?”
“Go ahead.”
“There is a beach just outside the port. I could land there and find out if there are French in the town.”
He smiled, “There Commander Delaney, a solution presents itself and your little boat will be safe.”
I am not certain if Peter appreciated his ship being called a little boat but he nodded gratefully at me and I gave him the directions to the beach close to the villa.
As we neared the beach I dreaded what I might find. When I had left, before Christmas, there had been fighting close by. I hoped that the redoubtable lady, Donna Maria d’Alvarez had survived. Sharp and I took our pistols as we headed up the path. The villa looked deserted. I saw holes in the walls from musket fire and I began to fear the worst. I cocked my pistol as we entered. There appeared to be no-one there.
Suddenly a frightened voice shouted, in Portuguese, “Who is there? I am armed.”
I did not recognise the voice but I took a chance. It was not a Frenchman. “I am Major Matthews and I am a friend of Donna Maria d’Alvarez.”
A man stepped from the shadows. I recognised him as one of Donna Maria’s servants. When recognition filled his face he dropped to his knees. “You have come to save us.”
“Where is your mistress?”
“They came three weeks ago and took her to Lisbon as a hostage. They did not see me for I was hiding.” He st
ood a little taller. “I am here to protect my lady’s home.”
“And you are doing a fine job. Do not worry the British are here now and we will drive the French hence. Tell me, are the French in Oporto still?”
He shook his head. “Their army moved south when they took my mistress.”
“How is she?”
He smiled, “You know her, senor, and she is strong.”
“We have to go to Oporto now. Do you wish to come with us?”
“No, sir. I will now clean and tidy the house for if the British are here then my mistress will return soon.” He put his hand on my arm. “You will save her sir?”
“I will do my best.”
Sir Arthur seemed relieved with the news and we headed into the port. There were no tricolours flying but that did not mean that there were no French sympathisers in the town. Sir Arthur and I went to find the Prefeito. He remembered me and I had to smile at his shock when I spoke to him in his own language. He confirmed all that I had learned at the villa.
We reprovisioned and retired on board. We sat at the table and pored over the map. Sir Arthur jabbed his finger at Lisbon. “We are too far here from Lisbon. I do not want to spend weeks marching south. I want to bring them to battle as soon as I can.”
I traced a line north from Lisbon. “Here sir, close to Leiria. It looks to be near enough to march.”
“But where can we land?”
Sir Arthur’s servant brought our food.
As he picked up his knife and fork he said to his servant, “Send Major Matthews’ sergeant to us.” After he had left he said, “Is he reliable your fellow?”
I could have taken umbrage but I knew it was just his manner. “Completely.”
“And he speaks the language?”
“Yes sir.” His Portuguese was not as good as mine but he understood and could speak the language.
When he arrived Sir Arthur jabbed a knife in his direction. “Sergeant, go and ask some of the captains of the other ships in port of somewhere we can land close to Leiria or Coimbra.”
Sergeant Sharp’s face did not change as he said, “Yes, Sir Arthur.” He saluted and left.
“Seems reliable. Has he been with you long?”
“Quite some time sir.”
“Rum sort of thing the two of you do. Sneaking around behind the backs of the enemy.”
I smiled, “Generals require intelligence and it is the easiest way to collect it.”
“Quite. I can see your point still, rum sort of thing.”
We had finished the meal and were enjoying a bottle of port given to us by a grateful Prefeito. When Sergeant Sharp returned Sir Arthur sat back as though expecting a show. Sharp took the map and held it so that the General could see. “They all reckon that the best place is here. A place called Mondego Bay; near the Mondego River. There is a beach there.”
“Any French?”
“One of the captains said that there was a fort at Coimbra but that is eight or ten miles from the coast and he says he didn’t see any French there. Certainly he saw no French flags.”
“You have done well, sergeant. Go and have your food now.”
“Sir.” The wry shake of his head told me that Sharp had been half way through his meal when he had been summoned.
“Come, let us find the captain.”
Commander Delaney was supervising the loading of fresh water when we arrived. “Captain, I want to sail on the morning tide to a place south of here, Mondego Bay.”
“Sir.”
“Now I need a reliable officer to remain here to tell the fleet where we have gone. Whom do you suggest?”
“Mr Pennock is my middy. I’ll leave him with a couple of hands.”
“Good.”
As he turned to go I grabbed his arm, “Er Peter, send him to me will you?”
Sir Arthur looked at me. “Why, Major Matthews?”
“Sir, we do not know when the fleet will reach us and Mr Pennock could be here for some days.” I saw a blank look on Sir Arthur’s face. “He will need somewhere to sleep and money for food and drink.”
“Really?”
Richard Pennock was no more than sixteen but he was a keen young officer. I recognised the delight at being chosen. “Mr Pennock I am going to give you a few lessons in Portuguese for you will be here until the fleet comes.”
“Yes sir.”
I took out a small leather bag. It contained some of the money I had taken from the dead Brigadier. It was all Portuguese. “Here is money for you and your men. I will take you ashore now and arrange some accommodation for you.”
He took it gratefully. Sir Arthur took the map. “Now when they arrive you will tell the admiral that he is to meet us here.” He jabbed a finger at Montego Bay. Can you do that Midshipman?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good now go with Major Matthews here. And listen to him! He appears to know what he is doing!”
As I strode along the streets with young Richard close by I gave him a few phrases in Portuguese. I knew that he would need them if he was to complete the task Sir Arthur had given him. I found a small inn and entered. There were half a dozen sailors drinking there. I went up to the man I took to be the owner. As soon as I spoke Portuguese he showed surprise and then smiled. Poor Richard just watched as I began to gabble away in a foreign tongue.
“I am a friend of Donna Maria d’Alvarez.”
He looked suitably impressed, “She is a fine lady.” he suddenly seemed to recall something. “Are you the man who rescued her?”
“I am and you are right she is a fine lady. I hope to find her again soon.” I pointed at the midshipman. “I require rooms for this man and two sailors. They will need the rooms tomorrow and until the British fleet arrives.”
“The British are coming?”
“We are. Now Mr Pennock here only speaks a few words of Portuguese but I want you to look after him. As a favour to me and Donna Maria.”
“I shall do so.”
I took out a gold Louis which Colonel Selkirk had given to me. “This will pay for the accommodation and food. You will give the balance to my friend.” I saw his eyes widen when he saw the coin and his hand reached greedily for it. “I am going to be in Portugal, my friend, for some time and I will be back.”
“Of course, sir and you can trust me.”
I turned to Richard. “I have arranged for rooms and food for you from tomorrow. He will look after you and I have paid for the rooms. Now tell him goodbye in Portuguese.”
He did so and the owner nodded his thanks.
As we walked back to the ship I continued with my lessons. “Practice the words all night. If you have the chance then speak with my sergeant he can speak Portuguese too. I know Commander Delaney will pick good men for you but watch them and do not let them drink too much.”
“No sir.”
Once back on board Sir Arthur and I went over the maps to familiarise ourselves with the terrain.
The next morning while Mr Pennock strode off with two of the biggest sailors from the sloop, we headed south for Mondego Bay.
Mondego Bay had nowhere for us to dock. It was a river and a beach. We could see, on the hillside a couple of miles away, a fort. We knew that it would be the one the sailors in Oporto had identified. It confirmed the intelligence as being accurate. “Commander Delaney, be so good as to send a man up to the mast head with a telescope. I want to know what the flag is.”
The young commander leapt up the shrouds himself.
“’Pon my soul! I didn’t expect him to do that!”
I laughed, “In my experience captains of ships such as this like to do things themselves.”
We watched as he reached the top of the mast. His voice came down clearly, “It isn’t the tricolour.” There was a pause. “It is the flag of Portugal.”
“Excellent, then we can land. Hopefully your Portuguese will come in handy Major.”
The journey ashore was exhilarating. The Atlantic surf took us in at a prodigio
us rate. Sharp and I went first with the marines. Sir Arthur would come with his servant and the others when we had secured the beachhead. It was fortunate there was no opposition for there were just thirteen of us. “Sergeant Bridges, spread the men out and we will head to that fort on the hill. Leave four of them here to guard Sir Arthur when he lands.”
“Shouldn’t we wait here, Major. I mean we don’t know who is up there.”
“We know that they are Portuguese and that is all that matters.”
The fort proved to be further away than I had thought but, fortunately some of those from within met us. They were all young men and none of them were in uniform. They cheered us when they saw us round a bend some four miles from the fort.
“Are you the men from the fort?”
They were surprised that I could speak their language. “Yes I am Jose Borge and I lead the students who captured the fort.”
“Are there any French?”
He nodded, “There were but they are dead.”
“Excellent. We need three horses. Did the French leave any?”
“There is one. It belonged to the officer.”
“Sharp, go with him and fetch it. Have a look at the fort too.” I turned to the student. “An army will be landing here soon. My sergeant will go with you and bring me the horse.”
He frowned, “And why should I take orders from an Englishman? This is Portugal!”
I sighed and pulled my Portuguese commission as a colonel from my coat, “Perhaps because I am also a colonel in the Portuguese cavalry?”
He read the document and saluted. “I did not know. We will obey you.” He was very earnest and I deduced that the French they had killed had not been very good if he and his fellows were able to capture the fort.
I made my way back to the beach. “You speak the language then sir?”
“Yes sergeant.”
“That’s handy.” He spat. “Takes me all my time to speak English!”
“A little tip, sergeant, learn a few words. It will make life easier.”
“No need to, sir. We’ll be back on a ship as soon as the rest of the army gets here.”
His attitude typified most soldiers. Sergeant Sharp was the exception. Sir Arthur was waiting for us. Some of the crew, the lieutenants and the servant were helping the marines to put up tents. The military secretary was busy organising the document cases he had brought ashore. “Well?”