by Griff Hosker
I smiled and nodded, “Yes Middy, she is safely delivered to the Governor’s palace.”
The look of happiness was replaced by a look of horror. “But sir, we were told to take her directly to the ship.”
I sighed, “Well at the moment she is making herself presentable. How about taking me to the ship and I will report to your…” I hesitated, “Admiral?” The bosun nodded. “Sergeant, take charge. Rae, you come with me. We’ll get your wound looked at by the ship’s doctor.”
As they rowed out I spied the name of the hundred gunner battleship, she was ‘Britannia’. “Were you at Trafalgar then?”
The bosun snorted, “The ship was sir but Mr Graham here only joined us last month.”
“I hear Nelson died?”
The Middy nodded and the bosun said, “A great loss.”
“I met him you know, some years ago up the coast at Naples. He was a good man and very witty.”
I saw the respect in their eyes, “Then you are a lucky man sir.”
“I am that bosun, I am that.”
We were met at the entry by a lieutenant, “I am Lieutenant Pullen.”
“Captain Matthews. I have just escorted the Queen of Naples and delivered her to the Governor’s palace.”
He looked relieved, “The admiral will be pleased. Follow me.”
“I have a wounded man here would it be possible to have your sawbones look at him?”
“Of course.” He nodded to a petty officer.
The man put Rae’s arm around his shoulder. “Come with me son. The doc will have you sorted and we’ll see about a drop of rum for you too.”
I was quickly ushered into the Admiral’s sumptuous quarters. They were a total contrast to the tiny cabin Jonathan Teer had on the ‘Black Prince’. The lieutenant said, “This is Captain Matthews. The Queen is with the Governor.”
The Admiral stood and came to shake me by the hand, “Damned fine show, sir. We had given you up for lost. The Frogs are all over Naples. Well done, sir.”
The captain said, “Thank you snotty, we’ll take it from here.” He poured me a glass of something amber as the Lieutenant reluctantly left. “Here you are sir, have a drop of brandy. I am Captain Bullen and this is Rear Admiral the Earl of Northesk. Take a seat and tell us your tale.”
Two refills later and my tale was told. “So you see sir, the Queen will need to be dressed properly. She travelled in men’s clothes from Naples and she will want to look her best.”
“Of course, of course. She’ll be safe in the town will she?”
“I think we outran the French and there should be a couple of Neapolitan Armies north of here. Still it would be better to get her to her husband.”
The Admiral nodded, “Rum thing that. Husband leaving his wife alone. Not sure what my wife would have made of that. Still Italians and all that.“ He raised his glass, “To you sir, you did well. You are as a game as a sailor and I can’t say better than that.”
“Thank you sir but I prefer the back of a horse.”
“Quite, quite.”
“What happens to us now then sir?”
They looked at each other. The captain spoke. “Well of course all things being equal we would board you and let you rest but you seem to have the ear of the Queen. We would like you to persuade her to come with us.”
I sighed. I thought I could get back to my regiment. “Very well sir but we will need to take our horses back. Will there be a problem.”
Captain Bullen shook his head, “Of course not. It is only a short voyage to Messina. They can stay on deck. I know how horses hate to be below decks.”
“Then I am relieved. With your permission I will return to the palace and request the Queen’s presence here. It will probably be the morning.”
“We will tie up at the harbour. I think it is deep enough.”
And so I returned to the land. Trooper Rae had the best of it for he stayed aboard ‘Britannia’ where he was feted by the Navy and asked for the tale of our flight. We had to make do with the barracks but I knew it would just be one more day and I could hand the Queen over. The responsibility was just a little too much.
Chapter 12
As I had expected the Queen wanted to appear her best but she surprised me by sending servants down to clean the worst of the dirt from our uniforms and providing clean shirts and underwear. It was a small thing but it showed her concern. When we rode to the ship I didn’t feel as dirty and dishevelled but, compared with the Queen, we were.
As soon as we saw Messina I began to relax. The frigate had been sent the previous night to warn the King of his wife’s arrival. We were greeted by a huge crowd of soldiers, dignitaries and ordinary people. As Captain Bullen confided in me, the whole island had been waiting with bated breath for their popular queen to arrive.
After the Queen and her entourage had landed we began to prepare to disembark. We waited patiently for the Royal Party to move off but an officer came for me, “His majesty wishes to speak with you Captain Matthews. “
I led Badger down the gangplank. It is a good thing he was a surefooted beast for a fall into the sea would have been embarrassing. The king strode over to me and there were tears in his eyes. “My wife has told me what you have done for us. I owe you everything. We will visit with you and Sir John so that I can properly show my appreciation.”
“There is no need, sir, I was just doing my duty.”
He looked at me seriously, “No sir, you performed above and beyond the call of duty.”
It seemed to take forever for the party to move off but that gave my men the time to leave the ship. Suddenly I heard a voice, “Captain Matthews!” It was Sergeant Sharp.
“Here’s your horse, Sergeant Sharp, and it has been ridden by the Queen. She appreciated her.”
“I am glad you are back sir. Sir John wants to speak with you immediately.”
I had hoped for some time to change uniforms. “Are we still in Giuseppe’s?”
Sharp grinned, “Yes sir, there was nowhere else suitable.”
“Good, Sergeant Seymour, take the men back to the camp and I will go with Sharp here.”
As Sergeant Sharp led me to Sir John’s headquarters I asked him about the troop. “Mr Jackson is a good officer sir but Sergeant Grant doesn’t let anyone get away with anything. They work well together.”
“Ah, so you didn’t miss me then?”
He laughed, “I didn’t say that. We were all worried. We knew that all the ships had left Naples and wondered how you would get back. No one thought as how you would ride all the way… with a Queen!”
“She was a strong lady, Alan. She has steel in her backbone.”
As we entered the camp every eye was on us. Captain Sillery strode over, “Well you have made me a guinea or two.”
“How?”
“I bet the infantry officers that you would get back with the Queen and not lose a man. Well done, sir.”
Sir John came out of his tent to greet me. He was actually smiling, “Congratulations, Captain Matthews. Exemplary behaviour.” I wondered what he would have said if I had obeyed his original orders and returned directly to Sicily but I just smiled and nodded. He put his arm around my shoulder. “Your knowledge of the mainland as well as your linguistic skills will be invaluable. Tell me what do you make of the Neapolitan Army?”
“Hard to say sir. They disappeared but the worrying thing is they have an émigré commanding them. He is younger than I am and managed to disappear with ten thousand men.”
“Oh dear. That does not sound good. Well, the King wants us to take our little force over to the mainland.” He paused and held the decanter over a glass. I shook my head. “What do you think of returning there?”
“Actually sir, the land to the south of Naples would suit a small force. There are many passes and narrow valleys to hold up the French. It is not cavalry country and that is for sure.”
“And yet you have acquitted yourself well.”
“I improvised.
My men are very handy with their firearms and, as I said the steep valleys aided us. The horse artillery is light enough to move along the narrow passes and block them off. British infantry could hold up one of Masséna’s divisions quite easily and cause all sorts of trouble.”
“You have given me confidence. Well we shan’t be leaving for a while. I will be planning with Colonel Kempt but we will keep you informed. Now rejoin your chaps and well done, Captain, well done!”
As we rode back to Giuseppe’s farm I wondered about Lady Luck. I had ridden my luck and things could have turned out so differently. Had the Queen been lost then I have no doubt that I would have suffered a court martial and not even Colonel Selkirk would have been able to help me.
“Well sir, what do you want to do first?”
“A bath and a clean uniform!”
“I thought you might say that. Corporal Richardson managed to get hold of a tin bath with a hole in it. He repaired it for you.”
“Both of you shall be rewarded.”
“Don’t be daft sir, we are all glad to do it.”
We had a whole week of a normal camp life. The daily briefings were now every three days. That was mainly due to the demands made upon Sir John Stuart by the Neapolitans. It suited me. Badger recovered as I did along with the men who had accompanied me. We heard of the French advances in Naples and the privations inflicted upon the populace. Masséna’s army was underfed, underpaid and lacked clothes. There was nothing new there. They simply took it, by force from the Neapolitans. I wondered if the farmer had hidden his gold piece. Or was he one of the ones who ended dead and all that he had horded, taken. Of the Neapolitan Army we heard little save that it was in the region of Calabria close to Morano Calabro. It was a good defensive position but it did little to threaten the French whilst the people were suffering. That was not my problem. I just had to ensure that the troop was in the best condition it could be. I immersed myself in the minutiae of independent command and, surprisingly, found I enjoyed it.
At the end of the first week Sir John commanded that I present myself and my troop at the Palace in Messina. The town had changed since the arrival of the Royal Family. It was now arrayed in bunting and the flags of Naples and Sicily. The populace seemed to take pride in the fact that their rulers had sought refuge with them. The town had been cleaned up and there was an air of optimism. All those who had fled the French had gathered there and accommodation was at a premium. The Sicilians were happily taking the money from these rich refugees.
As we approached the gates I saw that the guards stationed there were now the King’s Guards and I wondered where Benito and his men had been billeted. I guessed that they would still be close to the Queen’s side.
There was a raised dais in the square before the palace and on three sides were Neapolitan and British infantry. I wondered where we should go and I halted the column. Sergeant Marciano and the remains of the patrol appeared at my side. He was in his finest uniform and grinning. “Sir, please ask your men to place themselves behind your British infantry. Except for you and the others who rescued the Queen; you are to come with me. You are to be honoured.”
My heart sank. I hated fuss. I turned to James. “Lieutenant take the rest of the troop and line then up behind Colonel Kempt’s men. Sergeant Seymour, the ones who rescued the Queen are to come with us.” The men detached themselves from the troop as a grinning Lieutenant Jackson led them off.
Sergeant Benito rode ahead of us and he lined his men up before the dais. I could see, at the front, the King and the Queen as well as Sir John Stuart. The ones on the front row looked to be the Government and officials of Naples and Sicily. However behind them were seated some of the important families of Sicily and I saw Don Cesar and my family. They waved and smiled. They looked both proud and pleased in equal proportions. At least they would get something good from all of this.
When we were in position a band played the Neapolitan National Anthem and then the British. Everyone clapped and cheered. The King stood and began his speech. This was a political event, I could see that immediately. He spoke of the treachery of the French and the evil nature of their soldiers. He seemed to relish reeling off their atrocities. Each one was greeted by a scowl and a murmur of disapproval from the Neapolitans. He finished with a rousing sentence about how we would drive the French back from whence they came; there was a huge patriotic cheer and a thunderous round of applause and he, the Queen, Sir John Stuart and four officials walked from the dais towards the line of waiting soldiers.
Sergeant Marciano said, from the side of his mouth, “Sir, we dismount.”
I nodded, the King was not a tall man and we would have towered over them had we remained on our horses. “11th detachment, dismount!”
The men’s Italian must have improved for they were ready for the order and we stood to attention by our horses.
The party halted and the King began again. He looked at us but he addressed the crowd behind him. “The men before you are the future. They have shown what Neapolitans and their allies can do. Even though outnumbered they defeated the French and they delivered Queen Maria Carolina to the arms of her husband and her nation.” There was another huge cheer. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that she had been deserted by her husband and left alone in a palace. “We have created a new medal for this occasion; the order of Queen Carolina. Each of these brave men will receive the medal from the hand of the Queen.” There was another cheer. The Queen began, as I had expected, at the Neapolitan end of the line. She put the medal around the neck of each trooper and kissed each him lightly on the cheek.
When she reached me she looked at me and said, “Tell your men that the medal also comes with a gold piece as a reward.” She smiled, “It seems to be the price we pay for freedom.”
She returned to her husband’s side. He began again, “However one man deserves special recognition. Captain Robert Matthews led this tiny band of men with courage, honour and intelligence. It was through his efforts, aided by the brave men of the Queen’s Guard that they were able to evade and fight off not only the French but those bandits who prey upon travellers. We are to make him a Knight of Sicily. Come forward Captain.” Benito took Badger’s reins and I saw that he was grinning.
I walked forward and stood before the king. The Queen gave a subtle nod of her head. I knelt. He took his sword and touched me lightly on the shoulder. “Rise Don Roberto of Messina!” He then placed a chain with a medallion upon it around my neck. I guessed that was the Order of Sicilian Knights. There was a huge cheer from both the assembled soldiers and the people of Messina.
The Queen said, very quietly, “You can rise now Robbie.”
As I rose there was more cheering. The King kissed me on both cheeks as did the Queen. Sir John Stuart was smiling but he just shook my hand. “Well done sir.”
I felt a fool standing there; I was like a puppet being operated by others. I had no doubt that this was a symbolic gesture to make up for the fact that the Neapolitans had fled before the French. Had their army remained then the whole escape might have been unnecessary. The garrison at Gaeta still held out and showed what determined resistance could achieve. They were making much of what was, in effect, nothing. I had only done what I had been doing for years. Sir John nodded and I strode back to my horse. As I did so I saw that Sergeant Marciano now wore a captain’s uniform. I nodded at it and he grinned and said, from the side of his mouth, “This was my reward.”
The Royal party went indoors, the stand emptied and the people joined them. The troops all marched off and we stood there in a line. I saw my men looking at their medals. “There is a gold piece goes with that too, lads.” Their faces brightened even more. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that my troop still stood on the empty square.
I was about to order my men to mount when Alberto came running out. “Captain Matthews, Captain Marciano, you are to join the party inside.”
I looked at Benito. “What about our men?”
“
They can go back to their camp I think. My men will be going to their barracks. They now have the day off.”
I turned and shouted, “Lieutenant Jackson!”
James, along with Sergeant Grant and Sergeant Sharp rode over. “Yes sir.”
“It seems I am wanted inside. Take the troop back to the camp.”
“Yes sir.” He hesitated, “Sir, what was all that about?”
“The men all received a medal.”
“And the kneeling?” He was grinning and enjoying my discomfort.
“I am a knight of Sicily.”
His eyes widened, “Sir Robert then?”
“Don’t be daft,” I snapped. It is still Captain Matthews and the title means nothing.”
Sergeant Sharp said, “I’ll wait with Badger, sir.”
“Thank you Sergeant Sharp.”
I strode, with Captain Marciano behind Alberto. He had to almost run to keep ahead of us. “What have you heard of your army?”
“They are dug in close to the road we took to Reggio.” He sighed, “It seems I have had my war. I am to remain here with the Queen. Still I have my memories.” He seemed wistful about the ride south.
When we entered the ballroom there was much clapping and cheering. Total strangers told me what a hero I was. A glass of something was placed in my hand and then the party started. I could not understand it. They were treating the incident as a major victory and yet it was the opposite. We had fled with our tails between our legs.
Don Cesar and his family found me. They were bursting with pride. “Don Roberto! You have brought great honour to our family.”
I shuffled my feet and blushed. “It is purely honorary, you know that.”
Cesar shook his head, “No my cousin, you have a place on the council of knights. There are only fifty of us. It is an important job.”
“But I am a soldier. I go where I am ordered.”