Kent returned half an hour later, green in the face.
“The Spanish have taken the outer defences, sir, and all of the French soldiers who did not run. I think there was nowhere to run to, sir, so most remained. Almost all were killed, sir, but some remained alive – mostly wounded who fell, sir. The Spanish are dealing with them now, sir, slowly.”
“Nasty. Nothing to be done, I presume?”
“No, sir. I brought the men away, sir, for not being happy at what they saw. I thought I had a strong stomach, sir, but I spewed up, sir. The Spaniards laughed, sir.”
“Do nothing, Mr Kent. We can no more than guess what has turned these men into animals. From what I have heard, the French have earned what they are getting now – but it is very unpleasant, I would imagine. No need to tell me the details!”
“No, sir. I want only to forget them.”
“You won’t, but time will make it easier for you. Go and find the store rooms here, Mr Kent. Keep your party with you, there may be men hiding in them. Identify food stocks that can go out to the Spaniards. Look for the magazine as well. I have sent a party to try to locate the wine store and put a guard on it. The Marines are holding the walls, I trust. Check that all is well. I have sent my coxswain to Sir Frederick, to inform him that the assault has been successful.”
Frederick came ashore in the dawn to inspect the fruits of the night’s work. The screaming had ended some hours before and the process of cleaning up was in hand, bodies being thrown onto carts to be taken a mile or so distant to be dumped where they would not cause too great a smell.
“Good work, Captain Warren – as I expected. What are the figures?”
“Very light, sir. The Frogs panicked and ran, sir. Badly organised, no expectation of an attack from the sea. We lost no more than six seamen, sir, and as many again sent to the doctor. The Marines did equally well. How many the Spanish lost, I know not. I doubt it is any of my business, sir. I have sent sacks of flour and barrels of salt meat and stockfish out to them, sir, together with barrels of olive oil and wine. There is more – how many tons we have yet to count, but a large quantity, sir.”
“Good. The Spaniards are starving, I believe. They must be given all that we can find. What of materials of war?”
“Not counted yet, sir. But an amount of powder and ball and a stock of muskets.”
“Good. Most of that can go to the hands of the Spaniards. Have you discovered who is out there yet?”
“Yes, sir. No men in uniform. Four bands of civilians, sir.”
“None of the Spanish Army? I had expected the Regiment of Catalonia at least.”
“Not here, sir.”
Frederick shook his head in irritation, called to his lieutenant.
“Mr Aggers. Signal to Waldeman. ‘No guns to come ashore’.”
“Sir.”
“Kavanagh, go out to Waldeman and speak to Sir Iain. Inform him that the Spanish army is nowhere to be seen and that he is to be ready to evacuate at soonest.”
The coxswain ran to Frederick’s barge.
“I forgot to ask, Mr Warren, but how many French died or were taken?”
“In the fortress itself, sir, there were about two hundred men. Of them, we have found so far forty dead and thirty or so wounded. We have some one hundred and thirty of unhurt prisoners, sir. Outside? God knows, sir. There were several hundred, some of them asleep in their bivouacs, most sat around fires when we attacked. Some formed up and defended themselves, others were too slow. The Spanish irregulars came in through the gate in a horde, sir, and ripped them apart. The fortress is shaped like a figure eight, sir, the main gate where the two circles join, what they call an outer and an inner bailey, sir. We had the inner, the Spanish took the outer. They have slaughtered every man there, sir. Badly. How many – I cannot tell and they were not interested to count. At least a full battalion, sir, perhaps more. I do not know. They are cleaning up now, sir, because they expect to stay here for a few days.”
“Jesus!”
“He was not here last night, sir.”
“I must speak to the leaders of the Spanish bands. They may know what has happened to the soldiers. In any case, I must thank them and arrange for them to lay hands on the foodstuffs and as much of the powder and ball as we can put in their hands.”
Book Eleven: The Duty
and Destiny Series
Chapter Four
The Professor, the Butcher, the Goatherd and the Priest presented themselves at Frederick’s request. None had been hurt in the fighting, but Frederick had little doubt they had been well to the fore – they were not generals to order their men in front of them.
“Gentlemen, my thanks for your fine work last night. We have discovered some food and sent it out to you, as you know. We are identifying the store rooms and their contents now and will open them to you as we find them. No food will be destroyed; none will go to our ships.”
Each man had an interpreter at his side, Frederick noticed. He wondered if that showed mistrust, or if simply they had no system of cooperation.
The Priest spoke briefly.
“You have prisoners, señor Capitan. The Priest wants them.”
“I am under orders, sir, to send prisoners to Gibraltar. There is work on the moles in the harbour and the tunnels under the Rock itself. We need labour – too many of the workers have died in recent months.”
“They will not be released, señor?”
“Only by death.”
“That is acceptable, señor. Do not spare the lash.”
“They will work every daylight hour for the remainder of their lives, sir.”
Frederick had no hesitation in lying to the Priest; he would not give him prisoners to be put to torture, to be torn, literally, to pieces.
“Can you tell me anything of the Regiment of Catalonia, or of the Army, gentlemen?”
The Professor had been informed of events of the past few days; he was of noble birth and officers would speak to him, though spurning the other three popular leaders.
“The Count of Banyuls has announced his allegiance to Bonaparte’s brother, King Joseph and has marched his forces to join the other traitors outside Barcelona. His men surrounded the Regiment two days ago and arrested all of its officers and spread the men through the infantry battalions of the Army. The officers were given the opportunity to swear their allegiance to King Joseph. Those who refused, led by Don Esteban Murphy, were due to be formally garrotted last night. They will certainly be dead now.”
There would be no Spanish garrison.
“There are too few of you to hold the fortress, I believe, sir.”
The Professor said that they would make no attempt to garrison the works. They would take all they could and make for the mountains within one or two days, depending on the French.
“We must attack, kill and run, Capitan. There is no other way for us.”
Frederick accepted that – fewer than three thousand untrained and poorly armed men could not hold off an army.
“It remains then, gentlemen, to see what can be done today. We cannot remain in the harbour here overnight even, but must be offshore with the sunset. Can you use the cannon in the fortress? Can you take them away?”
They could not.
“I feared so, gentlemen. If there are any of modern provenance and of use to us, we shall take them aboard ship. The remainder, we shall split – destroying them utterly. The muskets, powder and ball will not be of English pattern, and must be destroyed – or so my masters must understand. Any that remain in the magazines will be exploded at five o’clock tonight. You will wish to make your arrangements between you. All foodstuffs will also be reported as destroyed, being of no official value to us, and it being impossible to load them aboard ship in the time available. Again, sirs, you must organise their distribution yourselves. My men need a reward for their efforts of the night and much of the wine and brandy will be taken away. We have come across no strongroom, no treasury, I regret to say!”
They laughed, thought that every ounce of the gold and silver of the province had been taken to Barcelona. It would not be like the French to leave treasure where it might be lost.
“I shall be working this coast for some time to come, gentlemen. Interpreters would be of great value to me. Have you any men who speak English and who could join me? It occurs to me that men who are unwell, or who have been wounded and need to recover, could be used profitably on my ships. They would be paid and well-treated and put safely ashore or taken to England, whichever they wished, when my commission is completed.”
Priest, Butcher and Goatherd shook their heads – their people were peasants and their sole English-speakers were at their sides.
The Professor said that many of his followers were actual students from the University, a number of whom had some English, and not all were robust. He could probably find four or five who would be glad to take to the sea.
Mr Patey appeared at the run.
“Sir, there is a flock of goats, a dozen milkers. Are they to be slaughtered or given to the Spaniards or what, sir?”
“Take them aboard, Mr Patey, spread equally to the four largest of us. Goat’s milk can be very welcome at the breakfast table, though I find it rather strong in tea.”
The Gunner presented himself, a list in his hand.
“Guns, sir, of which there is what might be called a surprising number, but which is variously old, honeycombed, brass or of peculiar, as you might say, bore. Not a one that I would wish to take aboard, sir, apart that is from a pair of brass chasers of about nine-pounds, what have a hundred each of ball for them, and are straight in the barrel and very true, sir, and might be very welcome on they little brigs, sir. Other than that, they must all be split, sir.”
“Do it, Master Gunner. The chasers to the brigs; for the rest, I need not tell you how to go about splitting a gun, I believe.”
“Aye aye, sir. I shall, with permission, call the Gunners and their parties from the whole squadron, sir, for we shall be having a busy day indeed, otherwise.”
“You have my permission, Master Gunner. The bulk of the powder must be given to the Spanish people, together with any other supplies they believe they can use. Ball to be dumped into the harbour – the French will be able to fish it out again but can have the work of cleaning the rust off. Grape or chain may go aboard, if you have the need. Pistols, cutlasses, boarding axes, half-pikes – if they are there, and you can use them, do so. Otherwise, give them to the Spaniards.”
“All recorded as prize, sir?”
“No. We do not have the time to make a formal accounting. All has been destroyed, blown up with the fortress.”
Frederick knew that he was giving the Gunner a free hand to take what he wanted and convert much to his own private sale. He could see little problem in that – the Gunner was a sensible man and would tuck the proceeds away in his sea-chest rather than indulge in a positive orgy of drinking that would bring him to the attention of port authorities.
“You will need working parties, Master Gunner. Sir Iain will arrange them with you.”
The loot would be spread a little further that way.
The barca-longas were sent out to watch the coast road north and south of the fortress and give advance notice of the inevitable French armies. Frederick hoped they might get as much as three days undisturbed, despite his warning to the Spanish irregulars that they must be ready to march at sunset. He did not believe that any horsemen had escaped the fortress and very few on foot; the word should be slow spreading.
In fact it was on their second day, the pace of work slowing in the fortress, the noise of the exploding guns far less frequent, when the first alarm was raised. Midshipman Sykes appeared from the north, well inshore and driving his barca-longa hard and with the ‘Enemy in Sight’ flag flying. Frederick had returned to Waldeman and was called to the deck, observed the activity in the squadron, all of the vessels making ready to sail.
“Details, Sir Iain?”
“None, sir. Sykes has not specified any ships and I suspect he has seen the military on the high road, sir.”
There were flags for ships and their type and numbers, but none for battalions and horse, foot or guns.
“He is clever – for a midshipman – and would not forget to tell us anything he could, Sir Iain.”
They waited, noting and approving as Sykes brought his small craft to the side, as if it were a ship’s boat. It was no greater than the larger launches and it was a sensible means of saving time.
“Beg pardon, sir, but I have seen a convoy, sir, on the coast road. There is deep water within gunshot of the shore, sir, at about seven miles along the coast, sir, and Waldeman and Norge could both sail within range, sir.”
“Shore batteries, Mr Sykes?”
“None, sir. The batteries that I located were all protecting harbours, sir.”
“Make sail, Sir Iain. Waldeman and Norge and Iris. Perlen to remain with Glommen and the brigs and to evacuate the shore if necessary. Mr Vereker can be trusted to use his discretion.” Frederick carefully did not say that Captain Dench could not be trusted. “Carry on, Mr Sykes – what did you see?”
“Wagons, sir, both ox and horse-drawn, and slow as a result. Cavalry to front and rear, sir, and I would estimate three battalions of infantry, sir. Additionally, sir, field guns between the battalions. A full brigade, sir, on the march.”
“Would you say they are ready for battle, or simply a brigade en route to add to a garrison somewhere in Spain?”
“They are spread out on the road, sir. I think that if they knew there was an enemy close to, then they would be tight together, sir.”
“I agree. Very sensible, Mr Sykes. Lead us out, Mr Sykes, keeping to four fathom water, if you would be so good. Norge and Iris, Sir Iain, to prepare for bombardment of targets on land. Enemy is a brigade of horse, foot and guns accompanied by baggage. Distant seven miles.”
The message was sent and the three ships cleared for action.
“Ball or grape, sir?”
“Damned if I know, Sir Iain. As a first thought, Waldeman and Norge to load ball and fire broadsides along the length of the column. Iris to close as far inshore as possible and fire grape - broadside, sections or individual guns as targets offer themselves. With this wind we shall be able to hold tight inshore on the northerly reach, but we will have to make short tacks on the return to the south and will have difficulties in keeping within range. We will have the one opportunity to do them great harm, I suspect.”
“Wind is freshening, sir, but holding from the south-west. It will be almost directly foul for the return.”
“Cast the log, if you would be so good, Sir Iain.”
Five knots and a little bit, nearly seventy minutes until they spotted their target.
Sir Iain sent Lieutenant Patey with a glass to the foremast at the hour; he received a response within ten minutes.
“On land, sir. Soldiers. On horse, sir, about thirty rows of four or five, sir. Shiny breastplates, sir, and long muskets. Behind them, foot, sir. Blue coats.”
“Heavy cavalry, dragoons, sir. Infantry of the line in French blue. What colour do the Spanish wear, sir?”
Frederick was no expert on Spanish heraldry.
“There’s a good question, now. Does your master know?”
The master was as likely as any man to have extraneous knowledge; masters often read books, and talked to others in their trade.
“Mr Popper?”
“Every colour, sir. Black perhaps most common, but a rich general or colonel will dress his men up as strikes his fancy. Many of the colonels still own their regiments in the old way that has disappeared in England, sir, and they will commonly use their house livery. I think, sir, that it might be unusual if any two battalions wore the same, so if the foot are all in blue, they will not be Spanish.”
“Very good. The soldiers may be assumed to be enemy, Sir Iain.”
“On deck, sir. Three battalions, sir, wi
th gaps between them, with artillery, sir. Twelve guns to each; four batteries in total, sir. Then a long row of wagons, sir.”
“Close the range, Sir Iain, open fire as you bear. Norge to conform, Iris to venture inshore, to carronade range, if possible.”
The horse-soldiers peered out to sea, saw the big ships and decided they could not charge them, because of the amount of water in the way. They lost interest in them after that, believing that they had nothing to say to soldiers.
Waldeman fired a full broadside at half a mile, almost destroying the half of the regiment of cavalry in the van.
The heavy roundshot knocked down three or four horses at a time; they could hear the animals’ screams even at that distance.
“Reload!”
The gunners were upset; they obeyed orders.
“If that was men we could hear, they would be cheering, sir. As it is horses, they do not like it at all. Neither do I!”
“The animals did not volunteer to come to war, Sir Iain. But most of the men are conscripts, too. Damned if I know! Continue the action!”
The first battalion of infantry held together, their officers well in command and waiting for orders that were slow coming.
The roundshot slammed home, smashing whole ranks and throwing up stones from the road surface that added to the injuries. The men ran, belatedly.
“Field guns dropping their trails, sir!”
“Foolish of them, Sir Iain.”
Captain Warren was a gunnery man, having been trained up by Frederick. He fired by sections, four or five cannon at a time aiming at the battery closest to him and utterly destroying it. Twelve-pound, short barrel field guns could not engage naval eighteen and thirty-two pounders; the guns were dismounted and their limbers crushed, several of them exploding. What happened to the gunners could only be imagined.
“I think Waldeman can match that, Sir Iain.”
They were just coming onto the second set of batteries.
“I believe so, sir. Main deck guns will engage the battery! Eighteen pounders, targets of opportunity, individually!”
Deadly Shores (The Duty and Destiny Series, Book 11) Page 10