Soldier Spy

by Griff Hosker

  Soldier Spy

  Book 4 in the Napoleonic Horseman Series

  By

  Griff Hosker

  Published by Sword Books Ltd 2014

  Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition

  The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

  The cover courtesy of Wikipedia – published before 1923 and public domain in the US

  The Peace of Amiens

  Maps and cartoons courtesy of Wikipedia (William Robert Shepherd) This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years.

  Chapter 1

  December 1804

  Sergeant Sharp and I were summoned, once again, to Whitehall. It seemed like only yesterday when we had been rescued from the French beach by Black Prince and Commander Teer. Although we had done that which we were ordered and rescued hostages held by the French it had been at a cost. Men had died. I had expected a quiet time; a time to get to know my troopers and the new officers in the regiment. It was not meant to be.

  Colonel Fenton had not been happy when the missive from Colonel Selkirk arrived. He was not angry with me but rather with those armchair generals and politicians who used us like pawns in a giant chess game. However he knew better than to question their orders. He arranged for Lieutenant Jackson to take charge of the troop for a short time and we had taken the mail coach to London.

  I had taken the precaution of having Sergeant Sharp pack us a small valise. Where Colonel Selkirk was concerned it paid to be prepared. We were also travelling in civilian clothes, our pistols were in the valise but we still carried our swords. These visits to London normally resulted in a foreign trip of some type.

  Alan seemed remarkably sanguine about the whole affair. He was actually smiling as we thundered along the muddy London road with rain lashing the outside of the coach. We had been fortunate to obtain inside seats. The other three passengers were braving the outside. There were some advantages to a military warrant. The inside was not only warmer it was less hazardous than clinging to the tiny rail outside.

  “Where do you reckon to this time sir? Back to Frog Land again?”

  I shook my head, “I doubt it. There is little else we could learn there. We know that Bonaparte intends to invade next year. He is gathering his army already. The regiments we saw are just the beginning. There weren’t enough there to invade. He will be drafting in more. Besides, now that we know the Royal Navy will plant their ships along the Channel; it will be a stalemate. We can do nothing about Napoleon and his army but his navy has no chance of defeating Nelson.”

  “Did I hear that you met the Admiral Nelson, sir?”

  “Aye, I did. It was in Italy a couple of years ago. It was round about the time I first began to work for Colonel Selkirk. Nelson is a very clever man and he has a wonderful wit and cunning. He gives me hope for England. There might be many buffoons running things at Horse Guards but so long as we have the likes of Nelson then England will be safe.”

  “Are there no Generals as good?”

  I realised I had spoken out of turn. Sharp was a sergeant. I was an officer and I should have watched my tongue. I tried to extricate myself from the mess. “Well I haven’t seen that many but the ones I have met have not impressed me. Who knows, we may meet one this time.”

  The coach stopped at St. Martins Le Grand; it was the terminus for the mail coaches. The coach went no further. We headed south towards the river. It would be the quickest way to get to Whitehall. We made our way towards St.Paul’s and Cheapside. It was not the cleanest part of London despite the presence of the superb cathedral. I wished to be through the sea of humanity as soon as possible. Our smart clothes and our size enabled us to force our way through the throng towards the river. The river was the artery of the city. It was easier and quicker to navigate its waters rather than the crowded streets. It was also much safer.

  The boatmen flitted around like insects on a pond. When we reached the river six of them hurtled across the water to get our trade. As in all things the toughest of the watermen won the race. He grinned up at us showing that he had lost teeth before now. He had a short clay pipe jammed into his mouth and he spoke without removing it. It was a remarkable feat.

  I saw him taking in our good clothes and our case. We were being appraised to enable him to make the maximum profit from our business. “Now then, young gentlemen, the name’s Jem Green, and I am the best waterman on the river. Where can I take you today?”

  “Westminster Pier.”

  “Hop aboard and we’ll have you there before you know you are on the River Thames.”

  As we descended into his boat I saw that he had two boys in the boat with him. Both were barefoot and looked to be frozen. Jem snapped at them. “Look lively and store that valise.” He smiled at us, “Teaching my boys to become good watermen. They will have a good trade when they are older and will thank me for my sharp words.” He glanced up at the pennant on the mast head, “You gentlemen are in luck, and the wind is with us as well as the tide. Hoist the sail boys!”

  We were half way towards the busy pier when I saw his avaricious eyes take in the quality of our clothes. I had ensured that both of us had the best and most durable of clothes and footwear. My sword was a fine one and had been taken from an Austrian officer many years earlier.

  “We haven’t negotiated a price yet, gentlemen.”

  I knew that he was attempting to rook us. I smiled, “I believe there are set charges along the river or am I mistaken?”

  He shrugged, “This river can be a dangerous place, young sirs. Men and their belongings have been known to fall overboard. It is better to pay a little for a guaranteed arrival.” He smiled evilly, “You know what I mean?”

  I turned to Sharp, “The trouble is, Sergeant Sharp, that there are too many people taken in by a young face. They assume that it implies innocence and naivety.” Even as I was speaking I was slipping out the stiletto I had taken from my boot. The tip of the razor sharp blade I pricked at his throat. “Now we will pay the right price, the price that everyone pays and not a penny more.” I glanced at the two terrified boys and smiled, “Perhaps your sons have learned a valuable lesson today, Mister Green, about treating customers fairly. Mayhap when they become watermen they will become more honest than their avaricious father.”

  His face showed his terror. He had seen someone he assumed was a young gentleman, newly arrived in town and a bird ripe for plucking. He had learned, to his cost, that one should not always judge by appearances.

  As Westminster Bridge loomed up I handed the correct coins to the boy while Sharp lifted the valise. “We will carry our own bags. I would not wish you to slip and drop them over the side. Good day sir.”

  I watched as he clipped the two boys about the ears as though they had been responsible for him losing profit.

  As we headed towards Whitehall Sergeant Sharp shook his head, “And we risk our lives for scum like that.”

  “No, Alan, we risk our lives for the hardworking people of this country. This is London and it attracts the worst of characters but there are good people here too.” Away to our left we heard th
e bells of St Margaret tolling. There would be a service in the church nestling beneath the abbey. There would be good people in there and that was good to know.

  The sentry barred the entrance with his musket. It was always the same when we arrived. It would be a fight to get in. I handed him my warrant letter hoping that he was one who could read. The confused expression on his face showed me that he could not.

  “Sarge?”

  A grizzled veteran sighed his way from the guard room, “What is it, Jenkins?”

  He waggled the letter before the sergeant. The veteran barely looked at the letter but looked at us. “It’s all right son, I know them. These are two of Colonel Selkirk’s ghosts.” He saluted, “In you go, sir.” I knew that there were others like me; men who went abroad for Colonel Selkirk and His Majesty. Those who worked in Horse Guards called them his ghosts.

  Colonel Selkirk’s office was always messy. His dress reflected the untidy nature of his work space. He had sleeves rolled up and inky fingers which left the inevitable stain down his cheeks and hair. He seemed to live in his office. Certainly he was always there when we called in.

  He glanced up and waved us in, “Come in, come in. I just have to finish this.”

  I noticed the map on his wall, which had pins and tapes attached, was of the Austrian Empire. I recognised Vienna immediately. I had done some work for Napoleon in Austria. It was where I had learned to speak some German. My curiosity was aroused. I had not expected this.

  Sergeant Sharp cleared away some documents from the two chairs and made an attempt to dust them. I smiled and shook my head. We sat down and waited.

  Eventually he put down his pen and leaned back in his chair with his inky hands around the back of his neck. He smiled, “Have you heard what your friend Bonaparte has done now?”

  I frowned. He was hardly my friend although I had served him in much the same capacity that I now served Colonel Selkirk. “Whatever it is I will not be surprised.”

  “He has been crowned Emperor.” I confess that despite my earlier assertion I had been taken by surprise. It must have showed for the colonel burst out laughing. “I thought that might surprise you.”

  I thought of all those young soldiers who had fought for the revolution; all of the aristocrats who had lost their heads and now we had something worse than a king, France had a tyrant. “I am surprised the French stand for it. They rid themselves of a king, why should they want an Emperor?”

  “Yes, it is hard to fathom eh? Still your knowledge of the man has helped us and I believe will help us in the future.” He leaned forward. “What will he do next, eh?”

  “Why ask me? I am just a captain in the Light Dragoons.”

  “You do yourself a disservice, Robbie. You have been privy to one of the greatest generals we have ever seen.” He waggled an inky finger at me, “Don’t mention that outside of this room; I would be even less popular than I am. Come on, just take a guess.”

  I sighed, “If Nelson keeps his fleet in the Channel then he can’t invade England. He must have at least a hundred thousand men there now.”

  “Nearer to a quarter of a million but go on.”

  That number staggered me and I had to regain my train of thought. “They will become bored. There are only so many parades that can keep them occupied.” I glanced up at the map and smiled, I knew where the colonel was going with this. “Austria, he will want to conquer Austria. We... that is he, came damned close in Italy before we went to Egypt.”

  The colonel slapped the desk, “You see I knew you would be able to work it out. As it happens I agree with you but I am afraid that others are blind to it. They are thinking of sending a force back to the Baltic. They think that we can distract him there.” He shook his head. The Baltic was the wrong place to risk a confrontation with Napoleon. We had fought there ourselves and been forced to have an inglorious retreat. “You have been to Vienna I believe?”

  I nodded, “Yes sir. I went with an Italian diplomat on a mission from the General.”

  “Good. I want you to go there again. Nose around and find out if the Austrians can stand up to Napoleon’s new army.”

  I shook my head. “I can save a wasted journey there then sir. They won’t. They are reasonable soldiers but they are badly led. The French army will slice through them like a knife through butter. They hurt them in the Low Countries and in Italy. Look at Marengo.”

  He frowned, “But they will be fighting in their own land.”

  “Italy was their own country and they made a mess of it there. They just aren’t good enough. More importantly their Generals are no match Bonaparte.” I knew that, man for man, the French were much better than the Austrians. I also knew that they had the talisman of Bonaparte. He never lost!

  He stood, “Hmm. Then it is worse than I thought.” He studied the map as though trying to find the answer there. He suddenly spun around. “There is a way but it might involve some danger to yourself and, of course, Sergeant Sharp could not be involved.”

  Alan had grown in the last couple of years and he stood up angrily. “With respect, sir!” The ‘sir’ was almost spat at the colonel. “If the captain is in danger then I will be with him. I serve this country as much as you do.”

  The colonel’s eyes narrowed. “That is bordering upon insubordination, Sergeant Sharp.”

  I put my hand out to restrain my sergeant, “But in that case, sir, I agree with him. Sergeant Sharp has proved himself more than resourceful, loyal and brave.” I stood. “Perhaps it would be better if we ended our association here and now. We will go back to our regiment and you can find some other fools to risk their lives for your Machiavellian schemes.”

  Sergeant Sharp nodded, gratefully and he turned to open the door for us. Colonel Selkirk glared at us. I do not think he was used to his orders being questioned. “Sit down both of you before I have you put on a charge.”

  I knew that was a bluff but we sat down anyway. I smiled, “So what is this danger into which you wish us to place ourselves?” I chose my words deliberately. It would be the two of us or neither of us.

  He coughed and then he smiled back, “You are a game ‘un, I’ll give you that. I want you to be a double agent. Pretend to work for the Frogs and gain their trust. I can give you some piddling pieces of useless information for you to feed to them. Find out what they are about. You know Bessières and you have proved your ability to him.”

  I stared back at him. “That is beyond risky; that is suicidal.”

  He stood again and went to his drinks cabinet. He poured two glasses of whisky and offered me one. I looked at Sharp and the colonel sighed and gave one to him and the other to me. He poured himself a third. “This damned equality will be the undoing of us, mark my words.” He sat down and took a sip. “Think about it Robbie. The last time Bessières saw you was just before he left Egypt.”

  “I know and then I killed an officer in a duel.”

  “That will be forgotten, trust me. You can present yourself as having being captured in Egypt by the British and you have escaped. Having Sharp with you might even help the masquerade.”

  I was not so sure. I had almost been caught the last time I had ventured into France; dare I risk it again? Then the thought of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor came into my mind. I had never really got on with my father who had treated me more like a serf than a son but I knew that he would want me to do something about this upstart who was going to take France down the road to disaster. I thought of all my brave comrades who had been abandoned in Egypt and I knew that, they too, would want me to take the risk. All I had to do was to risk my life and that was not much.

  “Very well but your plan seems a little vague. What is it you intend for me to do?”

  He swallowed his whisky. “You are correct for I have only just come up with the idea.” He stared at the map. “Where would you say Bonaparte and Bessières will be?”

  “I would guess either in Paris or with the army at Boulogne.”

  “And if
we are both right then that army will soon be moving towards the east. But I think that Bonaparte will still be in Paris. He has just made himself Emperor and that means he will be lording it up there. He has to let everyone know that he is Emperor and he will be consolidating his power. Bessières, on the other hand, will be where the army is. He is the master mover of men and materiel.” He peered closely at the map. “If you were going to move men quickly and easily to the east which route would you take?”

  I was intrigued and I stood and went to the map. The answer was obvious; it was the blue snake which wound its way towards Austria and Hungary. “I would use the river and I would use the barges we saw in Boulogne.”

  The colonel slapped the map. “And by God that is where he will be.” He jabbed a finger at the Rhine. “He will be in the Netherlands.”

  I studied the map, as did the colonel. Sergeant Sharp said, in a small quiet voice. “But sir, won’t it be obvious where he is going when he begins to move over two hundred thousand men? They won’t be easy to conceal.”

  I knew he had a point but I had served with Bonaparte and knew better. “True, Alan, but Bonaparte is a master of moving men swiftly and deceiving his enemies of his true destination. He will move them surreptitiously. He is like a magician and he will use sleight of hand. He pretends to do one thing and does something entirely different.”

  “Then how will …”

  “General Bessières is the great administrator. He will know where everything is going. There will be planning involving the stores that they will need and the depots they will use along the way.” I turned to the colonel. “But we would need to move swiftly would we not? He will not move for a few weeks for it is winter but we have to get to the continent first. And we will need a story and information to give to him.”

  “You had better stay with me tonight and I will make the arrangements for your voyage.”