by Griff Hosker
“They fight well enough and they have good equipment but they seem a little rigid.”
“Rigid?”
“Yes sir, like when they fought the other day at Montenotte. We were watching and you could see that they had never fought with light infantry flitting like flies before them. They couldn’t cope.”
He nodded, “And how would you have coped?”
“I would have had my own light infantry in front of the lines but armed with a weapon which had a longer range and then we could pick them off before they reached us. Our light infantry suffered few casualties in their attack. Had they done so then they might not have been so resolute.”
“Is there a weapon with a longer range?”
“Oh yes there are muskets with longer barrels but Jean, the man who taught me to shoot, used a rifle sometimes. A little fiddly to load but you can hit someone at four hundred yards with one of those.”
“And are you a good shot?”
There was little point in false modesty. “Yes sir.”
“Good. I like honesty.” He looked up as there was a knock on the door. I went to open it and Francois stood there with a tray filled with bread and cheese. I took it from him and placed it on a chair; there was no space on the table. “Would you care to join me?”
“No thank you sir. It will only make my comrades jealous and I am still on duty.”
“You know I am forming a company of guides. They will be chasseurs in all but name. Their function is to be my personal guards.” He shrugged, “The Directory thinks it is necessary. When they are formed you might be useful. Think about it.”
I had thought about it and my answer would be no but I couldn’t insult him. I lied. “That would be an exciting prospect.”
He smiled, “But you are not enthusiastic about it.”
“I like my comrades in the regiment.”
“Esprit de corps. I admire that. Still if you ever change your mind there will be a place for you on my staff. And now I will get back to my plans. Thank you for the conversation Scotsman. It was most illuminating.”
The next day we escorted him back to Dego to rejoin the army. This was a more leisurely ride but it still took us all day. The messengers reached us from Captain Bessières when we were half way there. The Austrians had attacked Dego and come close to capturing the town from Massena. The general was furious and we had to whip our horses on. The courier who had been sent was Jean-Noel and he was one of the older troopers. He rode next to Jean and Pierre and I had his conversation. “It was Captain Bessières fault. He didn’t bother putting any sentries out and the first we knew was when the camp was filled with Austrians. Luckily General Massena is calm and cool. He organised the men and we defeated them. We lost thirty troopers though.” Even though he lowered his voice I heard the next comment, “The captain is saying he ordered Lieutenant Laborde to put vedettes out which is convenient as the lieutenant died. “
When we reached Dego some semblance of order had been introduced. I noticed that our glorious captain made sure that he spoke to Bonaparte along with Massena; I dare say he was getting his story straight. We spent two days there while we gathered our reinforcements. Napoleon returned to Turin to conclude his negotiations. This time he took Captain Bessières and twenty troopers chosen by the captain as well as General Massena and a hundred grenadiers.
He came to see us before he left and he had a smug expression on his face. “I am to serve the general as one of his permanent escort. The troopers I am taking with me are also leaving the regiment. Until the colonel recovers, Captain Aristide, you are in command.”
He did not know that I had been offered a place with his guides and that we were delighted to be commanded by an officer we trusted. We all gave him false smiles as he left us. As Albert gathered us together to tell us the news I noticed that there were just one hundred and forty of us left now that Bessières had selected his men. He smiled as he said, “And now we will just be the scouts! No more charging up hills! The new general is Serrurier. I know nothing about him save that he served as a sergeant major too so he can’t be all bad, can he?”
We were heading west to mop up the last resistance to French rule in Piedmont. We were joined, as the huge column lumbered along the roads which clung precariously to the hillsides, by two regiments of Dragoons. Albert was pleased. There were now medium cavalry to act as skirmishers and to charge when necessary. We were the light horse once again.
We camped that night close to the other troops. Jean, Pierre and I went to the town to see if we could buy some bread. It was unlikely but we had money and Jean suspected that if we offered above the asking price then some might be miraculously found. We had to pass through the infantry camps. Suddenly a voice shouted, “Jean Bartiaux! Is that you?”
A chill seemed to grip my heart. Who had recognised the lieutenant? We didn’t know any infantry. Jean never panicked he looked in the direction of the voice and his face screwed up as he tried to recognise the soldier who walked towards us with his hand extended. “It is me, Guiscard’s son, Julian. The last time you saw me I was a boy.”
I felt relief and Jean smiled as he grasped the soldier’s hand. “Of course. How is your father?”
Julian’s face fell. “He died.”
“I am sorry. He was old though.”
He shook his head. “It was her; Mama Tusson. The black witch hounded him. She hounded him about someone called Robert Macgregor. It gradually wore him down and he just seemed to give up and die.”
My fears rushed back. Jean surreptitiously restrained me. “Do you know why?”
He shook his head. “No, but she is a powerful woman now. She owns the old place at Breteuil and my farm. She has connections with the local committee. It wasn’t much of a farm but it was all we had. She threw us off when my father couldn’t tell what she wanted to know.”
“I am sorry to hear of your loss. She was always an evil young woman but I thought that she would have been happy just to have the house. Your father said her heart was set upon it.”
“Aye but she is ambitious.” He gestured for Jean to come closer. I could still hear what they said, “My father said that she had murdered a couple of people on the estate, a parlour maid and the count’s woman. Poisoned them apparently.” My heart went cold. My mother was the count’s woman. “I am glad to be clear of her.” He suddenly seemed to see that Jean was an officer. “Oh I didn’t see you were an officer. Sorry sir.”
Jean shook his head and handed Julian a coin. “It doesn’t matter. Have a drink for your father on me. I liked the old man and do not worry, justice will catch up with the witch eventually.”
As we continued on our way Pierre asked, “So why is this woman still looking for you Robbie?”
“I have no idea. She murdered my mother but I would have thought that would make her steer clear of me.”
“There is something else here, Robbie, but we can do nothing while we are here. When we return to the north we will investigate.”
Sergeant Major Alain was waiting back at the camp when we arrived. “Finished skiving at headquarters, have we? Come to join the real soldiers?” Pierre and Claude were old friends and often made fun of each other.
“The colonel is dead. His heart gave out yesterday. He was ill for some days and I stayed with him.”
I could see that Pierre regretted his words and there was no way he could take them back. It was our way, we bantered.
“He was a good man and a good officer. We will not find another like that.” We all nodded agreement at Jean’s words.
Albert wandered over. He too looked sad. “I see that you have told them.” He nodded. “It seems I am in temporary command still but I do not enjoy the promotion. The colonel was like a father to me and I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye.”
Jean shook his head. “Saying goodbye is a luxury which soldiers do not have. We just bury our comrades and get on with it.”
Albert took out the sword he carried. It was
the colonel’s. It was a superb blade and I had envied it each time I had seen it. My sword was a good one but it was put to shame by the colonel’s. He held it to Jean. “He wished you to have it. He knew you were the best fencer in the regiment and he wanted it to go to a good owner. There is a pair of boots too for someone with the same size feet.” He gave a sad smile, “He left me his uniforms.”
Claude nodded, “He thought it might make him a smarter soldier. He had no family and the regiment is his heir and beneficiary. The regimental fund is healthy now.” The fund was what we used when soldiers were invalided out. There was little employment for one armed soldiers. Each time we relieved money from the enemy we put a tenth in the regimental fund. Some put in more. If you put money in then you were still healthy and above ground. “I brought some decent wine with me. I thought his old comrades could drink to the memory of a fine old soldier.
When we reached our tents I started to go to mine. Albert said, “Brigadier Macgregor. Where are you going?”
“I am not an old comrade. I have only served with him for two years.”
“And he thought highly of you. You will drink with us and that is an order.”
As the five of us drank I realised that we were the last of the original soldiers. We were the last of those who had set off from Sedan when France’s back was to the wall. It had bonded us into a band of brothers. Although I was new many of the older men had died or gone with Captain Bessières. I was almost a veteran. It gave me pause for thought.
We had thick heads as we headed west the next day towards Millesimo. Our orders were to find the enemy who were reported to be beyond Cosseria. The battle field was still a raw wound and the crosses marked where both sides had buried their dead. We had not invested it after our victory for the general believed in lightning strikes. As we reached Millesimo Albert saw that the bodies were being dug up by the locals. I had heard of this practice but never seen it. They would strip the corpses and even take out the teeth of the dead and cut the hair to sell.
Albert did not like it and he roared. “Sergeant Boucher, take ten men and scatter those carrion.”
He turned to me. “Brigadier, bring your section. Use the flat of your sword. Don’t kill them!”
We charged up the hill towards them and the men took off like seagulls from a rubbish heap. I saw a huge bull of a man and I turned Killer towards him. He tried to twist and turn but Killer thought it was a good game and followed him relentlessly. I drew my pistol as I neared him and swung the handle towards the back of his head. There was a satisfying crack and he fell unconscious. When I reached the others they were beginning to rebury the dead under the supervision of our section.
Pierre glared at them when they had finished. “When we come back through here I want these graves to be well tended and undamaged. If not we burn your town to the ground. Do you understand me?” There was a great deal of venom in his words and they nodded fearfully.
As we rode back to the squadron he shook his head, “Civilians! Sometimes I think they are the worst enemy.”
We reached Mondovi in early afternoon and we found the enemy. They had cannons covering the bridge into the town and we could see the flags of the battalions within its walls. “Well out little general won’t find this so easy a nut to crack.” Pierre had this ability to forget that we were all in the same army. He despised generals and senior officers. The only one he had had any respect for had been the colonel and now he was dead.
“The bridge you mean?”
“Yes. If you look at the river you will see it is a torrent. The snow has melted in the mountains and the only way across is by that bridge. I can see at least three cannons facing the bridge. If they fire canister they will kill anyone who tries to get over. Even the light infantry will be no use. They want to stop us here and it is a good defensive site.” He gave a happy smile. “At least we won’t have to do it.”
The messenger returned after Albert had sent the report. He summoned the officers and the non commissioned officers. “The general wants us to find some fords.”
Jean looked surprised, “He is back with the army? Does he never sleep?”
“No!” I said. They all looked at me and laughed. I was, of course being serious.
“Take your sections and find a ford. Go ten miles in each direction. I think he wants this war over quickly and then he can get to Vienna.”
“Well I like a patisserie as much as the next man but…” Pierre brought things down to their most basic level.
The roads in this part of the world were little more than tracks and I lead my twelve men in single file. Francois rode behind me with Tiny following him while Charles brought up the rear. I still smarted over the ambush which had nearly ended in disaster. This time I would watch and keep my men close. I scanned the skyline constantly for signs of movement or colour. It paid off as I caught the flint of sunlight on metal. There was someone above us in the rocks.
“Dismount! Muskets. One in four of you hold the horses.” My men had learned to obey instantly. I had watched Pierre and saw how he did it. “Keep the horses at the side where they are safe from random musket balls.” I pointed to the rocks. “In pairs make your way up there. One of you moves across the hillside and the other one covers. I want no casualties. Be careful. Tiny, you are with me.”
I squatted behind a rock and looked up at the skyline. I knew where I would hide to ambush those on the road and I headed in that direction. “Cover me.”
I sprinted to the next rock on my left and peered over with my gun at the ready. “Now, Tiny!” Tiny soon joined me. “Good lad.” While I had been waiting I had seen my next cover just fifty yards to the right and slightly up the hill. I was half way across when I heard the crack of Tiny’s musket. A second later a stone flew up just ahead of me. I reached the rock and tried to work out where the shot had come from. I saw a bush moving slightly. There was no breeze. “Now Tiny.” As he started to run I saw a barrel followed by a gun appear. I fired. There was a scream and the barrel disappeared.
When Tiny joined me he puffed, “He’s a sneaky one, corporal. He is listening for the shouts.”
“Then this time I will wave my hand when I want you to move. Have you reloaded?”
He looked shamefaced. “Not yet.”
“Then do it and I will watch. I reloaded as soon as I had fired.” There was criticism in my voice; I thought I had taught them better than that.
I could hear the pop of the other muskets further along the hill. I estimated that we had fifty yards to go to the skyline. There was a rock thirty yards away. “Do you see that rock up there?” He nodded. “That is our target. When you reach it don’t stop. You go right and I will go left. I don’t know how many will be on the other side but it doesn’t matter we will be better than they are. Understand?”
He grinned his reply, “Yes Brigadier Macgregor!”
This time I kept my eye on the spot where I thought he was hiding. He did not appear. When I reached the rock I waved my hand and a few moments later Tiny reached me. I immediately ran the last ten yards to the top. There were four Austrian Jaegers and one was wounded. I fired from the hip as soon as I saw the first one. I saw one of the muskets turning to shoot at me and I leapt on the man. He was below me and I am a big man. I knocked the wind from him. I clubbed him with my musket and then, as I turned, drew my sword. I saw Tiny struggling with two men, the wounded Jaeger and his comrade. I stabbed the one nearest me through the back and Tiny overcame the wounded Jaeger. “Are you hurt?”
“No corporal. I shot one and then these two grabbed me. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it, you did the same for me on the way up. Load your weapon. I will keep these pair covered.” I hoped they wouldn’t remember that my gun was empty. Just then there was a skitter of rocks and Francois appeared. “There were four more around the other side. They are dead.” He looked at the bodies around us. “Looks like you two didn’t need any help.”
“Search the bodies for pap
ers and then get two troopers to take the prisoners back to the general for questioning.” As he did that I peered around. What had they been guarding? They were too far from the town to be part of those defences and they were facing the town so they weren’t stopping reinforcements. There had to be something along the road.
When the prisoners had been escorted back we carried on along the road. I noticed that it began to drop towards the river. It was still a torrent and looked perilously close to the road in places. Then I found a small waterfall and when we reached the far side I noticed the river was quieter and slower.
I turned to Charles. “This could be the ford. It looks safe enough.”
Charles looked dubious. “With that waterfall on the other side do you want to take the chance?”
“It is safer than riding boot to boot against Austrians so let’s try it. Tiny, you come with me. Charles, just in case I go over the edge, you are in command.”
I rode Killer to the edge of the water. It was covered in white bubbles making it difficult to estimate the depth. It looked to be about thirty yards across. The danger would be slipping on the larger stones and rocks. If the ford was going to be usable then it had to be shallow enough for infantry. I slipped from Killer and led him by the reins. I turned and saw Tiny about to dismount. “You stay on your horse Tiny. If I fall over then you will be the one to rescue me.”
I stepped into the river and it was icy cold. Killer seemed reluctant to enter. “Get in there you big soft thing!” He snorted and stepped into the water behind me. I tested each step as I went. I didn’t put the weight on my foot until I was sure the river bed was beneath it. The water came to my knees when I was a third of the way across. It stayed that way until I was half way through my journey. I glanced behind me to make sure Tiny was still close. At the half way point the water came up to my groin. It was a painful experience. I realised that I could not feel my legs. As I walked further towards the other bank the river bed began to rise and soon the water was at my knees again. I became overconfident as I saw that the other bank was just ten yards away. It was like stepping off a cliff. Suddenly I was up to my armpits in the water. Had I not had Killer’s reins I would have fallen. I did not know what to do. Which direction should I go? Straight ahead or off to the side?