by Griff Hosker
Juan and Miguel had stopped a mile ahead of us. We reined in. Juan nodded. “They are remarkable weapons. If you had an army with them then you would be unstoppable.”
“They are slow to reload but they are accurate.”
Two days’ later we reached his home. I saw the relief on the faces of his wife and his children. He turned to me, “You are a brave man, milord. If you need me then just ask for me.”
“And you, my friend, have helped in the fight against Napoleon.”
We gave them half of the ham and half of the wine before we left. Juan sampled the wine and his eyes widened. “This is truly a great wine.”
“Then the next time I come to see you I will bring you two jugs! And another of the hams.”
“And you, my friend, are just that, a friend. If you know our people then I can give you no greater compliment,”
I was touched. Sergeant Sharp and I reached Abrantes on the last day of May. The guerrillas had proved to be more than helpful. They knew the times of the road patrols and our journey back was less hazardous. Summer was here and it was hot so we took longer to ride back than I would have hoped. We had no idea of the state of the campaign and all that we knew was that the Army would either be at Coimbra or Abrantes. The army encamped before Abrantes told us it was the latter.
As we rode through the camp, we saw that the victory had brought out the worst in some of Sir Arthur’s men. We witnessed two floggings as we passed through the camps. As I well knew the British soldier was the best that there was when it came to facing the enemy and exchanging volleys of musket fire but put him in a camp close to a town and drink would change him. Sir Arthur would be keen to get my intelligence, if only so that he could move towards the French and battle.
I passed Lieutenant Hay and his Rifles. The riflemen were more disciplined than some of the other regiments. They could be relied upon to behave themselves. As we passed their camp, he and his Chosen Man stood.
“Major!”
“Lieutenant.”
He nodded towards our Baker rifles, “I see that you are a good judge of weapons, sir,”
“They are very useful.” I laughed, “Sergeant Sharp and I have often taken French horsemen unawares when they think we have a carbine. You and your men did well in Oporto.”
“Aye sir but it was a sorry affair when we tramped north after the French. It was as bad as Corunna. The main difference was that we were doing the chasing.”
His Chosen Man said, “Aye sir, but this time it was the French who abandoned their guns and equipment.” He laughed, “We recaptured some of the guns we lost on the road to Corunna. Funny old world, eh sir?”
“It is indeed.”
The Lieutenant stroked Donna’s head, “And will we be moving soon, sir?”
“I know not for I am just the bearer of news. It is the General who makes the decisions. However, if I was a betting man then I would say we will be moving sooner rather than later and we will be marching into the sun.” I smiled, “Of course I could be wrong.”
“I doubt that very much, Major.”
As we continued to the centre of the town, I saw that General Beresford and his army had joined ours. There looked to be twenty thousand men or more. What was missing was the Portuguese contingent. There were a few Caçadores in their distinctive brown uniforms but not as many as we had seen marching north with General Beresford.
Sir Arthur had made himself comfortable in a large house in the centre of the town. I dismounted and took the papers and notebooks I had compiled, “See if you can find a stable for the horses and a room for us.”
Sergeant Sharp nodded, “It looks like we are the last to reach the party, sir, but I will see what I can do.”
The Sergeant at the door did not recognise me but he knew my rank. I was admitted. I recognised many of the officers who milled around for they had been on the march to Oporto. There were others who were unknown to me. They were men who had followed General Beresford. I recognised one of Sir Arthur’s aides, Lieutenant Newark who was a Guard’s officer. I saw that he had seen me by his nod and then he disappeared. I knew better than to follow. Sir Arthur would be apprised of my presence and he would send for me when he was ready and not before.
“Major Matthews, you survived!”
I turned and saw Colonel Hawker. “And you too, sir. How are Captain Minchin and his troop getting along?”
“They are doing well. His time with you was well spent. He should have been promoted years ago but…”
The purchase of commissions was the reason but we could not mention that. Most of the men in the room owed their position to the system. They had sons who would benefit from it. I was just amazed that the British Army did so well in spite of it.
“So, Matthews, your dirty overalls tell me that you have been over the hills and far away. Action?”
“Not for me to say, sir, but I have found the French and that was what the General asked me to do. Any action will depend upon him.”
“Aye well, if the French we meet are anything like Marshal Soult’s men they will be good at running! Damned me but they can shift. We chased them right up towards Galicia. You would not believe the equipment they left behind them.”
“Yes, sir. but the French are well supplied. Their guns and horses do not need to come by sea. They are supplied from France.”
“You are a clever fellow, Matthews. I am surprised you are not a colonel.”
I laughed, “Thank you, sir, but I am amazed that I am a Major.”
Lieutenant Newark approached, “Major Matthews, the General will see you now. If you would follow me.”
Colonel Hawker said, “When you are done come and join us at our camp. We didn’t fancy the walk into town to get a drink and the prices are obscene. Bring your Sergeant. The Non-Commissioned Officers have their own mess too!”
“I might well take you up on that, sir.”
The Lieutenant led me to a small staircase towards the rear of the grand house. From the condition of the handrail, this was used by servants. It was too narrow to have been used by the nobleman whose house this had been. The Guards officer knocked on a door at the top of the stairs and then opened it. It was a small bedroom. There was a table which was covered in papers and there was Sir Arthur and Colonel Selkirk.
Sir Arthur waved a hand, “Wait outside, Newark, see that we are not disturbed.”
“Sir.”
When he had gone Sir Arthur frowned, “You took longer than I said, Matthews!”
“The French were further away than I thought.”
“Well, out with it! Do I have to ask twenty questions to get that which I need to know?”
I saw Colonel Selkirk smile.
“No, sir. Sorry, sir. The French army is at Talavera de la Reina sir. They have about twenty thousand men but there are three Corps close to Madrid and within marching distance of Talavera.”
The General looked at Colonel Selkirk, “By God we have them!”
Colonel Selkirk took out a cigar and lit it from the lamp which burned in the dimly lit room, “Any idea who commands, Robbie?”
“Not for certain sir. It could be Marshal Jourdan or Marshal Victor, sir. A squadron of French Dragoons chased us off.”
Neither officer was in the slightest bit concerned about the peril we might have been in. Sharp and I were a tool to be used. Our loss would merely be an inconvenience. “Any troops between here and there?”
“Cavalry patrols, General. They appear to have garrisoned the small towns with squadrons of Dragoons. The guerrillas harass them. It is a brutal war that they fight.”
Once again, my comments were irrelevant and duly ignored.
“And did you see any sign of the Spanish Army or General Cuesta?”
“No, sir.”
“You were right Selkirk. General Cuesta awaits us. The man has almost forty thousand men! He could take on the French at Talavera and then the back door to Madrid would be wide open.”
The Colonel was
never afraid of arguing with the General. I think Sir Arthur appreciated his honesty. “Don’t forget that General Sebastiani is at Toledo with twenty-two thousand men and King Joseph has a further twelve thousand in Madrid.”
“Then you have to get to Cuesta. I need the Spanish to move north. If we defeat the men at Talavera then we will outnumber the other two corps.”
“Aye sir, but don’t forget that General Wilson has reported Ney is heading from Galicia.”
It was almost as though the General had not heard the Colonel but I knew he had. “Matthews, how did you reach Talavera?”
“I took the mountain roads, sir, and went around Plasencia.”
“They can be used by artillery?”
“It might be difficult, sir, but it is the quickest route.”
Again, he became silent and engrossed in the map. He suddenly jabbed his finger, “Here, Selkirk, we will meet with General Cuesta at Almarez on the Tagus.”
The Colonel took a drag on his cigar. His words were carefully chosen, “And if the Spanish General will not come north, sir?”
Sir Arthur looked him in the eye, “Then we do not move from Portugal. If we are to recover Spain then the Spanish must show willing. God’s blood, man, the Portuguese are here and they are willing to help the Spanish! The least they can do is to help themselves.”
“I am sorry, sir, but you do not understand Spanish politics. They have no King and they fight amongst themselves. Each area is ruled by a junta. General Cuesta has the largest Spanish army but if he were to lose then another would be in power. The Spanish are worried about losing men. General Cuesta was wounded at the Medellin. He has been defeated once by the French and he will be wary.”
“Then, Colonel Selkirk, you will need to be as persuasive as you can, eh?”
He nodded, “Yes sir.”
“You two are dismissed. Selkirk, get to Cuesta and speak with him. Arrange a meeting. Matthews, you have done well. Take a couple of days to recover but I want you here each day. I may have need of you again.”
As we went down the stairs the Colonel spoke with me, “The General understands his soldiers but not the politics of Spain!” The Colonel was right. My time with Juan had taught me that.
We stepped into the street. The Colonel leaned in and said, “The Black Widow is here in Iberia!”
“Spain? How do you know? Have you seen her?”
He shook his head, “I have seen her handiwork. A senior official in the Ministry of War for Portugal was seen with a beautiful, sultry woman. It sounded like the Black Widow. The official was found dead and the lady in question disappeared. She could be in Portugal, she could be in Spain but my money would be on Portugal. I arrived too late to help the poor fellow. Only you and I know the Widow. Everyone thinks it was a French assassin which of course it was but they are looking for a man and the dalliance with the Widow is ignored. I tell you because you would know her. If you see her then kill her. Shoot on sight!”
“This is a woman we are talking about!”
“And a deadly one at that.” He shrugged, “You of all people should know that. I have warned you and now Angus and I had better head off and find this Spanish General. Take care, Robbie. You are a good fellow but you have an honourable streak which will be your downfall!”
He left me. I knew that Sergeant Sharp would come to find me and I needed a drink. Nearby there was a pleasant looking tavern with tables outside. The General had posted two men there to discourage the rank and file from drinking. I saw that officers were allowed to enjoy its fare and I sat. I ordered some wine and some bread. I had thought the Black Widow was just an unpleasant episode in my past but now she had reappeared. I knew that Colonel Selkirk was right and I had killed women before but could I kill this one?
Sergeant Sharp did not appear for an hour or so. I waved him over. The two sentries moved towards him. “He is with me, allow him through.”
“But the General said…”
“And I am Major Matthews. I am one of the General’s aides and I am ordering you to allow him through.”
“Yes, sir!”
Sharp sat and I waved over the waiter. After I had ordered Alan said, “I can understand the General’s order, sir. There was a bit of bother when the army arrived. Two soldiers from the 53rd were involved in a fracas. One was killed and the other badly wounded. Some shops were looted. There are provosts all around the town.”
I nodded. The waiter brought another beaker and some more ham. When he had gone, I said, “And it is likely that we will be here some time. I can’t see us leaving for a couple of weeks.”
“That will give the horses a chance to recover. I have found where the 23rd are billeted, sir. We can get the other horses if you like.” He sipped his wine. “That is, sir, if you think we will be needing them again.”
“I think, Sergeant, that we will. We know the road to Talavera. I suspect the General will use us as his eyes.”
The Sergeant had managed to get us a room above a shoe maker’s shop. The man seemed happy to have an officer sleeping above his premises. After the attacks by the British Army, I could understand it. He had a yard and the horses were there. That was not a satisfactory arrangement and we led the four animals to the camp of the 23rd. Troop Sergeant Fenwick was on duty with the sentries and he seemed happy to be reunited with us.
“Good afternoon, sir. Come to pick up your horses?”
“The opposite, Sergeant. We have four more to join the others.”
“No problem, sir, although this grazing won’t last above another week.”
“We passed a field just two miles east of the town. I will mention it to the Colonel.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Give the Sergeant a hand, Sharp, and I will go and see the officers.”
The officers had a mess tent but some, the younger ones, had spilt outside. Seeing a Major they snapped to attention.
“At ease!” I entered a smoke-filled tent. Cigars were much easier to obtain in Portugal and Spain compared with London. The officers had all taken advantage of the surplus.
Captain Minchin spied me and strode over. His pleasure at being reunited was obvious, “Major Matthews! This is a pleasant surprise. What can I get you to drink?”
Colonel Hawker’s voice boomed, “The Major is our guest! Put his drinks on my mess bill, Sergeant!”
The orderly Sergeant nodded, “Yes sir.” He turned to me, “And you sir, what will you have?”
“A glass of wine will suffice.”
Captain Minchin said, “I am glad to see you, sir. I did not properly thank you.”
“What for?”
“Why, my promotion of course sir. I would still be a Lieutenant but for you.”
“You deserved the promotion. Colonel Hawker knew that.” I looked around and saw that the usual cliques had formed. Captain Minchin and the young Lieutenant next to him appeared to be a little isolated. “And who is this young officer?”
The Lieutenant looked to be about eighteen years old. He was obviously nervous, “Lieutenant Frayn, sir. I have only been with the regiment for a couple of weeks.”
Captain Minchin said, “Herbert here is my replacement. I suppose that means I have more chance of keeping my Captaincy.”
“I think that is assured. There will be some hard fighting ahead. We were lucky at Vouga and Oporto. When we come up against a full Corps it will not be so easy.” My drink arrived. “So, Lieutenant, where are you from?”
“Yorkshire, sir. My family has land near Malton. My father breeds horses. It was inevitable that I should join the cavalry. My father is a friend of Lieutenant Colonel Elley. We sold the Lieutenant Colonel his white hunter.” The white horse and its flamboyant rider were a source of conversation amongst all of the cavalry regiments. “I am lucky that this is a regiment on active service. The alternative was a barracks in England or the West Indies.”
“The graveyard of the English.”
I nodded, “Quite so, Captain.”
> You say you arrived from England. When did you land in Lisbon?”
“That would have been the second of May. It took some time to find out where the regiment was. I was lucky. There was a lady on the ship and she took pity upon me. She rented a house and bought me a horse.”
Captain Minchin laughed, “Now, had that been me, with my ugly features, then I would still be in Lisbon. This handsome young blood just flashes his smile, eh sir?”
The Lieutenant blushed and I laughed, “I think I would be like you, Captain. My scarred face would merely make them take pity upon me.”
“Oh no, sir, it was nothing like that. She needed an escort. The lady was not young, sir!” I smiled. “But she was stunning, sir. Raven haired with eyes which stirred a man. I was disappointed when my orders came and ordered me to Coimbra.”
Captain Minchin waved over an orderly who refilled his glass, “And was the lady disappointed?”
“Oh yes, sir. She became quite cross. She was recently widowed you see, sir, still I believe I served a purpose. She was invited to many balls and parties. After Oporto, the city seemed to celebrate.”
Perhaps I had had too much drink but it had taken some moments for the Lieutenant’s words to sink in. “This widow, did she have a skin which was tanned, as though she had lived in a hot climate?”
He looked amazed, “Yes sir, how did you know? Her husband had been a plantation owner in the West Indies, one of those islands where they speak French and English. She had sold the plantation when her husband died.”
It was the Black Widow. Had Colonel Selkirk not told me I might not have made the connection but it was obvious. She had spun a similar story to the one she had used in London. “What was the lady’s name?”
“Mrs Castle, sir. Why, do you know her?”
“I believe I do, Lieutenant, and you have been extremely lucky. The woman is a killer.”
The young officer laughed, “You jest, sir! She is a lady!”
“Her servants were Indian?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then it is the same woman and I will not go into details but trust me, if you see her again then do not speak to her but seek me out!”