The Cornet of Horse: A Tale of Marlborough's Wars

by G. A. Henty

  Chapter 7: Venloo.

  Upon the 5th dragoons being, with the others lying with it in campat Breda, ordered up to join the main army at Nimeguen, Rupert was,to his great delight, declared to be sufficiently advanced in hisknowledge of drill to take his place regularly in the ranks; andHugh and the other recruits also fell into their places in thevarious troops among which they were divided, Hugh being, atRupert's request, told off to Captain Lauriston's troop. With drumsbeating and colours flying, the column from Breda marched into theallied camp at Duckenberg in front of Nimeguen, where the troopscrowded out to greet this valuable addition of eight infantryregiments and three of cavalry.

  Scarcely were the tents pitched than Rupert heard himself heartilysaluted, and looking round, saw his friends Lord Fairholm and SirJohn Loveday, who being already in camp had at once sought him out.

  "By my faith, Master Holliday, the three months have done wondersfor you; you look every inch a soldier," Lord Fairholm said.

  "His very moustache is beginning to show," Sir John Loveday said,laughing.

  Rupert joined in the laugh, for in truth he had that very morninglooked anxiously in a glass, and had tried in vain to persuadehimself that the down on his upper lip showed any signs ofthickening or growing.

  "Well, and how many unfortunate English, Dutch, and Germans haveyou dispatched since we saw you?"

  "Oh, please hush," Rupert said anxiously. "No one knows that I haveany idea of fencing, or that I have ever drawn a sword before Iwent through my course of the broadsword here. I would not on anyaccount that any one thought I was a quarrelsome swordster. Youknow I really am not, and it has been purely my misfortune that Ihave been thrust into these things."

  "And you have never told any of your comrades that you have killedyour man? Or that Dalboy proclaimed you in his salle to be one ofthe finest blades in Europe?"

  "No, indeed," Rupert said. "Why should I, Sir John?"

  "Well, all I can say is, Rupert, I admire your modesty as much asyour skill. There are few fellows of your age, or of mine either,but would hector a little on the strength of such a reputation. Ithink that I myself should cock my hat, and point my moustache alittle more fiercely, if I knew that I was the cock of the wholewalk."

  Rupert smiled. "I don't think you would, Sir John, especially ifyou were as young as I am. I know I have heard my tutor say thatthe fellow who is really cock of a school, is generally one of thequietest and best-tempered fellows going. Not that I mean," headded hastily, as his companions both laughed, "that I am cock, orthat I am a quiet or very good-tempered fellow. I only meant that Iwas not quarrelsome, and have indeed put up more than once withpractical jokings which I might have resented had I not known howskillful with the sword I am, and that in this campaign I shallhave plenty of opportunities of showing that I am no coward."

  "Well spoken, Rupert," Sir John said. "Now we have kept you talkingin the sun an unconscionable time; come over to our tent, and havesomething to wash the dust away. We have some fairly good Burgundy,of which we bought a barrel the other day from a vintner inNimeguen, and it must be drunk before we march.

  "Are these the officers of your troop? Pray present me."

  Rupert introduced his friends to Captain Lauriston and LieutenantDillon, and the invitation was extended to them. For the time,however, it was necessary to see to the wants of the men, but lateron the three officers went across to the tents of the king'sdragoons, to which regiment Lord Fairholm and Sir John Loveday bothbelonged, and spent a merry evening.

  Upon the following day the Earl of Marlborough sent for Rupert andinquired of him how he liked the life, and how he was getting on;and begged of him to come to him at any time should he have need ofmoney, or be in any way so placed as to need his aid. Rupertthanked him warmly, but replied that he lacked nothing.

  The following day the march began, and Rupert shared in the generalindignation felt by the British officers and men at seeing thesplendid opportunities of crushing the enemy--opportunities gainedby the skill and science of their general, and by their own rapidand fatiguing marches--thrown away by the feebleness and timidityof the Dutch deputies. When the siege of Venloo began the main bodyof the army was again condemned to inactivity, and the cavalry hadof course nothing to do with the siege.

  The place was exceedingly strong, but the garrison was weak,consisting only of six battalions of infantry and 300 horse.Cohorn, the celebrated engineer, directed the siege operations, forwhich thirty-two battalions of infantry and thirty-six squadrons ofhorse were told off, the Prince of Nassau Saarbruch being incommand.

  Two squadrons of the 5th dragoons, including the troop to whichRupert belonged, formed part of the force. The work was by no meanspopular with the cavalry, as they had little to do, and lost theirchance of taking part in any great action that Boufflers mightfight with Marlborough to relieve the town. The investment began onthe 4th? of September, the efforts of the besiegers being directedagainst Fort Saint Michael at the opposite side of the river, butconnected by a bridge of boats to the town.

  On the 17th the breaches were increasing rapidly in size, and itwas whispered that the assault would be made on the evening of the18th, soon after dusk.

  "It will be a difficult and bloody business," Captain Lauristonsaid, as they sat in their tent that evening. "The garrison of FortSaint Michael is only 800, but reinforcements will of course pourin from the town directly the attack begins, and it may be morethan our men can do to win the place. You remember how heavily theGermans suffered in their attack on the covered way of Kaiserwerth."

  "I should think the best thing to do would be to break down thebridge of boats before beginning the attack," Lieutenant Dillonremarked.

  "Yes, that would be an excellent plan if it could be carried out,but none of our guns command it."

  "We might launch a boat with straw or combustibles from above,"Rupert said, "and burn it."

  "You may be very sure that they have got chains across the riverabove the bridge, to prevent any attempt of that kind," CaptainLauriston said.

  Presently the captain, who was on duty, went out for his rounds,and Rupert, who had been sitting thoughtfully, said, "Look here,Dillon, I am a good swimmer, and it seems to me that it would beeasy enough to put two or three petards on a plank--I noticed somewood on the bank above the town yesterday--and to float down to thebridge, to fasten them to two or three of the boats, and so tobreak the bridge; your cousin in the engineers could manage to getus the petards. What do you say?"

  The young Irishman looked at the lad in astonishment.

  "Are you talking seriously?" he asked.

  "Certainly; why not?"

  "They'd laugh in your face if you were to volunteer," Dillon said.

  "But I shouldn't volunteer; I should just go and do it."

  "Yes, but after it was done, instead of getting praise--that is, ifyou weren't killed--you'd be simply told you had no right toundertake such an affair."

  "But I should never say anything about it," Rupert said. "I shouldjust do it because it would be a good thing to do, and would savethe lives of some of our grenadiers, who will, likely enough, leadthe assault. Besides, it would be an adventure, like any other."

  Dillon looked at him for some time.

  "You are a curious fellow, Holliday. I would agree to join you inthe matter, but I cannot swim a stroke. Pat Dillon cares as littlefor his life as any man; and after all, there's no more danger init than in going out in a duel; and I could do that withoutthinking twice."

  "Well, I shall try it," Rupert said quietly. "Hugh can swim as wellas I can, and I'll take him. But can you get me the petards?"

  "I dare say I could manage that," Dillon said, entering into thescheme with all an Irishman's love of excitement. "But don't youthink I could go too, though I can't swim? I could stick tight tothe planks, you know."

  "No," Rupert said seriously, "that would not do. We may bedetected, and may have to dive, and all sorts of things. No,Dillon, it would not do. But if you can get the
petards, you willhave the satisfaction of knowing that you have done your share ofthe work; and then you might, if you could, ride round in theevening with my uniform and Hugh's in your valise. If you go on tothe bank half a mile or so below the town, every one will bewatching the assault, and we can get ashore, put on our clothes,and get back home without a soul being the wiser."

  "And suppose you are killed?"

  "Pooh, I shall not be killed!" Rupert said. "But I shall leave aletter, which you can find in the morning if I do not come back,saying I have undertaken this adventure in hope of benefitingher Majesty's arms; that I do it without asking permission; butthat I hope that my going beyond my duty will be forgiven, inconsideration that I have died in her Majesty's service."

  The next day at two o'clock, Lieutenant Dillon, who had been awayfor an hour, beckoned to Rupert that he wanted to speak to himapart.

  "I have seen my cousin Gerald, but he will not let me have thepetards unless he knows for what purpose they are to be used. Isaid as much as I could without betraying your intentions, but Ithink he guessed them; for he said, 'Look here, Pat, if there isany fun and adventure on hand, I will make free with her graciousMajesty's petards, on condition that I am in it.' He's up to fun ofevery kind, Gerald is; and can, I know, swim like a fish. What doyou say, shall I tell him?"

  "Do, by all means," Rupert said. "I have warned Hugh of what I amgoing to do, and he would never forgive me if I did not take him;but if your cousin will go, all the better, for he will know farbetter than I how to fix the petards. You can tell him I shall beglad to act under his orders; and if it succeeds, and he likes tolet it be known the part which he has played in the matter--whichindeed would seem to be within the scope of his proper duties, hebeing an engineer--I shall be glad for him to do so, it alwaysbeing understood that he does not mention my name in any way."

  Half-an-hour later Dillon entered, to say that his cousin agreed heartilyto take a part in the adventure, and that he would shortly come up toarrange the details with Rupert. Rupert had met Gerald Dillon before,and knew him to be as wild, adventurous, and harum-scarum a young officeras his cousin Pat; and in half-an-hour's talk the whole matter was settled.

  Gerald would take two petards, which weighed some twenty poundseach, to his tent, one by one. Hugh should fetch them in a basket,one by one, to the river bank, at the spot where a balk of wood hadbeen washed ashore by some recent floods. At seven in the eveningGerald should call upon his cousin, and on leaving, accompanyRupert to the river bank, where Hugh would be already in waiting.When they had left, Pat Dillon should start on horseback with thethree uniforms in his valise, the party hiding the clothes in whichthey left the camp, under the bank at their place of starting.

  The plan was carried out as arranged, and soon after seven o'clockRupert Holliday and Gerald Dillon, leaving the camp, strolled downto the river, on whose bank Hugh was already sitting. The day hadbeen extremely hot, and numbers of soldiers were bathing in theriver. It was known that the assault was to take place that night,but as the cavalry would take no part in it, the soldiers, withtheir accustomed carelessness, paid little heed to the matter. Asit grew dusk, the bathers one by one dressed and left, until onlythe three watchers remained. Then Rupert called Hugh, who had beensitting at a short distance, to his side; they then stripped, andcarefully concealed their clothes. The petards were taken out frombeneath a heap of stones, where Hugh had hid them, and were fixedon the piece of timber, one end of which was just afloat in thestream. By their side was placed some lengths of fuse, a brace ofpistols, a long gimlet, some hooks, and cord. Then just as it wasfairly dark the log was silently pushed into the water, andswimming beside it, with one hand upon it, the little party startedupon their adventurous expedition.

  The log was not very large, although of considerable length, andwith the petards upon it, it showed but little above water. Thepoint where they had embarked was fully two miles above the town,and it was more than an hour before the stream took them abreast ofit. Although it was very dark, they now floated on their backs bythe piece of timber, so as to show as little as possible to any whomight be on the lookout, for of all objects the round outline of ahuman head is one of the most easily recognized.

  Presently they came, as they had expected, to a floating boom,composed of logs of timber chained together. Here the piece oftimber came to a standstill. No talk was necessary, as the courseunder these circumstances had been already agreed to. The petardsand other objects were placed on the boom, upon which Rupert, asthe lightest of the party, crept, holding in his hand a cordfastened round the log. Hugh and Gerald Dillon now climbed upon oneend of the log, which at once sank into the water below the levelof the bottom of the boom, and the current taking it, swept itbeneath the obstacle. Rupert's rope directed its downward course,and it was soon alongside the boom, but on the lower side.

  The petards were replaced, and the party again proceeded; but nowHugh swam on his back, holding a short rope attached to one end, soas to keep the log straight, and prevent its getting across themooring chains of the boats forming the bridge; while Rupert andGerald, each with a rope also attached to the log, floated downsome ten or twelve yards on either side of the log, but a littlebehind it. The plan answered admirably; the stream carried the logend-foremost between two of the boats, which were moored twelvefeet apart, while Gerald and Rupert each floated on the other sideof the mooring chains of the boats; round these chains they twistedthe ropes, and by them the log lay anchored as it were under thebridge, and between two of the boats forming it. If there were anysentries on the bridge, these neither saw nor heard them, theirattention being absorbed by the expectation of an attack upon thebreaches of Fort Saint Michael.

  The party now set to work. With the gimlet holes were made a coupleof feet above the water. In them the hooks were inserted, and fromthese the petards were suspended by ropes, so as to lie against thesides of the boats, an inch only above the water's level. The fuseswere inserted; and all being now in readiness for blowing a hole inthe side of the two boats, they regained the log, and awaited thesignal.

  The time passed slowly; but as the church clocks of the town struckeleven, a sudden outburst of musketry broke out round SaintMichael's. In an instant the cannon of the fort roared out, thebells clanged the alarm, blue fires were lighted, and the deadsilence was succeeded by a perfect chaos of sounds.

  The party under the bridge waited quietly, until the noise as of alarge body of men coming upon the bridge from the town end washeard. At the first outbreak Gerald Dillon had, with somedifficulty, lit first some tinder, and then a slow match, from aflint and steel--all of these articles having been most carefullykept dry during the trip, with the two pistols, which were intendedto fire the fuses, should the flint and steel fail to produce alight.

  As the sound of the reinforcements coming on to the bridge washeard, Gerald Dillon on one side, Rupert Holliday on the other,left the log, and swam with a slow match in hand to the boats. Inanother instant the fuses were lighted, and the three companionsswam steadily downstream.

  In twenty seconds a loud explosion was heard, followed almostinstantaneously by another, and the swimmers knew that their objecthad been successful, that two of the boats forming the bridge wouldsink immediately, and that, the connexion being thus broken, noreinforcements from the town could reach the garrison of the FortSaint Michael. Loud shouts were heard upon the bridge as theswimmers struck steadily down stream, while the roar of themusketry from Fort Saint Michael was unremitting.

  Half an hour later the three adventurers landed, at a point where alantern had, according to arrangement, been placed at the water'sedge by Pat Dillon, who was in waiting with their clothes, and whoreceived them with an enthusiastic welcome. Five minutes later theywere on their way back to their camp.

  In the meantime the battle had raged fiercely round Fort SaintMichael. The attack had been made upon two breaches. The Britishcolumn, headed by the grenadiers, and under the command of LordCutts, attacked the principal breach. T
he French opposed adesperate defence. With Lord Cutts as volunteers were LordHuntingdon, Lord Lorn, Sir Richard Temple, and Mr. Dalrymple, andthese set a gallant example to their men.

  On arriving at a high breastwork, Lord Huntingdon, who was weakenedby recent attack of fever, was unable to climb over it.

  "Five guineas," he shouted, "to the man who will help me over!"

  Even among the storm of balls there was a shout of laughter as thenobleman held out his purse, and a dozen willing hands soon liftedhim over the obstacle.

  Then on the troops swept, stormed the covered way, carried theravelin, and forced their way up the breach. The French foughtstaunchly; and well it was for the British that no reinforcementscould reach them from Venloo, and that the original 800 garrisoningthe fort were alone in their defence. As it was, the place wasstormed, 200 of the French made prisoners, and the rest eitherkilled or drowned in endeavouring to cross the river.

  The French in Venloo, upon finding that the fort had fallen, brokeup the rest of the bridge; and although there was some surprise inthe British camp that no reinforcements had been sent over to aidthe garrison, none knew that the bridge had been broken at thecommencement of the attack, consequently there were neither talknor inquiries; and those concerned congratulated themselves thattheir adventure had been successful, and that, as no one knewanything of it, they could, should occasion offer, again undertakean expedition on their own account.

  The day after the capture of Saint Michael's, strong fatigueparties were set to work, erecting batteries to play across theriver on the town. These were soon opened, and after a few days'further resistance, the place surrendered, on the condition of thegarrison being free to march to Antwerp, then in French possession.

  The towns of Ruremond and Stevenswort were now invested, andsurrendered after a short resistance; and thus the Maas was openedas a waterway for the supplies for the army.

  The Dutch Government, satisfied with the successes so far, wouldhave now had the army go into winter quarters; but Marlborough,with great difficulty, persuaded them to consent to his undertakingthe siege of Liege, a most important town and fortress, whosepossession would give to the allies the command of the Meuse--orMaas--into the very heart of Flanders.

  Marshal Boufflers, ever watching the movements of Marlborough,suspected that Liege would be his next object of attack, andaccordingly reconnoitred the ground round that city, and fixed on aposition which would, he thought, serve admirably for theestablishment of a permanent camp.

  The news was, however, brought to Marlborough, who broke up hiscamp the same night; and when the French army approached Liege,they found the allies established on the very ground which theMarshal had selected for their camp. All unsuspecting the presenceof the English, the French came on in order of march until withincannon shot of the allies, and another splendid opportunity wasthus given to Marlborough to attack the main body of the enemyunder most advantageous circumstances.

  The Dutch deputies again interposed their veto, and the English hadthe mortification of seeing the enemy again escape from theirhands.

  However, there was now nothing to prevent their undertaking thesiege of Liege, and on the 20th of October the regular investmentof the place was formed.

  The strength of Liege consisted in its citadel and the Fort ofChatreuse, both strongly fortified. The town itself, a wealthycity, and so abounding in churches that it was called "LittleRome," was defended only by a single wall. It could clearly offerno defence against the besiegers, and therefore surrendered at thefirst summons, the garrison, 5000 strong, retiring to the citadeland Fort Saint Chatreuse, which mounted fifty guns. Siege was atonce laid to the citadel, and with such extraordinary vigour wasthe attack pushed forward, under the direction of General Cohorn,that upon the 23rd of October, three days only after the investmentcommenced, the breaches in the counter-scarp were pronouncedpracticable, and an assault was immediately ordered. The alliesattacked with extreme bravery, and the citadel was carried bystorm--here as at Venloo, the British troops being the first whoscaled the breach. Thus 2000 prisoners were taken; and the garrisonof Fort Chatreuse were so disheartened at the speedy fall of thecitadel, that they capitulated a few days later.

  This brought the first campaign of the war to an end. It had beenvery short, but its effect had been great. Kaiserwerth had beentaken, and the Lower Rhine opened; four fortified places on theMeuse had been captured; the enemy had been driven back from theborders of Holland; and the allied army had, in the possession ofLiege, an advanced post in the heart of Flanders for therecommencement of the campaign in the spring. And all this had beendone in the face of a large French army, which had never venturedto give battle even to save the beleaguered fortresses.

  The army now went into winter quarters, and Marlborough returned atonce to England.

  Upon the voyage down the Meuse, in company with the Dutchcommissioners, he had a very narrow escape. The boat was capturedby a French partisan leader, who had made an incursion to theriver. The earl had with him an old servant named Gill, who, withgreat presence of mind, slipped into his master's hand an oldpassport made out in the name of General Churchill. The French,intent only upon plunder, and not recognizing under the name ofChurchill their great opponent Marlborough, seized all the plateand valuables in the boat, made prisoners of the small detachmentof soldiers on board, but suffered the rest of the passengers,including the earl and the Dutch commissioners, to pass unmolested.

  Thus, had it not been for the presence of mind of an old servant,the Earl of Marlborough would have been taken a prisoner to France;and since it was his genius and diplomatic power alone which keptthe alliance together, and secured victory for their arms, thewhole issue of the war, the whole future of Europe, would have beenchanged.