by Griff Hosker
At that range we were never going to hit many men but we struck enough horses and men to initiate a response. Some Chasseurs charged and then their leader gave the belated order to charge. Most of my men had drawn their pistols and they fired a volley. “Retreat!”
Jones’ bugle was obeyed instantly and the line wheeled to form a column of twos and galloped towards Maida. As we led the two squadrons away from the battle I heard the crack of musket fire as the action and battle behind us, commenced. I hoped we had done enough. We were still outnumbered and our horses were tiring. We struck the narrow streets of the town and I shouted, “Head west down the hill. Split up and use all the streets.” I hoped to confuse the enemy while giving my men the chance to escape their pursuers.
The French were gaining on us. These Chasseurs were not the ones who had pursued us the previous day and their horses were fresh. It would be a close call. I was not certain if we would make the safety of our own lines.
As we thundered through the narrow streets I caught a movement above me. There were men on the roofs. It was the men of the village. Suddenly the Chasseurs were falling from their horses as they were struck from above by muskets and rocks. The townspeople had the advantage that they could hide when the Chasseurs tried to fire up at them. I heard the French bugles sound the retreat. The Chasseurs began to drift back to their lines.
As we dropped down from the village and headed for our lines we saw the battle fiercely raging. The other Chasseurs had formed ready to charge and I saw Colonel Kempt’s’ men begin to form squares. The French guns were being deployed to fire into the squares. The infantry would be massacred. Our route had brought us to the flank of their cavalry.
“Jones, sound, form line.”
The men quickly formed a straight line. I saw that some men had fallen but we still numbered over eighty. Our horses were tired but we would be charging downhill. The gunners were oblivious to the danger on their flank for the whole of Sir John’s force was before them. The battle was at a crucial stage.
“Charge!”
We were just four hundred yards from the guns. The sound of battle, the screams and shouts of the dying and wounded all meant that the gunners did not hear us. It was only when one of the crew turned to load another ball that they saw us and, by then it was too late. Badger reached the guns first and, as he leapt over a limber I sliced down and struck a gunner across the neck. I carried on and leaned forward to slash a second gunner across the face. Those men manning the last two guns fled towards their own lines. Even Badger was tiring and I wheeled him around to finish off the rest of the gunners who remained. They stood with their arms in the air. They surrendered. They had nothing left to counter cavalry.
I looked over to the main battle. The 20th Foot had made a flanking moved and were pouring musket fire into the Swiss troops who, realising they were beaten, began to retreat from the field. The Chasseurs had not charged and they formed a protective screen to enable their comrades to march away. If we had not charged the guns then we could have pursued but there was no possibility that the 11th Light Dragoons could move from the plain of Maida. We had given our all but we had won.
We guarded the guns until some of Captain Sillery’s men came to collect them. We had only lost two troopers. Four more were wounded but that was a tiny price to pay for such a huge victory. In all Sir John’s force had only lost forty five dead. With the captured guns and almost a thousand prisoners this was the first defeat for Bonaparte’s Imperial war machine.
We dismounted and walked our weary horses back to camp. We were applauded and cheered. Colonel Kempt rode over to me and shook my hand, “That was a damned fine effort, Captain Matthews. If those guns had blasted away at us then I think we would have lost. Well done sir!”
Sir John was equally effusive. He pointed to the bay. There were now four men of war anchored with open gun ports. “That is Sir Sidney Smith. We can now begin to drive the French back to their own lands. You and your men get all the rest you can. I believe that tomorrow we will be chasing the French.”
He was wrong. After his conference with Sir Sidney he sent for me, “Sorry about this Matthews. I am damned sorry to lose you.”
“Sorry sir, lose me? I don’t understand.”
“Not just you but your whole troop. You have been ordered back to England.”
“But sir, that will leave you without any cavalry. Now is the time when you will need them.”
He shook his head, “I know that more than anyone. In my report I have said how valuable your contribution has been. I dare say you will be gazetted but the fact remains that our lord and masters want you home. There is a transport waiting for you in the bay. I am afraid your Italian adventure is over.”
And so we left Calabria. I hated to go because our task was unfinished but Sir John was correct. We had to obey orders and so we boarded the Indiaman and headed west for England.
Chapter 19
It took six weeks to get home to England. It seemed an anticlimax after what we had been through. There was also dissatisfaction amongst the men. We all felt that we had been pulled away when we had total victory in our grasp. The fact that we sailed from the blue Mediterranean and summer skies to the grey Channel and autumn also contributed. Our mood lightened when we saw the White Cliffs of Dover and knew that we were but a few miles from home. Spirits brightened. We would have tales to tell of our adventures.
We disembarked at Dover. I was pleased that we did not have to sail all the way up the Thames. For one thing it added a great deal to the journey and secondly it meant that I would not be accosted by Colonel Selkirk with another task.
We rode up the road to our barracks. I took it slowly for the horses had had no exercise during the long voyage. Colonel Fenton must have been forewarned of our arrival for he, the Major and Sergeant Major Jones were waiting for us with a guard of honour at the barrack’s gates. I halted the men and we dressed lines. The guard of honour saluted us and Colonel Fenton rode towards us. He stopped and took out a newspaper.
“Men, I have to tell you that you have done this regiment great honour. You have been mentioned in despatches for your courage under fire. In addition Captain Matthews and the troopers who rescued Queen Carolina of Naples and Sicily have been singled out for their incredible fortitude and bravery. Well done to all of you.”
Sergeant Major Jones roared out, “Number seven troop, dismiss!”
I turned to George Grant. “We will have a parade tomorrow afternoon. Until then they are off duty.”
I dismounted, “I’ll sort Badger out sir.”
“Thank you Alan.”
The two senior officers flanked me as we walked to the mess. “I hear you were knighted by King Ferdinand.”
“Yes sir, but it is purely honorary I assure you.”
As we walked towards the mess Colonel Fenton put his hand on my shoulder, “Honorary or not it is a mark of the work you have done and from the reports we have read your charge at Maida saved the day. From what I can gather we would have lost but for that.”
“I don’t know about that sir. Sir John Stuart is a good general.”
“You mean the Count of Maida. He has done well and Parliament has granted him a pension of a thousand pounds a year. That is slightly more than honorary.”
I asked the question which had been on my mind since we had left Naples. “Sir, why were we pulled out? We had a job to do.”
“It wasn’t me Robbie. I think our lords and masters have plans. I daresay they will tell us eventually. Meantime we are damned pleased to have you back.”
I was allowed a whole month before I was summoned to Horse Guards and Colonel Selkirk. I went alone. It seemed unfair to drag Sergeant Sharp there and have him cool his heels outside the Colonel’s office.
He got straight down to business as soon as I sat down. “That was useful intelligence you sent back. I assume you sent the message to Bessières?” I nodded, “Good then he should think that there is discord between us and t
he King of Naples. Thanks to you and Sir John Stuart nothing could be further from the truth.” He leaned back. “You did well young Robbie. You seem to have a flair for this sort of thing.”
“What sort of thing sir?”
“Thinking on your feet. The rescue of the Queen was a master stroke.”
“It was not planned, sir, I just happened to be there. I couldn’t leave her alone.”
“I know. That is what I mean. You think on your feet. Now I have sent for you because I need to pick your brains about Copenhagen. You sailed from there did you not?”
“Yes sir, but I didn’t see much.”
“You are a soldier and you have a soldier’s eye. That is important.” He picked up his pen, “Now tell me all that you can. Leave nothing out.”
I spent a gruelling two hours trying to remember as much as I could about Copenhagen and its defences. I hoped that they would not be sending me back there. Autumn was almost upon us and, much as I disliked the heat of Naples in summer, the thought of a winter in Denmark was just as appalling.
“It is a pity we can’t get you back to Bonaparte. We would like a little more intelligence about what his plans are but he is still knocking our Prussian allies about a bit.” He chewed the end of his pen reflectively, “Still, so long as he is in Prussia he can’t be over in Italy. We have managed to hold down a large force of French with Sir John’s tiny force. If Boney went there I dread to think what would happen.”
“That is what I couldn’t understand sir. Why did you pull us out?”
He looked baffled, “I didn’t.” He seemed genuinely surprised that I didn’t know the reason. “I thought you knew. It was the DeVeres’ uncle, the one at the war office. I heard that when they read the report of the rescue of the Queen they had you sent back. It seems they were jealous of your glory.”
“Damned politics! My troop was making a difference over there. Who is running this War Department?”
“I thought you knew Robbie, politicians. It is who you know that is important. The brothers might have been disgraced but that doesn’t stop them having an influence. Forget them. They are unimportant.”
I stood. “Listen to yourself, sir. They are patently not unimportant. They have the power to get a fine force of cavalry sent home for no good reason. To me that sounds damned important.” I stood. I was too angry to stay and it was not the Colonel’s fault. “With your leave I will get back to my regiment. The War Department leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
He laughed and held up a glass, “Why do you think I keep a bottle of whisky close to hand? It takes away the taste of politics.”
I almost stormed from the building and I was so angry that I did not notice the pair of men I almost knocked over as I left. I was about to apologise when I saw that one of them was Captain DeVere. I almost drew my sword. He, for his part, was also angry and he snarled at me before he recognised me, “Watch where you are going you damned… It’s the stable boy!”
There was little point in trading insults. I had always been bigger than he was and I used my size. I went very close to him and hissed, “Listen DeVere, you were an appalling officer and now I learn that you are a sad and twisted little man who feels he has to prove himself over and over again. A word of advice; keep out of my life and steer clear of me or you will suffer.”
His piggy little eyes bulged so much I thought that they would pop. “Why you! You apology for an officer. I have a good mind to…”
My hand went to my sword hilt. I was almost willing him to draw his sword so that I could end this feud. “To what, DeVere?” There was real venom in my voice.
The captain with him stepped between us. “This is a public place, gentlemen.”
I turned to him. “Then tell DeVere to mind his tongue or I shall teach him a lesson he will not forget. He might hide behind others who do his bidding but annoy me and it is I who will mete out retribution.” I held DeVere’s gaze until he looked down and stormed off towards Hyde Park.
The other officer said, “You must be Captain Matthews.”
“I am and what of it?” I knew that I was being brusque but I was still seething with anger.
He smiled and held out his hands in apology, “Nothing, I was just going to say that was a damned good show in Naples. I wish I could have witnessed it.”
I smiled, ”Sorry if I am prickly but DeVere has a way of annoying me. You seem like a decent fellow; why associate with him? He is a rotten apple.”
“We are brother officers we serve in the same regiment. I am Captain Roger de Lacey.”
We shook hands.
I watched my former brother officer storm off in the distance,, “I served with him but I would not walk down the same street as him. Be careful around him, Captain de Lacey. He is neither honourable nor honest. He is an untrustworthy snake.”
He laughed at my vehemence and glanced at the sulking DeVere who had stopped and waited down the street. “I love a man who speaks his mind. Perhaps one day we can talk when he is not around. You sound like an interesting chap.”
“I am just a captain who tries to do his duty. Good day to you, sir.”
“And to you, Captain Matthews.”
I hoped that would be the last encounter I had with any of the DeVeres but I was, of course, wrong.
Once back at the regiment I threw myself into the daily life of the regiment. I had told my brother officers about my adventures and we began to experiment with different ways of using our troopers. The troopers found it varied the diet of drills and training. For me it just expunged DeVere from the recesses of my mind. Autumn and winter sped by.
In January I was again summoned to Horse Guards. Colonel Selkirk had need of me. Rather than use the mail coach and be reliant upon others for my transport I took Badger and stayed overnight in a coaching inn. It was cold and frosty on the road but the snow and rain held off. I was pleased that I had ridden Badger. I stabled him at an inn close to the Horse Guards.
I was ushered directly into the Colonel’s office. He began without preamble. “Ah Robbie. Do you still have the connections to the merchant ships?” I must have looked quizzical for he added, “The colliers and those wine ships…”
He was like a spider in a web and knew everything. “Yes, of course, why?”
“We would like you to go to Copenhagen, as a civilian of course, and gauge the mood of the place.”
“Isn’t that a job for a diplomat?”
“No. It is a job for a soldier. You have an eye for these sorts of things and you can handle yourself. I understand that Fouché has agents in Copenhagen too. It will only be a brief visit.”
“It may be difficult to arrange. I do not know if any of the ships I could use are in port or plan to go to Copenhagen.”
He gave me a cold look, “I thought that you were a joint owner.” Before I could argue he continued, “Look we will make it worth the captain’s while. We will give him a lucrative contract to bring back some Baltic timber. How is that? Whatever rate he chooses; he can command his own price.”
“Let me go down to the river and see if they are in port.”
“Fair enough.”
I wandered down to the river. There appeared to be no ships that I knew in harbour. I did see a collier and I approached the gangplank. “Is Geordie due in any time?”
“Nay, bonny lad. He left this morning. He won’t be back for a week or two.”
Thanking the sailor I headed for the inn we usually used. I decided to have some beer and a meal and see what the afternoon tide brought. The landlord remembered me and we chatted. When I asked him about Matthew Dinsdale’s ship he shook his head. “No, sir. He is not due in here for at least a week. Mr Fortnum was down asking about him too.”
Finishing my beer I headed for Piccadilly. It would do no harm to speak with the owner of the emporium and part time shipping agent. The store was closing up when I arrived. “Walk with me, Captain Matthews, my home is around the corner. I am sure my wife will have a pot of tea bre
wing.”
I learned much in that twenty minute stroll. Although Napoleon Bonaparte had imposed a blockade on Britain the merchant fleet and the Royal Navy meant that it was largely ineffective. It did have the effect of driving up prices and he told me that the profits from the family were rising month on month. “Captain Dinsdale is now a wealthy man. He has purchased a fine house here in London although he has yet to move in. I also understand that the two of you are seeking to buy a second ship. That is a wise move sir.”
His wife made me welcome and we drank China tea and ate warm scones. I was offered a bed for the night but I had decided to return to the barracks. Captain Dinsdale would be informed of my request when he returned. As I left I said to Mr Fortnum, “Tell him I may have a lucrative contract to the Baltic working for His Majesty’s Government.”
Mr Fortnum was an astute business man and saw the potential in such a contract. “When you leave the army, Captain Matthews, I can see a great future for you. London will soon be the capital of business and your place is here.”
“We will see. We have an Emperor to defeat first.”
I picked up Badger and rode south. I would not make the barracks until the next day but there some fine inns on the Dover road and they would be quiet at this time of year.
When we crossed the river there was still a great deal of traffic and people to keep me company but within two miles I was riding along empty roads and making good time. This was not Calabria with twisting mountain passes and treacherous roads. This was England with well maintained roads which went, largely, straight. I had decided to stay in Dartford. It was a pleasant little hamlet and the Coach and Horses was a good inn. I estimated that I would be there by ten o’clock. Just in time for a little late supper. With an early departure I could be back at the barracks by ten.
Perhaps the beer and the tea had dulled my wits for I was not aware that I was being followed for some time. When I did realise that there were riders keeping the same pace as me they were less than half a mile behind me. The old Roman Road of Watling Street was mainly straight but there were some twists and turns when it negotiated hills and small valleys. It was after one such twist that I stopped to adjust Badger’s girth. It was then that I saw the three men riding along the road and confirmed that they were, indeed, following me. Normally I would not have worried but when they saw me stop they also stopped. That was not normal. They were pursuing me. I cursed myself for my inattention. I should have heard their hooves had my mind not been distracted by the problem of Colonel Selkirk.
