The courts-martial were held and cashiered the young man from the Gordons, which was a nuisance for the ill-feeling it created between the Highlanders and the rest of the expedition. A dozen other ranks were found guilty of assorted offences against the civilian population, five of them sentenced to death, the remainder to a thousand apiece. The sentences were sent to General Cathcart for confirmation and came up against his Advocate-General who discovered that the expedition was still borne on Home Establishment.
"Parliament has not despatched the Army overseas, sir. We are on detachment from our original postings, sir. As such, sir, field courts-martial have no jurisdiction in capital matters. We do not have the power to order the firing-squad, sir; it would be murder were we to execute these men."
"And a thousand lashes, Advocate?"
"Very risky, sir! Was the man to die then we would find ourselves in the most dubious position, inasmuch that death is commonplace from such a punishment and we must accept it as a possibility of the sentence. No more than one hundred, sir, for our own safety."
"Can they be remanded to trial in England?"
"Not easily, sir. The doctrine of autrefoys convict would probably apply - a man who has once been found guilty of an offence may not be tried again on the same count."
"But two at least of these evil bastards deserve to die! The most despicable of crimes!"
"One hundred and transportation for life, sir, is the most we can do."
"Then let it be so, sir. The navy will be laughing at us!"
The Articles of War applied to the navy whenever and wherever they were to be found; they had hanged two sailors at the yardarm in the previous week.
"We have no military prison to hand, sir. They must perhaps be held in irons in the deepest and blackest hold of one of our transports for the while, sir, until they can be taken to a proper place of confinement in England to await a convoy to Botany Bay."
The pair disappeared from public view; no record was found of their eventual transportation.
The cashiered officer was sent to Scotland; the remainder of those convicted were publicly flogged and public order was maintained, and the Danish fleet was made ready to sail.
A storm delayed proceedings for a couple of days and the bulk of the rowing gunboats found themselves unable to live in the German Ocean and were abandoned at sea, but the great majority of the rated ships of the Danish fleet were brought into English harbours, there to be renamed and added to the Royal Navy. The frigates and sloops almost all went to sea before the winter was over, delayed only to have their guns changed to English standard issue.
The government found itself very satisfied with the whole affair and the Admiralty was able to meet its obligations at sea for another five years.
Man of Conflict Series
BOOK THREE
Chapter Seven
The barracks at Winchester was occupied by a battalion of Rifles, second or third of the 95th, they did not know which, and the Hampshires could not go home. There was room however for five companies in Romsey and the remainder in Andover, making use of almost decrepit but still dry barrack-rooms of the previous century. The rooms were cold and there was little to be done about that, other than to turn a blind eye to soldiers who 'found' firewood to burn in the old fireplaces.
Septimus was able to take over his old offices at the barracks in Winchester and moved in with his headquarters, using his rank to secure his own comfort. The Second Battalion of the Hampshires, newly formed and still training its men, had been sent north to the industrial areas where the mob was up again; Septimus wished them better luck than he had had.
"Home before winter, as I hoped, my dear!"
There had been no loot from this campaign, somewhat to his lady's disappointment, but it seemed that European campaigns were less profitable in terms of sacked cities. One could not have everything.
"What is this of the Battle of the Clogs, Septimus? The newssheets made much of the wooden shoes, but I did not understand precisely why."
"The Danish peasantry wear clogs, it would seem, and many who were recalled to the Colours wore their own footwear rather than army boots, their government not having the money to buy them. When it came to running they found bare feet faster, poor fellows. They were badly served by their general - he should have capitulated at an early stage in the day, just as soon as it became clear that they were defeated. It is all very well to be patriotic, but it resulted only in dead and wounded men, sacrificed to his own glory. The battalion came out of it very well. Young Melksham was our only man hurt among the officers, and he has a scar on his arm that he will display one day to his lady. Houghton is gone, but he was only an ensign so the battalion is little the worse for his loss; a pity, he was a bright lad, but he had not come on as fast as he should - a little too keen on cards and the ladies for my liking. We lost very few and gained very useful experience. Almost all of our young men have now smelled powder, much to their benefit. Major Perceval as well now knows what soldiering is about."
"Was he much shocked, husband?"
"A little, but he acted as one would expect - he looked a little puzzled and peered to his front and then stood forward in front of his men and suggested they should ‘shoot straighter, there were still a few of these Danish chappies standing in the way.’ They laughed and cheered him."
Important events had occurred while he was away, including Baby Jack cutting his first teeth; the children told him of all that had occurred. It appeared to Jonathan as well that he was now of an age to have a pony of his own; he made the request politely, as was only right, but seemed to have quite strong feelings on the matter.
"There will be prize money coming due in a few months, my dear. Would it be as well, do you think, for us to build a country house on some of our farm land? A pony would be more easily kept there than here in Oliver's Battery."
She was not entirely sure that was a good idea; they might be committing themselves to greater expenditure than was wise.
"I will speak to brother George on the matter. How does one go about the purchase of a pony? Will we need a groom for it or can it take a stall in with my two?"
He conferred with his groom and found that he could certainly take charge of the young master's pony, would be more than happy to, and teach him the basics of horse manage too.
"Easy, that'll be, sir. Young Master Jonathan do spend hours down 'ere with the 'osses like, already, so 'e do. Puts 'im up on the cob now, so I do, sir. Make a good cavalry hofficer, so 'e will, sir."
"There is no such thing as a 'good' cavalry officer, Moffat!"
"Beg parding, sir."
"Where do I get hold of a pony for the boy, Moffat?"
"Down at the 'oss fair, sir. They does auction they, every month, like. Best I do go with thee, sir, just to 'ave a look over the stock afore us goes to buyin' one of they."
"When?"
"Thursday of next week, sir. Talk to the saddlemakers, shall I, sir?"
"Do that, Moffat."
"He did not quite tell me that I am an ignoramus when it comes to horseflesh, my dear. Probably because he does not know the word."
They went to visit George, found him poring over the agents' details of a large house on the downs close to Micheldever, a few miles to the north of Winchester.
"Tempting, Septimus, but probably not for me. A little too large and not quite the thing for a merchant - I would be seen as climbing out of my place, I fear. Better I should stay in town, when all is said and done. Eight bedrooms; a stables; a small Home Farm of less than forty acres and not really big enough; fifteen acres of rough paddock around a chalk stream; an orchard. Very much a gentleman's residence. Small change from three thousand pounds, the agent suggests. The family dead - all of the children predeceased, I am told, not one of eight reaching adulthood - and no relatives to make a claim except one mad cousin, who is in care of an attendant. The Sheriff is to sell the place and set the proceeds into Trust to keep the poor chap until his dea
th, for he cannot take up residence himself."
"Three thousands, George? I shall make perhaps one half of that in Prize Money from the Danish campaign. I believe I could find another two thousands, could I not? There must be expenses on walking in."
"Oh, easily, Septimus! The money would be simple enough to find. Do you have it in mind to set up as a gentleman?"
"Jonathan tells me he is of an age to have a pony, brother."
"As good a reason as any, Septimus! Would you wish me to arrange a viewing of the property?"
Before any further action could be taken Septimus received a polite invitation to pay a call at the offices of the Honourable East India Company in London. The letter was expressed in the most delicate of terms and gave no intimation at all of what was behind it. Septimus called on George.
"You must go, brother. One does not receive such an invitation very often, and one certainly never refuses!"
The Company was the single most powerful body in the country after the government, and there were those who would dispute its subordination. Its income was unknown, as it did not choose to publish any detailed figures, but it was quite probable that it controlled more funds than were available to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Septimus ordered his post-chaise for the following Monday. The invitation specified Wednesday morning and in winter it was a commonplace to spend two days on the road to London, longer if the weather turned hostile.
"Colonel Pearce, I must thank you for making the journey from Winchester! There is a question of some payments to be made to you by the Honourable Company, sir, relating to your actions of nearly three years ago. The Prize Courts are slow indeed, and some details were to be discovered from India, adding to the delay. In brief, sir, there is the matter of three private ships of war taken by the battalion under your command in the action in the Bay of Biscay. The action was sufficiently rare for there to be no certain precedent but the Admiralty Court has ruled that you are to be regarded as a post-captain in effect, and thus to be entitled to three eighths of the value of the prizes, including head-money and gun-money. Your officers are entitled to an eighth between them and the sergeants and warrant officers another eighth. The army has far fewer of warrant officers than the navy, of course, but more of commissioned officers. To ensure that commission officers do not receive less than sergeants the Company has added a sum ex-gratia to their eighth. Those private soldiers who were actually aboard the ships on the day in question are to share another eighth between them. There remains two eighths which are to be distributed to the Indiamen in naval fashion. The sums are not vast - the total was little more than seven thousands of pounds, only so high because the ships were bought in as sloops by the navy. They carried no cargoes, of course."
Quick calculation said more than two and a half thousands, the lifetime income of a well-paid farm labourer; it was not a sum to be sniffed at and Septimus was grateful.
"Not at all, sir! The actions of your battalion saved two Indiamen from almost certain capture - and that would have been a loss of as much as a quarter of a million!"
Septimus had not realised the sums to be so great - such amounts were difficult to visualise.
"The Honourable East India Company recognises, Colonel Pearce, that your valour acted greatly to its advantage. It cannot be appropriate to make a payment in cash to a man of honour, as goes without saying, I trust, but the Company has commissioned a commemorative piece to be presented to you, an epergne to grace your table for many generations, one trusts. There is also a token for your lady wife, sir. The piece is not small, sir, and is to be transported to your house in Winchester by the silversmiths themselves."
"You are very good to me, sir. I had not expected duty to be rewarded in such a fashion."
The Company official was happy to be thanked - the gratitude of lesser mortals was always pleasing. He intimated that Septimus had a claim upon the Company. Should there be a younger son looking for a place in a few years then Septimus might be assured of a favourable response from the Company, in its armies or in the counting house if that was preferred.
An income for a younger son was especially valuable - genteel occupations for the cadets of a minor family were hard to come by.
Septimus returned to Winchester mulling over the increase in money and place of the family in a most contented frame of mind, despite snow falling as he reached the Downs and reducing his pace to a crawl. The journey was a little less than seventy miles and took more than twenty hours on the road, stretching into three days. It might, he thought, have been quicker to have taken a coaster from London to Southampton and then a chaise up the Itchen valley. Sea travel in winter was unappealing though.
The epergne arrived by carrier a week later and transpired to be a monstrosity, a monument to bad, but very rich, taste. It was in solid silver and as heavy as a strong man could conveniently carry; there was a centre-piece of a Brown Bess, portrayed in precise detail, with, on either side, the shako of the Hampshires with their regimental badge shown reasonably accurate. Arrayed round like the numbers of a clock there were ships of various sizes and displaying many cannon, and palm trees and tigers in reference to the Company.
"Where exactly, Portland, do we put this?"
"It does not become me to say, Colonel."
"It is far too large for such a destination, Portland!"
"Yes, sir. I must suggest that we purchase a large, and sturdy, table of good English oak and place it in the larger withdrawing room, where it will take up one half of the available space. It cannot go upon the dining table, for it would leave no place to eat."
"A larger house might well be a sensible idea, Portland."
"It would indeed, Colonel. Perhaps a place in the country for the summer months and the winter here in the convenience of town, sir. The children would undoubtedly benefit from the country airs."
The children would as well not be under the feet of the staff.
In a separate and far smaller box was the token addressed to Mrs Colonel Pearce, a single and not small diamond drop on a heavy chain of red Indian gold. Marianne's eyes widened; she feared her mother would not approve.
They inspected the house at Micheldever. It was not a great deal larger than the town house, but it was much more the residence of a gentleman of leisurely pursuits. It was very tempting.
"Should we, my dear? Our income is not to be less than four thousands, for life, and may rise, of course. We will pick up the odd extra field or two as they come available over the years. In this area as well there will be sheepwalk which sometimes fetches no more than one or two pounds an acre and can be available by the square mile. It would be much to Jonathan's advantage in fifteen years when he is looking about him for a wife."
"I grew up in a country house, Septimus, and would much like the children to do the same. It has inconveniences, as may be obvious, but there is a great deal to be said for fields to tramp for little boys and girls. Has this house a name, do you know?"
The agent for the seller, counting up his commission as the Pearces came closer to an offer, volunteered that the residence had never been named as such - it had been no more than the family's place.
"It would, thus, become the Pearce's House, ma'am, unless, of course, the Colonel chose to name it after one of his glorious battles!"
"Copenhagen House, my dear? A fraction pretentious, and General Cathcart might think I was treading on his toes."
"Ahmednagar Lodge, sir? General Wellesley has more than once complimented you on the taking of the town."
"With a stone elephant at each side of the gates, no doubt!"
They stared at the front of the house, wondering whether that might not be a fraction vulgar.
The house stood in an acre or so of formal gardens and lawn; a short gravelled drive led from a pair of wrought-iron gates to the front door and round to the stables block. The orchard covered three acres of hillside to the left, sheep-cropped downland rising for another three or four hundred feet above it. T
he stream ran to one side of the lane, down the valley that took them onto the Winchester road. The Home Farm was to the front of the house on the south-facing slopes, sheltered from the worst of the winds and cold weather, and rich growing land as a result. There was sheepwalk to its side that could have been brought into cultivation with a little imagination on the part of its owner. Septimus noted that for a future purchase, if it became possible, though farmers would rarely sell their land.
The building itself was undistinguished, built by a local man to his own limited plan. It was made of red brick, carted up from a local works down on the clay; there was little of good building stone for miles around. It was uncompromisingly square, the door exactly central, the windows on either side of equal dimensions. No doubt it had eight bedrooms because that made an easy four and four about the central staircase. It was on two floors with attic windows showing along the tiled roof; accommodation for the servants, no doubt.
"A convenient house in many ways, my dear. I cannot imagine that elephants would be in keeping. Perhaps a pair of peacocks walking the gardens, to give a touch of the exotic?"
"A tiger in cast iron on the front lawn, Colonel? I have seen such elsewhere, sir - most striking!"
"Possibly, sir. I am not convinced but will keep an open mind on the matter. What did you say was the price set upon the property?"
No price had been laid down and the expectation was of sharp negotiation over several days of offer and rejection. It was mid-winter and folk did not generally buy houses at this time of year; there might not be another viewing before April or May. The Colonel was, as well, a very large man, one with whom few would take liberties. The agent decided to suggest a lower figure than he might have ordinarily offered to open proceedings.
Fire and Folly (Man of Conflict Series Book 3) Page 16
