A Soldier’s Farewell by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 36347816
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2017-10-01T22:00:00+00:00

They had no maps, a normal state of affairs, but annoying when making plans for an advance. Septimus was forced to ask the fishermen for advice.

There had long been a coastal battery at the point, three miles to the west, the fishermen said, and they believed that it had been reinstated in past days – they had certainly seen activity there. Septimus asked what had become of the guns in the months of peace, was told that they had been left there, kept greased and covered by a few caretakers. The powder had been taken away, they knew that for sure, having gone to discover that for themselves.

“Powder would have been sellable, my lord, at a good price. There are men with hunting rifles in the Ardennes who want to hunt the wild boar for food, and many with scatter guns who fancy wildfowl. It is not easy to get hold of for a civilian.”

Captain Forsythe was of a sporting inclination himself, had talked with the local people about the possibilities of rough shooting.

“The 4th to the battery, do you think, Captain Forsythe? A formal assault upon a fortification should be their sort of business.”

Captain Forsythe noted the order.

“What have we besides, do you know?”

“A barracks of the gendarmerie, sir, again just a few miles from here. Armed police, sir, with the function of keeping order in the rural areas, mostly mounted. The local people say that most of the men had the same job under the Emperor, did no more than change the badges on their helmets when the King returned and will, no doubt, have done the same again. The barracks will probably have served as a recruiting place for the new battalions called up by the Emperor.”

“The 9th and 12th, I think, under my direct command. I wish I knew where the dragoons had gone, Captain Forsythe.”

“Possibly into Dunkirk, sir, or, more strictly, to its outskirts where there is a checkpoint on the highway. The local men have begun to talk to me, sir, and suggest that some refugees may have been held there. They think that Major Maartens went off to see what, if anything could be done just there.”

“And not back yet? Bitten off more than he can chew, perhaps?”

“Or gone further inland or down the coast, my lord, following information discovered there.”

It was unsatisfactory, but Septimus had given the Major freedom to act as he thought best; he could not complain that the man seemed to have done just that.

“Artillery, my lord?”

“With me. I trust Smit and Blankenburg.”

“I agree, my lord.”

Neither man was comfortable with the allegiance of the infantry, nor would be until they had fired against the Emperor’s forces and had committed themselves irretrievably. Private soldiers might be able to desert after that, but the officers would be unable to keep their heads on their shoulders if they came into the Emperor’s hands.

“March when, my lord?”

“I am inclined to take a risk, Captain Forsythe. The word will go out quickly that we are here – the presence of the dragoons will already be known.

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