Red Man by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublishNation
Published: 2020-04-28T04:00:00+00:00

“Daniel, I have been told this day of a family called Peveril, just five miles west of Petersfield and threatening a gunsmith in the market to provide pistols for free for the King’s men. I do think I should pay the Peverils a visit and discourage them from such activities, do not you?”

“With the whole of your company, and half of mine, Red Man. Half to stay here in garrison… No, best leave some of your muskets as well as my pikes. Useful in the field but not so valuable on a wall, the pike. A score of yours and the same of mine to remain under my command. I shall not be riding out for a month and more by the feel of this leg. Jack can go with you – he needs more action yet.”

They rode out in the morning, the competent horsemen under Sergeant Fletcher going first to discover the road and take a look at the countryside and return with a plan of action for the five score of foot.

Micah instructed the three lieutenants to watch all most carefully.

“I shall want you to be taking out your own platoons on patrol within a few days, gentlemen. So, eyes open and watch how we do the job. Always, scouts out to the front and a corporal to the rear with his eyes on the track behind you. You must not be taken by surprise. There are no large forces of Royalists in the field hereabouts, but there might be small bands who could consider an ambush. We are marching to a specific location this day – we do not want them to be forewarned and to array themselves against us.”

The young men nodded earnestly, anxious to be seen to learn their trade.

“Beg pardon, sir, but what are we to do when we reach the Peverils?”

“At one extreme, burn them out, Halleck. Far more likely is that we will search them and confiscate any weapons they may have assembled. If they have too many riding horses for the number of men in the family, then we shall take the excess to our own use. If they fight, then upon their own heads be it. Should any of the men shout of their allegiance to the King, then they can be arrested and sent down to Portsmouth, where there is a garrison and senior officers who can try them. A fine or spell of exile may save them being a bother in future years. In truth, what we do will depend on them.”

They listened gravely, not much liking what they heard.

“It seems hard upon a family, sir, that they may suffer because of the foolishness of the one man.”

“It is. We are at war – and actions that might have attracted argument in the past call for bullets now. The King has forced us into arms against him – his supporters must not cry shame when they are treated cruelly by those they have made enemies.”

It was a hard

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