Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:06:29 +1200
From: arthur carkeek <artcart65@gmail.com>
Subject: Drummer Boy Chpt 18

DRUMMER BOY
CHAPTER 18
BY
ARTHUR


CONTACT AUTHOR:
artcart65@gmail.com


The first few steps right into the centre of his home camp had Thomas
looking around with a tear in his eyes. He had not realised how much he had
missed his friends or the place where those same friendships had been made.

While it had been a welcome change to be able to return home and especially
to see his parents; deep inside Thomas found he was feeling more
comfortable right here with those who had watched his back and fought hard
to keep him safe and alive.

The wagons were already being unloaded and there were a lot of 'ooh's and
aah's' as they saw the new muskets and pistols. While they had been absent;
Estaban had taken it upon himself to have some more permanent buildings
constructed in the hidden valley. There was a large stone house for Thomas
and those he wanted to stay with him. Two long barracks of both wood and
stone were completed and another two were still under construction.

At the far end of the valley was a very large wooden barn, this was going
to be used as their armoury as now they had so many of the older firearms
they could store them for when they would be needed for any others who
joined them from the lands of Spain or Portugal. Close beside Thomas's new
house was another smaller one. It was built for Jervis as his new surgery;
it was noticeable that Lieutenant Selwynn did not look pleased when he
found out he would be living under canvas as would the new recruits until
the two new barracks were finished.

There was little time to wonder at the changes in the camp for Thomas; he
had to start to work on a way to harass the French behind their lines and,
with now having over five hundred men and boys at his disposal, he would be
able to range far and wide and strike in many different places at the same
time. Thomas began to give thought to the Viscount's suggestion of
promoting more people into positions of trust.

For Thomas it was a foregone conclusion that Lieutenant Selwynn would have
to stay with him until he could match the battle experience of his
Originals before he was given a command of his own and be trusted to watch
out for his men when under fire.

Thomas sent the word out that there would be a full meeting of everyone in
the camp after dinner, before then he called for Corporal Jones and began
to tell him what he wanted and how the meeting was to go. The corporal then
told Thomas he was about to give out the months pay but would be ready
after dinner for what Thomas wanted.

Not wishing to stop the payday for his men; Thomas agreed and then went
back to forming his notes for the meeting. Lieutenant Selwynn seemed to
have disappeared to one of the tents and was not seen by anyone for some
time.

Dinner was part celebration and part catching up with what had been going
on while he was in England. Estaban had kept the Originals busy with
training and their fitness; they would now spend a few days learning to use
the new double barrelled muskets and pistols. Corporal Croxley was soon
engrossed in the ten French artillery pieces and began to look at the
changes the French used compared to his ship board cannon. The flint lock
system was the first thing he noticed, there would be no more trying to
keep a slow match lit and the lanyard system was far safer than standing
over a gun when it was fired.

The meeting was just about to start when Diego ran up and whispered into
Estaban's ear. Just as Estaban was about to tell Thomas what Diego had
said, Corporal Jones was seen running towards the large table under the
tent fly. The look on Corporal Jones face could only be bad news.

Thomas looked at the more than five hundred waiting recruits and Originals,
he would have to delay the meeting until he found out what Jones wanted
first as the Corporal was an essential part of the meeting.

Corporal Jones stopped beside Thomas and said.

"Sir we may have a problem."

"What is it Jones?"

"I have two bags of coins missing from the pay box."

"How did that happen?"

"I was paying the last of the men and the only other person there was
Mister Selwynn. He said it was regulations that an Officer had to be
present when the men were paid. I was concentrating on the pay books and
was not watching the Officer but, when I went to lock the box there were
two bags missing; each held one hundred Guineas and Mister Selwynn was the
only person close enough."

"Do you have any proof apart from that, that he was responsible?'

Before Jones could reply, Estaban said.

"Patron, Diego has just told me the new Englishman took his horse and rode
off. This is not good Patron; you know how we think of our horses in
Andalusia."

"Yes, you're quite right Estaban."

Thomas looked around at the gathered recruits and Originals, spying the
Colour Sergeant he stood up and began to give orders and at the same time
letting the others know why the meeting had been called.

"Sergeant of the Colours, the Viscount has said I must increase my Officers
and Senior NCO's as we now have more men than ever before. Too this end I
am authorised to promote you to Second Lieutenant. You will select which of
the Colour Guard will be your Sergeant and the other two will hold rank as
Corporals. Corporal Jones, you are now promoted to Sergeant and Adjutant. I
want you to take note of all promotions and see that the letters needed to
have them gazetted are written up; also make sure the needed extra pay is
recorded. Officer of the Colours, your first duty is to take your men with
you; Lieutenant Colosio will get you the mounts you need. You will follow
Lieutenant Selwynn and place him under arrest and in chains. The blacksmith
in the village may have some for you to use. The Lieutenant will be
informed he is being arrested for possible theft of military monies,
desertion of the camp without orders and the theft of a horse. The Officer
will be walked back to camp; he is not to ride. I have a feeling he will
make for Vimeiro and a soft bed before going further, I would check the
local tavern on your arrival."

"Yes Sir. Sir what if he resists?"

"Use your own judgement, you are now an Officer and I will back your
decision."

"Yes Sir."

When the newly promoted Officer of the Colours had gone to find the other
three; Thomas turned to Carmelo.

"Can you get my old epaulets for Lieutenant Allen to wear for now; he will
need to show Lieutenant Selwynn he is now an Officer?"

Carmelo nodded and went back inside the new stone house to retrieve the
needed items and quickly returned to hand them to Thomas. When the newly
promoted Lieutenant Allen returned to inform Thomas he and the three guards
were about to leave; Thomas gave him the epaulets and told him to wear them
until he had some of his own. The Colour Guard moved out without another
word and Thomas turned back to the meeting.

"These are the other promotions. Sergeant Major Perrin, you are now a
Second Lieutenant and will take charge of one of the Companies when they
are finally formed. Corporal Croxley, you are now a Sergeant Major and are
fully in charge of all artillery. You will also be responsible for the
training of the gun crews and maintenance of all the guns. Sergeant Lorenco
you are now promoted to Lieutenant and will increase your sharpshooters to
sixteen so you will need to find the best shots and train them in the ways
of your own men."

Thomas went through those he knew and trusted; most of the Originals were
advanced as well as a few of the new recruits that had proved to Thomas
they were capable in their positions; even Snot was given the rank of Lance
Corporal and put in charge of all the boys working the kitchens and would
take charge if Sergio and Carlito were away with other duties.

When he was finally happy with the new promotions and the men that held
rank, Thomas turned to the waiting men and then told them of his plan. In a
way Thomas was happy that Lieutenant Selwynn was not there to hear it. He
did not think a strange Officer like Selwynn would give away their plans
but he was happier that he did not have to take the chance.

"From tomorrow we will divide up the men into four Companies except for
Sergeant Major Croxley's gunners. I will take the first Company, Lieutenant
Colosio will take the second Company, Lieutenant Sharpe will take the third
and Lieutenant Perrin the fourth. The Colour Guard will stay and take
charge of this camp when we are away. Those of you who are drummers will be
divided up between all four Companies. When we move off to attack the
French we will be going to different parts of the country both here in
Portugal and also in Spain. We will all be far safer staying in smaller
Companies than being one large Battalion which would make it far too easy
for the French to find us. Right that's all for tonight, everyone needs to
rest there is a lot of work to get ready to depart in a few weeks. 1st
Battalion of His Majesties Drums and Auxiliaries; Dismiss."

Thomas was awoken to the loud sound of knocking on his door. He had no idea
what the time was but it was still dark and he felt as though he had only
had a few hours sleep. Groaning as he got up from his new soft bed, Thomas
made his unsteady way to the new front door.

When Thomas opened the door, it was too see Lieutenant Allen standing
there; behind him were his three Colour Guards and a somewhat tired looking
Lieutenant Selwynn. Thomas did not miss the bruise on the man's cheek or
the thin trickle of blood coming from his nose. Lieutenant Allen saluted
and then said.

"Sir, we have Mister Selwynn in custody as ordered. What shall we do with
him now Sir?"

"Put him in a secure place and have a guard stand over him until
morning. After breakfast I want you to take him back to Lisbon and hand him
over to the Viscount. We will all have our reports written before you leave
and I will have the charges made for you to carry with you. What happens to
him after that is up to the Courts Martial. If the Viscount or his Officers
need you to stay as a witness then do so. Ask Lieutenant Colosio to have
the small cart ready to transport the Lieutenant to Lisbon; he will stay in
chains and under guard at all times."

"Yes Sir."

Lieutenant Allen saluted then turned to his three men and their prisoner
and led them all away into the dark. Thomas closed the door and returned to
his bed but found he could not get back to sleep, even as tired as he
felt. Lieutenant Selwynn's actions had unsettled him and he hoped he had
done the right thing. If for no other reason than security and the safety
of all his friends; deep down Thomas was actually relieved to be shot of
the man.

Thomas was up and about earlier than anyone else in the camp; he even beat
the kitchen boys up as he stood alone outside his new home. There was a
strange silence in the camp and even the early morning birds had not yet
risen when he heard the first of the boys begin the cooking of
breakfast. There was a new urgency in the camp as the time to go out and
once again harry the French was close at hand.

Thomas had given a great deal of thought about the makeup of the four
Companies he was going to form. There would be a mix of Originals and
recruits and each would have a little extra help where he thought it would
be needed.

The first rays of dawn filled the valley and the awakening sounds of boys
and men began to remove the early morning stillness and quiet. Breakfast
was finally over and Thomas gave the orders for the transport of Selwynn
back to Lisbon and the fate that awaited him there. With the Colour Guard
taking the Lieutenant out of the valley, Thomas turned his attention back
to the formation of his four companies.

It took an hour to have the men and boys assigned to their new companies
and then it was time for each Officer to take charge and begin the training
that was needed to make their small troops a cohesive fighting force.

With the issuing of the new muskets and pistols, there was now a need for
the Originals to practice and get used to them. The rest of the day was
taken up with weapons practice while the new Officer's worked on a training
program that would suit their own style of warfare. For the next five days
the valley was a hive of activity and the organising of the four Companies
was soon running like a well oiled machine.

For the new recruits it was a complete change of training situations. The
recruits were put through the training needed to make them as adaptable as
the Originals; this included scaling the nearby cliffs both with ropes and
free hand. There was also the need to learn how to disappear into the
landscape and learn how to hide in what seemed to be open ground.

The gunners also had a tough training regime with the newly promoted
Sergeant Major pushing the men and boys until they were dropping with
exhaustion. After seeing what he had to work with, Sergeant Major Croxley
came up with an idea and went in search of Thomas to discuss it.

"Mister Marking Sir, I have a few ideas about the guns if you wish to hear
them?"

"Go ahead Sergeant Major, I'm willing to listen and learn whenever I have
the chance."

"Well Sir, it's like this. Those little brass guns are not going to be much
good on the road. The carriages make them hard to handle in a hurry; I
would suggest they be set up somewhere permanent like here at the valley
for the use of those staying behind. The swivel guns would be best with one
of the Companies that needs the extra fire power and can move quickly. For
the ten French guns, I would perhaps like to look at getting a few more; I
have the men and boys that can fill six more pieces and it would make a
good sized hole in any French columns that we may come across."

"Thank you Sergeant Major, I think you may have something there. Can you
leave it with me for a few days so I can think on it? I will say that if we
can get a few more guns then we will but the French are not going to just
hand them over so I will have to think long and hard on it all."

"Yes Sir and thank you for listening, not many Officer's would."

"I'll listen to anyone with good ideas Sergeant Major. I know I'm not that
experienced with so many men under me; for that matter I'm not really
experienced in any of this; it's all come a bit soon. All I wanted to be
was a drummer boy and do my duty but this all sort of caught up with me
before I knew what was going on."

"I understand Mister Marking, but think of it this way. Some people are
destined to be not much more than they are, others have a bigger destiny;
you are one of those Sir whether you want it or not. It's the way of the
world Mister Marking."

"Thank you Sergeant Major Croxley; I just hope I'm not putting all my
friends in danger or making the wrong decision that will cost too many
lives."

"You do what you been doing Mister Marking; trust your gut and follow
through as you have so far and you should be alright. It's war Mister
Marking and, as much as we don't want to; we all lose friends when the
powder burns and the musket balls fly. All we can do is the best we can and
the rest is up to fate."

"Thank you Sergeant Major and I will give good thought to your suggestions
and let you know in a day or so."

"Thank you Sir."

It was fully ten days before Lieutenant Allen returned with his three
Colour Guards. When he arrived he went straight to Thomas to tender his
report.

"After we gave the Viscount's Adjutant the reports and told him what we had
seen and heard, the Viscount gave the Lieutenant the option of resigning
his commission and being returned to England with a dishonourable discharge
or being reduced to the ranks and sent to the front lines. The Lieutenant
resigned, he is now on his way back to England. The Adjutant said you did
the right thing Sir. Now then what do you want of us?"

"Thank you Lieutenant Allen, at least its one worry we no longer
have. Sergeant Major Croxley has suggested you keep the two small cannon
here and set them up to defend the entrance into the valley. We will be
moving out shortly and I would like you to take over the care of the valley
and those staying behind. I have planned to have the Companies return here
every month or so for rest and to rearm; I will need you here to watch over
everything. The Colours will stay in your care, there is no need for them
where we are going."

"Yes Sir, we will look after the valley for you and everything will be
ready for your return."

"Thank you Lieutenant. The Companies will be moving out in two days so you
have time to set things up and get the camp ready as you see fit. Sergeant
Jones will stay here with you along with the scullery boys under Lance
Corporal Morgan. The Sergeant will keep all reports that come back from the
Companies so we can look them over each month or so."

"Thank you Sir."

The Lieutenant saluted and left Thomas to doing the final organising needed
for the upcoming departures. Dawn rose bright and hot on the day of their
departure from the valley. The previous night had been a long and tiring
one as Thomas and his Officers settled on where they wanted to go to be
able to disrupt the French. The main concentration would be on the supply
lines but, if the occasion offered itself they would attack any smaller
reinforcement columns.

The four young Officers looked over the map one last time, with them were
those Senior NCO's that would accompany the various units to their
destination. Estaban had advised taking his Company right back into Spain
and his homeland of Andalucia and into Jaen where he still had many friends
who would help to hide his small force. Estaban also noted it would be the
last place the French would be looking for him and his men and they could
wreck havoc so far behind the lines where the sense of safety gave the
French a false hope of peace.

Estaban wanted his men to travel mainly at night once they were close to
the border but, once back in Andalucia he would make sure each and every
man was mounted on a good Andalucian Horse and they would perform their
raids from horse back with the advantage of the speed the horses would give
them. Estaban had spent most of the training period to this end and his men
were now very competent riders and could fire their muskets from horse back
with great accuracy.

Lieutenant Perrin was given an area in central Portugal with his base at
Nixa, he would have with him the six swivel guns as added fire power and he
would be responsible for disrupting any supply trains coming across the
border from Spain to the east. Perrin was also tasked with the job of
devising small raids during the night hours into any French camps he
thought he could get away with.

Carmelo was going to head into the area surrounding El Bodon in the Castile
Province of Spain. He would be close to the border with Portugal but far
enough behind the French lines to cause them problems; he would also have
with him the sixteen sharpshooters that Lorenco had trained and now led.

Thomas had settled on the North of Portugal and would make a hidden camp in
the area of Chaves; it was closer to the French Border and would probably
be one of the main supply lines into the country. If there was a chance of
good spoils it would have to be this area. With Thomas went the ten French
guns and Croxley's men, he also kept the extra men and boys he had trained
just in case they could recover more of the French guns.

The four Companies numbered approximately one hundred and thirty men each
and all were now trained to travel fast and for long distances. Every man
or boy in the company knew how to fight and none that went out for the
first time as a new Battalion was limited in the training of this new type
of warfare. If any of the troops were cut off from the main force, they
were all trained to be able to watch out for themselves until they could
get back to the main Company and their friends.

For the first few days of travel, all Companies would be able to travel
openly during the day but, when they came close to where the French had now
retaken parts of Portugal they would have to resort to night time travel;
especially for Estaban and Carmelo who were going right into the devils
nest in Spain.

Perrin was perhaps the luckiest of them all as he would be closer to home
although he would also be closer to the main French forces that were
rumoured to be forming around Almoster, Santarem and Cartaxo in preparation
to take Lisbon. These were the forces that the little Battalion of Drummers
was meant to disrupt so that they could not force Viscount Wellington from
the defences at Torres Verdras.

Thomas's position to the North at Chaves would also eventually put him in
danger as he was by far the closest to France itself and was considered to
be right on the main line of advance for all French reinforcements and
supplies. If he were ever caught out in the open there would be plenty of
French soldiers to take advantage and his demise would be measured in days
if not hours.

All four Companies moved out of the Vimeiro valley together and would stay
that way until it came time to part for their own sections of the
country. There was always the spectre of French spies seeing them but there
was little they could do about it until the dark of night. Lieutenant
Lorenco was given the task of sending out his sharpshooters to watch the
road ahead and to cover their flanks in case the French had ideas about
stopping the notorious rebel El Toro.

Perrin and Estaban led their forces as far as Leiria where they parted
company with Thomas and Carmelo and turned east towards the river Alagon
which they would cross south of Villavelha and Perrin would leave Estaban
and seek a hiding place closer to Nixa. Estaban would leave Perrin and make
the run south as far as Elvas where he hoped to cross the River Guadiana
then slip south of Olivenca and into the mountains of Estremadura and
finally through Seville and into western Andalucia.

Once in Andalucia and among friends, Estaban would lead his small force
deeper into the mountains and passes until he came to the profusion of
small canyons and ridges of Jaen, once there he would find a good hiding
place to settle and prepare for his fight against the French invaders.

Thomas and Carmelo pushed on towards Coimbra on the River Mondego, there
they would separate and Carmelo would turn towards Guarda through the Da
Estrella Mountains and on south of Almeida to finally cross the border and
on to El Bodon where he assured Thomas he had friends to help keep him and
the men hidden from the French.

Thomas had it a little easier as he would stay on the west coastal plains
and push hard for Gramido. Thomas would then turn east and cross the River
Douro and into the heart of Castile, it would then be only a night and a
day's forced march to Chaves along the edge of the Traz Os Montes.

Thomas was well aware this would put him almost certainly in the path of
any French reinforcements arriving from France; it was also his best chance
of finding some of their main supply lines and for this reason alone it was
worth the risk if he could disrupt those lines and force the French to be
short supplied with the necessary items of war.

By the end of seven days all Companies were finally in their new hidden
homes. It was a surprise for Thomas that so many of the local people were
happy to lend aid to them but he was forever mindful of French spies or
those Portuguese who may work for coin from whomever would pay the most.

Thomas was not too know that the people themselves and who had faith in
their El Toro were watching out for those same people so they could protect
their rebel friend who had freed them once already from the heavy yoke of
the French.

For Thomas it was a need for information that had him send four of the
young Portuguese boys out into the countryside. There would be no records
or taking of notes and the boys were very good at remembering things they
saw along the way.

To anyone in the countryside the boys looked like any others that had been
dispossessed by the French invasion of their homeland and the boys were
soon forgotten by those that saw them. Many of those that saw the boys
wandering around the open country were French soldiers but they were just
another waif looking for a home and soon forgotten.

The boys split up and went their own way, the more country they covered;
the better their information would be for their Patron. Thomas spent the
time with the men under his command. Firstly they set up their camp so it
would be difficult to find or attack. Next thing he wanted to do was a
feeling for the surrounding area in case they had to escape quickly, to
this end he went out dressed as just another waif and spent four days
scouring the nearby area for traps and too become familiar with his
surroundings.

Once back at the camp, Thomas drew up a small map as best he could and then
went over it with all the others. He told them all that any man caught out
alone and unable to make it back to the camp and their friends needed to
make for Vimeiro as best they could or too find an English army camp for
safety.

On the fifth day the first of the boys returned with information about a
well used road that seemed to always be full of French wagons and soldiers,
for Thomas it had to mean it was the main road for supplies. For the rest
of the afternoon he sat with the boy and listened to every detail the boy
could remember; it was vital he did not let his men fall into some trap
that they would all end up dead from.

The next day the second and third boys arrived back and Thomas went through
the same system with them. Every detail was written down and drawn on his
homemade map for later discussion and the boys were sent off for some well
earned rest and good food.

The last boy did not appear for two more days but, when he did it was with
information that Thomas could not believe. The boy had made the longest of
journeys and had finally stopped at a far off town in Spain called
Benavente but it was not the town that the boy talked about.

It was as he wound his way around the south east of the Astorian and
Cantabrian Mountains that he made his biggest discovery. On the small open
plain at the base of a ridge sat a huge camp that looked to be a staging
depot for the French supplies. The boy guessed it was about midway between
Braganza and Benavente and was set back close to the ridge.

For more than an hour the boy gave details of what he had seen and his
estimates of how long it would take for reinforcements to reach the huge
staging depot if it was attacked. After drawing everything he could
remember on the crude map, Thomas looked at it with concentration; if it
was as good as the boy said then it would be worth more looking into.

To Thomas's eyes it looked as though the French were bringing their
supplies down through the pass that went through to Biscay and then into
France; if this was so then the reason for a large staging depot was
simple. For heavily laden wagons to continue all the way to the front would
have been not only onerous but take so much time and many soldiers to guard
that it would become a major effort that the French could not afford. Had
Napoleon not removed over one hundred thousand men after he thought they
had the English out of Portugal after the defeat and mass withdrawal at La
Corunna, there may have been a chance that was now missed.

Thomas sat back and looked at the map and thought about what the boy had
said. Finally he came to a decision and put it forward to the others.

"We need to go and look at it but I want to cause some problems well away
from there. We need to raid a few caravans and small groups of soldiers
down towards Moncorvo. If we can cause the French to pull troops away from
further north, we may get a chance to do a lot of damage to that depot but
I want to go and see it for myself. Sergeant Croxley, I would like you to
come with me. By the description we have, the camp is well defended but we
have to find a way to make a successful attack."

Thomas turned to the young teen.

"Juan, I want you to come with us so you can show us everything you saw; we
will go as young farm labourers and the Sergeant can be the farm manger or
something. We will take the small cart and load it with straw so no one
will take notice of us. Both of you get some rest and we will leave early
tomorrow morning after we have the cart loaded."

Juan nodded and turned towards the small ring of tents to get some rest
while Thomas continued to make plans. Thomas then called for his NCO's and
laid out his plans for them while he was away. The main thing for those
left in camp was to get more information from further south in the area of
Moncorvo. It would be crucial for them to pull away as many troops from
further north so they could then turn their attention to the Depot with a
reasonable chance of success.

The small cart carrying the three from Chaves had to wend its way past
Braganza and down the centre of the large open plain until they reached the
river that dissected the plain south of Braganza. Once across the river,
the three disguised spies turned more northward towards the distant ridges
that ran behind Braganza and led to the depot below the south eastern end.

Once near the depot they would be into Spanish land and no longer in
Portugal so they had to be more on their guard now than ever before. Having
to swing so far south to bypass Braganza, the three spies took more time
than they first thought they would. Thomas's estimate of being away only
for a few days was now looking more like the best part of a week, or even
more if they ran into trouble.

It was the early morning of the third day before they saw the ridge that
Juan pointed out as being the one that protected the large depot, it was
time to be very careful and find some cover to work their way up the ridge
to see the size of the French supply depot.

At the base of the ridge they found much to their surprise, a small track
leading upward and even though they had to dismount from the cart; it did
not take long for them to walk beside the small donkey as they went
upwards.

Only a matter of one hundred feet and they came to a large flat area that
held the ruined remains of a small stone farm house but above them the
climb was far more daunting. While they may be able to climb it themselves,
there was no way the donkey and cart would make it as it was another two
hundred feet both steeper and higher.

Leaving the cart by the ruins, they released the small donkey to feed on
the sparse grasses on the plateau and turned to the climb before them. Juan
assured Thomas that the depot was just on the other side of the ridge and
they would be able to look down on it from the top without being seen by
those below.

The climb was tougher than Thomas thought it would be but then it also
meant anyone looking for them would be slowed as well. On reaching the top,
Thomas saw it was wider than he thought it would be and there was ample
space for a number of men to hide from the depot below them.

The depot was far larger than he thought it would be and was situated
snugly between the two fingers of the southernmost ridges as though in a
small cul-de-sac. It had been constructed with large breastworks that
surrounded the whole complex and there were only two ways in or out. At
each corner sat a piece of artillery with another two being placed midway
along the sides where the two entry gates were, one facing north and the
other facing south. The gates were guarded by a small number of troops and
it looked as though the guns were manned by the soldiers they could see
sitting nearby.

There seemed to be a general air of safety and the depot must have been
there for some time as no one seemed to be unduly alarmed or alert. Looking
down from above, Thomas could see the breastworks were more of an oblong
than a rectangle. At the end closest to the ridge top there was one part
that was separated from the rest of the camp by an even thicker breastworks
and had most of its supplies under canvas.

Next was what looked to be the general supply area and then it ran into the
central roadway that went through the camp from one gate to the next. On
each side of the road there were large tents set up and it was supposed
that they were for the distribution of the supplies.

To the other side of the row of supply tents and facing more east were row
upon row of normal military tents, they had to be the guards tent lines as
there were no signs of any supplies being stacked there and the sight of
small fires could only mean one thing.

Outside the breastworks to the west and protected by part of the rear
breastworks were most of the horses and mules, the many wagons were lined
up near the northern gateway as they waited to be loaded for a supply run
to the south and the French lines in Portugal.

Thomas estimated the depot had been set up about half way between Braganza
and Benavente and that they felt secure being well inside the Spanish
lands; there was a general feeling around the depot of not being under any
pressure from impending attacks.

The depot was going to be a hard nut to crack as they had open ground all
around and it was all covered by the heavy guns on the breastworks. Thomas
was almost ready to give it away, trying to get into the depot would cost
him more lives than he had to spare with his small force and, while it
would have been a great win he just could not see a way into the valuable
supply dump.

As the three lay side by side, Thomas saw Sergeant Croxley reach into the
leather bag he had over one shoulder.

From the bag, Croxley took a small brass instrument and went about setting
it up. Thomas was intrigued as he watched the older man. The instrument had
a small flat bass with another brass fitting that sat at a 90` angle. From
the top of the angle to the base was another curved piece of brass and a
long thin flat piece with a pin at its base so it would swivel along the
curve.

Thomas watched as Croxley set it on the ground and then crouched above it
as he raised and lowered the thin blade like finger of brass. Each time
Croxley stopped at a spot on the curve, he would lean closer and read the
finely stamped numbers of the curve and at the base of the instrument,
Thomas could no longer resist the temptation.

"What's that Sergeant?"

"Gun Sight Sir, we uses them on the ships so thought it might do the same
for the land. Cap'n Peter gives me this long ago when I first went asea
with him, says I was a natural at the guns and wanted me to have it."

"Yes but what does it do?"

"Tells me the range and angle to fire the guns Mister Marking. Lookee here,
I turns it this way and the numbers tells me the angle I need for the guns
when we are about same height, now then; when I turns it this way I can see
what they are for when we is above like we is now. From what I see now,
that there depot is four hundred yards and a small bit more and I need
about 35` on the barrel to reach with ease."

"Uhm, Sergeant Major Croxley, I don't think we can get the horses to pull
the guns up this ridge; perhaps the first part with the track there but
there is no way to get them this high up."

"Don't you go worrying none Mister Marking, you forget we was all Jack Tars
not so long ago. Take a look behind us mister Marking, you see that there
pile of rocks; well we set our anchor points there and then put up a set of
shear legs and hoist the guns up. Won't be no trouble for us old sea dogs
Mister Making, all we will need is a few strong backs, a lot of rope and
tackle blocks and the help of the horses below and we can look right down
the throats of those Frenchies. If you be happy Mister Marking, we will get
the guns up here and them Frenchies will be running afore ye knows it."

Thomas looked a little doubtful at the Sergeants Majors claims, the climb
up the ridge had been hard just for the three of them and they were not
carrying much more than their food and water, how the man hoped to get the
heavy guns up there was just beyond his understanding.

"How are you going to get your 'anchors' up here to start with and what are
shear legs? There's also the travelling of the guns, the French will see
them the moment we are out in the open and coming this way."

"Shear legs is like two small masts joined together at the top; forms a
triangle, we put a block at the top and run the ropes through, the horses
and men can pull from below and up comes ye guns. Now then Mister Marking,
as to your getting the guns here? We still have all those French uniforms
from Talavera the men has talked about do we not?"

"Well yes of course we saved them all."

"Well then Mister Marking, tell me what Frenchy is going to try to stop his
guns from going along the roadway; have you seen them gunners Mister
Marking? Once they is headed to some place they stop for no man, we just
dress up like you did at Talavera and pull the guns right up here with nary
a care in the world. If'n I gets four guns up here, that there depot is as
good as done, they can't get their guns this high an angle to fire back
and, as long as we got some men to the north and south to stop any
messengers getting away, we got them right cooped up an no mistake."

"I can see what you're getting at but we still have to get in there and
that will cost us a lot of lives."

"Not a'tall Mister Marking, them down there is not hardened fighting men,
we give them a few shots and they will either run or throw their hands
up. From up here I can get to most of the camp, that there separate part
I'm thinking is their magazine. We can near blast the rest of the camp to
the high heavens and as a last resort we can fire on their magazine but I
would prefer to keep that for us if I could. You got to remember Mister
Marking, our guns is French and we need their munitions or they are useless
to us, down there is our new supplies for our guns."

"I see your point Sergeant Major, well if you think you can get them up
here then I'm with you. Let's get back down as soon as you have finished
your measurements and get back to Chaves, we need to send for those
uniforms and train the men for this one. I want to hit a few patrols or
supply trains further south before we come after the depot. With luck they
will think all the fighting is far south of them and feel even safer."

"Very good mister Marking. Sir I was just a wondering, why not stay up here
until the morning; we need to see their pickets and what they do at night,
might even be advantageous to us later on Sir?"

"Good Idea Sergeant Major, we have enough food and water to see the day out
and as you say, it will give us a better idea of whether they are ready or
not."

The three settled down once again to watch and learn, every piece of
information they could gather may save a life and Thomas did not want to
have any of his friends or men lost because he did not do his own job
right.

For the rest of that day they all lay and watched closely. The times of the
guard changes were taken note of and how many men they kept at the
gates. It appeared they had eight at each gate during the day but they were
to see as the night closed in that the gate guards were reduced to only
three and the guards that patrolled the top of the breastworks during the
day disappeared at night and left them unattended.

Juan then told Thomas of the road to the north. About a mile or so to the
north, the road ran through a shallow defile before opening out onto the
plain below. Thomas began to think of a way to block that defile and use it
to stop any reinforcements from Benavente getting to the depot in time. The
southern route was another matter; while it was a good full days march from
Braganza it would still be a threat if they had to stay too long to take
the depot, Sergeant Croxley had an answer for him.

"We just set up the other six guns on the rise below to cover that road, I
only need four guns up here, the rest can stay with a few of your muskets
and we can hold them at bay for some time if needs be."

"Yes that might do it, so how can we block that defile?"

"Couple o' barrels of powder should do it Mister Marking and then if your
boys could take a few of those wagon horses down it will also slow them up
some but I can't see them getting through the defile if we fill it with
rocks. How far is it to Benavente from here?" Croxley asked Juan.

"About a full days ride Senor Sergeant, we should have one good day to
attack without problems from any other French." Juan said

"What do you think Mister Marking?"

"Yes Sergeant Major, I think it's worth a try and we do need that powder
and shot for your guns."

"Yes Sir and there's the chance to take those six down there if we can
crack them."

Thomas turned his small spy glass back to the depot, he had been careful to
keep one hand shading the glass so there would be no reflection to give
away their position from those below, he was beginning to feel it would
just be possible to take the depot and it would certainly get the attention
of the French if he did so.

Thomas took note that there seemed to be only one caravan arrive from the
north each day and that it was just after midday when the solitary wagon
train was loaded and left for the south where the supplies were needed for
the army. Each wagon train to the south consisted of twenty wagons so there
was a lot of supplies being sent, most arriving trains were about the same
number.

There was one thing that gave Thomas pause. The sentries numbered about one
hundred but there was also a troop of thirty Hussars camped inside the
breastworks although their horse were kept outside with those used to pull
the many wagons; it seemed the men down there did not like to share their
home with the animals.

The next morning, after watching the guard change and seeing how safe the
camp seemed to feel, Thomas and his two friends left the top of the ridge
for the waiting donkey cart and a return to their camp at Chaves, they all
had much to think on as they slowly wound their way through the hot plains
towards their temporary home camp.

The trip homeward was as uneventful as their first trip out; the French
seemed to be comfortable with the fact they were far from the fighting to
the south and they took the most minimal of actions to guard their places
here in the north.

They had been away from camp for nearly seven days before they got
back. The camp was tidy and running well under the few NCO's he had to work
with. The training had been kept up and the boys sent out to the south were
now back and waiting to report to their Patron, the time for battle was now
close and even the new recruits among the boys were wanting to try their
skills.

On the second night after their return, Thomas gathered all his NCO's for a
final planning session. Sergeant Major Croxley had come up with the idea to
once again use the French uniforms they had worn at Talavera as a disguise
for when the guns were run to the depot for the attack. Thomas had sent off
one of the boys all the way back to Vimeiro to pack the uniforms needed and
return with them on horseback.

While the trip back to Vimeiro would take more than a week to complete,
Thomas set about planning other attacks in the Moncorvo area that was well
south of their real intended target at Benavente in the north.

Thomas split his Company up into its four platoons and gave each a
different target around Moncorvo. The idea was strictly for hit and run
whether it was a foot patrol, cavalry patrol of a stationary guard post,
the orders were the same. From ambush the platoons would fire both barrels
of their new muskets and then retreat without giving the French a chance to
fight on their own ground.

The boys who Thomas had had ranging over the Moncorvo area gave all the
details they would need for many and varied attacks over a wide
range. Thomas was finally satisfied he would create as much confusion as he
could by these tactics.

For far too long the Moncorvo area had been quiet and well out of the
firing line, Mister Sharpe was known to be even further north and almost
into French lands on his own missions. The upper north of Portugal was now
Thomas's to raid as he wanted in the hope of drawing as many French away
from the front lines as he could.

The four platoons left within a half hour of each other and by different
routes of march. The areas they had been given were marked on roughly drawn
maps that Sergeant Jones had made for them. It was not until ten days
later, when all the platoons reassembled back at Chaves that the stories
were told and the success of their first venture against the French in the
north was known.

The celebrations of their first northern foray was only lessened by the
loss of two of their number, one boy from 1st platoon and another from the
3rd platoon, both boys had sacrificed themselves to save their friends and
would be given all the honours the newly formed Regiment could afford them.

That the combined raids had been a success there was little doubt. Infantry
patrols that had once been four or six soldiers were now increased to
fifteen or twenty. Cavalry patrols of a half dozen Lancers were now full
troops of twenty and were seen almost every hour of the day light as they
scoured the land for the rebels. Guard posts had been more heavily manned
and Thomas had to try to estimate that his boys had drawn at least a couple
of thousand extra troops away from the front with his daring and fast
attacks.

The countryside around Moncorvo was alive with French troops, all looking
for the elusive El Toro. The French Officers could not for the life of
themselves work out how he was doing it. The infamous El Toro could hit
four or five places in a matter of hours even if they were twenty miles
apart; a distance that was thought to be impossible for an army to march in
such a short time.

To keep the mystique around the name of El Toro, Thomas had his boys leave
a small red and gold flag with the black bulls head behind after a
raid. That silly little flag caused more concern for the French than they
ever would have acknowledged had they been asked.

The French also became frustrated in not being able to actually capture any
of the Rebel's men. They had got lucky only twice and managed to kill two
of the rebels but they turned out to be quite young boys, perhaps only in
their mid teens. The real surprise for the French were the weapons the two
dead boys had been carrying, they were like nothing they had seen used on a
battle field before.

Unfortunately for the French and at the cost of five lives during the
night, the weapons disappeared and were never seen again but the fact that
the rebel was so well armed did cause many messages to be sent back and
forth from Moncorvo to France. The countryside was in an uproar, many times
the troops never even saw their attackers; they were simply fired on from
cover and then disappeared. It made for some very nervous patrols when they
had to leave the towns or well protected guard posts.

With the south of the Traz Os Montes now in a state of uproar and troops
flowing into the region en-masse, Thomas decided it was now time to set his
sights to the north and the huge supply depot.

After a two day rest to resupply and set the plans for the upcoming
fighting, Thomas watched as every man in the Company as well as the extra
platoon of gunners set about changing into the stolen French
uniforms. Everyone knew that there were few French infantry that would try
to stop fast moving troops of Artillery when they were on the move and so
Sergeant Croxley would take his gunners in broad daylight through the
countryside to the ridge above Benavente.

Thomas would lead his Company on fast night marches and meet the Sergeant
at the base of the Ridge in three days. As the sergeant could travel so
much faster, it was decided he would leave a day after Thomas's Company and
they, with luck, should arrive almost together.

As a last resort, Thomas had all his men in the French uniforms, if they
looked as though they were going to be stopped at any time they hoped the
uniforms would change the minds of any guards or patrols that saw them.

The next morning Thomas and the Company set out, they would have to march
south of Braganza and then turn north and east, they were hoping to do that
during the hours of night when they would not be seen as easily. Their
first camp would be near the centre of the Traz Os Monte plains and then
they would push on for the northern most point of the River Douro just west
of Zamora. On the morning of the third day they would push through during
daylight on the last leg to the base of the Ridge that they had chosen for
the attack on the depot. It would be almost a straight run through the flat
plains and directly to the point of the ridge.

As always, the Company travelled light, each man or boy carrying everything
he would need in his pack or in his hands, there were no drums this time to
carry and so everything they had was geared towards war and survival.

Thomas had driven his boys from early light and they made the rendezvous
point just before Sergeant Major Croxley which allowed them to eat their
first meal of the day. Thomas watched as the Sergeant Major arrived with
all ten guns in tow and the extra wagon for the powder kegs and shear
legs. Without waiting for orders: Sergeant Croxley led his men and guns
right onto the narrow track that led up to the flat area at the base of the
ridge, all he had to do now was get four of his guns up the last cliff to
the top.

Thomas set his Company out along the top of the first rise to protect the
gunners as they set about arranging their shear legs and preparing the four
guns to be lifted. The other six guns were set up and turned in the
direction of Braganza and would protect their rear along with two platoons
of muskets.

Thomas was going to lead his other two platoons to the defile along with
two kegs of powder, they would cause a blockage of the defile and set an
ambush for any that tried to break through while the Sergeant Major was
using his guns on the depot.

The gunners worked hard in the rising heat of the day. First they sent a
young powder monkey up the cliff with a thin rope, once he dropped that
down they tied on a thicker rope and he pulled it up. With the heavier rope
tied off on top of the ridge, four other gunners quickly scaled the cliff
with more ropes and then dropped them down for others to speedily climb up.

Once half the gunners were up on top of the ridge, Croxley started sending
up blocks and tackle, more heavy ropes and two large and thick lengths of
post, they were to be tied together and form the two legs of the lifting
apparatus. Thomas could only watch in amazement as the strange work went
flawlessly, everything the men did seemed to be easy as though they had
done it many times before.

Once the two thick poles were secured at the top and the many ropes were
anchored to huge rocks behind them, the two legs now looked to be angled
out over the edge of the cliff face with a heavy tackle block tied between
the legs where they met at the top. The thick ropes hung down from the
blocks and were waiting for the first gun to be tied by the tow ring.

Sergeant Major Croxley did not break the guns down but told Thomas they
would actually use the guns wheels to roll it up the steep cliff face, at
the top it would be easier for the men to roll it into position along the
ridge and facing the depot far below. The Sergeant Major was only going to
send up one munitions locker for the four guns, he did not think the depot
would need more than that, the rest would stay below with the other guns to
protect them from attack.

By nightfall, the Sergeant Major had three of his guns up the cliff, the
last gun and the munitions locker would have to wait until morning, Thomas
agreed with the Sergeant Major that it would be far too dangerous to
attempt to raise the guns in the dark.

The camp that night felt light hearted at accomplishing so much so
quickly. It was a cold camp as they did not want any fires to be seen by
anyone that just might be looking their way. The next morning the hard work
continued until almost midday when the last of the preparations were
complete and all four guns were at the top of the ridge along with the
munitions locker, it was now time for the sergeant to give his last orders
to those staying below.

The Sergeant Major went from gun to gun and checked their sighting, he had
them set at six hundred yards and facing along the road to Braganza. The
two platoons of riflemen would take station about two hundred yards out and
form an ambush line across the road to not only defend the guns but to stop
any riders that might escape the depot to carry a warning or ask for
reinforcements.

The Sergeant Major, once he was happy with his six guns; turned to the
ropes and, much to Thomas's surprise, had little trouble in scaling the
heights to his four guns waiting on top. It was time for Thomas to get his
two platoons ready for their own part of the plan; there was still a lot
that could go wrong and he did not want to take any chances at this stage
of the game.

Thomas went Along the line and checked that each man had what he would
need; their part of the plan was to blow the defile and form a blockage and
then form an ambush for those trying to get through to the depot. For the
defile he had one of the gunnery horses loaded with two casks of powder and
four spades for digging them into the side of the defile.

Thomas would not lead his men out until after dark when they could bypass
the depot without giving anything away. Meanwhile the Sergeant Major was up
top sighting in his guns ready for the attack to start at first light in
the morning, the signal would be the explosion of the powder kegs at dawn
in the defile; from that moment on it would be virtually all up to the
ability of the Sergeant Major and his gunners.

Thomas was sure that there would be little trouble from Braganza as they
were far enough away that they would not hear the guns or know about the
attack unless one of the soldiers from the depot got through with the
information. Benavente was another kettle of fish altogether although while
they may not hear the guns, they were far closer than any others which is
why it was imperative that Thomas closed the defile and set his ambush on
time.


TBC.