Disclaimer: These are works of fan-fiction created for entertainment. It is not the intention of the author to infringe on anyone's copyright. No rights infringement intended. Warning: General Audience

The Sharpe Fan Fictions of Paul K.

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Sharpe's Family

PART V

Chapter 18

MAY 1794

THE NETHERLANDS – TOURCOING



It is a new year for Prince Frederick, the Duke of York. Frederick is the second son of King George III of Great Britain. He is thirty years old, but has been in uniform since the age of seven when his father decided that he should make a career in the army. He began his career as a colonel. At age eight, he moved to Hanover to study the arts of war at the University of Gottingen. By the time he was twenty, he was a Lieutenant General. Last year in January, after France declared war on Great Britain, Frederick was promoted to General and was chosen to lead the force that would fight against France. He is the first Royal for one hundred years, since William III, to command in the field.

In 1792, the French Republicans had executed King Louis and his family. When the monarchies of Europe protested by sending armies to France, the French Council chose to spread the Revolution beyond the French borders. One choice was to take the Revolution into the Austrian Netherlands. For seven years, rebels who sympathized with the French had been fighting against Austrian rule

Frederick assembled a force of fifteen hundred troops to join the Coalition army from Austria, Prussia, The Dutch Republic, Hanover and Hesse-Kassel assembled by Field Marshal Frederick Josias, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld’s.

In April of the following year, Coburg began to attack along the Rhine by laying siege to the Flanders fortress towns that defend the French side of the border. The French chose to contest the Coalition offensive by breaking the sieges. In May, York commanded in his first battle at Famars. After, he had been given orders to take Cambrai. But, the British government wanted him to take Dunkirk to use as a base and as a bargaining tool with the Coalition. His force was not prepared for any kind of siege as they lacked heavy cannons. York was focused on taking Dunkirk, when he heard that the French Armee du Nord under Jean Nicolas Houchard defeated General Freytag’s Hanover forces at Hondschoote. During the fighting, Freytag and York’s brother, who was on Freytag’s staff, both had been wounded, captured and rescued the following day. As more reports that York’s left flank was in jeopardy continued to come to him, he abandoned the siege.

Freytag earned York’s anger even more when he chose to retire in two columns. The thirty-two guns that York had borrowed from the navy and some of the army’s baggage went with Freytag’s column which was the closest to the French, instead of with General Count Walmoden. During the retreat, Freytag lost the guns and some of the baggage.

By October, both sides chose to end campaigns for the year. The Coalition was back where they started.

York wintered at his base at Ostend. His forces were weak from the campaign. And, when experienced battalions were withdrawn for the West Indies, he petitioned London not to deplete his army further, but to reinforce it.

After the hard lessons he learned in his first year, he hoped to do better. Success was followed by failure. The Allied command has tried York’s patience and military skills.

“I have 22,000 British here. Clarefayt has 24,000 Austrian, Hessian and Hanoverians to protect our flank with the sea. Coburg has the most with 43,000 on our left to protect the Rhine. The Prince of Orange sits behind with 19,000 Netherland troops to serve as a reserve.”

“We British should have the sea on our right. We still are supplied from Ostend. Clarefayt draws supplies from Tournai. Our supply routes intersect. If we are forced to retreat, either one of us will have to cross the others supply lines.”

“Clarefayt also has one of my best British brigades serving with him while I have some of his Austrian units with me. These Austrians do not impress me. And, recently, General Abercromby has joined us with his untrained brigade. We are fortunate that the French have not pushed us harder.”

In April, Emperor Francis II joined Coburg at his headquarters. With the additional pressure of having Francis and his brother Archduke Charles with him, Coburg planned a new Coalition offensive. He chose to advance on Le Cateau. The plan was complex; too complex even for well trained force. The army was to advance in three independent columns. General Clerfayt advanced on the right from Tielt. Recently promoted Lieutenant General Archduke Charles and General Kinsky formed the left column. York’s British, Hesse-Darmstadt, Hesse-Kassel, and Bussche's Hanoverians formed the center and drove from Tournai.

General Clerfayt was to cross to the South bank of the Lys. Brigadier General Dominique was able to hold Clerfayt from crossing at Tielt. The following month, Clerfayt defeated General Bonnaud at Willems.

York had divided his own force into three columns. To the east, York’s right column commanded by von dem Bussche captured Mouscron, but then was repelled. Only General von Otto, with the center, captured Tourcoing, and General Abercromby, with the left captured Willems, take objectives.

Coburg’s six columns were able to advance over several river barriers by using the multiple forces to skirt the French defenders. But, the distances between the columns created challenges to supply and communications. Also, they were vulnerable to being defeated separately.

The French General Souham seized such an opportunity. He sent part of his force to hold Archduke Charles, Clerfayt and Kinsky. With forty thousand, he chose to attack York at Tourcoing.

When the French attacked, von Otto held initially against Brigadier General Etienne MacDonald, but was later driven back. As von Otto’s force withdrew, Abercromby was isolated and attacked. Although almost encircled, he was able to fight his way out. Fox’s Guards brigade had especially performed well. When von Otto and Abercromby were driven apart, York was separated from his forces. Colonel Craig had politely described how, during the fighting, the ‘misbehaviour’ of an Austrian battalion had left York completely exposed.

York had been traveling the field between his forces. With the Order of the Bath star that he wears on his uniform, he is conspicuous to his own forces and the enemy. The only force that was nearby were two squadrons of the 16th Dragoons. He detached two troops to escort him. He sought refuge with von Otto. At one point, the French encircled York’s small force. The Dragoons suffered heavy losses. At one point, one of their officers was killed next to York while he was able to fight his way to safety.

His own personal guard John Brabyn was always at his side. Brabyn and he rode Lippizzaner horses. With these large strong horse he was able to remain in front of his escort and the French. The terrain contained a dyke, hedges and a deep brook. The strong horses proved their worth as they leaped the obstacles that they could. At Waterloo village, he waded the brook to reach General Otto. The French gave up the chase when faced with wading the brook in the face of the Austrian defenders. Frederick was fortunate not to be captured as his brother was at Hondschoote.



JUNE 1794

THE NETHERLANDS – CHARLEROI



Major General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan commands the Army of the Sambre-et-Meuse. He is thirty-two years old. At sixteen he joined the royal army. Suffering from malaria that he contracted in the West Indies, he was discharged at twenty-two. Five years ago, when the National Assembly called for volunteers, he answered the call. Starting as a major, he quickly proved himself in battle from Jemappes to Hondschoote, where last September, he was wounded in the chest against the Duke of York’s force. Shortly after that battle he replaced General Houchard at the head of the Army of the North. Houchard was recalled to Paris, tried for failing to pursue York and was executed.

A month ago, he was given forces from the Armies of the Ardennes and the Moselle to add to the Army of the North. General Pichegru ordered him to capture Charleroi. He was able to take the town, but lost it. Failing to take Charleroi could mean that he would be executed by the Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris. So, he retook it during the middle week of the month. The same day that the town fell, a new Austrian force under Prince von Coburg had arrived to break the siege. Jourdan outnumbered Coburg 73,000 to 41,000. Jourdan was surprised that Coburg came on in five columns. The Austrians broke through both French wings. But the center held. Jourdan’s army had been treated very roughly. He had lost a division’s worth of men. Yet, the day after, the Austrians are withdrawing.

He has gathered the generals to him to celebrate. As he looks around the room, he holds a glass of wine in salute. “My comrades .” He turns to a man who wears the uniform of the Aerostatic Corps.

“Captain Coutelle. Your ‘Pierres d’amour’ made a difference yesterday”. Captain Coutelle, had only recently joined the army. He commands the reconnaissance balloon, L’Entrepenant. The balloon is made of fabric filled with hydrogen and is connected to the ground by a ship’s cable. Coutelle and another man hang in a basket. From the air, they can survey the countryside with a telescope. When he had something to report, he would write a message, then wrap it around a stone to drop to the ground. These ‘Stones of Love’ were then dispatched to Jourdan.

“Merci, mon General. I am honored that we could serve you in victory.”

Jourdan says nothing as he toasts first General Marceau who commanded his right wing and General Kleber who commanded the left wing. Both wings had been pushed back.

“General Kleber, General Daurier’s division arrived in time to turn the tide for you, oui?”

Kleber stands with a redheaded major who recently joined his staff. “Oui, mon General. The Dutch struck us hard at first light. Had Montaigu and Duhesme not resisted, we would have lost the bridge over the Sambre. Our army would have been cut off from France. Daurier arrived in time to stem the tide.

“General Marceau, your bravery to rally your men when they panicked is commended.”

“Merci, mon General. I thank General Lefebvre for sending help when it was most needed.”

“General Lefebvre . The day belongs your four divisions. If the center had collapsed, we would be defeated.“ With Jourdan commanding the overall Army, Lefebvre commanded the Army of the Moselle as well as hi on Division.

Lefebvre “Mon General. The generals are warriors. Also, my Chief of Staff, Colonel Soult deserves to be recognized. He carried my orders throughout the most desperate moments of the battle.” He points his glass to a man that sits outside the circle of generals. “Soult had five horses shot from under him.”

“Five horses colonel! Mon dieu. And, yet you are here today, uninjured. What do you have to say?

Soult steps forward. “Fifteen hours of the most desperate fighting I ever saw in my life, my general.”

“In your life? Yet, you are so young. If you are lucky, you will see more. If not, well, you will be dead, oui? Lefebvre, we should give this young man more chances to see how lucky he is.”

“General, I have need of a brigade commander.” Kleber requests.

“Colonel Soult. You shall be General de Brigade with your general.”

Soult nods to Jourdan

Turning in turn to each present. “My comrades. We toast General Soult!”

All the generals raised their glasses.

“And, now, we shall discuss how we push the Austrians out of the Netherlands. We pursue our enemies. Let’s not repeat poor Houchard’s mistake, oui?”



THE NETHERLANDS - TOURNAI



Today, York sits at his headquarters in Tournai. He reads the latest dispatches from Prince Coburg. The second week of the month, French General Jourdan had brought an army to seize Charleroi on the east end of the Austrian-Dutch-British army’s line. Although outnumbered, Coburg counterattacked with his Austrian-Dutch force to drive the French back across the Sambre. They succeeded. But, Jourdan attacked again to retake Charleroi. One week later they again held the village. On the day that Charleroi succumbed, Coburg attacked the French left and right flanks with the intent to surround and annihilate Jourdan’s force. The French center not only held, but counterattacked. For fifteen hours the two armies fought.

The Coalition force had severely hurt the French. Victory was theirs to be taken. But, Coburg was unsure that he could continue the fight. The next day, he did not press his attack. Even though the French did not attack him, he chose to withdraw to Braine-l’Alleud leaving the field and victory to the French. Coburg is now at his headquarters in the village of Waterloo.

York has gathered his senior commanders to a council of war to discuss the news from Coburg.

“Prince Coburg’s uncovered our left rear! Again!”

“Clerfayt has lost to Pichegru and is falling back on Ghent. Our right, too, is open!”

“He proposes that we withdraw.”

“Two years. Two offensives. Two withdrawals.”

“Last month, the Emperor called for a vote to withdraw. All the others voted with him. I voted to continue to fight. We can not stay alone. We have only five thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry to watch miles of front. The cavalry is useless here. Too many trees and villages.”

“Coburg says he will withdraw to Brussels. I see no choice but to withdraw to Aalst.”

“We need Ostend. It is our connection to England. Lord Moira recently landed with seven thousand. He will have to hold Ostend. If we do not hold south of Antwerp, he can join us there by sea.”



THE NETHERLANDS - OSTEND



On the first of the month, the 33rd had marched from Fort Charles to Cork. It was the first time since Colonel Wesley had left them that they marched bigger than companies. Another Lieutenant Colonel rode with them. The sergeants told them that they were going to Cork to board ship. Sharpe hoped they would not be long at sea. Since he had joined the Major’s company, he liked the routine of each day. When they trained, they wore their drill uniforms. Only on Sundays did they have to parade in the full red coat uniform. That included having to wear a stock around his neck. Since they are leaving Fort Charles, they wear the full uniform and carry all of their kit in their packs.

“Hate this damn stock. Rubs my neck raw. Makes my muscles ache.”

Tom agreed. “Some officer designed this, eh? Make the lads hold their heads up. Make them look pretty when we march for the ladies.”

“No ladies for us on this road, Tom. Woods and fields. Tell us we go straight to the ships. Someone wants us damn badly, eh?”

“Colonel Wesley left us quickly when he got the orders. Someone wants us for a fight.”

“Good thing we can shoot if we are going to fight.”

“Yes, Dick. And we shoot better than most with your help.”

Sharpe’s company marched with the other seven companies through the villages en route to Cork. The ‘ladies’, gentlemen and children that see them see that they march together well. When officers and sergeants order them, they respond. Wesley has trained them well. They can march. They can shoot. No one in the regiments has fought in a battle. Soon they will know if they are really ready.



The march and sea trip took about three weeks. Now, they are marching off the ship into some place they heard called The Netherlands.

Sergeant Bickerstaff called out to “Move you wobbly babes! Time on ship can’t keep you from walking. Pick up your feet before I have to use my foot to move your arses.”

“Trip didn’t bother Sergeant Bickerstaff any, eh, Tom?”

“No, but Crowley didn’t do well. Puked his guts out for two days.”

They look to Sergeant Sisk’s section. Crowley still looks green. “Hope he didn’t get any on his uniform. Sergeant will have him on report for any spots.”

“Yes, Sisk likes everything shiny.”

Bickerstaff calls out, “Garrard! Sharpe! Shut your faces. I don’t want to hear any voices except officers and sergeants! Have you digging latrines if I hear you again.”

Sharpe nods to Tom. Neither of them likes to dig. And they especially don’t like to dig latrines.

“Yes, Sergeant. No talking, Sergeant.” They chime in unison.

They have been called out by Bickerstaff so many times, they can sing their replies to him in harmony.

When all the companies are off the ships, Wesley assembles them on the east side of the town.

As he watches the men march to the area that they would camp, he talks with Lieutenant Colonel Sherbrooke. Sherbrooke had joined the regiment as a second colonel.

“Lord Moira has not yet arrived. We join his force soon. Staff say he is due any day. Word has come from Duke of York that his force will withdraw towards Antwerp. There are few friendly units between us and York. Until Moira arrives, we will deploy to defend the city.”

“Set camp on the south side, outside the walls of the town. Ostend lies at the north end of an isthmus. It guards the entrance to the harbor. Set a perimeter outside the walls so that we may confront any attack before the city.”

Sherbrooke sends orders to the companies. Sharpe’s company have been given space in the dunes that lie to the west of the road into the city, but back from the beach.

Lowry scans the dunes. “Sergeant, so we sit here? Or sleep here?”

Bickerstaff snaps. “Lowry, we were told to make camp. Find a place to make your bed for the night. Expecting more of our lads tomorrow. May march when they join us. May not.”

Oakey comments to Witt, “More marching. May be good if we can find beds to sleep tomorrow night. This sand is hard.”

“Windy here too.” Sharpe adds. “Find or dig a hole to get below it. Blowing sand hurts.”

The next afternoon, they learned that they would be staying in the dunes.

“We sleep in the sand another night lads.” Bickerstaff relayed to them. Lord Moira arrived in the night. He’s taking his regiments with him to the north. We stay.”

Nate rubs his back. “Stay Sergeant? In the sand?”

“Yes, Crowley. In the sand. The general wants us to guard the ships. Giving up the town. Need to keep the Froggies from capturing it before we can reload our supplies and kit, eh? We get to keep the Frogs away.”

“Only us, Sergeant?”

“Yes, Oakey, only us.”

Tom says to Sharpe, “We stay. General takes the other battalions north. Seems to me, we are alone. A lot more Frogs than us here.”

“Alone. In the sand. Fort behind us. Water three sides. Navy owns the waters. Seems the Frogs can come only from one way.” He points to the south.

Bickerstaff hears them. “Sharpe!”

“Yes, Sergeant.”

“Take Tom, Henry and Phil. March a thousand paces down that road. If you see any groups of soldiers in blue or on horses, send two of your lot back at the double.”

“Thousand paces. Watch for blue or horses. Send two back. Yes, Sergeant.”

As Sharpe and the other three collect their weapons, Coutenay jibes them. “Taking your girls with you Sharpe. March pretty. Never know when the colonel will show.”

“We always look proper Ben. Not like you and your lot, eh?”

“Courtenay!” Ben snaps his head towards Sergeant Bickerstaff.

Bickerstaff orders Ben so that the others can hear. “Take your lot a thousand paces down the beach. Watch for Frogs. Send word if you see anything.”

Sharpe smiles as he sets off towards the road. “On the beach, Ben. Stay Dry. Stay warm.”

Courtenay says nothing, but gestures with his hand to Sharpe’s back.

Sharpe can do numbers to one hundred. He knows that one thousand is ten hundred’s. As they march, he counts one hundred then repeats. When he counts the tenth time, he halts the others.

“Think this is one thousand.” He surveys where they are. Ahead is a village. People are working the fields to the left of the road. “Phil, go ask one of the farmers the name of that village.”

“What if they don’t speak English?”

“Point. Make a face like you are asking a question.”

Oakey pauses, then trots off.

“Two of us. Take a side of the road?

“Tom with me?” Henry asks.

“Henry with me, Dick. You take Phil when he comes back.”

“Aye. That will do. You take the ocean side of the road. Watch to the beach to see if Ben comes out as far as we are.” Sharpe can see the ocean only four hundred yards from the road.

Phil comes back shortly. “No one speaks English. I pointed and asked ‘name?’. After a few tries, one of them said something like Raff her zidd.”

“Raffherzidd. Go tell Tom and Henry. If we need to send a message, want Sergeant Bickerstaff to be able to tell the officers.

Phil walks up to Tom and Henry to share what he has learned.

Sharpe looks to a spot along the road. He finds a place with some stones that one of them can sit while the other watches the road.. When Phil returns, “Sit Phil. I watch first. You rest. Then we change.”

“Dick, Sergeant Bickerstaff didn’t tell us how long to stay. I have water. No food.”

“Aye, Phil. Same for all of us. Hope Sergeant Bickerstaff will send someone for us. If not, we have a hungry, cold night, eh?”

They had watched the road only an hour when behind them they heard the sounds of men marching. Ahead of columns of men, rode a group of officers. Sharpe watches as the officers and colors of three regiments march past him. When the last redcoat has gone by, he sees two riders approach. He recognizes one of the riders by his prominent nose.

He cups his hands “Tom! Henry! Up Phil. Colonel Wesley is here.”

As Wesley rides to them, Sharpe snaps to attention.

Wesley sees that the four men that straddle the sides of the road wear the colors of the 33rd. “Good day, soldier. Name? Which company?”

“Sharpe, sir. Major’s company, sir.”

“One of Sergeant Hawthorne’s?”

“Aye, sir.”

“What has you this far from the company, private Sharpe?”

“Sergeant Bickerstaff sent us to watch for Frogs. Sorry, French, sir.”

“Ah, Frog spotting.” Wesley smiles. “Seen any?”

“No Frogs, sir. Only those redcoats, sir.” He points to the backs of the last troops as they enter the village.

“Good. Hold a good eye. Send word if you see anything.” Wesley pauses. “Do you have water? Food?”

“Water. No food.”

“Ensign, take note. Have Lieutenant Horton send food and more water out to these pickets. Also, commend Sergeant Bickerstaff for thinking to post these men.

“Ensign, let’s have a look at that village. Carry on Private.”

Sharpe watches Wesley ride off.

“Think we will see any food, Dick?”

“Like that officer. When we trained, he trained and lived as we did. Yes, I think he will send food.”

“Rest up Phil. Thinks we will be here a while.” Sharpe watched the road, but sees nothing that comes towards him. He watches Wesley and the ensign ride from the village to travel through the countryside on the eastside of road. “Colonel wants to see what we have here.” As they ride away to his rear, Sharpe turns his attention to the village.

Sharpe and Oakey continue to trade watching and resting. Phil has the watch when he nudges Sharpe. “Rider coming up.”

A rider wearing the uniform of a sergeant in the cavalry reins up next to them. “Private Sharpe?”

“Yes, Sergeant.”

“Your dinners. Compliments of Colonel Wesley.” He tosses them a pack and four water bottles. Sergeant Bickerstaff sends word that you are to stay your post until relieved. He will send provisions.”

“Hold position until relieved. Aye, Sergeant. Can we get blankets before dark?”

“Will take your request, private.” With his message and supplies delivered, the sergeant returns towards Ostend.

“Nice of Sergeant Bickerstaff to look out for us here. Think he’s taking care of Ben and his lot too?” Tom asks.

“The devil can take care of Ben. I just want Sergeant Bickerstaff to keep us fed and warm while we are out here. And, tells us when we need to go back. Army could leave without us knowing.”

For three days, Sharpe and his three stood their posts outside Raversjidt. He was surprised that Sergeant Bickerstaff had not sent others out in their place. But, they have had plenty of food and water and been able to spend their days watching and resting. Tom, Henry, Phil and he have had few visitors or messages. They learned that the rest of the company had been called to take turns helping to carry stores to the docks to be loaded onto the ship. At the end of their fourth day in Ostend, they received word that on the morrow, they would return to the company and march to the docks to board ship.

“Where do you think we will go, Dick?”

“No idea, Tom. Do I look like an officer? We go where they tells us.”

The next day, the last day of June, as the morning dawned, Phil woke Sharpe with a nudge. “Riders coming.”

Sharpe greeted a cavalry officer. “Sir, how may we help you?”

“Who are you?”

“Private Sharpe, sir.”

“Well Sharpe, we have come to relieve you. Take your men back to your battalion. We will watch for the Frogs now. We have heard that the French are just down that road.” He points to the village. “Now, be off.”

Sharpe grabs his gear. “Come on, Phil. Tom! Henry! Time to go.” Quickly, the other two joined them on the road. Even though they had seen no French, Sharpe wanted to get back to the regiment as quickly as he could. “Double-time, eh?” He set the pace for the other three.

They quickly left the village behind and saw the others of the regiment. The regiment was forming into companies. Sharpe found their company.

“Ah, there are our last lads.” Sergeant Bickerstaff greeted them.

“Sergeant Bickerstaff, get them going. “Sergeant Hawthorne called. Ships are waiting.”

As Sharpe and his three marched with the others, he felt good to be back with the company. They had come to Ostend five days ago. Now they leave. Neither his four or Ben’s had seen any French. Now they march back to the port. Would the generals have them march, but not fight? By evening, all the 33rd was aboard ship again. They were told they were not going back to England, but further north to Antwerp. They were still needed by the Duke of York.

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