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Sharpe's Island
Richard Sharpe and the
Expedition for Manila
SHARPE’S ISLAND. Copyright © 2024 by Paul Kaster
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Kaster, Jr. who graduated from Marine Expeditionary Warfare School (MEWS)
And
Bernard Cornwell who brought Richard Sharpe into our world.
Chapter 3
1797 September
Prince of Wales Island (Penang)
Arthur Wesley stands with with his senior officers.
“We’ve been recalled. Orders have come that we are needed more at Calcutta.”
Major Shee asks, “Trouble there, sir?”
“London has sent word that the French are with the Tippoo. That threat is bigger than the Spanish from Manila. We go back to India. But, not immediately.”
“Sir?” Major Elliott asks.
“The Navy says that the winds do not favor sailing west from here. Their navigators predict that we will have to wait several weeks until the winds change.”
Major Elliott asks more, “Will we keep the men on the ships, sir?”
“We will continue to train the men, as we have been, but without having them splash through the surf. I am satisfied that IF we had to execute a landing on a hostile shore, that they are ready. I thank you. All did well. We lost no men to the water, despite the boats dumping into the surf on more than one occasion. With the last three attempts, we landed, formed and “ he chuckles, “fought well.”
The others smile at the ‘fought well’ They know that the fights were mock battles with the trees.
“I believe that we will need every soldierly quality when the time comes to fight the Tippoo’s army. And, the time WILL come. So, until we leave this island, we will march, we will shoot, we will use our bayonets and swords.”
Major Shee questions, this time. “Bayonets and swords, sir.”
“We have trees to shoot at. The trees have palm fronds. In another field, we will build ‘enemy soldiers’ from fronds. We will divide the regiment. Half will stand behind the frond solders to fire blanks into the air as the other half assaults the frond soldiers with the bayonet.”
Sherbooke looks at Wesley, but before he can speak, Wesley continues.
“So that none of the assaulting men are shot, officers will examine and issue the blank cartridges. We will NOT shoot any of our own men.”
The other three nod at this.
“Although, some of the men, may relish the opportunity to shoot some of their officers or sergeants, eh?”
Wesley smiles.
The other three look at him. They are not sure if he is sincere or jesting.
“Come, let’s be about our work, eh?”
Sharpe liked being off the ship. Wesley’s drills had the Light Company off the ships first and last to return. None of the men had much space aboard ship. They were limited to how much time they could be on the main deck. Going to the island enabled Sharpe to use his legs and arms. Too, he liked to train.
“Who do you think will join us today, Tom?”
“Sherbrooke and Shee have been with us. Leaves Elliott and Wesley, unless Wesley sends Gaff, Trevor and Quin to march with us”
“Gaff is quartermaster. Quin is Adjutant. May send them. Trevor is surgeon. Can’t see him marching with us. May ask the right reverend Hand, though. He is with us to save our souls. Maybe he can save our soles while we march.” Sharpe points to the bottom of his shoe.
“When did you become so funny, Dick?”
“Always been funny, Tom. Pick when to show others.”
The Light Company has been standing easy as the rest of the companies arrive from the ships. Number Eight company is now unloading.
“Get ready. Captain summoned Hakeswill. Our sergeant will soon set us off.”
Sharpe has been watching Captain Hughes. He is interested to see which of the regimental top officers will join them today. From the middle of the regiment, he can see Wesley, Shee and Quin moving towards them. Shee stops at Number Two and Quin at the Grenadiers. Wesley continues until he greets Hughes.
Hughes has Fitzgerald, Hakeswill and Bickerstaff with him.
“Good morning, Captain Hughes.”
“Sir.”
“I’ll join your company today. I want to march with each section. Two sections out, two back. Where shall I start?”
“Sir, may I suggest, that you begin with Section 4, then move to Section 3. On the return, Section 2, then Section 1.”
“As you recommend. Then prepare your men. I directed the drummers to sound the march when I signal to them.”
“Mr. Fitzgerald, will you kindly see the colonel to your section.”
“Sir. Colonel, if you will follow me?”
Fitzgerald and Wesley pass Sharpe.
“We get Wesley, Tom.”
“So we do.”
Hakeswill calls out.
“Company, stand to. Prepare to march.”
Sharpe forms his section into five rows.
“Do you think we will sing, Dick.”
“Aye, Tom, Wesley likes when we sing.”
“Hakeswill, don’t.”
“Wesley outranks Hakeswill. We’ll sing.”
“Company MARCH!” Hakeswill barks.
Off they went. The regimental and company drummers beat the pace for them. As they emerged from Georgetown, Sharpe stole a glance to look behind. He saw the rows of companies. All marched precisely.
“We do have a good regiment. Wesley trains and treats us well. We fought well with him in Netherlands. He’ll have us ready for the next fight no matter where it will be.” He smiles as he thinks about how good the regiment is. He saw other regiments in the Netherlands and at Cape Town. Wesley drills the men so that every command is given with confidence by the officers, sergeants and corporals. The men react instantly and with precision to each command. On the first mile of the march, they mix quick time with normal march.
The drummers were told when to change. Sharpe knows too that on the second mile they will move from columns of four to three and two and back to four. When they return, they will form from columns into open and hasty squares and move in square until they rest. When they stop they will form fully into an open square with four ranks that stand and kneel. After they rest, they will march as two battalions and practice squares with battalions of five companies until they reach Georgetown. At the training field, they will train in line and with the Light Company deployed as skirmishers. They will fight the ‘enemy’ tree fronds by shooting and using the bayonet. This is what soldiers do. Strangely, he is excited by the idea of all this training.
“I am a soldier. And, a damn good one, too.”
He looks at his section. “They are too.”
Behind him, he hears one of the companies start to sing. As the song is heard by other companies, those companies sing too.
As Tom and Palin sing, he grins. “They sing well too. Hakeswill must be twitching furiously.”
He steals another look behind to see Wesley. The colonel marches with fourth section. Fitzgerald sings. Wesley does not sing but taps his hand on his side to the beat of the song.
“Good officer there.”
When the song finishes, the drummers beat to march quick time. They will soon reach the mile rest point.
They rest thirty minutes. Then on to the shooting field. As Sharpe forms third section he is joined by Wesley. He snaps to attention and salutes.
“Sharpe is it?”
“Sir, Sharpe, sir.”
“Not our first march together, eh, Sharpe?”
“Sir?”
“I seem to recall marching with you and some of these men.” He waves at third section. “We trained together in Ireland when you and I joined the regiment.”
Sharpe realizes that Wesley had marched with them when they trained in the fields beyond the barracks in Ireland. He surprised that Wesley remembers them.
“Sir.”
“Shall we see what we learned since Ireland?”
And the drums called them to march. Wesley marches to Sharpe’s right.
Wesley marched next to Sharpe. They began in four columns.
“Name your men to me, if you will, Sharpe.”
“Sir?”
“Tell me each of your men’s names. I want to know every man by name and face.”
“Sir.”
Sharpe did as he was asked. He called each man’s name and had that man turn his head to the right. When Wesley nods, Sharpe instructs to the man to face ahead again. When he calls the men of each row in front of him, Wesley moves forward to that row. When the last man had presented to Wesley, Wesley returned to march next to Sharpe.
“I remember some of the men.”
Sharpe decided to talk with Wesley since the colonel seemed open to talk.
“Not all of us that trained in Ireland moved to the Light Company, sir. And, some didn’t survive the Netherlands.”
Wesley didn’t immediately reply.
“Maybe he doesn’t want to be familiar.”
But, Wesley offered the next words.
“Netherlands was not our finest. Boxtel was an opportunity missed. I seem to recall that you did well that day. What say you, Sharpe?”
“Marched to Boxtel. Fired a few rounds. Marched away, sir.”
“I recall that you did more than that. Didn’t your sergeant get killed?”
Sharpe remembers poor Sergeant Hawthorne who was killed in their first battle.
“Yes sir, Sergeant Hawthorne, sir.”
“You stepped in for him, eh?”
“Sir.”
“Promoted you to corporal, yet you are back to private.”
“Sir.”
“Some of your men, related that you lost your cord because you took punishment for one of your men.”
“Sir.”
“Men say that Sergeant Hakeswill accused one of your men of an uncouth act while on parade. Threatened to have him flogged.”
Sharpe waits.
“Men say that you interrupted Sergeant Hakeswill to claim that you committed the act.”
Sharpe continues to wait.
“Noble, Sharpe. Noble.”
“Sir.”
Wesley pauses.
“Some soldiers try to take advantage of the power of their rank with others. Some soldiers use their rank to lead and support others.”
Sharpe listens. He does not want to criticize Hakeswill to Wesley. He has learned on the streets of London and in the army to keep your mouth shut when speaking to the higher born and officers. Speak only when you need to give an answer.
Wesley waits, but Sharpe does not reply.
“I think that you are the second kind, Sharpe. Think we need to find another opportunity for you.”
Sharpe says nothing to this either.
“Take care of your section Sharpe. We will need good soldiers before we leave India.”
Wesley nods to Sharpe then walks faster to join the regimental command at the middle of the regiment. They had arrived at the firing grounds.
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