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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 5
1797 September
Prince of Wales Island (Penang)
Arthur Wesley watched the men deploy before the targets. He had set the standard that the men would be able to shoot and sustain three rounds per minute. They started slowly, but now all companies were meeting the standard. In fact, sometimes, the Light Company was firing ten and eleven rounds in the three minutes that they were measuring.
“Must tell Hughes how well his men are doing.” He said to Sherbrooke.
“Indeed, sir. They have set the standard for the other companies. Nothing like a little competition to bring out the best, eh?”
.”Yes. It is time they become equally adept with the bayonet. Shall we try them, today, gentlemen?”
“Sir.”
“Form them, to attack the frond ‘enemy’ We will advance as a regiment.”
“Sir.”
Hughes looked at the command group as he waited for their orders for the day. His company had marched from the docks at the head of all the others. When they reached the practice field, the other companies marched past them until the grenadiers passed. The regimental order was for the grenadiers to be on the right and the light company on the left. But, when they marched, the light company leads. They had practiced this day after day. At the practice field, they fired the practice rounds. When they examined the fronds that were their targets, the musket balls had shredded the fronds. At the end of the day’s practice, Hughes would have his men cut new fronds to prepare for the next practice.
“Sergeant Hakeswill”
“Sir!”
“Is that the drum beat to fix bayonets?”
“Sir. Fix bayonets. Yes, sir.”
“Then give the company the order, sergeant.”
Hakeswill stands to the front of the company. “The Light Company will prepare to fix bayonets!”
The men of the four sections removed their bayonets from their belts. They held their firelocks with their left hands and the bayonets with their right.
“Fix!”
“Bayonets!”
All of the men attached the bayonets to their firelocks, twisted until the bayonet clicked into place.
The drummers started to drum the signal to advance on the ‘enemy’.
“Light Company! Prepare to advance.”
When the drums signaled, Hakeswill called, “Company! Advance!”
“Hakeswill does have a strong voice, Dick.”
“He does. Whole regiment most likely hears him. We don’t hear the other sergeants.”
“Shame, Wesley could take Hakeswill as sergeant major for the regiment. Would move him further from us.”
They advanced on the ‘enemy’ quickly.
“Time to kill the bastards, Dick.”
“Watch you don’t stick me with your pig sticker, Tom.”
Sharpe was ready, when they reached the fronds. He positioned himself to be able to lunge the bayonet into the fronds, then pull it back. When he finished, he moved away so that Tom could bayonet the enemy too.
The company stood when they had finished. Hughes looked to Wesley and waited. He saw Major Shee coming
“Hughes. Congratulations. Your company has done so well shooting, that you will be rewarded to stay here while the rest of the regiment returns to the road.”
“Sir?”
“The Light Company will deploy across the face of the regiment and be our ‘enemy’.”
Hughes still does not understand.
“Have your men remove their cartridge boxes. I have cartridges with powder only. When the signal is given, for the regiment to advance, I want you to fire at the regiment. “ Fire over our heads. We want the men to advance under fire and with the smoke from an enemy line.”
“We stand behind the fronds?”
“Yes. The regiment will bayonet the fronds, not your men.”
“Sir.”
Shee nods and goes.
“Sergeant Hakeswill. Have the men remove and pile their cartridge boxes.”
“Sir! Remove cartridge boxes. Pile them. Sir!”
“Major Shee is sending us special cartridges. Powder only. See to it the boxes do not get confused.”
“Sir!”
Hakeswill decides that Sharpe will be a good shepherd for the cartridge boxes.
“Sharpe! Come with me!”
Hakeswill leads Sharpe to a point behind the fronds line and towards the town.
“Light Company will remove cartridge boxes. Bring them to Sharpe. Pile them there.”
Sharpe wonders and watches. He counts each of the boxes. Seventy boxes should be in the pile.
When the men finish, Sharpe counts only sixty-eight.
“Hakeswill has two boxes. Where?”
Sharpe had watched Hakeswill while the men had come to the spot to drop the boxes. Two of Hakeswill’s men from first section had stopped in the trees making gestures to relieve themselves.
“Did they drop their boxes there?”
Hakeswill takes the company to meet Major Shee. Hughes positions seven men in front of the other companies. While Hakeswill moves with men to the end of the line with the grenadiers, goes to the trees. He has to look for a few minutes, but finds two cartridge boxes.
“Clever, sergeant. Not clever enough.”
Sharpe hides the boxes behind his leg so that Hakeswill will not see them as he returns to Hughes.
Back at the pile, he places the two boxes behind one of the frond figures so that they will be the last given to the company.
Sharpe watches as the drums beat the advance. Hughes issues the command for the Light Company to fire. They fire ten rounds in the three minutes that the regiment advances on the fronds. The field is filled with noise and smoke.
“Reminds me of the field at Boxtel. Noise. Smoke. But the French were shooting with more than powder.”
Wesley chooses to send the regiment back to the road to advance again. While they go, the smoke fades slowly. Only when the smoke has cleared do the drums signal to advance again.
Hughes fires ten rounds again. The regiment advances. Sharpe notices that the line is much straighter than the first time. All the companies arrive at the fronds at the same time.
“Wesley wants the whole regiment to hit at once. Punch the enemy in the face with one big fist. Like street fighting. Hit once. Hit hard.”
Sharpe grins as he remembers some of the fights that he had on the streets in London and Yorkshire.
“That many pig stickers coming out of the smoke will scare many.”
Shee had given Hughes thirty cartridges. He has enough to repeat the drill one more time. Wesley sends them back to advance again.
“Wish I were firing. Nothing like the feel of the firelock against your shoulder. Don’t like the taste of the powder, but necessary.”
When the regiment finishes the third time, Wesley signals for all to rest.
Hughes brings the Light Company to Sharpe. Each man picks up a cartridge box. Hakeswill brings first section last. As the last ten men go to pick up a box, Hakeswill barks. “Sharpe! Missing two boxes. Missing two boxes, Sharpe!”
“Captain Hughes! Sharpe derelict in his duties, sir.”
“Hakeswill, what’s this about?”
“Missing two cartridge boxes, sir! Sharpe derelict, sir. Flogging offense, sir.”
“What’s this Sharpe?”
“Watched pile, sir.”
“All given to me, here, sir.”
“Idea where two are, Sharpe?”
“Maybe the enemy made off with them. Saw two of first section attacked by the enemy when we were piling the boxes, sir.”
“Enemy captured, Sharpe? Hard to believe.”
“May want to ask that soldier there, sir.”
Sharpe points.
Hughes looks then walks to the frond soldier. He sees the fronds on the ground and a belt from one of the boxes sticking out from under the cover.
“It seems the enemy has captured two boxes.”
He picks up the two boxes and takes them to Hakeswill.
“Here are your two boxes, sergeant. I suggest that you ask your soldiers to explain circumstances. Punishments can wait until ALL the facts are collected.”
“Sir!” Hakeswill turns red and twitches.
“Facts first, sir. Punishment later. SIR!”
Hughes turns to Sharpe. “Return to your section, Sharpe. Your men did well today. Put the fear into the companies to their front.” He smiles than goes.
Hakeswill glares at Sharpe before he follows Hughes.
“Our sergeant wants you flogged, Dick.”
“He does. Will have to use better tricks than this. Learned tricks on streets. Better tricksters boning houses and picking pockets.”
“He wants you punished bad, watch yourself.”
“Aye, Tom. My back won’t look good with stripes. Stripes belong on my arm.” He smiles.
“Sergeant, Sharpe? There’s a thought Dick.”
“Some day, Tom. Some day.”
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