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SHARPE’S MISSION
Richard Sharpe and the Battle of the Nive
Screenplay Written by Eoghan Harris and Bernard Cornwell.
Novel Adapted by Paul Kaster <
PART THREE
1813 November
SAINT-PEE-SUR-NIVELLE
Chapter 16
December 12, dawned as another gray and wet morning. After reviewing the company reports, he walked off to join Colburne’s brigade meeting.
“Gentlemen, Good news! Last night Soult lost almost fifteen hundred men to us. Three Nassau battalions deserted and came into our lines. The Prince of Orange sent word through the lines that Boney had been beaten up north and the German states have quit him.”
“Have the French surrendered?” Snodgrass asks.
“No, with the losses in the attacks yesterday and the Nassau desertions, Soult’s numbers here are much smaller. There are no signs that the French plan to withdraw. We can expect them to try again when this morning rain stops.”
As they leave, Newcott stops Sharpe. “Lieutenant Bell tells me he learned a lot by listening to your men Harris and Hagman yesterday, Sharpe.” May I leave him with you again today?”
“Yes. He and the other Rifles made havoc with the French gunners. Glad to have them yesterday and again today.”
By ten, the rain had stopped. Sharpe scanned the French lines for activity. He was surprised to see that nine of the guns remained unmanned on the ridge. Throughout the early morning he was sure that he smelled the aroma of horse steaks from the French cookfires. With the number of horses the Rifles shot down yesterday, the French could feed many of their regiments.
“Dally, we have the battalion deploy as they did yesterday. Include Lieutenant Bell and his Rifles as another company.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And, do we have room to make Harris and Hagman sergeants?”
“Yes, sir. We are seven below battalion strength.”
Harper has been listening to Sharpe and D’Alembord. “I think I can find some stripes for them, sir.”
“When you have them, bring the stripes and Hagman and Harris to me.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Dally, have Bell join us.”
Fifteen minutes later, Harper returned with Hagman and Harris.
Harper steps up wearing a big grin. “Regimental Sergeant Major Harper reporting with Chosen Men Hagman and Harris, as ordered, sir!”
“Sir.”
“Sir.”
Sharpe, D’Alembord and Bell face the three men.
“Hagman and Harris. Lieutenant Bell reports that you provided his men with leadership beyond your rank yesterday. I think we should do something about that. RSM Harper. Please provide these Chosen Men with their new rank.”
Patrick steps forward with two sets of stripes.
Hagman stands as if he is embarrassed to be given the stripes.
Harris beams as Harper hands his to him.
“Sergeants Hagman and Harris. We are looking forward to you leading the men in Lieutenant Bell’s company again today. For the present, they are honorary members of the Prince of Wales Own. Major Newcott has loaned them to us again.”
Lieutenant Bell grins. “We are honored to belong to your regiment, sir. Even if it is only temporarily.”
“Well, then. Let’s be about killing some more Frogs, eh?”
Sharpe turns and D’Alembord goes with him.
“Hope that young one survives. He has the makings of a good officer, sir.”
“Yes, Dally. He has the makings.”
The rest of the morning, they waited for the French. To the west, they could hear the sounds of another assault on Barriouillet. The messengers that were sent to keep them informed of any threats to the brigade’s position returned each time that the 1st Division continued to hold. The 5th Division had come up to support them and the 4th and 7th Division were in reserve further back. The land around Barriouillet was very good ground to defend.
After noon, the French in front of the Prince of Wales Own began to stir. Because the British army has so many times defeated the columns that the French would normally use to attack, Clausel has decided to try to send waves of skirmishers to weaken the British battalions before he sends his columns to attack. For nearly two hours skirmishers move forward to fire at any movement within the British lines.
Today, Sharpe has ordered his officers to leave their horses behind the battalion and command on foot. The companies are to remain low and behind any wall or defensible position until they are ordered to stand to fight. The exceptions are the Richardson’s, Price’s and Bell’s companies. Sharpe has sent them to hunt the Voltiguers. Wherever a group of Voltiguers surges forward, these three companies have gone to suppress them. Even though outnumbered, they drive the French back each time.
As the sun set, the French have gained no ground. Sharpe has the companies report in. Harris reports for Bell.
“Where is Lieutenant Bell, Harris?”
“Sir, Lieutenant Bell was struck in the left arm by a French musketball. His arm was shattered below the elbow. We sent him to the surgeon after Dan treated his wound.”
Sharpe is sad to hear that Bell is wounded. “Thank you Harris. You have his company until we return them to Newcott.”
After all the others report, Sharpe is pleased that the losses for the day have been only twenty-two wounded. None seriously.
“We gave the Frogs better than they gave us again. Tomorrow, we’ll do it again, eh? It is raining again. Rest the men and keep them as dry as possible.”
The rain continued through the night. The next day, the Reille and Clausel demonstrate in the morning, but by the afternoon they withdraw their divisions back to Bayonne. They leave twelve guns abandoned on the ridge in front of Arcangues. The guns are a testament and trophies to the firepower of the Baker Rifles.
The steady rain causes the smaller streams and The Nive to rise again. That night, the swollen river washed away a pontoon bridge at Villefranque. Wellington had used this and another at Ustaritz to move units between the east and west banks. To use the bridge at Ustaritz, the any units would have to march three times more than by using the bridge at Villefranque. Hill was temporarily cut off from the rest of Wellington’s army.
After bringing the 7th Division forward yesterday to be ready should Soult break through, Wellington temporarily set up his headquarters at the chateau that belongs to the Marquis d’Arcangues.
Today, the thirteenth, he learned that during the night Soult moved several divisions back to the east side of the Nive to attack Hill. As soon as he learned of Soult’s new thrust, he sent messengers to Hill that he would send help. The engineers worked feverishly to repair the bridge at Villefranque. Early in the afternoon, his chief engineer entered his headquarters.
“Sir, we have the bridge.”
“Hogan, how is Hill?”
“Your Lordship, General Hill has been hard pressed. So, hard, sir, that I am told that he used profanity. But, they have turned back the French.
Wellington chuckles. “Well then, if Hill has begun to swear, they all must mind what they are about.
Soult had his chance. I don’t think much of his efforts here. He thought he had the elements of a decisive victory. Strategically he was very good, but tactically was extraordinarily weak.”
“This is Hill’s day. Let’s go help him to celebrate.”
“As you say, your Lordship.”
Outside, Hogan sees Sharpe with Colburne.
“Ah, Colburne, good to see you. Has my friend Richard here, behaved for you?”
“Colonel Hogan, good to see you as well. Major Sharpe was a great help to us. Since Major Snodgrass was wounded two days ago, perhaps we could borrow him to command the Caçadores when you find a new colonel for the Prince of Wales Own.”
Sharpe is surprised to hear this. He had not considered that they would send a new colonel to take over for him. Without showing it, he is angry that he will lose command of the unit that he has molded into a top fighting unit. Even Wellington commented that he is recognized as one of the finest leaders of light troops. He knows that in this army, other battalions are commanded by majors. Some of those majors have commanded for many months. But, the army won’t make an exception for him. He is not one of them. He is not a gentleman.
And, he has not considered to transfer to the Portuguese army. Would he leave the army that he has been part of for so long? He has been offered the chance to join other armies before. Some of the offers were to join the armies of their enemies. Each time, he chose to stay. But, each offer becomes harder to resist.
Hogan watches Sharpe’s reaction before responding. “I am sure that Major Sharpe appreciates the sentiment Colburne. I will mention it to his Lordship. Until such time, Richard here can remain with HIS regiment.”
“What do you say, Richard?”
“Thank you, both. I will stay with the Prince of Wales Own Volunteers.”
“There, you see. Now I must be off to see General Hill. Make sure Sharpe here behaves himself, eh, Colburne?” Hogan beams a big smile as he goes.
Hogan rides to catch up with Wellington. They cross the Nive then ride to Hill’s headquartersAs they approach they hear the noises of battle. . Behind them the first units of the 3rd and 6th Divisions march from the pontoon bridges.
“General Hill, how goes the fight?”
“My Lord, we were distressed at the beginning. Our lines were turning back the French, as they always do. In the heat of battle, the new commander of the 71st, Lieutenant Colonel Peacock, ordered his battalion to retire. The French pursued the retreating men hotly. This opened a hole in our lines.”
“He ordered them to retire?”
“Yes, my Lord. Barnes and Stewart were able to recover quickly. Stewart personally turned the 71st around. Barnes threw the 92nd Highlanders at the French attackers. The French rolled back when the Highlanders bayonets appeared.”
“Then the day is yours, Hill.”
By the afternoon, they watched the French try to mount new attacks. The French infantry would line up, but when the drums beat the charge, they refused to step off. These same battalions had been attacking all day. They knew there were fresh troops behind them that were not used to support them in the earlier attacks. Those troops could have made a difference. With near-mutiny behaviour, they would not attack any more today.
Hogan had remained with Wellington.
“My Lord, it seems that Soult is finished. Those men down there lack the leadership to bring them to us.”
He uses this time to interject a comment he has been holding since earlier.
“It is embarassing that the colonel of the 71st was given command of such a fine regiment and handled it so badly. And we have our Major Sharpe who commands so well, but is unable to keep the command when men like Colonel Peacock can buy the commission.”
“Hogan, you are impertinent. You know most of my officers have bought their commissions.”
“Yes, my Lord. Most.”
Hogan has made his point. He will say no more.
By nightfall, Soult’s attacks on St. Pierre are finished. Even though he had outnumbered Hill three-to-one, he was unable to move him out of the defenses around St. Pierre. Soult calls off any more attacks and retires into Bayonne.
General Eugene-Casimir Villatte has found against the Spanish, Portuguese and British since 1808. At the battle of Valmaseda, he was defeated by Blake, but was able extract his division with light losses. He was present at most battles since then including Talavera and Vitoria. Since Vitoria, he commanded the Reserve Division.
On December 11, he was wounded when his division was attacking Hope’s divisions at Barroilhet. Later that night his two Frankfurt and one Nassau battalions defected to the British. The Baden battalion was intercepted before it could cross the lines. The Baden, Spanish and Swiss/Italian/Polish battalions of his division were disarmed and held as prisoners. Now, he no longer has a division.
Villatte’s lost battalions account for 2,000 of the 4,500 total Soult has lost. The National Guard will be called on to replace these losses. Soult has sent word that his division will be disbanded. Villatte will have a new assignment. His brigade commanders will too.
In front of him stands General Calvet. One Nassau battalion belonged to Calvet’s brigade. He is unhappy that Calvet lost the gunpowder magazine and the battalion. Calvet stands crisply at attention. Calvet is ruthless when he commands. He also knows how respect his commanding officers.
“General Calvet, I am sending you to Bordeaux. There you will take command of a demi-brigade of National Guard to prepare them to fight in the new year.”
Calvet is mildly pleased to hear that he will command again. He recognizes that he no longer has the confidence of his commanding generals. The loss of Rocha Fort and his Frankfurt and Nassau troops defecting have all been setbacks. He considers that the loss of Rocha Fort was not his mistake. That fool Cresson had convinced the Emperor to support such a weak plan. And the mongrel battalions from the conquered places were always quick to melt away when times became difficult.
Give him any French men and he would make them a precise fighting machine. The National Guard are French. It is likely they will be from the villages near Bordeaux. While he stands sternly to attention, he also thinks. “Besides, Bordeaux has some very fine wines. And the land around there has not been ravaged by the armies. There should be ample mushrooms, seafood and meat to fill his table. Gaston will be very busy.
This is not the first time he will need to start over. Even Villatte has survived losing battles and more than one. Calvet survived Russia and many years of battles. He will begin again.
“My General. There are fresh meat troops at Bordeaux. I will teach them how to fight.”
Villate dismisses him with
“As I know that you will.”
Calvet salutes and departs.
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