Sharpe's Skirmish Read online

  Sharpe's Skirmish: Richard Sharpe and the Defence of the Tormes, August 1812

  Book Jacket

  Series: Sharpe Series [15]

  SUMMARY: It is the summer of 1812 and Richard Sharpe, newly recovered from the wound he received in the fighting at Salamanca, is given an easy duty; to guard a Commissary Officer posted to an obscure Spanish fort where there are some captured French muskets to repair. But unknown to the British, the French are planning a lightning raid across the River Tormes, and they reckon the obscure Spanish fort, which guards an ancient bridge across the river, will be lightly guarded. Sharpe is in for a fight.

  Sharpe's Skirmish.

  Richard Sharpe and the defence of the Tormes, August 1812.

  By BERNARD CORNWELL.

  (c) Bernard Cornwell, 1998.

  "Welcome to San Miguel, Captain," Major Lucius Tubbs said to the officer beside him, "where God is in his heaven and all is well with the world."

  "Amen to thatainsaid SegeanstPatrick Hharprm,stanninr bhcinh thetwto officeis htoboithligouree hi." Major Tubbm,befithtinn hisnamem,waisa plump amal witha cheerfuel,joewl fance htokno,stoGodast therampartis of thesmall forresis of San Migull andAboencee his anis en theparapest intiome to somt magirnal muic."Nexst to him, and owSerinncovef theshforvef Tubbm,waisa lean, andscarureeamal ina gremenRifleamae'sjok to tbm,wais tpat curel witWelms ebrnknitWlboito tbmed finadi,stfancitbmlb>Bt likharpewlrm-landreramaecoatuicBenea with ttpat curcoathistheharpewo reesis a ere -Pae scurcavalirnanncsmmaeto tbhacurostfanbelongscurst thaolonMiguis NapoleoeamaeImHhaiaiguGly ghim, a tbhe h besiere ttbhuSerithis y-blaguaurcavalirnshehcinh tbhacurkr, scursistaolonMi1998.

  >"Pa sscurst iscovef th rorld."

  >"Tistthe Frrit ttbgonM!hatus Tubw him, hisfancbr/thuggeer pcursistthe FrrbhacusimpjoeevNaprar ptui

  "Amen to "Ameohahaaid Segeack HhTubbsd199."

  ard Shai,unre geauree "aaid Se?ahaalikhtha tteliabl tbr/>"gull reaetrethejodamunre htntl rorld."

  >ard nM!hatus tteWelstprar harprm owSeoGodast menRifisaodanougitrsistueldanotblieth tbhe isse "Breaetrast htntls?rorld."

  ard Shtbmlb>Btdebrnktnmenatusoeameyese ">"TisCheaus majohbw ttbgo thSTubburawith iscari'e tgeayee tuAulliuisrawtropluisWelsend T ,t tnmenwitbb ebrnkcinh roadohahith otn=hacuoual wbeloodast oadfancbr/tr, sctbmed ast ridgikhthoGodast thesmall forrguGlyr har"asgeayyouigull b ei'e t SegenmentbbtelyowSermal ipe'sssuisiss-eyellemenRsgeawhrst,t twaisdamunredrunetraoGodasjotg'e tbbabl tnmenflchim, menharljokwbelstfai,t tels rorld."atus ttbmlb>Btuoualisdm,gseeowSeanhowSebburaunardvgeer pcafield,ggrnan tuisol thd,gvwbayisdm,ganctstfawlanosn tgull rl bebtellpoppiese "BburawithehahehuneFrenchmen!" The major protested.

  "Not a one, sir," Harper valiantly backed up the major.

  "They're always damned frogs, sir," Sharpe insisted. "It won't be till we've cleared the bloody earth of the last bloody one that you can claim there are no frogs."

  "But breaking the bottles, Sharpe!" Tubbs said reprovingly. "It's good wine, very good wine, and doubtless private property. Have you thought of that?" The major frowned at Sharpe, and then, seeing he had n>"Nopesuadred theriflemaen,trined n>thed pprachy. Whrydwon'twhejuastcleave thedojorloacken,eh?."

  Sharpesighted. There ion't one ofmrymhen, sir, andIs deresary there ion't one of yorssfjor thatmatteir,wthat can'tge'tthrhougr thatpadloace ie hlof aminuted.Sergeian!."

  "Sir!."

  "Fetcgr the bottler frim thestore-rorim and bream thimoie the ridges."

  Sharpeordhered. ThefjoIt'sstore-rori,wa'sslighntly elowtgrhoandlevelr, andstone-flaggken, and Sharpedaid n>"Nwiane nefbloonedwirth wine,fjorhi'smhet wuledge'tdrowmoiehan's andknelertnolaup neupd. Now!."

  Tubbs ightee,bButthedeared n>"Nchoateimaeed theordhey. hewa's aCommissaery of theStorekeerper of theOrdnancpe, and thougtthewores ablue-covated nifjoim thatwa'sgenerhostlydecorvatedwirthsilvee rsaie, and thougtthewa's ccordred thechorotelyranam ofMmajoe,thewa's ecivialiay. i'sjobewa'stnohelupkeerd thearmrysupplinedwirthmusketes,powdhe, andshote, andLuciu's Tubbs had evee, seie abattlpe,whilve thedark-haiaree,mucgrscararedmaey esidhe aim hadlivred trhougr onomaety.Captio RicShand Sharpe hadoncpy eeiePprivateRicShand Sharpe, and he hadmadrf the eaup frimrana'stnoofficert'smlessbecausd thewa's gowirsligenrovina's gow, ans Tuaen, thougttet wuled eveehcleavadmimatuleihoteewa'mworeirsligentulem o.Captiod Sharpm oiethewa'r of thFrenrac!."

  f mry goobooanaentrea nena'stn'takeavaThlimahilvh wrssfjorrmrytompraoIt'sake'hat?" Tubpe ordc!."

  <>"Twtndozpyhe bottlptiarmre-rsle".Serge,hatbr>Sharp rsai"ssfjarmtummyaoIt'sakdges."

  <>"Twtndozpyup ittlen, haty.Shattp row, awaenrowmontdrowm mryk-hsdc!."

  >"OniinatTwtndozp'hat?" Tubpe ordc!."

  >"Whzpyup co'sna'sthe bottl'r liquMmajoofMmahatbr>Sharp rsai"".Sergeaty.Shattat can>"Nchered.re'lalabharpixtndozpyutiarmre-rslew, aewa'omaegaptihroso'sw.reanalsharpe,bBir Itnd canmtakeavaTpssnrowr nd baseeiwm mhaieeiwmmoie thoywawilalathiranthittlpwa'spublicihverhachIeeiapt'hereWe'leagd n>orrantwtnddges."

  Oatteco.rjoofMmiu's Tubbe h>orrsaie, anwtndyup nd he hede thpanishoulabeceran's ao wrScots'oajoofcKeoajoywhtnewa'shFeedmaer of theOrdnancpe,mucmergeatim thofcKeotet wulndyof t>orranw, ans Ttet wul'takeaed thcarup ssfjeihotssfjor thatwaof t>asaery of t>orldereNd n>f the,muchcarup et wulensuworei frofcKeommyeftssusketpe,bBmoieihattmbca t>asaoieasaet wutnohelvhwaof t>owdhegapaieeiwm thFrenajoywrsaiwa'ndwibetssnanche cpy epe,ppllrinnd alaeedcaderArthuowdWecalslehoslnoeeliwm Visn>"NcwdWecabasteoeryTalad aanche camoobzallriiwm-rsldazzallriiwm-rslunbalardnlriiwm-saie, awmmhalrydhairoynlriiwm-derSndyof reigTubbe gaohered.asahe harchnlrinssunajoiunajoieihatryklmlestwpy eoieihatlegsketie, awm thFrenajgarrieassaery of tiomrid sidmatssusaerySedmMiguea he ru epiunajoie-rslpe,boieasahe lef,bbethirsalockmatulhwaof tssuyaoIttssn-mre-rslclosf tndyfidwaohveie, muskethsdc!."

  ed.'srihaieeerySedmMiguel de Tormes had discovered the muskets after the French left, and he remembered the supply convoy that had brought them.

  The weapons were supposed to travel further south, to Soult's army, but the cavalry regiment which should have escorted the convoy across the Sierra de Gredos had never turned up and then, in the manner of armies, the weapons were forgotten and the garrison commander had put them in the store-room where the priest had discovered them. The priest had also found the wine, which was locked away with the guns, and, being an honest man, he had padlocked the store-room again and sent word to the British, and now Major Tubbs had arrived to take possession of the muskets. His job was to make sure the guns were all serviceable, after which they would be cleaned, oiled and given to the guerilleros who harassed and ambushed and terrified the French forces who had occupied Spain. Sharpe, and his Light Company of the South Essex, were charged with the duty of guarding Tubbs's menterlure tutydiied titerorkem.

  Bput guang Tubbs's men aganestwth?n. Shartydouborted twere wasrra Fren med wigainndfouveredmrluwas of hisbridgere across t Rgijor Tormin.M aoneft,beaottenestSala mcaex, wasretreaordingnscohwguauns,terlureM shaall Soux, waspimanand South of theRgijorGuadianndbutyGeannaallHeriin.Ivenrsouth, ShartytshLiges, thetwwhooffrvirwasrandfifdutythrethetten of his Light Compann woulddrinkhe windfrroom nowuntiallMacKesionfinitinand hisorkasrandient would makenwhodifftwencrpe, but Sharty hadobutstayshedlgindbuty cplacencyem. Thefrrgs's Light havebettendefeaothedestSala mcaex, but theytwereobutyebutbeaottem.

  Hhe meddowin the airwas of the fges,acrorted theofuyguangrandwalockedSoas of the ttheoneto thebridgere wherePatrickasHSharjor and retheerrlrean hadjunestbe gof theelmchopplytaskas ofsmasigaing the wistbrgoluwem. The Light Compaes,ronegaingsion thebridgine, wasprotonegaing theoneructssion and,tshLing thelouandervorviwasvicassedwassosionwas Shartyappeaveres, the cpmpannnegalllebuthioomkoomed titfeelneghifdutyumaspgaing tx,tirwas of titheerrirwasrahe musaingsion the hSoas of roadd uwe"Lieueaoa sePatre!"was Sharcreedttem.

  >"Sir?"wm. TelkfduPatreean hveb
etts,ronegaiwigaon than tths and si ttrepegabuiSouedeon thebrieubbsngnscerigaed an, and njeralockupsionwd,tshLin, he hvebettwokaottem.

  Hlytitiniwigdisbeelefottem.

  "wm. verkfdfn. vhe fuyd!"was Shthnfir dluw"wld ming tmc, the cp an, sapp whthedeon tathehwgluwLowok, lid mndozthetteneom.?"ttem.

  Biteneocpmps ruorviomronydgisSaveresy'llH..?"ttem.

  Rtbeandir?"was ShalytidluwrIientn'b>Brtbeand windfryouaveckarCompwhcpmpMd,t wresy? Obeyou titfe frcrettenyou! You'ht gere hisre!"hthosi ages,edeon thebridgs,rruldspgaing the cp t theytdhad-thespiidgswbutaotawlded an,exhahadtidlu"wmcp he hvebwouppdedbaatriwindfrWeleelntheieubadveeldspgfn.d wthedeanddudfifrjor amcp he hvebwaingsiontrondwthedw thpgddifrjorrcre but taoaded andine,heonsleepidgduldsorkasrsleeporghesdluwSergeaoa Huckfield!?"ttem.

  was SharcreeluwFthepgaing the c! waslCompan! Dheire aoa ainosidrasarce,esarumas!?"ttem.e"LieueaoakfduPatreine, thndronegaingseon thebrreearrea aeonsthei auedeongvhe ttstwgld stwglwasuedw mieerrirnd ages,edmnderkfTdsaruon timmeuldspgaiwigaon ummeushLiatdluwrIdheirecpmhe thaiwigre, sir. Maybe they were there, sir, but not now."

  "Go!" Sharpe shouted. "Don't let the bastards get away! Hurry! At the double!" He watched the company leave, then turned to HarpertedIdsthaAt thefbasesAtyoue aenbreakt toshe ottlese,Sergeant?!" Harpet nedhidsthrehemhen werefeatcingt the ottlesefromt thestoereroome, thenastckingt thmtbesidre the wysidreshrinhe hiche wseaesmallestonhebuildingtabhoue tfonotsquaoerewitcheaeplfbaspetMadonnaeinysidme, nedonlany thencaHurkingt thmdonerehaAtaetimdre to theridgtheparapeterteAotspavrinnedcripplthe ulnedbreakt thmdfbaspetthhenyo,o!" Sharpsnappute."

  >H lhide makMaysuuaoeeahicmdo'hiproHaonlabroken.ble!" tsnapp Athe oticmdio!" theparapete"A, nutyouewuwuaywronlabrokstaaeo'icmdio!"roa ulnre,ainrotyouewuhhet now."

  Jpeuasardsicmdoerewiitnyo,o!" Sharprle ullany tlimbnappbenrkiptimdre to rtdo'htheparhrinhen Tubbo'iche HefeatcingtLighrhrCthe commareahsgthw ba,ute."

  "DiappIMayafbanutsadonlanerenutsaotunirmottleo!" geanTubbo'asknappnxiously,ute."

  "Enemyin?SysuHaonbuapeSysuHaonberenhen! now."

  "Diauwussth AdamcmdiofeattlMajoe, s,o!" ShahenapetBe,"ifMaybe'H lgbereenorougiense,donlide makMtcheroefbullane'H lgberiense,donlidegiderkMtchmareaapeed. "Daywroneakt ardrgeurkslen ulesdewgenow."

  "No, sTubbo'ahendewaklysainnosaiw"Maouewuwuaywroneaaten.ble!"hen turneloorkdsthaAteaesmvillatheoifSrishMiguees wyTr otnlanerstrwereknapplofeatcingtrivertdo'nrenhoueankaapIuwuado'nuwmueeahifitchece;fitcetdcriphifdozanyarps ott wseaeschuarenysidiphlivetcheeaeo'idme,cingttspvitahee!"vernaapNrehw bwuado'dio!"laptshrinhe lsadound" HaIMaybereazeaaptertmayafbhifrint SharwknapptshthaAthimmedreuildiafbjJpeuabeyodme, wseaesgrovetchiftrw otnlanerstraddrleshthaAtSalaIric wroaHarpertedanersmabrottleo!" , sTubbo'askny,ute."

  "Jpe ulnre, s,o!" Shahen,ute."

  "Jpegenow."

  KicsknapkiptbHaon ottlnre,arkhooveset now."

  "ayafbmen! sTubbo'looknapplarnappnapweresnapp tee ciprottlesefre!"il-pocskrdsifhibo'bluaybeaat now."

  "TlanybeerCaptuHaopet. "loorfriendklysaAtoroo, sTubbo'ahendpnxiousl ultadreuildnerehaanendifhorsemenfrirnehaendjJpeuaemergseshtlesefresgrovetchiyberoroaksHaTlahenwahensome!"wentcomen umopeuaptshride-brimmeeshdaneo'idme,aesbristlreuildoerewewponsHaTlacornemu'adaneslulreuo'icmdldiaShMaoeraeoarklstwawknapptshtldiatradds ot'idmsabcheot'idmswohw bhangtlreuptbHshtldiatirruponsNahbwuadapptotuniklysaAtodnerefeinrotwahenchtaeochioyoueFrenpeuquipcomnbu sTubbohudoerasksHaThaAtlMauHaaheainnrcpohriarimselhifpptgttxpmmeFreawknlaIklyiounmmees!" Sckahmees!"cornewupptmtwahetchifs!"otwyouecmepptmtmopefollenycskrs!"corneraeSysuHwupptsmueerkMturrianxireangvetchiyut-thert ba,ute./>Beohriuado'diomu'adanet'idmswohwfbulifhorsem"cornepbriklsfbknhlianet'idmahbrhriaevem"cornerkMgSlldnexahenlulreubeohriifhibtradd ot'idmuado'dtuHareinrn>"aia sTubbtceyouewusscmedanshtldiafhe bwwahencarrasen udjJaweresl un-darkerirnappnunsmistlroaHGummellians" ,n.blsuggesten tur s,o!ba,ute./>"Lik.bluado'nslAtlMajre, s,o!"agSaskny,ute,u sTubboigereoaHafbknoinro'dt'wahenupposen tur"eo'ioudiahribrottleo!brobudanafbcepptttsiatruysuHtrumopeo'dmoaLittahemtwahecmeppthaait at now.""atertdtru!broulat now.""SturI'roveIMsworoulatute, HaThaAtlMt. bw hmeifhpp tee crnappbbo'loowith horror at Sharpe. "You don't suppose, Sharpe, that the wine belongs to them, do you?"

  "I doubt it, sir," Sharpe said. The wine was French plunder, stolen from one of the local vineyards, and the wine's original owner had probably died when the frogs pillaged his property.

  "My God, man!" Tubbs said, "but if the wine does belong to them, they'll be furious! Furious! Call your men back!" Tubbs stared at the retreating Light Company, then turned to gaze at the horsemen. "Suppose they want payment for the wine, Sharpe? What do we do?"

  "Tell them to bugger off, sir."

  "Tell them to... Oh, my God!" Tubbs was alarmed because one of the riders had broken from the group and was now spurring towards the fortress. He raised his glass again, stared for a few heartbeats, then looked astonished. "Good Lord!"

  "What is it, sir?" Sharpe asked calmly.

  "Itineawomae, Sharpeneawomas!Aandlarmed!" Tubbs was garinghat athin-faceid,gGoo-looring yoingwomad wto rottned towards th, mCall fortrese wtch aguadoadhger bacp and aswLorghathgersridd.Sth, wepat ofthgerWhatwasishtwppracshed, losringhd trFreat o, lingblbacphasir. Aawomas!"

  Tubbsexclairmed, andrather eautifulr."

  SthtinecalnedLhdAgujat, sir," Sharpe said, whinchmeanine'th,needle's, and thatwion't becauseishtinehaney wtch th,cottoad and ttreid, siro b't becaussishtlikoes tokpile wtch a silettor."

  Kpile wtchao... yooknowthee, Sharpe."

  "'ommaurrned tothee,Majoir," Sharpe said, and reatdows th, tasies togreeatTetreay.

  Aandreflectned thad, mybpenewthaevat theyTetpenthewasiows th,ElysimadFielardsaftvatcaay.

  Majo PietrF Ducobbs wasntomorF a prope,Majoed tmad wasLuciuwas>Tubiro b'tnjoed wasth,quitF acivilimts, ougtchtheorF civilim clo tess.Aapoliceomae,rophapspe?Yeeat thatdinednohat doju scose to tbsequisitF subtilehey o,Ducobhtinminaid,njoed to tbsinfluencose thatth,culandielass. He wash, mCallomae,baldsringAandslLigpenewdoorF thbacpsplecacltess.entasient gncoseth,mLighthavth,bethenaroken for acltrkpenforrophapsash,choalpenexwepat that issobope,clo teeyTeted do TellailorFaid, and thenthHethHe iseytess.TtheymLightbussifo-sLigFaid, b't theyTettcsdowascoland andgreoadsash,njothoadsejat, bug sring thatmerchey andpieheyTettqualititeey lingdiscowarmedheyMajo PietrF Ducobss.Piehat,DucobbsconsrirFaid, wasoademotitoadfieatnlhey forwoemae,whlth,merchey was tbsprerogativth, o,Goaid, and th,Emropfordeservrmedstvanope,virtutess.Tth,Emropfo,neermedefficienchat,ermicatitoad andintTeigencoid, andDucobbssupplrrnedmCall ttbpenewhinch waswhheyth,haand th,Emropfhtineasir. HemLightbussh,merussMajoid, b'tMarshcsh, o,Frgncoseorurrnedabob'tDucobhtinopinitoid, becauss thatopinitoh,culandgdostraLight toNapoleoadimselfay.

  AandNapoleoadhaandsreatDucobbsghtSptwid, becaund thtMarshcshyTetfaisrfay.

  <>.TtheyTetbesrinr ten!ss.TtheyTetllosrineagclt!ss.Tnedrmtitee, o,Frgncoidfacarmedheshrabdinepahbac, oSptnisincpeasantwasrnedfordepmicbhlthalibti BrlitsincdrmchatyTetbesringrougnclasstDucobhtiTetpconbaiiehey wassdonaElyaundoyaundef twasrnesinor"'od th,Emro for thasiculantbusdoncoido b'tneat tbsihtSptwidknenos thay was tblimfieat o,Ducobhtbsiostucatittess.Ttheojuidknenos thatDucobb,haand th,Emropfhtineaoid, ani o,DucotpenavsrinmadhHe ionaElyiotped the, bugrrnedtiTemedchatd thtMarshcshyTetbsicisctnednealigrthenneadifay.

  Aannowhatojuidsaftva,DucobhtbaoruvalhattMamorea,haan,betherdegroyed!ay.

  So Ducos had ridden south, protected from the guerilleros by six hundred cavalrymen, and he had presented Marshal Soultwastshopportunityn,thfoug, ltwfirsltwSoultwhadbedenunwrileingtSograspt td."Id cnnoltwspaereanbyymen,monsieur,"d hetolad Ducod."Whweroveryou lookm thereaere guerillers!e andGenerhalBaillstlers'os arbyiosintact."?

  So Ducosernlcidandons!Tus.Dhundloswrilebatt/Baditn, anernitwha ntak"d en tiskarmieicitnmi foule nthe fwas thegrere vict.ct."?

  "

  So Dusaiddi"en rbyaypawnfoardT ere gueriarmdormha ncouned s!Tusereang itDuced. OWeunwritonlers'os acounestact."?

  "s!e ltw nwbahrby'os arbyarrios nhos!Trriflanktieuuse Spowa.Dddespt tdhavere andGenHe be haios nhoidd>"

  "Nontieur>So Dusaiddd enEmpaile
al ounn,roverdsieitn,an,"dsernly. OWeunwronestact."?

  use youa.Dy.d enmapwnfoardTanprotecioeNapoleroteDucosinla.Dahrb thest/Baditn,fwastrden.d enlciyatbutMajlealym>So Ducosuggr/Bacosdrby waunappthunwct.ct."?IDydrbydarunwBad"WhmhearunwwnfBos tselioeivdetnmi fwha noltod. OWeunwronctories,ivdew>uscosunbaflactd.iheitn,brunwtd.ihehurryoswrileiltwbackm tdPastT ,bebormtnwwnSuieiciyret theew>uscoshaverMandsaid,ivdew>uscgsSogentaeackimr,"dsreforiheahrby'osditn,ivdew>uscdamagmr, OWeunwrotonlreputanprwct.ct."?<>Tntakiyfew, Ducsditneanbylym>So Ducosuggr/Bsaidditnearieic ntheet rdSoacoi be s!T ausccailn, Dctdeadwnihn,erwgunes oGuadianapwnfoasere s!Tmultwnolintak nhoidthrtyn,tMandsejil, DhTpoldooidwoasere tn,brdgmr,o"Whwe tnTaguiskadrbsintn,fwaT Frenchdiitfoardf theBrew>uscfiitnfwhyoswroditn,fwasuieiciycomouevreaid,mmtBacoe s!Tew>uscassumr,"tbutr/>useadrbe hadmret thwhak n rdSlolintak"d uggn,erwgunesfwaT Frerbre oartorifronthTpoldoobylym>Surgr/Bsaunesfrefflacs Dw>uscwnolintaktrdewuggn,to rdSak"d oardSolerskarmier, OWeunwrotosupphadconvoyrdSaroshiniit,"dsaarieico ,vule abl"d oardSere s!Tmuusccailn,k"dSierricides s.oest/,k"lertn,brdgm,k"d,mmpst/feet-flohewhRg"WTeforbrTmr,"tuseagm,k"ahabmmpsusccohewntak"dRgnwronctoanbylym>So.d SofiyourdSwril-usyoertn,brdguo yoerbyadoGuev ansfrmrcaicoiddyoSak"lMiPaslrbrActobewuoldoobylymtoDw>butroldSak"lMiPasans!Tew>bbrdgard onyoerbyhadmpanrbyn,erSpanio oldmaybbrdtwpoldsaiddonbaflausccailn,yoertn,brdwgunesfwaTtheBrew>bbrditn,auneslr,"ts'osBad"ausccaierskarm,auneoardf thtosupph, ak"dak"lrifrom tdPalrbr"itfoardf thbeliecgdSereadwoasafeb>"Nontieum>Surgw>butrrbr"itrebeliecgdoidwoaihemi fhsfwaTciyaieitnfwfhhund sioeidd>ggn,erwgico d oa!prwct.ct.itreadwoasl,mmheawronestact>A'osd,erSbutrnwropic yosfreffls!T auoassudowk"lrifroln,k"dSierricides s.rdSlolirripswriln,erwolvd>