The Rakehell Regency(272)

Clifford cleared his throat. "If you're all finished teasing one another, can I finish?"



Pamela had enjoyed the lively banter, but was eager to hear the rest of the gripping letter. "Yes, please, do go on," she urged.



"'The hard campaign has meant a lot of wounds, but it shows the character of my men that they refuse to go home, even though many have ample cause. They are all determined to see this through to the end. Lieutenant Colonel Barnard, commanding the 95th, was very badly injured at the Battle of the Nivelle River in November. A musket ball passed right through his lungs, and his breath began to rattle in his throat and he started to bleed from the mouth.



"'He had also fallen off his horse right onto the hilt of his sword, and bruised himself badly all over. I was grief-stricken to think it might be all up with him, after all the time we've been together. He's a truly decent human being, and his only flaw, as you may remember, is his inordinate fondness for cigars. Well, bless my soul if he didn't come riding up to Bayonne to start the siege there exactly four weeks after sustaining such a devastating hurt.'"



"'Oh, good old Andrew!" Jonathan said, obviously relieved. "He took over from their first commander Beckwith, who was invalided out about the time Clifford and Thomas were injured. We spent most of the war alongside the 95th. We were in the 45th."



"Yes, Beckwith made sure we got back safely. Both were really excellent men," Clifford said.



Jonathan reached out for the letter, and resumed reading, worried that more gruesome details might follow. "'The 45th has been going along well, at Sorauren, the passes into the Pyrenees, and at the Nivelle. I am happy to report that there have been no major casualties there.



"'As for our colleagues in the 92nd, whom we have grown so close to throughout our times together, I'm sorry to report that they have seen a lot more action. Arnot, both Lieutenant and Captain McPherson, and Ensign Mitchell are no more. In fact, James MacPherson died this morning, on New Year's Day. A terrible way to start 1814, but let us hope he has gone to a better place.'"



"Amen," Jonathan said devoutly.



"'Chisholm, Cattanach and Holmes are wounded, but expected to recover in time. Reg MacDonald too has been laid low. The Earl of March is in good health and asking for you. He is still with the 52nd, of course, but never forgets his old comrades, and is as good a soul as ever lived. He will be a great man one day when he becomes Duke of Richmond.



"'Duncan McPherson is still only an Ensign, and still gets wounded in almost every engagement from the time he first fought in Holland in 1792. But he never goes home, draws a sick pension, nor complains. He's truly an inspiration to us all. He has told me to send what I would guess to be all his love to everyone in the Scots tongue.



"'There can be no finer soldiers than the Scots and Irish, who make up the bulk of our army. I've been so impressed with the Highland Regiments I will admit to trying to play the bagpipes, though I can scarcely blow through the narrow chanter. I'm also sorely tempted to change my name to MacAvenel. Mac means 'son of' so it would be accurate enough. They fight with outstanding bravery, and in kilts, no less. I'd like to design my own tartan as well, for dress occasions for my clan. My only regret is there are so few of us now. May my brothers rest in peace.'"



"Amen," Jonathan said again.



"'Finally, I would like to tell you the truth about the battle of the Nive, for the newspapers made it seem as if Daddy Hill bungled. To my mind there is no finer commander than Rowland, steady as they come, no matter what the crisis. Wellington can count on him to get the job in hand done no matter how impossible it might be, as we have seen time and time again ever since all of this started.



"'In truth, the near disaster occurred because the new bridge they had constructed and been relying upon washed away in the torrential rains. One can be the best general in the world, but one cannot conquer nature.



"'In fact, he saved the situation at St. Pierre when Peacocke of the 71st and Bunbury of the Buffs lost their nerve and actually left the field of engagement. Hill held firm, and fed in reinforcements a handful at a time wherever they could fit into the river crossing being so hotly contested. He declared, 'Dead or alive we must hold our ground,' and fought like a demon by our sides.'"



"Oh my," Pamela said, wide eyed. "The Buffs?"



"A great man, Rowland Hill," Jonathan said with an approving nod. "And they're the 3rd Foot, called the Buffs because of their light colored facings on their uniforms."



"Lieutenant Colonel Cameron could see we were in danger of being overwhelmed, pulled us out, drew us back into ranks, and led the charge himself right over the bodies of our fallen comrades, declaring they served even in death, and that we should not allow their sacrifice to be made in vain.