02 - Keane's Challenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘It’ll be a bloody business. I cannot do anything immediately to raise the siege. I have neither the men nor the equipment to help. To try would be to weaken our position. But you can be sure Massena will take the town too soon, unless we act.’ He looked at the map and, as if his mind had completed an equation, barked the answer. ‘Murray, have General Craufurd’s Light Division move to Ciudad directly, with a brigade of cavalry in support. I can spare no more. Instruct the general not to engage the enemy but to observe him and to harass him if possible. The Rifles and a few squadrons of Light Dragoons will do the job nicely.’
    Murray nodded. ‘Yes, Your Grace. We could send a division of Portuguese also. Or more cavalry.’
    Wellington shook his head. ‘No. No more. I told you, I cannot afford to raise the siege. I can merely divert the French. To move on Ciudad would imperil our own lines. There is nothing forit. Herrasti will have to succumb eventually. There is no need to go on wasting men on him. But Craufurd will hold them up for long enough, long enough for us to act. And he knows not to commit his men. No point in sending the cavalry. Once they’re off, they’re off, and we lose them. Good in the saddle, but damned uncontrollable fellows. Every one of them.’
    He turned back to Keane. ‘In the meantime, Keane, I shall need to know more if I’m to outwit Marshal Massena. I have not the men nor the resources to meet him on equal terms in the field, so we shall have to achieve by guile what we cannot by force of arms.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘You have the Germans with you?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Good. You will take them with your own men and make a reconnaissance in force. Attach yourself to General Craufurd’s force, but keep out in front of it. I don’t want you drawn into any large actions. By all means you may give the French a bloody nose, Keane, if you find the opportunity. But just that. No more. Remember, your job is not to fight; it is to observe and report. That is how you are of the best use to me.’
    He looked back to the map. ‘Once Ciudad falls, Marshal Massena can do one of only two things.’
    He pointed again. ‘He can advance down here, to the south, towards Elvas and Badajoz, or he can move here, quickly to the west. Against the fortress at Almeida. It is my guess and indeed my hope that he will do the latter. The road through Elvas is too heavily defended and soon he must know that. If he comes by way of Almeida, we can hold him off there for two months. Which will give us the time we need to complete the lines of defence. Then we can meet him, or part of his army, on groundof our choosing and beat him before we take to the lines. That way we can force him to withdraw.’
    Keane looked at the map and saw the simple, brilliant genius of Wellington’s plan by which he would win against a force three times his in number.
    ‘That is what I require from you, Captain Keane. Assurance that Massena will advance upon Almeida. I know that you cannot change the marshal’s orders or his decision. But let me know what he intends and I will be able to steal a march on him. That is all I need: time. I must have three months to complete the fortifications. Three months. We are now in June. The engineers tell me that it will take until September.’
    He looked away and gazed out of the window across the town. ‘London is opposed to me, Keane. Outside here, in the anteroom, as you came in, you will have noticed another officer waiting to enter.’ He turned quickly. ‘Did you know him?’
    ‘No, sir. I can’t say that I did.’
    ‘That, Keane was a Major Cavanagh. Lately arrived from the Horse Guards. Major Cavanagh enjoys the patronage of the prince regent and he comes bearing a message for me.’
    ‘Sir?’
    ‘A message, and with it an order. He bids me to engage the French immediately. The prince regent wants a victory. He wants me to dazzle our friends in Austria and his own friends