During the three days that were spent in reconnoitering the country
Hector Campbell learnt more than he would have done in as many years
under ordinary circumstances. Turenne took the greatest pains to point
out to him how the nature of the ground could be taken advantage of, how
flanks could be protected against attack by comparatively small bodies,
occupying positions from which they could be with difficulty expelled;
how important was the action of guns, especially when so placed as to
be able to sweep the ground across which an enemy must advance in any
endeavour to turn the position of an army. Turenne, on his part, took
pleasure in instructing a pupil who was at once so eager to learn, and
who showed himself so apt in profiting by his teaching.
“You see,” he said, “I am concerned rather in defensive positions at
present than in seeing how we could best turn an enemy barring our
advance. Although the greater portion of the dominions of the duchess
has fallen into the hands of the enemy, she is fortunate in that the few
places that remain are those that at once enable her to make a defence
with comparatively small forces; and at the same time, it is possible
for her to receive aid from France, or, if absolutely necessary, for her
to fall back across the Alps. Susa, her headquarters, lying at the mouth
of the valley up which the road over Mount Cenis finds its way, at once
guards the pass and keeps open communication with France.
“It is, as it were, the handle of a fan, and can be approached by three
main roads only,--those to Turin, Carignano, and Chivasso. Unfortunately
Turin is in the enemy's hands, but as the duchess's troops still hold
the citadel, an advance could not very well be made until that has
fallen. Chivasso and Carignano are safe from any sudden attack. There
are other minor roads, but so long as these towns are in our hands
and held by strong garrisons, an enemy advancing by any of these roads
towards Susa would be liable to have their communications cut, and their
convoys captured by parties from these fortresses. It has long been a
fixed idea in military operations that an army cannot advance as long
as a town near the line of route is held by the enemy. That idea is an
erroneous one, and several times upon the Rhine we have gained successes
by neglecting this rule and disregarding the towns, contenting ourselves
with leaving a force sufficient to keep the garrison in check.
“The Spaniards, however, are slow to change their tactics, good soldiers
as they are. The consequence is that, although greatly superior in
force, last year they made no offensive movement against us. We have had
several regiments join us since we arrived here, and although I believe
the enemy's force to be twice as strong as our own, I have no doubt that
the Count d'Harcourt will as soon as he arrives decide upon taking the
offensive. You see our position here, guarded as it is on both flanks by
the line of mountains, is as favourable for offence as defence, for we
can advance either through Carignano on our right or Chivasso on our
left; and however the enemy may dispose themselves they are vulnerable
on one side or the other.”
This anticipation was justified. D'Harcourt arrived three days later.
A council of war was held, and it was decided that an advance should at
once be made against the enemy. The main body of the Spanish troops were
posted in a fortified camp at Villanova, halfway between Asti and Turin.
Leaving only a small body of troops to guard the lower valley of
Susa from an attack by the Spaniards at Turin, the army advanced
to Carignano, and thence towards Villanova. The Spaniards, however,
although nearly twice as strong as the French, were so much surprised
at the boldness of this proceeding that instead of marching out to give
battle they contented themselves with strengthening still further
the defences of their camp, and in order to force them to come out
d'Harcourt advanced to Chieri--called by the French Quiers--a town
situated between Villanova and Turin, and about two leagues distant from
each.
Turenne was in command of the cavalry, and took post between Chieri and
Villanova. The Spaniards, however, made no effort to relieve the town,
which capitulated after a resistance of only two or three days. While
the siege was proceeding, a large convoy of provisions succeeded,
unmolested, in making its way to Casale, and thus placed the garrison
there in a position to hold out for several weeks to come. But a very
small store of provisions was found in Chieri, and the army was forced
to fall back towards Carignano to obtain food from the stores collected
there. The Marquis of Leganez, whose headquarters were at Asti, knowing
that the French had sent all the stores they had brought with them to
Casale, had foreseen that this would be the case, and advancing rapidly
with the troops from Villanova seized Poirino, on the line by which the
French would retire, while at the same time Prince Thomas, who commanded
at Turin, advanced with the greater portion of his troops, and marched
towards the little river Santina, intending to cross there. Thus the
French army could not retire on Carignano without exposing both flanks
to the attack of the enemy.
During the short campaign Hector had ridden behind Turenne, and shared
in the general disappointment of the army when the enemy refused to
accept their offer of battle, and still more so when after the capture
of Chieri it became necessary to retreat. His two fellow aides-de-camp
loudly bewailed the bad fortune that thus obliged them to retire without
having effected anything beyond the capture of an insignificant town,
which, however, had the advantage of opening a way for them into the
heart of the country then held by the enemy.
“You seem to take it rather philosophically, Campbell,” de Lisle said to
Hector, as he remained silent while they were bemoaning their fate.
“I do not see that it is of any use taking it otherwise. At least we
have had the satisfaction of bearding the Spaniards, who indeed seem
to me to behave wisely in remaining in their intrenchments and waiting
until they can unite all their forces against us. However, we have shown
them that we are not afraid of them, and that even in the middle of
November we are so eager to meet them that we have hastened to take the
field and to strike a blow before winter sets in in earnest; but I think
it possible that we may have a fight yet before we get back. Leganez
has the reputation of being a good general, and he may yet combine his
troops at Asti with those of Villanova and Turin and try to cut us off
from Carignano.” At this moment Turenne suddenly entered the room.
“To horse, gentlemen! News has come that Prince Thomas is marching at
the head of three thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse to cut us off,
and that Leganez is moving with all speed towards Poirino with the same
object. Carry my orders for a thousand cavalry and as many infantry to
be ready to march at once. We must be beforehand with Prince Thomas.”
In ten minutes the cavalry and infantry selected were in movement, and
Turenne, placing himself at the head of the former, rode on at a gallop,
and keeping on at full speed with his cavalry, occupied the bridge
before Prince Thomas came up. On his arrival, the latter, having with
him three thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse, prepared to attack,
but before he did so Turenne's infantry arrived. The Spaniards attacked
with fury, but Turenne's troops stood firm and repulsed them, and as
soon as they fell back charged in turn, broke the enemy, and drove them
in headlong rout towards Turin. Prince Thomas himself was twice unhorsed
and thrown into a ditch, but it was now almost dark, his rank was
unrecognized, and he succeeded in making his escape and rejoining his
scattered troops.
While this fight was going on, d'Harcourt had attacked the Marquis of
Leganez and gained a considerable advantage, but not knowing how the
fight was going on at Santina did not venture to advance towards the
Po. As soon, however, as a messenger from Turenne brought him news
that Prince Thomas had been defeated he continued his march towards
Carignano. He was speedily joined by Turenne's horse, which took up the
duty of rear guard and checked the Spaniards, who were pressing on in
hopes of attacking the French as they crossed the river. He held them at
bay until d'Harcourt had got all his guns and baggage wagons across the
river, and then, following him, broke down the bridge and joined him at
Carignano. Here the army went into winter quarters.
D'Harcourt, whose health was bad, retired to pass the winter at
Pinerolo, leaving the command in the hands of Turenne, who again
established himself at Susa, and began to make preparations for throwing
a convoy of provisions into the citadel of Turin.
During the fight at Santina Hector remained behind Turenne, while the
two young Frenchmen, carried away by their ardour, joined in the hot
pursuit of the enemy. The prince, who had led the charge, had halted.
“Are you alone here, Monsieur Campbell?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where are de Lisle and Chavigny?”
“They rode on with the cavalry, sir.”
Turenne frowned.
“You have done well to remain. An aide-de-camp's place is to carry
orders, not to fight. Now, sir, ride at once to the count. I hear his
battle is still going on. Tell him that I have defeated and scattered
the troops of the prince, and that as soon as I can gather my men I
shall march to join him.”
Hector bowed, turned his horse and galloped off, while the general rode
on, sending every officer he overtook in search of the cavalry with
orders that they were to abandon the pursuit and return instantly. That
evening after they had entered Carignano he called de Lisle and Chavigny
into his room.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “you will have to choose whether you remain with
me or join one of the cavalry regiments. If you remain with me, you must
bear in mind in future that you are my aides-de-camp, and that your sole
duty here is to carry my orders, and not to fight like troopers in a
battle. It is through hotheadedness of this sort that battles are lost.
A general, without officers to carry his orders, can do nothing towards
controlling the movements of his troops in battle, of following up a
victory or covering a defeat.”
The two young officers hung their heads and murmured their excuses.
“Enough, gentlemen,” Turenne said. “I am perfectly aware that it was
your ardour that carried you away, but ardour is a bad leader. Over and
over again the ardour of cavalry to pursue the troops they have defeated
has brought about the loss of a battle. Courage is a virtue, and most
soldiers possess it, but steadiness and coolness are rarer and more
useful, and on the part of officers on a general's staff are absolutely
indispensable. I doubt not that you will remember this in future, and
that I shall not have reason to complain of you again.”
The next morning it was Hector's turn to be in attendance on the
general.
“You behaved as I expected you would do,” Turenne said, when he entered
his room on hearing the bell sound. “You fought close to me as long as
there was fighting to be done, and I observed that you used your sword
well. The moment I drew rein you did the same, and took up your post
behind me, showing that although this was your first battle you retained
your coolness. I will therefore tell you in confidence that Count
d'Harcourt has enjoined me to throw provisions, if possible, into the
citadel at Turin. It will take me some time to make arrangements, and my
only fear is that the garrison, on hearing that we have retired across
the Po--of which you may be sure the Spaniards will take care to inform
them--may believe that we shall do no more this winter; and as we know
that their provisions must be well nigh exhausted, they will abandon the
citadel and march thither.
“It is now well nigh eighteen months since they were first cut off. It
is certain that their investment is a very close one, and that the most
vigilant watch is used to prevent news of any kind from reaching them
from the outside. We have made several efforts to communicate with them,
but without success. Some of the messengers we sent never returned,
and were, doubtless, detected and killed. Others came back and reported
their failure, saying that every avenue to the citadel was so closely
watched that it was impossible to get through.”
“Have you any objection, general, to my mentioning this matter to
my boy? I am absolutely convinced that he is thoroughly faithful and
trustworthy.”
“You may do so if you like, Campbell, though it is hardly likely that
he will be able to suggest any method of communication with the garrison
that has not already been tried.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The general shortly afterwards went out to wait upon the duchess; in two
hours he returned, and as soon as he did so Hector entered his room.
“What is it?” Turenne asked.
“I have been thinking about what you said about the garrison of Turin.
I have been talking it over with Paolo, and have come to offer to do my
best to deliver a letter from you to the garrison if you will do me the
great honour to entrust the mission to me. We both think that two boys
would be much more likely to succeed than men. No one would regard them
with suspicion; and they could creep and crawl more easily. I do not say
that we should succeed, but I think that we should have some chance of
doing so. At any rate I am willing to try.”
“It would be a very dangerous expedition,” Turenne said gravely.
“Not more dangerous than going into a battle, viscount. Not a quarter as
dangerous as storming a breach.”
Turenne smiled. “The idea has passed through my mind,” he said, “but I
should not have proposed it had you not first spoken. It is the sort of
mission in which I thought you could be made useful, but it is a rough
adventure to begin with, and you must not minimize the danger. It is the
duty of a soldier to run the risk of being killed in battle, but it
lies beyond his duty to go into the enemy's camp to obtain news. He
may volunteer for it, but with a knowledge that if detected he would
assuredly be hanged.”
“I do not think, general, that the risk of detection would be great,
but the risk of failure would be so. If when we get there we can see no
possible means of passing through the line of sentries, there would be
nothing to do but to come back, and I own that in talking it over the
thought that I might be obliged to return and to tell you that I had
failed occupied a much larger portion of my thoughts than the risk of
being detected.”
“But I shall not expect you to succeed, Campbell; the chances are
a hundred to one against it. I should be glad, however, to have the
experiment tried once again, so that if the garrison capitulates before
we arrive to its succour, I shall not be able to blame myself for not
having made one more effort to induce them to hold out for another few
weeks. Have you thought of your plans?”
“Only so far, sir, that we shall dress up as two country boys, cross the
Po, and enter the city from the other side. After that we must be guided
by circumstances and trust to good luck. May I ask, general, if you have
a plan of the city and fortress?”
“Yes; at least the duchess has one, which she has placed at my disposal.
I can send an officer to the palace to request her to let me have it.
No doubt it would be a great advantage to you to study the position
beforehand.”
“Well, sir, we will see about getting our disguises at once.”
“I will give you an order on the paymaster for a hundred crowns for
special service,” Turenne said. “It is as well to be amply provided with
money, as it may be necessary to buy fresh disguises or to bribe someone
to conceal you;” and he drew an order on the treasury and handed it to
Hector.
“You will find the plan of the town in your room when you return.”
Paolo was waiting for him.
“It is settled, Paolo; we are to go.”
“This is an adventure after my own heart,” the boy said with delight.
“It will be great fun to outwit the Spaniards.”
“Yes, but we must mind that they don't outwit us, Paolo, which is quite
as likely. Now let us talk of our disguises again. I think you had
better go and buy them. I would rather get old ones than new. I don't
suppose that anyone is likely to take notice of me in the streets, but
it would be well at any rate that we should not both have new clothes,
and better that neither of us did so.”
“I can manage that, sir. There are shops here where one can buy old
clothes as well as new ones. I noticed one the other day in a narrow
street by the wall. I wondered then who would buy some of the garments
hung up. They were so old and so often mended that it was difficult to
say what was the original colour. The people are very poor up in the
mountains; since the war began, doubtless they have grown poorer, and
are glad to buy anything that will cover them.”
“Well, here are ten crowns.”
“They won't cost half that, master, but I will take them.”
“Mind and get something warm, Paolo; it is like enough that we shall
have to sleep more than once in the open air, and the winds are bitterly
cold.”
In half an hour the officer came with the plan, which Hector at once set
to to study. The citadel stood on ground but little, if at all, higher
than that upon which the town was situated. It was pentagonal in form,
and was built in 1565, and was the earliest fortification in Europe in
this style, and was considered a masterpiece. It was separated from the
town by its glacis. A deep fosse ran along the foot of the wall. The
town itself was walled, and extended to the foot of the citadel, and
was capable of offering a sturdy resistance even after the citadel had
fallen, just as the citadel could protect itself after the capture of
the town by an enemy. Hector examined carefully that portion of the town
facing the citadel, and took notes of the streets that ran through to
the walls, specially noting those which extended farthest from the wall
before being broken by cross lanes.
It was evident from the width of the streets that this was the poorest
quarter of the town, for the wealthy would not care to build their
houses in a position where, if the town and citadel were hostile to each
other, they would be exposed to the fire of the latter's guns.
In another half hour Paolo returned with a large bundle. It contained
two coarse cotton shirts, two warm garments resembling waistcoats, and
fastened by strings closing up to the neck, two red sashes of coarse
flannel, and two loose doublets reaching down to the hips. These were
worn and patched, but had been newly lined with sheepskin. The breeches,
which reached down to the knee, were of coarse brown cloth; to cover the
leg below the knee were bands of gray flannel which were wrapped round
and round the leg and foot, while over these were worn wooden shoes. The
hats were of conical shape with wide brims, and both, like the clothes,
bore signs of long wear.
“It could not have been better, Paolo,” Hector said as he examined them.
“I have seen scores of boys so dressed, and we shall certainly attract
no attention by our garb. They are warm, too, and we sha'n't come to any
harm from sleeping out in them.”
“They cost more than I expected, master, owing to the doublets being
freshly lined, but I thought it would be worth it.”
“Quite right! those sheepskins will be most useful. There is one thing
more we shall want, a thin rope, that will bear our weight well, some
twenty yards long. You had better go to a smith's and get him to make a
strong iron hook, by which we can fix the rope on to the edge of a wall
should it be needed. You had better have it made a good nine inches
across the hook, and the shank fifteen inches long.”
After again studying the map he took it to the general.
“We have our disguises, sir, and shall be ready to start tomorrow
morning.”
“You have lost no time,” the general said approvingly. “You will, of
course, ride to Chivasso. I will give you an order to the governor
there, to take charge of your horses and clothes, telling him that you
are about to proceed on a mission in disguise, and requesting him to
send an officer to pass you through the outposts beyond the bridge
across the Po, that is if the other side is not guarded by the Spanish
troops. I should advise you to make straight south so as to strike the
road from Casale two miles west of Turin. I do not like letting you go,
lad, and yet I feel it is of such importance that the garrison should
know that aid will be at hand before long, that I feel I ought not to
prevent you from carrying out your enterprise. When do you think of
starting?”
“At eight in the morning, sir. If we do so we shall easily reach
Chivasso before dark, and may be near Turin by morning.”
“I will have my note for the commandant ready by the time your horses
are at the door. I will make it as small as possible, and you had better
before you start sew it up in the lining of your coat, so that if you
are searched--which I own I do not think to be likely, unless in some
other way you excite the suspicions of the Spaniards--it may not be
found upon you.”
“I think, sir, that I would rather make it into a little pellet which
I can swallow. I fancy that if they were suspicious enough to search me
they would rip all the linings open.”
“That would be a better way certainly, Campbell; I see that you have
thought the matter over thoroughly. Of course, you will take no arms
with you.”
“Nothing but a long knife each. Every peasant carries one, and it may be
possible that we shall be compelled to silence a sentinel. If you would
not mind, sir, I should like to have six copies of your letter to the
commandant. I could manage to swallow six as well as one, and as it is
not likely that I shall be able to enter the citadel it would be as well
to give them a better chance of finding the letter if I have to try to
shoot or throw it in.”
“That shall be done; we will use the thinnest paper, so that if you have
to swallow them you can do so without difficulty.”
“If I find that I cannot by any possibility get my message in through
the town, sir, I shall try to cross the river and so make my way in on
that side.”
“That would be even more dangerous than the other,” Turenne said. “On
that side an even stricter watch is likely to be kept than on that
facing the town, for the Spaniards know that the garrison is not strong
enough to attempt any enterprise against the city, while it might at any
moment attempt to break out and march away on the other side.
“I own that I do not see myself how you can possibly succeed in either
case, but assuredly there must be more chance on the side of the town.
I have been thinking it over, and will order a troop of cavalry to
ride with you to Chivasso, for the Spanish horse from time to time make
forays from Turin, carry off prisoners, and burn villages. Until we are
in a position to make a general advance it is impossible to check these
attacks without keeping the whole of our cavalry massed near Turin, and
wearing out horses and men by the necessity for perpetual vigilance. And
now, goodbye; may fortune attend you! Do not be too rash. The letters
shall be sent you in an hour's time.”
As they issued out from Susa they found the troop of cavalry awaiting
them. The officer in command was well known to Hector, and said:
“So it is you that I am to escort to Chivasso, Monsieur Campbell?”
“Yes; I am sorry to give you occasion for so much trouble.”
“No trouble at all; we have not been in the saddle for the past week,
and a ride to Chivasso will make a pleasant change. Besides, I have
a brother in the garrison there, so that altogether I shall be your
debtor. You see, we are not allowed to ride beyond St. Ambrogio, or
Rivoli at farthest, for once beyond that, we should be liable to be
caught by the enemy's scouting parties. Of course we have a strong force
at Rivoli, but except to drive off small parties of the enemy who
may venture to come up too close, they are forbidden to engage in any
affairs. It is annoying, but one can understand that the general is
anxious to avoid encounters in which the enemy is sure to be superior
in force, until his reinforcements come up and we are able to take the
field in earnest.”
“I do not think we shall be otherwise than inferior in force even when
our last regiment comes up,” Hector said. “What with Holland and the
Rhine and the frontier of Spain, it is clear that the cardinal must have
as much as he can do to enable all our commanders to make head against
the enemy, and it is no secret that beyond one more regiment of cavalry
that will arrive with Count d'Harcourt, no other reinforcements are
likely to reach us for some time to come. But then, you see, we have
Turenne as well as d'Harcourt, and each of them ought to count for two
or three thousand men.”
“Well, I would rather fight against long odds,” the officer said, “than
be kept here month after month doing nothing. Here is winter coming on,
and I suppose that will put a stop to everything.”
“I should hardly think so,” Hector replied. “I am sure that the viscount
is as eager for action as we are, and winter here is not the same thing
as in Holland or on the Rhine. From what I hear there is very little
snow in the plains; and as the country is generally flat, an army could
march almost as easily as in summer, and in some respects they would be
better off.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean that in summer the barns would be all empty of food until filled
again by the harvest, whereas in winter they would be all well stocked
with forage for the cattle and horses.”
“You are right, Monsieur Campbell. Certainly there should be nothing to
prevent our operating through the winter, and I shall look forward even
more eagerly than I did before for d'Harcourt's return. Will you come
back with us tomorrow from Chivasso?”
“That will depend upon circumstances. I think it is more probable that I
shall not return to Susa for a few days; my orders are to report myself
to the governor.”
No bodies of the enemy's cavalry were met with on the way, and at four
o'clock in the afternoon they rode into Chivasso. They alighted at the
commandant's, and on stating that he was the bearer of a despatch from
the general Hector was at once shown in. As he had more than once ridden
there with despatches from Turenne, he was known to the officer.
“We heard of the victory three days since,” the latter said, as Hector
handed him the despatch, “and fired a salvo of guns in honour of it. An
Italian deserter from the other side brought the news. The two generals
were unwounded, I hope?”
“Yes, colonel, and our losses were altogether slight.”
The commandant opened the despatch. He looked a little surprised at
its contents. “So you are going to endeavour to pass a message into
the citadel. It is a difficult undertaking. The enemy's watch is a
very vigilant one. Once or twice during the siege men have succeeded in
swimming the Po and evading the enemy's guards, but of late these have
been doubled, for it is thought that the garrison may attempt to break
out. On the town side the firing has all but ceased; they know that the
store of provisions is almost exhausted, and regard it as a waste of
powder and shot to continue their cannonade, which only results in
the citadel answering it, and that with very much more effect than the
Spanish guns produce. May I ask if you have any plan of getting in?”
“No, sir, we must decide upon that when we see how matters stand.”
“Who is the we?” the colonel asked.
“Myself and my servant, who is a very sharp and intelligent lad whom I
can thoroughly trust. Alone I could do nothing, for I have only picked
up a few phrases in Italian yet, and should be detected at once; so
anything that has to be said must be said by him. May I ask, sir, if the
enemy are in force on the other side of the bridge? if so, we must cross
by swimming, either above or below it.”
“No; there was a regiment there until three days ago, but they marched
away, and no doubt formed a portion of Prince Thomas's force. They know
well enough that although our garrison can hold the walls, we are not
strong enough to undertake any enterprise.”
“Then, sir, we have only to ask for an escort for a mile or so beyond
the other side of the bridge, in case a company should have been left
to watch the road. Beyond that we will dismount and proceed on foot. We
will, if you please, put on our disguises here, with the exception of
our hats, and perhaps you will lend us a couple of long cloaks, so that
our appearance may not be noticed. Although we shall not start until
after dark, it is as well to be upon the safe side. Maybe the enemy have
spies in the town, and were it noticed that two young peasants rode out
under the escort of a troop of cavalry news might be sent to Turin. In
that case we might be arrested as soon as we entered the city. I should
be obliged if you would give orders to the officer in command that one
of the troopers should bring the horses, cloaks, and hats back here with
him.”
The governor rang a bell, and on an orderly entering said: “Tell Captain
Sion to have his troop in readiness to start in an hour's time, in order
to form an escort for one of Viscount Turenne's officers, and tell
him that when he has the troop ready to start he is to come to me for
detailed orders. I have said an hour, Monsieur Campbell,” he went on,
after the orderly had left the room, “because, in the first place, it
is not yet dark, and in the second, it will take some twenty minutes to
prepare a meal. You will have a long night's work before you, and I dare
say you have had nothing since you halted for breakfast.”
“Thank you, colonel, I had not thought of it; but I should certainly
have remembered it before tomorrow morning. We halted for breakfast at
eleven, and if it had not been for your kind offer we should have had
no chance of getting anything till we entered Turin, and even there the
less we go into any cabarets the better.”
“That is true. I have sent a message to the cook that twenty minutes is
the utmost we can give for the preparation of a meal.”