I haven’t already reported to Mornington.’ He looked at Arthur shrewdly. ‘I imagine that one of your tasks here is to represent the interests of your brother.’
‘He asked me to write to him from time to time, sir.’
‘I’m sure he did. Well now, I imagine you want me to brief you on the latest situation here.’ Harris eased himself back and interlaced his fingers beneath his chin. ‘The truth is that my attempts to prepare our forces for war have been somewhat hampered by Webbe and his companions on the Madras Council. Those forces that I already have at my disposal have been sent forward, close to the border with Mysore, to discourage any attempt by Tipoo to stir up trouble along the frontier. I have other units in training, but the Company is refusing to release weapons and gunpowder from their arsenal until they are guaranteed payment by the War Office in London.’ He caught Arthur’s eye and sighed. ‘I know, it’s farcical. But what can one expect when control of our Indian possessions is divided between the government and a private concern? John Company treats Tipoo as if he was a business rival.’
Arthur laughed. ‘There aren’t many business rivals I know of who throw the competition to their pet tigers to be eaten alive.’
‘Precisely.’ Harris nodded. ‘But perhaps that wouldn’t be a bad idea. Might buck their ideas up a bit.’
‘I can imagine, sir.’
‘Anyway, I had better introduce you to the rest of my small planning staff. If you’d follow me.’
Harris led the way down the corridor to another office where two officers were busy at their desks as they entered. Arthur recognised the younger man instantly. He had met Henry Ashton briefly in England before setting out for India. Ashton was, like Arthur, a full colonel, and commanded the King’s 12th Foot. He had a few days’ seniority over Arthur.That meant he would always be the superior whenever the two of them served together.
‘Hello, Arthur.’ Ashton stood up with a broad smile and offered his hand. ‘Haven’t seen you for a while. I understand you’ve come to join us in the crusade against the Tipoo.’
‘I had no idea that this was to be a religious struggle.’
Ashton laughed and Harris exchanged a look with the other officer, a much older, weathered-looking man in the uniform of the East India Company.
‘Young bloods,’ Harris muttered in an exasperated tone. ‘Will they never grow up? Arthur, since you obviously know Ashton, let me introduce you to Lieutenant Colonel Barry Close - the real brains behind the staff work here in Madras. Close knows as much about the languages and customs of the natives as any white man in India and I’m damned lucky to have his services.’
Close nodded modestly and thrust out his hand. ‘Colonel, glad to meet you, sir.’
‘My pleasure.’
Harris backed away and turned towards the door. ‘Yes, well now that you’re introduced, Close can tell you what your responsibilities will be. I’ll leave you in his hands.’
‘Very good, sir.’
Once the door had shut behind the general, Close quickly scrutinised the new arrival before he continued. ‘Right then, you’re the
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Oh, Arthur.’ Ashton winced.‘Surely you still have some of the rakish temperament about you that you were only too keen to display back in England? There will be some time for pleasure, you know.’
Close frowned. ‘Don’t listen to the young pup, Wellesley. The time for play is over. The threat from the Tipoo is very real.’
Arthur looked at the veteran and saw that the man was quite serious. He moved over to Close’s desk and pulled out a chair and sat down.‘I’d be grateful if you briefed me on my duties at once.’
Close grinned. ‘A man after my own heart.’
‘What a tragedy,’ said Ashton. ‘Already I have lost a friend and gained a drone.’
Arthur turned towards him. ‘I’ve read all the intelligence, Henry.There’s no avoiding a war with Tipoo.And if we lose, then you’ll have your tragedy for sure.’
Chapter 37
While Arthur attended to his duties the 33rd Foot was sent forward to Wallajabad. Ashton’s regiment had already advanced to Arnee, much nearer to the border with Mysore. Both officers would re-join their commands when the preparations for war were complete. Meanwhile Arthur diligently attended to his duties by day and joined Ashton and the other officers at dinners and parties given by the limited social circle of Europeans in the city by night.
Arthur quickly discovered that the Military Board of Madras, the body in charge of co-ordinating the presidency’s armed forces, had done nothing to assemble and supply the siege train needed to reduce Seringapatam. At once he descended on their offices and requested a meeting with the secretary of the Board, Josiah Webbe.
Webbe’s office was large but felt cramped due to the proliferation of records, reports and correspondence crammed into cubbyholes that lined three of the walls.The fourth was taken up by a shuttered window that stood open to admit the faint breeze blowing in from the sea. Even though all his documents were weighted down the corners of the paperwork occasionally lifted and fluttered as they were stirred by wafts of air. Arthur discovered that Webbe was a man of his own age, neatly dressed, slim and healthy in appearance. He lowered his pen and rose to shake Arthur’s hand, smiling warmly.
‘Ah, the colonel of the newly arrived 33rd, I presume. Good morning to you, sir. What can I do for you?’
‘Good morning, Mr Webbe. Please excuse me if I pass over any pleasantries and get down to business.’
A look of irritation flitted over Webbe’s expression before he replied.‘Indeed. I am a busy man too, as you can see.’ He gestured to the paperwork that surrounded him.
‘Then I’ll be brief. I have been charged with forming and equipping the siege train. This was the responsibility of the Military Board, until now.’
‘Until now? I was not aware that the situation had changed, Colonel.’
‘It has.’ Arthur pulled a document out of his jacket and placed it on the table.‘This is my authority to assume control of the task, signed by Lord Clive and General Harris. I am empowered to do all that is required to organise the siege train.’
‘Really?’ Webbe raised his eyebrows. Then he leaned forward and picked up the document, opened it and began to read. At length he set it down and looked at Arthur. ‘It seems that I am to co-operate with you as fully as is possible in accordance with the guidelines of the Military Board’s responsibilities.’
‘That is what the document says.’
‘I feel it only fair to point out to you that, in principle, ratification of decisions by the Board is required from the directors of the Company.’
Arthur struggled to contain his irritation at the man’s obstructive attitude. Instead he nodded. ‘So I understand. But what you must understand is that by the time you receive any response from the directors in London,Tipoo may have rendered any reply rather academic. Wouldn’t you agree?’
‘Sir, I am only stating that I am bound by certain rules.’
‘Sir, you are not bound. As you pointed out, you are merely obliged to be guided by certain principles. Now is not the time for principles, but practicalities. The army of Madras needs a siege train, and I would urge you to co- operate with me so that General Harris goes to war with the means to actually win.’>
Webbe stared back at him for a moment and Arthur hoped that the man had seen reason. Then the secretary spoke again, in a lower tone. ‘Don’t think I don’t know why your brother sent you here, Wellesley. He wants a war with Tipoo and means to get one whatever it takes. You are here to apply pressure to Harris, Lord Clive and officials like me. It’s painfully obvious why Mornington wants this war. He embraces the highest political ambitions and sees a victory over Tipoo as being a means to that end. Is that not so?’
Arthur folded his arms and smiled faintly. ‘Do you deny that Tipoo is a threat?’
‘No. That’s not it at all. I just want peace in India. Peace, so that the Company can go about its business in
