There appeared to be a coast road following the long curve of the bay, and after the buildings petered out, the land grew flat and uninteresting, a uniform light ochre and dusty green. As far as Kydd could see in either direction, apart from the single jetty under eye from the castle, there were no port facilities to disembark soldiers and equipment, a grave drawback.
Robben Island, flat and barren on the charts, gave a natural conclusion to the bay and made a perfect blind for their rapid exit out to sea and the rendezvous.
What could he report? The most significant fact was that the fearsome battle groups of the French had not been sighted close by. Therefore they had a bracket of time of perhaps one or two days. The presence of the transport was a troubling unknown – how many troops had it brought? As for the defences, it was out of the question to repeat their surprise penetration. They had good information on the siting and calibre of defensive batteries but, on the other hand, clear evidence that without a port only a beach landing was open to them – and that in the face of hostile fire.
But those were considerations for others. ‘Course nor’-west after we round the island, Mr Kendall,’ Kydd said. Time was short.
General Baird rose to his feet. The muted conversations around the table in
Kydd sat respectfully alert; he was not at the table with the commodore and brigadiers but with others in the outer ring.
‘Today I received my latest intelligence concerning the situation obtaining in the Cape,’ the general said quietly. ‘And it is that there are no signs of superior French forces in the vicinity. Had there been, be assured, I would have summarily cancelled the expedition and fallen back on St Helena.’
‘We go in,’ said Colonel Pack, with a savage smile, but he was pointedly ignored by Baird, his face lined with worry.
‘I shall not hide it from you – the decision is hard. Our forces are reduced. We have lost men at sea and the remainder must be accounted in weak condition from so long on shipboard. Moreover, we’ve now few horses left to us available to turn an attack by column.’
He drew in a deep breath. ‘Not only that, but most of our artillery is lost to shipwreck. If we make an assault – if we land successfully – then it will be but infantry on the field of battle against cavalry and guns. These are not odds most favouring those attempting a descent on a hostile shore.’
He paused, letting it sink in. Sea-glitter played prettily on the deckhead through the expanse of ornamented stern windows, moving slowly from side to side with the long sway of a South Atlantic swell.
‘But, yes, I have decided we will go forward with the landing, and with no further delay.’ A ripple of satisfaction went around the cabin.
‘From intelligence I have received so far we have a fair idea of what opposes us. First, there are the Dutch regulars. They garrison the castle and man the many batteries around the Cape. In addition to grenadiers and fusiliers, they maintain six companies of horse artillery deploying six-pounders together with foot artillery and dragoons.
‘As well as regulars, the Dutch command a battalion of Waldeckers, well-paid Westphalian and Hesse German mercenaries. Then there is the Java Foot Artillery, Malay slaves who have bought their freedom by enlisting. And also the Kaapsche Jagers – a line regiment of sharpshooters equipped with accurate rifles who will no doubt harry us as skirmishers on the flanks.
‘For cavalry they have what they term a “mounted commando” of light dragoons. These are irregulars but a formidable foe. Raised locally from the Boer country-folk, they fight for their land and their homes, and although individualists come on like tigers, it’s said their favoured method of charge is firing their carbines from horseback and other tricks.’
There were comradely chuckles of amusement at this evidence of rank indiscipline but Baird cut through it: ‘Be sure of it, the moment our force is sighted, a chain of signal cannon will send an alarm to the interior and this “burgher cavalry” will come swarming upon us.’
Kydd hadn’t any idea what a Boer was but there was no doubting Baird’s deadly seriousness. The general continued, ‘And, of course, there are the Pandours – and not to be despised, I’m persuaded. They are fine marksmen, locally raised men of colour. The Dutch call ’em the Hottentot Light Infantry and we shall meet at least a regiment of them in the field.’
An older colonel shifted in his seat. ‘Sir, we have heard nothing of French reinforcement. Captain Kydd reported a large transport at anchor and we can only infer that there’s—’
‘I know nothing of recent accessions to strength. At the least there are some hundreds, possibly a thousand of Bonaparte’s troops or marines. But we should not overlook the fact that they are not an organic part of the Dutch Army and, new arrived, may not fit well into their command structure. Nevertheless, we shall face them as we do the rest – as British soldiers!’
As stout murmurs of agreement went around the table, Honyman, captain of
Baird’s expression did not ease as he picked up his thread. ‘So, on to my plan. I’ve considered it well. With our forces as they are, we cannot contemplate a frontal assault on the town for I’ve no siege engines of any kind.
‘An attack overland from False Bay? I’ve been advised by the Navy’ – Popham nodded gravely – ‘that in view of the reigning winds in summer being in the south-east this also cannot be in contemplation.
‘Then a surprise landing behind the town, say at Camps Bay? There’s a pass just above at Kloofnek leading between the Lion’s Head and Table Mountain that could see us massing above for a descent on their unprotected rear. But again I’m cautioned by the Navy that, given the tight constraints of the landing place, insufficient men might disembark before the enemy retaliates.’
He paused for effect. ‘So! What is left to me is a massed landing by boat. At a place far enough from the fixed defences to allow us a chance to establish a foothold but not too far away that the enemy has time to prepare in depth.
‘Gentlemen, there is such a place, no more than fifteen, eighteen miles from the centre of Cape Town. Er, if you’d kindly assist me . . .’ Two officers took a corner each of the map and held it up for all to see.
