The Sabre's Edge

'An' one of 'em was at Waterloo, even!'

That concluded it. 'Tattle, Johnson. I should sooner imagine the sar'nt-major a preacher!'

But Johnson was unmoved. 'Well, that's what they're saying, Cap'n 'Ervey. Is there owt else?'

Hervey shook his head. 'No, I believe we may offsaddle and give them some hay.' There was only grass, but hay was what they called it still. 'And we can take our ease too for an hour or so. Call me if Mr Sledge comes in. He said he might come up from Agra today. Oh, and . . . see if you can find out any more about these deserters, will you?'

There was much to do, even had he not had the assignment at the Bhurtpore jheels. The camp was beginning to look like a bestiary come alive, with every manner of creature to provide milk or flesh for the army, or muscle or a strong back. His own troop might occupy him every minute, though for the most part they were not without experience. It was strange that they had seen action - fierce action - but had not yet been 'shot over', as the saying went. The affair at the river three years before had turned them into veterans overnight, and it had been long enough past to give them the taste for more of it now. Yet there were things he must check for himself - the firelocks especially, since he expected that what would come first against them at the jheels was better seen off with the carbine than the sabre. It was not something he could leave to his subalterns. Or rather, would leave. It was out of the question in any case to give the duty to Green, still as ineffectual as ever. Indeed, he would not even have passed the duty to Seton Canning, had he been with him still, for certain things were properly his particular responsibility.

In the afternoon, he received copies of general and field general orders. He was keen to see the appointments to both the staff and to commands of brigades and divisions, for there had been endless speculation and not a little wagering, and he retired to the relative peace of his tent to peruse them with as much leisure as seemed apt:

GENERAL ORDERS

Head-Quarters, Agra, 3rd Dec. 1825

The following officers are appointed Brigadier-Generals from 1st inst., subject to the confirmation of the Right Hon. The Governor-General in Council:

Brevet-Col. J. M'Combe, 14th Foot. Brevet-Col. J. W. Sleigh, C. B. 11th Dragoons. Col. W. J. Edwards, 14th Foot. Lieut.-Col. Childers to be Brigadier.

Capt. Hervey to be Loc-Major. Lieut. Maxwell to be Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Sleigh.

Division of Cavalry. - Brigadier-General J. W. Sleigh, C.B. to Command.

1st Cavalry Brigade. - Brigadier Murray, C. B. 16th Lancers, to Command. Capt. W. Harris, 16th Lancers, Major of Brigade. - To consist of H.M. 6th Lt. Dragoons, 16th Lancers, 6th, 8th, and 9th Regiments of Light Cavalry.

2nd Cavalry Brigade. - Brigadier M. Childers. 11th Dragoons, to Command. Lieutenant G. Williamson to be Major of Brigade. - To consist of H. M. 11th Dragoons, 3rd, 4th and 10th Regiments of Light Cavalry. - N.B.

The Brigade of Irregular Cavalry, consisting of the 1st Local Horse, under Col. James Skinner. Troop 6th Lt. Dragoons under Maj. M. P. Hervey. 1st Division of Infantry . . .

On went the list, specifying each and every non-permanent appointment. 'Baggage-Master of the Army^’, as onerous a position as any might be, was to be filled by Lieut. J. M'Dermot, H.M. 14th Foot. And 'Brigadier-Gen. Sleigh, C.B., will be pleased to select, and send in the names of three smart, active, and intelligent Non-commissioned Officers of Dragoons, for appointments as Assistant Baggage Master of Divisions.' Hervey thought he had better have someone in mind lest the general devolve one of the number on his troop. Stray would be best, of course, except that he was not from his troop. Neither was he by any standard smart.

And then, enclosed with these orders, there were others - a long exhortation, and in a style he knew from many a time in the Peninsula and France. The duke's own, indeed:

FIELD GENERAL ORDERS

Head-Quarters, Camp, Agra, Dec. 2, 182’ The Army now assembling for Service on the Agra and Muttra Frontier, being about to advance, His Excellency the Commander- in-Chief requests, that Officers commanding Regiments will impress upon their Officers, &c. the imperious necessity which exists, for each individual reducing the number of his servants to the lowest scale, and taking the Field as little encumbered with Baggage as possible; and desires that they will use their utmost endeavours to prevent superfluous individuals following the Bazaars of their respective Corps. All superfluous Baggage will be left at Muttra and Agra respectively, in the first instance, by Divisions, on advancing.

The March about to commence being through the Territory of an Ally of the British Government, and not that of an enemy, His Excellency prohibits in the strictest manner, all marauding or plundering; and desires that Officers commanding Divisions and Brigades will cause it to be three times proclaimed to their respective Corps, that the Provost-Marshal has received peremptory orders to seize, and inflict summary punishment of Death, on any individual or individuals caught in the act of plundering. In thus publicly promulgating the decided measures to be resorted to in support of discipline, His Excellency feels assured, from the correct habits of the European and Native Troops under his command, that, as far as they are concerned, the warning above given is unnecessary; but as the followers of Bazaars of Corps might avail themselves of opportunities to plunder the inhabitants of the country and others, the Commander-in-Chief deems it necessary to promulgate thus publicly the retribution which will await such conduct.

It was a handsome confidence, thought Hervey, if ill-disguised in its attempt to avoid besmirching the soldiers of the Line. It could scarcely be otherwise, this latter, though. His own troop he might vouch for, the NCOs certainly, but the arousal of baser instincts was something he had seen all too often to be so sure he would not see the same again, for there was nothing saintly about the men of E Troop. Better to tell them straight, perhaps with the excuse that one man might lose his wits in the noise of battle, and that Hervey's warning to him now might thereby save him his neck.

He read through half a dozen more routine orders and calls for returns, alternately relishing his independent command and ruing it, depending on the requirements of the paper. Just as he was nearing the end, a despatch rider from the Cavalry Staff Corps rode into the lines. Hervey watched keenly as the red-jacketed dragoon reported to the regimental orderly tent, whence the corporal of the day emerged at once to bring him to Hervey's.

Hervey was obliged to sign a receipt for the contents of the staff dragoon's sabretache. 'More, evidently, than just a call for returns,' he said as he did so.

'Sir,' replied the man, giving nothing away, though he hoped it was indeed more than a routine despatch. He had just risked his neck in a gallop from Lord Combermere's headquarters, and he would prefer to return there with something more than a list.

The corporal of the day watched and listened keenly for any indication of what the despatch contained. His standing in the canteen would be raised immeasurably if he brought news in advance of actual orders.

Hervey took the despatch, broke the headquarters seal and read quickly, but silently:

FIELD SPECIAL ORDER

Head-Quarters, Muttra, Dec. 6, 1825. Major Hervey, 6th Lt. Dragoons, is required to form a mounted party for a special task, consisting of one squadron H.M. 11th Lt. Dragoons, and one rissalah 1st Local Horse. The party is to be ready at once to undertake the task on orders emanating directly from H.E. the Commander-in-Chief, along the lines already communicated. The object and design may not be communicated to any man, however, until approval by H.E. By Order of His Excellency the Right Hon. The Commander-in-Chief,

(Signed) W. N. WATSON Adjutant- General.

It was no more or less than he needed. 'Thank you, staff dragoon. Please return the following reply.'

The man had his pocketbook and pencil ready. 'Sir.'

'Major Hervey acknowledges receipt of the special order, and comprehends it.' 'Sir.'

The corporal of the day looked disappointed. He would have to embellish his account to the canteen considerably.

'That is all,' said Hervey, when the staff dragoon looked up again.

The man slipped his pocketbook back inside his jacket.

'Up!' said the corporal of the day.

The two right hands shot, as one, to shako peaks, and Hervey nodded to acknowledge. As the two men left,