Drummer Boy: The Road North

[dtm180]

Another Epic chapter, I loved a lot of this chapter not just the fight which was once again masterfully portrayed but also the fact that Snot could finally tell his General about his family, and i loved the letter that Thomas's father wrote him.

Aswell as i enjoyed the fact that England is helping Thomas even though he is no longer an English Officer, it just goes to show what pull Percy still has through the PM.

For the rest i can only join in on the praise that Ken and Jay have deservedly been heaping on Arthur in abundance.

[SussexBoi]

Another great chapter, Thomas and his team are great Military tacticians, I just wish during my Military service some of my officers could have been so wise. I would like to know what Pablo feeds the horses on because to cover the nearly 1000 Kms across Spain to the landing zone.in the time they did is dammed good going.

Well Percy is still backing Thomas and his little army and smoothing they way for Wellington advance through Spain. just hope his efforts are appreciated.

 

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

On 2/3/2017 at 1:42 AM, Jay said:

...other storys by Arthur are very good and well worth the read.

I've read "Eventide" and "At Days End," and tremendously enjoyed them both.  I need to make time to read Arthur's other stories. But even though I anticipate enjoying them as much as I did the two I've mentioned here, I highly doubt that I will appreciate any of them as much as "Drummer Boy I & II."

This story has totally captured my attention and imagination. After reading a chapter on Thursday night, it sticks with me and I find myself thinking about the events, the relationships, the emotions, and even the nuances that were presented in the most recent chapter for several days. It's usually Monday evening or Tuesday when I realize I've finished digesting that chapter and I'm starving for the next bite. 

[dtm180]

On 2/6/2017 at 0:02 AM, Tinker Taylor Soldier I said:

 I need to make time to read Arthur's other stories. But even though I anticipate enjoying them as much as I did the two I've mentioned here, I highly doubt that I will appreciate any of them as much as "Drummer Boy I & II."

This story has totally captured my attention and imagination. After reading a chapter on Thursday night, it sticks with me and I find myself thinking about the events, the relationships, the emotions, and even the nuances that were presented in the most recent chapter for several days. It's usually Monday evening or Tuesday when I realize I've finished digesting that chapter and I'm starving for the next bite. 

 

I hear what you are saying, Drummer Boy is indeed No# 1. , personally i think my No# 2. of Arthur's Stories is The Last Shaman which also has 2 books and is set in the world after an apocalypse of sorts. No# 3 is the runner because it ties into TLS and No# 4. is Elios which is the world in the future portrayed differently then most do. I have also read a few stories of Arthur that are not posted here on CR, but which are Here. Those are more SF-Fantasy though namely The commander and Paulek. Also good reads but a lot easier and a bit fluffier.

[Jay]

I so agree that Arthur is a fine and outstanding aurthor. He has wrighten a lot of good and enjoyable storys. That is why I have become a fan. Dummer Boy  1 and 2 is his best story to date, but that dose not lessen the ones he has wrighten befor. Not many storys can compair to this one. I am not alone in my fillings as what we can see here.

[Arthur]

Sussex Boy,

Did I forget to mention that the Andalucian horses are direct descendants of Pegasus or at least the ones in DB are and the distance was only 795 Kilometres, I personally measured it all with my thumb on the map so over twelve days it was possible even if the horses had to use their hidden wings

[Al Norris]

The US Cavalry routinely traveled 50km a day, when not in a hurry. If in a hurry, they could  do between 80-100km. This is mostly walking with several breaks during the march.

At 1000km in 12 days, this would mean the horses would have to travel 83.33km a day. At 795km, they would have to travel 66.25km a day.

Quite doable (at either distance). Since most of the horses are not mounted, they would arrive at the cove fairly rested and ready to go (or work).

[ken barber]

66.25KM a day, assuming they switched horses each day to rest the horses that had riders would not even be considered a forced march. Doable is an understatement.  I modern day soldier fully equipped and carry about 50lbs in a pack is expected to do close to 45 KM per day during a forced march. They can keep this pace for three days before becoming  not combat ready. I think the timing on this is very sound

[militarypress]

ha ha..yes Ken...Arthur has us counting kilometers, barrels of powder, the number of gun-ports on a frigate and how many rockets fit in one battery. He is weaving us through the complicated logistics of running a ground and naval military operation ...through the cunning and devilish tactics of Thomas and his lieutenants!....what a story!

[Castle Herald]

Arthur

Drummer Boy: The Road North

Concerning Escorial

Chapter 10

[Jay]

Another show of how Thomas and his little army out witting the French. Thomas' friends always at the ready to protect him even in the heat of battle, just shows how much they care for him. The love they show him is without words. On the othere hand the Viscount wondering why Thomas has not contacted him ? Well I would thing that would be plan to him. As Thomas is doing very well on his own. Some how I think what the English did to him will come back to haunt them. I think Thomas is going to bide his time befor he deals with the Viscount. The love and caring of Thomas' men will work in his faver.

[SussexBoi]

Thomas's tactics get better with his creeping rolling thunder on the French encampment then followed by the in-depth withdrawal. I feel that Thomas should go and see the Viscount to tie in their tactics to the best advantage, mind I think Percy might have something to say to the viscount regarding both working together.The question is will Thomas send a messenger to Col. Lewis to warn them that the French are trying to out flank the English army?

Once again a very good Chapter.

[dtm180]

Thomas's Army has definitely improved now that Thomas and his senior officers do not have to ask for permissions anymore. Somehow i doubt that Thomas will contact the viscount, just something that was said earlier but it is still possible that he sends one of his youngsters to inform Col.Lewis of the Frenchies antics. Honestly i have a feeling he wil send one of the boys to Col. Lewis but the question is wil the viscount listen to the good colonel when he learns that his one-time drummer boy has sent that information, lets face it the viscounts ire is already up and increasing so no telling how he wil react.

 

The battle's fought in this chapter were done with excellent tactics, something that has been obvious from the start Thomas has a brilliant tactical mind. Also i have to agree with what has been said above, indeed Once more Arthur had us sitting on the edge of our seats while reading the exploits of Thomas and his band of merry men.

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

Notice Thomas is worried about the Spanish and Portuguese troops under Wellington's command. He is no doubt mindful of how the English discounted the worth of his "Drummer Boys," and is concerned that the English may be just as likely to put their Spanish and Portuguese allies into some really tough/hopeless spots before risking their own fine red uniforms. If Wellington does that, Thomas wants to be in a position to rescue his friends... and screw the English command.

[Castle Herald]

Arthur

Drummer Boy: The Road North

From Vemiero to Braganza

Chapter 11

[Jay]

We once again see the unselfish act of Thomas. He did not take the prize won by the young Ensign and his men. I do not think antother officer of the day would have done the same. Thomas has not given much thought to the wars end. The thought of returning to England was not a for sure thing in his mind. He was just thinking of his men's move north. As we saw the closeness of his officers and the rank and file is refreshing. It was unheard of then for that enter action to take place. The loyalty of his men is with out question and that is for the way Thomas reacts with them. We will have to wait and see what is a foot now.

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

Another really, really good chapter. Very comfortable and reassuring to see how close all the men/boys are in Thomas' army. Thomas is one of the guys at mealtime, but even then it's clear he's at the center of their thoughts and loyalty.

[SussexBoi]

As others have said, another good chapter, I wonder if Ensign Pratt, is inline to join Thomas merry band, Percy seems to have his finger on the pulse with regard to Thomas letting Ensign Pratt  keep the Golden Eagle. Also Ensign Pratt seems to be of the right Character to fit well into Thomas's band of rogues, and for sure I think some of the Viscounts senior officers will try to take the credit from Ensign Pratt if they follow true to form.

I get the feeling the prince is up to his mischief making again, we have to look forward to see what and how he plans to make the English officers uncomfortable again.

[R08m4rv]

Hello again Guys,

Just got back after three weeks without access to the exploits of young Thomas ( I'm in the shipping business).

Well chapter 9 Molina Falls was a good example of the way Thomas thoroughly thought  every step from the ships to transport his Army to the setting of the guns. Mr Percy once again came through with an escort of 3 forty gun frigates ( the Prime Minister still supports Thomas)

Chapter 10, Concerning Escorial.

With Pablo leading the second rank out wide to circle around and once again meet up with Estaban to the north of the camp, the noise and confusion behind them gave them a sense of accomplishment and some little way to repaying the losses at Olivenca. Estaban and his men would never know the cost of their raid to the French, but the report that went off to Marshal Soult had details of seventy nine men killed and one hundred and eleven wounded. It failed to mention the number of tents lost or the fact their prize cavalry was now afoot.

With the new camp secure, Thomas sat in his small tent and looked over the detailed maps of the area. Even with his lack of local knowledge he could see that Escorial was not going to be easy. Thomas estimated there were some one hundred and fifty or more of the cavalry. It would be up to the 4th Battery to cut down those odds and then the 5th Battery to cause as much confusion in the cavalry ranks while the 4th retired to safety.

At this stage Thomas was not aware that Marshal Beresford had been recalled to England under the pretext his skills with organisation were sorely needed and that now Wellington was in full command of all English forces on the Peninsular. Had Thomas been aware of this he just may have considered working closer with the Viscount.

Thomas was not really interested in what the English were doing but he was concerned at where and what the Portuguese and Spanish forces were doing. They were now his concern and when it came to the real battle, as he knew it eventually would, Thomas wanted to be in a position to help them as much as he could.

Viscount Wellington was not surprised to learn through his patrols that his onetime Drummer Boy was in the field and close by even though he had had no contact with the boy.

For Viscount Wellington it was even more of a wonder that the young General had not made any attempt to contact him so they could co-ordinate their attacks or harassment's of the French army. He was never to learn the why of it but it did raise his ire to know the ex-drummer boy still preferred to do it all his own way without the supervision of far more experienced officers. On the 21st of July it appeared to Thomas that the French under Marshal Marmont were attempting to out flank the Viscount's forces. Thomas prepared his men for what he thought was to come. The 22nd of July was to prove to be one of the defining moments of the peninsular war and Thomas, along with his little army was to play a part that few expected.

 

Chapter 11. From Vemiero to Braganza.

The 22nd of July dawned with clear skies and from where Thomas looked over the dry plains below, he could see the two great armies trying to outflank each other.

Wellington had held back one of his most prized divisions for just such an occasion. With the French divisions fully extended on the eastern flank of the English lines, Wellington released his reserve 3rd division led by General Packenham along with D'Urbans Cavalry. They were to be followed a little later by General Leith's 5th Division and supported by General Bradford's Portuguese Brigade, but it was General Packenham's Division and D'Urbans Cavalry that was the real undoing of the French attempt to outflank Wellington's army.

Something suddenly took hold of Thomas as he watched this particular company fight its way forward. It was a little ahead of the other companies and appeared to be led by a younger officer, perhaps a Second Lieutenant. The men with him were fighting with bayonet and musket butts. When they were no longer useful in the close hand to hand, the men resorted to hand axes and wooden handled maces mounted with cast iron tops.

With total disregard for his previous decision to avoid any part of the confrontation, Thomas called Estaban and Carmelo to his side and gave them orders to ready Pablo's company of cavalry. 

On the plain below a small ridge, Ensign (Second Lieutenant) Pratt of the 2/30th foot of General Leith's 5th Division tried to hold his position at the head of his company. This was his first major battle and he did not want to disappoint or fail in this his first command. At first he could not believe what he was seeing. Just one hundred yards ahead of where he and his men sweated and fell were the French Colours and Eagle of the French 22nd Regiment. Ensign Pratt had just seen something that would give him an inhuman strength to advance, but would his remaining men be able to breach the stoic French guard around the famous colours?

As he and his men broke through the final line of troops, Ensign Pratt saw the Colours only fifty yards ahead, but the guard was ready and waiting for him and his men.Ensign Pratt raised his sword and yelled as loud as he could, "Fix bayonets… CHARGE." As he stood with the French Colours in his hand Ensign Pratt heard the sound of massed hooves moving in his direction.

Ensign Pratt saluted as the three officers stopped nearby and looked down at him from their saddles. He was momentarily surprised at how young they all looked but a bigger shock soon hit him as he heard the younger of the three address him with the accent of a London dock worker.

"I wish to know whom I am addressing Sir?"

"Ahh...err... Ensign Pratt of the 2/30th Foot Sir."

"Well met Mister Pratt, you and your men fought well and deserve your victory. I hope your valour will not go unnoticed by your superiors."

"Uhm...Thank you Sir, do you wish to carry off the colours Sir?"

"Not at all Mister Pratt, we just wanted to even the odds a little, the victory is entirely yours and well deserved it was."

"Thank you Sir, and to whom do I owe our lives Sir?"

"Ah yes. Well Mister Pratt, it is perhaps in your best interest not to know that, at this time. Perhaps some time in the future we may meet again and I can pass that information on to you. 

It was sometime later he did overhear some talk in the mess about a small army known as the Spanish Guerrillas who were said to be led by a young Englishman who had once been known as the Hero of Rolica.

The coincidence did not go unnoticed by the young Ensign but the young officer had said to keep his involvement silent. Ensign Pratt was not about to break his word on the matter.

"Well Thomas, it would appear that Viscount Wellington carried out an inquiry into certain aspects of the battle of Albuera He reported his findings to the powers that be and a short time ago Marshal Beresford was asked to return to England to take up a post more suited to his abilities. It would appear we will not see him on the battle field again."

"For the last four years we have had the assistance of Prime Minister Perceval, unfortunately he passed away last May and we now have to deal with the new Prime Minister, Robert Jenkinson the 2nd Earl of Liverpool."

Now that we know Thomas has helped the young Ensign  Pratt, I can see that this young man is somehow connected to the new Prime Minister and Thomas will have another ally in a position of great power to help with his supplies when needed.

Sorry to have copied and pasted so much but these last two short paragraphs are really what these three chapters I have had to catch up on is the whole point. And I am sure that the Prince will be up for more fun at the expense of the British.

Edited February 19, 2017 by R08m4rv

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

R08m4rv... shipping business?  You're the manager of the modern-day Marking Shipping Company, owned by Thomas Marking V.?

Reading your review of the recent chapters, and thinking about how Thomas did not introduce himself to Ensign Pratt... it occurred to me that Thomas does not call himself El Toro... does he? Or, at least only when it suits his need to pull off one of his brilliant plans. It seems that he probably considers the myth, or legend of The Patron El Toro to be too big for his modest self. One of the things we love about him is his modesty.  He's pulled off so many brilliant operations, but still just says he's only doing his duty.

When I read the name "Pratt" I thought we'd seen that name before, so I went back to Chapter 1 and started reading from the beginning. Of coursey I quickly discovered the earlier name that was fogging up my little brain was "Prattly" (not "Pratt"). So, my quest was satisfied... but I kept reading... and kept reading... and kept reading... until I'd totally re-read the first seven or eight chapters. Those chapters are as awesome to read now as they were those many months ago when they were first posted. They're the foundation of the story. Everything we're reading now relates back to "how it all began."  I love this story!!!!!!!

 

[Castle Herald]

Arthur

Drummer Boy: The Road North

An Apology and a Taste of Home

Chapter 12

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

Another outstanding chapter! Thank you, Arthur!

Back at the start of The Road North, when we read how Thomas awoke several weeks after his near fatal injuries at his new home in Spain... and the description of his villa and the local farmers who are his tenants... and of his horses and fine cattle that had been hidden from the French... I think I wrote something about hoping that Thomas took time while recovering to seriously consider what his life might be like after the war, if he may settle there on his new lands in Spain, with his closest friends (and the Prince, too) as his neighbors... and perhaps even bring his family down from England (if they would leave England) ...and perhaps... once he found peace, maybe Thomas and Carmelo's relationship would evolve to ...or be realized as something more than just friendship (which would provide Carmelo with a home and family again).  At the time, I was speculating and fantasizing… hoping Thomas will have a bright and peaceful future surrounded by people who make him happy. 

But now that these others are suddenly asking Thomas about his plans after the war... Mister Percy and this Wellington fellow, and the Prince going out of his way to assure Thomas that his Spanish title and lands will be safe (as though there is some real reason to doubt it), almost sounding desperate to have Thomas settle in Spain... I’m feeling protective of Thomas, like Sgt. Fairley. I don’t trust that they honestly care that much about Thomas’ well-being. I suspect they have some other reason for asking where he anticipates putting down roots. Why?  I don’t know. But I think we better all keep an eye out for whatever games they're playing.

And this King coming back is definitely not a good thing. He’s not a good man… every bit as bad as Mister Percy described. A few young officers and guerrilla leaders turned and fought against the Spanish king after they’d finished with the French. They didn’t believe they drove out the bad French, only to permit the country to be taken over by a Spanish tyrant who was as bad as Napoleon. But things did not go well for those who tried to oust the king. So, I hope Thomas and his boys don’t get caught up in anything like that.

I’m imagining this warehouse manager is going to show Thomas a vault full of gold, and tell him it’s all his.  And the small cart with the four armed guards… must be carrying a chest or two filled with Thomas’ share of the loot his troops have been collecting and sitting aside for him.  I have a feeling (hope) that Thomas will survive the war, and the Spanish king… and will discover that he is a very wealthy young man in his own right… and powerful enough that he can live anywhere he chooses.

Ahhhh… seven days is a long time to wait…

[Arthur]

Thank you for your observations, all I have to do now is put my evil mind to work so that you are directed away by a beautifully crafted Red Herring and my day will be complete.

[SussexBoi]

Ohhhh dearie, dearie me, I feel things are going to become complicated,( in reality Spain during the 1800's politically was a mess) as Thomas's army moves north, into lands that maybe not so friendly, however he does have the advantage of numbers and Percy;s spies to keep his ears to the ground. As to the return of the Felon King, he is another Disaster  in the making for Spain, I guess when he does return, and if the prince is one of the Cortes that gets the chop then Thomas could loses his lands in Spain, I would think he could always return to his home valley in Portugal and create a new home there for himself and his family with the blessing of the Portugal Government. we will see as Arthur does like to keep us on tender hooks with his cunning plots.

[Tinker Taylor Soldier I]

I'm a sucker for herring... I usually prefer creamed herring... but red will do, especially if it is beautifully crafted.

Good point Sussexboi... indeed he could retire back to their secret, private little hiding place in Portugal. I'd totally overlooked that option... just thinking of England and Spain.  The people would love to have him there. They built his house and some other buildings of stone, and he will have enough money to finish out the house nicely (assuming it may be somewhat rough yet in its initial state).