Won by the Sword

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This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org)

Won by the Sword
A Story of the Thirty Years' War

G.A. Henty

PREFACE.

MY DEAR LADS,

In my preface to the Lion of the North I expressed a hope that
I might some day be able to continue the history of the Thirty
Years' War. The deaths of Gustavus and his great rival Wallenstein
and the crushing defeat of the Swedes and their allies at the
battle of Nordlingen brought the first period of that war to a
close. Hostilities, indeed, never ceased, but the Swedes no longer
played the leading part on the Protestant side that they had
hitherto occupied. Oxenstiern, the great chancellor of Sweden,
saw that the only hope of eventual success lay in engaging France
in the struggle, and he and the Duke of Weimar went to Paris and
pointed out to Richelieu that unless France intervened, Austria
must become the master of all Germany, and as the ally of Spain
would have it in her power to completely dominate France. Richelieu
perceived the opportunity, made a treaty with the Swedes and Weimar,
and engaged to grant large subsidies to the former, and to send
an army to cooperate with the latter. Then began the second period
of this long and terrible struggle, France now taking the place
that Sweden had hitherto occupied, and bearing the brunt of the
conflict. She emerged triumphant with her territories largely
increased, while Austria was crushed and humiliated, and Spain
was dethroned from her position as the dominating power of Europe.
The success of France was greatly due to the fact that her armies
were led by two of the greatest military geniuses of all times,
viz., Conde and Turenne, men of very different types, but equally
great as commanders, and equally at the time of which we are speaking
devoted to the cause of France. Both were men of extraordinary
personal courage, and although one was as prudent and careful of
the lives of his troops as the other was impetuous and careless
at what cost he won his victories, they worked together with a
harmony that could have hardly been expected among men so differently
constituted. Although, in the subsequent wars of the Fronde they
took different sides, their friendship, except during a short
period of alienation, was never shaken, and their admiration for
each other's genius never abated.

Yours sincerely,

G.A. HENTY

CHAPTER I: A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE

A mounted officer, followed by two orderlies, was proceeding at a
brisk trot from Paris to St. Denis, in October, 1639, when he came
upon a large party of boys, who, armed with sticks, were advancing
in something like military order against a wall on the top of a
low hill.

"What are you doing?" he asked the lad who appeared to be the
leader.

"We are playing at war, sir. We are advancing against the fortress
of La Motte. This is the regiment of Turenne."

"And who are you at other times?" the officer asked with a smile.

"My name is Hector Campbell, sir."

"Then you are not French?"

"No, sir; my father was an officer in the Scotch regiment. He was
killed at the siege of La Rochelle."

"And who is taking care of you?"

"I live with Angus MacIntosh. He was a sergeant in my father's
company. He was badly wounded at La Rochelle, and not being fit for
further service, he took a cabaret near the barracks. The officers
are very kind. They allow him a sum for taking care of me. Of
course I am often in barracks, and have learned the drill, and
I have heard and read about battles and sieges, so I am chosen to
command."

"And so you know something of the battles in which Turenne was
engaged?"

"I think I know about them all, sir, both in Holland and on the
Rhine, and have seen plans of the battles. Of course this is not
at all like La Motte, which was on the top of a high rock, so that
when Turenne was ordered to attack with his regiment after the
general's son had failed, he had to pass not only through a heavy
fire, but through the huge stones that the enemy hurled down. It
was grand; and he did well at all the other sieges. Then, again,
there was Saverne. See how he fought there, and stormed the place
when even the Swedes, who are good soldiers, had failed. I think
he is going to be the greatest of our captains."

"Turenne is only a learner in the art of war," the other said
gravely.

"I think he has learnt more than any of the rest," the boy said
boldly; "and all the soldiers love him more than any of the other
generals, for he takes such care of them, and does not treat them
as if they were dirt under his feet, only meant to obey orders,
and go and get killed when told."

"You have heard him very much over praised," the officer said
quietly. "I think that he does his best; but he is a young man
yet, not older than I am. His advance has been due to fortune rather
than to his own merits."

"I don't think so," the boy said sturdily. "Do you think that he
would be a lieutenant general at twenty-eight, and that all the
soldiers would speak of him as they do, if it were only fortune?
Look how he captured Landrecies and Solre, and drove the Austrians
back from Maubeurge, and aided the Duke of Weimar to thrash
them at Weilenweir, and stormed the main fort of Breisach! He has
been successful in all his enterprises, and now it is said he is
to command in Italy, where things have been going on badly. The
cardinal would not have chosen him had he not considered that no
one could do better than he."

The officer laughed. "Well, young sir, I see that you are so well
acquainted with the sieges and battles of our time that I cannot
argue with you."

"I did not mean that, sir," the boy said in some confusion. "I was
only saying what our soldiers think, and it is natural that I,
being only a boy, should make him my hero, for he went to the wars
when he was a year younger than I am, and at fourteen carried a
musket as a volunteer under Maurice of Nassau, and for five years
he was in all the battles in Holland, and raised the first battery
that opened on Bois-le-duc."

"And do you receive no pension as the son of an officer killed in
battle?"

"No, sir. When the living soldiers often have to go months without
their pay, the sons of dead ones can hardly expect to be thought
of. But I don't care; in two years I shall be old enough to enlist,
and I shall go to the frontier and join Hepburn's Scottish brigade,
who are now, they say, in the French service."

"They are fine soldiers -- none better," the officer said. "But
why does not the colonel of your father's regiment ask for a
commission for you?"

"The regiment is not in favour with the cardinal," the boy replied
with a smile. "They are too Protestant for his eminence, and the
colonel is not a man to ask favours if he is likely to be refused."

"Well," the officer said, "it is clear to me that you are a lad of
spirit, and that you have done your best to prepare yourself for
your profession as a soldier by studying military history, and I
think it hard that, as the son of an officer who died in battle
for France, France should have done nothing for you. I have some
little influence myself. What is the name of this cabaret that
Sergeant MacIntosh keeps?"

"The Scottish Soldier, sir. It is near the gate of the barracks of
St. Denis."

"Do not go out tomorrow afternoon. I will have a talk with him,
and maybe I can be of some assistance to you."

So saying, he touched his horse's flank with his heel and rode on,
while the boys continued their play. The next afternoon the lad
remained at home, to the surprise of the sergeant.

"What keeps you in today, Hector? It is rare indeed that you are
indoors in the afternoon."

"An officer came along while we were playing," the lad said, "and
asked me some questions. I told him who I was. He said that he
had some influence, and might be able to assist me."

"What sort of assistance?" the sergeant grumbled. "He must have
influence indeed if he can get you a pension."

"I don't think it was that," the boy said. "I said that I should
like to enlist as a volunteer."

The sergeant laughed. "Well, they do take volunteers as young as
you are, Hector, but they must be cadets of a noble family. You
will have to wait another couple of years before they will enlist
you, much less take you as a volunteer."

There were a good many Scottish soldiers sitting in the room, when
an officer rode up to the door and dismounted.

"It is a general officer," one of the men said, looking out of the
window, and as the door opened and the officer entered, all stood
up and saluted.

"Sit down, men," he said. "I am not here to disturb you, but to
have a talk with Sergeant MacIntosh. Have you a room, sergeant,
where we can speak privately?"

"Yes, general," the sergeant said, saluting again, and led the way
into a little room generally devoted to the use of noncommissioned
officers. The officer caught Hector's eye, and beckoned to him to
follow.

"Do you know me, sergeant?"

"Yes, general, you are Viscount Turenne."

Hector gave an involuntary exclamation of horror at the thought of
the freedom with which he had the day before discoursed with this
famous commander. Military officers at that time did not wear any
set uniforms, and indeed there was very considerable latitude
among the soldiers, and it was only because he was followed by two
attendants that the boy had taken him to be an officer, probably
a young captain. The quietness of his dress had not even led him
to believe that he belonged to a noble family.

"This lad tells me that he is the son of Captain Campbell of the
Scottish regiment?"

"That is so, general."

"And also that you were a sergeant in his father's company, and
have since taken care of him."

"I have done the best I could for him, general; but indeed the
officers of the regiment allow me quite as much as the lad's food
costs."

"He seems to be a careful student of military history, sergeant?"

"That he is, sir. I don't think there has been a battle, or even a
skirmish, in the past ten years which he cannot tell you the ins
and outs of. He will sit here for hours as quiet as a mouse when
some soldiers from the wars come in, and sometimes he gets books
lent him with the plans of battles and sieges, and when he is not
doing that he is in the barrack yard watching the men drill. I
believe he knows all the words of command as well as any captain
in the Scottish regiment. As to handling his musket, I have taught
him that myself, and the use of a sword, too, since he was ten
years old, and the men of his father's company have taken pleasure
in teaching the lad all they knew in that way."

"He reminds me of my own boyhood," the general said. "I like his
looks, and it seems to me that he has the making of a good officer.
All the officers of the regiment are men of good Scottish families,
and as such can serve in any capacity. I have often need of
a young officer who can carry my messages on a field of battle,
and can be trusted to understand their import and deliver them
faithfully. Now, Campbell," he said, turning to the lad, who
was standing with flushed face and eyes beaming with delight and
gratitude, "I will give you the choice. I will either appoint you
a volunteer for a year, in which time, if your conduct is satisfactory,
I will name you lieutenant, or I will take you directly into my
own household. My object in either case would be to produce an
officer likely to be useful to his Majesty.

"I should certainly not have adopted that course had it not been
that you appear already to have learned the duties of a soldier,
and to be acquainted with the ordinary drill and with the necessities
of a soldier's life. If you enter my household you will find it
no child's play, certainly no life of ease and comfort. I do not
spare myself, nor do I spare the officers immediately under me.
In a regiment you would learn better, perhaps, the duties of a
regimental officer, but with me you will have more opportunities of
learning the art of war, and of some day becoming a distinguished
officer, always supposing that you are not shot down in battle or
die of fatigue and hardship. Which do you choose?"

"Oh, sir, how can I thank you for your goodness? There is nothing
in the world that I should like so much as to be in your service."

"So be it," the general said. "I shall obtain an appointment for
you as lieutenant attached to my household. At first, you will
simply have to carry messages for me; but when I have learnt more
of your character I shall employ you as one that I can trust.

"Sergeant, here is a purse, use the contents in furnishing the lad
with clothes suitable for his position, and let him call on me in
three days at the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon, where I am staying.

"Can you ride?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes, sir."

"I will see to the matter of a horse for you. I shall be leaving at
the end of a week to join the army in Italy. And remember always,
lad," he added with a smile, "that I am still but a learner in the
art of war."

So saying he nodded kindly to him and the sergeant, went out,
returned the salute of the soldiers, mounted his horse, which his
orderly was holding for him, and rode off.

"Well, well," said the sergeant, who with Hector had followed
him out, "the like of this I never saw before: to think that the
Viscount of Turenne should visit the cabaret of a soldier, and
should have deigned to offer you a position in his household!
I can scarce believe that I am not dreaming. How did it all come
about, and how have you thus gained his favour?"

"I am ashamed to say, sergeant, that I gained it by my presumption;
now that I know who he was, I may say by my insolence. A party
of us were having a mimic battle. We were acting as the regiment
of Turenne at the storming of La Motte. I was in command, and so
acting as Turenne, when a gentleman, who, by his appearance and
age, and by the fact that two troopers rode behind him, I took to
be a captain in the army, came up and questioned me as to what
we were doing. I told him, then he talked about Turenne. I said I
thought he was our greatest general. He, that Turenne was only a
learner in the art of war. I upheld him, and spoke of the battles
and sieges in which he had taken part. Then he asked me about myself,
and I told him my birth and bringing up, and he said he might be
of assistance to me, and would call here and see you."

"Well, well, it almost passes belief, Hector, that a boy like you
should have dared to enter into an argument with an officer, even
if only, as you believed, a captain. And to think that this has
come of it, instead of his having laid his whip across your back,
as you deserved. Your fortune is made, lad, that is, if you behave
yourself. Turenne is a great soldier; and more than that, from what
I have heard he is loved by his men more than any other general,
and they will do anything for him. His regiment here, though he was
but nineteen when he obtained his command, was admitted to be one
of the best drilled and the best disciplined of any in the service.

"He saw to everything himself, spent his whole time in drilling
them as if he had been only a lieutenant with nothing but his
sword for his fortune, instead of a great noble. When he was with
de la Valette and Weimar, and the army had to fall back and were
well nigh starved, Turenne sold his plate and his carriages to buy
food for the men. He had his own baggage thrown out of the wagons
to make room for those who were too weak to march; and on one
occasion gave up his own horse to a soldier who was sinking from
fatigue and hunger, and himself marched on foot. He always leads
his troops in battle, and wherever he goes they will follow. He
was right in saying that he does not spare himself. The soldiers
believe that he does without any sleep when on a campaign, for he
is for ever going round seeing that everything is in order, that
the outposts are properly placed and vigilant, and that the soldiers
have food, and such comfort as can be obtained. Now let us go in
and tell my comrades of your good fortune. There is not a man in
the regiment who will not be glad to hear of it. I will go across
with you myself to the colonel's lodging."

"But please, sergeant, do not say a word about my folly; only say
that the general, coming across a party of us playing at war,
questioned me, and finding that I was the son of a Scottish officer
who had been killed at La Rochelle, and that I had worked hard
at getting up the history of the wars, and longed much to go into
the army, had promised to come round the next day, and said that
he might be able to aid me."

"I understand, lad. Yes, it is better that your foolishness should
not be known."

The colonel was greatly pleased when he heard of what had happened.

"I had intended myself to have asked for a commission for you when
you were a couple of years older," he said to Hector, "but I was
by no means sure of getting it, for the cardinal is not partial to
the regiment. Turenne, however, stands high in his favour -- in
spite of the fact that his brother, the Duc de Bouillon, has left
Richelieu's party, and is regarded by him as an enemy -- so we may
be sure that your commission will be at once signed. You must sup
with me and the officers of the regiment tonight. There is not one
who will not rejoice that your father's son has met with such good
fortune, for assuredly you could not have entered the army under
better auspices.

"It is just like Turenne to have thus come forward to assist the
son of a brave soldier killed in action. As a rule, I am sorry
to say that the officers of our army concern themselves but little
with the affairs of the soldiers under their command. Of course
in our regiment it is different, as we have many gentlemen of
well known Scottish families serving in the ranks, and most of the
others are our own clansmen, or come from our dales. We all cling
together as countrymen among strangers, though indeed we can hardly
regard them as strangers, seeing that Scotland and France have
ever been allies, and that our Queen Mary was a French princess.
And now that Scotland has given kings to England, and English
troops fought side by side with the French under Henry of Navarre
against the Spaniards and Guises, and, although not in strict
alliance, are alike enemies of the Spaniards, we can scarce feel
ourselves as strangers here. Besides, is not a French princess
wife of King Charles?

"I do not say that either England or France has altogether forgotten
the long wars between them, but that is a very old story now, and
as long as Spain threatens to extend her power over all Europe, so
long are we likely to remain good friends. If the power of Spain
is once broken, old quarrels may break out again, but I trust that
that will not be in my time, for assuredly the regiment, although
willing to fight against all other enemies of France, would refuse
to march against our countrymen. Now, Sergeant MacIntosh, I know
that you must be anxious to get back to your inn. You will have
a busy time this afternoon unless I am greatly mistaken. Leave
Campbell with me.

"In the first place, it will be as well that he should not be down
there, for the fun is likely to get fast and furious. There is
not a man in the regiment who knew his father but will be drinking
the lad's health, and it were better that he should go tomorrow
through the barracks and shake their hands, than that he should
be among them there. You can tell them that I have taken the boy
off, so that they may not think that he stayed away on his own
account. We will see him fitted out. It is a matter that touches
the honour of the regiment that the son of our old comrade should
make a fair show in the household of the viscount."

"The general has left me a purse for that purpose, colonel."

"It was a kindly thought, but let the lad start with it in his
pocket. It is our duty to see that he has everything befitting
his father's son."

As soon as the sergeant left, the colonel said, "Now, Campbell, do
you go into the anteroom. I shall be ready to go out with you in
half an hour."

Orderlies were then despatched to the various officers' lodgings,
and in a few minutes they assembled. The colonel told them what had
happened, and said that in his opinion it concerned the honour of
the regiment to see that their comrade's son was properly equipped.

All those who had known Captain Campbell were greatly pleased with
the news, and there was not a dissenting voice when the colonel
proposed that there should be a general subscription of two days'
pay. He himself, however, and Captain Campbell's friends, gave
a much larger amount, and the total was amply sufficient for the
equipment of a young man of good family joining the army. Hector was
then called in and informed of what had taken place, and heartily
congratulated by the officers. He was greatly affected by their
kindness and the proof of the estimation in which his father had
been held.

"We had always intended to do this," the colonel said, "when the
time came for your entering the army, for we felt that it would
indeed be a discredit to the regiment were you to go into the
world without the equipment that a Scottish gentleman should have.
Now, Captain Mackenzie and Captain Home, I will ask you to act as
furnishers. You know what is required for a young officer on the
staff of a general like Viscount Turenne, who would be called upon
to accompany him to court, and must do him no discredit; besides
which, he must of course have clothes for a campaign. He will not
need arms, for I have kept for him his father's sword and pistols.
See that the tailors undertake to get his clothes ready quickly,
for he is to accompany Turenne to Italy in four or five days. One
suit at least must be finished in two days, for on the third he
is to wait upon Turenne, who is staying at the hotel of the Duc de
Bouillon, and he may possibly be presented to the cardinal."

The dress of a French gentleman in the reign of Louis XIII differed
but slightly from that worn at the same time by the cavaliers of
Charles I. It consisted of a loose cloak of cloth, silk, satin, or
velvet, according to the occasion and the wealth of the wearer. It
generally hung loosely on the shoulders, but two or three of the
top buttons were sometimes fastened; the sleeves were loose and
open from the elbow. Sometimes the cloak was richly embroidered.
Over it fell a collar of rich lace, with Vandyke border. Beneath
it was worn a short tightly fitted doublet embroidered in front,
with puffed sleeves, and with a belt or sash round the waist.
The breeches were very full, reaching to the knee. For walking or
riding, loose high boots turned down at the top and trimmed with
lace or frillings joined the breeches; while in court dress, silk
stockings and shoes with rosettes were worn. The swords hung from
a richly embroidered baldrick going over the right shoulder.

Officers of the different regiments were distinguished by the
colour of their sashes, which was the only point of regimental
uniformity. When on a campaign doublets were usually worn of thick
buff leather; armour was still used, but was far less cumbrous
than it had been, consisting for the most part solely of shoulder
pieces and cuirass, with plates covering the upper part of the arm,
thick buff leather gauntlets being considered sufficient protection
below the elbow. Four suits were ordered for Hector: one for court,
another for general use when in Paris or other large towns, the
third for travelling and when in attendance with the general, the
fourth for actual service in the field.

Almost as expensive as the suits were the shirts, with their deep
lace collars and ruffle; while for service in the field half
a dozen plain shirts were purchased. The headdress on ordinary
occasions was a broad beaver hat with plumes, and in the field
a close fitting helmet with cheek pieces. Visors had been almost
entirely given up. On the third day Hector presented himself at
the appointed hour at the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon. He was
dressed in the second best of his costumes, and wore for the first
time his father's sword. In the hall were numbers of soldiers and
lackeys. One of the latter came up to him.

"I am here to see the Viscount Turenne by appointment," he said.

The lackey led the way to a large chamber, where several officers and
gentlemen were waiting. Here Hector gave his name to a chamberlain,
who took it into another apartment. He waited for half an hour,
and observed that while the officers, one by one, were taken into
the room where the lackey had carried his name, the nobles and
gentlemen, who were much more numerous, were shown into another,
which was evidently the principal reception room. He guessed
at once that it was here that the Duc de Bouillon was receiving
visitors, while his brother was engaged in giving interviews
to officers, who perhaps desired appointments in his army, or
in arranging details of stores, arms, and ammunition required for
its use. At last his turn came; and on his name being called,
he followed the usher into a small apartment, where Turenne was
sitting at a table covered with letters. The general looked at
him critically.

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