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Jobert and the Brothers of the Capucine

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Jobert and the Brothers of the Capucine Jobert and the Brothers of the Capucine Chapter Thirteen September 1793, Toulon, France The assembled chasseur officers, shuffling on saddle-sore hips and knees, fell silent in the confines of the warm, stuffy canvas marquee, taking out their notebook and pencils as Colonel Morin entered. ‘Gentlemen,’ Morin briefed his officers, ‘Having just returned from General Carteux’s headquarters, I can both confirm our discussions over the last day and provide further information as to the situation developing around Toulon. ‘I direct to your attention to the chart before us. We are here, on the western edge of this chart, on the Aubagne-Toulon road, at the northern head of the Ollioules defile. ‘Toulon, and its fortifications, is in the centre of the chart. Mount Faron dominates the landscape to the north of Toulon, as does the Inner Harbour to the south-west. ‘Let me now make some comments on our enemy. On the 27th August, Federalist and Royalist factions, having overthrown the port’s government and National Guard, invited a combined British and Spanish fleet into Toulon. The enemy fleet is currently about twelve ships-of-the-line. That fleet has 118 discharged a force of about four-thousand. One battalion of British infantry, now holding the city, and a Spanish brigade of approximately four infantry battalions, now holding the outer fortresses. A combined British and Spanish force, supported by foot artillery, has reinforced the rebel militia, and currently holds the head of the Ollioules defile. ‘I now wish to highlight the seriousness of the situation. It is understood that the British and Spanish have captured seventy French vessels in the port, of which twenty-six are ship-of-the-line, or one- third of the Republic’s navy. ‘Consider the significance of this act. For eighteen months, our foreign enemies have consistently failed to link with Royalist forces in the Vendee and have no Royalist support in Belgium or on the Rhine. Here, for the first time, the Royalists and Federalists fight side-by-side with foreign enemies, what’s more, from a major supply centre. ‘In the same stroke, France has lost one-third of her naval power. A most serious situation, gentlemen. ‘Returning now to General Carteux’s forces assembling about us and preparing to force a passage down the Ollioules defile. As we know, Avriol’s 7th Company engaged the enemy on the 28th August. Mercier brought up the remainder of 1st Squadron, guiding in the lead battalions from Marseille, on the 29th August. Yesterday the infantry took over the fighting, as 2nd and 4th Squadrons concentrated here from Aix-en-Provence. ‘Further, it is anticipated forces detached from the Army of Italy will approach Toulon from the east, through the towns of Sollies and Hyeres. Knowing the distance to Nice, for a courier to get a message there, and for an infantry force to immediately depart, I can’t see that force arriving before the 4th September. ‘Now, General Carteux has accepted our proposal to widen the 24th Chasseur’s screen around Toulon. Yet the regiment is spread thin. ‘5th Squadron still maintains our regimental barracks in Avignon. Major Maccard, with 4th Squadron, has been tasked with escort duties from Avignon, north to the Army of the Alps’ siege at Lyon. 3rd Squadron is escorting the artillery powder convoy to Nice. That leaves Mercier’s 1st Squadron and Jobert’s 2nd Squadron to operate around Toulon. ‘Captain Avriol, your 7th Company will maintain escort duties from here back west to Marseille. ‘Captain Mercier, your 1st Company will operate west of Toulon and the Inner Harbour. As the chart shows, to move around the flanks of the enemy blocking the road down to Ollioules, 1st Company will take the inland routes to the south-west, and the alternate road from Aubagne, via La Seine and La Brega. From there, 1st Company will observe enemy movement on the Ollioules-Toulon road. ‘Captain Jobert, your 2nd Company will operate east of Toulon. Again, as the charts indicate, flanking the enemy by taking routes to the north-east to Revest, descending into the valley north of Mount Faron, then proceeding to La Valette. From there, the company will observe the enemy-held fortresses south-west of La Valette. 2nd Company is also to support the advance of forces from the Army of Italy approaching from Nice. Major Cobereau, who will travel with you, has been tasked with placing himself at the disposal of the commander approaching from Nice, as a liaison officer. ‘Captain Geourdai, your 8th Company shall remain with me, in reserve, at the head of the Ollioules defile. ‘Gentlemen, you now have an hour to consider in greater depth your options, before briefing me as to your intentions.’ Maccard and the 4th Squadron officers moved outside the marquee to discuss their operations north of Avignon with the Colonel. Cobereau and the four remaining company commanders from 1st and 119 2nd Squadrons gathered around the chart to discuss their options. Raive moved between the two groups adding aspects of logistics that could be provided by the regiment. After an hour of discussion, the departure of Maccard and 4th Squadron, and Mercier presenting his plan operating west of Toulon, Jobert presented the 2nd Company plan to conduct reconnaissance east of Toulon. ‘Sir,’ said Jobert, pointing to the chart with his small dagger, ‘The first phase is the move to La Valette and the maintenance of that route, via Revest. Geourdai’s 8th Company shall support 2nd Company’s move by confirming the route to the valley floor. 8th Company will depart at four o’clock tomorrow morning, 2nd Company following, and descend the escarpment at first light. Once on the valley floor, 2nd Company shall continue the advance alone, for no more than two hours march to La Valette. ‘From La Valette, three platoon patrols will set out. ‘First, Major Cobereau and Lieutenant Gouvion will move with one platoon to observe Toulon’s eastern fortresses, south-west of La Valette. ‘Second, I will advance towards Hyeres, with two platoons and the train, crossing the high country north of La Garde. I will leave a platoon and the train to establish camp in the high country east of the fortresses, whilst I proceed to Hyeres with the other platoon. ‘Finally, Lieutenant Neilage and Rodau will move to identify enemy between La Valette and Sollies, with the remaining platoon. ‘I foresee a further two or three days of observing the enemy before the anticipated arrival of forces from Nice. ‘Due to the local paths that descend the escarpment being incapable of supporting wagon traffic until confirmed, the company column will include a train of twenty pack horses. Eight pack horses from the company train, plus two horses carrying four days of biscuit for the company, plus ten horses carrying a full-issue of sixty-cartridges per man for the company. The men will set out carrying two-days of bread and a full-issue of cartridges. ‘Sir, with your permission, Captain Chabenac might accompany us. He shall return to you tomorrow evening with the results of our initial reconnaissance by tomorrow evening. I shall also send word Major Cobereau is in contact with the detachment from the Army of Italy.’ ‘Thank you, Jobert,’ said Morin gruffly, looking up from the chart, to stare Jobert and Geourdai in the eye, ‘Gentlemen, I approve your scheme. Good luck.’ The narrow Revest-La Valette road wound down to the floor of a tight valley which encircled the northern slopes of Mount Faron. As the first dull pink and grey clouds over the distant Alps heralded dawn, at an agreed point, 8th Company turned north to retrace their steps to Revest and then west to the regiment whilst 2nd Company continued east for La Valette, the near-vertical northern flanks of Mount Faron rising sharply on 2nd Company’s right. Clenaude and a vedette of four troopers led the company along the stony track through the brittle, twisted scrub. One hundred metres further back, Cobereau, Jobert, Chabenac and Moench rode 120 with the remainder of Clenaude’s advance guard platoon and the sniper group, Duval, Tulloc and their ‘seconds’. Two hundred metres behind the advance guard, Neilage commanded the main body of the company, comprising Gouvion’s two platoons and the pack-horse train. Bredieux’s chasseurs led the pack-horses; company quartermaster Lombatte and Mathieu having remained at the regimental camp with the company’s wagons and baggage. Surrounding that body of horsemen, Rodau maintained this morning’s flank and rear guards. ‘Sir, riders’ grunted Moench, twisting in his saddle, interrupting Jobert’s inspection of the shadowy flanks of Mount Faron. Jobert turned to see Koschak approaching at a fast trot, his right hand holding his musketoon and his reins. In his left hand he carried a tightly-lidded, tin, cook-pot. Following the Sergeant Major was a chasseur who had a threadbare peasant boy clinging to his back, behind his saddle. The child wore the soldier’s crested, leather helmet. ‘Breakfast, gentlemen?’ Koschak sat deep in his saddle and his bay gelding transitioned to a walk beside Jobert and Green, ‘Fresh goats’ milk?’ ‘Thank you, Sergeant Major,’ said Cobereau, removing the lid, drinking deeply before passing the hot, creamy milk to Jobert. Just for a moment, childhood memories raced through Jobert’s mind as he drank, of barefoot children milking cattle and goats, the heat of the animals’ great bodies and the sweet, cut-grass odour from their steaming dung, in contrast to the icy cobblestone floors of his grandfather’s mountain stables.
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