An Inexorable Invasion – and so it begins is just a very small taster of what is to come in book ten of the Peninsular War Saga. Those of my readers who have spent the past eight years getting to know Major-General van Daan can probably make a rough guess at what happens next…
Chapter One
The forward pickets were relieved at dusk and were almost blue with cold by then; blowing on numb fingers to keep them nimble enough to load and shoot a musket if necessary. The changeover was usually accompanied by cheerful greetings and a good deal of banter as the departing sentries described how miserable the posting was going to be, while their replacements scoffed at them for being softer than the camp women who would probably make a better job of guarding the outposts.
For weeks, the Light Division picket line had been close enough to the French to cause a few skirmishes. It had also led to a good deal of fraternisation. This was particularly bad among the German hussars who often accompanied them because they had quickly discovered that the opposing French cavalry vidette was also provided by a German regiment. The opposing sets of cavalrymen spent much of each day in friendly conversation but this evening brought an unpleasant shock. Along with the relieving pickets, provided by a company of the 110th Light Infantry and a dozen cavalrymen from the 9th Dragoon Guards rode a tall figure on a big roan gelding.
The officer’s uniform was hidden by a dark greatcoat but every one of the pickets recognised the commander of the third brigade of the Light Division. He was accompanied by his ADC, a slim young man in a grey cloak riding a neat bay mare. Both reined in, staring in surprise at the scene before them. They had arrived just in time to find the two opposing cavalry videttes comparing the best fishing spots on the banks of the River Nive while the pickets from the 43rd Light Infantry were bartering with half a dozen French infantrymen. They were offering the French packets of tea and what looked like wrapped packages of tack biscuits in return for French brandy and business was brisk.
There was a long, agonised silence as the two groups stared at each other.
Published on November 10th 2025. Order your copy here.
