Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 747 - 655 Script
Chapter 747: Chapter 655 “Script
Chapter 747: Chapter 655 “Script
Two groups of black soldiers suddenly burst out from the dense forests on both sides of Nassau City, shouting as they charged toward the French Army laying siege.
At the same time, a series of cannon fire was heard from within Nassau City, and the advance of the French infantry immediately slowed down.
Gardner watched in shock through his binoculars as black soldiers loaded the cannons, and he exclaimed in disbelief, “They, how did they get cannons?”
Colonel Galisonnière issued a series of orders to his staff, then turned back with a face as pale as iron, saying, “What’s most important is that they can actually fire the cannons.”
His acting was indeed superb, leaving the British unable to detect any flaws. In fact, it was his Artillery Officer who had secretly come to the Bahamas a few months earlier and had personally instructed the black soldiers on how to use the cannons.
Now, although there was little hope for the Bahamian gunners’ accuracy, they could at least operate the cannons skillfully, creating an intimidating presence.
Soon after, a blood-covered cavalryman rushed over, reporting in a panic, “Lieutenant Colonel, our right flank has been ambushed by black devils, and the casualties are severe…”
Gardner quickly raised his binoculars and saw, beneath the billows of gun smoke, the French Army was fleeing in confusion, relentlessly pursued by countless black men.
These black soldiers hardly had any flintlock guns; most were wielding machetes used for cutting sugarcane.
He secretly cursed and took back all his previous statements about the “formidable combat power of the French Army.” But then he remembered that even General Brand had been defeated by these black devils, and he felt somewhat relieved.
Colonel Galisonnière soon received more news of the armies’ defeats and finally, gritting his teeth, ordered one infantry battalion to cover the rear while the rest immediately retreated south.
At twilight, Gardner followed the French Army to a beach where the black army finally began to slowly withdraw.
Several officers reported the losses to Colonel Galisonnière with somber expressions, causing Gardner’s heart to tighten—the French Army had lost nearly 1,000 soldiers, and almost all the cannons and military horses had been abandoned.
Then a staff officer walked into the tent, pointed at the map, and said to Galisonnière, “Sir, this place, this place, and this place have all been captured by the rebels. I’ve already had soldiers start constructing defensive positions. We are surrounded by at least five or six thousand black people.”
In reality, the French Army hadn’t suffered any true casualties, as most of the reported 1,000 lost soldiers were simply “captured” and were at that moment having dinner in Nassau City, enjoying a quite rich meal.
The surrounding Bahamian soldiers numbered only about 3,000, and they had received strict orders from Levithur not to engage the French Army without authorization.
Everything was all part of a pre-arranged plan.
Nevertheless, Galisonnière was acting as if he was scared out of his wits. He had sent three groups to Santo Domingo to ask for reinforcements, then he suddenly grabbed Gardner, anxiously saying, “I am here to help you quell the rebellion, you mustn’t leave me to die!
“Please, write a letter to the Governor of Jamaica asking him to send troops here, for God’s sake!”
Listening to the agonized moans of the wounded outside, Gardner feared that he too might be killed by the slaves, so he quickly wrote a letter for help and gave it to a courier.
A staff officer nearby said, “Right, we can also ask for help from the Spaniards on Juan Island.”
The lamp in Galisonnière’s tent stayed lit all night and by early next morning, no help had arrived. Instead, a messenger from Santo Domingo arrived with urgent news.
Galisonnière stared at the newcomer in shock and exclaimed, “Are you saying that Magua Fortress has been breached by the rebels?!”
“Yes, sir, after you led your troops away, the rebels launched a fierce attack on the fortress, and by midday yesterday, they had already breached the outer defenses! Marquis Labayettri is urging you to return immediately, otherwise, the expeditionary force will be driven into the sea!”
Galisonnière stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before pointing fiercely at Gardner and bellowing, “It’s all because of you! If it weren’t for helping you against the Bahamian rebels, Magua wouldn’t have fallen. Tell Brand to immediately reinforce Saint Domingue, now!”
Soon, the entire military presence in the Caribbean Sea Region was mobilized due to the French Army’s loss of control in Saint Domingue.
The Governor of Jamaica, Lord Cumberland, sent an army of 800 men to aid the Bahamas.
The Spaniards from Juan Island dispatched nearly a thousand soldiers to rush to Saint Domingue—since the Bahamas were British, it seemed more worthwhile to save the French island.
Upon receiving the news, Brand had no choice but to order the recently recovered British Expeditionary Force to board transport ships and head to Saint Domingue to reinforce the French.
In his view, the interests of England, France, and Spain were completely aligned at the moment, so preserving Saint Domingue was paramount, and it was also a chance to reclaim the previous hundred thousand British pounds.
However, just as the British fleet was half a day’s journey from Port-au-Prince, startling news came from Magua—the French Expeditionary Army, nearly four thousand soldiers, had surrendered to Oreal!
Aboard the flagship “Black Mountains,” Brand was pounding the table and shouting furiously, “The French are useless! To surrender to those black devils. Don’t they feel any shame?”
A whistle from the mast signaled that a warship was approaching.
Shortly after, an officer entered the cabin and said to Brand, “General, it’s the Governor of Saint Domingue, Count Mabuli; he wants to see you.”
“Did he escape?”
“Yes, General, it seems the Spaniards saved him.”
“Bring him in. No, I will go myself.”
On the deck of the “Black Mountains,” Count Mabuli, with a grim face, said to Brand, “If you hadn’t diverted the garrison from Magua, those black devils wouldn’t have been able to breach the fortress!”
The Spanish officer beside him looked equally grim, “I believe you are obligated to rescue the thousands of French soldiers in the Bahamas. Afterward, we can join forces to suppress the rebellion in Saint Domingue.”
Brand immediately nodded, “We will head to the Bahamas now!”
Three days later.
The British and Spanish Allied Forces, totaling 3,700 soldiers, successfully landed on the Bahamas and dispersed the black rebels surrounding the French, establishing contact with the French forces.
Upon seeing Brand, Colonel Galisonnière urgently requested that they go together to retake Saint Domingue Island, but the latter proposed they should first defeat the rebels in Nassau City, then move to Saint Domingue—this way, the Bahamas could serve as a logistical and supply base.
The French were finally persuaded—even though, according to the “script,” if Brand had not suggested striking Nassau first, Galisonnière himself would have suggested it to express his gratitude for the British rescue.
The trilateral armies, having done barely any preparations—seven thousand soldiers against the lesser-armed black rebels, it was an easy win—headed towards Nassau City.
It seemed the previous defeat had left Galisonnière with a psychological shadow, as this time he insisted that the British Army lead the main attack while he took charge of the flanks and rear.
Seeing him in such a timid state, Brand didn’t think much and agreed.
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The next day, Nassau City was once again surrounded by thousands of troops from three sides.
