From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann.
Unless you have experienced the violence of a storm at sea can you imagine our relief as the storm subsided and the sun emerged from behind its veil of clouds. Everyone's spirits lifted, and I was amazed to find that most of the ships in the convoy were still present, although widely scattered.
The French crew of our ship still will not explain where we are, but the sight of land in the distance is a welcome sight and I understand that it may be our destination. However there are still strong winds and the coast looks quite formidable.
A message has just been passed to our ship and the light battalion together with the jaegers have been instructed to land at a small cove and capture a coastal battery covering a harbour where the main body will land.
The swell is quite substantial and the troops are quite terrified at the thought of boarding the boats. Luckily Major Bergstein has arranged for an issue of schnapps, which should calm the men's nerves.
(note for the reader Captain Hoehmann of the Jaegers is a son of General Hoehmann and commands a company of the light battalion)
Wednesday 12 December 2007
En-voyage
From the diaries of Captain Hoehmann
Another day at sea in this wretched weather, my men lie totally exhausted on the lower decks, as this Atlantic storm vents its spleen upon us. To venture on the main deck is to risk being swept overboard, only the sailors dare work there now, and only if absolutely necessary.
Where are we headed? Only the devil knows! General le Comte Beaujolais revealed nothing before boarding the ships, except exclaiming that the expedition would strike a blow for France and cripple the British attempts at world domination.
To the best of my knowledge our force comprises four regiments of French line infantry, two regiments of our Frundsberg line infantry plus our battalion of light infantry and a company of jaegers. There are also some dimounted cavalry and artillery travelling in the convoy. However the convoy is now widely scattered as the storm shows how puny our ships are.
Another day at sea in this wretched weather, my men lie totally exhausted on the lower decks, as this Atlantic storm vents its spleen upon us. To venture on the main deck is to risk being swept overboard, only the sailors dare work there now, and only if absolutely necessary.
Where are we headed? Only the devil knows! General le Comte Beaujolais revealed nothing before boarding the ships, except exclaiming that the expedition would strike a blow for France and cripple the British attempts at world domination.
To the best of my knowledge our force comprises four regiments of French line infantry, two regiments of our Frundsberg line infantry plus our battalion of light infantry and a company of jaegers. There are also some dimounted cavalry and artillery travelling in the convoy. However the convoy is now widely scattered as the storm shows how puny our ships are.
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