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inCarnloughBay , might be a likely spot for a landing. It is out of sight of
Larne where the enemy warship was seen. But no more than thirty miles north
ofBelfast . They could discover if "
"Bugger discovery I want them stopped, destroyed, wiped out!"
He was shouting so loud that the room grew silent as they listened. The Duke
turned to face them, shoulders hunched, nostrils flaring, a bull about to
attack.
"They want war? They shall have war. I want all of the troops in theGlasgow
garrison to get toIreland at once. Then I want complete mobilization, right
across the country. Stand to arms! Call out the yeomanry. And that warship we
are sending to spy what's her name?"
"TheConqueror," the admiral said.
"She's to do more than just snoop. After they have found what is happening
inIreland and reported back to us order the ship north to thisCarnloughBay .
The Americans will have their navy at sea. I want our troops protected.
Whatever the Americans think they are doing inIreland , whatever theyare
doing, they will be stopped!" He turned toSomerville , stabbing out his
finger. "Issue the orders!"
Somervillehad no choice. He came to attention. "Yes, sir," he said. Turned
and went to went down to the telegraph office himself, composing the messages
as he went. Mobilization of all troops on duty inGlasgow . Both regiments. The
issue of ammunition before leaving the barracks. Water bottles full, emergency
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rations for a week. Field guns? No, too slow to muster and move at once. They
would follow by the next ships. The first troops would be a reconnaissance in
strength. The need was for speed. He wrote out the orders and gave them to the
telegrapher, then pulled over the bound book of military telegraph
connections. He made a list of the major barracks and regiments. Horse Guards,
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, GreenHowards , all of them. Then he wrote out an
order for general mobilization.
"Send this order to these units immediately," he said, passing the list to
the chief operator. "I want an acknowledgement that the orders have been
received from each one of them."
InGlasgow the bugles sounded clearly through the afternoon rain, followed by
the bellowed commands of the sergeants, the hammer of running feet. Lieutenant
ColonelMcTavish , in command, was a veteran soldier his troops just as
experienced and professional. They were used to quick actions and even quicker
decisions. Minutes later there was the clatter of horses' hooves on the
cobbles outside the barracks as a staff officer galloped towards the shipping
offices on the banks of theClyde . It was a measure of their professionalism
that by the time dusk was falling the armed and fully equipped soldiers were
marching out of their barracks to the strains of the bagpipes, making their
way down to the docks. As they boarded the commandeered steamships they heard
the angry shouts of the forcefully disembarked passengers struggling to find
their luggage.
It was a slow crossing toIreland for the two ships, down the Firth of Clyde
and across the Irish Channel. Deliberately so since the ships' captains had
conferred, while the troops were being boarded, and had agreed that they
wanted to arrive off the Irish coast just at dawn. A landing at night would be
impossible.
The sea was calm, with no other ships in sight at daybreak, when they crept
intoCarnlough Bay and dropped anchor. The ships' lifeboats were swung out and
they began the tedious business of ferrying the troops to land.
G Company was the first ashore.
The first of the soldiers, kilts swaying as they marched, were moving out on
the coast road south well before the last of the regiment had been rowed
ashore.
"Get some scouts out ahead," Major Bell ordered from the head of the column.
He did not want them to march into any surprises: the sergeant-major sent them
forward at double time.
Close to the village of Saint Cunning the marching column passed a fanner
lifting potatoes in his field. Two of the soldiers hustled him back to Major
Bell.
"Your name?"
"O'Reardon, your honor."
"Has there been any military engagements here?"
"Not here, sir. But there was the sound of guns from Belfast, then at Larne.
Began at dawn. Could hear them clearly, we could. I sent young Brian running
to see what was happening. He only got as far asBallyruther , down the road.
As he was going through the village two soldiers came out of the shop and
grabbed him. Frightened thebejeezus out of him."
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"English soldiers?"
"Indeed not, he said. Foreigners of some kind. Wearing sort of brown
uniforms, talked so funny he couldn't hardly understand them. They turned him
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