The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Like Wolves and Tigers

The first volley of cannon fire was usually meant for calibration, particularly with the arcing trajectory of a mortar. Adjusting the barrel’s angle based on the initial shell’s impact point was a necessary step.

Nonetheless, one shell happened to land squarely within the pirates’ defensive position.

Though black powder lacked significant explosive power, the blast was sufficient to knock down two nearby pirates. Shrapnel embedded itself in one man’s chest and another’s abdomen, splattering blood all over the nearby pirates.

Before the pirates could react, the Imperial Guard Corps fired another round.

The gunners adjusted their aim based on the previous miscalculation. This time, over half the shells landed accurately within the cluster of pirates, causing a cascade of bloody eruptions.

After several rounds of bombardment, a major stepped ashore from a small boat.

Frowning, he glanced toward the port battery ahead, where the cannon fire continued to spew forth sporadically. Fortunately, the pirates’ gunnery was subpar, and they had yet to score a direct hit on the Imperial Guard Corps. However, the major knew it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out.

Pointing at the hundreds of pirates entrenched on the beach, he commanded his messenger,
“Launch an assault immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

As the signal flags rose and fell, the drummers of the Imperial Guard Corps moved to the front of the formation, standing shoulder to shoulder with the company commanders. They struck their drums rhythmically, advancing steadily.

Behind them, the soldiers marched in lockstep, utterly ignoring the pirates’ haphazard musket fire.

When the first seven companies reached seventy paces from the pirates, not a single soldier had been hit.

“Stand fast—”

Following the signal flags, the officers issued a series of commands:
“Present arms!”
“Aim!”
“Fire!”

The Imperial Guard Corps unleashed a concentrated volley. Screams erupted from the pirates as over a dozen men fell on the beach.

Already in disarray from the cannon fire, the pirates descended further into chaos. Their once sporadically organized gunfire devolved into scattered, aimless shots.

The second rank of the Imperial Guard advanced three steps forward and fired another coordinated volley under their officers’ orders.

With this alternating advance and volley fire, the gap between the two forces quickly shrank to less than forty paces.

The Imperial Guard Corps not only outnumbered the pirates but also wielded faster-loading, more powerful fire cap guns. Their training was far superior to that of the disorganized pirates. Consequently, in the ensuing exchange, over a hundred pirates were killed, while others began deserting their positions.

The Imperial Guard suffered only four or five casualties, victims of sheer bad luck.

Finally, the pirates’ morale shattered completely under the relentless and disciplined advance of their opponents.

Following another synchronized volley from the 200-plus August-style fire cap guns, the remaining 400–500 pirates, clad in mismatched robes and white headscarves, cried out in despair, “We’re finished! It’s all over! Run!” They abandoned their weapons and fled toward the town behind the port.

The Imperial Guard quickly dismantled the spiked barricades blocking their advance. Meanwhile, reinforcements arrived as more soldiers disembarked from small boats, bringing three four-pounder cannons ashore.

After a brief reorganization, two infantry battalions and an artillery company maneuvered around the slope behind the port battery, encircling it from a distance.

By this time, the pirates surrounding the battery had already fled. Berthier stepped ashore with a relaxed demeanor, gazing up at the battery on the high ground. He pondered how to minimize losses in the assault—after all, a battery without infantry cover posed little threat. Using skirmishers to launch a diversionary assault, supported by artillery, would make quick work of it.

At that moment, several young and eager cadet officers approached, saluting enthusiastically.

“Sir, allow us to seize the battery!”
“We won’t let you down!”

Through his telescope, Berthier observed the pirates on the battery, still firing haphazardly. He nodded and said,
“Very well, go earn your honor, gentlemen.”

“Yes, sir!” The two young officers exchanged excited glances and rushed back to their companies. Soon, the sound of drums filled the air, and soldiers quickly formed assault columns.

Meanwhile, the three cannons began their covering fire.

Nearby, Davout learned of the cadets’ impending assault and was immediately spurred into action. His competitive spirit ignited, he requested permission from Berthier to participate in the capture of the battery.

If Joseph had witnessed this scene, he would have lamented the waste—this was Marshal Davout, one of the Emperor’s three War Gods, volunteering for a perilous mission like storming a battery!

But every great general has to start somewhere. Without experiencing the crucible of battle, how could one develop true battlefield expertise? Even the young Davout was no exception.

This was one of the reasons Joseph had sent them to North Africa: the intensity of combat here was far lower than in Europe, making it the safest place to gain practical experience.

After some thought, Berthier granted the newly commissioned officer’s request. He assigned Davout and another company to provide cover for the cadets. If the cadets failed to take the battery, Davout’s unit would launch the second assault.

Davout returned to his company with lightning speed, leading his men to join the cadets and deploying them in a skirmish line slightly to their rear.

The cadet-led assault columns soon charged up the slope, aiming for the pirate battery at the top.

The pirates, noticing the Imperial Guard’s movement, hastily assembled 150 men outside the battery to form a defensive line. This represented their entire remaining force.

Contrary to dramatized depictions in films, defenders who stayed holed up in a battery would quickly find themselves cornered in the artillery’s blind spots, where attackers could pick them off one by one.

The most effective defense was to delay the enemy with infantry while using the battery’s firepower for maximum casualties.

However, the pirates’ chaotic formation barely materialized before the 200 cadets were within 70–80 paces. Despite continuous cannon fire, the pirates’ poor marksmanship resulted in minimal hits.

The pirates fired two volleys before the cadets, shouting, “In the name of the Crown Prince!” lowered their bayonets and charged.

Davout ordered his men to unleash a covering volley.

The Tunisian pirates, accustomed to bullying defenseless sailors, stood no chance against the disciplined and fearless Imperial Guard. Their defensive line collapsed instantly.

The pirates screamed as they retreated to the battery, though many were unable to flee in time. They dropped their weapons and surrendered on the spot.

Coastal batteries were generally built on elevated ground but were only about two stories high.

Davout watched with envy as the cadets swarmed the battery like ravenous wolves, occasionally throwing down pirate corpses. His eyes burned with frustration—it was a supreme honor to be the first to breach enemy defenses, and now that glory was beyond his reach.

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>