I Read Books: Company Of Spears

Company Of Spears

Back from Portugal in 1827 Mathew Hervey almost finds himself on the good side of bad fortune. After a coach accident kills the regimental commander he finds himself in acting command. However he is unable to find the money to pay for a lieutenant-colonelcy so will undoubtedly revert to his usual rank. In the meantime he takes part in an operation to stop an attack on a gunpowder mill by Irish terrorists. He succeeds, but sees something fishy about it as it prevents a catholic emancipation act from passing and he suspects agents provocateurs.

Then his mentor dies, leaving him enough money for the promotion. However a new colonel has already been appointed and wants to make a clean sweep of things. In addition his report on the gunpowder mill has embarrassed some people and it would be convenient if he were out of the way while they clear things up.

Perhaps fortunately for him, an old friend has been appointed to Cape Colony where they are raising several companies of mounted rifles. Arriving there they discover there are problems on the eastern frontier; Xhosa cattle raids despite there being an unsettled buffer zone and official disapproval of cattle ranching. There’s another reason for it though; another tribe is pressuring the Xhosa. Their price for ending the raids is assistance against these enemy, a mysterious nation called the Zulu.

Read This: Some slightly thoughtful 19^th century cavalry action, deep into the intricacies of regimental life and horsecare
Don’t Read This: The South African bits in particular lean into 19^th century British Imperialism in eyebrow raising ways