Horatio Hornblower - The Spanish Leave Napoleon

Follows the naval adventures of a British officer during the Napoleonic Wars, highlighting his leadership and bravery. The series combines historical context with maritime action.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hold our hands back the quarters. Oh I forgot, can't
buy this time a better one? Broadside didn't want it?
You please, Captain Bush, find us on target. It's not
I already possessing Michael Redgrave.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
See as Forester's indomitable Man of the Sea Ratio Hornblower.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
I have just received a letter from my dear wife, Fatherara.
She as well as she has said and missed me
and my small son Richard, was all so well. Somehow
I find it difficult to keep my mind on the
pressing problems that faced was there at Riga, Captain Bush,
my senior officer, paced up and down my cap in
aboard the non suction, his face set in anxiety. He

(02:19):
was talking temptated to a family. Yet my thoughts were
were still in England. It was not his words. It
was that confounded pacing of his that finally brought me
back to our immediate concerns. This naked ice sight of me.
Don't if we're not poor, we will be first and
into the winter, Convani Bush, Country she keeps still. Man Hm,

(02:42):
I'm sorry Bush to tell you the truth of when
I I was thinking of home. It was high Harrasio,
and we got top anchor in Sheer and thess M
that's about thirty miles from small Bridge. Barbara would be
there waiting, and my little boy Richard, well, it might

(03:03):
be even better to appear suddenly and surprising push. Those
are dreams, dreams, dreams. Our duty remains here. That's not so, Horatia.
You've beat newly heeded, told what I've been saying. Eh,
why there's ice in the harbor. Thus far it's thin

(03:27):
earlier government mainly at the shoreline, but each day it
creeps further on. I know, I know we'll soon be
icepu frozen in. My first duty is to my squadron
locked in. We're at the mercy of the enemy. Marsro
may Don may bring his foot soldiers across the ice
and capture every one of us. I know, I know,
I know it was done twenty years ago at Amsterdam.

(03:48):
History has a way of repeating it. So Horatia, it's dangerous,
or as creezing him, extremely dangerous. That's true enough, and
yet the Admiralty has ordered us to stay. And think
how the news would fed through all Europe burned Aparte's
Second Army captures a British squadron. You have mostly have
my head there, my disgrace, dismissal, there's no doubt about it.

(04:13):
I say up, enter and get out before it's too late.
Generalsnov and his Russians and Colis Cowards bush Asia. The
Russians are done for. There's no fight left in them,
and they still hold here at Riga. And if they
do one of it, what have burnabout himself? His army
has already taken Muscar, but there's some question that he
can remain there. Russians burned the city before he took it.

(04:34):
What of that? He's there and he's victorious. From all
the reports General Esnov received Sar Alexander hasn't yet last herd.
The Russians are still fighting Bush reports more like rumors
than that, Horatia. You've done all that could be done

(04:55):
and more. Without you, Marshall Maiden would have reduced Riga
and marched onto St. Petersburg long before this. Now we've
helped holding him back and that to him. Besides, there's
something else mm hmm. You're not well, Horatio, No nonsense,
you're not. You've lost week, You've had a cuff for weeks.

(05:15):
My advice is take the squadron out as well as
find your advice. We have to stay where we are
until we have orders to move. I don't see that.
I saw no ice where your follow orders. Bombardment was

(05:48):
extremely heavy. Brown had managed to find me a horse
as I joined General s Half and Colonel Franklosevitz near
the Russians defense works. It was all I could do
to keep the beast in hand. The opera made him
rear and snorting, and the saddle heaved harder under me
than any shipstick in a Hurrican. I strove to keep
my voice calm and unruffled. Well, it appears you you

(06:13):
may be right. The general as stay. The enemy is
massing troops and in the front line. Yes, I can
see many troops commodore. The French have brought up reinforcements.
To judge from their colors, I think they have been
joined by some Spanish and Portuguese battalions. Is that not
a company of the volumes? True? How it is, your

(06:33):
eyes are sharp from the closet and look beyond. If
you will forgive me the regiment of your home come
from them the Prussian standard, I see them. Yes, You're
a shamed that the persons must fight for Bondama. They've
been forced to fight for him. They are not many
allies big on the board, and seems to have stopped. Yes,

(06:55):
so I noticed broad the generalst is your sort enemies
advancing all along the light. Come, it's not. There's not
time to be lost. We must manage the troops before
it is two linked. Not there for that. I see

(07:16):
a little sart having an open country exactly, and it
should not be open. It's the enemy's flag. It leaves
I exposed to a sudden attack on the forty night. Sir, Yes,
but who's gonna need such an attack? So okay, cover
things of starting the flight the horse back. They'll be
fleeting at any moment. A retreat might become a roundant

(07:45):
close by me, near the ruins. But have once been
a village church stood a mop. The collection of Russian
troops not getting engaged in the battle. They were all sorts,
artillery and supplied troops and a few putsolos, all bewildered
and leaders. I found myself beside them, shutting at them,
gesticulating to make them understand. I pointed towards the flank

(08:07):
of the attacking and they came after me. We fell
upon the enemy there and took them completed my surprise, sir,

(08:33):
so I said, you know what, so he let me
up here. I can't find the brand. Of course I'm
all right. Similarly, because I have had a horse shot
on the rear, no reason to you certain you're all rights?
And this sound quite quite? Oh that's all over. Eh,

(08:53):
they're beaten off, I said, going back to their own loans,
with their toes between their legs. It were that Frank
attacked and by the time I set myself to rights,
General esnov At gallop duck with the Colonel van Kosis,
here we are. Do you see them coming up? Or

(09:16):
those troops prisoners? Look against them?

Speaker 3 (09:21):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (09:22):
Of course if they were prisoners, they'd be under guard.

Speaker 3 (09:24):
And they're not.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
It's a whole regiment of them, and besides it another
and their uniform was ragged and dirty. Wait, those those
standards they carry, can they be? Exactly? Are Spanish troops?
I mean, I'm Portuguese? But before the battle lay with
massro meds armied generally do you mean to say they've
come over to our side? Exactly? If deserted a mass

(09:50):
it would be much obliged if you would question their
commanding office on my behalf, I'm much obliged to con
de de ros altras. What you tell us about Buonaparte's
man army is of great interest hunger and disease. Eh,
even so, Senor hold. It has also been reported that

(10:13):
nearly all his horses have died of what a martial medon.
If Bonaparte falls back, will Meidon also have to retreat
this too? I cannot say, well, you've been part of
his army? Does he does? He lack food spies, there
is no shortage yet, his troops are cold, and there
is some disease. But I see in the lap of

(10:34):
the gods, eh er, commodore hornbrower. May I speak of
another matter? M I have a favor to ask for
my troops. Would it be possible to return us to
our own countries, back to the peninsula. We will fight
against the tyrant, but we can fight better on our
own soil. I have not seen my native Spain for

(10:58):
four long years. If we could could go by sea,
if you could provide shipping for us, yes, it will
be arranged. It might have a great moral effect on
other allies of the tilant gratious comme a Lord, you
will not regret this. However, I ask one favor in return,

(11:20):
any favor that he's within my power. Name it your
signature to a proclamation. That's all. We shall endeavor to
circulate among Buonaparte's other satellites the news of your joining
the Allied cause. Your signature will attest to its truth.
I will sign gladly. Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, condat,

(11:41):
I must return to my ship. I can't believe it.

(12:02):
Bapart trinking from Muscow, it is through through I tell you.
He left Moscow five days ago. We beat him at
Malo Yaroslavit. The news just came. He's running as hard
as he can for Smolensk and wash Off. He may
never get there. So they're dying five thousands every night,
nothing to eat. When the ferny feat that beats me

(12:23):
to get out of this paper for the Ice Bay
have not yet Captain Wusher?

Speaker 3 (12:27):
Why not?

Speaker 1 (12:27):
What about the enemy here? Marshall Madow is still a
standing firm. He'll had to retreat the con They no
sign of it. Otherwise General Esna would have mentioned it.
I would must certainly have mentioned it. Still, it is possible. Commodore,
I am arranging to send out a sally, a small
attack to test the enemy line the dusk. Will you

(12:48):
join us? Will certainly say you can't do your wall out,
johnsense bull shyness better as a fiddle. Well as you
say so, you'll wear warm clothes, won't you? And it
run along? Anything to keep you happy? Did you like
a hen with one check bush, no sign of any

(13:15):
of its feet? There age and all this from plasm
its here come there cannon. They seemed to have plenty
of ammunition to waste. Two darker and snow began to fall.

(13:35):
The campfires of the enemy glowed as yellow as before,
and the flashes of their canon we remain regular as clockwork.
I stood watching and listening. Then after a bit I
began to dut my vision. At first I thought that
curious lightheadedness was overcoming me again, making my eyes deceive me.

(13:59):
But in a moment they're destroying their guns, finding some
shots at us, while at each sadder they fired against
the trunnions of one of their own canon. Do you
see that first battery only one gun that time? By
the great by, you are correct, commodore, disabling the guns,
letting their campfires die. The door has given up his

(14:20):
armies in retreat. That must be it on those of it.
We must follow up at once, order the foot soldiers
to compare to the Bunds. I want the cattle reparaded
two hours before dawn. Now, if all goes well, we
should come within sight of the a rear guard by daylight.
Getting provide me with a horse. General less enough, I
want to go with him. It was all I could dream,

(14:41):
only clearer. Somehow they trotted up the road, ran five
paces behind us. No shots were fired at us, Cossack
patrols and the enemy too stared at his unbelievable Then
suddenly we were in among the Russians. I asked to
be escorted to the general. His name was York. What

(15:04):
is this fan Kausovich to retard? If I may generally
or let us put aside personalities, What if you're doing
it by your eggs? You realize I shall make your prisoners,
as you and all of pressure have been prisoners of
Napoleon Bonaparte. General I represent the King of England. Genophont
Kazovitz represents the Emperor of Russian We are fighting to

(15:27):
free Europe from Bonaparte, you fighting to maintain him as
a tyrant. Such a question cannot be answered. It is big.
He's retreating from Moscow, not ten thousands of his army
will Reatrance. Hey the standards of dem as you know.
So if the Portuguese, all europe isscerning from him, knowing
that they've been betrayed. I am a soldier. You fight

(15:49):
for him, who may keep him on his tottering throne
of a few weeks longer. Look, you are a German.
Your duty history on slave country to your king? Who
is Bonaparte's prisoner? I am assaultier. I tell yorg you
can free your country. You can free your chain now
at this moment you you can end the useless pouring
out of the blood of your own man. Up to

(16:10):
your suggest an armists, General, york An need did cessation
of facilities to put down our arms, to stop fighting?
I think a ponat Yes, well, General, I agree. Good

(16:33):
brand caught me as I slumped over the saddle, and
that scene of snow and desolation faded. I seemed to
drift from ours for days. I was in a bed.
There were lemons around me, nothing but lemons again, a bed.

Speaker 3 (16:55):
Sh church pells, and I also harassium can urge bells
bus were shawl then yes, Rassia.

Speaker 1 (17:18):
Those bells must be in peace. They're not bringing that
much in water today. It's peace, o fight we have
with the plane for a month, unconsciousness of the time,
a month impossible. I ever thought you'd pull through. Say
you were that fever stricken. Where is the squad? And
Captain Bush a guard back to Ingland ball except and

(17:41):
none such. I put Duncan in command. We've been ordered
to stand by here until you are already for the trip.
If your doctor decision should be up at a bout
in another three weeks. Windows Fair. We cleared the ball

(18:07):
tack and soon bore down the wintry north seat. We
raised lamp, gray Sands and green hills of England. We
dropped Ankerchiefess, where I was welcome by the Vice Admiral,
but I was impatient. The next morning, just thirty miles
to small Bridge, thirty miles and the church bells ringing,

(18:28):
and brown panting upon my own door, and Williams, the
butler opening the door. I'm further of them. Joy By
hens By, it's it's Christmas. Ah, Oh my wives are using.

Speaker 2 (19:01):
Old, I'm there, HI is young Richard, Oh, He's wonderful.

(19:28):
A ratio hornblower starring Michael Redgrave is based on the
novels by C. S.

Speaker 1 (19:33):
Forester. Music composed and conducted by Sydney Torts, produced by
Harry Allan Towers at