Horatio Hornblower - Attack On Haiti Fort

0:00Call all hands, beat the quarters. None of the guards stand by this terrible battery. One broadside in order to please gap in bush. Point of some target. Windstuff, really? Eyes are ready. Fire! Presenting Michael Redgrave at CS Foresters in dominant land of the sea, Horatio Hornblower.

1:00The A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A I truly believe that of all human emotions, the one which depresses a man most is that of helplessness.

2:08And nothing gives that feeling more than defeat. When I was still in my 20s, a lieutenant on board his Majesty's ship Brenan, there was a particular night when we were standing off the island of Haiti. He tried to force our way past the Spanish fort, which guarded the entrance to Samana Bay. When we'd run aground, we'd been forced to turn tail and run like a frightened hare. This room, Blaser? Yes. Yes. Captain's order, sir. We'll report to the Cabinet once. Report to the Captain. I, I, sir, have once. Captain's Cabinet? What have I done wrong? Lieutenant Hornblower reporting, sir? Come in, come in, Hornblower. And please be good enough to close the door. Lieutenant Bush and I are having a devil of a time keeping these charts from blowing away as it is. I'm sorry, sir. It's quite a dark.

3:08Well, Hornblower, what's this you've been up to? Up to, sir? I've been asleep, sir. What's that to do with it? I mean, this foolish impracticalness. I mean, this foolish impractical scheme of yours. No, I need to explain, sir. Mr. Hornblower, I took the liberty of telling Captain Buckland. Telling him what, Lieutenant Bush? You are sleepy. What we talked about on deck, Hornblower. Your idea of a landing party. Storming the fork from the rail. Oh, yes, Captain Buckland, yes, sir. And it may be, yes. Maybe no, Hornblower. Who pens? I think it's possible, sir. Possible depends on many things. For example, how many men we send to shore? A hundred, sir. A hundred plus the Marines. That's a total of a hundred eighty. Spaniards might have a good deal more. Sir, I think not. You must have noticed yesterday during the naval action. They were fighting only six guns from the fort. Don't say only six Hornblower. They were big guns. Extremely big. But that's not what I mean, sir.

4:08I'm sure that none of us will ever forget how big they were. What I mean is, gun crews can't be more than ten. Well, that's ten to each gun. That's sixty. And say the same number to look after ammunition detail and garrison. Oh, well, that can't be more than a hundred and twenty, sir. A hundred and twenty. Behind solid stone wall. Well, they won't be guarding the rear of the fort, sir. And how do you judge that, pretty tell, man? They're expecting an attack from the waters, sir. Especially after our attempt of yesterday. Yes, I'd be obliged if you stopped mentioning that. Yes, sir. But it's true. Here's the island of Hades, sir. Here's the Spanish fort overlooking Samana Bay. Here's Scotsman's Bay. Behind it to the left. That's your suggested landing, please, eh? Yes, Lieutenant Bush, sure. Although it's not really my place to suggest we go on with it, Hornblower. What about the natives? Well, they hold this half of the island, sir, the right half. We're not at war against them. No, sir. But the dons are. We might as well take it into our considerations. They're afraid of the natives, sir. That's why they'll be watching the front of the fort.

5:09Right here. Scotsman's Bay. And then this way through the marsh and up the ridge of land and there's the fort. With the fort in our hands we'll control all of Samana Bay. The Bay is a rat's nest of Spanish privateers. They could never use it as an anchorage against her. Oh, if Hornblower. There's always if. Why, sir? It's getting late, General One. We'll think about it. Think about it. Sir, now what? Well, sir, I mean, you'll put it off. Well, Hornblower, you're not suggesting we can be done now tonight? Well, there's time enough, sir. Time enough tomorrow night. Yes, sir. Only what? Good heavens, isn't my crew tired enough already? The dons are all so tired, sir. And the longer we wait, the longer they have to consider the whole situation and prepare. What do you say, Lieutenant Bush? Well, sir, I'm inclined to agree with Lieutenant Wombra. Soon it's done, but you're surprised, I say.

6:12Oh, very well then. A landing bar, it is. Scotsman's Bay. Lieutenant Bush, you'll be in charge. A hundred men and a marine guard. I say. I suppose you'll need a second in command. I will. That way, man. Good will. You can take whom you choose. Lieutenant Bush, if you please. Oh, well, nothing, sir. Well, you look at you now, Captain. He cannot withstand an attention he's so anxious to get. Of course, Hombra. Who else would I take his second in command? Wasn't this your scheme in the first place? A greed, Bush, a greed. Hombra is your second. Although I'll be left for all the short-handed. It'll go badly with all of us if this venture fails. You'll have the run-out and standing off some other bear taunts. I will. And I'll have my glass trained on the fort. Mr. Ranger, signal. If we're successful, sir, we'll fly our flag above the spreads. Good enough. Our answer above the don's. Good. Now, let's see.

7:12Well, Hombra, you're tapping your legs like a regular cricket. What now? What else is there? Well, I was wondering if we'd best alter our course, so. We can head for Scotsman's Bay now. We shouldn't waste any time. The order was given, and the ship healed over. The black bulk of the topic island grew larger before our straining eyes. The land breathes quarters, and then we heard the swell of the surf. And then we were in the small boats, heading in towards the beach at Scotsman's Bay. Sterry there, Hombra. He'd be headed in properly, who else swamped a lot of us, I said. He did, and she is. Sterry always there. The first of the small boats behind us, Hombra.

8:13I don't know. I wish there wasn't so much phosphorescence in the water. But you're a trail of it behind the blibbers. I hope you'll write about the don's looking the other way. So wow. 180 men. Let's go over the plans, Hombra. I said. Every man has strict orders not to load his musket. We'll be climbing through a tangle of brush. If a gun goes off by accident, it'll rouse Ibris panyet in the fort. At least their wall sentries will rouse them. We'll rely on cold steel, Vianis. At least two will inside the walls. I said. Do you think single file, Hombra? You mean from the beach, sir? Yeah, I... There must likely be a pass, but it'll be narrow. Well, there's the wall of the fort to scale. So... Oh, good lord! I forgot the grapples. Grapples to reach the top of the wall. As I ordered them put by sir, there. That in the boats.

9:13Oh, good. What's wrong with your throat, Hombra? You keep making odd noises. My nut's dry, sir. Keep getting thirsty. You nervous, eh? So am I. Shall I proceed as planned, sir? Yes. You'll go ahead with the ordinary hands, Hombra. So proceed until you come within sight of the Spanish fort. You'll wake there until I arrive with the marines. Okay? Yes, sir. Quite clever. At the boat. Yes, what is it? We're at the beach, sir. Oh, lord. We're driving in. All right, ours. All right. On the next wave. Now! All right. After we left the marsh and began going upward, along a narrow path we found on a ridge, the climb was back breaking. And now is that all.

10:17Well, sir? Pass the order to Holt. Aye, sir. Holt there. I'll see you later. Holt there. Pass the order. What is this, sir? Your eyes are accustomed to the darkness, Holt. I think so, sir. Well, there's something up ahead in that clearing. Can't be the fort. We're not far enough for that. I can't make it out, sir. I don't know, can I? There were just its moving, sir. It might be men. Sentry, sir. Well, it's possible. Can't move the column till we make certain. Holt, none fuss in your barenet. I have my saber. We'll go forward and find out what it is. Lose it. Yes, alone.

11:26I've found it difficult to lacquer my thoughts on that sultry night on the island of Haiti when we were attempting a surprise action against the Spanish fort. An hundred and eighty men. A good portion of the crew of his majesty's ship Renan. All on shore in the darkness. The Spanish fort only a few hundred yards away. Yet all might be lost. For in the darkness I had I'd spied something moving. I felt a tremendous weight on my conscience. But it was I who had suggested this whole attack. As I went ahead to investigate with only the Seaman Wultum to keep me company, my heart was pounding 60 to the dozen. Sir. Yes, Wultum. Directly ahead of us. It must be a sentry. If you blunt us on source, sir. Ideal Wultum. No panic, if you please. Oh, sir. Coming this way, sir. Cold steel, remember. There must be no sound. Cold steel. Now, Wultum.

12:30Good lord, sir. It's a cow. Here are the cold kills you do. Like the sword. Yes, yes, yes. So could I. Now, Wultum. Listen. I'll wait here. You go back to the column and have the men come forward. And pass the word that there are cows about. If you and I almost took this month of the enemy, you're not telling what nervous troops would try to fire it. Even a four-legged beast can raise an alarm, you know. So our progress continued. Bush's column came along and we moved forward. And every sound seemed magnified by excitement and nervousness. And every whisper seemed a shout. Silence there. Silence. Are we never going to reach that blasted four-legged hornblower? I think we have, Mr. Bush. Bush? We have reached it, sir. Directly there before us. My heaven. So it is. All there. All.

13:32Spanish thought. Hornblower, come forward with me. I so. There's not a light showing. Nothing, nothing. Moon's beginning to rise. Bit lighter than it was, Simon is a girl. Close enough. The walls look on common hide from here. That's not too high for grapple, sir. And there's nobody like sailors who's warming up and over. Isn't that? Isn't that a Sally port, younger? A Sally port? Well, directly ahead, sir. A bit to the right. The door must be wooden, sir. A good strong axeman might be able to cut through it. You're referring to Bush's made soup reps. I see a best man with an axe I've ever seen. Hmm. It's a fuzzy fail, sir. Come to school, our eggs in one basket. We won't have to, sir. I suggest we split our forces. If you take the sailors and deploy them to the left with grapples and cutlerces, I can take the Marines and try for the Sally port. Take silk with you. Yes, sir. Well, moon rising. The dawn's on.

14:33From long old blood. Now, Marines, you understand your instructions? I heard. Lieutenant Bush has taken the rest over to the left wall. His men are deployed with grapples and cutlerces. Silk? I, sir. Right here, sir. You marked out your target, Silk? I got it fixed and proper, sir. Good. And this year, axe is a sharp as a man could move. Don't you fret, sir. I'll bash that Sally port door in like it was cheese. And me hungry rat. I can't think of it, Silk. Walton, yes, sir. Let me remind you, cold steel. No shooting until we're well inside. Yes, sir. Well enough. Order fixed bandits. Marines? Fixed bandits. Silk, stay beside me. Aye, sir.

15:34Very well. I believe we can now move forward. Here we are. Silk, Silk. Good years, sir. Stand aside. Lieutenant Bush must be gruffing with the walls by now, sir. Yes, Walton. Spaniards are coming to life. Keep at it, Silk. What is there? Several floors should do it. One more, sir. If someone could reach through and lift off the bolts, sir. Stand aside, Silk. I've got it. Follow me, rats.

16:38One more. One more. Let's go, one more. Coming, sir. Aye, Lieutenant Bush. What's that on your arm, one more. Blood? If it is, it's not mine. You one hand. I believe so, sir. Though there are three dead among our Marines and a dozen casualties, I've established a station for the wounded over near the Saliporo. Have you not? Good idea. I can concentrate all the wounded there. Don's fought quite well, isn't there? Yes, sir. Sir, hi. A big one. Haven't we better make the fort secure? Yes, secure. One. We should post a guard on the powder, sir. With your permission, sir. A home blur. There's another matter once tending to. There is, sir. Aye. Is there a well inside the walls? Well. Right, sir. That is. I hope it hasn't been poisoned.

17:38I'll never forgive myself. See that also, sir? Aye, sir. This way, home blur. It's turned on. All right, time to make signals to the renowned. Yes, sir. Sir. Yes, sir. I see you have our colors. Smart enough. Bring down the Spanish flag. Aye, sir. Once this business is over, I'll be grateful for sleep. It's over there. And water also. Yes, water also. Oh. What's the matter, home blur? Nothing, sir. Just a time ashamed of myself. For what? Forgetting to post a guard over the water well. Of course, the only thing you did for this. I should have remembered. Should have. On blur, I'm the one who should be ashamed. I don't look at myself. What have I done? You led the attack, Lieutenant Bush. On blur, it was your plan. You conceived it. I had no notion of what to do. I, and between us, neither did Captain Buckland. Your plan and your details.

18:38It was you. Remember the grapples. It was you. Devised how we should divide out. It was you who had the sense enough to put guards on the prisoners. Remember the powders and the spirits. You really think that? Would I say it otherwise? Well, I... I didn't want to make a speech, but... Oh, yes, sir. Ready to bend on our colors? Yes, sir. One moment. Give me our ensign, please. You're the sir. Hornblower. Yes, sir? Yes. What's up? Yes. Take it. Take it, ma'am. The British flag, if you please. I want you to bend it on and hoist it up. After all, if it weren't for you, it might not go up at all. Yes, sir.

19:39Looks good in the sunlight, don't you, sir. That's it, sir. But I haven't met you. It doesn't need him. Horatio Hornblower, starring Michael Redgrave, is based on the novels by C. S. Farnister. Music composed and conducted by Sydney Torch. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.

20:58Music composed and conducted by Harry Allen Towers. Music composed and conducted by Harry Allen Towers.