Ross & Jeremy Poldark at Waterloo

If you have not read  The Loving Cup or The Twisted Sword, then you might want to delay reading this blog.  The Twisted Sword is a magnificent book but also heartbreaking.  Winston Graham said at the time it was published, 1990, that it was to be the last Poldark novel.  As we know, he went back one more time with Bella which was published in 2002, the year before he died.

The year is 1813, Demelza has discovered her son Jeremy has masterminded a terrible deed (robbing of a stage coach) because the girl he loves (Cuby Trevanion) cannot marry him because he is not wealthy enough.  So in a fit of despair he robs a stagecoach (with others)  but then doesn't spend the money...... To me, this nearly was history repeating itself ie his father's obsession with Elizabeth.

Eventually Jeremy decides to join the military at age 22 (he thus uses part of the ill-gotten booty to buy his commission) to get away from Cuby Trevanion and Cornwall. Cuby was supposed to marry Valentine Warleggan, not because she loved him, but because her brother and Valentine's father, George,  "arranged" the marriage.  Valentine being Valentine had other plans and married someone else.

When Jeremy comes home on leave he discovers his love is available and his father offers the antiquated advice of "why don't you go take her?"  Jeremy laughs at his father and Demelza thinks you cannot do that but then remembers Ross did just that once.......

Instead of "taking" her he convinces her to run away with him. It is all rather fun as he climbs a trellis to get to her room and waits for her.  Naturally she was surprised and in a change of heart, agrees to go with him. They make their way to London and are married.

St. Clement in the Strand, where Cuby and Jeremy were married

 In a letter dated January 19, 1815, Ensign Jeremy Poldark wrote to "My dearest Father & Mother, The briefest note and in haste - belated but as promised - to give you my news. It is say that Cuby agreed to come with me, and we were married by special license at the church of St. Clement in the Strand last  Tuesday, the seventeenth.  I should by rights have obtained the permission of my commanding officer, but it would have meant delaying until we reached Brussels, and I felt that could not be............. I am just the happiest of men!" (lots more in The Loving  Cup)

Jeremy probably had assistance from his cousin Geoffrey Charles Poldark with his enlistment and regiment selection.  He tells Ben Carter that his father gave him his old sword but he still spent L55 on a spyglass and a compass and still had to purchase his uniform, bedding and a horse.

 Jeremy tells Ben he wishes he was more like his father who "is a natural soldier and a brave man."  Jeremy joined the 52nd Regiment, he told his mother: ... "The Fifty-second, though I did not know it when I joined them, was one of the elite regiments trained as part of the Light Brigade by Sir John Moore.: (The Loving Cup)   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Moore_(British_Army_officer)

Jeremy impressed Cuby with his "regimentals"... "tight scarlet jacket with dull gilt epaulettes, collar and cuffs, brass buttons down both fronts of the jacket, a diagonal best with '52 on it, and tight navy trousers fastening with a belt under the black shoes."


Throughout the Napoleonic wars, the 52nd foot wore red uniforms with buff facings. The officers had silver lace, while the other ranks' lace was worn in pairs, red with orange stripes (according to 1802 regulations); in 1812 a commentator described the lace as red with two blue stripes. Light infantry officers wore short jackets, rather than the tailed coats of the other line regiments, with white piping, silver buttons, and silver and scarlet shoulder wings. The uniform was completed with a crimson sash; to match the buff facings and turn-backs, the officers generally wore buff breeches, or grey overalls. Field officers of the 52nd wore silver epaulettes, with regimental badge, overtop the light infantry wings, to designate rank. An 1810 order stipulated these be badged with a star (for majors), a crown (lieutenant colonels) or star and crown (colonels).  Light infantry also commonly wore a narrow waist belt instead of the customary shoulder belt,  The 52nd wore the stovepipe shako throughout the Napoleonic period; it was adorned with the brass bugle badge and green plumes of the light infantry.  In the 52nd, officers' plumes were made from horsehair. Officers generally carried a stirrup-hilted sabre.

Officers were responsible for providing (and paying for) their own uniforms; consequently, variable style and decoration was present, according to the officer's private means. Equipment could consume a significant portion of an officer's pay; during the Napoleonic era, the 52nd's plain regimental sabre, for example, cost 4 guineas, , approximately 16 days' pay for an ensign.  ^{(Thank you Wikipedia!)}



In a nutshell here's the scenario: while Jeremy and Cuby are in Belgium, Ross has been sent to Paris as an observer and takes Demelza, Bella & Henry (Mrs. Kemp too to watch the children).  Ross goes to the countryside while the "little father" aka Napoleon escapes Elba and lands in France and meets practically no resistance and arrives back in Paris.  But Ross is slowed down by yet another lame horse which leaves Demelza nervous about what to do.  She and the children leave Paris at the last possible moment in the last carriage with their friend Jodie, Mme La Blache, who also has the crown jewels in a lock box!  This is great stuff!

Ross escapes his internment and makes his way back to Paris as Napoleon arrives to cheers at the The Palace.   He then goes to their apartment to find that Demelza and the children are gone. Demelza has left a message for him at the Embassy.  There's confusion about when Demelza left and with whom so he returns to their apartment.  Unfortunately he succumbs to exhaustion and awakes to knocks on the door in the morning and is arrested and taken to a cell somewhere in Paris and then eventually to Verdun where he escapes!

 Meanwhile Demelza and her entourage were making their way to Calais to return to London but plans had to change because of the unrest due to Napoleon and they make their way to Belgium and spend a week with Jeremy and Cuby.

Jeremy and Cuby are more or less having a lovely honeymoon interspersed with him having actual military duties.  On the night of the famous Duchess of Richmond Ball, some say the most famous ball in history (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Richmond%27s_ball) they decide to have an intimate dinner together instead of attend the ball and go back to their apartment.  Napoleon is closing in, Jeremy I think feels he will be sent away soon.  This part gets rather emotional as fear grips Cuby as she says "Come back boy" and off he goes the next morning.

I will never forget while looking at purchasing the Poldark books, I discovered quite early on that Jeremy dies.  I didn't know of course how it would affect me after reading the books.  Jeremy and Demelza had some wonderful conversations and a loving relationship. Here is one of my favorites:

"You married father for love. Isn't that so? Oh yes. Then when did the first passion wear off and you begin to observe his faults?" Demelza laughed. We're talking close home now Jeremy, but since you ask me. I suppose twould be true to say that it never has worn off - or not yet anyway." That, from close observation of the objects under view, is what I thought." "So when did you begin to observe his faults? Well, he hasn't any really bad ones! And those he has - they are part of him and therefore mean nothing to me."  The Loving Cup

Jeremy goes with his regiment to Brain le Compte then Nivelles where there's a battle nearby. Ross eventually meets Wellington and learns Jeremy has been promoted to Captain.  He also knows Jeremy will participate in the upcoming battle and is determined to find him at Chateau de Hougoumont after he is sent on a mission to deliver a message to Prince Frederick of the Netherlands.

I purchased two books about Waterloo but had little time to do other than peruse them, but if you are interested to learn more: WATERLOO, the History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles by Bernard Cornwell and THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, by Jeremy Black. 

 The 200th reenactment was held in 2015 and there's lots of pictures and video of the event: https://www.facebook.com/Implausibleblog/videos/vb.341504945955768/786202781485980/?type=2&theater

The great battles happen June 16 & 18. Ross arrives where Jeremy's regiment led a charge to find Jeremy unconscious.  It is all so sad and heart wrenching, I cannot even relay it. The last time I read The Twisted Sword was on a trip to London in August, 2016 and finished the book on the plane going home and cried for dear Jeremy!  Ross was crying too.  One can only imagine a child of yours dying in your arms....

The last thing Jeremy asked what to "Look after Cuby...." "of course.  I promise."  "That," said Jeremy, "is the hardest part of all." And then he died.

Ross then had to write a letter dated June 22, 1815, dated Brussels,  to Demelza: "I have to tell you that Jeremy is dead.  I cannot bring myself to write the words, but there is no way I know of breaking this to you gently. He fell nobly and bravely in the great battle just fought in the area south of the village of Waterloo, about twelve miles from this city ........" He then goes on to tell her how he escaped and what he went through.  What he never told her is that he nearly died too...his father's gold pocket watch saved his life.

The real people are Wellington, Marshal Ney, Blucher mentioned in the books.

 Wellington at Waterloo

Blucher

Marshal Ney

Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of  Wellington

Plan of the Battle of Waterloo

As always, I try to incorporate food into my blog. This one is no exception!  I think you will enjoy Summer Pea Soup, Chicken Marengo, Beef Wellington and Martha Washington's Great Cake which is essentially A Rich Cake from Hannah Glasse's The Art of Cookery made Plain and Easy, 1776.


Summer Pea Soup

1 small onion, diced
4 oz. butter
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 romaine heart, end chopped off, the rest chopped
2 - 13 oz packages of sweet garden peas, frozen
3-4 mint leaves, chopped
6 c. chicken stock
cream to taste*
Salt & Pepper (white) to taste

Cauliflower florets steamed for garnish

Add the onion, butter and celery in a stock pot and saute, then add the peas, mint, romaine and chicken stock.  Simmer until all the vegetables are tender and then puree either in a food processor or use a wand blender.  Make a beurre manie (equal parts butter and flour), I used 2T of butter and 2T of flour and add to the pureed soup. Meanwhile steam the cauliflower florets (4/5 for each bowl of soup)

Recipe calls for cream, but neither my husband or I thought it needed it.  If the soup is too green for your liking, add 1/2 c. cream (cream always makes anything taste better!)

This recipe from Traditional West Country Cookery by Theodora Fitzgibbon.

Summer Pea Soup

Chicken Marengo

1 c. flour
Salt & Pepper to taste
Pinch of oregano & basil (dried) I only had oregano
4 T. butter
2 T. olive oil
4 T. onion, diced
1 c. sliced mushrooms
4 T. sliced green olives (without the pimento stuffing)
1/2 c. red pepper sliced thinly
1 c. chicken stock
2 T. Brandy
1/4 c. chopped green onion tops
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*

Place the flour, salt & pepper and herbs in a flat bottom bowl, this will be used for dredging the chicken.  Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2" thickness.  Dip in flour mixture and set aside.

Melt butter in a heavy skillet, add olive oil and swirl to combine.  When hot, add chicken breasts.  Cook until done on one side.  Turn and brown the other.. Remove from skillet and put in an oven proof pan and place in a warm oven.  Put the brandy in the hot skillet to delaze, then add onions, mushrooms, red peppers and green olives.  Saute until the onions and mushrooms are tender (can add a little more olive oil if needed) then add the chicken stock and simmer until slightly reduced.

When serving, place the mushroom, green olive sauce on top of the breast.  Sprinkle with the green onion tops (I do not think this was  necessary).

* second time I made this recipe I purchased the thinly sliced chicken breasts available at the grocery.  Although it worked just fine (just must be careful not to over cook them), I prefer the breasts pounded  best, the pre-sliced were a little too thin.

Chicken Marengo

Named for the battle of Marengo fought  June, 1800.  French forces won against Austrians in Italy.  This dish presumably was named after this battle but I have my doubts Napoleon ever ate it!  Napoleon also named his horse Marengo.  The skeleton is on display at a museum in London and the front hoofs were saved and encased in silver! The horse lived until 1831.

This is a delicious chicken dish even if Napoleon never ate it. There are several versions of the recipe and stories associated with it. You can Google it.  I've had this version for a long time and know it to be good. But supposedly Napoleon's chef used what he could find. Good enough.

Beef Wellington

Again, probably has  nothing to do with Wellington but considered a classic for decades.  Beef tenderloin coated with pate and sauteed mushrooms wrapped in puff pastry and baked. There are loads of recipes, just Google one if interested in making it.


Dessert- this recipe, Martha Washington's Great Cake is virtually the same recipe as Hannah Glass's, A Rich Cake from The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, first published in America in 1776. Mrs. Glass's recipe calls for Sack and Brandy whereas Mrs. Washington's uses Madeira (George's favorite tipple I believe) and brandy. This recipe is courtesy of Mt. Vernon, George Washington's beautiful home in Virginia.

Martha Washington's Great Cake

1 1/2 c. currants (the box you buy is 2 c. I used it all!)
1/3 c. chopped candied orange peel*
1/3 c. chopped candied lemon peel*
1/3 c. chopped candied citron*
3/4 c. Madeira, divided
1/4 c. French brandy
3 c. all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground mace
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 large eggs, separated

Combine currants, peels, and citron in a large bowl. Add 1/2 c Madeira and stir to combine, cover and and set aside for at least 3 hours. Stir the remainder of the Madeira together with the brandy, cover and set aside.

When ready to bake the cake, preheat oven to 325.  Grease and flour a 10" tube pan.  I have a lovely antique one that I use.

Drain the fruits in a large strainer set over a bowl, extract as much as the Madeira as possible.  Add the strained Madeira to the set-aside Madeira and brandy.

Combine 1/4 of the flour with the fruit, and mix well. Add the almonds, set aside.  Sift the remaining flour with the nutmeg and mace. (I didn't have mace! so I used allspice instead...)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until light. Add the sugar, 1/2 c at a time, beating for several minutes after each addition.  Whisk the egg yolks until they are light and smooth, and add them to the butter and sugar.  Continue to beat for several minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy (imagine doing this by hand!)

Alternately, add the spiced flour, 1/2 c. at a time, and the Madeira and brandy, beating until smooth.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to form stiff peaks.  By hand gently fold them into the batter, combining lightly until well blended. By hand, fold in the fruit in thirds, mixing until well combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.  Set the cake on a wire rack to cool in the pan for 20 minutes.  If serving the cake plain (who wants plain I say?!) turn it out of the pan to cool completely. If finishing it with icing turn the warm cake out of the pan onto a baking sheet, and proceed with the icing.

To ice the cake, spread Sugar Icing (basically meringue) generously onto the surface, piling it high and swirling it around the top and sides.  Set in the turned-off warm oven, and let it sit for at least 3 hours, or until the cake is cool and the icing has hardened.  The icing will crumble when the cake is sliced.

*bought from Amazon as it wasn't available at our grocery stores.  Keeps a long time in the refrigerator.

Sugar Icing

3 large egg whites at room temperature
1 1/c. sugar
2 T rose water or orange water (I used vanilla extract)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, start beating the egg whites on low speed, gradually adding 2 tablespoons of the sugar (this is very important and I didn't do it! LOL  So my meringue isn't fluffy but it was 10 p.m. and I was tired...........) After about 3 minutes, or when they just begin to form soft peaks, increase the speed to high and continue adding the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until all the sugar is incorporated and the egg whites form soft peaks.

Add the rose water or vanilla, and continue beating to form stiff peaks.  Use immediately to ice the cake.

Okay, at first I thought this cake is just okay......I thought it too dense, not enough flavor for all the goodies in it. Well, it improves with age!  I left it out ((fully intending to throw it away! haha) but 4/5 days later it is quite good with a cup of hot tea.  I think the icing seals the cake so it has not gotten dry at all.  Learn from my mistakes I mention, but the cake still turned out well.

Martha Washington's Great Cake

I am sad to admit for a long time I don't think I knew Waterloo as anything other than that pop song by Abba!

What did Waterloo mean? Well, for the British it meant 15,000 dead or wounded, Blucher lost 7,000 and Napoleon lost 24-26,000 dead or wounded. This was a decisive battle that the allies won.  Apparently Victor Hugo has muddied the waters with his Les Miserables and the French have a different takeaway!

Paris surrendered on July 4, 1815.  Napoleon was sent off to Saint Helena.  I didn't realize a lot of people wanted to execute him. Wellington refused, but Marshal Ney was executed by a French firing squad.

In 1821 when Wellington heard that Napoleon had died, he said, "Now I think I may say I am the most successful General alive!"

Wellington refused to give interviews about the battle and by the 1830's, a British army officer named William Siborne conceived an idea to build a massive model of the battle.  Lord Fitzroy Somerset (recognize that name!) wrote to Siborne and offered suggestions on the model.

The model was built and can be viewed today in the National Army Museum in Chelsea. Here's the link if you want to check it out, definitely looks interesting: https://www.nam.ac.uk/   Type in Waterloo in the search box and there are pages and pages of paintings and real artifacts like Wellington's shaving mirror, dispatch case, camp cooking kettles, etc.

That is all for this time.  Thanks for reading! Please leave comments, I appreciate them.

Bonny Wise, I am
Inspired by Poldark