The Frogs and the Lobsters

The war with France is at a standstill and Captain Pellew is ordered to lead a small fleet of four ships to deliver French General Charette and his royalist soldiers to the French coast. Charette's plan is to raise an army on arrival. He is unaware that an Admiralty messenger was attacked and the invasion plans may have already fallen into enemy hands. Now promoted to full Lieutenant, Horatio is assigned as liaison officer between a French commander, Colonel Moncoutant and the commander of a troop of Royal Marines, Major Edrington. Once ashore, Horatio is appalled by Moncoutant's cruelty and maltreatment of the locals. He is also assigned to defend a key bridge at all costs.