The Long Patrol

The Long Patrol was published in 1997.

It is tenth in publishing order, twelfth in Chronological Order of the Redwall series.

Page count, Hardcover: 358

ISBN 039923165X

Summary
The protagonist in this story is Tamello De Fformelo Tussock (or Tammo), a young hare. Tammo longs to be part of the Long Patrol. His father, Cornspurrey, will not hear of it however. He believes that his son is too young to join up.

Against her husband's wishes, Tammo's mother Mem Divinia prepares for him to leave during the night with Russa Nodrey, a wandering squirrel who is a friend of the family. The two then set off to find the Long Patrol. They do eventually meet up, but Russa is killed saving a baby badger. He is named Russano in her honor.

Meanwhile, Gormad Tunn, the rat leader of the Rapscallion army is dying. The Rapscallions are in fear of Cregga Rose Eyes, the ruler of Salamandastron. His two sons Byral and Damug prepare for a fight to the death to determine who will be the new commander of the Rapscallians. Whoever wins will take his army either on land or on sea. This will be determined by the tradition of flipping Gormad's sword. One side of the blade is wavy for water, and the other is straight for land. Damug kills Byral and takes over control of the army, which moves inland.

At Redwall Abbey, the inhabitants discover that the South Wall is mysteriously sinking into the ground! What is happening? No one knows for certain, but they do know that this could leave the Abbey open to attack. Abbess Tansy leads a group to investigate below. They find the treasure of Verdauga Greeneyes, the long-dead lord of Kotir Fortress.

The patrol goes to Redwall, hoping to inform the denizens about the threat posed by Damug. The spirit of Martin the Warrior appears to Tammo, instructing him to go in the company of the hare Midge Manycoats to Damug's camp. Disguised as a vermin seer, Midge directs Damug not to attack the vulnerable abbey directly, but suggests an alternate place and time instead, buying the defenders precious time to prepare themselves and saving the young and elderly within the Abbey from attack.

When the hare Rockjaw Grang is killed, Cregga's dreams direct her to the ridge where Midge has advised the battle to occur. She kills Damug, losing her eyesight in the process. The hares and Redwallers are eventually victorious, and Tammo marries the beautiful Pasque Valerian.