For the Honor of the Flag: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 2) (3 page)

“Yes sir.”

“See Mister Ranson, my sailing master and get our position from him. If for some reason you can’t make Portsmouth, any British port will do. Is there anything you need before departing?”

“No sir.”

“Well, goodbye and good luck.”

With the departure of the Charity Smith, the two former French corvettes joined the frigate on her search for Lord Howe’s fleet. They proceeded in line abreast, about ten miles apart in daylight and clear weather. The line would contract at night and periods of low visibility. A light would be shown at night from the main masthead of each ship. The frigate would sail in the center of the formation, and either she or her light should be in view of either corvette at all times. The frigate and two corvettes set sail due west to attempt to locate Lord Howe. By expanding the search line in periods of good visibility, the chances of catching sight of the fleet were greatly improved. Night signals by lantern were established for various eventualities.

The line sailed west until it was obvious they must have missed the fleet, then they reversed course and sailed back toward the mainland. Two days after doing this, a shout from the main masthead lookout cautiously reported a sail in sight. Phillips decided he needed some exercise, and made the long climb to the tops himself. At first he could not make out the sail, then following the lookout’s pointing finger, he spotted the tiny notch in the horizon. The sail was just off the starboard bow, and soon appeared to be headed in the same direction as themselves. Signaling ‘General Chase’, the three ships piled on all the sail they could. Republicaine was soon left in their wakes, since she did not have a full suit of sails. As the morning passed, Phillips ordered Courageous flag hoisted as well as her number, and this month’s identifier signal.

Inconnue was faster than Courageous in these winds, and had approached a half mile closer. She soon signaled, “Chase is HMS Phaeton, Captain Bentinck”.

Later in the day, the signal officer on the Phaeton finally was able to read Courageous’ signals and that frigate finally came to the wind. Phillips’ little squadron slowed a bit to allow Republicaine to catch up. Apparently Bentinck was still suspicious, as he signaled Courageous to come under his lee. Courageous had all her gun ports closed, but as she neared Phaeton, he noted she had her guns run out, with the smoke from burning match drifting above the deck. As Inconnue followed Courageous, Captain Burns began shouting something from a speaking horn, and an officer on Phaeton’s quarterdeck waved at him. It appeared Burns and the lieutenant were old acquaintances, and the tension between the frigates evaporated.

Both captains were invited aboard the Phaeton and listened to Bentinck’s apology. He had feared Courageous may have been captured, and did not like the odds of fighting another fifth rate as well as two French corvettes.

Looking aft, they watched Republicaine sail up to join the gathering. Bentinck wondered, “How in the devil did you manage to take those corvettes?”

Phillips bragged, “We also recaptured a British merchant brig. Sent her into Portsmouth.”

“Well, all I can say is, I hope Lord Howe is in a good mood when you report to him. He takes a dim view about officers chasing prizes instead of doing what he wants them to do.”

Lord Howe was as intimidating as the first time they had met. The first question he had was, had they looked into Brest, and how many battleships were present. Phillips assured Lord Howe that Lieutenant Burns had indeed approached Brest’s inner harbor, and had counted over twenty line-of battle ships there, besides some frigates.

“Well, that is fine, Captain Phillips. While I am waiting for those grain ships to arrive from America, I do hope to engage Admiral Villaret’s ships, should he sortie. Now, what is your explanation for those two corvettes I see keeping company with your frigate?”

Phillips explained how the Inconnue had been discovered in their lee at first light, and how she had been captured with no loss.  He then related his putting his first lieutenant in command who then sailed her into Brest Harbor to get a count of the French fleet there. He told Howe of that officer’s enterprise in re-taking the merchant brig and bringing her out. He assured the admiral he had not intended to capture the second corvette, but she had come at him along with a second ship, and he was forced to fire into her, causing her surrender.”

By this time, a RN captain had appeared at the admiral’s table and helped himself to a glass of Madeira. Howe introduced him to Phillips as ‘Sir Andrew’, my flag captain.

He remarked, “Sir Andrew, I have told my captains, over and over again, they are to attend to their duties, obeying orders, and are not to go whoring after prizes, but they then come before me insisting the prizes behind them just came up to their ships, begging to be taken. It was never like that when I was a young frigate captain, I’ll tell you.”

Sir Andrew answered, “I fear you must be savagely strict with these fellows, My Lord. Else they will gain all the glory, and we elders will find ourselves begging our bread along Whitehall.”

The momentary smile then left the admiral’s face, and he asked, “Tell me about these two corvettes of yours, Phillips. What are their conditions?”

Phillips explained that Inconnue was in good order, with a useful crew aboard. He further told the Admiral that he had placed his first lieutenant in command. Republicaine was a different story. “She lost her main and mizzen in our little battle, which we replaced with some spars carried as deck cargo aboard the brig we recaptured. Our gunners knocked some holes in her hull, which our carpenter has patched. She lost much of her canvas when her masts went over the side, and does not have a full suit of sail, making her slower than Courageous and Inconnue. We came from Portsmouth with a draft of sixty men for the fleet. I had to give Commodore Laforey a few men in exchange for some of his people, and most of the rest went aboard Inconnue. The people aboard the Republicaine are thin on the ground, to tell the truth.”

“Hmm. You mentioned you put your first in command of Inconnue. Who commands the Republicaine?”

“That is Lieutenant Ackroyd, sir. A very useful officer, he was brought up from master’s mate last year after he brought another prize, this one a frigate, into port.”

“What about your first officer, now commanding Inconnue?”

“Sir, He has held his commission as lieutenant nearly ten years. He is a skilled and able officer. It will be difficult to manage the ship without him.”

“Very well captain, I do have some dispatches I wish to send home. Sir Andrew will go aboard the Inconnue with a few other people and set a value on her. I will buy her in, and appoint Lieutenant Burns her commander. She will escort Republicaine home. I have uses for your frigate here with the fleet.”

Captain John Phillips had his launch pull around the Courageous to hook on the Inconnue behind the frigate. Climbing the battens to the twittering of pipes, he doffed his hat to the quarterdeck and to Captain Burns. After exchanging some light banter, Burns invited Phillips to his cabin. It was a tiny affair after the much larger establishments in his last ships. Burns placed a brace of bottles on the table, apologizing for his lack of a steward. “I have enough work for all my seamen present, without putting one to work serving food and wine.”

“How is your crew working out, Captain?”

“Just fine, Captain Phillips. I have appointed Flannery, the bosun’s mate you gave me as acting bosun, and he has made great strides in teaching the new men their duties. By the way sir, I realize when I take this ship to port; I will once again become a mere lieutenant, with Flannery going back to bosun’s mate. You will not hurt my feeling by just referring to me as ‘Mister’ or ‘Lieutenant’.

“Now, that is not true at all, Captain. You will most certainly not revert to being a mere lieutenant at the end of this cruise.”

“Sir?”

Phillips handed Burns the commission he had brought over from the flag. “I think Lord Howe had too much to drink at dinner today. For he somehow got it in his head that you were fit to be a Commander, and had his clerk fill out this commission. The Flag Captain, along with some other officers will be coming over shortly to set a value of this ship. After that is done, she will be bought into service, and you will have the command.”

“Sir, I don’t know how to thank you. I never expected this. I thought I would remain a lieutenant until the end of my days at sea.”

“Captain Burns, you must give Lord Howe some credit. I think he realized he already had an excellent officer aboard the Inconnue, and decided to use his experience, rather than taking a chance on some young fop with an important relative. You will do well Captain. Now, for more important matters, I expect you will have at least three post captains to entertain soon. You had best have a servant as well as some cabin stores. Can I send you over anything?”

After thinking it over for a moment, Burns replied. “I don’t think so, sir. I can deputize one of my men for the servant’s position. As far as that goes, several of the French crew have suggested they would not be averse to taking service with us, so long as the French authorities back on the mainland did not find out. One of those Frenchmen may very well serve. The previous captain left a large supply of cabin stores, as well as cases of wine. I wonder, may I donate a few dozen bottles to you, sir?”

“You may indeed, Captain Burns. I had best leave now so you may prepare yourself for visitors.”

It was getting along toward evening, when a launch from the flag made its way to Courageous and left a packet of papers. The Inconnue and Republicaine had already left, and were now nearly hull down, on their way back home. Among the papers was a commission for young Mullins. He did not quite understand that, as Mullins had never taken his boards. Almost invariably, a midshipman being considered for promotion to a lieutenancy had to appear before a board of captains and convince them of his readiness for such. Phillips had repeatedly praised Mullin’s abilities among the flag’s staff people, and perhaps that had borne fruit. Or, more likely, Mullin’s father, as a member of Lords may have tipped the balance. Mullin’s senior had emerged from a hard-fought struggle as the victor in one of the many such in the House of Lords.

Whatever the reason, Mullins was now a commission officer. He shouted for the Marine sentry and asked him to call for the new officer. While waiting, he went through the rest of the papers. None were of much importance except an order from Lord Howe. The Courageous was to take station in the van, five miles ahead of the fleet, and was to proceed on course directly toward Brest. He had just asked the sentry to call Mister Ransom, the sailing master, when Lieutenant Mullins arrived.

The young man stood nervously in front of the desk, while Phillips went through the papers searching for Mullin’s commission. In Mullin’s experience, little good ever happened while standing in front of superior officers, and he was astonished when the parchment was found and presented to him. Thinking about the moment later, he thought he had probably felt the way he had felt standing in front of the headmaster at school over some real or suspected infraction. Now, for a moment, he did not quite understand what was occurring.

The writing on the parchment was just a blur at first, and he had to concentrate to eventually make them out. He expressed his astonishment when he finally did understand what the order meant. “Sir, I cannot express my thanks and appreciation for this honor.”

“Oh, that is stuff and nonsense Lieutenant. I am sure your father had more to do with this than I did. Now, the important thing to me is who will be with me on the quarterdeck. You have been serving a bit as first officer, since Mister Ackroyd left us. At present, you and Mister Ranson are the only deck officers I have.”

“Sir, if I had to make a recommendation, I would select Mister Landrace to serve as acting lieutenant for a bit. Wilson, who has been following me around on watch may also be a candidate, but I think Landrace is best.”

“Very well, Mister Mullins. Today, I will make Midshipman Landrace an acting lieutenant. He will serve and stand watches as our second. Tomorrow, in order to have no confusion as to dates of rank, I will promote Wilson, and he will be third. These are temporary ranks, as yours was, so if either of us changes our minds, we can reverse ourselves if necessary.”

“Now as to yourself, you are no longer a mid, or an acting lieutenant. You are a first lieutenant of one of His Majesty’s ships of war. You will, of course, not put up with nonsense from any man, seaman, warrant or other officer junior to you. As you know, I do not like to rig a grating, but if we find it necessary, we will do so in a flash. Now, please notify Landrace of his good fortune. Let him bask in his glory for a day, before we announce Wilson’s elevation to quarterdeck status tomorrow.”

The sailing master was standing patiently outside when Phillips finished with Mullins. Not knowing how much he had overheard, Phillips gave him the pertinent information. Ranson agreed with the promotion of Landrace, but seemed dubious of Wilson. Phillips repeated the message he had given to Mullins. Should either youth prove deficient, it was only the work of a moment to send either back to the midshipman’s berth and make other decisions. He suggested, “Mister Ranson, while Wilson in his capacity as acting lieutenant will be an official watch stander, we will both look in on him a few minutes of every watch. We can see how he gets on with the men and the ship. We can offer advice if needed, and just see how matters go. In the meantime, I would ask that you have the signal to the flag hoisted, “Request permission to proceed.” We are to proceed in the van on course to Brest; the fleet to follow.”

On the next day, Phillips went around the ship, gauging the mood of the men. He was pleased with the outcome thus far of the promotion of young Landrace. He had expected some jealousy and bitterness, but that was not evident. The hands seemed nonchalant, and Wilson was one of the first to congratulate Landrace. With the elevation of Landrace, Phillips had removed himself from watch standing duties. On doing so, Wilson had lost his job also. Explaining this to Wilson, Phillips had asked him if he felt capable of taking a watch by himself, with Mister Ranson stepping up on deck once in a while. Without undue excitement or gloom, Wilson expressed his willingness to take charge.”

“During Wilson’s solo watch, Ranson stuck his head out the hatch a few times, sniffed, and went below again. By standing on a chair, Phillips could look on the deck through his skylight, and see that all was necessary. Once, looking at the commissioning pennant flying above them, Phillips saw that the wind had shifted, and the ship was having trouble maintaining her course.  He saw the quartermaster become concerned, and call over Mister Wilson. After a brief discussion, the midshipman of the watch left the group and came rushing for the entrance to the cabin. Phillips heard an excited discussion with the sentry and the sentry thumped his musket butt against the deck. “Midshipman of the watch, sah.”

Phillips said, “Come in.” to the lad, and he excitedly gave his message. “Sir, Officer of the watch says we can’t keep our luff on this course.”

“Very well, I’ll be on deck shortly.”

Going on deck, he found Wilson standing calmly by the helm with the quartermaster. Approaching, Phillips asked the problem. Wilson explained they were now too close to the wind and needed to change course. ”What do you think we should do, Mister Mullins?”

“Put her on the larboard tack, sir.”

“Very well, put her about on the other tack, Mister Wilson.”

With few orders Wilson had the watch on deck put the ship through the eye of the wind onto the other tack, with the men at the braces hauling the yards around. Phillips eyed the sails. “How are we doing”, he asked the helmsman?”

That worthy shifted the quid in his mouth and mumbled, “Just fine, sir.”

Phillips asked Wilson, “Would you walk with me a few minutes, sir?” taking him to the windward rail of the quarterdeck.

Once there, the pair walked up and down, Phillips doing the talking. “Mister Wilson, yesterday I promoted your friend Mister Landrace an acting lieutenant, bringing him to the quarterdeck as second officer. How would you feel if I did the same to you, promoting you to acting lieutenant serving as third officer with, of course, the privilege of the wardroom?”

“The youth looked at him stoically, and said, “Why sir, I’d be proud and pleased as can be.”

“You think you could handle the duties?”

A phlegmatic “Yes sir.” emerged from his lips.