HMS Athena: A Charles Mullins novel (Sea Command Book 4) (14 page)

HMS Athena left the island chain as soon as all of the promised supplies had been sent ashore. He admitted to himself that he had committed many violations of the King’s Regulations, but he was comfortable with his actions, having saved many of the refugees from the auction hammer. If the Navy did not approve, no doubt he would lose his command. He would survive that, having a substantial account with his banker. More than enough to last the remainder of his life, if it came to that.

Athena continued her patrol of the waters in her sector, but discovered no signs of piracy or unwanted privateers. Water was obtained when needed from uninhabited islands, but the day came when Mister Cartwright reported they had opened a cask of beef on the lowest tier, which had a most unpleasant odor. It seemed it was now time to return to Kingstown.

Back at Jamaica Station, their previously planned convoy was now awaiting them. Some of the owners were furious at the wait, and it had to be explained to them that it was their own demands to suppress piracy that had led to the delay.

A hired cutter newly arrived from home had been hurriedly turned around, when Athena’s delayed appearance caused some anxiety. There had been thought of sending her back as the only escort for twenty-odd merchantmen, but now two escorts were thought to be sufficient.

Mullins was not convinced. He would have preferred to have a powerful frigate along in case of a strong threat. At least, as senior officer present, he need not listen to the dithering of some senile old fool unsure of how to protect his flock.

In the rapid turn-around, there was no opportunity for his superiors to question his actions concerning the disposition of the slaves from the recent prize. Mullins was quick to take advantage of this accident, harrying the crew unmercifully, to get the required work completed so they could sail before anyone thought to interview him.

Long before any experienced naval officer would have expected, HMS Athena reported her readiness to sail, and with the signal acknowledged, the convoy left port.

It was a varied collection of merchantmen, with the little hired cutter, Asp, as the only other Royal Naval escort. Asp had a total of eight diminutive four-pounder long guns, no threat to nearly any warship. She would however, be able to impress any small pirate or privateer craft that tried to make an attempt on the convoy.

Captain Mullins deemed the present force sufficient to defend his flock from a few of the usual predators encountered in these waters. These usually consisted of whatever small craft might be found in the numerous coves and fishing ports in these islands, manned with swarms of boarders from the waterfronts and armed with any guns locally available.

A problem could arise if more than a few of these predators were present. A nimble pair of corsairs could harass the escorts, while any small craft loaded with boarders could easily take any merchantman it could come up against.

Athena’s’ officers were by now well acquainted with their captains’ ideas on the various strategies best suited for different scenarios. Nevertheless, he thought it wise to go over his ideas of defeating a swarm of smaller enemy craft attacking the convoy.

The second day out of Kingstown found the convoy out of sight of land, with never a sail in sight. With the light trade wind taking them on their way, Mullins ordered the cutter’s captain to come aboard Athena.

Mister Houser was a young lieutenant, barely out of his teens. He seemed to be an alert and intelligent officer and Mullins doubted he would have any trouble with this first-time captain.

After introducing Houser to Athena’s officers he explained his ideas to get the convoy back to England.

“Captain Houser, I hope you know that I am not comfortable with our force. Granted, we are unlikely to come up against a pair of frigates or a ship-of-the-line that might attempt to take our convoy from us.”

What we are more likely to meet, is a group of a few fast vessels, loaded with men and armed only with a few guns. If I were commanding such a force, I would set my most maneuverable vessels to annoy the escorts, while the slower craft would set about their chosen target in the convoy.”

“These merchantmen usually have only enough crew aboard to sail the craft. They may have a few guns, but often have little idea of how to use them, or enough men to serve them. Faced with fifty boarders scrambling over the side, that merchant can be expected to be taken within a few moments and be sailing away from the action soon after.”

“To prevent our enemy from using these tactics against us, it will be necessary to cause as much damage to those craft as possible, as soon as possible. We will not be haring off into the distance in the hope of capturing one of these bandits. I can tell you from past experience, if by some miraculous chance you do succeed in overhauling and taking one of these vessels, you will receive little for it in the prize auction. You will however, receive a most unpleasant interview from the port admiral should a merchant be taken while you are off after this chase.”

“We must keep out flock organized, and prevent the individual masters from wandering away from the others as they are prone to do. Some ship-masters will protest at the loss of their freedom to maneuver as they see fit. A log should be kept of the circumstances leading up to that protest.”

“Any ship’s master refusing to comply with orders from an escort commander will be told if the disobedience continues, his ship will be expelled from the convoy and his insurer notified. Of course, should his vessel then be taken, the insurer may well refuse to make good on any damages.”

“As far as our own actions, we will ensure our own gun crews are well trained and as prepared as they possibly can be. Whenever a predator comes within range of my guns, I intend to fire on that craft, if necessary reserving a few guns to reply to another enemy attacker coming into the fray.”

“Our plan should be to cripple every enemy craft possible. If we can disable one or more enemy craft without their taking any of our charges, we will be on our way to success. We must remember, the enemy ship-owners using their privately owned vessels to prey on our convoy, must pay for any damages to their craft from their own purses. If we can make their forays expensive, while depriving them from taking a profitable prize, we shall see enemy attacks against our own shipping decrease.”

“Additionally, I must require any enemy craft we take that is attempting to prey on our convoy to be destroyed. We will have no opportunity to send prizes back to a Caribbean base, and we will not be able to spare hands to man prizes in any event.”

Days later, now nearing their previous patrol area in the waters between Florida and Cuba, a lookout reported, first one sail, then three more. These were small craft, spread well apart and there was little sense attempting to evade.

Signals were hoisted requiring the convoy to close up and for Asp to take position to windward of the trailing ship in the convoy. Although Asp was quick to comply, some of the merchants required persuasion. A cloud of smoke followed the cutter as she punctuated her commands with gunfire.

A brig flying Spanish colors seemed to be the most dangerous opponent. She was pierced for a dozen guns, fortunately seeming to be of small caliber. The others were likely fishing boats of various rigs, hastily armed and given crews to prey on British commerce. None of these flew any country’s colors.

Although ahead of the convoy when first sighted, the brig seemed to be altering course toward the convoy center, while the other three altered toward the rear. It was obvious none wanted to engage Athena.

One of the ships of the convoy, a sugar carrier, tried to swerve out of line when she saw the enemy bearing down on her. Mullins came down on her beam and forced her back into line, giving her a gun as she did so. If she, or any other merchant left the convoy, that ship would instantly become a prime target which the escorts would have great trouble defending.

One of the smaller craft made an attempt upon Asp as she attempted to keep her charges under control. This small gaff-rigged schooner, a former fishing boat, fired her broadside, two four-pounder guns at the cutter, with neither shot taking effect.

Asp fired her own broadside at the schooner and was rewarded by two hits. One shot struck her hull near the waterline up forward, while the other brought down her fore gaff topsail.

With damage to repair, the enemy dropped away from the pursuit and Asp, following orders previously given, moved up to protect her charges from the remaining privateers.

The enemy brig, charging through the center of the convoy attempted to lay alongside a timber carrier. Adroit handling by that ship’s crew avoided the rush and the brig found herself on the lee side of the convoy, near a brigantine loaded with sugar in casks.

Crashing into the port beam of the brigantine, shouting boarders immediately began scrambling over onto her decks. Greatly outnumbered, the brigantine’s crew withdrew to the forecastle, abandoning any attempt to defend their ship. A few moments of confusion occurred as the boarders attempted to take control of the prize.

Many of these boarders were no seamen, and the confusion continued as prize officers from the privateer attempted to get their hands sorted out. While this was in progress, Athena, fresh from herding a convoy ship back into line, came rushing through the frantic shipping, narrowly evading a large ship carrying hides.

The brigantine’s captors were occupied with their own problems and failed to see Athena until it was too late. The post-ship crashed into the port beam of the enemy brig, the heavy oaken scantlings of the ship causing heavy damage to the lightly built brig, and jamming her main yard into the rigging of the brigantine alongside.

Athena’s guns fired as the ships made contact then she glanced off a few yards. The numerous crew still on the privateer’s deck attempted to jump over to Athena, but the distance was too great. With Athena’s gunners switching to grape, the fire continued, causing dreadful damage to the privateer, as well as to the merchant on her opposite beam.

Fortunately, the enemy commander had no incentive to fight to the death and after seeing which way the fighting was going, took off his white shirt and waved it on the tip of his sword. It took some time before all of the gunners were convinced the fighting was over, then the carnage stopped.

Two predators remained, both small fishing type vessels each armed with a pair of small guns and a crew. While Athena was involved with the privateer brig, the pair had moved up the convoy and concentrated upon a brigantine with a cargo of rum. Asp, finished with her own battle with the schooner, warded off the attack, firing her broadside at close range, her small guns loaded with double charges of musket balls.

The attackers took this opportunity to leave, blood running from scuppers, and crew repairing damaged rigging.

Mullins was left in command of the scene, with both a damaged prize as well as the brigantine merchant which urgently needed repairs. Hands from Athena were sent over to the damaged convoy member to lend their skills. Three of the brigantine’s hands had been killed or severely wounded in the action, and since the vessel had been very minimally manned to begin with, it was necessary to give her a few hands in order for her to make port.

The brigantine’s main yard had been cracked when the enemy brig came alongside, so that was cause for concern. With no spare on the vessel, fishing the cracked spar was considered, until Athena’s bosun noticed a spar of suitable size on the captured brig.

After that spar and other useful equipment was removed, the enemy’s powder magazine was emptied, the powder portioned out between Asp and Athena. With repairs well along, the prize, now freed from the brigantine, was let drift away, a length of slow match burning along her deck. Quantities of galley slush as well a quantity of tar were spread judiciously below decks. The slow match led to a pair of blue lights in the midst of the inflammable material. A charge of gunpowder with the incendiary devices, ignited by the burning slow match, would initiate the combustion sequence. The lights consisted of wooden containers packed with combustible chemicals. The intense flame from the burning blue lights would ignite the inflammables. It should take only minutes until the whole ship was engulfed in flame.

After interrogating members of the enemy crew, it was determined its captain or owners had not bothered obtaining a letter of marque. Instead, a ship-owner, frustrated by his merchant ship’s inability to sail profitably in this wartime climate, simply armed her, recruited a number of unemployed seamen from about the port, and went to war.

A letter of marque required his posting bond to his government. The owner decided this formality was really not necessary, since his ship would be only cruising close to his home port, attacking only weakly defending ships. It was not intended for his ship to become involved in action with any naval warships. Any prizes taken would be immediately be taken into port, where cargo would be removed and the ship itself be sold to other interests.

The person appointed captain had other ideas, however. Since it was difficult for a single rover to locate and take a single, unprotected merchant, he decided to team up with some friends and attack larger prey.

This might involve action with a naval escort, but it was thought several of the private ships could hold the escort at bay, while the others could cut out the more profitable-looking prizes.

This plan could have worked, had the individual rovers had some sense of discipline, but when confronted by a plethora of rich prizes or by a deadly defender of the flock, all ideas of cooperation vanished. In the recent case, when confronted by two determined escorts, the pirates determined it was every man for himself.

Now though, it was time to decide what must be done with the captives. Without a valid letter-of-marque, the prisoners must be considered pirates, which might well be equivalent to a death sentence.

The captain of the pirate attempted to put the best face on matters, explaining there had just not been the time to arrange a proper license before sailing and anyway, it was just a matter of formality in any case.