Richard Testrake - (Sea Command 2) (3 page)

The soldier had already made inroads on the wine, and now pulled a cold roast chicken from the basket, and was gnawing away on it. Martha was burning with anger, which she dared not express. This food had been meant to feed several people for the voyage across the Channel and this boor was demolishing the food supply by himself.

Deciding to ignore the soldier, she went aft where the pair of Blacks waited for their cue. After draining half the wine, the soldier staggered to his feet and made his way to the rail where he relieved himself over the side. Grunting with satisfaction, he found a clear space on the deck and laid down on the deck, covering himself with his greatcoat. In minutes, loud snores were coming from the soldier’s mouth.

Grinning, Matthew came forward, examining the sleeping guard and placed his foot on the musket on the deck. Now, Mark came up with a length of line and tied one end to the outstretched arm of the fellow. The line was passed through a ringbolt on the deck and the end seized to the other arm. When he pulled the line taut, the sputtering soldier tried to sit upright, but was held back by the line, while Mathew got another line on one of the kicking legs. A turn was made around the other leg and the deed was done. Mullins, when he emerged from his hiding space, used more line to make a more seaman-like package, but to all intents and purposes this soldier was wrapped as tightly as any goose ready for the roasting spit.

When the rapidly sobering prisoner began to continually utter threats, Mullins took it upon himself to locate a wad of tow and stuff it into the soldier’s mouth, securing it with line. He could still breathe and mumble but the loud threats were now muffled. By the time all this was accomplished, the smack was well out to sea, with the shore an indistinct line in the distance.

Mathew, up in the bow, came back and pointed out something on the horizon to Martha. Looking in that direction, Mullins saw a spot of white right on the horizon. He knew it to be a ship’s tops’ls, far in the distance. Later, as the vessel grew nearer, he recognized it as the HMS Hornet, a sloop of war, armed with 16 six-pounder long guns. They were safe.

The refugees soon realized they might be physically safe, but their troubles were not over. Captain Morton of Hornet was a bitter old man who had spent much of his life as an unappreciated lieutenant, with long periods on the beach. Promoted to commander just weeks before, he well knew he must make his mark on this commission or he might never be employed at sea again.

He was finding it impossible to believe the young seaman he had just brought aboard was actually a King’s officer, with a commander’s commission dated before his own. The young man’s problem was he did not actually have that commission on his person, he claimed it had gone down with HMS Aphrodite.

Captain Morton was not born yesterday. He knew better than to believe the first words from a man’s mouth. The order to his first lieutenant to press this man as a common sailor was on his lips when a master’s mate standing by the helm doffed his hat and greeted ‘Captain Mullins’.

This was Mister Waters from Mullins old command HMS Havoc. Captain Morton sharply admonished Waters for speaking out of turn and asked Mullins where he knew Waters. After the explanation, Morton decided he might well have erred and decided to tread lightly.

He agreed to give both Mullins and Mrs. Baker quarters in the wardroom, but announced he would put a crew aboard the fishing smack and claim her as his prize. Morton assured him he would signal HMS Canada of his presence as soon as she came in sight.

It was a week before they sighted the blockading fleet. During that time, Martha was upset over the possibility of losing her boat. Mullins, by now having his fill of the arrogant Captain Morton, assured her his claim to the boat would not hold up. In any case, he intended to retain a solicitor on Mrs. Baker’s behalf to inquire about recovering damages for her property loss. Almost as bad as losing her boat was the loss of her two men, Mathew and Mark to Hornet’s first officer, who had ‘pressed’ the men straight away.

Once HMS Canada was informed by flag signal of Mullin’s presence, Commodore Warren ordered his presence aboard the flag at once. When Morton signaled Mullin’s presence, he did not include his reported rank, merely calling him Charles Mullins. However, the reply from the flag referred to the passenger as Commander Mullins, which disturbed Morton greatly.

By now, Morton had decided that Mullins might really be a commissioned officer but he was comforted by the notion that he was likely going to be taken down a peg for losing his ship. Mullins had been spending his time writing a report on the loss of Aphrodite. Morton refused to supply him with paper and pen so Mullins wrote out a note-of-hand to the purser to obtain the necessary material, at usurious rates.

Both paper and ink were of poor quality and Mullins was ashamed of the report’s appearance, but all of the information he could recall was there.

Canada sent a launch for Mrs. Baker and himself when it was time to report aboard the flag. At first, the atmosphere aboard the third-rate was chilly, and Mullins thought there might be suspicion he had lost his ship through carelessness or neglect. He was separated from Martha at once and he did not see her again until after the matter had been resolved.

A panel of post captains from the fleet subjected Mullins to several hours of detailed questioning concerning the loss of Aphrodite. Clerks from several ships took copious notes of the proceedings. When the questioning was finished, he was left alone in the wardroom with no hint of what the questioners might be thinking or reporting.

Finally, a ship’s officer entered the wardroom and told him deferentially that Commodore Warren wished to see him at his convenience. The lieutenant escorted him to the commodore’s great-cabin and waited outside for him.

Sir John was affable, asking about his father, whom he had known in London. Warren recalled meeting Mullins years ago when he was a small boy.

He grumbled, “Morton in Hornet thought you to be an imposter sent by the French to deceive us. For tuppence, I would send that old woman ashore where he belongs. I have read over your report and listened to what my captains have gleaned from the talk they had with you. Mrs. Baker, who brought you out in her boat, says she has heard talk on the docks the French fleet will sail for Ireland at any moment, if it has not already. Have you any information concerning this?”

Mullins replied, “Sir, I have very poor French, but I do know a few words and phrases. While on the third-rate that sank my ship, I understood enough of what some of the officers were saying to believe an invasion was soon to take place.”

Sir John replied. “I am going to act on your intelligence. I will say you have done as I asked you when last we met. No disciplinary action will be taken in regard to the loss of your ship. If your information leads us to the French fleet, the loss of your ship will be worthwhile.”

“Now, what shall I do with you? There are few opportunities for employment in this fleet for a commander that has lost his ship. For the time being, I think we will keep you here on Canada as a passenger. Perhaps an opening may appear later. Have you any questions?”

“Sir, we left Brest in a fishing boat owned by Mrs. Baker, a British woman who helped me to escape. Captain Morton in Hornet has claimed the fishing smack as a prize. In addition, he has ‘pressed the two African crew members that helped us escape.”

“I would like to have the boat returned to its owner, Mrs. Baker. In addition, I would wish to claim the two Africans as my personal servants, to accompany me when I leave HMS Canada.”

Sir John laughed, “Commander Mullins, no one can tell me that you have any great fear of authority. I must tell you that Mrs. Baker’s claim her fishing boat was British will not wash. By her own statement to one of my officers, she says her husband brought the boat to France before the war began. It has remained there ever since. It must be regarded as a British prize, lawfully taken.”

“Now, Commander Mullins, I had occasion to visit my own prize agent shortly before sailing. It seems he also represents yourself. Mr. Phelps entertained me by detailing the numerous prizes you yourself had brought to his agency. He claimed you are bringing more profit to him than the rest of the Royal Navy together. A suggestion to you. Since Mrs. Baker was instrumental in getting you away from France, perhaps you could show your appreciation by purchasing the rights to the prize from Captain Morton? You could then return the vessel to her as a gift.”

“As far as the Africans are concerned, they were members of the boat’s crew when it was captured. As such, there are two possibilities we can pursue. In the first instance, we can regard them as captured crewmen, destined for the prison hulks. Or, we may give them the option to volunteer for the Navy. Should they do this, I could order them put aboard Canada and assigned to you as your servants.”

Mullins agreed. “Sir, I will write to Captain Morton this day, offering to purchase his prize.”

Sir John grunted. “And I will order the two Africans brought aboard to hear what they may have to say about conditions in France. Please see my first lieutenant to see where he will place you. I am sure Mister Akins would thank you if you offered to stand the occasional watch.”

Mullins settled into the second officer’s tiny cabin. After the sale of the prize rights of the fishing boat was finalized with Captain Morton, Martha moved back into the fishing smack and a junior midshipman was assigned to take the prize to Plymouth. The two Africans, now ostensibly Royal Naval sailors, would crew the boat. Martha was given a letter to deliver to his prize agent in Plymouth. The agent was instructed to bid on the boat at the auction, paying for it with funds from Mullin’s account. After the sale was final, title should be transferred to Mrs. Baker.

Commodore Warren’s squadron had already begun its move to the Irish coast. Meanwhile, Commodore Bompart, the officer commanding the French invasion fleet, attempted to escape Brest under cover of darkness. They were seen by a frigate squadron of the inshore blockading fleet, under Captain Keats in HMS Boadicea. Keats split his forces, sending the frigate, HMS Ethalion, Captain George Countess, and the brig Sylph, Commander John Chambers White, to follow the French, while Keats took the rest of his command to notify the commander of the Channel Fleet, the Admiral Lord Bridport.

French Commodore Bombard attempted to throw off his pursuers by steering toward Lorient. When that failed, he then tried to persuade the British ships he was bound for the Caribbean, to no avail.

Early on the pursuers were joined by HMS Amelia, Captain Herbert, then later, by HMS Anson, Captain Durham. After a confused pursuit in stormy weather and attendant damage to several ships, along with confusing course changes by Commodore Bompart, Captain Countess became convinced the enemy’s true destination was Ireland and sent away the brig Sylph to warn Commodore Warren, now off that coast.

Upon receiving the warning delivered by Sylph on on 23 September, every eye on Warren’s ship was scanning the horizon for a sign of Bompart’s ships. Tops’ls were sighted, but they were of Countess’ squadron. It was only after the fleets merged that the French were sighted off Tory Island.

The French invasion fleet, having temporarily evaded their pursuers, had made for Lough Swilly in Ireland, the planned debarkation area for the troops being delivered. With no suitable landing site immediately visible, it was decided to spend the night off Tory Island and attempt to locate a proper site in the morning. Of course, that was when Commodore Warren’s ships made their appearance.

With the British ships outnumbering his own, Bompart immediately abandoned the landing attempt and began the attempt to extricate his fleet from their dangerous exposure. He ordered his captains to come close to the wind in order to give them opportunity to escape the oncoming British fleet.

Warren’s fleet continued its approach while Bompart tried to get his ships clear in open water. A gale struck that evening while these events were in motion, that storm causing damage to both sides. Bompart’s flagship lost her three topmasts as well as a blown-out mizzen sail. The French Résolue developed a bad leak and HMS Anson lost her mizzenmast and some spars.

Warren continued the pursuit and the next morning found the French fleet sailing in two lines. Warren’s ships were more dispersed, with HMS Anson out of sight in the rear.

Having reached the conclusion that he must fight his way out of his predicament, Bompart formed his fleet into line-of-battle and waited for Warren. Warren obliged in the early morning by ordering the third-rate HMS Robust to attack the French flagship Hoche. Captain Thornbrough of Robust complied, first firing into a pair of French frigates as he passed, before hammering Hoche.

Shortly after commencing the duel with Hoche, Thornbrough was joined by HMS Magnanime, with British ships Ethalion, Lampus and Amelia soon after, taking the opportunity to rake the hapless Hoche.

Commander Mullins had been on deck all night and was feeling the strain. He knew the end of the battle was near and could not leave the quarterdeck at this time. Having lost his sword when Aphrodite went down, he selected a seaman’s cutlass from the arms chest and had the armorer put an edge on it. He was also able to find a brace of Sea Service pistols before they were all gone. New flints and charges readied them for battle.

One of the officers had loaned him his spare glass and he stood at the lee rail away from the Commodore and his staff, keeping his own eye on the battle. Off to port, Captain Morton in HMS Hornet sailed in company with Canada, ready to assume any duty assigned.

HMS Canada was coming up astern of the ships engaging Hoche. Seeing the battle there nearly finished, Mullins scanned the sea around the periphery, looking for other opportunities. To port was a coterie of French ships, mostly supply ships, so far as he could see, with what appeared to be a single troop ship. Its sides were lined with blue-clad soldiers with their muskets. He thought it might be dangerous to approach that fellow closely. Massed fire from those muskets could result in many casualties at close range.

Commodore Warren had just ordered Captain Morton to snap up the French merchants, when from their midst appeared a twenty-two-gun corvette. It seemed she had already received some attention from the British fleet. Her rigging and sails were a tangle, and some rather large shot holes were evident in her starboard beam. Many of her gun ports were empty.

Morton at once made for the enemy warship. His own ship was smaller than the enemy, and had fewer guns. The corvette, with her recent battering however, appeared incapable of engaging Hornet in equal combat, an opinion which her commander apparently shared. Since the third-rate battleship HMS Canada, was close by, the corvette’s captain probably felt he had no other choice. Once Hornet turned toward her, the corvette lowered her colors in surrender.

Commander Morton was having none of this though. Wishing his log to show he was taking this enemy in equal combat, he fired a broadside into her, as he came up on her quarter. An officer on the enemy quarterdeck was seen to wave a white shirt before a blast of grape cut him down.

Commodore Warren, observing from Canada’s quarterdeck, was apoplectic at this treachery and ordered the signals officer to signal, ’Discontinue the action’.

Hornet’s guns fell silent, but the outraged gunners on the corvette opened fire themselves with what guns they had that were still operational. Some well-aimed balls found their way into Hornet’s mizzen, which slowly fell, blanketing the aftermost guns with sailcloth.