Richard Testrake - (Sea Command 2) (6 page)

It was then Bob Warner showed his worth. Used to living and working in the forest of his lord, he adapted to this one on the coast of France with aplomb. By morning, they had covered half the distance they needed to travel. With some idea now of the differences between coastal France and their own territory back home, the men began to lose their fears. While all of this area had once been the property of King Louis XVI, now landless peasants had begun putting up occasional hovels and cultivating small patches of ground. Warner scouted ahead of the party, guiding them around these areas to avoid giving any alarm of their presence. After some hours, the party came upon a peasant and his wife out to till the ground of their tiny holding with a span of oxen and a wooden plough. The woman led the beasts while her man kept the furrow straight.

Mullins thought for a moment the party had been discovered when the plowman made a late turn and nearly came upon his party. Apparently, the peasant’s mind had been deadened by the drudgery of the work and the assault party was never noticed.

It was Warner who recognized their arrival at their destination. Underbrush had thinned and now they were walking in a meadow. Beyond the crest of a hill, a massively built structure stood, constructed of hand-hewn logs by craftsmen who knew what they were about. Several outbuildings were strewn about and their purpose was evident when a formation of troops were spotted being inspected by their masters. It was clear the outbuildings were barracks for more troops than he had.

After watching the evolutions for a few minutes though, it became evident that these soldiers were training with unloaded weapons. He had no qualms concerning his Marines. Mullins felt these troops were well qualified to attack any body of men twice their numbers. The armed seamen were a different story. With no training in infantry tactics, it could be interesting to see what the men might do when the bugle sounded.

His fears were allayed though when his Marines, making their initial assault, easily overcame the enemy defenders. As his men advanced upon the enemy formation, the French sergeant proceeded to order his men to go into the drill to load their weapons. Unlike the British service, the French army did not frequently train with loaded muskets.

Since the men had been practicing this evolution just moments before, the drill went smoothly enough, save that many soldats, believing this was all part of the drill, did not load live charges. As the French levelled their muskets, a crashing volley from the Marines put many of those soldiers on the ground. When those still on their feet were ordered to fire, an astonishing number of muskets did not discharge.

These were conscripts, not trained soldiers. Most of the soldats still on their feet, ran. Those few remaining dropped their muskets and surrendered.

A party of Marines stormed into the front gate of the main building and soon emerged with three persons, one being a lad of fourteen or so. The boy’s governess and his master at arms followed.

The boy and his arms instructor stood mute and aloof, while the woman made a dramatic display of emotion, screaming like a banshee. When it became evident the boy spoke perfect English, with only the hint of German accent, Mullins explained they were here to take him to his relative King George, but only if he wished to do so.

With only the slightest of pauses, the boy agreed to accompany them. The trip back was not as quiet as the trip out. Fortunately, Herr Schmidt, the arms instructor, before they left, showed Mullins some rifled weapons in the building’s gun room. Mullins elected to appropriate these rifles as spoils of war. With these rifled long guns, Mullis felt they were well prepared for any long-range firing the French troops might wish to engage in. Some of the workers about the manor were Hanoverians and a few who were skilled with the rifles taken from the gun room agreed to accompany them.

The rescue party was tired from the long, unaccustomed march from the sea, and the woman and lad were, neither of them, fit for a long trek.

It was decided to make a cold camp in the forest, part of the way back to the coast. Bob Warner suggested they not build fires, explaining locals might cause them trouble if they were found.

Some of the enemy were mounted and a patrol passed their camp in the night. These men organized a reception for them as they neared the coast. Workers, drafted from a local village, hurriedly built a breastwork across the road, using some of the numerous small hawthorn trees cut down and piled on the road and off to the flanks to discourage any approach, while a dismounted troop of dragoons, stood before the brushwood barricade to bar the way.

Warner, scouting ahead, brought back the news of the barrier. In addition to the dragoons, conscripts from a nearby depot stood behind the barricade, reinforcing the defenses. Several of the Hanoverians accompanying them, armed with rifles, posted themselves on the flanks so as to threaten any enemy scouts that might be present. The rifles these citizens were using were wonderfully accurate, but painfully slow to recharge. It was the Marines who did the real work of clearing the French dragoons from their way, with valued help from the armed seamen. These dragoons were armed with short-barreled carbines, inaccurate at any distance.

The Marine delivered a volley then followed with a bayonet charge. The long arms used by his Marines and seamen were moderately more efficient at the longer range and they proved deadly on the dismounted horsemen.

The breastwork ahead of them was a serious obstacle, manned as it was by soldiers with long arms equal to the Brown Bess muskets carried by the British landing force. Mullins could see no way to break through without losing a prohibitive number of lives in so doing. This was when the Hanoverian snipers showed their worth with the rifled long guns. When a French soldat showed a bit of his body, that bit would shortly have a heavy rifle ball penetrating it. One after another of the defenders was gravely injured or killed, hour by hour. The riflemen did this while remaining beyond effective range of the defender’s muskets.

Judging it nearly time to order an attack on the remnant of defenders, Mullins was surprised when a massed attack by a new enemy swarmed upon his starboard flank. These were more conscripts brought from a nearby depot, approaching by way of an animal trail through the dense underbrush. This attack was thwarted only by his troop’s sheer will and their massed firepower, but many Marines and seamen were down. The two enemies settled down to steady sniping at each other.

Ammunition was becoming low and Mullins was beginning to think he might not survive this battle, when a massed rattle of musketry sounded in the forest behind his opponent’s lines. Unable to imagine who might be coming to the rescue on the enemy coast, far from any potential help, he was astonished to see Mister Weems, his gunner aboard ship, leading most of the remaining crew against the enemy soldiers.

Having heard the noise of battle and realizing the landing force might be in trouble, Weems had stripped the ship of nearly every man, leaving a midshipman in charge, and landed what men he had. The location of the trouble was evident, so Weems led his force through the forest to a position behind the enemy and attacked.

Caught between Mullin’s party and that of Mister Weems, the enemy commander decided it was time to go elsewhere.

The fight was over in minutes, with the enemy dropping their weapons and fleeing into the forest. The men were ordered to retrieve or disable any usable muskets to prevent the enemy from using them again.

The forces that walked on the beach to load into the waiting boats was much reduced from the landing party that had marched into the forest. But, they had their princeling and a few of his people. Whitehall should be happy about the result, although Mullins wished he had his dead sailors and Marines back. Many good men had been lot. He hoped the sacrifice had been worth the cost.

On reaching Portsmouth, Mullins received orders to report to the flag to report on his mission. He took the prince and Ingrid, the governess, with him to the flagship. Ingrid had been violently sick on the voyage across the channel, and her distress had not abated, even on the boat in the quiet harbor. Prince Adolphus was un-affected and was very interested in the sights.

The officer of the watch aboard the flag was horrified when one of the approaching guests was announced to be a real prince, a relative of King George! The captain hurried out, and then the admiral was called. Mullins was left to cool his heels on the quarterdeck with the monoglot Ingrid, while Adolphus was taken to the great cabins.

Ingrid had just discovered, two hours later, that no one was paying attention to her now imagined illness, on this huge first rate moored in a quiet harbor. Therefore, it was not really necessary for her to continue the dramatization. About this time, the flag captain ushered the boy to the deck.

Handed orders and a travel warrant, Mullins was told to take the prince and his people on the next post coach to London, where he was to report to the Admiralty.

A pair of officers from the flag, clad in their best, accompanied the party to the posting inn. He waited at the bar with the arms master, having gained the impression that his travel worn dress was not really appropriate for sitting with a Prince of the Blood. Mullins gathered his partner’s name was Hans, but little else about him. He did know Hans was a deadly shot, with one of those rifles from the manor. He had killed three of the enemy at the breastworks. Mullins thought he would not mind having a dozen men like him on his ship.

At length the coach arrived and the party went out to board. Prince Adolphus was handed in, followed by Ingrid. Without comment Hans climbed up on top. Not caring to ride on top of a jolting coach, Mullins began to climb up into the vehicle.

One of the escorting lieutenants, greatly embarrassed to correct a superior ranking officer, ventured that it might be more appropriate if he too rode on top, the better to defend its passengers, if they were attacked by highwaymen.

Mullins knew well this was just an excuse. These men did not deem him a satisfactory companion to a prince. He decided it was all well for a mere plebian to rescue a prince, but it would never do to sit next to one. Without comment, he climbed up beside Hans.

The coach rolled through the night changing horses at every station. At one posting inn, both the prince and Ingrid availed themselves of the facilities. Ingrid then approached Mullins standing beside the coach and announced that Prince Adophus required food, but she had no funds to pay for it. Mullins took her in and purchased a large basket of food and two pails of beer.

He told her the food would be for all of them, including Hans. She had no objection, so he took a large loaf of bread, a pail of beer and a joint of pork up to the box with him. Hans was appreciative, although Mullins suspected the beer was not quite what he was accustomed to.

It was an exhausting journey, riding on the top of the jolting coach. Mullins was tempted to stop the vehicle and climb inside, but he elected to remain where he was. There was no point in creating animosity with the Royals.

Once in London, they took rooms where Adolphus and Ingrid had a chance to put themselves together and Mullins was able to get his coat sponged and pressed. A hired cabriolet took them to the Admiralty, there being no protest this time about his sitting next to royalty.

While he was certain the port admiral would have sent word of their coming by dispatch rider, no one seemed aware of their presence. With the cabriolet driver anxious to get his equipage back to work again, Mullins took the prince and Ingrid into the waiting room, where he himself had been accustomed to wait in the past. With no attention being given a young commander, a youth and a woman, Mullins accosted a warder passing through the room.

Informing him of the presence of a prince in the waiting room that he was under orders to deliver to the Admiralty, the fellow dismissed his information with scorn. Telling him that no prince would be delivered to this waiting room by a mere commander, he went on his way.

Exasperated, Mullins saw a post captain emerging from an interior corridor. With nothing to lose, he approached this august being, clutching the orders in his hand, and leading Prince Adolphus. Boldly introducing himself and Adolphus, he presented his orders, informing the officer that he was required to deliver the prince to the Admiralty.

The captain looked at him quizzically. “Well, what do you expect me to do about this, young man? I command a third rate, not an office in this pile.”

“Sir, I was hoping you might give me a course to steer. I was ordered by the Portsmouth port admiral to deliver the prince here, but the warder has refused to take any notice.”

The captain peered at the orders. “This should indeed be interesting, Commander. Let me take your prince and see if I can interest anyone here.”

The warder, returning through the waiting room, saw the captain take the prince and lead him away. Approaching Mullins, now with an expression of worry on his face, he asked, “Has your problem been taken care of sir?”

“I think so. A post captain assured me he was not a warder, like your august self, but volunteered to take Prince Adolphus in to see someone who would take notice of him.”

“Sir, do you mean that was a real prince? I thought you were jesting!”

“Prince Adolphus is one of our King George’s relatives, grand-nephew or something close.”

The warder scurried off into the depths of the building. As he left, the post captain came out with a smile on his face. “I will be able recount this for days. After I presented the lad to the first sea lord, a dispatch was found that had arrived early this morning announcing his coming. This was given no heed and deposited upon the desk of a junior functionary where it never came to light until our appearance. I think some heads will roll over these events.”

Finding a pair of seats vacant now, Mullins sat down with Ingrid, waiting for instructions. Finally, the white-faced warder approached. “Sir, your presence is requested in the first sea lord’s office.”

Mullins observed while following the man. “I see you still have your head.”

“Oh sir, Earl Spencer was most overwrought. I am sure I would have been dismissed if the night clerk had not placed a dispatch upon the wrong desk. Lord Spencer never knew the prince was to visit until Captain Moorhead announced he was in the building. I am sure that clerk will have his head handed to him.”

Lord Spencer was alone at his desk when Mullins was ushered in. After the preliminaries, Spencer informed him there had been disagreement over the propriety of sending him on the mission. One advisor had assured him Mullins had been given his present rank solely through the influence of his father. Mullins was reputed to be an over-privileged fop who depended upon others to handle the most basic tasks.

Others however, including his present commander, assured him this officer could be counted upon to handle the most difficult and dangerous missions to completion.

“I’ll tell you, Captain Mullins, one of the crosses to bear of someone in my position, is to be able to select the right person to do a task. It appears, in this case, that you were indeed the right person.”

“Sir, may I ask whether I should return to my ship or will I be needed here?”             

“That remains to be seen, Captain. Prince Adolphus is on his way to the Palace as we speak. I want you to remain here for a bit until it is known whether you will be required to appear before His Majesty. I will tell you in passing, one of your ‘naysayers’ is in frequent contact with the Throne. I would have been in trouble had you not completed your mission and brought young Adolphus out safely.”

“For now, I would suggest you take rooms in London and wait until you are summoned, either here or to the Palace.”

After two weeks without word from Lord Spencer or anyone else, Captain Mullins was becoming profoundly unsettled. Then, an equerry from the Palace presented himself at his inn and announced Prince Adolphus was on his way by Royal coach to Portsmouth, to join Captain Mullins on board HMS Valkyrie. It had been requested by the Royal Family that Mullins take Prince Adolphus on board as a midshipman, where he might learn the mysteries of naval service.

Mullins had feared he might be called to the Palace to meet with the lad’s relatives, but such appeared not to be on the plans. The equerry accompanied him on the trip to Portsmouth, travelling in one of the royal coaches. At one of the stops, this worthy had too much to drink and began recounting some palace gossip.

Mullins tried to ignore this talk, knowing it was dangerous for a junior officer to become involved with such information. He did pick up his ears though, when the equerry began discussing the Royal’s thoughts toward Mullins.

Apparently, minds had been poisoned against both Mullins and his father by close associates of the crown. These people had assumed he would muck up the rescue of the prince. They had not lobbied strenuously against him for the task, believing, for the cost of an unimportant German prince, their own futures would be secure.

Neither King George nor the Crown Prince had discussed their own views on the subject, but Prince Adolphus, upon his arrival, was effusive in his praise of Mullins. Discrete interviews of Ingrid and the lad’s weapons master also agreed Captain Mullins had performed in an exemplary manner.

There was talk of a knighthood for Mullins, but political considerations made that reward inadvisable for just now. The question also remained, what to do with the prince?

Of course, assignment to any one of several regiments as a junior officer would have been acceptable, but at this moment, it was the Royal Navy that was carrying the war to the enemy, and here was a genuine naval hero, who could teach the boy to be a leader. It would also send a message to certain people who were becoming much too bold in telling His Majesty what should and should not be done.

Upon leaving the posting station, the equerry fell asleep and upon waking later, seemed to have no recollection of his maundering. The royal coach took them to the signal tower at the Portsmouth Dockyard and the equerry personally ordered Mullin’s boat. Someone on board identified the royal coach and a boat crew immediately tumbled down into the boat. When it was approaching the quay, the equerry took his departure and the carriage left. Mullins was glad he did not have to face that journey again for a while.

Mister Danton met him at the entry port, with Mister Midshipman Adolphus standing stiffly behind him in his new uniform. Mullins took Danton with him to his quarters, leaving Adolphus with the master’s mate of the watch.

The topic of conversation was to be the status of the ship and what to should be done with this new midshipman. Danton had been handling him with kid gloves, not wishing to create any trouble.

Mullins set his mind to rest. “The boy will be treated the same as any other new midshipmen. Oh, we might prevent the other lads from trying some of their more outrageous antics upon him, but basically, he will be just an ordinary young petty officer.”

Mister Danton reported the Impress Service had delivered a dozen new hands soon after the prince’s arrival, all from a newly arrived East India Company ship. These men could be presumed to be eligible to be entered on the books as ‘Able’.

Another draft of men was brought aboard, these innocent of any training for the sea. Most were young men from the town, unable to find work. A few were unemployed farm laborers. With everything considered though, Daniels thought they were well prepared to go back to sea.

The orders, when they came aboard, sent HMS Valkyrie back across the channel, but this time she would not be assigned to the Inshore Squadron. Mullins thought someone had decided that duty was perhaps too dangerous for a young royal prince. Instead, she was to attend to scouting duties and delivering dispatches.

The ship and crew being ready in all respects, they set sail on a favorable wind.