On the King's Sea Service: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 1) (13 page)

They had few arms themselves, so mostly made do with the few muskets aboard the Franklin, as well as improvised weapons made from swabs. They managed the best as they could, sharing the weapons in turn. The major, an English speaker, believed they could stand and fire in volley soon, if only they had muskets.

Phillips gave orders for the retrieval of the refurbished muskets stored aboard the Vigorous and commended the Major on his initiative. He replied it was to his people’s own benefit; if they came into the hands of the revolutionaries, they could soon expect to find themselves a head shorter. He had tried to impress on his men that it was better to die with a musket in hand facing the enemy, than to face a jeering mob from the tumbril on its way to the guillotine.

Phillips then collected seamen and Marines and was rowed to the Nymphe, where he discussed matters with the remaining surviving officer, the second lieutenant, who had been an aspirant recently; the French navy’s version of a midshipman. The man spoke English well and the overwhelmed officer agreed to all of Phillips demands. He ordered all French crew members to go below deck and remain there until advised otherwise.

All officers would remain in the wardroom. All small arms except the officer’s personal weapons were to be tossed up on deck. Any man, officer or crewman, offering resistance would be controlled by whatever means were necessary. Phillips left his Marine corporal and six men, as well as a dozen seamen on the Nymphe’s deck, while he took his boats to Imperieuse where he went on board.

There was no ceremony at all, merely a glowering captain with a bloody arm glaring at him, as if to say for a sou, he would gladly open fire again. A French aspirant did the honors with translation. The French captain refused to acknowledge any orders, so Phillips ordered his sergeant of Marines to escort the captain to his cabin and post guard. He was authorized to restrain the officer, if necessary.

He spoke to the crew member’s close by, using the aspirant as translator, “Sailors of France, you have fought honorably and were defeated by superior force. After we reach safe harbor, you will be offered to your government in exchange for British crewmen held in France. With no delay from your government, you may expect to be sent home shortly.”

When an excited crewman began screaming at him, Phillips ordered a party of seamen to take him in custody. A man who had gone through the ship, reported there were irons bolted into the orlop deck. The men took him there, where his cries were at least muffled.

Back at the Vigorous again, he found the arms had been distributed and nearly two hundred men drawn up in ranks on deck. Every man was armed with an old Brown Bess musket and a cartridge box of ammunition.

These men were ferried over to the captured ships. The French major went aboard Imperieuse with 100 men. A former magistrate who had served as a junior officer under Lafayette back in the American War was offered command of another 75 men going aboard the Nymphe. Mister Mullins was given overall command of that ship.

Placing Granger in command, of Imperieuse, he went back to Vigorous to make arrangements for towing the captured ships. Not having enough men or material to repair the damage, he felt towing was the last resort. Should that not work, he would be forced to put the enemy seamen into the boats and fire the ships.

The bosun, placed in charge anticipated no problem, as long as the weather did not kick up. Vigorous, being in better condition, with good canvas towed Imperieuse, while Franklin towed Nymphe. The sole sail maker’s mate sent to Franklin rifled through Imperieuse’ stores of canvas. His intents were to reinforce some of his own mildew damaged sails with better material.

He was able to convince some of Nymphe’s sail maker’s crew to volunteer to assist; assuring them if they failed to make Gibraltar before the next storm hit, they would all be in trouble.

They were in sight of the ‘Rock” when the first ship came out to investigate. After mooring, the prisoners were marched away by soldiers, while the refugees were given shelter until it could be determined what to do with them. Since Sarah Forsythe was a British citizen, Phillips kept her on board, when he found he was to convoy the captured ships to Portsmouth.

Phillips had not consciously noticed the young woman since her trouble on the deck of Vigorous and he was astonished at her new appearance. It seemed the women housed in the captain’s quarters had at first been jealous, imagining Sarah to be the captain’s toy and treated her at first meeting with great reserve.

With her living below them in the very cramped pantry though, it soon was apparent the captain was paying no attention to her and the women relented. It seemed one had been a ladies hair dresser back home, while the other was a dressmaker.

Taking pity on her ragged appearance, they soon cleaned her up and when the Vigorous sailed into Gibraltar, she appeared as a lady of fashion, beautiful and graceful. Her injuries had healed, along with her spirit. When she appeared on deck, the crew was struck with wonder. She was given Phillips’ sleeping quarters, while absent the other women, the captain resumed occupancy of his office.

There were no problems with Legrand. A fishing boat crewed by radical revolutionaries had been overhauled earlier on their voyage to Gibraltar and the sullen crew persuaded to return him to France. Mullins had told them he was a noble in disguise and wished to return to take back his barony, by force if necessary.

The boat crew was told in confidence; he was trying to pose as a radical republican to avoid being taken. The fishing boat crew promised he would be returned to the land of his birth without delay.

The ship made port in Portsmouth and Phillips was dined out more than once by envious officers. For a frigate to use her prize to capture two more frigates was most unusual. There was some confusion of the status of Franklin, because of the circumstance of her taking. However, there was no doubt at all of the Imperieuse and Nymphe and it seemed assured government would soon buy those frigates into the navy.

Phillips posted up to London, taking Forsythe with him after finding that some of her father’s relatives lived there. He was reluctant to appear suddenly on her relatives’ doorstep with a strange young woman in tow. When reporting to the admiralty he left her in the waiting room, with dozens of young officers in attendance on her. After discussing business with the official interviewing him, he asked that official, a man named Jordan, how he should handle matters.

The elderly, long married man came to the mark. He had an also elderly sister, who would gladly assume the position of duenna to the woman, until she was introduced to her family.

With the man protesting, Phillips imposed his purse upon him, to cover any unforeseen expenses.

Told it would be a matter of weeks before repairs could be made to Vigorous, it would be necessary to disperse the crew to other, more readily available ships coming out of ordinary. Skilled seamen were now a valued resource who must not be wasted on a ship unable to sail for perhaps weeks or months.

Phillips decided to take rooms in the city until he found what the Royal Navy had in store for him. With Vigorous to be out of action for weeks or months, his officers would either go into other ships needing officers or be put on half pay while the crew would be sent to the receiving ship.

With trained crew at a premium, he knew it would be but days before all were scattered to the wind, transferred to such ships that might need them. He asked about Mullins, his acting lieutenant. He was told since the man had not taken his Board, it was unlikely he would be made.

If Phillips was concerned, when he was offered his next ship, he was told he could take the man with him and repeat the promotion at the next opportunity. In a few years, Mullins would be old enough to take the Board and possibly obtain his commission.

A messenger had been sent out and a few hours later the official’s sister and a male cousin arrived at the establishment where Phillips was lunching with Sarah and young Mullins. She was a delightful dining companion and he was sorry when the carriage pulled up and she left with her new companions.

Taking Mullins with him, he engaged a cabriolet to take them to an inn. Not remembering any others, he told the driver to take him to the ‘King’s Arms’. He told himself he had been away long enough for the memories of his past presence in Mary Harkin’s life to have dissipated. He decided to take Mullins with him, stop off at the bar and order a meal for the two and just see what developed.

After the pair arrived, they went in. The inn was mostly empty and there was plenty of room. Phillips saw a new serving girl was present, so they were able to sit down with no notice. Steak and kidney pie was chalked on the board, so that is what they both ordered, along with a quart of beer each. The food was good and the beer refreshing, compared with what they were both used to on the ship. After their meal, Phillips ordered port and Suffolk cheese to settle their palates.

As they were enjoying their food and drink, they heard an impassioned “John!” Phillips turned and saw an excited Mary running toward him, her arms outstretched. She put them around him and nearly crushed the life from him.

When emotions subsided, he introduced Mullins. “This is Acting Lieutenant Mullins, of my last two ships. We are adrift here for the nonce, waiting for the Admiralty to grace us with a ship. The last time it took ten years. Hopefully it won’t be that long this time.”

Phillips turned to Mullins and said, “This is Mary Harkins, a very good friend who has given me some very much appreciated help in the past. I would do a lot for this woman.”

Looking at Mary, he asked, “I wonder if that old room of mine might still be available?”

“Indeed it is John. If you wish it, there is a garret room available for your young man, if he requires it.”

They quickly settled on a price for the rooms and Phillips and Mary escorted Mullins to his quarters.

Phillips explained to Mullins. “I will be out at all hours so it would be best if you had your own room. Feel free to explore.” He fished in his pocket for silver. “Here is some spending money for you.”

Mullins protested, “The Lords are in session now. My father is probably there and I can ask him for funds.”

“I’m sorry Mullins. I forgot about your father. Please feel free to go stay with him. Stop by here, or send a message once in a while. I’ll message you when we are called back to sea.”

“Sir, I’d rather stay here, if you please. My pater does not really like to have me around. He sent me to sea so I would not always be inconveniencing him. Sir, do you think I should ask him for money to buy a sword? I don’t know if I should buy lieutenant’s kit, or whether I will likely stay a mid for a long time.”

“Mullins, it might be best to save your money for a while. I did think you had a good opportunity when we had the Vigorous. Now that she is likely gone, I am a half pay captain and you are an unemployed mid. It could be years before you have your opportunity again.”

Leaving the boy, Phillips went to his well-remembered old room. Mary was waiting. Uneasy, he asked about her husband. “Ben? Oh, he’s dead. He was sitting up in bed one day and just put his hand on his chest and groaned and his head fell down. I sent the pot boy to the apothecary down the way, but when he arrived, he said Ben was dead. Ben’s brother went to America just before. It seemed he was in debt and was afraid of being sent to debtor’s prison.

The episode of the year before was forgotten and John Phillips related some of his adventures since then. He told her of the funds he had acquired from the capture of enemy ships and the several thousand guineas that he was awaiting. Mary went to her door and called her maid-of-all-work and told her she would be in this room for a while and ordered the bar man to handle the taproom for the remainder of the evening.

John remembered about the rumors of the past and asked Mary if she had any concerns.

“Of what? My husband is dead. I own outright half of this inn. My brother in law owns the other half, but he is afraid of going into debtor’s prison and has fled to America. I am paying a few shillings a week to his creditors, just to keep them from coming after this property. I don’t think anyone can touch me.

HMS Courageous

Spring in the New Year was coming late and John Phillips was becoming mired in stress. A few months before, the solicitor representing the person owed money by Mary’s former brother in law came to the inn and offered to settle the matter for a sum of five hundred pounds.

Apparently, the plan was to seize Amos Harkins’ share of the business through the court and sell it to her for that sum. Phillips protested the entire business was not worth that much. Mary had been paying a few shillings a month to keep the wolves from the door. This apparently was not enough for the parties concerned though and Mary had begun to hint that perhaps he could loan her the money. Every day the tears seemed to start flowing earlier and Phillips would start thinking of where he could go to get away from them.

After finding some of his old, fish selling clothing, he even began accompanying his former helper on his rounds, just for an excuse to get away. The horse was glad to see him, anyway. The suggestions now started to come; perhaps this would be a good time for the two to be married. After all, she did have a dowry of half a business. What did he think of a June wedding?”

At that time, one of his prizes was adjudicated and he was flush with funds. Also, a letter had arrived from Admiralty requesting his ‘presence for consultations’. Phillips had no idea of what that entailed, but he could think of nothing he had done that was too criminal. Another problem looming on the horizon was Mister Mullins. Apparently the seventeen year old had become enamored of a fifteen year old maid in the inn.

John had met the boys’ father at his club recently. Actually, he was not a bad sort, just not the man to be a father. With him was his friend, the good Commander the Lord James George Mortimer, Earl of Brumley.

Brumley seemed not to recognize him, but offered the respect Phillips was owed due to his captaincy. Mullin’s parent said he appreciated the training the boy was being given and wondered when he might be going to sea again. Brumley seemed not to want to offer any input here, so Phillips said he himself was on half pay and could not do anything for the boy until he had a ship.

He did remind the father Mullins had been aboard his last two ships and had proved to be a dependable officer. He related how he had promoted the boy to an acting lieutenancy, but that fell through with the paying off of the ship,

“How would we go about getting the boy made a regular lieutenant, anyway?” asked the father.

“There are ways to get around this, but legally, the boy should be twenty, with six years sea time under his belt, before he can take his board. There have been exceptions, but these take a lot of ‘interest’. I might mention the boy has only four years sea time.”

“Hmm, perhaps no one has noticed he spent four years on the books of HMS Sandwich when he was between the ages of eight and twelve.”

“Sir, I had understood he was attending school in Paris during those years.”

“Well, of course he was not actually at sea then, but he was on the books and I imagine they could be produced.”

“My Lord, I am but a simple sailor, promoted to my present rank through good luck. If I presumed to meddle in matters above my station, I would probably regret it. However, I will be pleased to do what I can for the boy as soon as I am able. The moment I get a ship, you will see him on my quarterdeck.”

Before Phillips left the club, Mullins parent slipped something heavy into his pocket. Once outside, he examined the article. It proved to be a rouleaux of guineas. He gathered he was expected to use the money to care for the boy until something came along. That was no problem. He enjoyed having the young man around. As he saw it, the first thing he needed to do was get the boy away from the young maid. The boy’s father would not be amused if the girl found herself with a bun in the oven.

At the inn, he asked the maid to collect Mullins and tell him to report at once. The girl covered he mouth as she tittered, then ran off. Mary caught him as he was stuffing clothing into his sea chest. “Oh, don’t just jam your things in there like that, John. I would have done it for you, if I had known. Are you going away?”

He showed her the letter from Admiralty. “Who knows what this is about? I don’t know what they want. I just want to be ready for all eventualities.” At the spur of the moment, his mouth ran away.

He said, “Mary, I need pen, ink and paper.”

When she produced the items, he realized he could change his mind and scribble an innocuous list of some sort. However, he did as he had meant and penned a note of hand to her in the amount of five hundred guineas. Without words, he handed it to her.

She looked at it for a moment, then held him. “John this means???”

Phillips said, “Just pay the solicitor. Make sure you get a receipt from him and it should indicate there are no further liens on this property. Maybe you should get a solicitor of your own to insure you are protected. As I recall, they asked for five hundred pounds. You have five hundred guineas, giving you some extra funds to engage a solicitor. I suggest you do so.”

“John, you aren’t leaving for good, are you? Please come back.”

Feeling like a scoundrel, Phillips said, “I may have to go back to the Navy for a bit. Don’t worry, you’ll see me again.”

He met Mullins outside the building and the pair caught a cabriolet carriage to the Admiralty building. “Sir, are we going to sea?”

“I don’t know, Mullins. Probably not. They want my advice about something. Probably want to know how the proposed Sea Fencibles should be outfitted.”

“Well sir, why did we need to pack our sea chests, then?”

“I needed to get out of the inn for a bit. Maybe we’ll go up to Scotland for a time. What about you? Are you anxious to get back?”

“I don’t know, sir. Molly is a very nice girl. She wants to get married. Says my father can give us money to buy a cottage and we could then live well.”

“Mullins, you are seventeen. Best wait a few years until you can stand on your own feet, without needing to run to your father for funds every glass.”

At the Admiralty, Phillips took a seat in the crowded waiting room. Mullins was forced to stand in the rear. Another man standing in the rear was Lieutenant Burns, his former first lieutenant. A brief chat with the officer produced the information that Burns had been frequenting this room all winter, in hopes of getting a ship.

After only an hour of exchanging sea stories of half pay status with another captain, Phillips was called. He was ushered to the same office he had entered a few months ago, with the same official behind the desk.

“To business, Captain Phillips.”, Mr. Jordan offered.

‘We have a ship to offer you. It is the HMS Courageous, a 36 gun frigate, eighteen pounders. Much the same as your last. She is a little larger. Actually, she is still in commission, with her crew still on board. Her present captain is Captain Aikins, the Member for Milton, who has certain responsibilities in the House and desires to retire from the sea. He has had to take much time off in recent years from his naval duties, taking on job captains to handle the ship. Courageous is in port, ostensibly to obtain some carronades, but really to install a new captain.”

“With Captain Aikins being absent so much and various job captains coming and going, the ship and crew are reported to be in dismal condition. Admiral Parker has stated he does not want the ship under his command. Perhaps her first lieutenant is to blame, perhaps not. Aikins, from his leadership position in Parliament has managed to protect the premier from his supposed shortcomings, but the problem cannot continue.”

“Just who is this officer?”

“Perkins, a nephew of Captain Aikins. He has only been commissioned five years, serving much of that time in the halls of Parliament as a sort of equerry to his uncle. This required Captain Aikins to employ very junior officers so Perkins can remain first lieutenant. Aikins, from his seat in Parliament has great power to influence the posting of these junior officers. A major problem of the Navy is the lack of sea experience among some of these politically appointed young people.”

“Sir, in the waiting room, I noticed a former first officer of mine. A man of ten years commissioned service or more.”

“Captain, I doubt if Captain Aikins would let us get away with replacing Perkins with your officer as first lieutenant straight off.”

“Sir, would you have a ship, possibly needing a lieutenant that would be sailing for foreign shores soon?”

“Well, there is the Ajax ‘74, escorting a convoy to India next week.”

“Sir, suppose we let things go for a bit. I could take command of the Courageous whenever the Navy wishes. A few hours before the Ajax sails, Lieutenant Burns, my old first officer is ordered aboard Courageous to fill a vacancy we arrange. He ranks Perkins out of his job. Perkins can either request in writing that he go down to second officer to gain experience or he could be bundled aboard Ajax at the last minute.”

“That could possibly work. Let us hold off for a while until we see how matters work out when you take command. In the meantime, the Miss Sarah Forsythe you steered our way wishes to meet you again before you sail away. My sister is impressed with the girl and wants to employ her as a companion, but her uncle wishes to claim her himself. Do you suppose you could come to dinner at our home tomorrow?”

“Barring any last minutes problems aboard the Courageous, I can see no reason why not.”

“Why not go aboard now, get matters straightened out and then tomorrow afternoon, I will have my carriage pick you up on the quay. Have you any questions or comments?”

Collecting Mullins and their sea chests, Phillips debated whether he should signal Courageous to send a boat. He decided it would be easier to just hire a shore boat to take them out. They found a wagon to carry their chests to the quay and engaged a wherry to take them out. The boat was challenged, but when the boatman called out “Courageous”, there seemed to be confusion aboard.

A young lieutenant came to the entry port and protested that Captain Aikins was the captain and no other officer who announced himself as “Courageous” was allowed aboard. Phillips had drawn his boat cloak back and was plainly displaying his epaulet on his right shoulder.”

Not wanting to get into a long range arguing match, Phillips said, “Very well, Aye, Aye.” He was indicating merely that a commissioned officer wished to come aboard, with no mention of him being the captain. Side boys traditional for a visiting captain appeared and the lieutenant stood by the entry port, his hat off in salute.

Phillips, after donning his hat offered his commission. “Lieutenant, would you please read this to the hands?”

“Sir, I cannot do this. Captain Aikins is still in command.”

“Lieutenant, will you at least please read the damned thing to yourself.”

The officer quickly glanced over the document. “Notice the signature? That is the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty who signed that. Have you ever, sir, seen a man hauled up to the mainyard at the end of a line? That is what they do to mutineers. I am told it is quite painful.”

“But sir, I was told ….!”

“Mister, I am rapidly losing my patience. I would strongly suggest you gather some men so I can read myself in, if you will not.”

The officer turned to a bosun’s mate and ordered, “All hands, gather on the main deck.”