HMS Athena: A Charles Mullins novel (Sea Command Book 4) (16 page)

The battle may have ended, but the victors were in desperate condition. Argonaut, besides the damage received in battle, had caused herself serious damage when she fired her broadsides, the shock being almost more than the old ship’s timbers could withstand. Much of the ship’s fabric was held together by wooden treenails, driven in decades before. Some of these had failed, given the jarring shocks of the repeated broadsides. Her pumps were in constant use, while a sail was fothered under her bottom, slowing incoming water to a manageable degree.

Athena, both beams beaten in by concentrated enemy fire, was also in serious trouble. Settling rapidly in the water, and unable to maneuver because of her fallen foremast, her hands were working desperately to save the ship.

Revanche, one of the French frigates, was in no better condition. Her captain, wounded but still in command of his faculties, at first refused to order his men to assist the enemy that had defeated him, but relented when it was proposed all British seamen aboard his ship be brought back to their own vessels, leaving the enemy frigate damaged and sinking to fend for herself.

Healthy French seamen were taken aboard Athena and Argonaut to do what could be done to keep them afloat. While the laboring crews were able to keep Argonaut afloat, the same could not be said for Athena. The inrushing water could not be stemmed, every hour seeing her hull sitting deeper in the water and more shot holes becoming submerged.

Finally, Captain Holmes ordered all the men from the ship and she was allowed to sink into the depths, followed shortly after by Revanche. Hollister ordered all French seamen to be put aboard Regulus, which although badly injured by the beating it had received from Argonaut, was judged seaworthy enough to make port. With Regulus’ captain commanding, she would make for any port the captain wished, most likely one of the French islands.

The French frigate’s captain gave his parole promising to refrain from combat with British forces in the future until he had been properly exchanged. Captain Holmes had no fears of Regulus ever being used against Britain. She had been badly savaged by Argonaut, and it was doubtful if she would ever sail again.

Captain Holmes was determined to bring Jemmapes to port. Other than her damaged steering, she was in better condition than any of the other surviving ships. True, her previous owners had neglected her, but she was certainly capable of making port with a little work from her new crew.

All of the Athena’s hands were put aboard her, as well as a selection of men from Argonaut. Captain Holmes decreed they continue their voyage northward to Halifax. Hurricane season was coming to the Caribbean area and he was not willing to risk his new prize to the weather.

Mullins was surprised when he was offered the command of the seventy-four. Granted, he was an experienced captain, with no other commander available, but he had expected Captain Holmes to send his own first officer to the prize.

As they made their way up the North American coast, the hands were kept busy repairing the ship. The first item repaired was the damaged sternpost, then some of the other problems could be addressed. Argonaut, with her own difficulties, could not keep pace with Jemmapes, so the prize was forced to reduce sail. The pair limped ever northward up the coast.

Off Chesapeake, an American frigate came out to meet them. Captain Holmes had both the American captain and Mullins over for dinner in HMS Argonaut, and although there was animosity between their governments over various matters, the three captains were able to put aside these difficulties and have an enjoyable meal.

Afterwards, the curious American, Captain Peabody, had himself pulled over to Jemmapes in his gig and shown about the ship. He was properly impressed by their victory. Peabody was able to offer intelligence on their convoy. Several American ships reported the lugger escorting the convoy up the coast several days before. The convoy seemed to be travelling faster than the wounded Argonaut was capable, so it seemed unlikely they would be overtaken.

Separating from the American, Jemmapes and Argonaut continued on their voyage toward Halifax.

There was intense interest when they entered Halifax harbor. Asp had brought the convoy in safely two days before, reporting the action with the French fleet. Most knowledgeable naval officers believed there was little likelihood of the British ships prevailing, but here was Argonaut limping along, with water pouring from her scuppers and Jemmapes, with the British banner flying over the tricolor.

For the remainder of the day, it seemed as if every boat in the harbor that could find an excuse made a point to visit one or both of the two third-rates.

Argonaut was immediately taken into the dockyard to determine what repairs might be needed. Jemmapes was given a fast inspection and cleared to make the voyage to England. The convoy was still in harbor, and the harbor captain did not wish to send it back with just Asp as escort.

Captain Holmes was offered command of Jemmapes, but he preferred to await the determination of Argonaut’s survey, hoping to finish the commission in her. Accordingly, Mullins, the only other post captain available at the moment, was given orders to sail Jemmapes to Portsmouth. The seventy-four would accompany Asp and her convoy, protecting them against enemy activity.

Since Jemmapes could well see action on this trip, it was necessary to examine the state of her armament. Mullins had already submitted a report on the state of the ship, including the deteriorated powder. Accordingly, this powder was landed and a limited supply of British gunpowder would be taken aboard later. The French guns would be replaced in England, but for now, they could be utilized with the newly-supplied powder and the original French shot.

There had been complaints from the men concerning the French provisions on which they had been living after coming on the ship. All of these provisions were taken from the ship and newly slaughtered beef and pork was packed in salt and loaded.

Men had to be located to crew the ship. The men from Athena could sail her, but if they needed to fight, more trained men would be needed. Despite Captain Hollister’s protests, many of his men from Argonaut were sent over. It had already been determined Argonaut could not be economically repaired and might be sent to the breaker’s yard.

When the convoy finally left port, they were woefully late, as several of the ship masters forcefully told Mullins before leaving. A deputation of the merchant ships’ masters came aboard Jemmapes, just before sailing, informing him there must be no more delays. The plan presented by the merchant captains called for Jemmapes and Asp, if necessary, to drop out of formation and do battle with any attacking privateers, while the individual merchant ships would proceed independently to their destinations.

Mullins reminded all of the captains most insurers these days required their clients to travel in convoy. He asked all captains planning to leave the convoy to stay behind, so that he could gather the information needed to inform the insurers of the ship masters’ plans.

This ended all talk of leaving the convoy if attacked by enemy privateers. Mullins sent officers around the flock, making sure that every ship had a copy of the code, with the appropriate signal flags. Every ship master was told of the importance of having someone on his ship keeping his eyes open for signals from the escort. Prompt obedience to commands was essential.

All naval officers present in Halifax had been informed privately that privateers had been troublesome in the area, with several ship reported missing and feared to be taken. No privateers had been captured recently, so it was not known where they were based.

One theory had it they came up from the French islands in the Caribbean, staging through New Orleans, where many of the populace had strong sympathy for the French government. Others believed privateers were surreptitiously obtaining supplies from St. Pierre island, located near Newfoundland. Its inhabitants were French speaking, but the island had been occupied by British forces during the years of war with their parent country. Nevertheless, rumors abounded that privateers were given aid and assistance by the locals.

Mullins, commanding the escort once again, believed the convoy would have an uneventful voyage across the Atlantic, untroubled by privateers. Encountering threatening weather three days out though, most ships in the convoy sent up their storm canvas.

Jemmapes was handicapped in this regard. While still in French service, that canvas had remained untouched in the sail locker, to be infected with mildew in the heat and humidity of the French sugar islands. The fungus had done its mischief upon the fabric and significantly weakened it. Now the sail maker was wringing his hands over the mildew-damaged canvas. Harkness assured his captain his mates were going over every inch of the sails, reinforcing all damaged areas with new cloth, but it was his opinion the canvas could never be trusted.

It was that night when they met their first privateer. The convoy was beating against a gale out of the northeast. Visibility was limited in the driving rain and spray. The schooner, with the wind on her beam, flashed through the forward group of ships. The encounter might have been accidental, certainly none of the others in the convoy reported seeing the interloper. Fortunately, Mister Howard had been walking the quarterdeck that night, and was one of the few men who saw the apparition.

He immediately ordered a rocket sent up to warn the others, but by the time this could be done, the stranger was out of sight. Both Jemmapes and Asp cleared for action, but no further activity happened that night.

Realizing the schooner would likely have taken note of the convoy’s course, Mullins ordered his flock to change course farther to the north. This did not sit well with some of the captains, who wished to make as direct of a course home as possible. Asp had to sail up the length of the convoy, chastising errant captains and burning quantities of gunpowder.

Two days passed, and Mullins began to believe the course change might have confused the enemy, but then one afternoon, a notch in the horizon ahead proved to be another schooner. This one soon left also, dropping back over the horizon. The convoy continued on course, that evening sighting a total of four strange sail, approaching in a spread out line.

One was a brig, out on the port flank, the others were schooners of varying sizes, all in line-abreast ahead of the convoy. Mullins was in a quandary. He would have liked to bring Asp up to the head of the convoy to use her agility to assist his ungainly line-of-battle ship deal with these predators. However, she was needed in the rear, in case a predator offered to attack there.

As the four approached, it became evident these were in fact privateers, intent on cutting out one or more of the merchants.  He took the time to inform each merchant captain, by means of Asp, who visited every ship, what was expected.

Jemmapes of course, had overwhelming force, one of her broadsides perfectly capable of obliterating any of the privateers. She was also a fast ship, well able to perform her duties. She was not agile, though. Any of the smaller privateers could be expected to out-maneuver her. If the enemy could find a victim well away from her protection, that ship might well be cut out of the convoy before Jemmapes could intercede.

It would be Asp’s task to dash about, fending off any thrusts into the merchant fleet. Her difficulty was her armament. Armed with only a few small guns, many of the attackers probably outgunned her. If she found herself in trouble, it would up to Jemmapes, with her crashing broadsides, to extricate her.

Each merchant captain had been informed of the necessity for each to remain in formation, in order for the escorts to do their job. Some had seen fit to argue, feeling they would be better off by themselves, perhaps sailing away from the convoy. Mullins replied vigorously, informing them, any master so doing would face the wrath of the Admiralty.

The matter was soon put to the test, when one of the flanking privateer schooners made a tentative thrust at the convoy’s midpoint. Jemmapes, from her position up forward, dropped back and Asp surged forward. The privateer captain changed his mind after seeing the massive Jemmapes charging into the column of ships. All would have been well, had not a brig in the port column, with a deck cargo of sugar in casks, become terrified by the approach of the privateer and cut through the body of the convoy to starboard, continuing her flight out into the open sea.

This was exactly the hoped-for effect of the incursion. The initial privateer, seeing the response of Jemmapes and Asp, had already abandoned her attempt and retreated. Two others though, upon seeing the fleeing merchant, cut around astern of the convoy and went after her. Mullins was in no position to assist the hapless merchant. If either escort left its protective duties to rescue the merchant, openings would be left for more attacks.

One privateer, closely pursuing the merchant, continued after her while the second dropped back to see what other mischief it might stir up. Courage buoyed by the previous success, she was perhaps too quick in her actions. Crashing into the side of a barkentine laden with tropical wood, boarders began pouring aboard. Having only enough hands to handle the vessel, her crew was soon overcome.

Before the privateer’s men could get their prize under control though, Jemmapes, charging into the fray, narrowly missed trapping the brigantine’s bowsprit in her rigging. Passing in front of both vessels, she gave the privateer a thunderous broadside in passing, shattering the lightly built schooner.