Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) (14 page)

These particular predators had seen the frigate banging off her nine-pounders from the quarterdeck and were not impressed. Each of the rovers had a pair 24-pounder guns up forward in the bows. These guns would be able to fire straight ahead, at the stern of the ship they were pursuing.

Many warships, did not have guns directly on the stern. They were too useful in the broadside to be wasted pointing out the aft end of the ship, where they might see little use.

Hera had a little surprise for the pirates though. Like every other frigate of this class, French builders had equipped her with ornate stern windows for the captain’s quarters. These windows had been removed before she was sunk and stored on shore.

The space formerly occupied by the windows had been boarded up and caulked before the sinking. After being raised, her normal windows were replaced. In addition, the carpenter constructed a new framework with a pair of gun ports which could be mounted in place of those windows. When the frigate cleared for action, the windows were struck below, and the framework with gun ports was mounted.

There was much tumult on the ship, as all unnecessary partitions and gear were struck below. With it becoming obvious these galleys would be approaching from astern, the two aftermost nine pounder guns were moved to those stern ports.

Now the contest began. Hera fired the first shot. Her first ball pitched just starboard of the lead galley. When the other gun fired, that ball barely missed to port.

Now the lead galley fired. The 24-pound ball it sent toward Hera was a serious projectile indeed. Striking the ship anywhere, it could cause important damage.

A new difficulty however presented itself to the Moors. These lightly built galleys were not really comfortable in any kind of sea. Each of these vessels was pitching and rolling, causing major problems with laying the guns.

By contrast, Hera was much more stable. One of the stern guns struck its target on its third shot. Granted, it did little structural damage, only striking the port gunnel of one of the galleys. Bur hundreds of deadly splinters flew up which caused numerous injuries among the oarsmen.

With both galleys being propelled by oars, this one dropped back. Its master could be seen driving new men to the oars, while dead and injured were thrown over the side. Its partner now in the lead, both stern chasers began to work on this one. A solid hit in the bows opened up some planks, and that galley immediately started to flood by the bow. Her heavy guns forward pulled her down, and it was only a moment before she dipped her bow under and submerged, leaving her crew struggling in the water. Her oarsmen, chained to their benches, mainly went down with the wreck.

Leaving their beaten foe behind, Hera continued her journey north. Finally, in the distance, her crew could see Gibraltar. Once in the harbor, Hera saluted the flag of the governor and Phillips was pulled ashore.

He was ushered into Sir George Don’s office. Don, acting for the Duke of Kent, the actual governor, rose to meet him and they discussed Hera’s needs. Phillips explained his assignment to cross the Atlantic to see what she could do with the slave ships swarming in the Caribbean. He requested the urgent issue of broadside guns, giving preference to eighteen-pounders and the proper ammunition. Any and all other gunner’s stores would be greatly appreciated.

Don was agreeable. “Jupiter came in last month from the Orient with her bottom about ready to fall off. We took everything out of her and she will be sent to the breaker’s yard. The dockyard superintendent did not even care to make a hulk out of her. Her guns and other gear are presently waiting to be sold for scrap. I see that your orders permit you to indent for needed supplies at Crown expense.”

Phillips agreed to meet with the dockyard’s ordnance people with his Mister Guenther and himself to see what they might wish to sign for.

With business being taken care of, Sir George rang for the servant and claret and cigars were laid out.

“I get these cigars from across the bay in Algeciras. They come from their colony of Cuba. While visiting my counterpart here, I learned what a desperate character you are. Of course neither of us knew that you were about to pay a visit to the area, but the Spanish will soon find out you are here. You really do not wish to be taken by them.”

Phillips and Gunner Guenther went ashore the next morning to inspect the offered guns. Guns and carriages were piled separately, in no particular order. These had obviously been intended to be sold as scrap as little care had been taken of the materiel. After Phillips engaged some bullock-drawn drays, the dockyard workers began loading the guns, one gun to each dray.

The ship’s boats awaited at the quay where the guns were loaded into the boats and pulled out to the ship, where they were hoisted aboard by tackle from the mainyard. It took two days of hard work before all of the weapons and gun carriages were aboard.

As the gunner inspected his new tools, he indignantly objected over the condition of a few of the gun carriages. The carpenter assured Mister Guenther that he could build new carriages, if only he could be supplied with the necessary timber. Mister Taylor, the carpenter, was sent ashore with the funds to secure some good oak.

He did not come back to the ship that evening, and late the next afternoon, Sir George messaged Phillips to come visit him. It seemed Mister Taylor, unable to find the proper timber, had visited Algericas to see what could be purchased there, and had there been arrested by Spanish authorities. He was being held on a particular dock across the bay in Algeciras, while the Spanish authorities awaited for word from there British neighbors. These authorities assured Sir George that Mister Taylor would be freed just as soon as Captain Phillips surrendered himself to Spanish control.

Enraged, Phillips stormed into the acting governor’s office. Sir George calmed him by telling him he was just as outraged as was Phillips, but was not quite sure of how to handle the matter.

Phillips was all for parading the garrison with their weapons and storming the city. Don explained Algeciras was a big place, the number of troops available was not infinite, and the Foreign Office would not thank him for precipitating a war with Spain.

Sir George then said, “My sources tell me your carpenter is being held under guard on a pier across the bay. To reach it, one would have to pass through much of the city. If I sent troops, they would most likely be massacred before arriving on the scene.”

Phillips wondered, “Would you have a chart of the place where Mister Taylor is being held?”

Don thought he might just have something. After a lengthy wait, a clerk brought a large chart of the harbor. One of the staff officers came over and indicated the pier where Mister Taylor was thought to be held.

Phillips wondered if the Spanish had any type of defense forces near the pier. The staff officer replied, “There is a battery nearby, but since the end of the war, they only keep a token force there. There may be a few people at a police post a half mile away.”

Phillips mused, “I think we can expect the Spaniards to have a guard on Mister Taylor.”

Turnng to Sir George, he asked, “Might I ask for a company of foot to help me collect my man? I propose to buy or charter a small craft, load it with what men I can find, and assault that pier. Presuming Mister Taylor is there and available, we can have him in our boat and away before the Spanish are aware that something is amiss.”

The governor was visibly uncomfortable. “See here, Captain. If this goes awry, I am liable to find myself hanged, drawn and quartered for my part in this. Why can you not use your own Marines for this?”

Phillips answered, “Because I have no Marines, Sir George. It was never seen fit to assign any to me.”

The governor nodded. “Captain, I may be able to help you out there. I have Jupiter’s complement quartered here awaiting transport home. I could send you some privates, a corporal and an officer. Mind you, this would not be for the purpose of adventuring about in Spanish territory. I only wish to do my part in bringing your command up to strength so she will be able to accomplish he mission in curbing the slave trade.”              A

The governor’s order was carried out almost immediately. Before he could get back to the ship to plan his actions, Phillips was accosted by an energetic young Captain of Royal Marines and a sergeant.

After greeting each other, Captain Granger broke the ice. “I have heard whispers that there may be plans in the air to rescue the fellow the Spanish nabbed yesterday afternoon. Would there be any truth in that?”

“Just how many men will you be bringing to my ship, Captain?”

“I had seventy privates and a lieutenant. I am ordered to leave my lieutenant and thirty men here for other duty. I will have Sergeant Hendricks here and forty privates to join the ship.”

“Very well. My problem is this. The Spanish want my head because of some perceived wrong I am supposed to have inflicted upon them. They have seized my ship’s carpenter and seem to be holding him on a pier across the bay. I propose to put your Marines in some innocent looking craft, with perhaps a leavening of seamen, and deliver them to the quay.

I hope to put the craft up against the pier and swarm any guards with Marines and seamen. Hopefully, we can recover Mister Taylor and be off in a matter of minutes without anyone being hurt. Should it be necessary for someone to be hurt, I would much prefer it not be our own people.”

Captain Granger had a thought. “There is a brig anchored in the harbor. She is a slaver taken by one of our patrol ships. There seems to be some argument with her papers and the master’s mate commanding her has had her swinging around her anchor for weeks. If we put the plan to him, he may well volunteer his craft for the afternoon. I might add, she still stinks like the slaver she was and I doubt the Spanish will suspect her of any ulterior motives.”

Matters went swiftly. The brig’s commander readily agreed with this post captain who wished to borrow his command. The Marine sergeant soon appeared on the quay with the forty men he had marched there. A brief inspection was held to insure that every Marine had a serviceable weapon and full water bottle. The Marines were transported to the former slaver brig as fast as the boats could deliver them.

It was now late in the afternoon, and Phillips feared the Spanish would decide their quarry was not going to be produced and return to their barracks with Mister Taylor. The afternoon breeze wafted the brig across the bay and approached the pier where it was thought the carpenter was being held. She came a bit faster than the sedate speed expected for craft in these confined waters, and crashed into the wooden pier.

As Phillips watched a group of men on the pier run over to berate the brig’s crew, the Marines emerged from below decks. Forming up on shore in an instant, they rushed the lone individual standing near a pile of something covered by sail cloth. This individual, clad in a blue coat typical of a Navy warrant officer, was Mister Taylor.

He was guarded by some armed men and by others wearing civilian dress. Four of the men bearing arms were uniformed and carried short muskets. As these men alerted, the Marines fixed their bayonets and advanced. A dozen seamen, not concerning themselves about such niceties, merely ran toward the entrance to the pier, with the objective of blocking it and preventing any of the people there from escaping.

One of the guards raised his musket and fired. The ball struck nothing that Phillips could see and the Marine captain had a quick word with his sergeant. The Marines poised their bayonets and in a second, were charging across the planking. With their exit blocked, and forty Marines charging them with wickedly shining bayonets, their adversaries threw up their hands.

Mister Taylor came forward to greet his captain, a huge grin covering his face. When ordered to get into the boat, Taylor protested. He pointed to the pile of material on the pier and assured him this was timber for the ship’s gun carriages and was needed before he could make the necessary repairs. He had paid for the wood with the money the captain had advanced and it would be a shame to abandon such fine material. When uncovered, the material proved to be newly sawn baulks of Spanish oak.

Humorous Royal Marines stacked their weapons and helped load the wood into their brig. Across the bay, a gaudy launch was seen pulling for them at a rapid pace. Not wishing to get into a speech with a foreign official, Phillips requested the brig’s commander to set what sail he could so as to evade this boat. With the help of Hera’s seamen, the brig began to outpace the launch and she was soon compelled to turn back.

Having seen enough excitement for the day, Hera’s captain retired to his quarters. The new Marine sentry at his door announced Mister Taylor wished to express his thanks.

Phillips announced the thanks were noted and now he wished the work could commence on the gun carriages.

Realizing diplomatic notes would soon be flying, Phillips took HMS Hera out to sea. Staying away from established shipping routes, he spent the voyage across working up the ship, especially her gunnery section. Mister Taylor had done a professional job on the new gun carriages, and many thought it was a shame to paint the new oak wood, black, to match the other guns.

Upon sailing into English Harbor, Hera was as prepared for duty as any ship he had previously commanded. She was certainly one of the most powerful. Her captain spent a week having the crew tending to those tasks which had not been readily performed while at sea. A visit ashore with the governor revealed no emergencies the Hera and her crew must address, but learned there were a large number of small vessels trading slaves around the islands. Often from Spanish Cuba or Puerto Rico, these slaves were usually peddled in small parcels to plantation owners on the British islands.

It was desirable to put a stop to this practice as soon as possible. With necessary work complete on the ship, her captain allowed each watch liberty in turn upon the island. Unlike during wartime, each seaman was a volunteer and could be presumed to return to the ship.

Phillips reminded his crew to watch out for each other. There were over forty Black crewmen, many of whom were Native Africans. Such hands were targets of unscrupulous planters who needed additional hands. For a few shillings, bands of men could be hired to strongarm unsuspecting Blacks into a closed vehicle and drive them away to a lifetime of unrelenting labor in the hot sun. Any Black crewman going ashore should have with him at least one white who could help defend him or at least report any mishap to the ship’s officers.

After this warning, it would be an unpopular Black that did not have a half dozen whites guarding him.

With her provisions restored, HMS Hera put out to sea. For weeks they saw no suspicious activity. One morning though, rounding a headland, one of the small, local inter-island schooners was seen beating her way from a hidden bay. The launch, towing behind, was led around forward, and seamen and Marines boarded. Hera’s third lieutenant, Mister Wainwright, took command and made for the schooner. At first, it looked like she was going to make a race of it, but a ball fired ahead from Hera changed her mind.

The schooner came to, and her master attempted to spin a tale. The schooner had a dozen Blacks in chains and it was claimed they were merely being transported legally from one plantation to another on a different island. An inspection of the slaves seemed to reveal they were fresh from Africa, probably brought over on a Spanish or Portuguese slaver. The master was told he and his ship was now being taken into custody.

Some of Hera’s Blacks toured the schooner, and against all odds, one of her people was of the same tribe as a captive on the schooner. There was much emotion shown as the pair exchanged notes. John Brown, as the Hera’s Black appeared on the ship’s book, interviewed his tribemate and found they had been taken from adjoining villages a year apart. Both had been marched around the hinterland in different coffles and were sold out of differing barracoons. This new man had survived his voyage across the middle passage and had made land two months ago.

After the surviving members of this slave ship were landed, they were fed by their new masters to help them regain their strength and improve their condition, then Brown’s friend was put aboard this small ship. He had no idea of what ship had brought him from Africa or indeed where they had originally landed.

Phillips hated to separate the two friends, so asked if the new man might wish to join the Royal Navy. There was intense discussion between the pair and it was agreed, this man would put his mark on the book.

With a good capture and prize to her credit, Phillips returned to port. There he learned a disquieting rumor. It seemed the Spanish viceroy in these parts had learned of Captain Phillips presence in the Caribbean and had placed a reward upon his head. The governor had received a message from this viceroy that Phillips arrest and prompt surrender to Spanish authority was demanded.

Basically, the Spanish authorities here had learned of Captain Phillips presence aboard the HMS Hera, after the interrogation of a British ship’s master who had been taken while trading in a forbidden port. During the questioning that ensued, he disclosed this information. Since the news of Captain Phillips presence here had been well circulated, the master had felt he was disclosing nothing of importance to the Spanish authorities.

The viceroy had confirmed the news through his own sources on Antigua and released the shipmaster, although confiscating his ship.

Two Spanish frigates had been armed and manned with the design of taking Hera and her captain. One frigate was a thirty-two gun, twelve-pounder ship. The second was a similar sized ship whose original battery had been removed and replaced with surplus British thirty-two pounder carronades.

The Spanish had learned of the effectiveness of that armament when at war with Britain and were certain they could defeat this English heretic with their own ship armed with these same weapons. When the plan was first considered, a knowledgeable naval officer explained to the viceroy the pitfalls of this plan, so it was decided to add a second frigate, this one armed with conventional long guns. It was felt this second frigate could engage her enemy, holding her while the carronade-armed frigate approached and savaged the preoccupied enemy.

Invited to a soiree at Government House that night, Phillips had many officers offer advice. Some assured him he would not be running, if he put out to sea and returned to England. Others felt he could surely remain here on land until the Spanish returned to port. There was no dishonor in avoiding combat with superior forces.

Next morning, he awoke with a throbbing head, a reminder he should avoid drinking sessions before a threatened naval engagement. The governor had given him a parchment to deliver to the Spanish commander, should he get the chance, reminding him their countries were at peace and care should be taken to avoid a resumption of war.

Going out on deck, he overlooked the peaceful harbor. Calling over his signal officer, he ordered him to request permission to depart. The first officer, half shaven, appeared then on deck wiping soap from his face.

“Ah, Mister Daniels. It is my intention to put out to sea. I understand the Spanish wish to speak with me. Are we ready in all respects?”

“Aye that we are, Captain. Shall I call the men to man the capstan?”

“Well, maybe we can after we get the signal from shore. When you see the signal from the mast on shore I think you may begin your preparations to leave.”

The anticipation of the expected combat had vanished weeks later with no sign of the Spanish ships supposedly hunting them. The frigate resumed her search for illegal slavers and had captured two of them. Manned with small parties of seamen and young midshipmen, there was much dismay among those leaving their berths on Hera as it was felt they would be avoiding the combat that might bring them notice.

The ship was lazing along in the blue waters when the hail came from overhead. “Sail off the starboard bow. Hull down.”

As the ship turned a few points to starboard, the hail came again. “That’s two sails off the starboard bow.”

Mister Daniels had the t’gallants set and soon the lookout reported the sightings were ship rigged and coming toward them. Minutes later, Daniels, now in the maintops with his glass, reported the sightings were, in fact, Spanish frigates flying their national colors and commission pennants.

With combat at least possible, if not likely, Phillips ordered the ship cleared for action. After a beehive of activity, the deck was clear from stem to stern. Every man was in his place with his proper tools or weapons. Jack Black, as the crew had labelled the new hand rescued from the slaver, with no other skills, was pronounced to be a boarder, and issued a cutlass to carry on the deck of the enemy ship. When the armorer had brought his grinding wheel on deck to sharpen blades, Black got the idea and soon had a wicked edge on his weapon.

The three ships were closing rapidly, and it appeared there would be no preliminaries. Closing now, Philips judged the Spanish ships to be just in range. He was now in a quandary. He did not feel he could fire first, since that could mean he was the person starting this war.

Making his decision, he turned to port, turning slightly away. At that, the closest ship fired her broadside which was just coming to bear. Shot splashed harmlessly about the Hera, but several balls snipped lines overhead, and there was a solid ‘Thunk’ as a twelve pound shot imbedded itself in a forward bulwark. Ordering his midshipman messenger to retrieve that ball and secure it below, he turned to Mister Daniels and asked, “Well sir, would you say we are at war, yet?”

Receiving a grinning acknowledgement, he ordered, “Let us start the proceedings, Mister Daniels.”

Hera’s captain felt the Spanish had miscalculated with their preparations for battle. As indicated by the twelve-pound ball that had been retrieved, the closest Spanish ship was armed with the long-range weapons. If all of her broadside guns were twelve-pounders, she was at a disadvantage facing Hera’s eighteen-pounders. If only he could cripple this opponent before her consort came up, he felt the battle would be more than half won.

A second later, there was a staccato crash as Hera’s starboard broadside erupted. The rounds, unlike those from the Spanish ship, were deadly accurate. While a few splashed around her, most of the eighteen-pound balls crashed into the Spaniard’s hull. Phillips had his glass on the opponent when he saw her foremast twitch then lean slightly to leeward. He thought it had probably been severely weakened by the ball’s impact and was now being held up mainly by her shrouds and stays. If his guns could sever those, the mast might well come down. Making a mental note to have some of the gun captains load with dismantling shot for this very purpose, he was brought back to reality with another exchange of broadsides!

The ships were closer this time and the Spanish guns scored better, creating anxiety among some when the starboard main shrouds were nearly shot through. The bosun led his mates up to make temporary repairs, while the Hera’s gunners looked on with approval at their own work.

The eighteen-pounder long guns were deadly effective at this short range and had done terrible damage to the enemy hull.

Now the other frigate was coming around the other’s stern, in an attempt to save her consort from the destructive broadsides. This was the one with the carronade broadside, apparently the Proserpina. He had no intention to allow this one to get close to him. Her heavy carronades could devastate his ship if he allowed her to gain a firing position within range of Hera. His long guns could outrange the short barreled carronades and pound the enemy to bits, as long as they remained at arm’s length.

Ordering his sailing master to keep well away, Phillips watched his gun crews do their work. The deadly eighteen-pound balls were wreaking havoc upon the new warship’s hull, as she tried to get into position. She was still too close for Phillips liking, but her gunnery practice was no better than her associate’s had been, especially as she was at the maximum range of her weapons. A single ball from a carronade came aboard, smashing through the ship’s hull amidships, wounding men with the deadly splinters that were generated. Little other important damage was imposed upon Hera, and she continued to range slowly forward of her foe. Once ahead of her adversary, now free of the Spanish frigate’s deadly carronades, Hera turned across Proserpina’s bow, unleashing a full broadside. These shots struck the enemy frigate on the bows and ranged aft with the power and intensity of long, eighteen-pounder guns. The heavy iron shot destroyed everything they encountered from bow to stern. When her foremast fell, her flag came down.

With this ship out of the fray, Hera turned back to the other. This one, apparently the Fama, had been drifting, her crew at work repairing damage. She was in no position to object when Hera sailed up and came to, right off her bow. Possibly a few of her forward guns might bear, but sixteen of Hera’s eighteen-pounders glared right down her throat. Her captain had seen the destruction rained upon the Proserpina and could see no way from escaping the same medicine for his own ship. After some hesitation, Fama’s flag came down also.

Now, the problem was what to do with the vanquished ships. From Phillips’ vantage point, these ships were worthless. Britain, after the war, had dozens of frigates in better condition that she was selling or scrapping to avoid maintenance costs. If these frigates were taken off to a British port under British flags, this episode might remain a possible cause for war for years to come.

If he merely sailed away, as he had done the previous year, the Spaniards might decide to explain away the damage as caused by a storm. One of his midshipmen had already confessed to speaking Spanish. Handing the lad the speaking trumpet, he quickly gave the mid a list of the points he wanted to convey to the Spanish captain. He was sure neither the British government nor that of Spain wished warfare, which was certain to erupt should this nonsense continue.

Calling for his clerk, Phillips dictated a message he wished to give to the senior Spanish officer. In the message he emphasized that he had not initiated this latest conflict but had prosecuted it fully after it was forced upon himself.