For the Honor of the Flag: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 2) (5 page)

Their sojourn in Gibraltar was brief. General Rainsford, the lieutenant governor, thought it necessary the news of the recapture of the Indiamen be received in Britain before the financial markets took notice. Two of the Indiamen had received some damage, so it was decided all six ships should be sent back, escorted by Courageous. A scratch crew was organized for Le Chacal, and she too would travel with the convoy. One of the half-pay lieutenants was given the command, with his first officer being the other half-pay lieutenant who had been serving in the East India Company’s fleet. Phillips, who had wished to give the command to one of his own officers, realized he had nothing to complain about. He had made his living as a fishmonger between wars so it would not do for him to express any doubts these officers might have difficulties after their long absence from the Royal Navy.

He tried to convince General Rainsford that Chacal would be enough of an escort, and could take the convoy home, while he went back to Lord Howe, but was dissuaded. Rainsford reminded him that the escort’s captain had never before engaged in combat, and had spent the past decade sailing huge cargo ships to and from India. The night before their departure, he invited both officers over to his ship. He had engaged a stranded Minorcan cook soon after arriving, and thought he would test the man’s culinary skills.

Over a savory seafood dish, the trio discussed their previous service. Both of the officers had entered the Royal Navy before the start of the American war, and had received commissions, like Phillips, near the end. The pair, seeing no possibility at all for future naval service, had both gone with the East India Company.

Neither thought it amusing when Phillips recounted his adventures as a fishmonger. After that disclosure there seemed no longer any possibility he could gain their respect, so he resumed the role of a senior officer, and told them of his expectations. He told them, “Gentlemen, the Navy is changing. It is no longer the same service it was when we were mids. Officers are expected to be able to use their heads. Those who still adhere to the philosophy of ‘A dozen lashes to the last man off the yard.’ will likely come a cropper, sooner or later. Plenty of men with ‘Interest’ will still succeed, but I think those days are coming to an end.”

“There are plenty of good ways to make a name for oneself in the King’s service, and many ways to fail. I know you have in the past received solid training as midshipmen, and no doubt were proud to receive your commissions as lieutenants. Through no fault of your own, you have also been separated from the Service for a decade, as I was. Now, you face the task of succeeding again in your career. You may well ask why you should bother. As soon as you set foot ashore, you may walk into the port admiral’s office and resign your commission.  You can always go back to John Company, and probably make a lot more money. But I think we all have a good expectation of making a name for ourselves. I hope you do.”

“I had thought about putting one of my officers in command of Chacal, and placing you gentlemen aboard my frigate for a few weeks of seasoning before reaching home. That is, of course impossible. Both of you have commission dates of over a decade. The most senior lieutenant I have aboard Courageous is my first officer, Mister Mullins, and his commission is very recent. That will make you the captain of the prize, Mister Ambrose, with Mister Hatfield the Premier. Many of your men have been handed over from the Company.  Once the Articles are read to them, they will be subject of course to those articles. Some of your men will have served in British warships sometime in their career. Others will not. I hope I will not be seeing the gratings rigged on your ship, Captain Ambrose, for a few weeks yet. The men will need a chance to gain knowledge, before having their backs skinned.” Phillips had intended to make the officers a present of a few dozen bottles, until he saw cases of cabin stores being ferried out to Chacal.

A last visit to the Lieutenant Governor produced a pile of pouches of correspondence with last minute instructions. He was to take the six Indiamen to Portsmouth as fast as wind and weather would allow; after taking aboard necessary provisions and people, and leave pursuant to the orders of the port admiral. Haste was advised.

Apparently someone had talked to the captains of the six East Indiamen on their voyage back. Despite the reduced numbers of crewmen aboard, the ships maintained their positions in convoy, and greatly diminished the propensity of individual captains to wander. During a calm, Phillips asked the captains over to his ship for dinner, and problems were discussed. It seemed one such problem was a lack of trained signaling crew aboard the Indiamen. Acting lieutenant Wilson had become adept reading the signal flags, and had been training some of the more intelligent crew members.

One of these was Hollister, a man who would never make a seaman, who had once made a living fleecing neophyte gamblers. The needs of the fleet for men had saved him the necessity of having his neck stretched at Newgate. Conscious of his narrow escape, the man had devoted himself to his schooling and Wilson reported he had memorized all the signal flags in the locker and was cognizant of their uses. Phillips was not about to let such a prodigy to escape him, but decided to use him to train other men to send over to the Indiamen. He felt Wilson and Hollister, between them, could train more people, as needed, men who did not need to be superbly fit seamen.

Their orders had them reporting to the port admiral at Portsmouth, and there Phillips found himself free of his charges. The dockyard took the Chacal in hand, making emergency repairs to keep her afloat until she had gone through the prize court proceedings. Phillips dropped a letter to Sarah Forsythe in the mail bag, before leaving Mullins in charge and going ashore. His meeting with the admiral, Sir Peter Parker, was to take place early in the evening, and he was warned by the messenger not to be late. He had met the man several times before. The first occasion saw him getting his step as commander, the second time Admiral Parker helped him with a manning problem with his first frigate.

The flag lieutenant escorted him into Parker’s office on time. The huge desk was covered with piles of correspondence. The admiral stared at him for a moment, until his mind focused on its new task. “Captain Phillips, I see. I recall meeting you on several previous occasions. How is that ship of yours, the Vigorous?”

“Sir, I left the ship last year after a match with a pirate galley in the Med. We took a twenty four pound ball in the bow, which caused us to go into dry-dock for repair. While there, some rot was found in her timbers, so I was given the Courageous instead. I have just returned from Gibraltar with dispatches.”

“Yes, I have it now. You are the one I wished to speak with. Do you know, Horse Guards have asked me to place you under arrest and send you to London for possible trial? They tell me you were entrusted with information that subsequently ended in enemy hands. They suspect that you, through carelessness or malice, permitted French agents to obtain this information.”

The dumfounded Phillips thought back. “Sir, when I took command of my present ship, there was a suggestion of mutiny; we removed the officers, and transferred some of the crew, replacing them with new men. When I joined Admiral Howe, off the French coast, he wished my ship to remain away from his others; fearing rumors of mutiny might spread. He ordered me to make a nuisance of myself with an independent cruise along the French coast. We did so. In one instance, we observed a battery being constructed by a village in a fishing port. We bombarded the battery, and sent our Marines ashore to destroy what we could”

“While there, my first lieutenant, who speaks French fluently, observed a coach pulling up at an inn. He discovered this coach served in a courier service for the French military. The coach was unable to proceed any farther that day, since the horses were blown, and our people had freed the relief teams from the stables.”

“We put out to sea, and cruised along the coast until we came to an inlet, where we sent a landing party ashore in the dark. They set up an ambush on the coast road, and waylaid that coach when it came along the next day. On board, they discovered bags of correspondence. I do not speak or read French, but Mister Mullins assured me this was military mail that should come to the attention of Admiral Howe. We delivered the mail to him, and he later ordered us to take the bags to Portsmouth to be delivered to your office. This was done, and your flag captain ordered me to take them to Admiralty in London. There, the papers were in turn handed over to Horse Guards, who called me in to impress upon me how sensitive the information was. After that, I never saw any of the papers again.”

“Captain Phillips”, mused the Admiral. “You have had quite some adventures. I think the culprits here will probably turn out to be some Army subalterns wishing to impress some bar maids. I am not going to place you under arrest. When that Horse Guards official comes calling, I will tell him that we can account for this French military correspondence until it was handed over to Army jurisdiction. I will ask him if he really wants to have myself and Lord Howe testifying at a court’s martial about Horse Guards incompetence.”

“Now then Captain. What were your orders when you reported here?”

“The lieutenant governor in Gibraltar ordered me to bring a convoy here, and to report to your office. Previously, Lord Howe expressed his desire that I should return to him when able.”

“Then we had better try to please Admiral Howe, Captain. Flags here will likely have some pouches to deliver. Do you have any needs?”

“Just the usual needs, sir. Wood, water, provisions. Perhaps a few men? Sir, I have two junior officers aboard. Both are really midshipmen, but because of need on my part, I made them acting lieutenants, and they have been serving as second and third officers aboard my ship. I wonder if there is any possibility of them being made?”

“Ah yes, I remember. You are the officer who seems intent on capturing the bulk of the French navy then staffing the captured ships with your own officers. What is the matter? Have you run out of officers?”

“Yes Sir. Indeed I have.”

“Regarding these two acting lieutenants of yours, have they passed their boards yet?”

“No sir, I don’t think there has been an opportunity for that.”

“What about experience? How long have they been at sea?”

“I believe about six years for each.”

“Normally, I would check these men’s qualifications most closely. However, I took a chance on you once, and it repaid the Navy ten-fold. On your recommendation, I will take this same chance on your young men. I have several post captains waiting here in port for something or other. Sitting on a board will give them something to do other than roistering in taverns. Flags will post an order for all midshipmen wishing to take boards to do so at the time and place specified. Make sure your people bring their journals. Understand, there is no guarantee your men will pass their boards. I will give the board complete authority to pass or fail. Should your men not pass, we will give you two officers who have done so.”

Acting Lieutenants Landrace and Wilson stood before their captain, while he inspected their appearance. On his advice, they had put away the lieutenant’s coats they had been wearing since their departure from Gibraltar. Phillips had told them they did not want to prejudice the captains serving on the board. All the other candidates would be clad in their midshipman togs, and so must they. Landrace asked him what type of questions they might be asked.

Phillips answered, “Every board is different. Mine was from over ten years ago. I believe Admiral Parker will select officers for the board he considers fair. If one captain on your board asks a question that does not seem proper, probably the others will consider that when they make their decision. Just look calm, and try not to let the board unsettle you. That is a common tactic, and quite fair. There are many occasions when an officer will face a life threatening emergency. You men have served years in the Royal Navy. You have learned what you need to know. Now, go ashore and prove it.”

A few hours after the youths left, Mullins came to his cabin door. He had a sealed note in his hand. “Sir, shore boat brought this. The boatman said a lady sent it.”

Phillips tore it open. It was from Sarah Forsythe saying that she would be spending the next few days in town with her father’s cousin, Miss Arnold and would be glad to see him if he should come by her inn. Feeling his chin, he decided a fresh shave would not be amiss. When he called his steward, he found the man already had the water heating. It seemed certain members of the crew had not missed the significance of a note delivered by a shore boat. Something similar had happened here the last time Courageous visited this port.

The inn had a comfortable meeting room where people could meet and converse in relative quiet and privacy. Phillips wondered how he could get Sarah away from her relative, a matronly woman of about fifty. At least she did not sit next to the couple monopolizing the conversation. When the chaperone left the room for a few moments, Sarah floated an idea. “If we could get a carriage tomorrow, we could all go on a pique-nique together. Miss Arnold does get sleepy after she has her afternoon sherry.” The inn’s landlord was happy to organize the rental of a carriage for the next day, and provisions suitable for an afternoon’s outing. Phillips instructed the man to insure that extra sherry was included, in case of need.

When he returned to the ship, Phillips saw his two acting lieutenants waiting for him on the quarterdeck. He noticed each had a large parchment in his hand. Looking at the pair questioningly, Landrace handed his paper over. It was indeed a commission for a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Glancing over it, he saw:

By Virtue of the Power and Authority to us given We do hereby constitute and appoint you Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship the Courageous, willing and requiring you forthwith to go on board and take upon you the Charge and Command of Lieutenant in her accordingly. Strictly Charging and Commanding all the Officers and Company belonging to the said ship subordinate to you to behave themselves jointly and severally in their respective Employments with all the Respect and Obedience unto you their said Lieutenant; And you likewise to observe and execute as well the General printed Instructions as what Orders and Directions you shall from time to time receive from your Captain or any other your superior Officers for His Majesty's service. Hereof nor you nor any of you may fail as you will answer the contrary at your peril. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant. Given under our hands and the Seal of the Office Admiralty this Fifteenth day of May 1794 in the Thirty Eighth Year of His Majesty's Reign.

By Command of their Lordships

Beckoning Wilson over, he saw that he too had the same commission. Neither was signed. Landrace explained. “Flags knew you wanted to see the papers, but the admiral was not in his office at the moment. If you could come ashore at noon tomorrow, Admiral Parker will sign both commissions.in a ceremony.” he added.

Phillips said, “That flag lieutenant is going to get his arse in a sling one day, anticipating the admiral”.

The changing of the schedule caused Phillips to begin writing a flurry of notes to various people. It was necessary to re-schedule the picnic with Sarah and her relative. The pair was invited to the commissioning ceremony. In addition to Landrace and Wilson, there was another half dozen new lieutenants who had passed the Board. These men would also be taking part in the festivities. A few others had passed the board but were not appointed to a ship or other duty and would not receive their parchment until such occurred.

Sarah replied to his note with one of her own. She reported that she would appear with her relative on the quay next day before the festivities to offer any help she could. She had already alerted the innkeeper of the changed plans, and his hostler would drive the vehicle. Another employee would act as footman. The ship was full of turmoil during the evening and into the night, as plans evolved and ideas put into motion.

Lieutenant Mullins went ashore to the inn where Sarah was staying, and engaged the willing innkeeper to supply refreshments for the officers and guests on the ship after the ceremony. In addition, food and drink for the crew was to be provided. Phillips grimaced at the thought of what all this was going to cost. He could comfort himself with the knowledge that the corvette his people had captured earlier in the cruise, the Inconnue, had been bought into the service, and he was now much wealthier that he had been earlier. His prize agent had transferred what Phillips considered a huge sum to his bank Hoare & Co. on Fleet Street.

Early the next day, wagons and drays began accumulating on the quay near the ship. The innkeeper had hired extra staff, and portable braziers had been put to work cooking various foods. Sarah and her cousin appeared early on, and Phillips sent his coxswain ashore to bring them back in the launch. The launch crew had spent much of the night improving their own appearance and that of the launch. The rest of the boats were employed ferrying guests and food. It had been decided that all work on the ship except the most important would be suspended for the festivities, and the enormous quantity of food being supplied would be carried out to the ship for the enjoyment of the crew.

Early in the day, it was determined only beer would be supplied for the crew’s consumption, although this would not be the watery stuff supplied by the service, but real, full strength beverage purchased from the inn. To keep order, Phillips deputed his Marines. He assured the Sergeant, after the festivities were over, he would pay for them to have their own bacchanalia.

When it was time for the launch to carry the party ashore for the commissioning ceremony, the boat and crew were as immaculate as possible. All crew members wore clean purser’s slop trousers with white shirts and sennit hats they had made themselves. In a private word to the cox’n, Phillips asked him to keep the men from drink until the ceremony was finished and they had arrived back at the ship. He assured the crew there would be drink enough for everyone then.

The commissioning went rapidly. Admiral Parker was not one for long speeches, and before they knew it, they were back in the launch heading back to the ship, the new lieutenants proudly wearing their new uniform coats and swords. These swords had been seized from the deck of the captured enemy ship, Chacal. One had formerly belonged to the former captain, shot down shortly before the ship’s flag was dropped, and the other to the former second officer. Phillips made a mental note that he needed to get a better sword for himself. He still had the cheap one he had bought at a pawn shop a decade before in Antigua.

The crew took over the fore deck for their party. Food and beer was constantly ferried out from shore, as necessary. The officers and guests had their party in the wardroom, although Phillips was soon forced to engage a shore boat to take himself, Sarah and her relative back to shore in the afternoon. The elderly lady was not up to the kind of social event this was threatening to turn into. They returned to the inn and the ladies retired for a bit to recover from the event. Later, the innkeeper had his hostler bring the carriage around, the footman riding in back. An extra wagon brought food, drink and necessary supplies.

It was late afternoon when the vehicles pulled up on a hill outside of town. It was a perfect spot. Sheep had grazed the meadow grass short, and a stream bubbled nearby. The crew unloaded tables and folding chairs from the wagon, a cloth was spread on the table, and food was removed from the wagon and arranged.

During the meal, Phillips kept Miss Arnold’s glass topped off with sherry. It was not long before she dozed off and fell back in her chair. Sarah covered her with a shawl, then joined Phillips on a blanket on top of the hill. Below them, the inn’s employees were having their own party, consuming the remaining food and beverages. Sarah and John were in each other’s arms when the hostler came hesitantly up the hill, clearing his throat multiple times, as he approached.

“Sir, Ma’am, maybe we might ought to get the horses back to the barn soon. We don’t want to get caught in the falling damps now.”

The two put themselves in order and went down to the table. The crew had already cleared the food and dishes back into the wagon. The confused Miss Arnold, was wakened and reassured. She was dreadfully concerned one of the employees may have taken liberties with her person while she slept.

On the way back to town, the two discussed the future. Sarah confided to John that while her uncle was a kind and understanding man, he was just not in a position to provide a dowry for her, and without one, it was unlikely she would ever marry. John had his duty in the navy, being gone for long periods often without notice and unable to provide proper care for a family. The pair decided they would just wait for each other, and enjoy what time together they could catch.

Once back aboard ship, Phillips went through it to inspect the damage. The party in the wardroom had died a natural death. Most officers had managed to make it to their cabins before falling, but a pair of warrant officers were face down on the wardroom table. Up forward too, the seamen had mostly quit after the beer stopped coming aboard. Men were passed out both on deck and below, but the damage was not nearly as spectacular as he had feared. Lieutenant Mullins came out of the shadows, and greeted him. Phillips complimented him on the state of the ship.

Mullins said the Marines had done a superior task in keeping the drunks from demolishing the ship, and deserved their own party. They would have the whole day tomorrow to do their celebrating. While he had been ashore, a pair of passengers had boarded, lieutenants being sent to the Channel Fleet as spares.  Mullins said the officer who escorted them aboard hinted that Admiralty was becoming irritated that so many midshipmen were being appointed lieutenants when so many already commissioned lieutenants were ashore on half pay.

These new officers had volunteered to travel as passengers, in the hope and expectation openings might appear they could step into. Furthermore, a draft of hands was expected at any time. Many of these were reputed to be seamen, pressed from returning merchant shipping, although of course, assize men must be expected too.

It was another week before admiralty decided to release the frigate, and send her on her way. It was nearing the end of May, and Admiral Parker finally sent orders to get the ship to sea, find Lord Howe, deliver dispatches, and put Courageous under his orders. The new draft of men had also reported aboard, and the additional people were eating their way through the ship’s rations. The evening before, Phillips met the two new officers. He invited them into his cabin for a meal with himself and the first officer. Both had been on the half pay list for years. One seemed familiar, and it came to him as they were toasting the King. The man was Crawford, met back in ’82, in Antiqua while he was trying to get a crew for a cutter he was to sail back home.

Then, Crawford had been a passed midshipman, living aboard a captured sugar transport after bringing in a prize, and waiting for his ship to return and claim him. Instead, Phillips had taken him aboard his cutter, with the permission of the governor, of course. The last time he had seen the man was when the Vixen was paid off at the end of the American war.

Phillips raised his glass, and said, “Lieutenant Crawford, a glass with you sir.”

After the courtesy Crawford said, “I didn’t believe you had remembered, sir.”

“I nearly didn’t Mister Crawford. It was a long while ago, and many things have happened since.”

“Gentlemen, Lieutenant Crawford and I met in ’82 on Antigua. I was a newly promoted lieutenant, trying to get a cutter ready for sea, and Mister Crawford here, a passed midshipman at the time, helped me get a crew, and then assisted me to get the Vixen across the Atlantic. The American war ended, and I haven’t seen him since. Tell us what happened with you Lieutenant.”

“Well sir, when the Vixen paid off, I met an old officer I had served under before. He was a lieutenant getting a gun brig ready to go back to the Caribbean. He took me with him, and I stayed there for two years, until it was discovered the bottom was rotting out. We tried to sail her back. We got as far as Gibraltar, when a survey discovered she could go no farther, and she wasn’t worth rebuilding. I spent a few months on the beach there, when I met another officer I had known years before. This was a captain commanding a 3
rd
rate ship of the line that was returning to Plymouth. He had lost a lieutenant, and knew I had passed my board, so he took me on as fifth lieutenant. It was only for a few months though, when she too was paid off. I spent the rest of the peace working on my father’s farm. At any rate, I was a half-pay lieutenant though, instead of a midshipman, so I didn’t have to beg from my parent. It wasn’t until a week ago, I heard about this volunteer position. I am still on half pay, but will hopefully have a chance to get a berth on a ship eventually.”