HMS Centaur: A Charles Mullins novel, Sea Command 8

by Richard Testrake

  One of the master’s mates took it upon himself to investigate, and found the village had all the salt fish stored that could be handled. It was the practice of the locals to process the fish as they came ashore and then it would be packed in large casks with plenty of salt for storage.

  The time had arrived when there was no more storage space left for the product so now it was necessary to send it to the mainland for sale.

  Apprised of the situation, Mullins knew he must make a decision rapidly. It was desirable to keep word of the British incursion from reaching the ears of the Imperial forces on the mainland. However, he was reluctant to simply forbid the transport and sale of the salt fish. Such an action would anger the locals and some would surely get their plight made known to the occupying officials.

  The master’s mate learned the French Army would be the most likely customer. Heavily-salted fish could be shipped long distances without undue spoilage and could be sent on to the legions fighting in Spain.

  This gave Mullins an idea. He had some funds already on hand to be used for purchasing supplies for the ship. With funds of his own, he bought silver coins from members of the expedition, paying above face value.

  Approaching the village elders, he offered to purchase their salt fish at above market value, paying with British silver. This offer was accepted, then the fishermen asked if he would like to purchase other foods. Live sheep and stored vegetables were offered.

  Soon, a regular market was set up on the beach, where both Army quartermaster and ship’s purser could purchase what they needed. It became evident there was more fish available than could be readily consumed so he proposed to the locals that their surplus could be loaded upon one of the transports and sent back to Britain, where it could be sold and salt and fresh provisions purchased. The island’s leadership approved of the plan as long as a deputation from their community could accompany their product to Britain.

  It was something of an anti-climax, when the supply transports arrived. Escorting them was the former French corvette taken earlier, now HMS Dryad. With no damage incurred in battle, she had been bought into the navy at once and given to Lieutenant Wilson, whom Mullins had given the prize to take in originally. With the concurrent promotion to commander, Mullins knew the other officers in Centaur’s wardroom, would be crying about their misfortune at not winning the promotion themselves. Still, he had every belief that Wilson was a good officer and would be a fine captain.

  The transports carried building materials besides provisions and soon the troops ashore would have better living quarters. One of the transports was hurriedly emptied and loaded with a fresh cargo of salt fish to send back.

  With the beginnings of a fine little fleet of his own now, he began offensive patrols among the neighboring islands. The new sloop-of-war, HMS Dryad and HMS Charon would be the chief tools for this work, but individual escort frigates could be added when not being utilized for other purposes.

  Almost immediately, prizes began coming in, mostly small cargo ships carrying supplies from Baltic sources to French ports.

  These forays awakened the enemy and it was not long before an enemy fleet appeared before the entrance of their harbor. The enemy apparently had poor intelligence of his enemy, since this fleet consisted of a few brigs and corvettes, with a single forty-gun frigate.

  To fight them, Mullins had his own seventy-four-gun liner plus a thirty-eight-gun frigate, HMS Roebuck, that had come in with the supply convoy. Both Dryad and Charon were patrolling nearby seas to the north. Two other frigates were at sea, unlikely to be available in any dispute. A battery had been erected on that shore, so a midshipman was sent overland to run up a signal on the staff there to recall the warships.

  The enemy approached warily, as soon as Centaurs’ towering masts were seen. Centaur and her consort sailed out to meet them. As soon as the enemy approached within range of the coastal battery, these guns began to fire.

  Mullins understood many of the gunners were recruits, fresh from the training depots, but still they did good practice. While the battery was entertaining the enemy, Roebuck and Centaur took up positions off either side of the approaches to the port. An enemy intending to enter must pass through the shore battery’s fire as well as brave the broadsides of the two warships. The frigate leading made directly toward the shore battery, probably hoping to overawe the gunners.

  She had little success. Those Royal Artillerymen delivered deliberate and accurate fire into the oncoming warship, which was ably seconded by fire from Roebuck.

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  Chapter Sixteen

  There was nothing wrong with the approaching frigate captain’s courage. He came down the main channel into the port, in the face of unrelenting fire, his own port battery thundering away at the shore guns, which ably answered his. Roebuck also engaged the frigate, while Centaur paused her fire until the incoming small warships entered her field of fire.

  A small brig leading the procession was almost blasted from the water when Centaur’s hurricane of heavy shot struck her. At that time, seeing their squadron leader in dire straits and the little brig destroyed, the trailing vessels put about and made off. The enemy frigate also attempted the same, but was pounded hard by both shore battery and Roebuck, as she came about. Fire from both upper and lower deck guns of Centaur knocked down her fore top-mast and her mainmast, as well as doing desperate damage to her hull.

  The frigate’s captain ran her aground in the shallows and hauled down his flag in surrender. The brig sank in the channel, but once the wreck was marked with a buoy, it was not thought worthwhile to attempt any salvage. Her wreck lay just below the surface in the middle of the channel, but there was space for shipping to pass around the remains if due care was exercised.

  In contrast, the frigate, aground as she was, could be accessed more easily. Her gun deck was above water so working parties struggled to lift her guns out and transfer them to ships’ boats which carried them ashore. Eventually, when time spared, they could be used to strengthen shore batteries in various locations about the island.

  Since some of the smaller enemy warships had escaped, it was obvious that subsequent enemy attacks could be expected. Mullins was faced with an embarrassing problem. While the occupation and subsequent defense of the island had gone smoothly enough, he knew a strong force of ships and troops could take the island, as it stood.

  He had not enough gunners to man what guns he had, and more and heavier guns were needed. A more reliable means of supplying his forces was also imperative. Thus far, supply had been on a random basis, with ships and personnel being sent only when they were available.

  Mullins spent much time drafting a lengthy report, with Captain Hollister’s assistance. He described the various possibilities and what could be done with more aid from home. He also explained, if the enemy came soon in force, he would be obliged to load every man possible onto his ships and evacuate, leaving behind all of the expedition’s artillery and equipment.

  While Mullins and his clerk were laboring over this document, some of the enemy prisoners, having given their paroles, had limited access to the gunroom and wardroom. Some were as fluent in English as some of Centaurs’ officers were with the French tongue.

  Mister Midshipman Henry reported to the first officer, relating a conversation he had just had with a French junior officer.

  Apparently, there was a rumor in the French naval service that Bonaparte, distressed over the previous loss of most of the French sugar islands in the Caribbean, and sorely beset by enemies in Europe, proposed to send a fleet to the Caribbean to seize some of those lost islands.

  It was thought in Paris, that British forces on the other side of the Atlantic were drawn down by the need for ships and men in Spanish waters, and this would give a French flotilla a chance to recover her lost possessions before the British fleet could respond.

  Apparently, the British incursion in the Frisians as now well known to the enemy and its strength well documented. The rum
or current among French naval officers on the mainland had it that a strong force would soon leave Brest to take back the island. After this was secured and properly garrisoned, the fleet would sail for the Caribbean, hoping to repeat their success.

  This information was promptly relayed to Captain Mullins and he had his clerk include this information in the report. The possibility that this might just be a groundless rumor was not stressed. He knew there were functionaries in Whitehall who would not be overly concerned by the loss of a barren island in the Frisians, but a few sugar islands were altogether different.

  The report was entrusted to Lieutenant Gordon, Captain Hollister’s second in command. The Marine officer would hand-carry it to the Admiralty, where hopefully it would receive proper attention. HMS Roebuck would escort the returning transports back home and Gordon would take passage in her.

  A week after the convoy sailed, Dryad intercepted an enemy brig at sea off a neighboring island. A long chase ensued, but the stranger was able to duck into a defended harbor in another of the island chain. Captain Wilson did not think it wise to waste time trying to get at the enemy, so he put about and returned to his base.

  Mullins believed this could well be a reconnaissance by the enemy to attempt to determine what forces might be defending the island. While the brig had apparently not approached their island itself, still, there had been opportunity for her to speak several of the fishing boats prevalent in this area, and could probably have learned valuable intelligence.

  Meeting with Captain Hollister and the Artillery captain commanding the Army gunners, he ordered them to be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Plans should be made to spike the guns of the coastal batteries and destroy the powder magazines. He told his subordinates, he would hold the island as long as possible, but in the face of overwhelming enemy strength, it might be necessary to evacuate. Captain Whiley of the Royal Artillery wondered about reinforcement arriving from home.

  Mullins answered, “Captain, we all must hope a convoy will appear on the horizon with additional forces and arms. However, thus far, Whitehall has not seemed to regard us as a vital asset. We need to remember that the operation was mounted by some low-echelon officials who seem not to know its possible importance. At this moment, while I hope and expect relief will soon come, we cannot count on that and must be prepared to evacuate.

  When the relief fleet came over the horizon, led by a second-rate ship-of-the-line, flying a Vice Admiral’s flag, relief was intense. Mullins was called aboard the flagship, ostensibly to brief the admiral, but he was soon hustled below to discuss matters with a group of civilian officials. The gentlemen were especially concerned about the report of a French expedition into the Caribbean.

  After Mullins told them everything he knew, he was obliged to take them back to Centaur, to speak with the French naval cadet who had originally related the story. One of the officials spoke French well and quizzed the youth intensely. Later, he came to Captain Mullins and said he was convinced there was substance to the story. Mullins was told to prepare for a visit to London.

  At first, Mullins though he would be taking Centaur back to the Nore, but orders from the admiral dispelled that notion. While the fleet commander could get along just fine without the services of Captain Mullins, he did need his ship. So, Mullins would be travelling back to Portsmouth as a passenger in HMS Charon to meet his masters.

  Charon’s captain relinquished his own cabin for Mullins’ use on the voyage. It was cramped, after the spacious quarters he had enjoyed on Centaur, but of course was by far the best of any other officers’ quarters on the little gun-brig. In view of the importance of the visit, Charon made the best of her way back home, ignoring the profitable schooner she spotted off Brussels.

  After reaching the Nore anchorage at the mouth of the Thames, he was sent to an Admiralty cutter which carried him upriver to the Pool of London. Before starting out, he was instructed to go directly to the Admiralty and make his presence known immediately.

  The sun was just rising when the cutter moored and Mullins was met by a cabriolet which carried him to the Admiralty. Lonon’s street peddlers were already out crying their wares, even this early in the morning. Knowing he would probably cool his heels in the waiting room for hours before his appointment, he was tempted to postpone his visit to the Admiralty for a few hours, but decided it might be better to get his official business over before going home to Doris.

  Telling his driver he would pick up his sea chest later at the nearby posting inn, he went directly to the Naval Headquarters.

  A bored warder met him and showed him to a seat in the waiting room, only to return a few minutes later and tell him Mister Harder was waiting to see him. He mentioned that Harder had been waiting for hours, in case the cutter might arrive early. “Sir, the Lords are in a state, and Mister Harder is to find out what is going on. I hope you can tell him, a man must walk on tip-toe around here to keep from upsetting his masters.”

  Mullins told the warder he had just arrived and was at Mister Harder’s disposal. Ushered into a small room that he had never visited before, he saw a portly man slumped over his desk, snoring loudly.

  The porter nudged him awake and promptly left. Looking disheveled and bewildered at first, Porter soon became alert and apologized. “I beg your pardon Captain Mullins. The entire staff has been concerned since your report came in. I am to interview you and give my recommendations to the Lords.”

  “I must tell you there is great concern over any possible raid into the Caribbean by the French. This nation is straining to keep its momentum in the fighting in Spain. If we now must reverse course to remove the enemy from an area already fought over, who knows what may arise? Our leaders all hope you will have something to say to calm our fears.

  After briefing Harder, Mullins sat in an otherwise empty conference room for several hours. Finally summoned by Lord Mulgrave, he again went over what his report. After the numerous times he had repeated this, he could recite the different points from memory.

  Lord Mulgrave asked about the reliability of the informant. Mullins explained the boy was an aspiring junior officer in the French naval service. Other prisoners questioned, either refused to answer, or said nothing. He assured the First Lord he had no knowledge of the accuracy of the information he had heard, but was merely passing on what he had learned.

  The First Lord frowned, “Captain, what would you do in my place?”

  Mullins thought for a moment and answered. “Sir, if the lad was correct, the enemy intends to seize our island in the Frisians before continuing on to the Caribbean. Perhaps it might be wise to reinforce our presence there to stop the enemy before they can even start.”

  Mulgrove grumbled, “This country is stressed to the limit now. Every ship and man is needed in the duty they are doing. Where we can find resources to counter this possible enemy move, I do not know.”

  The first Lord remained silent for a moment then ordered. “Captain Mullins, I will order extra Marines to the island. Every ship in home waters will be levied for a few men to assist in the defense of the island. I will instruct our shipyards to find an old hulk that may be able to take the sea for another year. An old first or second-rate moored in the harbor could serve as a defense ship, that could serve to give any enemy squadron commander something to think about before launching an assault.”

  “Now then Captain, I believe my people can handle the work that must be done on the island. What I want you to do, Captain, is take ship to Jamaica and learn what needs to be done in the islands in case the French do break loose.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  After Mullins was told by the First Lord to ‘take ship’ to Jamaica, the subordinate staff at the Admiralty was at a loss. As one official explained, the order was not quite clear whether Captain Mullins was to proceed as a passenger in a ship traveling to that destination, or was he to be command an appropriate ship to take himself there?

  Few of the headquarter’s staff we
re prepared to ask Lord Mulgrave to explain himself. As one official explained, the previous convoy had just sailed and anther was not expected to be ready for weeks to come. As far as an individual ship to be given to Mullins, there were none available in the Pool this day. Perhaps it might be better to post down to Portsmouth to see what might be ready to sail there. As a last resort, he could continue down to Falmouth. If he could arrive in time, he might obtain passage on the New York packet, which was scheduled to sail directly. Of course, once reaching New York, he must find passage to Jamaica from American sources.

  Leaving the building with no firm orders, he found a cabriolet outside the main entrance and took it to his home. The house was empty, save for the housekeeper who said his wife and son had left town to visit the country. His father, Earl Yarley, was ailing and Doris had gone to visit. Mullins left a note for his family and then it was time to leave. His new orders expressly stated that time was of the essence, so it must not be seen that he was delaying matters with family problems.

  The coach trip to Portsmouth was excruciating as usual, but eventually, hours late because of a lamed horse, it arrived. Reporting to the office of Admiral Curtis on High Street, he found the port admiral was not available but was referred to an aide, who examined Mullins’ orders with suspicion.

  “See here Captain, I remember your case vividly. You were promoted from a fine frigate into HMS Centaur, a modern seventy-four-gun ship-of-the line. Now you appear on my doorstep asking for another ship. What did you do to Centaur?”

  Mullins deferentially explained that the ship had been needed to assist in the defense of the Frisian island it had helped to capture, while he was being sent to the Caribbean to coordinate defensive measures against the French.