Ships of Oak, Men of Iron: A Tim Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 10)

by Richard Testrake

  At that moment, the enemy field gun vomited fire and an iron ball which fell alarmingly close. Phillips unslung his long rifle and aimed at the gun. It must have been over three hundred yards away and he knew it was beyond his abilities to hit any particular man, but he held high, aimed in the general direction of the gun and fired. A moment later, one of the oxen, that was being led away, bellowed and fell.

  Now the boat, afloat, turned and presented its carronade. Its light charge lobbed the twelve-pound ball toward the enemy gun. It missed that gun but smashed in the side of a nearby home.

  Ruefully, Phillips decided this visit had been wasted. He doubted any of the villagers would wish to trade with the British any time soon, now. The boat made its way out to sea and early next morning spotted the tops of their own ship when a swell raised them. Amazon was sailing north, faster than they could make with their little lug sail, but after nearly going out of sight, she turned and spotted them.

  No one had thought to re-fill the boat’s water breaker while ashore, and it was empty when they went aboard ship. Phillips gave orders that all of the men in the boats be given all the water they needed that day.

  Sailing up the coast, they spotted a tableau as they rounded a headland. A pair of schooners had a fat merchant between them and it appeared they were rummaging the ship. HMS Amazon piled on all the sail she could carry and came booming up un-noticed at first. There was a flurry aboard the three vessels as she neared and was finally spotted by a lookout who was too interested in what was occurring beneath him rather that the horizon. At the belated warning both schooners cast loose. One was just a little too late though and Amazon was alongside with her guns run out before she could get clear. That schooner, with no other option, surrendered before the guns began their thunder, came to the wind, and received the boarding party. Mister Watkins was sent over to take possession. The other privateer was well away and Amazon gave her a parting salute with a couple of eighteen-pound shot.

  The original crew of the merchant ship was freed and the captain told his tale. He had been in an inbound convoy to Halifax when a sail was spotted to the west. The convoy’s escort did not seem to be alarmed and the merchant captain paid little attention.

  That night, the sky was overcast with no moon, and it was very dark. The ships in the convoy kept station by means of the masthead lights each carried in their tops. Late in the mid-watch, the apprentice serving as deck officer called to the captain that the next-ahead brig-snow was coming much too close. By the time the captain came on deck, he could see they were about to collide. Bringing the helm over, the ship swerved out of line, then saw another vessel to his port. This was a privateer schooner which fired a gun and took them in hand.

  A second schooner had thrust herself into the convoy before the next ahead and disrupted the column. Before anyone could protest, a dozen armed boarders were on deck and the ship was away. When Amazon came upon them, the privateers had stopped in the lee of the headland to examine what they had caught.

  As they entered port at Halifax, Phillips regarded the whole voyage as almost wasted. It was true they had brought back a badly needed cargo of pine pitch but it appeared they had bungled the procurement of a quantity of compass timber. He did make some money for himself. He had purchased the pitch with his own funds and found the dockyard would buy it from him for twice what he had paid. Then, there was the latest prize, a finely made armed schooner, which would find ready sale at the prize auction.

  Admiral Warren was at sea, and there were no immediate orders for him, so mooring the ship far enough out in the harbor to deter desertion, the crew were given a few days of ‘make and mend’. Only important duties were to be carried out on the ship then, with most of the crew free to claim a space on the foredeck, repair clothing, do scrimshaw, or yarn with their mates.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Captain Phillips had spent the day on shore, drinking more applejack than he had intended. On the way out to Amazon, he noticed a new pair of ships had arrived. Without paying much attention, he climbed aboard HMS Amazon to the twittering of bosun’s pipes and the clash and stamp of the Marines. He started, when behind the saluting first officer, he saw the grinning face of Seth Harkins.

  “They do make a big production of welcoming you aboard, I must say!” announced Harkins.

  “I expect they do something similar in your own navy”, responded Phillips.

  “To tell the truth, I’d better not get too near any US Navy ships for a while. I think there has been a whisper of what I am up to.” announced Harkins.

  “And what might that be?” wondered Phillips.

  “Well, I cleared Boston harbor with a deck load of spruce spars and the hold full of casks of salt beef. That was the only cargo I could get at short notice that I thought you could use. The trouble is, a United States Revenue cutter saw one of your blockade frigates stop me and then saw me clear away to the northwest. My government thinks my cargo was to go to Norfolk in Virginia. If I can find someone to buy the ship and cargo at a good price, I can take passage back to Boston and report its capture. Then, I’ll buy another ship and try again.”

  “Did you have any trouble with the frigate?”

  “Oh, that captain was pissed! He thought he had just made himself a parcel of money with my ship and cargo. When I showed him my license, he turned red all over. Then, he wanted to press every man in my crew except the cook. I reminded him to read the bottom of the license, and told him I would surely bring suit against him if he stopped my voyage. He let me go, but he didn’t want to.”

  “If you look at the brig next to mine, on her deck you’ll see her owner, John Akers, who on my say-so bought up a bankrupt shipyard and loaded all of her timber stockpile. The frigate captain was all for going after him, but I told him Akers had a license just like mine. Actually, he didn’t, because I didn’t give him one.”

  “What are you going to do with your ship and cargo, sell it here or take it to Britain?”

  “Where will I get the best price for it?”

  “England, without a doubt. Also, if you can buy another ship, you will be able to get a return cargo that will pay well. Maybe fancy goods or women’s notions.

  Long after Harkins joined the next convoy and sailed to England, Captain Peabody appeared in an old, down-at-the heels brig, her hull jammed tight with naval stores. He had no intention of waiting in port for weeks to join a convoy to Britain. Instead, he planned to sell his cargo here, fill his hold with salt cod, which he would sell in the southern United States, and find another cargo of naval stores. He thought he could still do well even if some greedy frigate captain took his ship and cargo and tore up the license. He would make more money from this single voyage than his ship was worth, and after the war, he could bring suit against the offending naval officer.

  In the absence of Admiral Warren, an elderly post captain held temporary command of the port and inquired of Phillips why his ship was idle. The explanation from Phillips that he was awaiting orders failed to satisfy the port captain, and Captain Hansen sent him south forthwith to patrol off the port of Boston to intercept any Yankee ships attempting to leave harbor.

  Proceeding down the coast, Captain Phillips reported his presence to the commodore commanding the blockade in this area. Amazon relieved another frigate that was becoming low on stores, and spent the next month off that port, weathering the constant storms. When another ship reported from Halifax, new orders came to the frigate. Admiral Warren had returned and ordered Amazon to proceed to the Gulf Coast to assist in the blockade of New Orleans.

  Much of the produce of the western regions of the United States was transported down the Mississippi River system to that port, where it was then trans-shipped to other ports. Amazon, with others, was to put a stop to that trade.

  The time off Boston had not been productive, and the crew was becoming restive. While the ship had assisted in several captures, other Royal Navy ships had been in sight and it was necessary to share their f
ew, low-value prizes with them.

  On the way south, they did meet up with a fat ship loaded with maize. There was not a chance for the slow vessel to escape and it offered no struggle. A conference with its captain confirmed its manifest, which stated the cargo was destined for New York. As his prize crew was preparing to take over the ship, Phillips had the captain into his quarters where he explained the facts.

  “Captain Ericson, since you and your manifest are in agreement as to your destination, I find I must take your ship and cargo as prize. Now, had you convinced us you were taking your cargo to a British port, you would have secured safe passage, as well as a ready sale at a good price.”

  “Now, Captain Phillips, just how was I to do that? Had I reported my destination as Bermuda or Halifax, my government would have never let me sail. They would have called it ‘Trading with the enemy’.”

  “That would be between you and your own conscience, Captain Ericson. Some captains chose to use a false manifest to convince their own government officials of their innocence. There is always some risk involved in matters of this sort. Had you been able to sail into Halifax, for example, you could have procured a license to prevent any blockading ship from taking you.”

  “Sir, it is not likely that I will avail myself of your license. I have the same views as my government. Our countries are at war, and I must support the policies of my government.”

  HMS Amazon proceeded south, her crew mollified by the prize and their own improved financial prospects. By the time he had reached Spanish Florida, Phillips was concerned with his water supply. The time spent patrolling off Boston had depleted the big tuns, and he had to consider where to obtain more water.

  Coastal Florida was an option, but he was concerned about sickness along the coast. He could continue down to Spanish Cuba where he had touched before. Spain was a British ally in the war against Napoleon but had not involved itself in this contest with the United States.

  In the end, he decided to remain clear of unnecessary entanglements and proceed directly to the blockade of New Orleans. Presumably, the other ships of the force had found a safe site to secure water.

  Rounding Florida and proceeding on course, the lookouts began reporting sightings. Most were of small craft which Phillips did not deem important enough to bother with, but early in the afternoon watch, a ship-rigged vessel was spotted, its course suggesting it might wish to investigate them. The ship was hurriedly ‘dirtied’, crates and barrels brought up from below and left haphazardly on deck. Gun ports were closed, but the ship otherwise cleared for action. Unnecessary sails were taken in, as befitting a merchant ship whose miserly owners did not employ sufficient crew to work additional canvas.

  This strategy could not stand a lengthy examination. As the ships grew nearer, it would become obvious to the stranger that Amazon was a significant warship. Captain Phillips jumped into the shrouds and climbed to the mizzen-top with his glass where he could get a better view.

  As he got his glass on the target, he was puzzled. It appeared to be a frigate, but whose? It did not match any of the descriptions of United States frigates and it certainly was no British warship. A spot of color in her tops almost seemed to be the Tri-color. It was hard to understand what a French warship was doing here though. The French navy had been mostly ousted from this region in recent years.

  Continuing her attempted disguise, Amazon came about, as if attempting to flee after spotting a foe. Slowly, as if she had only a small crew, she began hoisting more canvas. The pursuing frigate immediately sent up a cloud of canvas and began overhauling them rapidly. As she came up, she began edging over to windward. With winds from the south-east, Phillips put Amazon on a northerly course, as if attempting to close the shore.

  He did not quite understand the pursuing ship’s tactics. It being clearly smaller than their own, surely its captain could see he was pursuing a large frigate, which he presumably had identified as British. Perhaps he imagined Amazon had been partially or completely disarmed and being utilized as a transport.

  Not wishing the pursuer to close on his windward beam, Phillips ordered the colors and commission pendant flown, and then came about. Still observing from the mizzen top, he saw a flurry aboard the stranger as she belatedly came about. Now it was the turn of HMS Amazon to hoist a cloud of canvas and assume the role of pursuer.

  Phillips suspected the enemy ship had been in tropical waters for some time. Although a ship of fine lines, she now appeared to be too slow for her length. Probably she had much weed growth on her bottom. Amazon, being newly coppered and having recently arrived from a colder climate, did not have this problem.

  Coming within range, the chase began firing with a pair of stern chasers. After some balls went into the sea, one smashed through a forward bulkhead and slapped into the base of the fore mast. Its energy almost expended, it protruded from the mast like a raisin in a pudding. A seaman pried the ball loose and carried the hot ball aft, juggling it from hand to hand. Phillips had the man drop it into the water-filled bucket that served to hold the lit match for the aftermost carronade. Looking at the ball, it was obviously an eight-pounder. The damage to the mast was minor and Phillips judged the ship could withstand a great number of such hits without endangering the structural integrity.

  Coming up within range, he had to decide how to handle this action. The enemy ship appeared to be a thirty-two gun frigate, probably armed with eight and twelve-pounder guns. She did not appear to be in good order. Her canvas was composed of more patches than whole cloth, and the ship appeared to be shabbier than one would expect from one flying its national ensign.

  Her sail handling appeared to be dilatory, as though her crew was not well worked-up. Amazon was coming up on her stern handily, still being peppered by the eight-pounders in her stern. As he watched, she put a ball through his fore course, which caused no impairment in their progress. Taking the hint, he had the ship stripped down to her tops’ls and was still able to maintain station with the enemy.

  Now well within range, he had to consider what he must do to take action against her. He vastly out-gunned the enemy, with his eighteen-pounder long guns. If he waited a bit longer, he could bring his thirty-two pounder carronade into play, but he considered himself a bit too far astern for that just now. Making his decision, he ordered his sailing master to veer ship to port. This brought the more forward starboard eighteen-pounders to bear on the target, in addition to the forward carronades, which were a little too far away for good results. He sent his messenger midshipman forward to inform every one of his wishes. Before dispatching the lad, he changed his mind, telling him to have the forward carronade fire also.

  With the order to commence fire, the guns began to thunder. A pair of eighteen-pound balls smashed into the stern of the target ship, causing immense damage as they ranged forward. The initial attempts of the carronade failed to reach the Frenchman, but the crew was easily able to reload the light piece faster than the heavier long guns could be re-charged and was able to put a thirty-two pound ball high into her quarter on the third shot.

  The enemy started to come about so as to bring her broadside to bear, but Amazon followed the turn and immediately was able to punish the enemy with all of her starboard guns. Some of the carronades were able to connect and she could not withstand this fire. A few more exchanges brought her ensign down and the fight was over.

  Phillips found he was faced with a curious situation when he had occasion to examine matters. From statements garnered from the captured enemy’s crewmen, it seemed the frigate had left Guadeloupe just before the British forces had taken the island. With only a partial crew and insufficient stores to return to France, the frigate had made for the former French port of New Orleans. There, the new American government interned her and much of the crew scattered into the city, mixing with the numerous Americans of French origin.

  Later, after America entered the war against Britain, the former French third officer managed to obtain funds from a co
nsortium of French businessmen resident in the port and purchased the ship. Her hull and rigging were given a ‘lick and a promise’ and with a letter of marque and a new crew, she put to sea by way of an unguarded channel of the river delta. The new captain had rather more revolutionary fervor than he did ship-handling ability and the mission ran into trouble at once.

  He attacked a supply vessel carrying cattle to the blockade fleet. During the chase, a British gun brig rescued the transport, severely handling the larger ship. With a badly damaged ship and many casualties, the old frigate returned to port to re-fit. There was dissention among the surviving crew members since the target ship was of low value and it was deemed disgraceful that a little brig had been able to outsail the frigate and damage her so severely. With warnings from his backers echoing in his ears and a thoroughly disgruntled crew, he sailed again, hoping for better luck.

  Spotting HMS Amazon, the privateer’s captain wrongly identified her as one of several frigate transports being used to supply the blockading fleet. These ships had some of their guns removed to provide more room for stores. The enemy commander assumed he was about to take a ship crammed with valuable stores that could be sold in any port. It was not until Amazon turned to face her pursuer and showed her his broadside that he realized he had another tiger by the tail.

  An anomaly concerned the privateer and its letter of marque. While the letter was of United States origin, the ship itself flew the Tricolor in combat. When its commander produced a much wrinkled commission from his days in service with the French navy, Phillips overlooked the difficulty and failed to log the incident.

  Commodore Adkins, commanding the blockading fleet in the Gulf took charge of the prize and ordered her sent in to English harbor in Antigua. It was assumed she would be bought into the Navy, even though she was of an older design and needed extensive work to bring her up to modern Royal Navy standards.