HMS Aphrodite (Sea Command Book 1)

by Richard Testrake

  Mullins was devastated at the admiral’s words. There was the very real chance this could cost him his command should the trial drag on for any protracted period. In the meantime, his duties continued aboard ship and men continued to come aboard a few at a time. They did get an influx of prisoners who had accepted the Navy over lengthy terms in gaol. Even a few sentenced to transportation were sent aboard.

  Among the other people reporting aboard his ship, were some youths, midshipmen looking for a berth. These had not actually been assigned to the ship, they were merely looking for a position, any position, some of them.

  Some of them, after being sent ashore from their previous, were without funds and had no ability to sustain themselves. These had come aboard hoping to be able to live in the gunroom until such time as the ship sailed or they found other employment.

  Mullins should have looked among his father’s important friends, to determine if any had a son they wished to send to sea. The family of any lad he took aboard as midshipman would owe him favors, which might be repaid by influence they might have. This was an accepted method to gain influence, one often used by naval captains to better themselves.

  Mullins had no stomach to beg for his midshipmen, especially since these would likely be boys with absolutely no knowledge of the sea. Useless, until completing at least one commission at sea. He needed experienced young men, people who could serve as useful petty officers until perhaps called to the quarterdeck in time of need.

  These lads coming aboard searching for berths were generally those who had no influential relative behind them. These had been put ashore after a commission or two and told to find their own way. Busy with his own affairs, Mullins had not actually given the matter any thought, merely allowing the lads to berth in the gunroom, until the ship sailed. With the expected sailing date looming closer, Mullins was feeling pressure from some department heads to sign on a few useful mids.

  He was reluctant to put any of them on the books since there was the likelihood he would have to leave the ship while he awaited appearing before the coming court martial. A new captain might very well have his own people to bring on board.

  Now though, it seemed he was going to have to make a decision soon. He had learned from his surgeon that Mister Drayer’s condition had deteriorated. He had developed a gangrenous infection to the face and a series of procedures had been performed attempting to remove them. With a real threat to the officer’s life, the court martial was on an indefinite hold, and now word had come that matters were heating up in the Med and Aphrodite would soon be needed.

  With no impending court martial looming, Mullins was now free to prepare to sail. Remembering that he had a half dozen young men cluttering up his gun room who might be better employed doing useful work about the ship, he had them all called aft.

  He talked with them for an hour, getting an idea of their prior experience. He was well aware that he could expect nothing from any of their patrons nor would he receive any benefits should he take any of them aboard. One young man, Wilcox had the most service. Appearing to be in his twenties, Wilcox had been at sea since the age off thirteen. The youngest was Benson, a boy of twelve. His former ship had paid off and his mother brought him to Aphrodite, saying she could not feed the lad. In the end, Mullins put all of them on the books, although he took Benson as captain’s servant rather than midshipman.

  Then it was time to sail for the Med. Never eager to make the long passage down the Thames to sea by himself, Mullins took on a good pilot who could see them to the Channel.

  As the ship made her slow way down the crowded river channel, he regarded the money spent on the pilot a good investment, especially after first meeting a swarm of fishing boats coming up, each certain of his own right-of-way. Clear of these, they met a third rate, also bound for the Pool of London, coming up the center of a narrow channel, with a Thames sailing barge blocking the slight passageway to starboard, her pilot nattering with a woman in a skiff alongside.

  Aphrodite’s plot calmly inserted the ship into the narrow gap between the liner and the barge, evoking vehement protests from each. When it became apparent the gap was slightly less than the breadth of Aphrodite, he put the starboard side of his beakhead up against that of the sailing barge and pushed her out of the way, to a chorus of outraged epithets.

  As they passed the stern of the battle-ship, her captain leaned over her taff-rail and shouted, “You try that with me, I’ll sink you right here in the channel!”

  Continuing downriver, Mullins was shaken by the event, imagining all the trouble he could be involved in.

  His pilot assured him he would log the event, swearing the barge had blocked the channel. Besides, it would likely be a year or more before Aphrodite returned from the Med, and by that time everyone here would have forgotten about the incident.

  Chapter Seven

  Once reaching the anchorage at the Nore, Aphrodite received her orders to again escort a convoy to the Med. Tensions with the Spanish government had dried up sources of supply to the area, even Gibraltar was now on short commons.

  This time, she would be accompanied by an eight-gun cutter being sent out to carry dispatches. HMS Firefly would be of use only to harry independent-minded merchant ship captains into keeping better formation. Her minimal armament would probably be able to overpower only the smallest privateer.

  The seven merchantmen carried mostly salt rations, for the sustenance of the garrison of Gibraltar, should Spain declare on the side of France. As on the previous voyage in Havoc, predators came out of Brest to see what they could do with this vulnerable convoy. One appeared to be a corvette, about the same size as Aphrodite. The other two were small luggers, indifferently armed. This last pair, probably privateers, could hardly cause even Firefly much distress, especially when a frigate from the Brest blockade came up to see what these interlopers on her turf were up to.

  Aphrodite ran up her numbers and the frigate identified herself as HMS Nymphe. She interposed herself before the convoy, and the trio thought better of their plan. The luggers, finding life a bit too hazardous out here, made for port, while the corvette made for the open sea with Nymphe in pursuit.

  The convoy sailed into Gibraltar’s harbor with no other contacts with enemy forces. Mullins reported to the Governor’s office in the Convent to gain any information as to the present difficulties with Spain. A naval officer there assured him that hostilities had not actually begun yet, but thought it to be just a matter of time. Handed a bag of official mail, he was ordered to expedite its delivery to Admiral Jervis, thought to be still blockading Toulon.

  The hands had been allowed liberty and most of them returned to the ship before sailing. Landsman Rainer had become overcome with drink and attempted to fight three members of the military garrison, with unfortunate results. This man was one of the men that had been brought to the ship in chains back in Portsmouth.

  His loss was not a matter of importance, but three other Aphrodite’s had also been injured in the same fight, while trying to retrieve their mate. Mullins had been able, with much difficulty, to obtain the release of these three from the garrison commander, but no amount of persuasion could produce the Army to give up Landsman Rainer.

  While having this little contretemps with the authorities, an East India convoy came in from the East. One of the big Indiamen had been badly damaged by a typhoon, and had reached safe harbor only by Devine Grace. With her crew pumping ship constantly on all watches, her passenger and crew were taken off and her cargo, that which had not been spoiled, was unloaded. The City of Bombay, was finally put aground, to wait for a decision on her disposition.

  Mullins had no need to await any disposition. He was standing at the door of the Convent early the next morning with his request for the Indiaman’s seamen. Since he already had most of his crew, he was not granted all of the men requested, but he did get six well-trained able seamen and four Lascars.

  These latter were natives of the Indian sub-continent
and were often disparaged among ship’s officers because of their small physique, but the few Lascars Mullins had known proved to be excellent seamen, even if one did have to solve the major problem of providing them with a diet they would actually eat. Few would touch the boiled salt beef and pork that formed much of the seamen’s diet. The purser was able to purchase a quantity of salt cod which served to quell the objections to the salt meat.

  All in all, he felt he had done rather well in the exchange. The three injured men he had rescued from the Provost Marshall, he in turn traded to the captain of a newly arrived third-rate for a launch. Both captains were happy with the trade. The liner captain received three men who, in time, would recover from their injuries and be useful again. Mullins obtained an elderly ship’s launch, partially shattered in a recent action, which the carpenter assured him he could soon make right.

  Upon leaving Gibraltar, Aphrodite began meeting with abundant shipping once inside the Mediterranean, all of it, Spanish. Since war had not yet been declared, he was powerless to attack the shipping. His lookouts were ordered to keep their eyes open, watching for anything bearing the tricolor.

  A roving British frigate found them off Toulon and directed them to HMS Victory. After delivering the dispatches to the flagship, Aphrodite was directed to Corsica. Sentiment among the Corsican’s had been aroused by some ill-considered actions by the British officials there and now revolutionary groups abounded on the island. It was hardly safe for small numbers of Britons to travel without armed escort. With tensions with Spain rising, fewer resources were available to suppress these groups.

  Ordered to obtain the latest intelligence about affairs on the island, Mullins told his sailing master to touch at a port adjacent to a small village, where he had been told he might find an agent employed by the British, who might be able to supply them with the latest news.

  They were met in the harbor of Porto Veccio by an obviously ill man in a dilapidated old boat. This was Mister Andrews, a British merchant with interests on this island. Andrews was desperate to leave and assured Mullins he could supply any needed information concerning the island and its politics.

  Mister Bellinger, the ship’s surgeon examined Andrews and pronounced he was suffering from malarial fever, a result of breathing the putrid air of this swampy region. An infusion of Peruvian bark made an improvement in Andrew’s condition, and he was soon able to explain at great length the complex details of the political situation on this island. His mind numb with these particulars, Mullins determined it would be better if the ship would return to the fleet, where Sir John could be briefed personally on these details.

  Aphrodite had to search for the flagship for two weeks, but eventually, Captain Mullins with his passenger were being pulled over to the flagship. He himself was placed in the hands of the flag lieutenant, while Andrews was sent in to see Admiral Jervis.

  After smoking two of the admiral’s cigars at the taffrail with the lieutenant, a servant approached and handed flags a note.

  Lieutenant Baker turned to Mullins and explained. “It seems Sir John will be closeted with Mister Andrews for some time yet. I am directed to take you to Captain Calder, who will explain a task he has for you.”

  Calder greeted him and invited him to sample some Bordeaux one of the frigates had recently removed from a prize. His throat raw from the unaccustomed cigars, the wine was indeed welcome. Calder was brief.

  “It looks more probable every day that Spain will enter the war. With her fleet, together with that of France, we can expect to have much on our plate very soon. Thus, Sir John believes it to be expedient that we begin to reduce our responsibilities here. Some of these reductions will be our forces from the islands of Corsica and Elba. If this action is actually taken, we will need intelligence of the actions being taken by our enemies. At the moment, we have heard of no declaration of war by Spain, but that is expected any day. Admiral Jervis has plans to send ships to remove our military garrisons. Therefore, your ship will proceed directly toward the island of Elba, to determine what enemy forces may present difficulties to the evacuation.”

  “You will not involve yourself with any evacuation of either Elba or Corsica yourself, that will be the duty of others. After you are quite satisfied with the intelligence you have gained, you will proceed directly eastward across the strait to the Italian mainland.”

  Captain Calder removed his wine glass from a small chart it had anchored to his desk and said, “Perhaps you will glance at this chart, Captain.”

  “You will notice that none of the features on this chart are identified, Captain. We hope to amuse the enemy, should he gain access to this map for some reason.”

  “At any rate, you will notice this location on the chart. It marks a small village, which does not have even a harbor, merely the remains of an ancient break wall. The locals use the beach behind it to land their fishing boats. In this village, you will find the remains of an old church, which some previous invader wrecked centuries ago.”

  “Two of our people, a husband and, wife have taken refuge in this church, or close to it. We believe Mister Roberts and his wife, Nora, possess critical information about French capabilities in the area and it is vital they be returned safely to British control. It is to be hoped the French are not aware of the activities the Roberts’ have been engaged in. All available care should be taken that the enemy does not indeed become so advised.”

  “After making an inspection of the waters around Elba, looking for French or Spanish naval activity. You will proceed to the marked village on the mainland and extricate them.”

  “Admiral Jervis, who is never quite satisfied with the number of scouting or escorting vessels at his disposal, wishes to add yours to this escort. After arriving off Elba, you will then separate and proceed on your mission to retrieve the Roberts. Once this duty has been completed, and they are safe, you will likely be employed upon general scouting duties. Therefore, I will wish you a good day so that you may be on your way. I understand your orders will be waiting at the entry port.”

  Aphrodite met the convoy at sea on its way to retrieve the Elba garrison. After exchanging numbers, they joined the escort. This escort only amounted to another ship-sloop, HMS Ranger, as well as a small armed hired brig. A pair of enemy-flagged craft were busily harrying the convoy, approaching, firing off a few rounds, then retreating when the escort responded. One of the enemy was a tartane, armed with only a few guns. A brig, somewhat larger, seemed to be a more serious opponent.

  While the predators were occupied with the convoy, Aphrodite crept closer. When the pair realized they might have allowed this new ship to approach too closely, they broke away. The tartane tried to escape by sailing straight through the convoy, but fouled a ship-transport. With redcoats aboard the ship popping off their muskets at her, the tartane broke free but she had been slowed by the incident, giving Aphrodite a chance.”

  At extreme range, Aphrodite fired off her broadside. A long moment later, a hole was spontaneously generated in the tartane’s lateen main-sail, followed by a lengthening tear.

  The privateer was in trouble now, and would surely fall victim if vigorously pursued. Mullins was tempted, but continued on toward the convoy. His purpose was to defend the ships, not taking prizes.

  The privateers, deciding this new addition to the convoy escort was making their venture too risky, left to pursue other options.

  As the convoy re-grouped itself after this encounter, a dispatch-cutter joined. She was flying the flag signal, ‘Have Dispatches”, which was normally flown to prevent other passing members of the Royal navy from interfering with her passage. In this case, she rounded-to and came into Ranger’s lee. Through his glass, Mullins watched a boat pull from the cutter to Ranger.

  Minutes later, Ranger signaled Aphrodite, ‘Captain, repair on board’.

  Since Ranger’s captain, Commander Hardison, had a commission that was dated a good two weeks before that of Mullins, that made him the convoy’s commande
r of escorts, and Mullins’ superior. Dropping down into his gig, Mullins was also pulled over to Ranger, where he was shown the dispatch delivered just moments before.

  Spain was now at war with Britain, and all Royal Navy ships were to begin offensive operations immediately. However, an additional order by Admiral Jervis required the evacuations to retrieve British garrisons on Elba and Corsica, be expedited.

  The Royal Navy was now on the defensive in the Mediterranean, Enemy warships, now augmented by Spain’s fleet, both national and private, were becoming more plentiful. On many occasions, sails were sighted in the distance that would have been closely investigated a few months earlier. Today, both escorts and merchantmen hoped to be ignored or taken for French.

  These hopes were dashed though, when a ship was sighted ahead of them, approaching. She was identified as a French 38-gun frigate of the Diane class. This was a very serious opponent indeed, capable of defeating both of the much smaller ship-sloops. Mullins was in his cabin changing into dry clothing after returning from Ranger, when the midshipman of the watch brought him the news.

  Going on deck with his glass, he pondered the options. He reckoned his ship was faster in this clear weather than the heavy frigate and he thought Ranger too, would have no trouble evading the enemy. The convoy was a different story though. He well knew every ship in the convoy could be snapped up by the frigate should the ship-sloops leave them. His mind made up, he signaled Ranger. “Submit I attack enemy.”

  Several minutes passed while this message was digested on board Ranger. Finally, she signaled a simple “Affirmative.”

  With all sail set the ship would bear, Aphrodite changed course a few points to starboard and made directly toward the enemy frigate. The convoy turned to port to hopefully evade combat. Mullins knew the sensible course for the enemy commander to take would be to ignore him and make directly for the convoy.