by Michael Aye
***
After the men had had their laugh, Lord Anthony spoke again in a very grave manner, “I do have in my possession a document that was captured by our esteemed Lieutenants as earlier mentioned. This document, unlike the one you’ve just read, has warned us of a grave and serious impending threat. This is the thirteenth day of November and if this document is still correct an attempt will be made by a consortium of privateers along with armed soldiers to invade and occupy Nova Scotia the nineteenth of this month.”
“Gawd,” growled Captain Buck, “That barely gives us time to get ready.”
“Isn’t that an odd time to propose an invasion?” asked Lieutenant Kerry.
“Ah, to the contrary,” responded Captain Pope, “When better to attack than at a season when the weather is changing and attention is being given to the weather and not to defense.” Realizing he might have spoken out of turn, Pope turned to the admiral, “Am I right, my Lord?’
“That you are, Captain Pope. Gentlemen, I should not have to remind you of the secrecy of the subject we are discussing but before I go further let me say this. Your first officers will be told.” Then looking at Bush and Kerry added, “Or those serving as your second in command and no one else.”
“Why the secrecy, my Lord?” Lieutenant Bush asked, “Surely preparations will have to be made that will be obvious to all.”
“Aye, young sir, you are right in part,” Lord Anthony answered, “We know the enemy has at least two agents here in Halifax. Tomorrow I will make it known we as a squadron are being summoned to Philadelphia. That will justify the necessary movements required to make ready for sea. Now I will pass this document around for each of you to review then we’ll talk about a plan of defense.”
Then he passed the document to Captain Pope who was next in seniority to the flag captain and it was passed on down creating comments as each man reviewed the document as it was passed to him.
Plans for the Invasion and Occupation of Nova Scotia
Knowing the great importance Nova Scotia will be to us and the relief our friends there stand in need of, I am happy to inform you of a consortium of free enterprise merchants have met and the sentiments of the general officers of said consortium have agreed to invade Nova Scotia.
I had the honor of writing you on the nineteenth of June, and then informed you of having engaged two persons in Nova Scotia on the business recommended in your letter of the tenth.
I would now beg to leave mention, that the persons sent information favorably of the expediency and practicability of the proposed measure. They advised the men necessary for the expedition can be raised from the Province of Maine.
Upon these recommendations the necessary men have been easily engaged. They are willing and ready to embark from Round Island on Machias Bay the dawn of November 19th. The determination for this date is the season is most favorable in regard to when defenses on land and at sea are mostly reduced due to weather.
The terms mentioned in their plan were for each consortium member to receive 10,000L for their involvement in the scheme plus favorable consideration in regards to land and other purchases.
Unless otherwise notified I will assume the terms are agreeable and by the power you’ve invested in me detach the men and ships as previously stated.
The attack and invasion has been so planned that when executed the consortium will send men in arms aboard fully armed transports to attack several targets as recommended by those persons in Nova Scotia.
Men will be landed at Hampton, Yarmouth, Liverpool, Lunenburg and Halifax. It is only at Halifax resistance is expected. In addition to British naval forces, there is usually a garrison of some two hundred British troops.
A diversion consisting of two ships will be made. These ships are at Sable Island and if the British admiral gives chase, this will lessen Halifax’s defense. If the British does not fall for the ruse the ships will support the main attack.
The command of the leading ship has been given to Jeremiah O’Brian based on his part in the capture of the Margaretta now renamed Machia’s Liberty.
After all the gathered men had read the document Lord Anthony asked, “Any comments?”
Captain Pope cleared his throat and then spoke, “A question, my Lord. There has long been concern the French may enter the war in support of the Colonials. Do you see this capture of the French corvette, Le Frelon, and her French captain as proof of that concern?”
“Well, I’m not sure,” Lord Anthony replied. “I’m sure the French have strongly encouraged these types of activities but for now all we have is a privateer with a letter of Marque.”
“Rogues!” Lieutenant Kerry exclaimed.
“Rogues they may be, sir, but they’ve done more to interrupt our convoys and prolong the war than anyone else, even John Paul Jones himself. We’ll worry about the French when and if they enter the war. However, for now let’s worry about the matter at hand.”
“How do we defend so many invasion sights with so few ships?” Lieutenant Bush asked, and then continued, “Even with the gunboat we captured and the corvette Gabe and Markham took, we only have nine vessels and they will not go far in preventing an invasion if we are spread out.”
Captains Pope and Buck were conferring and appeared about to speak when Gabe stood up.
“Why do we have to defend my Lord?” All eyes turned to Gabe.
“What was that?” The flag captain Moffett asked.
“I said, sir, with all respect, why do we have to defend? I say we should attack. We know from those documents,” Gabe said nodding his head at the papers laying on the table, “ where they will launch the attacks from and on what date. I say we divide our forces.” The other captains were very attentive now.
“Go on,” Lord Anthony prodded.
“We can send a frigate or maybe a frigate and a cutter to Sable Island to deal with the ships there. Then the other frigate can sail up into the Bay of Bundy and position itself to protect Hampton. Warrior can be stationed at the mouth of Halifax Harbour and the rest of us can meet the privateers as they make their way out of Machia’s Bay and past Gran Manan Island. They’ll not be expecting us, so surprise will be on our side. The way I’ve figured it, my Lord, we’ve trumped their every move.”
“It sounds good, lieutenant,” Captain Moffett said, “But remember this is not whist and there’s more at stake than a card game.”
Buck and Earl had risen, “We think Gabe is right, my Lord,” Buck volunteered.
“Very well,” Lord Anthony replied, “Let’s breakout the charts and get a better feel for what routes they’ll have to take.” Then turning to Gabe, Lord Anthony asked, “Have you spoken of this to anyone?”
“Aye, sir,” Gabe replied, “I discussed it with Lieutenant Markham on two occasions. Mr. Davy was present for part of one conversation but he heard no specifics.”
“Anyone else?” the admiral firmly asked the lieutenants.
“No sir,” Markham replied.
When Gabe hesitated, the admiral spoke again, “Lieutenant Anthony?”
“Well, sir, I did discuss it with one other.”
“Who, sir?”
“Dagan, my Lord.”
A relief went over Lord Anthony’s face as a general sigh escaped from Buck and Pope and the other gathered captains. No one would doubt Dagan’s discretion, certainly not the admiral and that was all that mattered.
***
Halifax Harbour became a beehive of activity as Lord Anthony’s ships were made ready for sea. Since the word had been “leaked” the fleet was headed south, the ships took on stores as would be necessary for the trip. This was to add credibility to the leaked story, when in truth whether the battle was won or lost the ships would only need one good day’s supplies on board. However, anyone spying on the harbour would see what they would expect to see. Water hoys plying back and forth, victuallers, ship’s boats and finally the ordance barges.
Gabe was visiting Stephen Earl on board Le Frelon. I
t was Gabe’s first visit since Earl had taken command. There was an obvious change in the ship’s overall appearance. The freshly holystoned decks, the smell of fresh pitch filled the air. Cannons had been cleaned and blackened, ropes were neatly coiled. Brick dust had been taken to the brass work and now it shined brighter than it probably had since the ship was launched.
“What a farce,” Earl said, speaking of all the comings and goings of smaller craft.
“Aye,” Gabe replied, “But a necessary one if we’re to maintain surprise.”
At that time, Mr. Boyd approached. He was Earl’s first lieutenant and came from Merlin, where he had been Captain Buck’s third lieutenant. “Pardon me, sir, but the twenty new hands have arrived as you mentioned. Would you care to speak to the men?”
Earl looked at Gabe who tried to hide his smile. “No, Mr. Boyd, turn them over to the bosun,” Earl replied, “He’ll take care of them.”
As the lieutenant went to do his bidding, Earl shook his head and said, “He means well and seems quite knowledgeable but he’s a long way from where I expect my first lieutenant to be.”
“He’ll learn quickly,” Gabe said.
“Huh,” snorted Earl, “He better, cause I’m thinking we’re about to face an enemy like we’ve not done before.”
“Do you think my plan is wrong?” Gabe asked his friend.
“No , Gabe. With no more at our disposal than what we have and there being no time for reinforcements, I think it’s as good a plan as we could have. I do think the butcher’s bill will be high whether we win or lose. Those privateers will be crowded with fighting men for the invasion. It may sound cruel but I intend to sink what I can rather than come together and be overrun by large numbers.”
“I agree,” Gabe said then asked, “Have you a surgeon yet?”
“Unfortunately not, and there’s a possibility we won’t have. By the way,” Earl continued, “Rumor has it Caleb has been smitten by some little rebel girl.”
Gabe felt a pang at the term “rebel girl” as it made him think of Faith. Seeing the look come over Gabe’s face Earl realized he may have blundered.
“Forgive me, Gabe, I did not mean to be callous or insensitive.”
Clapping his hand on his friend’s shoulder Gabe said, “It’s nothing.” Then went on to explain, “Caleb has found himself infatuated with a young lady, Dagan’s niece.”
“Well, damme,” Earl exclaimed, “I’d tread lightly if I were Caleb. I’d not want Dagen angry with me.”
Chapter Five
The men were at their stations and the guns had all been made ready. The marines were ready, what few they were. The deck had been wet down and sanded. Though wetting the deck down now appeared to have been a wasted effort. A heavy fog seemed to leave all in its wake wet.
Now it was time to wait. Hurry up, move your arses, then wait. The darkness finally gave way to dawn; a foggy dawn.
“It will break by mid-morning,” Blake, the master said.
“That’s a long time,” an anxious Gabe replied. “Is there any sign of Swan, Le Frelon, or Pigeon?”
“Aye, sir.” Lavery said. “The Swan is to larboard and Le Frelon is to starboard. I can’t see the ketch but on last sighting she was on station with Le Frelon.”
Silence filled the deck. Every sound a ship makes at sea seemed to be magnified by the silence. The fog moved across the deck and through the rigging in a ghostly eerie silence then disappeared only to be replaced by another patch, leaving moisture as its only sign of having been present. The master wiped the compass with a dry cloth and Dagan taking Gabe’s glass wiped the lens thoroughly though damn little good it would do as the next patch of fog would have it cloudy all over again.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe saw Lum whispering to Dagan who nodded and was now making his way to the wheel.
“Lum says he hears something not unlike the flap of the sail on the fishing yawl back home when the wind would fill the sail then die down.”
“He’s right,” Gabe said, “I’ve heard the sound a time or two but couldn’t make it out. Pass the word to the lookouts to watch for small boats, not just ships, Mr. Hazard.”
“Aye, captain.”
“I don’t like the feel of the wind,” the master, Blake, complained. “It’s from the north but seems to bounce off yonder island. I …” There was a confused shouting to larboard, then a flash as a gun was fired.
A lookout shouted, “A gunboat, a black gunboat, sir, just let off a gun, can’t tell if it hit anyone.”
" Damme sir, but it sounded like a thirty-two pounder.”
“Aye, that it did, Mr. Hazard.”
Then she was visible again. A gunboat with one large gun mounted high on her bow. She had a lug sail and four sets of sweeps to maneuver her with when there was no wind. The marines were quick into action pouring round after round from their muskets and SeaWolf’s swivel guns into the smaller boat from their places in the rigging before she disappeared into the heavy fog bank. Then a flash of light, somebody set off a flare. Was it Earl on Le Frelon or the privateers?
“Makes no difference,” Gabe thought, as in that one burst of light he saw what looked like six or more sets of sails dead ahead. Firing was sporadic and if anything was being hit it was not obvious yet. He felt suddenly queasy thinking what that thirty-two pounder would do to Swan if she were hit. Then a thunderous roar and flashes to starboard.
“That was Earl, I’m sure,” Lavery said, his voice suddenly excited and high pitched.
“What was he firing at? Another gunboat? The ships ahead were not yet in range.”
Meanwhile aboard SeaWolf with still no visible target, the gun crews sat at their stations, restless and uncomfortable now that the north wind was gathering in force.
“Fog will be gone quick like,” the master proclaimed but that did nothing for the men as they shuffled and shivered, damp from the fog and cold from the wind. Gabe wished he hadn’t ordered the galley fires out; a warm cup of coffee would have lifted their spirits if nothing else.
It was like holes in the sky as the sun was finally able to punch its way through the clouds. “Maybe we can see now, sir,” the first lieutenant volunteered.
“And pray we be truly thankful for that which we are about to see,” Gabe replied sarcastically but was suddenly sorry for his words. “My apologies, Mr. Hazard, I’m foul company this morning I fear.”
Another patch of fog rolled across the waves and with its passing the sky was almost clear. And with the clear sky the glimpse of sails Gabe had seen earlier, they were dead ahead and stretched across the horizon.
The lookout was calling down, “Six…no…seven sets of sails, sir and one’s a frigate.”
“What about the damn gunboats?” Gabe called.
“No sign, sir.”
“We’ll have to tack soon,” Hazard volunteered, “The master has stated the sooner the better.”
A number of smaller islands were now visible from the masthead and just beyond them a larger island, Grand Manan. Their present tack would take them dangerously close to those smaller islands.
“If it ain’t the privateers, it is shoals and rocks,” the master declared.
“Signal from Le Frelon, sir, engage enemy, single action.”
“Damned cheeky of Earl if you ask me.” Turning Gabe was face to face with Caleb, “Thinks he’s a commodore no doubt.”
Gabe had to smile, “Come to grab a bit of fresh sea sir before the excitement starts?”
“Aye,” Caleb replied, and then asked, “What does Earl mean single action?”
“We’ll break through the enemy’s lines as a group then it’s every man or every ship for himself.”
“Did I hear the lookout say one was a frigate?”
“That you did, my friend, but it’s a small one, twenty-eight or thirty-two guns I’m sure, not a forty-four like Drakkar.”
“Deck there, the frigate has fired but ain’t yet found the range.”
Caleb looked at hi
s friend, “Have a care and no heroics today. Your word.”
Grasping Caleb’s hand Gabe replied, “My word.”
“Liar,” Caleb responded then made his way below to recheck everything he’d already checked and make sure his mates were sober.
***
“Earl will have his hands full today,” Hazard volunteered. He had gotten to know the man well during his temporary command of SeaWolf. “A very confident seaman and brave man. May God and luck be with him this day.”
“Aye,” Lavery answered. He too liked Earl and was concerned about his having to face a thirty-two gun frigate with a twenty gun corvette.
“Not worried about the odds are you Mr. Lavery?” Blake, the master asked.
“Who wouldn’t be ,” Lavery responded matter of factly. “A schooner, a ketch, a brigantine, and a corvette against God knows what.”
Overhearing the two lieutenants’ conversation Gabe didn’t speak out but felt the same apprehension. It had sounded like the best plan available back in Warrior’s wardroom…but now. Well now, the plan was in effect and that was all there was to it.
“Shall I go aloft?” Dagan asked. He knew Gabe needed him at the masthead but seemed reluctant to order it.
“Yes , let me know what we are facing, a true picture.”
The lookout moved over as Dagan made his way onto the platform. A quick scan of three-hundred sixty degrees then Dagan settled his attention to the sails ahead. After scanning the horizon again, Dagan called down his report.