The Threat in the West Indies (The Merriman Chronicles Book 4)

by Roger Burnage

  “Fine body of men you have Captain and now I must go back to my flagship. I thank you for an excellent and interesting meal and fine wine. It was a pleasure to meet you all Gentlemen and you Midshipman Oakley, thank you for giving up your chair. Goodbye Gentlemen,”

  Once the Admiral had departed everyone seemed to relax. Little Oakley still sat in amazement; an Admiral had spoken to him and even knew his name. What a tale he would have to tell his family. “Peters! More wine for everybody or brandy if they prefer but don't wake Mr. Cuthbert, he is fast asleep.” Asleep he really was and Merriman was reminded of the Christmas feasts at home and the rubicund Parson who always fell asleep at the table, not unusual in that age of excessive eating and drinking.

  Merriman himself was beginning to find his eyes closing when a cough and a shuffling of feet behind him swiftly woke him up. “The men want to speak to you Sir, if you'll allow it,” said Owen. Merriman turned to find the whole crew standing quietly behind him. Merriman nodded and the ship's bos'n stepped forward, “Sir,” he said, “the crew have elected me to speak for them. They want to thank you for all this food and wine you have arranged for them and they wish you to accept this gift Sir, Jones Two, forward.”

  The marine stepped forward and gave Merriman a small polished wooden box with his name engraved on the top of the lid. 'Captain Merryman'. He had to smile; his name had been spelt incorrectly. Opening it he found a beautifully made piece of scrimshaw work, A piece of bone carved and etched on one side to represent a cannon complete in every detail, and on the other side a ship in full sail, all the cuts picked out with lamp black he supposed. Merriman was taken aback as the crew cheered him and the officers applauded. He stood up, “Men, I thank you all for this gift. I am pleased and flattered that you should think of it and I know that some of you must have spent hours carving it. When I get home it will stand proudly on my desk. Again I thank you all.” Another cheer and Merriman asked for the cook and his helpers to come forward. They stood in front of him, nervously but he merely congratulated them and thanked them for their efforts and gave them all a drink of brandy. Normally at that time the servants and lower orders were treated as cattle, but Merriman's gesture had a big effect on the crew.

  By that time darkness had almost fallen and the few lanterns the ship possessed were hung from the rigging to light up the deck and the men produced the various bits of decoration they had made. There were bows and tassels of bits of coloured cloth and there were many small figures of children or dolls made from teased out oakum. These last probably made to remind men of the families they had left behind. A man produced a fiddle and began to play various melodies, sad ones that the crew listened to, some of them visibly moved at tunes that reminded them of home and all joining in to sing the usual sailor's songs. A young sailor began to sing of home and Merriman saw Oakley brush a surreptitious tear off his cheek, even Mr. Cuthbert had to sniff, clear his throat and blow his nose.

  Merriman looked them over, his men, from different backgrounds, hard and rough, but his men nevertheless. He was proud of them. Two sailors danced a hornpipe to the cheers of the others. He left the deck and turned into his cot, asleep almost immediately, never feeling Peters removing his shoes.

  Chapter 38 - Off to Martinique

  The morning after the feast Merriman was drifting off in that delightful stage between dozing and being fully awake when he smelled coffee. He opened an eye to see Peters carrying a large jug of freshly brewed coffee and at the same time he became aware of the muffled curses of the warrant officers driving the men to work and some bumps and bangs as his table and chairs were carried down from the quarter deck into his cabin.

  “Thank you Peters, that is most welcome.” “Your breakfast is ready sir, some nice slices of chicken and a piece of pork, shall I bring it Sir?” asked Peters. Yes, right away and then you can shave me and put out some clean clothes for me,” replied the now fully awake Merriman.

  When he finally was ready and wearing his best uniform and sword, he ascended the companion ladder to the deck. Lieutenants Laing and Andrews saluted him and apologised if the noise had wakened him. “Not at all Gentlemen, thank you. I'm pleased to see that most of the evidence of yesterday's festivity has disappeared.”

  “Yes Sir, we turned the men to at the first sign of daylight, the mess tables and benches are all back below, the decorations and empty bottles thrown overboard and the men have almost finished with clearing and cleaning the deck.” Indeed some of the men were still on their hands and knees busily scrubbing and using holystone to return the deck to its pristine whiteness. True, some of them wobbled a bit and had bloodshot eyes, but there was no sign of drunkenness.

  “I'm pleased Gentlemen, to see the ship back to its usual condition. Tell me, were there any incidents happening last night that I should be aware of?” “Nothing serious Sir, one or two men had a bit too much to drink but their mates carried them below and lashed them into their hammocks. They were desperate not to let you down after all you had done for them.”

  “Very good Mr. Laing, Will you tell them I want to see them in their divisions on deck at midday, all clean and respectable before I inspect the ship. Then they can assume the normal duties. I think another spell at sea will blow the cobwebs away and get the men to remember why they are here. I am going ashore now to see the Admiral for permission to sail.” He had already told his cox'n Owen and his gig was already alongside, ready to take him ashore to see Admiral Howarth.

  “Well Captain, how are your ship and men this morning? A few thick heads I'll warrant.” “Yes Sir but the men have been hard at work from daylight and the ship is clean again and no sign of the festivities to be seen. Ready for inspection if you care to see Sir.”

  “I don't think I need to Captain, but tell me, were none of the men drunk and out of control?” “One or two were Sir, but their mates quickly took them below and lashed them in their hammocks. You see Sir I had threatened them with severe punishment if things got too bad. Everybody was well fed and had plenty to drink but they heeded my warning. And Now Sir, the main reason I am here is to ask your permission to leave harbour tomorrow morning so that I can put my crew through enough exercises to be sure they are still as good as they were before we came here Sir. Two or three days at the most should do if,”

  “Permission granted Captain, it is a capital idea and thank you again for that wonderful meal we had. How your cook and his helpers managed it all I don't know but it was far better than my cook could serve up.” “Thank you Sir, I don't know either but I didn't dare ask.”

  Merriman returned to Aphrodite, carried out his promised inspection, made known his approval and then informed his officers that the ship would sail at dawn on the next day. Thus it was that the ship spent a fruitful three days at sea with the officers putting the men through all that they knew, starting them shortening sail then a few minutes later before that was done, Merriman changed his mind and ordered them to do something else. The men practised lowering yards and then swaying them up again, changing the tiller ropes in case they were damaged. He had the marine drummer beat to quarters for battle and the guns loaded but unshotted, then fired. This practise was repeated and repeated and then he had the men prepare for what to do if one or two of the gun crews were killed. He had several men carried below all at once, supposedly injured so that McBride the surgeon could practise with his helpers what they would have to do when the real thing happened. In the middle of all that he ordered course changes repeatedly.

  He worked them hard, both day and night giving them only short breaks for food of which there was still plenty. On the morning of the third day Merriman had them all practise moving the guns round from side to side with all men including the officers sweating hard and he standing there with his timepiece in hand until he announced himself satisfied.

  Lieutenant Laing said “I had no idea how far the men had fallen behind their usual times for carrying out the orders Sir, but I'm pleased to report that they are now a
s good as or even better than before. Some of the men were grumbling but I heard the bos'n sharply reminding them that all the work might save their lives one day.”

  No sooner had Aphrodite dropped anchor in the afternoon of that third day, when Shrigley the signals Midshipman shouted out “Signal from Flag Sir. Our number, Captain to report to Flag immediately.” It was expected and Merriman was ready in his best uniform to go to the Flagship. Admiral Howarth greeted him warmly, offered a drink and then asked if the last three days had been successful.

  “Oh yes Sir, no doubt about it, when we left here I could see that some of the men needed sharpening up a bit but I worked them hard and I'm happy to say that now they are as good as ever,” replied Merriman. “Glad to hear it Captain. Our orders have arrived from General Grey and Admiral Jervis in Barbados. Both his fleet and his transport vessels are to meet ours west of Martinique on the fourth of next month prepared to start the assault at dawn on the fifth. We are to carry his reinforcements so fifty men of the 22nd regiment will join you and you must practise getting them ashore and back by boat, regardless of the state of the sea.. The other ships are doing the same as we speak. The troops will sleep ashore until we move out for Martinique. Is that all clear? Good, here are your written orders.”

  Once again Merriman called his officers to his cabin to tell them what the orders entailed. Plenty of practise would be needed to get clumsy soldiers in and out of the boats, which most of them would not have done before. “I bet some of them fall in” said Andrews with a grin on his face. “Very likely David, so men must be ready to fish them out,” answered Merriman.

  In the event the practise went well, only two soldiers fell out of the boats and were dragged back aboard soaking wet, embarrassed and the butt of the other men's ribald jokes.

  Chapter 39 - The attack on Martinique

  On the morning of the fifth of January, the action was opened by the two deck seventy-fours and the bigger three deck ships opening a barrage on all the forts and batteries they could see above the carefully picked places where the troops would land. That didn't take long and French soldiers could be seen running for their lives as the fortifications tumbled around them. The British soldiers were quickly put on shore where they wasted no time in dealing with French stragglers. General Grey and two thousand five hundred of his men landed at the southern end of the island west of St Luce and advanced over difficult and mountainous roads to a place called Rivière-Salée.

  Two other almost unopposed landings were made at the same time at the bay of Galion in the north east and also north of Fort Royal Bay in the west. General Grey dispatched men to attack the batteries on Cape Solomon and Point Bourges from the rear. That was carried out almost bloodlessly, the French putting up only a feeble defence. It was not long before the three sets of attacking troops had almost encircled the island's capital Fort Royal and the commanders could see the next forts to be assaulted.

  The two big forts, Fort royal and Bourbon were situated to command the harbour and its approaches and would not be so easily taken. Both were strongly built and well garrisoned so batteries were erected against them and the town of Port Royal. Eventually both were taken by direct and bloody attack at the point of the bayonet and the commandant and the town capitulated.

  While all that was going on Merriman and Aphrodite were carrying out their orders, assisting in putting men and the supplies the army needed ashore. They took no part in any fighting and grumbles were heard that they weren't allowed to fight. However, once the fighting ceased, British ships anchored in the harbour including the Aphrodite and Grahame and his uncle went ashore with a guard of marines and, seated in a small commandeered cart set off for the Grahame estate. It was in a mess, the buildings burned and the sugar crushing mill so badly damaged as to need a total rebuilding. “It's no good Laurence,” said the older man, “I can't afford to buy more slaves to rebuild it although I don't think I have the energy to tackle it if I had. I have been thinking hard about what I can do and if you could arrange it I think I would like to go back to England, there may be some family there. But before we go I must find your Aunt Rachael's grave, and see what state it is in. It's over there beneath that big tree.” The site was completely overgrown and Grahame had to ask the marines to use their bayonets to clear a path. The two men stood in silence looking at the destruction. What had been a neat and tidy grave was as much of a mess as the house. The headstone once in the shape of a cross had been thrown on its back and smashed into fragments.

  “What kind of people would do this?” asked the older man brokenly. “I don't know Uncle but we can't do anything about it now. Hello, here's a piece of the stone with the name Rachael on it on it, you could keep that if you like.” The old man nodded and fell to his knees in prayer beside the ruined grave. Grahame and the marines waited patiently until he had finished and then lifted him to his feet. “I think we should go now Uncle. I'll take you and the stone back to the ship where you can rest.” In the cart drawn by the half-starved horse the old man finally broke down and simply sat there with tears rolling down his face. “We were so happy here once Laurence and now it's all gone except the memories.” He brightened a little, “At least I still have those.”

  Back at the ship some of the marines took the man aboard and told Merriman what had happened. “Better take him down to Mr. McBride men, he will look after him. Where is Mr. Grahame now?” He asked. “He took the cart an' three of us as a guard and set off to see if he could find any of 'is agents Sir, 'e didn't say how long 'e would be Sir,” said one of the men. “I see, anyway thank you for bringing Mr. Grahame back.”

  Grahame and his guard didn't appear until after dark and came back aboard. “It's no good James; I couldn't find any of the people I knew although I was told that three of them had been shot by the French.”

  Peters suddenly appeared with a jug of steaming coffee and two mugs. “Peters, you are a life saver, I needed this. The marines and I haven't eaten all day and I'm famished. Could some food be found for us?” Merriman nodded and Peters disappeared.

  Chapter 40 - News from home

  Over the next six or eight weeks, St Lucia and Guadeloupe were taken by General Grey's forces with almost complete success. St Lucia was taken quickly thanks in a large part to the information supplied be Grahame and his agent Briggs who had died to get it. Guadeloupe took longer as no information about the French defences had been obtained. In the harbours there more privateers were found, mostly short of replacement rope and canvas and they were burned except for two of the best which the navy took as prizes.

  In all cases after the attacks Grahame had to be taken round the islands to try and find any of his agents who may still be alive. But it was a fruitless task, only one or two were found and they wanted no more to do with the business. In Merriman's cabin Grahame almost stamped his feet in frustration and annoyance. “It's no good James, I shall have to start all over again to find suitable people and that could take months or more.”

  And so began weeks sailing round the recently captured islands and most of the other islands still occupied by either French or Spanish forces. This of course involved night landings by Grahame with Aphrodite dropping him ashore and picking him up again one or two or even more days later. The quest continued for months broken only by the ship returning to Antigua or Barbados for supplies of food and water. In Jamaica they picked up Grahame's uncle who was very relieved to be back on board.

  During all this time Grahame became more and more exhausted and ill and refused to eat until Merriman stepped in and refused to take him anywhere else until he had recovered. Of course he objected, but as Merriman said, “You are worn out Sir. Your efforts have so far have had no success and I don't want to have to report to Lord Stevenage that I had to bury you at sea.”

  Grahame reluctantly acquiesced and they returned yet again to Antigua. Here they found out that the Naval Postal Service had caught up with them bringing orders and letters for both of them and also lett
ers for the officers and a surprising number for the crew. Eagerly, Merriman opened his letters. Two from his father recording family affairs and two more from his bride in waiting, Helen. He read them all time and time again, She told him how much she missed him and longed for his return. Her father Doctor Simpson was well and sent his regards, and after all the trivia she told him how much she loved him and that she was longing for his embrace. The letter finished with more endearments which he certainly wanted no one else to read.

  He strode about the deck smiling from ear to ear while his men grinned and whispered to each other, “Captains 'ad good news likely an' good luck to 'im.” The mood of the whole ship lightened, men were in odd corners reading their letters but inevitably some men had none and they wandered round with long faces.

  Grahame came on deck to find Merriman, saying “James, I have orders to go up the east coast of America and to Washington to find out the mood of the people after Independence and if possible to learn something about any of their Government plans which might affect England. On the way we must call in at as many ports as we can looking for privateers. The American Government has banned French and Spanish privateers from its ports but we are to find out if that ban is really working.”

  “Very well Sir, I look forward to finding cooler weather up north.”

  Homeward bound

  From here the narrative must be somewhat sketchy. As noted in the foreword to this book, many of the Merriman papers and letters had been destroyed by damp and vermin and try as we did little more could be learned. But it seems that the ship moved north ending up near Boston. Grahame was ordered home and left the ship to report to the Treasury and said he would be back, but Merriman was left behind because he had no orders to take Grahame home. By then he had been away from home for over three years.