On the King's Sea Service: A John Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 1)

by Richard Testrake

  The launch crew was told to take the items brought from the warehouses and take them to the ship. On return, Phillips ordered the longboat brought along too. When the boats returned, Mister Burns accompanied then. He reported most of the men drafted from the ship earlier in the summer had found their way back and accommodations were now very cramped, what with the incorporation of the rescued slaves into the frigate’s crew.

  Phillips had promised passage to hundreds of Toulon citizens, who would surely lose their heads if left behind. Looking around in the gathering dusk, his eyes were drawn to the collection of French naval vessels anchored a few cables length away.

  “Mister Burns. I want a ship fit to carry as many people as possible away from here. Investigate that French third rate to port. Take some men there with you to look her over. I want a ship that will float as far as Gibraltar. I’m not concerned about armament. She must be rigged and capable of sailing. We have enough stores on board the Vigorous to give her necessary rations and water if necessary. Take the launch and some men and report back as soon as possible. I’ll be on the frigate.”

  It was dark when the launch hooked on and Burns came through the entry port. His uniform was covered with dirt and filth, but he reported the big liner was capable of swimming. “Her upper guns have been removed, but she still has all her lower deck guns. Twenty eight big 36 pounder guns.”

  “The ship’s been more or less abandoned in the harbor for weeks, ever since her crew left. She still has some stores aboard, but from what I saw, it was mostly of poor quality. Her rigging was intact, but the standing rigging was slack and her sticks are liable to go by the board soon if her stays and shrouds are not looked to. She has a suit of sails, but some are in a sad state. She has some old canvas below deck, but we didn’t take the time to look at it.”

  “She has her water tuns aboard, some of them full. I drew some water from the scuttle butt and it was old and brown, but drinkable if one is thirsty enough. As I see it, her biggest problem is, she leaks. She has been taking on water and nobody has pumped her out. If she doesn’t get that water out of her, she’s going to sink at her moorings.”

  “Very well, Mister Burns. Which of our officers would you recommend be appointed prize master? One who is capable of sailing her to Gibraltar, or maybe England?”

  Burns responded, “Myself sir. I am most familiar with her. I have been all over her. I can start making her ready to sail immediately, given a crew, of course.”

  “Mister Burns, you will select a crew immediately. Take fifty men with you to get her ready. I want to start sending Toulon citizens aboard. You may draft any males to do any unskilled work aboard ship that they may do; pumping ship for one. Get some good men in the rigging and set her to rights. I expect the Republican forces to enter the city at any moment. If an emergency arises, slip your cable and take her out to sea. Make sure you get necessary charts from Mister Avery. As far as that goes, select a master’s mate to take with you. Before you leave the ship, notify the second officer that he is now premier and ask him now to see me.”

  Lieutenant Harkins reported to his captain a moment later. “Mister Harkins, you were told you are now first officer?”

  “Yes sir, Lieutenant Burns told me.”

  “For the nonce, Mr. Mullins may regard himself as temporary, acting third officer. I realize he is much too young and has not passed his Board, but we have no one better.”

  “He has seen more action than some others and has not embarrassed himself or the ship. Would you please give him the news? I am now going back on shore in the launch. I wish Mullins to join me in the cutter. I will be sending French refugees out to both ships, the Vigorous and the French 74 that Lieutenant Burns is preparing. I had better have a file of Marines with me on shore.”

  “Explain the problem with Captain Jones. Perhaps he may wish to send some leathernecks to the 74, also. Probably, it would be advisable for one Marine officer to remain on the Vigorous and station the other on the liner. There may soon be over a thousand refugees aboard that ship. Finally, I will be sending refugees here. If the crowding becomes intolerable, send the excess over to the other ship.”

  The mass of people on shore was almost overwhelming. The Marines there were making a supreme effort to control the mass. Most of the people that had helped move stores from the warehouses, were already aboard ship, but many more were inside the main barricade, but behind a secondary one that had been erected to help control the crowd.

  The Marines Phillips brought with him joined their comrades and tried to bring order. Phillips, with some effort, managed to climb up on a cask standing on end, near the barricade. He motioned Mullins to climb up on another close beside. The group that had assisted him deliver the materials from the warehouses had swelled by several times, with their families. He asked Mullins to translate for him.

  “Silence please.” After a few minutes the shouting and screaming subsided. “Citizens of Toulon, many of you helped me carry supplies for my ship. I promised those people I would help them escape.”

  The screaming and shouting ensued again. Waiting until it died down, Phillips again spoke and Mullins translated, “Citizens of Toulon, I will try to take away as many of you as I can.” Before the noise could erupt again, he held up his hand. “There is some need for haste, for it is likely that Republican forces may enter the city at any time.” His voice was emphasized by a crescendo of artillery fire. The gunfire had become ubiquitous for days now, but had greatly increased in recent hours.

  “Citizens, I have much to say and little time to say it. I assume those people who keep interrupting me do not wish to board ship, so those people should now leave.” Shocked citizens began crying and shouting “Non, Non.”, before other members of the crowd began elbowing them.”

  “Those persons inside the barricade have helped us carry supplies, so they and their families will begin loading now. Any persons wishing to fight or cause trouble will be escorted from the area by my men or shot, whichever seems best. If the crowd is not able to control itself, we will simply leave you all here on the quay.”

  There was a dead silence as the crowd digested this information. The Marines began escorting civilians into the boats. When the cutter filled, the launch took its place. He asked the midshipman commanding the cutter to take it to the Vigorous and ask the deck officer to send the jolly boat, also. Speaking to the crowd again, Phillips informed them that they would be loading in two large ships. Both would travel to the same destination and families should not be concerned should they be separated.

  The jolly boat came from the Vigorous with the return of the cutter. The launch returned from the 74 with a towed launch behind it. The cox’n reported the 74, whose name was discovered to be “Franklin” carried her full allotment of boats. This one had been lowered, but there were at present no extra crewmen who could man the oars. Phillips asked from his perch, “Are there any people present who will row this boat? We have not enough British sailors to do this.”

  Immediately, a half dozen men moved forward. Two sturdily built women followed. With more or less dexterity the eight lowered themselves into the boat and refugees began following. As the boat moved toward the Franklin, it was immediately obvious that some of the oarsmen were not as skilled as they thought themselves to be. The boat did make its way to the Franklin and returned to the dock at the cost of many crabs. The people there cheered when it started taking on board its next load.

  Other boats from the fleet began also ferrying refugees out into other ships and by late morning, the crowd had greatly diminished. A French-crewed fishing boat pulled in and also began loading people. Around the harbor, there were still multitudes of people waiting on shore, but those along the quay near the frigate and the Franklin had melted away. Climbing into the jolly boat, with a few last refugees, Phillips had himself rowed over to the Franklin. No crew members saw him come aboard, because, Phillips judged, the crew was overwhelmed with all the refugees arriving.

&n
bsp; Burns rushed up and apologized for not manning the side for him, but the captain brushed him off. The deck was crammed with humanity, but he could see men in the rigging setting it right. A bundle of canvas was climbing the foremast, obviously intended to be a replacement fore topsail.

  Asked about the state of the hull, Burns replied the water in the well had dropped a foot since they started pumping. Passengers had been told the importance of the pumps and were lined up to take the place of exhausted people. Hundreds of women were on the ship with their children and the various men in their families. Many of course were from the higher social classes, many who recoiled at doing hard, physical work, as did some men, but others were of the sturdier sort who put many men to shame at the pumps. The stinking bilge water was pumped on deck, where it ran out the scuppers.

  Phillips advised Burns to send people around to query passengers to find if any had any seagoing or military experience before descending into the jolly boat to row back to Vigorous. This ship was as jammed with people as Franklin. Mister Harkins had seen the boat approaching and producing the requisite side boys, welcomed Phillips on board ship with a ‘hat off’ salute with twittering bosun’s pipes.

  Asked if they could crowd any more people on board, Harkins shook his head. “I don’t know how we are going to manage with the ones we have now. Once we get to sea, most of our passengers are going to be sick. It is going to be a sight, on deck and below.”

  Phillips informed Harkins he was going to visit the flag. He said he had too much to say to try to signal. The cutter was tied up at the bow, her crew resting on the oars. Dropping back to the entry port, Phillips gingerly climbed down the slippery battens. “One of these days, I am going to slip and break my neck” he thought.

  Climbing the side of the big first rate, the HMS Victory, Phillips was met by the curious flag captain, who escorted him to his cabin and offered him his choice of Bordeaux or brandy. Accepting the brandy, he swirled the spirit in the glass, warming the liquid with the warmth of his hand. “What can I do for you, Captain?” asked the flag captain.

  “Sir, I took it upon myself to load hundreds of French civilians aboard my frigate. I also used fifty of my men to man a 74 gun liner, the Franklin. I then loaded several thousand civilians aboard her. With limited provisions, I would like to ask permission to set sail for a British port as soon as I may.”

  “My, Captain Phillips. No one could say you have no initiative. Most captains would not dare assume so much responsibility without asking first.”

  “Sir, I did not want to bother Admiral Hood, with all the responsibilities he has. The civilians were desperate and I hated to deny them. Besides I believe I recall the admiral advising me to rescue what civilians I could. Would you like me to send them ashore? The flag captain grimaced. “No, Phillips, you have merely anticipated the Admiral’s orders. Many ships are already loaded down and will be ordered out soon. Formal, written orders will be issued to captains who have not already done so. Tell me about the Franklin. My staff thought her too low in the water to sail. We had thought to burn her, with the majority of the Toulon fleet.”

  “Sir, I think she will do. She was low, but that was because she has been abandoned for weeks and needed to be pumped out. The civilian passengers on board are pumping her out in relays. She has already risen a foot, even with all the refugees we have loaded aboard.”

  “What about weapons, I think she had all her guns removed when she came in the inner harbor. Is that right?”

  “Not quite, sir. All her upper deck guns are gone, but she still has all the lower deck weapons. Twenty eight guns, all thirty six pounders.”

  “Ammunition, Captain Phillips?”

  “A problem there, sir. I have perhaps fifty rusty balls aboard. No grape or bar shot. Enough powder in casks to make cartridges for that many shot.”

  “Yes, I think that should suffice. Have you enough people to man those guns?”

  “No sir, I have fifty of my crew aboard her to sail the ship. I have just enough people aboard my frigate to fight her, although they will be thin on the deck.”

  “Hmm, I do believe I could spare, say thirty men for you. Many of them gunners. . Can you fill out the remainder of the gun crews using refugees?”

  “I believe I can at least make some noise at anyone that attempts to bother us.”

  The flag captain scribbled out a note and gave it to him. “Hand that to the watch officer on deck. He will get you your men. You should put to sea as soon as you can. I would strongly recommend you go through your refugees and find any able bodied male who looks like he could serve on a gun crew. Drill them ‘till they drop.

  I suspect the enemy is mobilizing all of the naval force they can muster. Should you encounter any French warships of force, you may be able to make a fight of it. Remember, if you were to haul down your flag to the enemy, all of your refugees will have an appointment to the guillotine.”

  After getting the new men carried over to the Franklin, Phillips was forced to send over the extra hammocks that some of his men had ‘forgotten’ to turn in to the Impress Service back in Portsmouth.

  There were no hammocks aboard the Franklin, so these, plus the ones already issued to the men transferred from Vigorous would serve. For the refugees, of course, there was no bedding of any kind available.

  Burns appointed some authoritative appearing refugees into deck petty officers, who had the task of assigning areas of the deck for passengers to sleep. Some were upset about the arrangements, but Mullins assured them that any not satisfied would be rowed back to the shore where they could plead their case with the new Republican authorities.”

  When all the necessary tasks were finished, both ships, with the permission of the flag, slipped their mooring cables and put to sea.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Refugees

  Captain John Phillips had sailed in colder waters than the December 1793 waters of the western Mediterranean, but many of his passengers had not. The HMS Vigorous was laden with every human being he could cram aboard, refugees of the evacuation of Toulon. Those people ‘tween decks were kept relatively warm by the animal heat generated by so many bodies. Many however, simply were not able to find a space below.

  These were accommodated by a space on deck, slightly protected by a wrapping of old canvas furnished by the sail maker, serving as blankets. The quarterdeck was kept clear, this being the domain of the officer of the watch. At the present time, this was Acting Lieutenant Mullins, a young man who had just turned seventeen. A crowd of refugees had collected on the fore deck, all huddled together from the cold.

  Slightly separate from these people was Sarah Forsythe. She was an anomaly. Her father had been Lieutenant Forsythe, a Royal Navy officer. Her mother was a French native who had married Forsythe two decades ago. After the father was lost at sea near the end of the American war, Sarah was taken back to France at the age of ten to be near her extended family.

  The mother had gone into keeping with an elderly gentleman with some pretensions of nobility. The girl had an idyllic life for a few years until the Terror came along. Abandoning their home, the family became transient, eventually ending up in a town near Toulon. Sarah’s mother had the vision of somehow getting to sea and travelling to Britain, where she was still a citizen.

  The family’s dreams ended when another refugee denounced them as royalists in a vain attempt to receive mercy herself. When the mob came, Sarah had been out scavenging for scraps of food and any potential articles of value behind some shops. She escaped, while her mother and stepfamily were dragged off and she never saw them again.

  Another person was right beside Sarah on the deck, Pierre Legrand. This person fancied himself a scion of gentility since his grandfather was the bastard son of a baron, so said the rumor anyway. LeGrand had cultivated the diction and the style of his supposed ancestors. Before the Terror, he had often able to convince a maid or serving girl that he was indeed a member of the upper classes and thus a potentia
l way out of the disaster of that woman’s life.

  Since the advent of the Terror though, he had been forced to suspend the boasts of his ancestry and try to plan how to keep his head on his shoulders. He had somehow made his way to the deck of a British ship of war. He knew the British had the proper reverence of those of noble birth. With some luck, he might be able to parley the rumors of his ancestry into seeming fact.

  In the meantime though, he was cold and the ragged young woman next to him was not doing her part. Every time he tried to share warmth with her, she edged away. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he reached for her and got a handful of the decayed fabric she wore, which tore away. Eyeing the exposed skin, he decided he had a better idea of warming himself. As she whimpered and yelped, he rolled over on top of her. People trying to sleep around them ignored the pair. Sometimes, it was often not wise to notice too many events.

  Forsythe wriggled and fought as the man above her tried to accomplish his mission. He would have too, had not Acting Lieutenant Mullins on the quarterdeck seen the struggle.

  Normally, lieutenants, when armed, carried a sword. In the circumstances, Captain Phillips had ordered all officers and petty officers to carry arms while on duty. Mullin though, until yesterday, had been a midshipman, armed with a short bladed dirk. He had not had the opportunity since to arm himself with a proper weapon, but was prepared to do his duty with what he had.

  Hurrying over to the struggling couple, he considered his options. Realizing the man attempting rape was twice his size, the youth drew the dirk and stabbed down into a heaving buttock.

  Legrand jumped to his feet with a roar, but a full grown Marine who had followed Mullins from the quarterdeck, offered to pin the fellow to the foremast with his bayonet. The seamen on watch were there now with line to bind the man up in a cocoon.

  When Mister Harkins came to interview the prisoner, Legrand immediately went into his standard spiel, explaining he was of the French nobility and they had different standards than the peasantry.