The small British ship had imposed surprising punishment upon her larger adversary. A gaping cavity showed in the enemy frigate’s stern where her opponent had raked her. Her tottering mizzen showed signs of going by the board very soon. Just as soon as his ships’ guns would bear, Mullins ordered them to fire. The smashing broadside showed immediate results as the enemy ship had her port beam beaten in.
Only one more broadside was necessary to see the tricolor come down. The enemy’s mizzen also took this moment to fall and the drifting ships were now coming within range of the shore batteries. Unable to sail, the enemy frigate was drifting down toward the battery. Seeing no opportunity to take possession of the prize, Mullins sent Mister Heyward over with Mister Broadhurst to inform the enemy crew to make for shore in their own boats.
In the confusion of the evacuating French crew, Heyward was able to make his way to the ship’s magazine. The flooding ship had already ruined much of the powder in that magazine, but the first officer found a little powder in the upper tiers of the magazine that he thought was still dry enough to take fire. When they made their way to the quarterdeck, Midshipman Broadhurst told the captain in fluent French a burning match was now making its way toward the powder.
The enemy captain was not certain he believed this story and told some men to seize these Britons and take them to shore with the evacuating crew members. He was likely thinking of the charges that might be filed against him for losing his ship. Perhaps he thought the seizure of the British prize crew might somehow mitigate his surrender.
Panic had taken hold aboard the broken frigate when some of the French crew had overheard Mister Broadhurst’s discussion with their captain, and the two were able to get away from theit erstwhile captors and slide down into their own waiting boat, almost filled now with frantic French crew members. The boat keeper left behind to watch over the boat was armed with a short-barreled musketoon, while none of the panicking refugees from the frigate were armed with anything more deadly than seamen’s knives, This man kept the panicked enemy crewmen from taking over the boat.
The main charge aboard the stricken enemy exploded while Mister Heyward and his crew were climbing aboard Vigilant with the Frenchmen. The effect could have been disastrous for ship and crew, except that much of the French powder was wet and did not ignite properly. There was only a slow, low-order explosion, not the violent explosion that might have finished off the nearby British frigate as well as the French. Most of the crew remaining on the destroyed frigate, as well as the enemy captain were lost.
Chapter Fourteen
HMS Vigilant was patrolling off the approaches to Brest. In bad weather, this could be a difficult station, especially close in to shore. On this fine autumn day though, with a light westerly breeze off the Brittany shore, there was little to fear.
The frigate’s purpose for being here was to keep an eye on Brest’s vast harbor, but any recent news of activities on shore would also be welcome. To this end, Vigilant approached a group of fishing boats that were hurriedly pulling in their nets. The ships of the blockade had orders not to interfere with any civilian fishermen, but these boat captains were taking no chances. As each got his net aboard, the boats immediately made for the shore.
When Mullins saw the crew of the last boat delayed in getting its heavy catch aboard, he ordered his tops’ls backed, while the fishermen prepared to cut the net away. When the fishermen saw the frigate slow, then veer away, they abandoned their preparations to cut away their net and began again to haul their catch.
Mullins called to Midshipman Broadhurst who was standing beside the officer of the deck at the lee quarterdeck rail. The captain informed the mid of his wish to secure any information of military or naval activities. The mid was given the jolly-boat and told to approach the fishing boat without alarming her crew. He was to offer to purchase some of their catch and invite the crew aboard the frigate.
Broadhurst spent a lengthy amount of time in the lee of the fisherman, explaining what he was about. These people spoke the Breton dialect, which Broadhurst had great trouble understanding. Eventually, a pair of fishermen got into their own boat and pulled it over to Vigilant. One of them hailed the quarterdeck in Breton, apparently wanting to know how much of his catch was required.
Not understanding a word the man said, Mullins pulled out his purse and dropped two silver shillings into the boat. After the boatmen retrieved the loose coins, they nodded in satisfaction and filled a basket with fish, which one of Vigilant’s hands pulled up on a line. Then, one of the fishermen pulled a lobster from a bucket and showed it to Mullins.
Mullins tossed another shilling into the boat, after which the boatmen found another lobster to send up with the first. By this time, the jolly boat had closed on the ship and Mullins asked Broadhurst to invite the fishermen aboard for a drink, there was some confusion at first, but when the English word ‘rum’ was mentioned, both hands scrambled aboard.
Little was learned that first day, but they were able to inform the fishermen they would be frequently on this coast and would be glad to purchase fish and lobsters, perhaps some wine also.
It was a week before these fishermen were encountered again. With no hesitation this time, the boat came alongside and a basket of fish and a half-dozen lobsters were handed up. One of the boatmen had brought his nephew along. This lad, as Broadhurst soon discovered, had attended a school where Parisian French was insisted upon. With better communication, it was conveyed to the fishermen that news from shore was of value and would be paid for.
The older of the fishermen, who Mullins learned was the boat’s owner, grunted, as though satisfied with his suspicions of these Englishmen being spies were confirmed.
Vigilant rendezvoused with the fishing boat several more times that autumn. Once, there was a stranger aboard. A young man of military age, wearing rough clothing, Mullins knew at once he was no fishermen. His hand when he took it was smooth, with no sign of the damage hard work would cause. This man was intensely curious about the ship and peered at anything he was allowed to see. From the frightened glances of the boatmen, Mullins suspected this man was either a military or naval intelligence officer.
As had become usual in their meetings, a bundle of newspapers was passed up, along with the usual fish. Mullins was tempted to seize the man and send him below, but demurred when thinking about the possible consequences to his mission. Without showing any suspicion, the entire party left, satisfied their ruse had succeeded.
In future meetings, the suspected agent was not on board the fishing vessel, but undoubtedly its crew had been warned about supplying the British with information. Broadhurst was told the agent declined to visit the frigate again since he feared his deception might be discovered.
From that point, no information could be gleaned from these people. They continued bringing newspapers, but Mullins had his doubts of the validity of the information they contained. As the autumn weather worsened, Vigilant patrolled farther out at sea, avoiding any chance of being trapped on a lee shore.
The fishermen also began avoiding traveling far out of port in the blustery weather and soon the information from shore, useless as it was, stopped coming.
During a difficult blow, Vigilant found herself riding out a gale in a strait near Pointe du Raz. With her was the ship-sloop Hero, newly arrived back on station after undergoing repair in Portsmouth. This was a treacherous place with racing currents and rocks aplenty, both on the sea bottom and above. Both ships were in the lee of a massive rocky island, and were safe enough, so long as the wind did not change.
Mullins had about had his fill of this locality, but knew he could not leave his station. If the wind were to shift to an easterly direction, those French line-of-battleships, now safely moored in Brest Harbor would be free to emerge and cause havoc among British shipping. In fact, there was some need for him to leave this island and proceed in closer to the main harbor. He considered sending Hero instead but had his doubts about the ship-hand
ling abilities of that ship-sloop’s young captain.
Instead, during a temporary lull, he signaled Hero to remain in place until the weather moderated and had Mister Weatherby set course for Brest’s outer harbor. It was difficult navigating when the storm began brewing up again and no sights were able to be taken. Navigating by dead-reckoning alone, Vigilant approached the harbor as close as he dared, close to the wind, on the port tack, her double-reefed tops’ls straining under the stress. This was a dangerous place to be, among the rocks and shoals with no definite idea of their exact location.
The wind, easterly now, would permit the exit of any French warship that was so inclined. This made their reconnaissance all the more important. With much of the blockading fleet now on the other side of the channel, the French would have a clear exit from their harbor, with only a few small British ships to swat out of the way.
For now, there was no sign of the enemy exiting and Vigilant maintained her vigil. Icy wind-driven spray had soaked Mullins garments through and his servant was at last able to convince his captain to go into his quarters to change into dry attire. After donning the new clothing, he discovered his steward had managed to make coffee with a spirit lamp. He was sitting at his desk, enjoying the hot coffee when shouting on deck alerted him to something amiss.
The duty midshipman came to his door and Mullins heard him trying to convince the Marine sentry to allow him entrance. Listening to the explanation, Mullins learned the cutter ‘Cricket’ had been seen coming in their direction under full press of sail. She was displaying signal flags, but these could not be read at first, since the wind had them flying edge on.
Mullins returned to the quarterdeck, to watch the arrival of the cutter. She came around in the frigate’s lee, taking in most of her canvas. Her captain, a leather-lunged young lieutenant, was able to shout his message through a speaking trumpet.
Cricket’s commander reported the cutter, in concert with the brig-sloop Mohawk, had flushed a pair of coasters from their hiding hole behind some rocks offshore. Mohawk was attempting to drive the prey away from the coast and out to sea where they could be more easily overcome. While the brig-sloop was so engaged, she drove aground on a shoal and tore her bottom out.
Many of the crew on deck were washed overboard and lost, but the cutter’s commander reported seeing boats putting out from shore. It appeared a number of the British crew had been rescued. Of course, these men would now be prisoners-of-war.
Mullin’s reply to Cricket’s commander ordered him to remain in company with Vigilant and come aboard when sea conditions moderated.
A day later, with more moderate weather, Lieutenant Forte from Cricket came aboard with his written report. Mullins read it over and directed him to deliver the news to the offshore squadron as soon as he could find it.
With the better sea conditions, Vigilant sailed to the scene of the stranding. Only a few timbers still remained, everything else had been swept away. A battery situated on an offshore island, just within range opened fire, without result. Vigilant returned the fire, then sailed out of range.
When Mister Heyward asked his plans, Mullins had to tell him he had none at the moment. Of course, he would like to attempt to free the captured seamen, but since he had no idea of where they might be located, this would prove impractical.
The weeks went by and the winter came. With few opportunities aboard the ship for men to dry their clothing, the hands suffered cruelly in the frigid temperatures wearing the constantly wet clothing. The travails of the captured seamen had been all-but forgotten when the first harbingers of spring arrived.
One morning, looking into Brest’s outer harbor, a swarm of fishing boats were sighted heading out for the fishing grounds. By now, most of these crews had learned the British frigate was not to be feared. Their old friend, from whom they had purchased fish and newspapers last year, was there and set course toward them.
When the boat’s owner came aboard, he brought a pair of lobsters with him. The lad who had assisted in translating their Breton language into more understandable standard French was absent. Instead, a crewman from Normandy was aboard. His French was understandable to Mister Broadhurst and there was a flurry of conversation between the French crewmembers and Broadhurst.
Startled, Broadhurst interrupted the conversation to inform Captain Mullins the rescued British sailors had been located. They were presently being held in a military encampment on the Pointe de Pen-Hir, a nearby headland on the Crozon Peninsula.
Broadhurst explained, “Local French authorities suspect these fishermen are collaborating with us in order to undermine the Empire. The official who came out to us last autumn is the person responsible for disseminating this false information.”
“The nephew, who assisted me with translations, has been conscripted into the French army, even though he is under-age. These people offer to disclose the exact location of the British seamen in exchange for refuge in Cornwall for themselves and their families.”
More discussions with the fishermen revealed they would not supply the needed locations of the British prisoners until their families had been brought aboard Vigilant, where they would be safe from reprisals. A cousin presently residing in Cornwall would take in the women and children. The men were offering to serve in King George III’s Royal Navy.
Fearful the captives might be transferred to another location out of his reach, Mullins ordered Broadhurst to obtain more information from their guests. They remained adamant however, insisting they would cooperate only when the families were safe.
At a stand, Captain Mullins agreed the fishermen could return to port to fetch their people. He feared the French authorities might arrest the fishermen and their families and he would lose his only source of needed intelligence.
Two days later though, the fishing vessel was seen making her way from the harbor under foul weather condition. She was low in the water from her over-load of refugees.
Broadhurst was told the local authorities refused at first to allow them to leave, suspecting they might try to escape. With the weather worsening though, they were allowed to sail, with permission only to visit nearby fishing grounds. The authorities believed the boat could never make it across the Channel in this weather and neglected to inspect the craft for the presence of the family members.
With the agreement of the boat’s owner, after all of the refugees had transferred to Vigilant, the fishing boat was cast loose and soon was lost to sight. With any luck, the vessel would be stranded somewhere upon the rocky coast and its wreck eventually reported to the local authorities. This would probably forestall any retributions that might be made upon those that had not come away with the others.
Mullins took the Vigilant out to sea to locate the Channel Fleet. He needed to report to its commander to explain his actions during recent weeks and obtain direction upon the course he could make now. Admiral Lord Gambier was still absent, but his deputy, a senior post captain was present in an old second-rate. Captain Hodges agreed it was of the utmost importance to rescue the imprisoned British sailors, if that could be done without putting more lives at undue risk.
He wondered about the possibility of the French using false information to trap a rescue party, thus gaining additional prisoners. Mullins explained the fishermen would have no opportunity to communicate with the shore during the preparations for the rescue. He thought these fishermen genuinely feared the French Imperial authorities now in charge on the mainland. Broadhurst had relayed to him the local officials were especially severe with any boatmen suspected of trading with the enemy boats with which they came into contact, or otherwise passing on information.
Chapter Fifteen
Captain Hodges decreed now was the time for the Breton fishermen to reveal the location of the encampment where the British seamen were being held. He called for the leader of the group to be brought into his quarters, along with his second officer who was fluent in the French spoken along this coast. M. Edwistair, the owner an
d former captain of the fishing boat with whom Captain Mullins had been dealing, brought two of his crew to the meeting.
Captain Hodges was blunt with the Bretons. He was concerned further delay might have adverse effects upon the British prisoners and was unwilling to delay any longer. He needed their location at once.
Edwistair tried to prevaricate. His family and friends were also at risk here and he could not give out his information until he knew they were safe. He insisted his people be taken into Falmouth where their relative might be located.
Irritated, Captain Hodges called for his hat and cloak, then led the party out onto the quarterdeck. It was still early spring, out here in the Channel, and there was a hint of snow in the air.
Summoning his interpreter and M. Edwistair. Hodges swept his arm around, in a gesture to illustrate the size of his fleet. They were on the quarterdeck of a huge three-decker of over ninety guns. Ahead and astern were a half dozen seventy-four gun two-deckers, while off on the flanks and farther out to sea were a medley of smaller craft.
Captain Hodges ordered his Lieutenant Parker to explain firmly to the Bretons their families were as safe as possible on the British flagship. Bonaparte had no warships capable of defeating these ships. British lives were also in great danger and should Edwistair not be willing to assist in their recovery, he and his family would all be returned to France to explain to the authorities what they had been doing aboard British ships.
However, should the Bretons give helpful assistance, his women and children would be put on a transport and sent to Falmouth with the recovered prisoners.
The Bretons conferred with each other and finally decided they would trust the British Navy to do as had been promised. They all trooped back into the cabin and charts were produced.
HMS Vigilant: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 5) Page 10