HMS Hector: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 6)

by Richard Testrake

  HMS Hector

  Richard Testrake

  Copyright © 2016 Richard Testrake

  All rights reserved

  102416

  This book is dedicated to my wife Peggy, my daughter Lisa and my son Charles.

  Table of Contests:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Additional works available

  Chapter One

  September 1808 – London

  Captain Charles Mullins was walking lightly about his house on this day in late September. His wife Doris was intent in attending a performance in Covent Garden on the arm of her now well-known husband the next evening. There had already been more than a little discord in the home when Mullins absently observed they should take young Sarah Drummond to the performance with them. Well acquainted with his wife’s fiery temperament at this stage of his marriage, he could not understand how he had come to make such a foolish suggestion.

  Sarah was the daughter of Mullin’s former first officer on his last ship, HMS Vigilant. Drummond senior had been on the beach for years due to an old injury suffered in the line of duty, until offered a position on Mullin’s frigate. Nearly penniless, he had no means to care for his daughter while at sea, so Mullins stepped in and offered his home for the girl. She would live in his home and serve as Doris’ maid.

  Doris had been a maid herself, only a few years ago, in this very house. At first, pleased that she had a maid of her own now, she was not quite sure about having such a lovely young woman in her own home. While certainly a very attractive woman herself, she was concerned this young woman would eclipse her own charms and wished to see the young woman out of her home soon. After spending a small fortune on the wardrobe for this event, she could not abide Sarah drawing attention from her own display.

  She certainly did not wish Sarah to walk into Covent Garden beside her husband. Before she could do more than voice her fury at Mullin’s suggestion though, the flustered housekeeper came to her dressing room door.

  “Mum, my Sally says Covent Garden has caught fire. She hears it is a mass of flames.”

  Further reports that evening revealed the imposing structure had been gutted and no more performances could be expected there for months or years.

  Knowing Doris would not be fit company for the remainder of the evening, Mullins decided to inspect his stable, a good refuge from feminine discord in the main house. There he found Dan Waites, his hostler and stable hand, putting a gleaming polish on the chaise.

  After nattering with his employee for a time, he decided to have Waites drive him to his club in the chaise. He felt guilty at his request since this would probably spoil the finish that had been applied to the vehicle. However, he definitely did not wish to have to spend the night and next morning with Doris, while she was in her present mood.

  Drakes was an unprepossessing establishment whose members were mainly lower-ranking military and naval officers. Most members spent their time in the reading and dining rooms, going to their own homes later in the evening. There were, however, a few private rooms for members, men in situations similar to Mullins’, to spend the night. It was late when the captain arrived, but a few stalwarts were still in the bar. Addressing a cognac placed in front of him, he asked the server if a room might be available.

  One was, and Mullins went outside to dismiss his driver and then went up to bed. Wakening early the next morning, well before any of the customary patrons arrived, he prevailed on the kitchen staff to make him a simple breakfast, then thought over what he might do today to stay away from his wife’s temper.

  With nothing else on his agenda, he decided to report in to the Admiralty to see if there had been any movement on his latest request for a ship.

  The waiting room was almost empty at this early hour and he was able to secure a good seat. Among the few applicants present were a pair of tattered midshipmen, hoping desperately for a position on any ship. Without a ship of his own, Mullins avoided their glances.

  A young commander, whom Mullins knew slightly, entered and was called in almost at once. With no appointment, Mullins knew very well he could sit here for days without notice. At length, his hard seat beginning to pain him, he decided he could certainly find more comfortable seating elsewhere and stood.

  As he approached the exit, a warder hurried over and asked, “Captain Mullins? Mister Walker would like to speak with you for a moment, should you have the time.”

  Walker was a large man sitting at a tiny desk in an equally tiny office, one that might once have been a closet.

  Walker rose and greeted Mullins. “Captain Mullins, forgive me for having you wait so long. The warder just reminded me that you were still patiently waiting in one of those most uncomfortable chairs in the sitting room. I do see that you have brought in HMS Vigilant to the dockyard and are presently awaiting employment.”

  Mullins did not quite know how important an official Walker might be, but if it would get him a ship, he was prepared to grovel before the man.

  Walker continued. “Captain Mullins, I find your records have been flagged. We are told you are to be given an exceptionally capable ship and crew, this order coming from the First Sea Lord himself. It seems he has some service in mind for you to do for him. The problem that has risen is that at this stage in the war, it is difficult to say that any particular ship or crew is indeed exceptional.”

  “However, one possibility has crossed my desk this morning, just moments after I refreshed my memory by peering over your records. HMS Hector has just moored in Portsmouth, and is taking on stores. Her captain, Andrew Harding, has reported ashore sick, diagnosed with consumption.”

  “Hector is a fairly new fifth-rate, rated at 36 guns, armed with 26 eighteen-pounder long guns and ten thirty-two pounder carronades with two nine-pounders on the quarterdeck. She has another two nine-pounders on the foc’s’le with four more thirty-two-pounder carronades.”

  “The report from the ship’s surgeon, which I have just gone over, says there is little hope that Captain Harding may return to duty soon. Her wardroom is staffed by a group of very young officers, with little apparent regard for rules of the Navy. Mister Grebe, her first officer, appears little different from the others. With all of them judged unsatisfactory by the port admiral in Portsmouth, it has been recommended that all of these officers be replaced by men of more mature judgement.”

  “As to the crew, there is little that I can say about that. I see that she has 240 men on the books at the moment, which leaves her short about 20 men. Would you be willing to post to Portsmouth to examine the ship and crew?”

  Without pausing, Mullins quickly agreed to leave immediately to look over the ship. One problem remained, what to do about replacing those unsatisfactory officers?

  Thinking quickly, he reminded himself of two of his officers on his former ship. Mister Drummond had served on Vigilant for a time as first officer. A long service lieutenant, he had been injured during the American war and spent many of the
intervening years on the beach. Mullins had appointed him into Vigilant and the elderly officer had proved his worth.

  The second candidate was young Mister Flowers. A midshipman at the beginning of their last commission on Vigilant, he had been promoted to acting lieutenant, at which position he had functioned well. He had never taken his boards though, and without that formality, his commission could not be confirmed.

  When he mentioned these men to Walker, the official regarded him with a frown. “Your first selection, Lieutenant Drummond, should present no problem. I am sure we have his address on file here. I will have my clerk draft a note to him informing him of this opportunity. As soon as he reports, he will be issued orders and a voucher for travel to Portsmouth.”

  “With your second selection, this Flowers lad, I can see several problems. First, of course, is his lack of a commission. The acting commission you furnished him, expired when he left that ship. He must go before a board of officers and hope to impress them with his potential. When or where this board might be convened, I have no idea at this moment. In any event, the present officers on Hector have been proved wanting because of their youth and their inability to control their actions. I doubt this Flowers lad will impress the port admiral.”

  Chapter Two

  Putting aside his problems with finding officers, Mullins left the building and found a cabriolet that drove him home. It was early afternoon when he arrived and Doris was over her snit. She had taken the chaise and gone on a shopping expedition, intending on displaying her new finery to her husband as soon as he entered.

  Wondering at the absence of Sarah Drummond, Doris soon brought him up to date. “That young Flowers boy you took in hand, came around and went out into the garden with her. I have to tell you, I am very suspicious of his motives with her, as I am of her own. At any rate, in short order he came marching back and told me he is taking her away. I think she told him some ‘cock and bull’ story of how badly she was mistreated here. When I demanded he tell me where he was taking her, he said he was taking her to his father, who I suppose, is a laborer on the docks. He said they were to marry, as soon as the banns could be read!”

  Mullins was astonished when he heard the news. When nothing suitable came to mind to answer his wife, he idly mentioned that Flowers senior was a Member of Parliament and did not work on the docks. As for Flowers junior, one of the prizes taken on their last commission had just been adjudicated and the lad was not currently short of funds.

  While Doris expressed her opinion of these suspicious goings-on, Mullins mind wandered. He had hoped to take both Drummond, Sarah’s father and Flowers on his next commission. How this news might affect his plans, he had no idea.

  Then too, there had been plenty of gossip in the club over the activities of old Mister Flowers. A man of sixty-plus years, there had been scandalous reports of his adventures involving nubile young women. Young Flowers had been away at sea for over six years, and Mullins wondered how much he might know of his parent’s proclivities. Prospective daughter-in-law or not, Mullins knew if he were in young Flower’s shoes, he would be very cautious leaving his prospective bride alone with his father.

  At any rate, the matter was out of his hands and really none of his business. What was his business was the dray which had just pulled up in front of his home. Mister Drummond sat up front on the box with the driver, and several heavy-looking sea chests were in back. Drummond got down and came up to Mullins, hand already out.

  Mullins immediately invited him into the house for a drink, but Drummond assured him he was on the fly. He had been offered a ship and merely wished to say good-bye, then it was off to board the coach for Portsmouth.

  It took Mullins only a moment to acquaint his friend with the facts and inform him he was to be his first officer on the frigate HMS Hector. “As long as your chests are already on the dray, why do you not send them to the coaching inn? We will have a drink, then I will have my man drive us there in time to board the coach.”

  Drummond was agreeable, but asked to meet with his daughter for a moment. He reported he had received prize money from several of their recent captures and needed to give Sarah funds with which to support herself, so that she need not be a burden upon his friends.

  His mind whirling, Mullins had Drummond inside and ordered drinks for both. While these were being prepared, be began his own explanation.

  “Mister Drummond, somehow my wife and your daughter had words, and Sarah apparently felt she must leave our house.”

  “I understand she and Mister Flowers have become close and there has been talk of marriage. While I was at Admiralty this morning, with no knowledge of what was going on, Mister Flowers came to my house and Sarah left with him. As I understood the message, she will be going to his father’s home temporarily. I believe they expect to marry as soon as the banns are read.”

  Watching Dr0ummond’s face, Mullins saw his lips tighten and his skin flush. The first officer spoke. “That young whelp! This is the thanks I get. I suspected all along that he was the one that trifled with my daughter. I have in mind to call him out over this.”

  Mullins hurriedly broke in. “Drummond, this is not the time for such nonsense. You are three times the age of the boy. Should you call him out, you will be an object of ridicule throughout the Navy. We need to look at this problem objectively and use our heads to determine the proper course.”

  “Captain”, Drummond tried again, “What I know and you apparently do not, is the reputation of Flower’s father. His reputation concerning young women is abysmally low. Do you really think I can allow my daughter to live in the same house with that man?”

  As the afternoon waned, the men’s tempers calmed and it was decided it should fall on Captain Mullins’ shoulders to locate the young lovers and inform them they were not in some desperate predicament. With the hour nearing for the post coaches’ departure for Portsmouth, Mullins prevailed on his first officer to leave at once so that he could take over the command of the ship until Mullins arrival.

  Mullins in turn, donned his best coat and ordered Waites to deliver him to the home of the elder Flowers. Obviously not a home the MP lived in throughout the year, it was a modest old house well off Whitehall. When the chaise pulled up in front, the sound of domestic discord was evident from the street.

  He recognized young Flower’s youthful voice, now expressing his dissatisfaction with someone. A high-pitched feminine voice echoed his, while a booming masculine voice attempted to dominate the discussion. A harried servant opened the door to his knock, and the discussion came to an end. Asked his business, Mullins stated he had come to collect his midshipman, Mister Flowers, for duty.

  An elderly, heavy-set man, with a drinker’s complexion spoke loudly to someone in the next room. “You lying whelp, you told me you were a lieutenant, when you are still a miserable midshipman.” When the man appeared in front of Mullins, swaying drunkenly on his feet, the captain could not help but to loosen his sword in its scabbard, although who knew what uproar it might cause if he drew a blade upon a Member of Parliament.

  Determined to control himself, he merely told the man that Mister Flowers had served as acting lieutenant in HMS Vigilant until it hauled down its commission pennant. Now, without a ship, Flowers was once more a midshipman, but there was every chance he might soon go before a board to determine his suitability to gain permanent status as a King’s officer.

  Young Flowers was red-faced and seemingly only just under his own control. Miss Drummond was in no better condition. Speaking to both, Mullins said, “Both of you will oblige me if you step outside and board my chaise. Anything you leave behind that you must have can be sent for. Time is of the essense, the ship is waiting and we must be gone.”

  The elder Flowers was shouting drunken epithets at them as the chaise took the away. Mullins remained silent, while both of the young people ventilated. “Captain Mullins”, began Mister Flowers. “My father accosted Sarah. He put his hands on her. I was out of
the room when it happened, but I heard her scream. I did not know what to do!”

  Mullins pontificated. “It appears you managed just fine, Mister Flowers. Sarah is no longer in danger and the problem is solved.”

  “Sir, back there, you mentioned you had come to collect me for duty. Do we have a ship, sir?”

  “Indeed we do, Mister Flowers. As fine a fifth-rate as one could ask for. She is at her mooring in Portsmouth though, so we need to post down to her to see what damage has been caused in my absence.”

  “Please sir, in what capacity will I report aboard?”

  “Flowers, when we hauled down Vigorous’ commission pennant, you lost your acting commission. At this moment, you are a lowly midshipman again. Wheels have been set in motion though. There is a very slight possibility an examining board may convene in Portsmouth while we are there. If you can convince those captains that you are worthy, they may well pass you. Since I understand I may be short of a few officers, that will give me an excuse to take you on board as my third.”

  Chapter Three

  The Portsmouth coach had long since left, by the time Sarah had been returned to Mullin’s home. It was now necessary to take rooms in the inn, with plans on leaving on the following morning’s coach. Mullins and Flowers had to share the bed, but they were not lonely. Previous occupants had left behind a myriad of insects which kept the two busy all night.

  Few patrons were at breakfast before the early departure, so after discussing their miseries in the inns’ bed, they found time to discuss possible options for the young couple. Flowers reported he had indeed received a most satisfactory sum from the sale of one of the prizes taken on their previous commission and more funds would be arriving as other prizes were adjudicated.