HMS Hector: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 6)
Page 17
Neither ship jockeyed for position, they were approaching bow to bow, although Falcon was just slightly to windward, so they would pass slightly to starboard of the Frenchman. As they closed, the enemy frigate’s yards were seen coming over as she tried to turn across Falcons bow.
Mullins was having none of this and turned with her, while the guns of both ships began their thunder. During the last evolution, Mullins saw Falcon was quicker in stays than the French frigate. Wishing to impress their new captain, after their difficulties under Captain Weyland, the men showed their basic competence even after their mistreatment.
Falcon having been longer at sea, one could assume the British crew was more skilled at sail drill than their French counterparts, who may well have been coscripted from their civilian pursuits just days before.
Now the ships were sailing beside each other, beam to beam. Neither ship was skilled in gunnery but Falcon had just moments before just engaged in gunnery practice, while the Frenchman may never have practiced that skill. In the passing, Falcon was struck by three balls, while three time that many of hers struck the enemy frigate.
One of Falcon’s balls cut the enemy’s mizzen topmast, and the men cheered when they saw the spar fall. The hands were in a good mood now, with the capture of a valuable prize and now it appeared they were about to give this French frigate a good drubbing.
Now the enemy, seeming to have had enough, tried to turn away. Their blood up now, the British seamen were having none of this and tired though they were, doubled their efforts. Falcon turned with her and for a moment found herself abreast her counter. With most of the guns on that side charged and ready, she fired her broadside right down the length of the enemy ship. Most of the balls took effect, and the shot smashed everything they struck, whether wood, metal or human flesh.
The enemy’s mizzen fell and her helm was smashed to splinters. Her captain sent men to the auxiliary steering tiller, but the rudder was jammed by shot strikes, so the enemy frigate had no steering at all. Backing his ship’s tops’ls, Mullins lay his ship across the enemy’s stern while still pumping shot into her. The enemy’s main mast was down now and she was rolling in the sea.
Thinking about boarding, Mullins saw the numbers of men firing muskets from the rails at him. It appeared there were a large number of troops aboard her. If he were not careful, it might be possible, if the ships came into contact, for those infantry soldiers to charge across and capture Falcon for themselves.
Remaining clear, Mullins ordered his guns to reload with grape and continue to fire into the enemy. Under the onslaught of the deadly little iron balls, blood began flowing freely from her scuppers, the enemy troops at the rails melted away and soon the tricolor came down.
As the new captain, Mullins was not well acquainted with his officers. He looked around at the people on the quarterdeck and vaguely recognized one of the officers. “Mister Quaker?” he asked.
“Quigley, sir, Jonathon Quigley, second officer.
“Thank you sir. I would be grateful if you took a boarding party over and took possession. You had better take a midshipman with you who will be able to return with an intelligible report as to her condition.”
Mullins was occupied with a hundred details immediately, as many of the supervisors unaccustomed to making decisions themselves came to him at once.
The pair of merchants were now sailing for the enemy coast. With his crew fully occupied with the captured frigate as well as making necessary repairs to Falcon, Mullins decided to allow the merchants to escape, concentrating on getting the prize to port.
Finally, overwhelmed with solving the endless details, he fumed at his first officer, telling him he was going to attend to some work and it was time for his officers to solve some problems themselves. When hands finished putting his cabin back together, he went inside and began writing up the details of the battle while it was still fresh in his mind.
It was only when the midshipman sent to the prize returned and came back to make his report did Mullins stir. Hearing the argument with his sentry, Mullins roused himself and shouted for the lad to enter.
“Sir”, the mid reported. The prize is safely afloat at the moment. She has a few shot holes below the waterline but Mister Quigley has put Jack Drew, carpenter’s mate, in charge of a parcel of Frenchmen and is trying to get the holes patched. Her sternpost is badly injured and Mister Quigley asks for the carpenter to come over to see what he can do. Mister Drew says he can hardly decide where to start, the damage is so bad.”
“Although some of the enemy crew are doing what they can to keep the ship afloat, others are getting ugly and we could use more Marines to keep order.”
Mullins answered, “Very well, I will send you some people. How are the wounded there?”
“Sir, the French surgeon is drunk and his assistant is doing his best, but there are so many wounded, I am afraid he is overwhelmed,”
Mullins donned his best coat and hat and dropped down into the boat. Man ropes had been rove under the entry port of the prize and his Marines and Lieutenant Quigley met him there. Together, they toured the ship. While not speaking French that would satisfy a Parisian, Quigley could make himself understood to the seamen and had collected several to follow him around, directing some of the French crew that were taking over some of the damage control.
He told his captain he had promised them protection from any punitive action by their fellow crewmen and thought that many would gladly agree to serve against Bonaparte had they the opportunity.
By the time Mullins returned to Falcon, the repairs were well underway. The carpenter had the sternpost patched to the extent that she could steer, but Mister Fellows warned that it would be best to make safe port before a serious storm was encountered.
The shot holes were plugged and patches nailed over them. The prize frigate Nymphe was ready to sail.
Both frigates entered port together. HMS Rapid had come in days before, while it was reported their prize brig had sailed into Plymouth. Doris Mullins had not yet left the port city, and alerted by a neighbor of Sarah Flowers, was standing on the quay with Alfred when Falcon anchored.
To be continued:
Additional works available
Other books by this author
War at Sea Series in Kindle e-book format
On The King’s Sea Service, print version also available
For the Honor of the Flag, print version available
Trafalgar and Beyond
Frigates of War
HMS Dreadnaught
HMS Resolve
His Majesty’s Brig Alert, print version available
Sails Across the Sea, print version available
Across to America, print version available
Ships of Oak, Men of Iron (print version available)
Thunder on the Sea (print version available)
Sea Command Series in Kindle and print
HMS Aphrodite
HMS Valkyrie
HMS Aurora
HMS Athena
HMS Vigilant
On to Berlin Series in Kindle and print
A Road to St. Lo
Assault on the Rhine