Frigates of War: A John Phillips Novel

by Richard Testrake

  Sarah was irate, but John knew she would be on the dance floor all night, and he could thus avoid the sharp side of her tongue. He was sitting in one of a row of chairs outside the Government House door, when a series of piercing screams emerged. Something about those screams made him leap to his feet knocking over the chair on which he had been seated. Rushing inside, he saw Sarah standing in the corner, clutching the torn fragments of her gown, tears streaming down her face. A portly Army colonel stood red-faced nearby, surrounded by aides, who seemed to be holding the irate officer back. Rushing to his wife’s side, she blurted out, “He hit me.”

  Blood rushing to his face, Phillips faced the colonel, and demanded an explanation. The colonel, obviously drunk, attempted to draw his sword. A pair of aides was furtively able to prevent this, so the infuriated man kicked Phillips in the leg, almost like an out of control child might have done.

  The enraged Phillips, seeing no other way to get at the offender, told the group, “My friends will call on this man.”

  The officer, still surrounded by aides, said “I do not fight tradesmen. Gentlemen only. My Regimental Sergeant Major will call on this man with a file of troops, and administer justice.”

  Phillips, infuriated beyond words, was surprised when a Marine captain, vaguely familiar, approached and stated, “Captain Phillips here is no tradesman. He is a captain in the Royal Navy. I served with him a few years ago on the HMS Vigorous. I would be pleased to speak for him.”

  The arrangements were rapidly made. The Marine captain representing Phillips, was the former Lieutenant Cresey, who had commanded the Marine detachment on board HMS Vigorous some years ago, under Captain Phillips command. Cresey now was an aide to Governor Lindsay. He related that a deputation of Army officers had called upon the Governor after the incident, suggesting the meeting should be forbidden. Lindsay’s expressed opinion was the colonel’s actions were infamous, both men were of the same substantive rank, and he had no intention of using his power to stop the duel. Cresy found another Marine aboard a frigate visiting in harbor who would assist him. Unfortunately, neither officer had a pair of the appropriate pistols.

  When approached though, one of the seconds for the colonel did have a beautiful pair of Manton’s, which would serve nicely. At a preliminary study of the proposed field, a stretch of beach, the local justice, acknowledged as the expert in these affairs of honour, gave his viewpoints on matters.

  “I propose the principals engage on a north – south line, avoiding any interference from the sun. After deciding the distance the principals will be placed apart, that distance will be marked off, and the principals placed. The usual cautions and warnings will be given, and the affair will commence.”

  Early the next morning, a pair of carriages brought the principals and seconds to the beach selected as the meeting area. Two more brought the surgeons, in case they might be necessary. Colonel Reynolds brought his regimental surgeon, while Phillips hired a local surgeon to do the honors. The justice, much experienced in matters of honour took charge of the meeting, explaining the rules, especially what each participant could and could not do. He asked, “Would the seconds each please interview their principal now, to see if we can avoid bloodshed today?”

  Captain Cresey, with his associate close by, asked Phillips if he was willing to drop the matter. ”I am willing to forgive the kick, but he will have to ask forgiveness of my wife for the insult he inflicted upon her.”

  When his seconds approached the colonel with the question, all could see the negative shake of his head.

  The seconds had earlier specified a distance of twenty paces between shooters. The justice dropped a handkerchief in the sand. Calling an Army officer who was observing over, he had him pace off twenty steps from the handkerchief. Another handkerchief was placed on that spot. The justice then withdrew a guinea from his purse and informed the group, “Now we will place our participants. Our positions are on a north-south line, so the sun should not be a factor. I will toss the coin in the air, and Captain Phillips here will call the toss while the coin is in the air. If he wins the toss, he may select his own position. Should he lose, Colonel Reynolds will decide. Any questions?”

  As the coin sailed into the air, Phillips called ‘Heads’.

  The justice bent over and inspected the coin as it lay on the ground, and said, “Tails it is.”

  With both participants in position, each was handed a pistol, previously loaded by the seconds, but uncocked. The justice ordered, “You will hold your weapons with the muzzles pointed upward. When I am satisfied that all is correct, I will count to five and drop my handkerchief. When the handkerchief leaves my hand, you may lower your pistols, cock, aim and fire. Should neither party be struck, the seconds will confer with their principal to decide whether to fire another round. Should blood be drawn from at least one principal, honour will be judged to be satisfied, and we will all retire.

  While standing there staring at his opponent, Phillips tried to decide his action. He had no desire to kill a man over a drunken, misguided fumble, but he also knew the smooth bored dueling pistol he held, however well-made and beautiful, was a very inaccurate weapon at twenty paces. No matter how well pointed, a ball was as likely to miss completely as to hit fatally.

  Thinking about his actions, he was almost caught by surprise when the justice began counting. Events became confused at that point. He heard the explosion of his opponent’s pistol before the handkerchief fell, and felt a massive hammer blow on his right arm. The weapon started to fall free, but he managed to reach out with his left hand and grab the pistol. Miraculously, it did not fire with all the fumbling. As he got the handgun under control, he heard the judge order, “Sir you must stand and receive fire.”

  Startled, he first thought the justice was addressing him, but then he saw the colonel drop his weapon, turn and run. Deciding at the last minute to fire over the man’s head, he held high, and fired. Unfortunately, his hand was sweaty, and he did not have a firm hold with his left hand. With the report, the now racing colonel tripped and fell, motionless.

  Holding his discharged weapon, Phillips stood motionless until Captain Cresey came over and relieved him of it. “Could you tell me what just happened, Captain?”

  “The man fired early, before the justice finished counting. The justice dropped the handkerchief at the sound of five, but the colonel had already fired. The colonel’s shot hit you, but you were able to recover. When he saw you preparing to fire, his nerve failed and he ran. Both the justice and I were preparing to fire at him, but you beat us to it.”

  Both doctors were huddled over the colonel on the ground, with nobody paying attention to Phillips. As his blood loss reached its critical point, his knees failed, and down he went.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The return home was by fast Post Office packet. Phillips’ wound had become inflamed before boarding the ship, and his surgeon recommended amputation, but once at sea, with the frequent administration of sea water as recommended by the packet’s captain, the inflammation soon left, and the pain was a memory by the time the packet reached Falmouth. Once at home, Phillips wanted to check in with Admiralty to see if they had anything for him, but when he mentioned it, the grim look on Sarah’s mouth caused him to decide to wait a bit. Despite the absence of nearly a year, his children rapidly renewed their friendship with a neighbor’s offspring. The woman had boarded Timothy’s pony there during their absence, and today the children were spending the day and tomorrow there, while Sarah spent the time shopping at a town a day’s ride away. With time on his hands, he again thought of a trip to London to confer with Nepean, but decided it might not be worth the fireworks with Sarah the trip would entail.

  Other than the disagreement over his career, life was pleasant. Both of his brigs had returned to Britain stuffed with high value sugar, the profit on each load enough to pay for the ship that delivered it. Phillips gave some thought to adding to his fleet, but he realized he was still a neophyte
at trade, and there were many ways he could fail. Perhaps it would be best if he waited a bit before expanding.

  His cook having the day off, he decided to arrange his own lunch. Taking his rifle from the gunroom, he walked to the rabbit warren to collect a few hares for lunch. If the local poachers had left him some, that is. Walking by the barn, the resident dog bounded out to him. The animal had appeared one day, matted and starved. After being fed and cleaned up, the animal decided to stay. Whenever Phillips went out after rabbits or birds, the dog was right with him. He knew whenever a man appeared carrying a long arm, good sport was liable to be had.

  Leaning against a well-placed tree, he spotted a rabbit sampling a patch of last autumn’s grass. He had already selected the closest ranged rear sight, one hundred yards. The target was a little closer, so he aimed just under the animal’s head, which was looking around cautiously. The weapon was really much too powerful for such small game, so he must try for head shots only. The rabbit dropped immediately at the discharge, and the dog bounded forward, grabbed the animal and gave it a good shake, before returning it to Phillips. He praised the dog, and took out his knife, eviscerating the prize, tossing the entrails to the dog.

  Loading the weapon, to prepare for another shot, he saw the dog alert. He saw his neighbor’s two horse wagon approaching at a sprightly clip, his wife’s friend Norris at the rein, and his own children bouncing in the bed.

  Norris was an attractive woman in her mid-thirties, with two young children of her own. There was reportedly some dissention between Norris and her husband, who spent much of his time in London. It was rumored it was not hard for a well put together man to be invited to spend the night in her home, the conventions be damned. Phillips himself had received more than one ‘come hither’ look from the woman, which he ignored. Not being experienced in these matters, he was unsure whether she was serious, or just practicing. Whatever her purpose, he made sure to be careful when she was nearby. With his already sometimes strained relations with his own wife, he needed no further trouble.”

  With her horses and wagon clattering up, he shouted for his groom. Ostensibly, the purpose being to dispose of the bloody carcass of the rabbit, but actually to have another man about in case matters became embarrassing. She pulled up in front of him and said, “I was going to the house, but heard the shot, so decided to try back here. Timothy fell from the pony a bit ago, and had me worried, but now he seems just fine.”

  The boy did not want to talk about his mishap, and mainly wanted to go back playing. He was impressed with the rabbit, and wanted to take a shot himself. Finally, he and his sister dismounted and went running off to play. Phillips looked nervously around and saw Grimes, the groom standing there. Phillips called him over, and had him remove the rabbit. “Have it for supper, if you wish”, he said.

  “John, you don’t really have to be nervous around me. I won’t attack you, out here in the open, anyway.” she smiled.

  She added, “I know Sarah has been difficult with you recently. I think you should know she is almost ready to stop punishing you for wanting to stay with the Navy. You know, she is very proud of you for your actions in Jamaica. Actually, she told me she was also angry with you for a space for endangering yourself, but she later decided she was glad you did.”

  “Norris, you know I was right there, and I still don’t know what went on that afternoon. Why her dress was torn, and why that colonel hit her.”

  “John, why didn’t you ask her?”

  “I guess I was afraid of what I might find out.”

  “Oh John, you are such a treasure. Sarah told me there were many more men than women at that dance, and she was busy dancing all afternoon. She had several dances with the colonel, separated by dances with other officers. She noted the colonel was becoming more intoxicated every time they danced. At first she paid it no mind, since many of the others were in the same situation, but the colonel soon became unpleasant. When she told him she would no longer dance with him, he grabbed her arm and insisted she go off to a room he knew about. When she threatened to scream, he first tore her gown, then hit her with his fist, calling her a whore.”

  “I think that is where you came in. You know John, she enjoys punishing you. Don’t worry; she will soon be as sweet as can be. Well, I see that Timothy seems to be all better. Perhaps I had better take them back to my home. Cook was planning to have a little party for them and the other children.”

  Shaking his head over the complexities of this marital warfare, Phillips wondered what to do about lunch, having given his rabbit away. With Cook away for the day, he decided to ride over to the nearby coaching inn and see what they had to offer.

  He had Grimes saddle old Devil. This was an old, retired hunter who sometimes served as a light duty mount whenever the other horses were absent. The Red Shepard did put on a good meal for the passengers of the arriving noon stage, as well as any of the surrounding customers who just wanted to try a different cook’s food.

  Letting the horse amble at his own pace, he still made it before the stage arrived. There were only a few passengers, but plenty of locals lining up at the long table. Getting ready to dig into the steak and kidney pie; the innkeeper came up to him with an important looking missive. “Right out of the mail bag, Captain. I was just sorting when I spotted your name. Thought, why send it out to your place, when I could give it to you here.” Looking at it, Phillips saw that it had the black Admiralty seal. After opening it, he found there was the offer of a ship, HMS Stag, a 36 gun frigate, at Great Yarmouth. Life that had seemed so sour an hour before, was now becoming interesting. An immediate answer was required, so abandoning his lunch, he purchased pen, paper and ink and scribbled off an acceptance. Before paying the postage, he thought about the matter. If he just left, before seeing his wife, their warfare was liable to intensify immeasurably. The current coach would continue on a dozen miles then turn and come back. His reply could be on the coach on its way to London in a few hours. The thought occurred to him to go back home until Sarah returned from her shopping expedition and then leave.

  Returning home, he had to restrain himself from trying to hurry old Devil. The horse had had a rare bait of grain, and was in a restive mood, but he was old and surely not fit to do as Phillips would have liked. Drafting the house servants, he had his chest carried down and placed beside the big doors, with his sword, rifle, and other articles which would not go in the trunk. Grimes was sent out on Devil to borrow a cart from a neighbor. He was back within an hour with a two horse wagon and team. The combined efforts of all succeeded in getting all the gear aboard, then they put the wagon behind the barn, and put the horses in stalls. When Sarah returned the next day he put out the Admiralty letter where she would see it right away.

  Giving it a quick glance, she read it over more carefully the second time. “They say they want an immediate reply. When did you get this?”

  “Yesterday’s mail.”

  “Won’t they be upset over your delay in replying?”

  “It is what it is. I needed to talk with you before answering.”

  “Oh, go with my love, John. You wouldn’t be the man I married if you didn’t want to do this. Just please come back to me and the children.

  Bidding all a goodbye, John left the house, calling for Grimes. The hostler went to the barn and hitched the team to the borrowed wagon. Waving again, they were off to catch the mail coach. He had his reply still in his pocket, on which he paid the postage, telling himself it was probably wasted, since he would probably arrive at Admiralty at the same time as the letter. While taking care of this, he noticed a burly looking fellow outside the inn’s barn, watching him. The man, while well built, wore tattered clothing, and he looked as if he had not had a meal for a while. The man hesitantly approached, holding his hat in both hands. The innkeeper hurried over to remove the fellow, but Phillips held his up his hand. “Yer Honour”, the man said. “I hear tell you are a big sea captain with a great ship ready to sail. I know nought
of the sea, but I am strong and can learn. I’d be proud to sail with you Captain.”

  Phillips looked the man over. Even with the admission that he knew nothing of the sea, Phillips was impressed. He asked the fellow his name. “James Peabody, Yer Honour.” Normally, he would have probably sent the man on his way, but he was in a good mood, and this looked to be a strong, healthy man, worthwhile having aboard ship.

  “Very well, Mr. Peabody, let me tell you how these matters go forward. First, we need to get you fed. If you would sit down at the table, I am sure the innkeeper will get that taken care of. Next, we are not in court. There is no need to call me ‘Your Honour’, although that is a perfectly respectable form of address. You will not find me chastising you for using it.”

  “Next, while I would like very much to have you aboard my ship, I will not ‘press’ you. At any moment, until we board our ship, and you make your mark on the ship’s book, you are free to leave. After that, I am afraid you will be a King’s sailor, and must stay until told you are released.”

  “If you decide you want to travel with me, we will board the coach when it arrives and travel to London. There, I will need to talk to some people and find a bit out about what we will be doing. I may ask you to help guard my belongings. When I am finished there, we will board the coach to Great Yarmouth where we will join our ship.

  “On our ship, you will meet a great many men. Some of them will be officers and petty officers. It is necessary that you follow their orders and show them respect. Others will be your equals. In due course, you will learn which group of men is which. Once the ship puts to sea, you may find the motion of the ship uncomfortable. Some get sick from the motion. You will recover, however.”