With no options left but surrender or attempt to wade to the mainland marshes, a man appeared waving a shirt on a length of driftwood.
He spoke a kind of English and it was decided the privateersmen would surrender and be sent to Britain. Their weapons were gathered and the rest of their belongings returned to them. The captives were left alone on the islet while Alert’s crew went back to the brig and her stranded consort.
The bosun, in their absence, had made a start at getting the grounded brig, the Pluton ready to sail. Both main and fore masts had been broken, but their top masts were intact. The broken stubs were pulled from their seats on the keelson using a tripod of heavy timbers with a large block at the apex. Heavy line was connected to each stub in turn and led through the block to the brig’s windlass. With the crew heaving on the windlass, each stub was pulled out. The former topmasts were stepped in place and wedged in tightly. Shrouds and fore and back stays were rigged to keep the spars upright. The old rigging and sails had been badly damaged in the action, so simple lateen rigs were mounted.
The tide had risen enough so the bow was lifting slightly with each wavelet, although the stern was still embedded in the bottom. A kedge anchor was put in the launch and pulled out to water deep enough to float the brig. With the anchor dropped overboard, the cable was led through the hawse and nipped onto the messenger cable. With nearly the entire crew of Alert heaving, the Pluton was slowly twisted from her berth in the bottom and floated again. Not wishing to ground her again, the cutter and launch towed her out to deeper water, where a prize crew was put aboard, Midshipman Kearns in command.
The boats retrieved the stranded privateersmen on the islet and they were put below in the prize. A large party of seamen were required to guard the prisoners and keep them below decks, so Phillips decided he must escort the Pluton to a British port. He suspected he might find himself in trouble for delaying his return to the Baltic, but decided his orders might just excuse his actions.
The pair set sail for Harwich Dockyard, Phillips deciding it might be better to remain away from Portsmouth until the return from the Baltic. The Pluton was a beast to control with her strange rig, but young Kearns learned her foibles and she made the best speed possible with her sails.
Anchoring in the harbor, Phillips was pulled ashore and reported to the Captain of the Port in his shoreside office. Phillips explained his unexpected entrance with a copy of his orders, telling the captain the capture of the frigate and now this brig had so depleted his crew, he was unable to go onward.
Captain Johnson was sympathetic, telling him they would give him back his prize crew and see what other men might be found. Many commercial trading ships made port, but few King’s ship fitted out here, so there were seamen aplenty who might be impressed, if they would not volunteer.
Phillips mentioned his absent master’s mate who had taken the captured frigate into port, probably Portsmouth. Johnson was sympathetic but assured him the Admiralty would not stand for him waiting around to locate the man, then waiting for him to make his way here.
“I’ll tell you what though, I have a young man who comes around now and then hoping for a berth. He was made master’s mate last year, but his ship paid off and he has not been called for another. I know nothing about him, but I can send for him if you want to give him a try.
Master’s Mate Hargrove approached a watering party from Alert on shore and begged for a ride to the brig. It seemed he did not have funds to hire a shore boat. He seemed to be an earnest, intelligent young man and Phillips took him on. His coat was worn to rags and he had no hat so he would necessarily need to dress himself with slop clothing until he could draw on his pay.
The prisoners aboard Pluton were sent ashore to be put under control of a company of redcoats. Water and other supplies were loaded and all that remained was to have their prize crew returned and attempt to locate some seamen to replace those sent off with the captured frigate.
It did not turn out to be necessary to resort to pressing seamen. Phillips had decided to allow some trusted hands ashore for a run. He was fairly sure they would return since he had gone over with them his estimates of their earnings to date with the prizes they had captured. If they did not desert, they would have several years pay just for their share of the prize money when Alert paid off. The lowliest landsman would have a sum of money that he could use to buy a small business.
When all the men returned from their run ashore, they brought with them a dozen new hands, recent arrivals from merchant ships. Having been landed and spending all their money, they had succumbed to the tales of the riches to be earned under this captain of Alert.
Phillips welcomed them aboard and determined they could all be entered on the books as able seamen. After they all had made their marks, he asked, “Why did you men volunteer on a Royal Navy ship?”
“Well sir, it’s like this”, one seaman answered. “We hear you are not a hard horse captain, given to flogging at every turn of the watch. Then we hear you take plenty of prizes. Then too sir, in the Navy, there are plenty of men for each chore. A man need not rupture himself doing his job alone, like on some ships.”
With all needs met, the signal requesting permission to proceed was hoisted. It flew without acknowledgement from shore for half a glass. The hands were at the windlass prepared to hoist the anchor and men were ready to set sail. Impatiently, Lieutenant Prescott worried about losing their tide. When the flagstaff on shore belatedly signaled ‘Wait’, Phillips sent the off watch below.
Finally, a boat was seen putting out from shore. A dapper midshipman came aboard with a sealed letter. Tearing it open impatiently, he found an order from Captain Johnson requiring him to wait on him in his shoreside office. Questioning the mid produced no intelligence, so he ordered the lad to take him ashore in his boat. He beckoned Mister Hargrove over. Hargrove now commanded the anchor watch while the brig was moored.
“Mister Hargrove, I am going ashore to see the port captain. When I am finished, I will signal for my boat. I would be glad if you would see the boat crew is properly turned out.”
An aged seaman saw Phillips into the port captain’s office. Captain Johnson had just told him good bye a few hours ago, now apparently he had some news to impart.
“Captain Phillips, your arrival here was reported earlier. We just received a message by signal telegraph that you are required in Portsmouth. You should take Alert to sea as soon as possible and proceed to Portsmouth, reporting to the port admiral. I have no further information to impart. You had better sail while you still have the tide.
As Phillips climbed aboard, he ordered all hands on deck to raise anchor and set sail. Mister Prescott was visibly curious but he could not satisfy the first officer’s curiosity. Alert caught a good wind in the channel and made short work of the passage.
When Alert anchored in Portsmouth Harbor and made his number, it was only a short wait until he was signaled to report to the port admiral. By now, Phillips was certain he was about to lose his command for unnecessarily delaying his mission to the Baltic.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Phillips expected to be greeted by a grim admiral prepared to tear a strip off, but was surprised to be addressed cordially and have a glass of wine pressed into his hand.
After the amenities were over, Admiral Curtis got to the point. “Phillips, you are making quite a name for yourself. Taking a French National frigate as well as a privateer brig larger than you own command was quite a feat.”
“However, it is now time to get down to work. Autumn is coming on and Admiral Saumarez must make certain dispositions with his fleet before the severe weather comes on. Admiralty needs intelligence on what those dispositions might be. The normal courier vessel never arrived as scheduled, so we fear she may have met with some misadventure.
Therefore, you will take the dispatches we have prepared and make the best of your way to the Baltic. You will find your leisurely cruise has been cancelled. It is imperative you reach A
dmiral Saumarez as soon as possible. You will avoid contact with the enemy so far as possible. Admiral Saumarez may well send you back immediately with his own dispatches. If you have no questions, you may return to your brig and set sail as soon as possible.”
Phillips collected the dispatch case and returned to the ship. On board, Mister Prescott approached and requested leave for a few hours. It seemed a young lady he was fond of lived near the harbor and he wished to pay her a visit.
“Mister Prescott, I would also like to visit a young lady. However, we are ordered to sail immediately.
Alert managed to stay away from any traffic that might threaten her up into the North Sea and into the Kattegat. She passed by Anholt Island and made her number, but continued on when no messages were hoisted. After entering the Baltic, she made it to the Gulf of Finland, where the near shore waters were starting to freeze in the frigid temperatures.
From a frigate patrolling outside the ice, he learned the Admiral Saumarez had taken the Victory to Karlskrona, where he was negotiating with the Swedes. Making her way there, Alert met the fleet as they were about to leave. Phillips was pulled over to the flagship in a near gale and was happy to be handed a blanket and a hot grog in the great cabin.
After handing over his dispatches, Admiral Saumarez told him his brig would be needed to assist with the escort of the final trade convoy of the year as it made its way through the Belt and up the Swedish coast to the Skaw.
He was warned he must not show the British ensign in any fortified Swedish harbor. The Swedes were bound by treaty, after their defeat by the Russians, not to allow British warships or trading ships to enter any Swedish ports after the 15th of November. The ever courteous Swedes had assured the Admiral, since many of their ports especially the smaller ones, were not fortified, they could hardly prevent ships from entering to renew their provisions.
In order to avoid antagonizing their enemies though, it was hoped the British ships would avoid Swedish ports as much as possible.
The massive convoy set sail in mid-November. It was a cold and wet passage to The Downs, where Alert left the convoy and made her way back to Portsmouth. After saluting the flag and making her number, she received a signal for her captain to report to the flagship.
Admiral Curtis was indisposed, but the flag captain met with him and went over his reports. Learning Admiral Saumarez had left the Baltic, Phillips was told his brig would undoubtedly be put to use elsewhere. For now though, Alert would enter the dockyard to be surveyed and have any problems rectified, Phillips was told to go on leave until notified. Giving the address of his parents’ town house in London, he got the last inside seat on the London coach and left Portsmouth.
The lights were burning when he arrived in the early evening on the following day. Additional servants were on duty and when he introduced himself to the new butler, that individual assured him Captain Phillips would be notified immediately.
His father came rushing out of the game room and wrapped his son in his arms. “Son, I had no idea you were even in this hemisphere. How long have you before you sail again?”
Timothy assured his father his brig was in the dockyard and would probably remain there for the next two weeks. The pair went into the library where they spent the rest of the evening updating each other on their activities since last they met.
Phillips Senior was amazed at his son receiving his step to lieutenant’s rank at so young an age and marveled at his command of the brig. It was the next day before Tim told his father about the frigate Alert had taken earlier in the year.
“Son, I would not be surprised if you did not go up to commander. I know many a lieutenant who got that step for less.”
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Tim spent a few days with his father, then Phillips Senior left to board his frigate at the Nore. Tim coached out to Essex to visit his mother and sister. He had had a poor relationship with his mother in the past, but they had reconciled and spent a pleasant week together. One morning he drove her to the village and they had an enjoyable time visiting the shops.
Another prize had been adjudicated and Tim had money in his purse. He purchased a necklace for her at the goldsmith’s shop. Ready now to go back to the estate, they walked to the coaching inn where they had left the coach and horses. Tim seated his mother in the carriage, then went to ask the hostler to bring the horses.
At this time, the London mail coach came clattering in. The mail bags were thrown off, a passenger boarded and off it went. The hostler had led out the team of matched bays and was hitching them to the Phillips carriage when the innkeeper came out with two letters.
“Both of these are for you, Lieutenant. Navy business, I think.”
The first one was from the Master Superintendent of the Portsmouth dockyard. It informed Phillips that Alert was nearly ready and he should report to the dockyard as soon as possible.
The second had the Admiralty seal. It ordered Lieutenant Phillips to report forthwith to the Admiralty. Should he not do so, he was required to be prepared to offer his explanations as to why he should not be taken from the half-pay list.
The horses had by now been put to the carriage and handing the letters to his mother, Tim popped his whip over them. There was some urgency. The coach would continue on to the next village, then turn and come back on the return leg to London. There would be some delay while the horses were changed, but then the coach would be off for London. Phillips needed to get his mother home, collect his belongings and return to catch the London coach before it left.
Mrs. Phillips was handed down by the groom who had been chatting with one of the maids before the barn. His mother collected her purchases and Tim ordered the groom onto the box, telling him they needed to make their best speed back into town.
*****
The blown horses were pulled to a halt beside the newly arrived coach. There was time to pay the fare and to hoist Tim’s sea chest aboard. With only two inside passengers, Tim was able to sit inside out of the cold and damp.
Since it was after dark when they reached London, Phillips spent the night in the town house and reported to the Admiralty early the next morning. He bought a cup of tea from a vendor, expecting to have to wait for hours, as was usually the lot of lieutenants. He expected an indignant Admiralty functionary had discovered he had never served in the wardroom of a warship and was about to set matters right.
Surprisingly, he had yet to take the first sip of his tea when a warder called out his name. He was led past a labyrinth of halls and offices, ending at one he remembered well.
Lord Viscount Eckersley greeted him warmly and asked him to sit. He had the reports Phillips had submitted after his voyages to the Baltic and read through them carefully. When finished, he put them down and stared at Phillips.
“Mister Phillips, I find myself in a quandary. It seems early this year you took a prize, a ship rigged corvette of sixteen guns. Your first officer of that time, Mister Wainright, brought her in. There was quite a stir in the press since the corvette had more guns than your brig. Of course your vessel was armed with thirty two pounder carronades, while the corvette had only eight pounders.
“Needless to say, the mob doesn’t understand little facts like this and you and your first officer gained some notoriety. There was talk of promoting you both, but there were problems. You had been a lieutenant for only a watch and it was hardly proper to promote such a youngster. And, of course, it would hardly do to promote young Wainright, with even less time holding a commission than yourself.”
“The matter became more complex when Wainright’s cousin came into the picture. It seems he is the current Member for Milford and is curious why both you and his cousin have not been promoted. He reminds us dozens of other fine young officers have been elevated for similar feats.”
“The matter has been handed over to me to investigate. I have been poring over your record and find you have been a very productive officer. Most officers your age have never seen an enemy
ship, let alone captured one. You though, seem to do just that several times on every voyage.”
“The thought occurs to me that your talents may be wasted on your little fourteen gun brig. With a larger ship you might be even more productive for the Royal Navy. Therefore, I have decided to give you a larger command.”
“HMS Aurora is an eighteen gunned nine pounder sloop of war, just released from the Portsmouth dockyard. French built, she was taken two years ago. Much battered, it has taken this long for her to be put back together. She is a little elderly, but I am told she has fine lines and should be a swift sailer.”
Phillips was astonished with the news. “Milord, I wonder about a letter that arrived in the post yesterday bidding me to return to Portsmouth to take Alert from the dockyard.”
“Well Phillips, if you would rather have the brig instead of the sloop…”
“Sir, I am most happy to be given the sloop. I was just curious about receiving two letters in the same post. One calling me to return to Alert. The other calling me here.”
The viscount explained, “Apparently the dockyard has not kept up their correspondence. They were told Mister Wainright would be taking command. Because of political pressure, I have decided to assign Alert to him to see what he can do with her. I was reluctant to do so, but should he fail with the command, there is a simple remedy. We can either put him on the beach or place him in the wardroom of a line-of-battle ship where he can learn more of his profession.”
“I should probably tell you, that same remedy applies to you. Should you fail to perform adequately, you may be sent ashore on the half-pay list.”
“Commander Phillips, I am told your new command will not be ready for a matter of a few weeks. I am sure you wish to post down to look her over, but I hope you have time to attend a little soirée my good wife is having tomorrow evening. The delightful Miss Hilda you brought to us will be there as my wife’s guest.”
His Magesty's Brig Alert: A Tim Phillips Novel Page 12