by John Jarvis
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The honeymoon was everything Richard and Rebecca had dreamed about. Andrew became de facto Captain and arranged the cargos to and from Jamaica, leaving the young lovers to wander spellbound around the tropical islands.
All that came to an end when Richard and Andrew noticed a flurry of naval activity around Kingstown and a regiment of regular Redcoats being loaded aboard transports. Prices began to rise and the local gentry ceased entertaining – a sure sign something was amiss. Richard failed to gain information from any official source, but Andrew heard the news at an inn: there had been a skirmish between British regulars and colonial militia at a place called Concord followed by a battle at Lexington, in which the British had been defeated and retreated to Boston, where they were under siege.
The American War of Independence, or the American Revolution, had begun.
Juliet immediately sailed for home, wherever that may be.
Juliet furled sails and hove to within hailing distance of a fishing boat south of New York flying the French flag.
“We are from Martinique, what news of the war?” Andrew yelled.
“Boston has been abandoned, do not go there; New York is safely loyalist and should stay so,” advised a weather-beaten fisherman.
“No doubt which side he is on,” muttered Richard. “Set a course for Boston Harbor,” he ordered.
Juliet sailed into Boston a day later expecting destruction and confusion, instead they found the city unharmed and struggling to get back to normal. The British had obviously left the city intact, fully expecting to return in the near future.
Richard was contacted the following day and invited to a meeting with members of the Colony’s Congress.
“You have met three of our members, Captain, let me introduce them: “Patrick Kennedy, Jonathon Percy and Anthony Hawkins. I am James Gillespie the Chairman for this meeting, James Gillespie and this is Captain Sorenson, late of the Royal Navy”. Richard shook hands with all of them and accepted a chair.
“I will come straight to the point, Captain: we wish to buy your ship for the newly-forming Congressional Navy, then give it back to you with a Junior Captain’s commission,” Hawkins said bluntly. All eyes were on Richard, who took a moment to recover.
“I can understand your need for ships, Sir, but Juliet is a merchantman and will hardly cause the Royal Navy to lose any sleep.” Richard replied.
“We do not expect Juliet to tangle with the Royal Navy, Captain, but protect our own merchant ships from privateers and perhaps British armed merchantmen,” Captain Sorenson cut in. The comment caused Richard to remember ideas from James Whitefield, so he offered problems with Juliet’s capabilities while thinking ahead.
“Would Juliet be fast enough for the task?” Richard asked.
“French designed ships usually are, and with some modification of the rigging and of course a lack of cargo she will do,” said Sorenson confidently. Richard finally put it all together and realized he would lose Juliet anyway, through confiscation.
“Apart from the cargo of cannons that is,” Richard pointed out.
“Apart from the cargo of cannons,” agreed Sorenson.
“Gentlemen, I must of course agree, but I have one condition and that is, I have control over Juliet’s armament and they will include carronades rather than cannon,” Richard stipulated.
“Carronades? What are they?” asked Gillespie.
“A new weapon, Chairman, not yet adopted by the Navy, who suspect The Carron Ironworks of Falkirk in Scotland of previous sharp practices. They are less than half the weight of a cannon yet can deliver three times the punch, but only over a short range,” explained Sorenson.
“Can we procure such weapons?” Gillespie asked.
“I think so Sir: my First Officer comes from Falkirk,” answered Richard.
Hawkins looked around the table and received nods of approval.
“Then let us raise a toast to Captain Digby and the …” he paused to consult his notes, “… the C.N.S. Talon,” Hawkins rose, as did the others, fortified wine was poured and the members toasted, “Captain Digby and the Talon.”
Richard accepted the toast realizing his life had changed irreversibly.
“Kindly stay back, Captain: we have housekeeping to complete,” barked Sorenson and he waited until the others had left. “Forgive me for asking, Captain, but how did you become so well informed on modern naval ordnance?”
Richard explained his position as assistant to Gunnery Officer Whitefield aboard Subtile and James’s passion for new weapons and tactics.
“The Royal Navy has a tradition of being reluctant to adopt anything new. We have no such traditions and begin anew using all the technological advantages that are available to us, but I suggest you do not disclose your ideas on tactics to anyone else. Now your refit will take place in shipyards at Poughkeepsie, they are owned by relatives of Gillespie; that is the way things are done here. I will draw up your authority to direct the refit; you will have priority over new vessels because of our need to have ships commissioned quickly. Do not worry over funds, the gentlemen of the council have made a personal guarantee and will never renege on it, but your purchase of the carronades is more difficult. Have you access to funds, preferably gold, to make the payment? You will of course be recompensed once the ordnance is delivered.”
“I have, Captain: in times of turmoil gold is always the refuge of investors,” answered Richard.
“Spoken like a true banker,” said Sorenson, smiling for the first time.
“Well, I did marry the daughter of one,” answered Richard, then realizing that Sorenson was now his superior officer, stood to attention. “Sir!”
“We do not have a designed uniform as yet, Captain, but you may attach an epaulette to your shoulder,” Sorenson ordered.
“A fast mail packet leaves in the morning for Bristol, Andrew, be on it with Simpson and a secure chest of gold coin. Do you foresee any problems in securing thirty carronades if they are available?” Richard asked Andrew, who was now a temporary civilian.
“Nay, Captain, there is no love lost between the people of Selkirk and the English: it was where William Wallace was defeated by treachery and King Long-shanks. If the weapons are available I will get them,” said Andrew emphatically.
“There is more coin available for the purchase of a sloop, something new and fast and rename her Rebecca. Have the carronades dismantled and stowed beneath a cargo of seeds or rice, speed is essential, and you should have few problems selecting a crew eager to avoid the press gangs. God speed,” Richard embraced an embarrassed Andrew. who hastened away to make his preparations.
“You want the gun port hatches to fall away below? asked a skeptical shipbuilder.
“Just so; bolt them at the top with enough upper weight to ensure they fall away and down when they are kicked open,” answered Richard.
“All that will ensure is that they will take considerable time to haul back up to close. Are you aware that King Henry’s flagship the Mary Rose had her lower gun-ports open to fire a royal salute when a sudden squall swamped the lower deck, causing her to sink with the loss of all hands?” asked the shipbuilder.
“That is why I have designed these canvas shields around the muzzles, Richard pointed to his drawings. “To keep out any seawater and muzzle flash, wadding and smoke,” explained Richard.
“The gun decking is very low, Captain, and that will affect your center of gravity; do you need so much headroom?” asked the shipbuilder.
“Carronades have a very high center of gravity and we will need all of that headroom,” answered Richard. The shipbuilder shrugged as if to say ‘your funeral’ and walked off.
Richard made a tour of inspection of the soon-to-be warship Talon. Her sides had been pierced by thirty gun-ports and work was almost complete on the gun platforms behind them to house the carronades. Richard had ruled out a complete gun deck extending from side to side in favor of supported shelves that allowed space for cargo and
passengers below and between. He had retained the passenger cabins for captured officers or female detainees. The re-rigging would begin in three days and he was well pleased with the progress. Completion now depended upon Andrew.
Richard returned to Boston and gave Rebecca a long overdue wedding present: the opportunity to buy a house while prices were still depressed due to the flood of properties put on the market by departed loyalists. Like a child opening presents at Christmas she rushed from one listing to another until she settled on a stone and shingle roofed two-story residence with both court and backyard not far from the outer harbor. Rebecca then gave Richard a long overdue wedding present by informing him she was with child. For the first time in months Richard put Talon out of his mind – at least for a short time.
“Can you make a couple of wigs for me Rebecca darling,” asked Richard.
“Wigs? They are well out of fashion now, Richard, but there should be some gathering dust somewhere, but I like your hair fashioned as it is,” replied Rebecca.
“It is not for me but for two of my new crewmembers,” mumbled Richard.
What are you hiring for this warship of yours, pirates or ponces?” laughed Rebecca.
“Just humor me darling please, I have my reasons,” replied Richard through his teeth.
“Oh very well, I dare say some lads or lassies will be glad to shed their locks for a few shillings, but I have never done such a thing before,” said Rebecca.
“I know of another thing that you have never done before but you managed magnificently,” said Richard, dodging another cushion.
In fact Richard had no say in the crew allotted to Talon; this was done by the fledgling Naval Department. Richard looked at the list and the previous postings of his officers and men and was impressed. The new navy may be short on ships but had an oversupply of men anxious to serve on them.
Talon’s refit had been completed and Richard ordered his crew and officers to report to the shipyards at Poughkeepsie. He wanted to complete several shakedown cruises before Andrew arrived, hopefully with the carronades.
The first of two officers Richard met was his First Officer, a Lieutenant Lewis who had served on both frigates and ships of the line. Lewis was a tall slim man who listened to Richard’s explanations on Talon’s cruising strategies without question and only raised his eyebrows slightly at the tactics they would engage in. He saluted and then went about the business of readying the ship for service.
The Gunnery Officer, Billings, was no Robert Whitefield, but expressed enthusiasm for the new carronades; fortunately the Chief Gunner’s mate who would be training the crew was an experienced gunner of both naval and field weapons.
The first sailing was predictably poor with the ship worked by individuals rather than a team. Richard introduced a prize system for the watches who performed best; unfortunately for the men at least it could not include a rum ration: one of the first orders of the new navy was to declare all its ships dry.
By the third cruise Talon was responding well to the crew’s handling and only the new rigging needed adjusting and in one instance, redesigning. It was at dawn on the second day of the third cruise that a fast sailing unarmed sloop was sighted, closing fast from the northeast on a course for Boston. Richard’s eyes watered his glass’s lens opaque as he offered up endless silent prayers until he could make out the sloop’s name on her foaming bows. Rebecca.
“You have put on weight, Andrew, due to insufficient action no doubt,” laughed Richard as he clasped Andrew’s hand and then introduced him to his officers.
“We have had action enough, Captain, but more on that later. We have your carronades, Sir, but not all of the same poundage; we had to delay several weeks while new barrels were forged and bored. I am sorry about the delay,” explained Andrew.
“You have no need to apologize, man, you managed the round trip in what, ten weeks? An excellent effort,” Richard turned to his officers who readily agreed.
Richard looked at the short chop on the sea’s surface.
“First Officer, could we effect the exchange of cargo now at sea? I am anxious to avoid prying eyes on the Boston Docks,” asked Richard.
I believe we can, Sir, if the cargo is dismantled, but may I suggest we leave at least two to be unloaded at Boston. It may look suspicious otherwise,” replied Lewis.
“Excellent advice, Number One; please expedite the transfer.” Richard took Andrew to his cabin to pump him dry of information while the crew on both vessels prepared heavy-duty hoists and tackles. It took twelve hours of backbreaking work to secure twenty-eight carronades in Talon’s holds.
“Where did you find her?” Richard’s first question was about the sloop, not the guns.
“On the Clyde, Captain; she was auctioned to recover debts after the Admiralty had commandeered the larger ships in the company to transport troops. The locals were timidly raising each other in low bids of a pound when I offered her true value of four hundred pounds. In the resulting flabbergasted silence she was knocked down to me. Her original name was….”
“Do not tell me, Andrew: to me she will always be Rebecca,” cut in Richard, looking about the small rosewood-lined cabin with pride.
“Buying the carronades was no problem, there is no love lost between the Carron works and the Admiralty, it was filling the order – all I could manage was twenty six thirty two pounders, two twenty four pounders and two massive sixty-eights,” continued Andrew. “There is still some coin in the chest and here are the receipts for the carronades.” Andrew sat back and took a deep breath.
“You may keep the coin for your float, Andrew,” said Richard.
“Float, Sir, what float? Andrew asked.
“Your cash float, Andrew – you are now Captain of the Rebecca and may engage in any favorable commerce. I have only one condition and that is, no armaments: Rebecca is far too small to mount anything of significance, you must rig her for speed.” Richard stood and shook Andrew’s hand. Andrew for once remained speechless.
Talon docked in Boston the following morning and a deliberately delayed Rebecca four hours later. Richard made much of the unloading of the two remaining carronades and followed the huge carts back to Talon.
“They have no wheels,” said an urchin.
“Or trunnions,” said another, to show his knowledge of guns.
“I have been instructed to assist you with their installation,” said the shipbuilder in Richard’s ear.
“I thought you would be far too busy completing your ships,” replied a surprised Richard.
“There are no ships, Captain, nor a shipyard; the British Navy raided us three days ago and destroyed everything,” replied a grim shipbuilder.
Any concerns the shipbuilder may have had over the conversion of Talon disappeared when confronted by the task of installing the carronades.
“We should mount the heavier sixty-eights mid-ship, Captain, and the lighter twenty-fours forward near the bows; that should ensure an even trim,” suggested the shipbuilder. Richard gave him full authority to install the carronades in consultation with the Gunnery Officer. Richard made a tour when the installation was complete two weeks later.
“Each beast is mounted on a sliding mobile pedestal and secured by a lug under the barrel,” bubbled the Gunnery Officer. “You see here, Sir, an elevating turn screw secured through the pommel instead of a wooden wedge and the bores are so tight there is little wind age as in most cannon.” The man was quite happy to prattle on but Richard’s attention was drawn towards a smiling Simpson.
“Simpson, it is always a pleasure to see you, but I thought that you were employed ashore repairing weapons,” said Richard.
“That I am, Sir, but with Captain Sorenson’s permission I was given leave to install a superior firing mechanism on the carronades,” Simpson revealed his devices proudly. “There were no firing mechanisms on the previous cannons: ignition was by means of touching a glowing cord or match to a gunpowder filled touch-hole. Simpson had attached a
flint-lock beside the touchholes, much like a musket; a long lanyard activated it.
“Much faster and safer, Sir, having glowing matches around charges of gunpowder was always dicey,” said Simpson.
“Guns?” Richard asked.
“Bloody marvelous Sir,” came the reply and Richard agreed.
“Commanding Officer on deck,” called Lieutenant Lewis over the wail of bosun’s pipes as Captain Sorenson climbed aboard Talon. Richard had an immense feeling of pride as his crew came to attention dressed in their new uniforms. The officer’s uniforms were not uniform; the design of such was not a high priority in the new navy. Sorenson inspected every sailor, then the ship, and was impressed by what he saw and said so. He presented Richard with the new naval ensign: a ring of thirteen white stars on a blue quarter square, red and white horizontal stripes filling the remainder, and wished Talon God speed. The wail of bosun’s pipes had hardly dissipated when Talon retrieved her lines and was towed into mid-harbor to await the morning breeze.