by D P Prouty
Captain Campbell nodded. “Makes sense, where does he think they are now?”
Captain Bainbridge pointed to the map, “The Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles; the Montezuma and Norfolk are in Dominica, and Barry thinks they will try and catch us escorting convoys. Truxtun is bringing down the frigate Constellation to match their strength, but she will not arrive until after hurricane season, until then we are on our own. One Brig and a handful of small schooners to match the firepower of a couple of large French frigates.”
Captain Campbell gave out a chuckle. “The Leeward Islands are about seven hundred square miles—that’s still a lot of ocean. We need to get some intelligence.”
Campbell and Bainbridge looked at one another and almost simultaneously said, “Twilla’s Tavern.” Then the two captains began to laugh a bit, but no one else understood the joke. Confused, I poured out the tea and moved over to ask Mr. McCall, standing next to the hatchway, where Twilla’s Tavern was and he was just as confused as I and gave a shudder with his shoulders in bewilderment. Then Captain Campbell said, “Gentlemen, we sail for Eustatius.” I was still confused as the officers began filing out of the cabin. It must have showed on my face because Lieutenant Gross said as he was passing, “St. Eustatius is an island, a Dutch island, with and open port.”
4
St. Eustatius
As we sailed for St. Eustatius, we caught a sudden storm front bringing a downpour of drenching rain along with ten-foot swells. We sailed through it for two days before it calmed. The lookout reported seeing a sail off the portside north of us about eight or ten miles out. The Retaliation had spotted her as well and began to sail toward her to investigate. Not part of a convoy, and in dangerous seas, she was likely a privateer or a warship. The captain shook his head and said to himself, “Bainbridge always leaps before looking, one day it will catch up with him.” He ordered all to action stations to prepare for an engagement. Looking though his glass he said, “French privateer, they’ve spotted us, heading north in a hurry.” We gave chase for half a day before deciding to turn back east to our original destination after making no progress on catching the privateer.
St. Eustatius was a welcome sight after five days of hard sailing. The harbor had a couple of French privateers as well as ships flying Dutch, English, and Spanish flags. The captain discussed the plan with the officers. He would go into town to Twilla’s Tavern with Lieutenant Gross, the first mate Mr. Freeman, and Mr. Duffy the ship cooper. I recognized Mr. Duffy as the man who had given Charlie, Frank, and me the blankets. The captain explained that Mr. Duffy was fluent in French and could probably pass for a Frenchman although he was Irish. The captain said to me, “Clyde, you might be able to pick up on some information because you will not bring attention to yourself. Besides, I may need you to run back to the dock and signal the ship if need be.” His tone was more of a request than an order but I agreed. The ship’s boat was pulled alongside the ship as we began to load into it. The small boat was used to transport men back and forth to shore and to other vessels as needed. We loaded in the ship’s boat and headed for the dock just as the sun was sinking into the horizon. After we got out, he ordered the oarsmen to return to the ship. Captain Bainbridge and another officer from the Retaliation met us on the dock. I was to run back to the dock from the tavern and signal the ship with the waving of a lantern should we encounter trouble and need help. Lieutenant Potts remained on the Eagle and would end men in the ship’s boat if necessary.
Darkness shrouded the island swiftly and the moon had not yet made an appearance before we arrived at the tavern. There was no secret that we were Americans since everyone except Mr. Duffy and I wore a blue uniform. In our plain shirts and trousers, Duffy and I could pass for a crewman from any number of nations. I did put on my shoes since I was going to walk on rocks, I hadn’t worn them in some time since it was summer, and they began to wear a blister into the balls of my ankles. Captain Campbell looked into the window, then pulled back and said to Duffy, “You and Clyde stay out here for a few moments then come into the tavern as if you do not know us. There looks to be a table near the fireplace. A group of men are sitting at a long table and by their dress I take them to be privateers. They are probably intoxicated, so listen to what they might say about us.”
The tavern had rock walls and a large fireplace on one end with several pots hanging over the fire. One large table extended from the fireplace to the center of the room with a chandelier of four lamps shining down over the table. Several small tables were strewed about the surrounding chamber. Captain Campbell and the other men entered the tavern and sat down at the far end opposite the fireplace. Mr. Duffy and I waited for a few minutes then entered the tavern and sat down at a small table near the men at the center of the room. I saw Captain Campbell speaking with a tall black man. They shook hands and it was obvious that they knew each other. The tavern was lively with music, there was a man playing a small violin and anther on a flute. I strained to hear what the captain was saying but could not make out the words. A woman came to our table and said something in Dutch I think. Duffy answered her in French and she smiled then answered him in kind before leaving. The men at the table next to us were talking in French as well. The only word I could make out was “Americans.” The woman came back a few minutes later with a couple of mugs. Duffy paid her and said something in French and she left. I drank a bit of the mug, it was warm beer. We didn’t talk and I suspected that the men would figure out we were listening, but they did not pay us any mind. Mr. Duffy did not look directly at the men and just drank his beer. The smirk on his face told me he had heard something of value. We sat quietly for what seemed a long time, then Captain Bainbridge got up exchanged a glance with Mr. Duffy. He gave a marginal nod, and we got up and waited outside the tavern for the others.
A few minutes passed before Captain Campbell came outside with Captain Bainbridge and the tall black man. Three men approached the tavern from a side street. The one in the middle stepped into the candlelight of the tavern. A thin man of short stature, he had long brown hair and had a scruffy beard with a very noticeable scar on the right side of his face from the bridge of his nose to halfway between his ear and chin. He wore a light blue coat without any epaulets or military insignia although he carried a rapier at his side much like the sword my father had hanging over the fireplace back home. He recognized the black man and in a condescending nature uttered, “Captain Daquin, what a disagreeable surprise it is to see you here, prostituting yourself out to the Americans I see.”
The black man replied, “Gentlemen, may I introduce Captain Andre Michot, privateer extraordinaire. I’m afraid his manners have escaped him, it seems all Frenchmen are a little testy these days since they seem to have made enemies of most to the world in one form or another.”
“Are you still working for the nigger, Toussaint,” he answered in disdain.
Captain Daquin looked at him with burning eyes, but seemed to keep his anger restrained as he responded, “You’d never call General Toussaint L’Ouverture a nigger to his face, Michot.”
“He’s a traitor. Does he really think his army of slaves can stand on their own without the French Republic?”
“He sides with whomever will keep his people free and will help them to build a better country. That appears to be the Americans and British at the moment. You pillage for profit, how is that any different? You should be thanking him for enticing so many merchant ships from America and the empire to enter your hunting grounds around Hispaniola. He’s making you a rich man.”
Captain Michot rubbed his chin for a moment and then said admittedly, “You have a point there, Roland.”
Captain Daquin stepped into the light and looked down upon the shorter Frenchman and hissed. “Nice slash someone did on your face, the scar is an improvement.”
Captain Michot was flush red with anger, but seemed to ignore the comment. He then said, “Are you not going to introduce me to your American friends?”
C
aptain Daquin eloquently waved his arm out in front of the two captains and said, “May I introduce Captains Campbell and Bainbridge of the United States Navy.”
Then Michot turned to Captain Bainbridge. “I’ve heard of you. You have temporary command of La Croyable.”
Bainbridge retorted, “It’s not the La Croyable any longer, and I’m not in temporary command.”
Michot just looked at him and smiled. “It will all be reconciled soon enough.” Without awaiting a reply, he continued on his way toward the tavern.
One of the men, a blond-haired man with a beard, bumped into me and pushed me to the ground. I felt embarrassed and got up quickly, instinctively screeching, “I’m not scared of you!”
The man replied, “You should be, you little
scoundrel!”
Captain Michot quickly grabbed the man and pulled him back saying, “Just a little misunderstanding, let’s be on our way,” and then he led his two comrades quickly into the tavern.
Captain Campbell asked, “Roland, what do you know of this man Michot?”
“He’s the captain of that brig in the harbor you asked me about, the name of the ship is Le Flambeau. He sails with another corsair, La Flechette. Be careful of them Hugh, Le Flambeau has eight ponders and is very fast, they’ve taken a lot of merchantmen.” Captain Daquin held out his hand and said, “This is where we part, gentlemen, stay safe.”
Captain Campbell shook his hand and stated, “Safe voyage, my friend, stay close to shallow water.” He also shook the hand of Captain Bainbridge and bid farewell to the other men as he walked away down the cobblestone street and disappeared into the darkness.
I had never seen a freed black man before. The only
black men I had ever seen were slaves back in North Carolina. I found it very strange that not only was Roland Daquin a freed man but also he was the captain of his own ship! How did Captain Campbell know him? And who was this General L’Ouverture that they spoke of? There was a lot I did not know. I should ask the captain about it later, I thought.
Bainbridge said with clenched teeth, “I should have run that son of a bitch Michot through!”
Captain Campbell looked at him and smiled. “He’s just trying to get your goat, Bill. If we violated the neutrality of this port, the Dutch would never let us use their port again and they would favor the French in all prize courts.”
“I guess you’re right, but I sure would have liked to make him bleed.”
Just then a woman’s voice came out of the darkness. “He has that effect on people.”
We turned and a woman appeared in the light. The group seemed bewildered for a moment, but then Captain Bainbridge seemed to recognize her after focusing his eyes. She said, “You weren’t going to leave without a ‘hello’ at least, were you?”
Captain Bainbridge replied, “Twilla! I thought you were gone to Amsterdam. I’d heard you married and left this place. What are you doing here?” He gave her a hug as did Captain Campbell and Mr. Freeman who also seemed to know Twilla. She said she had married a wealthy Dutch ship owner and lived in Amsterdam for a while, but her husband had wandering eyes and an appetite for more than just one mate. So she left him and returned to her home on Eustatius. “Besides, my mother and father look over me here,” she said as she pointed up to the cliffs overlooking the village below. “That cemetery up there holds three generations of my family, how could I leave?” Twilla was taller than most women and had long black braided hair that looked as though it could almost touch her waist. She had an accent, but her English was very good and proper. I suspected she was well educated. She was attractive in her own way, she had broad shoulders and judging from the dagger she had on her hip, she could carry her own in a fight. She looked down at me and said, “Your recruiting pretty young, aren’t you, Hugh?”
“Twilla, may I introduce my cabin boy, Clyde Carter. Clyde, this is my good friend, Ms. Twilla Van Manen. If you ever need anything, call on Twilla.”
Captain Campbell asked how things were in Holland and she shrugged her shoulders and said, “As good as can be, I suppose. The Batavian Republic is just a puppet government for the French and it seems every year someone is trying to overthrow someone else with a coup. It appears the French have stirred up a world war.”
Captain Campbell gently put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Well at least Statia is quiet for the moment.”
Her eyebrows pinched in and her forehead wrinkled up in a worried look as she said, “Be careful, all of you, it seems everyone thirsts for blood in these waters.” We said our good-byes then walked down to the dock.
We signaled the Eagle and soon the ship’s boat appeared to pick us up. On the way, Mr. Duffy explained that he had heard the men talking about the Americans. They said that a couple of large French man-of-war were sailing near Guadeloupe and once they have destroyed the American warships, the hunt for American merchantman without serious opposition will significantly increase. They said the French will stay clear of the British warships until they have destroyed the Americans.
We dropped off Captain Bainbridge and his officer at the Retaliation then rowed over to the Eagle. I did not understand what Captain Campbell meant by prize court when talking to Captain Bainbridge, so I asked him after we returned to the Eagle. “Sir,” I began, “What is a prize court?”
He replied, “That’s a court that decides the fate of a vessel captured at sea. They determine whether the prize was captured legally, and if so, who will get a profit from the sale of goods and the vessel itself.” Then he looked off for a moment, pursed his lips, then looked at me and said, “It’s a delicate business for these corsairs. You see, on the one hand, they must subdue the ship to overtake her intact, but on the other, if they should use excessive force, they not only damage the property they want a profit from, but they also risk a prize court not ruling in their favor and therefore they would have wasted resources, including men, for not.” I let it register for a moment, and then said, “So the corsairs only make a profit in attack?”
“Yes, they must take prizes in order to keep their ships sailing, they are mercenaries. That is why they often try to intimidate a merchantman to surrender without a fight as well. We also gain a profit for our prizes in addition to pay. You have already earned a percentage after rescuing the Hamlet and capturing the Le Fougueuse. You’ll get your payment when we get back to Norfolk!” I was thrilled with the thought!
About a week later, on a tranquil evening, I was on the deck admiring the clear sky filled with limitless stars, when the captain approached while smoking his pipe. He stood in silence for several moments before stating how much he loved the calm and peacefulness of the ocean on an evening such as this. He studied me for an instant, before exclaiming, “How are you feeling, Clyde? Are you getting a feel for the ship?”
“Aye, sir,” I replied, “I’m feeling much better, I’m able to eat with the crew now.” He gave a chuckle, and then told how old Edwards was a pretty good cook.
Gazing out at the ocean, he said, “I sure miss my wife’s cooking though,” paused, then smiled and continued, “but I don’t care much for her temper!” Then he looked at me with a startled look, like he revealed something he should have kept to himself, then turned his eyes back out toward the sea. I was amazed that he was married. He went on to divulge how he had three children and his family lived in Charleston. He asked me where I came from and I instinctively told him North Carolina. As soon as I said it, I probably had the same look as the captain had after revealing his wife had a temper. Him being a Scotsman, he would have surely realized most of the Scottish clans in the Carolinas were Loyalist and supported the British during the war for independence. I felt a flush of embarrassment and I didn’t know what to say, I was now a crewman on an American warship, did it matter that my father waged war on the side of the British? I struggled to put it out of my mind, I was not my father. The captain seemed to sense my inner strife, took a puff of his pipe, and said, “Clyde, the trials of a m
an’s life do not define him, what measures a man may take within those trials define him,” then he walked away into the darkness. I didn’t understand at the time what he was attempting to tell me, but years later I repeated that advice often.
5
Dominica
“Make sail. Lookouts, keep a good eye on the horizon. There are a couple of French warships out there somewhere looking to do us harm,” The captain shouted as we began our journey to Dominica. We had good wind and clear sailing as we made our way south past St. Kitts and Nevis. Tension was high as we passed by Guadeloupe from the east, but we did not spot any French warships and continued to Dominica. We sailed into Prince Rupert Bay less than fifty miles from the French port at Guadeloupe. The island of Dominica seemed to rise up out of the ocean with mountains on two sides of the bay and a town on the plain below in between. The Retaliation also followed us into the bay and anchored. Dominica was a British possession which they had taken from the French several years before. Looking out I saw five British warships, two of which were large frigates, the largest ships I had seen until that time, at least forty guns on each. There were many merchantmen flying both American and British flags. I also saw two American warships anchored away from the other vessels. Mr. McCall was looking through the glass at the ships in the harbor and I asked him if I could see the ships as well. He gave me the glass and I could see the American warships in greater detail. Lieutenant Gross was standing nearby and explained that the brig was the Norfolk and the larger three-masted full-rigged ship was the Montezuma. The Norfolk had eighteen six-pounders and the Montezuma had twenty nine-pounders. The British were more than happy to allow the Americans use of Prince Rupert Bay. They seemed to enjoy the fact that we were fighting their enemy as well, although they would fall short of coordinating attacks.