HMS Aphrodite (Sea Command Book 1)

by Richard Testrake

  At that particular moment, Admiral Duncan’s fleet was fully engaged and there was no ship available to come to Aphrodite’s assistance. Turning to starboard, she was able to employ her port broadside and could even knock away an opponent’s foremast. It was no use though. Three Dutch frigates were slamming their broadsides into her as fast as they could fire, which was very fast indeed. She had already received dozens of wounds, many below the waterline. Taking on water fast, the ship was steadily settling lower in the water.

  Aphrodite’s mainmast had her starboard shrouds shot away and took an alarming list. The mizzen was almost in the same condition. The bosun had parties of men swarming over the rigging, fighting against time and enemy shot, trying to get the sail off her and the masts secure. With way upon her, the master slid her onto a mud bank ahead, where she continued firing at her opponents, until Admiral Duncan signaled her to discontinue the action. At that time Mullins ordered the cease-fire and hauled down his flag.

  Mullins busied himself by taking stock of damage and of the numerous casualties. The thick pall of gunsmoke drifted away with the onshore breeze. He had expected boats from the victorious enemy frigates would come over to take possession of Aphrodite, but this did not happen. It soon became evident that Adm. Duncan had been successful in his action. Three of the enemy’s battleships had struck to him, as well as several lesser warships. Those able to escape were now leaving. The frigates that had been pummeling Aphrodite were now making their own escape. The battle of Camperdown was over and Aphrodite was not a Dutch prize.

  It was soon obvious however the ship was going nowhere. With numerous holes in her lower hull, and aground on a mud bank in enemy waters, her hours seemed numbered.

  Collecting statements from various department heads, Mullins was preparing to deliver them to the flag, when a boat from the Venerable came alongside. She was full of armed seamen and Marines and at first Lieutenant Haggerty was concerned about getting the ship afloat. After witnessing the damage, he returned to the flag, returning with more boats and men.

  At first, the hands busied themselves with salvaging what they could. With the tide at its highest point, the water inside the ship had flooded the lower decks through the many openings in the hull. It was possible to lower the guns overboard into the boats. The intention at first was simply to salvage what equipment they could. As the tide dropped, many of the shot holes were exposed and without orders, Mister Adams, their newly assigned carpenter, began nailing patches over them.

  It was then that Mullins thought the ship might still have a chance. The men worked through the day, lightening ship as fast as they could. When the tide was at its low point, with all accessible shot holes patched, the men went to work on the pumps, draining as much water overboard as they could. The carpenter began working on patching holes from inside the ship, below the waterline. Dozens of hammocks were wedged into the holes and continued pumping brought the water in the ship even lower.

  Soon, the tide would turn again. Although the ship was firmly resting on the muddy bottom, Mullins thought she might be light enough to float, given the chance. A party of men roused a cable up from the cable tier and passed it through the stern window. After being led around to the bow of the ship, the cable’s end was attached to the best bower anchor and lowered into the launch. The boat took the anchor and cable and dropped the anchor to the bottom as far astern as the cable would reach.

  Now the tide was coming in again. The battleships had left, but Circe remained behind to assist. She sent over men to man the pumps while the Aphrodite’s were straining at the capstan.

  As the men on the pumps shot water over the side at a furious rate, others put their chests to the capstan bars and began heaving. At first, the ship seemed to be solidly fastened to the bottom, with no movement, however hard the men strained. Then, as a swell came to the stern, Mullins thought he felt it lift a bit. More swells came and more water shot over the side. Again she lifted a bit, this time sliding backward a few inches from the pull on the anchor cable.

  Mullins had one of the smaller midshipmen, too slight to be of use on the capstan standing beside him at the rail with a lead line. Every few minutes he would drop the weight into the water and call out the depth. The incoming tide had almost reached its highest point again and would soon begin to fall. If they were going to escape, it would have to be soon.

  The swells had become more pronounced and the ship was rocking in the mud. Sometimes the tension on the cable would pull her backward a bit when the stern raised. Mullins knew the men were tiring and the tide would soon begin to drop. Something else must be done.

  The bosun, was at the mizzen starboard shrouds, testing their tensions. His crew had done a seaman-like job of securing the main and mizzen masts. Calling him over, Mullins ordered, “Mister Drake, I would like you to raise the jib and flat it out to the wind. We are stuck in the bottom mud up forward. I want to see if we can twist her out.”

  Drake responded, “Aye-aye sir. We may break something when we do that.”

  “If we don’t, Mister Drake, we will surely lose the ship.”

  As the wind caught the rising jib, it first tried to roll her, then began to force her bows around. Suddenly, a larger wave lifted the stern a bit higher, and the ship began to pivot out of her muddy berth. Soon, the ship was floating free and was coming under control. Escorted by Circe, the ship-sloop made her way out to sea and on course for home.

  The ship was a wreck inside, pummeled as she had been by the concentrated fire of the Dutch frigates. But, she was afloat, which was the important thing to Captain Mullins. After several days spent in getting the ship’s interior in order, Mullins called in the carpenter.

  Mister Adams, you may be sure I will report your professional expertise to the admiral when we reach port. Your efforts have done as much to save the ship as anyone else.

  After sailing into Spithead, the ship was given a comprehensive survey before he was called into see the port admiral. The various dockyard officials exhibited some head-shaking over the damage to Aphrodite, but the admiral, Sir Richard Onslow, was charitable.

  “Captain Mullins, there has been controversy over whether to sell your ship for firewood, or repair her. Due to the shortage of reconnaissance and dispatch vessels in the fleet, she will be repaired. This will take some time though. Since I do not have another ship to offer you immediately, I will keep you in mind when it becomes time to select a commander, when she comes out of the dockyard. In the meantime, I suggest you go home and visit your family. Please give my regards to Lord Yarley.”

  Rather than returning home directly, Mullins, with extra funds at his disposal, took rooms at a nearby inn. Not wishing to leave his father’s men, Will and George, to the tender mercies of the Impress Service and the receiving ship, he was able to extricate the men on the grounds of them being his personal servants. Midshipman Raynor, having no place to go, also found a place in the inn. In return for his meals, Raynor attended to the various errands of his captain. The inn possessed a shabby old one-horse chaise as well as an ancient cob to pull it. For a small sum, Mullins was able to hire it on most mornings and he and Mister Raynor went for drives along the waterfront.

  Will and George lived in the stable and cared for the animal. Under their care, the horse actually started to become fat, having more food than it had ever had in its previous life. Mullins had to warn them against overfeeding, for fear of founder.

  The weeks passed slowly for Mullins. He did not recall being this inactive since he was a boy. Young Raynor seemed satisfied enough and his two men found casual work on the docks. Mullins found himself daily looking out over the dockyard viewing the work being done on Aphrodite. The obvious repairs had been completed, but he knew that was no sign he would soon be back to sea.

  Although the port admiral had implied he would be considered for her command again, he well knew a more recent favorite could get the ship in his place. A very big problem lie in the fact there were many more
commanders than there were ships suitable to command. Most that were unable to find promotion to post rank would spend their days on half pay. Those commanders without interest could very well spend the rest of their days upon the beach.

  Of course, with a father in Lords, it could not be said he had no interest. It was just that he could not bring himself to ask his parent to give him any advantage over his peers. One afternoon, he had returned from his daily drive, where he had noted the Aphrodite had been moved out into the harbor. He had Raynor pull the horse over while he watched a succession of shore boats deliver supplies. If he had to guess, he would expect the ship to sail soon.

  Having had no notice, he decided that he would not be the one taking her out and the blue devils had taken hold of his thoughts. It became evident to him this might be the time to give up his commission and return to the estate to take up his duties there.

  In this frame of mind, he was sitting in the common room nursing a pint of bitters when the publican came to him.

  “Pardon sir, there is a gentleman in uniform with a message for you.”

  A young Marine officer, booted and spurred, was ushered in to him, bearing a leather Admiralty dispatch case. Every inch of this officer seemed to be gleaming with polished silver and gold trappings. Mullins involuntarily stood as the junior officer approached. The lieutenant opened the flap of the case and offered a sheaf of paper to him, held together by Admiralty tape.

  When Mullins had difficulty opening the packet, the Marine offered a silver-mounted penknife, which did the honors perfectly. Reading rapidly through the documents, he saw that he was to repair aboard the flagship where he would receive instructions of possible duty. If he was not available, he must inform the bearer of this message.

  Immediately putting aside his doubts and misgivings, he assured the Marine he would report aboard the flag as soon as he could find a boat to deliver him.

  The courier advised a boat should be awaiting his pleasure at the signal tower. Its use was advised so as to insure no delay.

  Climbing the sides of the flag, Mullins tried to put his tumultuous thoughts in some order. It was likely this duty would involve use of Aphrodite. It could be almost in any portion of the world covered by water. He had to shut his mind to these speculations as he was met by the flag captain and led to his quarters.

  Offered a fine Madeira, Mullins tossed half his drink down before remembering himself. It would not do to present the picture of him being a tosspot. Taking particular care to listen to what his superior had to say, he learned that General Napoleon Buonaparte, in command of the Army of England, the putative invasion force encamped along the French side of the Channel, had been reported to have left his command and was now coaching toward Paris.

  He further learned there had been activity in the large French fleet at Toulon, France’s large naval port in the Mediterranean. Whether there was any connection between these activities remained unclear, but it was considered this news should be relayed to Admiral Jervis, for him to make of it what he might.

  Captain Dravers told him he had visited Aphrodite as she lay at anchor the previous afternoon and found she was in most excellent condition following her recent drubbing. “As we speak, her standing officers are overseeing her re-supply and hands are now being sent aboard. It is anticipated you should be able to sail within a week, given a good wind. Have you any questions?”

  “Sir, I wonder what sort of hands I might have? I have in the past sailed with men a day out of prison, making a majority of my crew.”

  “Captain Mullins, I have angered half the captains in port by levying their ships for seamen. I have specified only able and ordinary seamen should be sent to Aphrodite. Now, we both know, few captains in the receipt of such an order, will send their very best men, but I think you will find at least a quarter of your hands will be rated ‘Able’. You will have a new first officer. Mister Doolittle has gone to Goliath, but we are sending you a freshly commissioned young man by the name of Henderson.”

  “Now then, your Mister Goodwin, is he fit to serve as first officer or should I send you someone?”

  “Sir, I know Mister Goodwin will be an excellent first officer and I will be glad to have him aboard.”

  “Very well, now that is settled, what about your warrants? Any misgivings with any of them?”

  Without hesitation, Mullins answered, “Sir, I will be glad to sail with any of my present warrants.”

  . Admiral Onslow told me he wished to see you if he had a chance, but he was called to London. No delay in your ship’s sailing will be countenanced, so if he has not returned before it is time to sail, I fear that must be put aside.”

  “If you had a word with the officer of the deck, I am sure he could have one of our boats deliver you to Aphrodite, in order to save some time.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Mister Goodwin met him at the side. Mullins handed him his orders and asked him to call the crew aft. “I might well be ‘Read In’ and make everything official.”

  Goodwin ventured, “I should think your previous commission should still be valid, Captain.”

  “I think not, Mister Goodwin, I have been on half-pay since last we met. This will be the beginning of a new commission.”

  Once he had sent a boat ashore to retrieve his people and kit from the inn, he called his officers and warrants to attend him on the quarterdeck. While awaiting them, he had a quick glance about the ship. Everything seemed familiar to him. There was no evidence of the deadly struggle she had endured just weeks before. With the exception of the new second officer, Mister Harrison, everyone was familiar to Mullings, at least among the officers and warrants.

  To bring himself up-to-date, he invited Mister Goodwin to dinner and spent the time discussing the changes aboard Aphrodite.

  “What happened with Mister Goodwin?” Mullins asked. “The admiral told me he had gone on to HMS Goliath.”

  “Well sir, we were shifting the ship out into the harbor. Anchorage space was needed close to shore for other ships, so we were ordered farther out. There was a brisk southerly wind that day and the ship was lively. Mister Goodwin’s foot caught in a coil of line, and down he went, ass over teakettle. The admiral happened to be watching and decided Harden would be better off in a larger ship. He thought Mister Doolittle’s injury was acting up.”

  Goodwin added, “I hear there had been some problem with Goliath’s first officer, so he was sent ashore and Mister Doolittle is now first officer of a third-rate.”

  The men were mostly different, although here and there a hand stood out who had previously served with him. There was little time to socialize with old hands since they had a lighter on the port side laden with casks of salt beef which must be swayed aboard, while to starboard, a water hoy lay, waiting to have her cargo pumped aboard to fill the huge water tuns down in the hold.

  Only at sundown, after the shore craft left, was there time to call the men, first to their afternoon grog issue and then to supper.

  There was not the rancor Mullins had seen on previous commissions with a crew hastily spliced onto another. These people seemed, if not actually willing, at least ready to explore the possibility of getting along with each other.

  As he was gazing out over the water, he eye was directed to a tall seaman coiling a line at the mizzen. The seaman was familiar and seemed to be looking at him as if expecting to be recognized. With a jolt, the seaman’s name came to him. Aikens, and he had been a topman aboard his first command, HMS Havoc.

  “Aikens”, he called. “Is that you?”

  “Yessir”, the seaman answered, knuckling his forehead.

  “Well, how have you been keeping yourself, Aikens? What have you been up to?”

  “Well sir, after Havoc paid off, I went home a bit to see my Ma and Pa. The Impress Service was not busy at the time so I got home without being caught up. I made a pile of prize money on our cruise that I left with them. I have almost enough to buy a pub in my town. If I can get ju
st a little more prize money, my Pa will buy it for me and he and Ma can run it while I’m at sea.”

  “On my way back, I wanted to find you and see if you needed another topman, but I was picked up by an Impress Service party and found myself aboard Orion. No prize money there. Captain Saumarez knew I had sailed with you on Havoc and just yesterday asked if I wanted to join you on Aphrodite.”

  “Well, I’m damned glad you are with me, Aikens. What do they have you doing these days?

  “Sir, I tore something in my gut aboard Orion and sawbones says I can’t go aloft anymore. First officer said I could go ashore if I wanted, but I don’t. I need to make just a little more prize money so I can buy that pub. Right now, they have me doing like you see now, coiling lines and such.”

  “Tell me Aikens, if you can. On previous commissions, when joining different crews together, there has always been dissention, until the men became used to each other. Thus far, the men seem to be getting together very well, with no animosity. Have you any idea why that might be?”

  “Lord sir, you have used some words that are over my head. What we have here though, are a few men from a good many ships. Men that didn’t get along in their mess or with their first lieutenant, were put on the draft to come to Aphrodite.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with most of ‘em, it’s just they were in the wrong ship. With a few men from one ship and a few men from another, there are not enough hands from any one ship to lord it over other messes. They just have to learn how to get along.”

  “Aikens, what would you say if I appointed you petty officer, to oversee the landsmen at their duties on deck? I can’t promise you prize money, of course, but I would be surprised if we did not take something this commission.”