When Preble appeared, he was accompanied by a British master commander who stood stiff as a ramrod next to him.
“Gentlemen, I have news, and Captain Bridgeston here has a message for you. Let us hear from the Royal Navy first. Captain Bridgeston, if you please.” Preble turned to the Royal Navy officer, who took a half step forward and produced a folded paper from which he began to read. He still stood ramrod-straight and held the paper out in front of him at arms length. He reminded me of a painting I once had seen of a Roman senator, and I smiled secretly as I pictured him, not in the crisp blue, white, and gold uniform of the Royal Navy, but in a toga.
“‘To the officers and men of the American Navy Mediterranean squadron under Commodore Preble, Greetings.
“‘I have been informed in some considerable detail of your brilliant attack on and subsequent firing and destruction of the American frigate Philadelphia and commend you on your bravery and foresight. Depriving the Bashaw of the use of that vessel was most essential to our eventual success in curtailing the activities of his corsairs. Your courage and conviction are to be applauded. This adventure is surely the most bold and daring act of the age.’
“And it is signed, ‘Horatio Nelson, Admiral. Off Toulon.’” Captain Bridgeston stepped back to his position alongside the commodore as he folded the paper again.
A murmur went through the assembled officers, the loudest being those of us who actually participated in the “most bold and daring act of the age.” I grinned at the recognition we received from this hero of the Nile, perhaps the boldest and most daring of them all. I noticed that Captain Decatur was standing straight and tall, unsmiling and silent.
“Thank you for sharing Admiral Lord Nelson’s generous comment, Captain.” Preble smiled at the British officer and then faced us again. The schooner that came in during the night is a civilian vessel chartered by the Secretary of the Navy to bring dispatches and orders to me from Washington and President Madison. Included in them is the following letter from the Secretary addressed to me:
“‘By dispatches sent to me I have learned of the destruction of the late frigate Philadelphia while lying in the harbor of Tripoli under circumstances of extraordinary peril to the parties mat achieved it. I find, sir, that Lieutenant Decatur had command of the expedition. The achievement of this brilliant enterprise reflects the highest honor on all the officers and men concerned. He (Lieutenant Decatur) has acquitted himself in a manner which justifies the high confidence we have reposed in his valor and skill. The President of the United States has asked me to convey to Lieutenant Decatur his thanks for such gallant conduct and further requests that you thank in his name each individual of his gallant band for their honorable and valorous support, rendered the more honorable from its having been volunteered. As a testimonial to the President’s high opinion of the brave and skillful conduct which obtained by all participants, he has requested that I forward and you, sir, deliver the enclosed commissions.’” Preble stopped and then looked squarely at Captain Decatur.
“Your commission, sir, is that of captain, United States Navy. You will do all of us honor by accepting it.”
Another murmur went through the group, and Decatur took a step forward from where he stood with the officers of Enterprise.
“Sir, I can not be singled out for this honor without ensuring that those who volunteered to accompany me will likewise receive the recognition and honor they have rightly and equally earned with their own participation.” The captain remained standing in front of us as a stunning silence fell over the group.
If we all get promoted, I thought, barely able to contain my excitement, then I will be a lieutenant, and after only ten months a midshipman. Won’t Edward be proud of me! As these heady thoughts raced through my brain, I realized that the commodore was speaking again, this time in a somewhat quieter voice.
“. . . noble, sir. However, the secretary agrees with you and has forwarded suitable rewards for those who served with you.” He stopped and consulted a list which he apparently had received with the letter. “All acting lieutenants are herewith promoted, effective immediately, to lieutenant. In addition, Lieutenant Charles Stewart, Argus, to lieutenant commandant. Midshipmen . . .” I held my breath, waiting for those words. “. . . are granted a monetary reward equal to one half year’s pay.”
I was crestfallen. No promotion. But, I consoled myself, six months’ pay will certainly be a welcome increase in my often desperate financial position.
But our captain was not yet finished. He spoke quietly, but perfectly audibly to those of us who surrounded him and the commodore. “Sir, have you received word from the secretary concerning our being awarded prize shares from the destruction of the frigate? Surely the men who accompanied us are entitled to their just rewards as well.”
A cloud passed across the commodore’s eyes, darkening his look and speaking to either his frustration with the delay or his differing opinion. “That is an item which remains undecided at this time, Captain Decatur. But you may rest assured, sir, that, should the Congress see fit to decide favorably, I will forthwith inform you of that decision as quick as ever it is communicated to me.” Preble spoke in a low voice as well, and, when he saw Decatur nod his head, he looked about him at the rest of the officers and again raised his voice so as to be audible to all. I took from his comment that he agreed that we were entitled to prize shares from Philadelphia.
“I have also been informed by our friends of the Royal Navy that my visit to Naples early in the late month has born fruit. The King of the Two Sicilies has agreed to grant me the loan of six gunboats and two bomb vessels from his fleet. These vessels will soon await us at Messina and, once brought to off Tripoli, will serve us to our advantage in attacking that city. It is my intention to leave on the morrow for Messina to collect these vessels and the schooner Nautilus, should her repairs be completed, and bring them to a position off the harbor of our enemy. Once there, we shall, as quickly as ever possible, begin a bombardment which will, should we be successful, reduce that city to rubble.
“It is necessary that these eight vessels be manned by our own sailors in addition to those Italians, some ninety-six of them, in fact, loaned to us by our ally, the King of the Two Sicilies. Of course, they will be commanded by our officers.” He stopped and consulted another paper which he drew from his pocket. Then he listed the captains who would command the divisions of the gunboats as well as the individual vessels. I was thrilled to hear that Captain Decatur would command not only one of the boats, but a division as well. His brother, James, currently on Nautilus, and Lieutenant Lawrence, our own first lieutenant, would each be in charge of boats. The other three were given to an officer from Constitution and two others, whose names meant little to me, from the brigs.
“Each of the commanders will select those officers they wish to accompany them, along with some thirty seamen for each. We will join our comrades currently on station in the blockade and, with the Grace of God, offer those heathen scoundrels some American ‘tribute’ as a celebration, albeit several weeks late, of the independence of our great country!” Preble had barely completed his words before a great cheer erupted from the officers, joined quickly by a handful of seamen who had been lounging near at hand. I must admit, I was quite caught up in it and surprised myself with my own enthusiasm.
Then it was over. Most of the officers from Enterprise as well as the other ships clustered around Decatur, offering him congratulations and joy of his double promotion while we awaited the boats which would carry us back to our respective ships.
No sooner had Judd greeted our arrival on the schooner’s deck than our captain addressed us.
“Gentlemen, when we take our position in the blockade and man the gunboats, it is my intention to have Mister Devon and Mister Baldwin with me. Mister Lawrence will take Mister Morris, and Mister Hobbs will temporarily command Enterprise. Should any among you have other thoughts, please let me know.” No further words were necessary. He went be
low leaving us in silence on the deck. I am sure that each of us was deep in his own thoughts, recalling our attack on Philadelphia and relishing the thought of further retaliation against the Bashaw. For my own self, I wasn’t so sure.
“What was he talking about, Oliver, taking you and me in a gunboat with him? What gunboat? Where are we going?” Judd grabbed my arm and whispered insistently into my ear. It brought me up all standing and I shook my head to clear it.
“We’re going to take the squadron and a fleet of gunboats the commodore borrowed from some king and attack the fortress and the castle. Preble put the captain in command of one of the gunboats and told him to pick his officers and crew for it. He picked us as you just heard.”
As we went below to the cockpit, Judd badgered me and finally drew from my still-addled head a detailing of the events that transpired on the flagship, including the promotions and money rewards. While I could not recollect the exact words used by Admiral Nelson to describe our attack in February on our late frigate, I think I successfully conveyed the feeling of his praise.
“Damme! I wish I had been with you. Did Decatur mention me, say anything that might make you think he was not still angry with me?” Judd’s worried expression spoke more eloquently of his real concern than did his words.
“Well, Judd . . . no.” I tried to think of something, anything to tell him. His face fell and his frown deepened. “But he did select you instead of one of the officers to go with him in the gunboat. That has to count for something!” I was pleased that I could come up with an answer for him, even a tenuous one.
“Aye. I guess that’s something. It might give us . . . me . . . a chance to restore my honor in his eyes. Yes. Perhaps you’re right. He could have left me in the schooner for that as well.”
Judd took me over and over the events that took place on Constitution, and in the boat to and from, making me repeat words that might have reflected on Decatur’s attitude toward him. Throughout our dinner, he continued to badger me, and I struggled to recall everything, even the tiniest detail of conversation and comment; I wracked my brain to come up with suitable answers for him. Later that afternoon, when we came topside, we saw that the flagship was making preparations to get underweigh, presumably to Messina to collect our gunboats and mortar vessels.
“You youngsters have anything to take care of ashore, I’d get it done sooner than later. I’ll warrant we’ll be gettin’ our own selves outta here within a day or so, no more.” Lieutenant Hobbs had joined us as we watched the flurry of activity on the big frigate. Judd and I shared a quick look, and I was some certain that the same thought ran through his mind as mine.
That’s just what Hobbs said the night before Thomas and Judd fought their duel in Messina! Well, there’s no duel to be fought now. I wonder what he’s thinking. And Thomas isn’t even here. Why would he say something like that?
“Likely be some warm action over there when the commodore puts it all together. I’d warrant the gunboats will make the difference. And I’d imagine the cap’n’ll like as not want me in the scrap, bring Enterprise in close and show those rascals our own iron. You lads’ll likely get a real taste of fightin’ in this one.” The older lieutenant smiled at us then gazed off into the distance, perhaps thinking about the ‘warm action’ he mentioned.
‘A real taste of fighting is it? What do you suppose he might think of the action on Philadelphia. I’d call that one ‘pretty warm,’ at least from where I was standing. And as I recall, it was Hobbs who ran through that pirate right in front of me just after we came aboard! And without so much as a blink!
“Maybe put an end to this blockade business, we hit them hard enough, right, Lieutenant? Maybe get our men off Philadelphia back from them as well.” Judd spoke quietly, perhaps testing how Hobbs might feel toward him, whether he shared the captain’s mindset or not.
“Likely won’t change a thing, Mister Devon. Them pirates ain’t likely to lay down and the just on account of we drop some shells and iron into their castle and town. And I doubt whether the Bashaw’d be real eager to give up the Philadelphias without he gets his damn ransom . . . and, like as not, tribute into the bargain. No, I think we might get his attention, is all. Mayhaps make it some easier for Preble and the consul . . . that Danish fellow . . .” He paused, thinking.
“Nissen,” I supplied quietly in the silence, recalling the name from Edward’s letters and how helpful the Dane had been to him and the others held in that miserable, rat-infested dungeon.
“Aye, Nissen. If they can convince the Bashaw that we ain’t going away, and we’re serious about destroying his town and his castle, he might back off some on his demands.”
“Sir, what about these gunboats? What do you know of them?” I thought if he could offer some wisdom on them, it might be helpful to me in deciding whether or not I really wanted to go with Decatur.
“Well, Mister Baldwin, what I’ve heard is they are about twenty or so tons each with a crew of thirty or forty men. Carry a long twenty-four-pounder for’ard. Just one. Some of ‘em, I hear tell, can carry another pair of lighter long guns amidships. And bein’ flat-bottomed, they’re not much seaworthy.” He stared off into the distance again; neither Judd nor I said anything. “Damn near impossible to handle under sail or oar.” He added, almost to himself and then, louder, to us, “Glad I’m sailing the schooner, I am. Yes, sir! But I’d warrant that the cap’n thinks right high of the two of you lads, to want you with him in the gunboat. Must think you can handle yourselves with the best of ‘em.” He smiled at us and walked away.
“Oliver, I feel much better about this whole business. Will you join me in a glass ashore? I think it would be right nice.” Judd seemed suddenly a different man.
I nodded, smiling at the thought of returning to a more normal relation ship, and soon, to a normal routine at sea.
Almost without conscious thought, and certainly without conversation, once ashore we set our course for the same taverna we had frequented when first we visited Syracuse, the very same one at which Reliance Wakefield had discovered the secret writing in my letter from Edward. That, as I thought of it, reminded me that I had yet to discuss with the medical man my brother’s latest intelligence and recommendation. We found a table with little difficulty as it was still early for the local populace to be seeking their supper. Judd ordered a glass of the local brandy for himself. When the waiter looked at me, I flushed, hesitated, and nodded at him, indicating I would have the same. It seemed the easier course to follow.
“Judd, when the captain mentioned the prize shares he thought we were entitled to I was some surprised; I thought we only got prize money for the enemy vessels we brought in, like that ketch, Mastico.” I was not just giving my friend and senior midshipman a chance to feel superior to me; I really was confused about the whole prize money subject. Devon looked at me, cleared his throat and took a breath.
“You’re mostly right, Oliver. But if the vessel is destroyed and is of equal or superior power than the victor, like Philadelphia was, then we can collect our prize money. ‘Ceptin’ it’d be called ‘head and gun’ money, assuming we knew how many crew she carried and what her armament was. Which, in the Philadelphia frigate, we did. ‘Course, with the little ship, Mastico, we. weren’t entitled to prize money, shares, it’s called. The general rule is you don’t get prize money even when you bring in a prize less’n it’s sold along with its cargo. That’s why we didn’t get anything from the ketch; Preble took her into the squadron as a vessel of the Navy.” Judd stopped and looked at me to be sure I was still with him. When I said nothing, he continued.
“Now, I suspect the problem they might be having at home with Decatur’s claim for prize shares from the frigate is that she was an American ship, and our orders were to burn her. Not cut her out and sail her home. I’d reckon they in Washington look at it same as they’d look at us burning a building ashore. Of course, they weren’t there enjoying the swordplay and fire the way we were.” The image of that hu
ge pirate coming at me with his ugly curved sword flashed through my mind. I shivered in spite of myself and shook my head to chase away the vision. Judd continued, unaware of my recollection.
“The cap’n says she was a prize, belonging to the enemy as she did at the time, and whether we took her or destroyed her, us and the others should get prize shares. The lads with Cap’n Stewart on the Syren brig also, since she was there to help us.” He stopped and I saw his eyes shift to a point over my head.
“Well! You two certainly look serious. I do hope you’re not planning any more duels! I suspect even our captain might take some umbrage at a second.” Mister Wakefield’s familiar voice was teasing rather than cautioning, and I turned in my chair to see him standing directly behind me, smiling broadly. “Have you lads room for an old medico to join you? I really don’t fancy eatin’ by myself.”
“Of course, sir. Please do.” Judd stood as he offered the invitation, his action suggesting to me I should do the same.
The surgeon had no sooner sat than a waiter arrived with a glass (I had neither seen nor heard him order anything), and Wakefield took a deep draught of it. I thought it might be wine. Then he smiled, wiped his mouth and, looking first at me then at Judd, spoke.
“What did you young gentlemen think of the little gathering this morning? Hmm? Reckon you young lions are straining at your lines to get back across the water and into this scrap again, eh? I collect you were both in attendance?”
Silence.
“Uh, no, sir. Captain Decatur left me aboard Enterprise, in command, I assume, while the others went to Constitution.” Even put the way Judd did, it didn’t sound quite right.
“Oh, I see. He still hasn’t put that little matter in Messina behind him, 1 take it? I would have thought, given his history, he might be some forgiving. Worry not, my young friend, I know our captain well, and I assure you, he will get over it. Eventually, even Mister Wheatley will be restored to grace. Though I surely do not relish the return of that disagreeable young pup to our midst.” This last was barely audible, and I was not sure the surgeon even realized he spoke aloud.
The Greater the Honor Page 32
