HMS Vigilant: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 5)

by Richard Testrake

  Coming up behind the chase, Mullins intended to come up on her port quarter. Her port beam had received disproportionate damage and several of her ports were empty. Before he could do so however, the chase began banging away at Vigilant with a six-pounder set up to fire aft.

  Accepting the inevitable losses, Vigilant continued on, coming up the enemy’s port beam. As soon as his guns began to bear, his own fire began again. As in the earlier phase of the action, the eighteen-pounder carronades were decidedly effective. Being lighter than the long guns, they were more easily handled and loaded and the rate of fire was impressive. A flurry of grape concentrated on the enemy quarterdeck took out the experienced officers and suddenly the enemy was without its leadership.

  With her captain dead, and two lieutenants badly wounded, no one capable of prosecuting a determined defense was left on the enemy quarterdeck and the tricolor was soon lowered. The prize was crippled and badly in need of a dockyard. Vigilant too, had her own injuries. Therefore, course was altered to Plymouth, where it was hoped repairs could be speedily obtained.

  On her way, a dispatch cutter on her way to the blockading squadron off Brest was encountered. Mullins handed her commander the mail bags intended for that fleet as well as a hastily drafted account of the battle with the Frenchman. After repairs to his ship were complete, Mullins hoped to be directed south toward Gibraltar and the Med.

  Chapter Four

  HMS Vigilant had only to spend a week in Plymouth to repair damages. She had lost some hands in the action, killed and wounded, but a convoy coming into the Channel from Halifax furnished some prime seamen. She had to share with other ships, but received a good dozen men. More men were obtained one stormy night when the ships’ boats went around to a nearby fishing port and raided several of the craft found there. Technically, most fishermen were immune from impressment, but these men, although carrying ‘Protections’, were taken from a pair of craft laden with crates of French wine and brandies.

  This undertaking was fortuitous, since Mullins had thought they were raiding normal fishing craft. Local officials had reported all smuggling craft were either at sea or in other ports and only innocent fishing vessels were present. Forbidden to press fishermen with protections, Mullins had decided to ignore the technicality, reasoning it would be a long time before Vigilant returned from foreign shores and by then, memories might fade.

  His boats went into the harbor in the dead of night, in a driving storm, to find they had taken two smuggler’s vessels straight from the French mainland. These were a pair of ketch-rigged fishermen, with barrels of un-customed brandy below. The crews were given the option of taking service with the Royal Navy or being turned over to the local magistrate. All chose to serve.

  The expectation of prize money from the captured contraband raised the spirits of the crew and the additional hands would lighten the work load for the seamen. Even the newly pressed hands, after comparing notes with the other crewmen, decided they might well have improved their own financial prospects. The prevailing opinion on the lower deck held that Captain Mullins was one of the more successful frigate captains, and all one had to do was stay alive to share in his prosperity.

  Gunner Jones had caused no end of problems for Captain Mullins and his new surgeon. After Mullins had deprived his gunner from any access to strong drink, Jones had become desperately ill. The ship’s surgeon felt his captain’s order depriving his patient of all strong drink was ill advised, Mister Burns modified his treatment to include a ration of seaman’s grog in the morning and another in the late afternoon.

  Grog, at this point of the voyage, was not normally issued to the seamen. As long as it lasted, the men must make do with small beer. Fortunately for them, this beverage spoiled quickly and stronger drink must be supplied. Burns had several kegs of West Indies rum in his stores as well as concentrated lime juice, which he used for the prevention of scurvy.

  Mister Jones did not have scurvy, but Burns supplied him with the fluid on general principals, reasoning that while it might not cure the gunner, it would certainly do him no harm. Mixing rum with lime juice, a little sugar and plenty of water gave some approximation of seaman’s grog, although this tipple was much weaker than that given to the hands.

  The daily ration of rum quickly took away the delirium that Jones suffered and the lime juice together with a reasonable diet restored a modicum of vigor to the warrant officer. Burns had not realized he was to submit regular reports about his patients to Captain Mullins, so the ship’s captain was unaware Jones was becoming functional again.

  Realizing his surgeon was not yet fully acquainted with the rules and customs of the naval service, Mullins believed he was not being overly severe when he discussed the various lapses with Burns. Captain Mullins was especially concerned when he found the surgeon had given Jones strong drink over his own prohibition. Mister Burns though, thought differently. As far as he was concerned, he was the patient’s surgeon and no layman was going to tell him how to treat an illness.

  As the disagreement became heated, Mullins was prepared to call in the sentry outside his door to arrest Mister Burns and confine him to his quarters.

  At this point, the surgeon realized he was venturing into shoal waters and attempted to sooth the captain. Realizing Mullins was angry because of the surgeon’s insistence in treating the patient by his own rules, he offered his explanation.

  “Sir, in cases such as this where the patient had a very strong dependence on spirits, sudden deprivation of the drink may cause desperate problems. I believe we might have lost Mister Jones had I not modified your order and given him small amounts of rum every morning and afternoon. If I am permitted to continue treating Mister Jones, I will most likely gradually reduce the amount of rum received daily. Eventually, I would hope to completely eliminate the drink, but only after I know the patient can withstand the withdrawal difficulties.”

  His feelings assuaged by the explanation, Mullins listened to the surgeon expound upon the treatment of other cases of alcoholic withdrawal cases he had experience with. He learned proper treatment ashore was most difficult since strong drink was so easy and inexpensive to come by. Few persons suffering from dependence on drink had the fortitude to abstain by themselves.

  On board ship though, the treatment could be more easily controlled. In Jones case, only the surgeon would be permitted to administer the patient his rum. Jones’ fellow officers and warrants must all be warned of the penalties they would incur should they violate their captain’s orders.

  After the captain and surgeon had settled their differences, Mullins called for Mister Jones to be brought into his quarters. Jones was escorted in by a pair of Marine privates. Jones appeared to be a shambling wreck, dressed in overly large slop clothing. He had gained a little weight but still had the nervous tic. Mullins addressed the gunner in front of the surgeon.

  “Master Gunner” Mullins began. “Doctor Burns tells me that you are a sick man and I must not punish you for your lapses. He has asked that I permit you to have a small amount of rum every day, and this I have ordered. You will only receive this drink from Doctor Burns himself. Any other man or officer furnishing you strong drink will face my displeasure.”

  “We all know that your body is not suited to the regular use of strong drink, so Doctor Burns tells me that our objective must be to wean you off your grog as soon as possible, without harming your body. The surgeon will make the decision as to when and how this will be done. You will make no such decisions on this matter yourself. If you somehow receive drink from other sources, you will be put ashore at the next convenient port and your warrant revoked. You will not resume your duties as gunner until I myself am convinced of your readiness.”

  Vigilant continued her way down the coast of France, then down the Iberian Peninsula. She entered Gibraltar’s harbor where she saluted the acting governor’s flag and Mullins went ashore to visit the government building to hand over his mail bag and collect any mail destined for the
Mediterranean Fleet.

  Captain Mullins had to enter the old monastery taken a century before, during the War of the Spanish Succession, which was now called the ‘Convent’ and used for government business.

  There, he learned the acting governor was not in the building, but Captain Gordon, a senior Royal Naval officer, waiting for repairs to be made to his liner, was detailed to handle any naval business. Mullins disclosed the mail bags present on Vigilant. Since some of that mail would be destined for local recipients while some must be sent to the eastern reaches of the Med, Gordon decided it should all be landed, sorted and sent on its way.

  Happy to be relieved of the responsibility, Mullins produced his orders and asked if there was any service he could do before departing. Grunting at himself in annoyance, after searching in several desk compartments, Gordon finally located the folder he was searching for, reading its contents carefully, then handing it to Mullins.

  This set of orders, from the Admiralty, placed Captain Mullins and his ship under the command of the Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Mullins already had received just such orders himself before leaving London, but this folder also had supplemental orders assigning such duties for his ship that the commander of Royal Navy forces, on Gibraltar might direct.

  Looking at Captain Gordon curiously, Mullins awaited an explanation. Gordon began. “Very well, speaking as the said commander of Naval forces, Gibraltar, I will start by reminding you that the navy is straining to cover all of the avenues that Bonaparte is using in his efforts to bring us down. Every time we smack down one of his poorly advised schemes, he pops right up with another adventure in a different area. Thus, although our navy is greatly superior to his own, we must struggle to cover all of his movements.”

  “You will remember Captain, that we have been allied with Russia in their conflicts with the Ottomans and France. Since then, they have made peace with France, with many of the Russian ships leaving the Mediterranean. Napoleon has taken advantage of this and is now sending ships and troops into the Aegean.

  “At present, he seems to be building up garrisons on some Aegean islands, which the Russians formerly occupied, off the western Greek coast. We have received reports of several thousands of troops already landed, likely to be mainly French and Italian conscripts. The island of Corfu seems to have received a large number of these troops, but other islands have been occupied, also.”

  “Your instructions, Captain Mullins, are to proceed to the Aegean and determine yourself what mischief Bonaparte may be up to. While engaging on this mission, you are also directed to injure such enemy trade at sea as you are able.”

  “Now then, Captain Mullins, are there any details my people can help you with in order to speed you on your way?”

  “Sir, I will soon have a problem with the men’s beer. The small amount we have left is spoiling and I will soon need to replace it with rum.”

  The beer issued to navy ships had very little alcoholic content, making it subject to rapid spoilage. Ships venturing far from port usually were issued rum, which was available from the British Caribbean islands at very low cost. Rum was also favored by the hands over the various substitutes. An exception was the Mediterranean, where inexpensive wine served as the usual replacement. While the hands would drink this, in lieu of nothing at all, they much preferred their usual grog, a mixture of rum and lime juice, diluted with water.

  Captain Gordon chuckled. “That was a good try Captain Mullins. However, your hands will be drinking wine or nothing at all. A pair of transports taken out of an enemy convoy came in last month. Their cargoes consisted of some very rough red wine, which our provisioning people purchased at a very attractive price. If you have any thoughts of obtaining some for your own cabin stores, I should warn you that it is truly bad wine.”

  After taking on board her supply of wine and a quantity of lemons, Vigilant slipped her mooring and put out to sea.

  Normally, HMS Vigilant would be joining the fleet, probably somewhere near Toulon. Having received orders though, placing his ship under the Commander of Naval Forces, Gibraltar, with secondary orders to proceed to the Aegean islands, Mullins decided to just make a fast transit of the area where the fleet might be expected to be located, then proceed directly to the western Greek coast. If he spotted any ships of the fleet, of course he would report his presence, but he intended to waste no time searching for the fleet.

  It was a fine day when they left Gibraltar and Mullins took the occasion to ask all of the officers and warrants to report to the quarterdeck. He informed them of their orders which brought broad grins to several faces. This was the type of mission dreamed of by most frigate officers. Merely by following their orders to disrupt enemy shipping, the officers and men of Vigilant could make themselves a great deal of money.

  The helmsmen, standing at the ship’s wheel, may also have smiled at the prospects. Tonight, on the mess deck, these men would be popular figures, who would enlighten the rest of the crew of what was in their future. They would not like the news about the wine, but that could almost be expected in the Med. The news of their cruise to disrupt merchant shipping was of the most interest. It was not unknown for a crew to make a year’s pay during the course of such a cruise.

  Chapter Five

  It was blowing a reefed-tops’l gale out of the southwest as they closed the island of Corsica. Their lookout reported a straggling convoy off their port bow just after daybreak. Previously, no signs of enemy shipping had been sighted and everyone that could find an excuse lined the rail or climbed into the shrouds to get a glimpse of this target.

  The convoy itself consisted of a collection of small coastal traders while the escort was a single brig flying the tricolor, to windward of the traders. The closest of the merchantmen was a tartane, while the remainder of the flock were scattered to leeward. To Mullins, it appeared the escort was having difficulty keeping his convoy under control in this weather. Every master had his own ideas of how much sail to carry and how close he might sail to his neighbor in the column.

  In this case, there was really no column, just an ungainly gaggle. Minutes after Vigilant’s lookout reported the sighting to the deck, the escort and convoy continued on blithely, oblivious to any danger. The brig apparently saw the approaching danger first, as she immediately began signaling.

  Most of the convoy broke off, proceeding independently toward Corsica. The brig stood out bravely toward Vigilant, while the leading tartane followed close behind.

  Mullins, when he first sighted the convoy and its tiny escort, had not felt it worthwhile to clear for action, but now it looked as if the brig intended to make it a fight, while the tartane would assist. Mullins had no concerns with facing this enemy. Vigilant was far superior to this little brig. Most would consider it folly for such an escort to face a thirty-two-gun frigate, but it could be said the fellow was just doing his duty, protecting his flock as best as he could. As for the tartane, she was neither here nor there. Hew few small guns could hardly affect any outcome, and her flimsy scantlings could not withstand the broadsides of a real ship of war.

  Whatever the reason, Vigilant’s people were about to face combat. The Marine drummer began rattling his sticks and all un-necessary kit was struck below. Mullins intended to avoid any maneuvering with this enemy. Approaching bow to bow as they were, he intended to pass to starboard, firing at close range into the brig. Probably, he thought, the escort would be reduced to a shattered wreck by this first broadside.

  If so, he would then take the tartane, if still feasible. The remainder of the convoy was now nearing the nearby island and it would soon be difficult to dig them out of their hiding places. The commander of that escort apparently had the same idea, for the brig came about and began running toward the island also. Caught by surprise and her crew unprepared, the tartane continued on for a moment as the danger approached.

  The second officer was handling the guns and Mullins turned to him. “Mister Hakes, I would like you to give
that fellow a little demonstration of our firepower. I hope you can avoid disabling him too badly. Have a boat crew standing by to man the launch we have trailing behind. I hope the tartane will give it up as soon as they see what they are facing. If they do give up, the launch crew should cast off and take over the prize, then we will continue on after the brig. Should they give us trouble, you will reduce the tartane into matchwood.”

  Now seeing her danger, the tartane came about to follow the brig toward safety in one of the bays on Corsica’s coast. Too late though, the coastal trader was too heavily laden to out-sail the frigate, and moments later, she lay helpless alongside her captor Her master having come to his senses. The tartane’s sheets were flying in the wind.

  The prize crew, already in the boat, cast off and struggled through the seas to their prize. The boat was nearly swamped and Mullins doubted there was a dry powder charge in the boarding party’s’ weapons. However, the boat managed to get into the prize’s lee and loaded aboard. Soon brought under control, the tartane obediently followed Vigilant after the brig.

  Mullins would have preferred to take a few more merchantmen, since his orders called for him to interfere with enemy commerce. Of course, taking a fat merchantman was much more profitable than smashing up a warship. This was no longer possible. The only target within reach was the brig, and she must be gathered up soon, before she could reach safety.

  The brig might have made it, but its captain became confused and attempted to put into the wrong inlet. At the last minute, realizing this would put the brig onto the rocky shoals at the mouth of that inlet, her commander put her about, hoping to escape into a neighboring cove. Unfortunately for her though, this put her into the waiting arms of HMS Vigilant. With no other option, the prize lowered her colors in surrender.