Read Online Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) by Richard Testrake - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard Testrake
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The stench was terrible. As his eyes became accustomed to the dim light, he saw to his surprise a dozen British redcoats with their bayonetted muskets trained upon him. Behind them, stood many more!
Without a word being said, the Frenchmen were secured and the soldiers began climbing up to the weather deck. Following the brisk weather of the evening before, the sun had brought a fine day and the ship was sailing on course propelled by a following wind. Colour Sergeant Edwards detailed a party to secure the release of the ship’s British crew. In minutes, the situation had reversed, with the Britons exchanging places with their former French captors. Such was the situation when HMS Prince Rupert came upon the scene.
CHAPTER NINE
Lieutenant Fitzhugh had some knowledge of the French language, and Phillips set him to work interviewing the new prisoners to see what could be learned of the French frigate’s whereabouts. All save one chose to remain mute. That one though, a former shop-clerk, had seen all he wished of the sailor’s life and earnestly wished to be placed upon land. He would tell all if only he could be landed at the nearest port.
Brought before Captain Phillips, he said he had heard Captain Touffet, the commander of the frigate Aphrodite discussing their destination with the officers. He understood Touffet had learned of a store of gunpowder on the island of Corsica and hoped to be able to secure it.
With this information, Phillips bade the transport farewell and had his sailing master set course for Corsica. Before parting he sent his informant onboard the ‘Sarah Reeves’ and asked her captain to set the fellow ashore the first chance he had.
Captain Phillips had no idea of the exact location on Corsica where the French frigate’s Captain expected to find his gunpowder. All that the informant knew about the matter was it was someplace on Corsica. With no other option available, he decided to proceed to the island and circumnavigate it, hoping to come upon Aphrodite.
As they approached the northernmost point of the island, among a large fleet of fishing vessels, their lookout spotted a large ship rigged vessel. Almost certain this was their quarry, Phillips ordered the ship cleared for action.
Having heard the enemy was short on powder, Phillips was surprised when the Aphrodite turned out to meet him. Not at all sure of what he was doing, he ordered his ship to proceed directly toward the enemy. As they approached, bowsprit to bowsprit, the Aphrodite turned slightly to starboard. Ordering Prince Rupert to also come slightly to starboard, the two ships approached beam to beam only a few hundred yards distant.
His crew have been practicing their gunnery drill almost daily since leaving England, and were now quite proficient. Prince Rupert was a fairly new ship, tightly constructed. With such a ship, armed with nine pounder guns as she was, he had no qualms in ordering a simultaneous broadside. The noise was deafening as every single gun on Rupert’s port side fired as one.
He had spent hours thinking about the orders he should give when the ship’s engaged in combat. The only intelligent plan he could come up with, was a hit and run attack. In other words, after firing off a broadside, he should clear the area temporarily and examine the situation again.
While he had heard the crashing blast of the enemy’s return fire, he could see little sign of any damage to his ship. There was a hole in the mizzen tops’l as well as a few severed shroud lines. By contrast, there were a multitude of wounds in the Aphrodite’s beam. Apparently, the enemy had fired high hoping to disable Prince Rupert’s rigging. Surprisingly, he had not noted any large caliber guns on the enemy frigate firing at him. They all seemed to be 12 pounders or smaller.
The post ship came about sweetly on her captain’s order and went after Aphrodite again. The French frigate put the wind on her starboard quarter and
Without a word being said, the Frenchmen were secured and the soldiers began climbing up to the weather deck. Following the brisk weather of the evening before, the sun had brought a fine day and the ship was sailing on course propelled by a following wind. Colour Sergeant Edwards detailed a party to secure the release of the ship’s British crew. In minutes, the situation had reversed, with the Britons exchanging places with their former French captors. Such was the situation when HMS Prince Rupert came upon the scene.
CHAPTER NINE
Lieutenant Fitzhugh had some knowledge of the French language, and Phillips set him to work interviewing the new prisoners to see what could be learned of the French frigate’s whereabouts. All save one chose to remain mute. That one though, a former shop-clerk, had seen all he wished of the sailor’s life and earnestly wished to be placed upon land. He would tell all if only he could be landed at the nearest port.
Brought before Captain Phillips, he said he had heard Captain Touffet, the commander of the frigate Aphrodite discussing their destination with the officers. He understood Touffet had learned of a store of gunpowder on the island of Corsica and hoped to be able to secure it.
With this information, Phillips bade the transport farewell and had his sailing master set course for Corsica. Before parting he sent his informant onboard the ‘Sarah Reeves’ and asked her captain to set the fellow ashore the first chance he had.
Captain Phillips had no idea of the exact location on Corsica where the French frigate’s Captain expected to find his gunpowder. All that the informant knew about the matter was it was someplace on Corsica. With no other option available, he decided to proceed to the island and circumnavigate it, hoping to come upon Aphrodite.
As they approached the northernmost point of the island, among a large fleet of fishing vessels, their lookout spotted a large ship rigged vessel. Almost certain this was their quarry, Phillips ordered the ship cleared for action.
Having heard the enemy was short on powder, Phillips was surprised when the Aphrodite turned out to meet him. Not at all sure of what he was doing, he ordered his ship to proceed directly toward the enemy. As they approached, bowsprit to bowsprit, the Aphrodite turned slightly to starboard. Ordering Prince Rupert to also come slightly to starboard, the two ships approached beam to beam only a few hundred yards distant.
His crew have been practicing their gunnery drill almost daily since leaving England, and were now quite proficient. Prince Rupert was a fairly new ship, tightly constructed. With such a ship, armed with nine pounder guns as she was, he had no qualms in ordering a simultaneous broadside. The noise was deafening as every single gun on Rupert’s port side fired as one.
He had spent hours thinking about the orders he should give when the ship’s engaged in combat. The only intelligent plan he could come up with, was a hit and run attack. In other words, after firing off a broadside, he should clear the area temporarily and examine the situation again.
While he had heard the crashing blast of the enemy’s return fire, he could see little sign of any damage to his ship. There was a hole in the mizzen tops’l as well as a few severed shroud lines. By contrast, there were a multitude of wounds in the Aphrodite’s beam. Apparently, the enemy had fired high hoping to disable Prince Rupert’s rigging. Surprisingly, he had not noted any large caliber guns on the enemy frigate firing at him. They all seemed to be 12 pounders or smaller.
The post ship came about sweetly on her captain’s order and went after Aphrodite again. The French frigate put the wind on her starboard quarter and
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