Read Online Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) by Richard Testrake - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Richard Testrake
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a spray of blood and gore on his carpeted deck. He had shot himself in the head with a large bore pistol. Going back to the entry port, Phillips shouted down to the midshipman in charge of the boat, ordering him back to the post ship to fetch Mister Fitzhugh. He was going to need someone with more French than himself to handle all of the details of the surrender.
CHAPTER TEN
Lieutenant du Pont of the Aphrodite was more than willing to cooperate with his captors. He had believed all along, this plan of Bonaparte’s was complete nonsense, but felt compelled to go along with it since he felt his naval career would otherwise be threatened. He had served aboard Aphrodite before, during the war, first as aspirante, then as third lieutenant. Captain Touffet had assured him it was but a matter of time before their returned emperor had the time to reconstitute the French navy. When that happened, M. Dupont would receive his new commission and all would be well in the world.
Dupret could read between the lines as well as the next man. As events unfolded on land, it became obvious that Napoleon was not likely to prevail. A member of Louis XVIII’s court was reported to have referred to the ship as a ‘rogue pirate.’
The muffled report from the captain’s quarters and the shocking scene upon entry merely strengthened his desire to separate himself from this phase of his career. He was only too glad to offer his sword to the British officer as he came aboard.
Mister Fitzhugh went aboard Aphrodite as prize-master, with half a dozen men. It was found to be un-necessary to confine most of the crew. Except for a few die-hard followers of their emperor, most were willing to follow the orders of their captors. Lieutenant du Pont agreed to translate Fitzhugh’s orders to the French crew, who continued to man the ship.
The two ships made their way eastward to Livorno, the port British sailors always called Leghorn. In a conference with Commodore Wilson, du Pont explained the reasoning for Captain Touffet’s actions. It seemed while Touffet had become wealthy with his fleet of privateers during the war, he had always wanted to be a naval officer. He had never been able to get a commission as such.
When he saw the Aphrodite, abandoned on the stocks in that shipyard, he saw his chance. The superintendent of the shipyard was owed a vast sum of money for repairs to the ship which he doubted he would ever see. Touffet agreed to pay the sum owed, provided the remainder of the work was completed in a timely fashion. He had a problem rearming the ship. The ship had been designed to carry 18 pounder guns, but few of these were now available, with none available for private use.
The ship’s original guns had been sold by the shipyard superintendent for scrap prices to recoup some of the funds expended for repairs. M.Touffet did own a number of twelve pounder guns taken from his fleet of retired privateers, which he used to arm the frigate. There was a problem with ammunition. The only source of powder was a warehouse containing old surplus ammunition. Much of this had been exposed to damp and its efficacy was now problematical. Taking aboard a minimal supply of powder that just might serve, Touffet set sail in Aphrodite, intending to augment his ammunition from prizes.
The plan was for his ship to cause havoc amongst the British transport fleet, recoup his expenses, then offer the frigate up to Bonaparte with himself as duly commissioned captain. Unfortunately, prior to sailing, he had received a letter from Napoleon’s new Minister of Marine, informing him he was unlawfully in possession of a French national ship and it should be returned to government control immediately.
Nothing was said about a commission or his future in the Service of the Empire. A post from an old friend in the field with Bonaparte confided privately the future was in doubt. While the Emperor would strive to defeat his enemies, there were
CHAPTER TEN
Lieutenant du Pont of the Aphrodite was more than willing to cooperate with his captors. He had believed all along, this plan of Bonaparte’s was complete nonsense, but felt compelled to go along with it since he felt his naval career would otherwise be threatened. He had served aboard Aphrodite before, during the war, first as aspirante, then as third lieutenant. Captain Touffet had assured him it was but a matter of time before their returned emperor had the time to reconstitute the French navy. When that happened, M. Dupont would receive his new commission and all would be well in the world.
Dupret could read between the lines as well as the next man. As events unfolded on land, it became obvious that Napoleon was not likely to prevail. A member of Louis XVIII’s court was reported to have referred to the ship as a ‘rogue pirate.’
The muffled report from the captain’s quarters and the shocking scene upon entry merely strengthened his desire to separate himself from this phase of his career. He was only too glad to offer his sword to the British officer as he came aboard.
Mister Fitzhugh went aboard Aphrodite as prize-master, with half a dozen men. It was found to be un-necessary to confine most of the crew. Except for a few die-hard followers of their emperor, most were willing to follow the orders of their captors. Lieutenant du Pont agreed to translate Fitzhugh’s orders to the French crew, who continued to man the ship.
The two ships made their way eastward to Livorno, the port British sailors always called Leghorn. In a conference with Commodore Wilson, du Pont explained the reasoning for Captain Touffet’s actions. It seemed while Touffet had become wealthy with his fleet of privateers during the war, he had always wanted to be a naval officer. He had never been able to get a commission as such.
When he saw the Aphrodite, abandoned on the stocks in that shipyard, he saw his chance. The superintendent of the shipyard was owed a vast sum of money for repairs to the ship which he doubted he would ever see. Touffet agreed to pay the sum owed, provided the remainder of the work was completed in a timely fashion. He had a problem rearming the ship. The ship had been designed to carry 18 pounder guns, but few of these were now available, with none available for private use.
The ship’s original guns had been sold by the shipyard superintendent for scrap prices to recoup some of the funds expended for repairs. M.Touffet did own a number of twelve pounder guns taken from his fleet of retired privateers, which he used to arm the frigate. There was a problem with ammunition. The only source of powder was a warehouse containing old surplus ammunition. Much of this had been exposed to damp and its efficacy was now problematical. Taking aboard a minimal supply of powder that just might serve, Touffet set sail in Aphrodite, intending to augment his ammunition from prizes.
The plan was for his ship to cause havoc amongst the British transport fleet, recoup his expenses, then offer the frigate up to Bonaparte with himself as duly commissioned captain. Unfortunately, prior to sailing, he had received a letter from Napoleon’s new Minister of Marine, informing him he was unlawfully in possession of a French national ship and it should be returned to government control immediately.
Nothing was said about a commission or his future in the Service of the Empire. A post from an old friend in the field with Bonaparte confided privately the future was in doubt. While the Emperor would strive to defeat his enemies, there were
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