Tale of a Patriot Part One Read online

CHAPTER FIVE

  As the Andy Dor sails North, I have trouble getting used to seeing out of one eye. The hardest was and still is, focusing properly. It’s hard enough walking on a moving ship with two eyes. With limited peripheral vision, it’s a challenge. Misjudging the doorways caused me many headaches and nosebleeds. The crew tried to help by tying a rope down the center of the ship. This helped me, but caused other problems. Sometimes the crew would forget about the rope being there and walk into it. After a few injuries, the Captain ordered the rope taken down.  

  I even tried walking with a cane. One morning I got up and found my cane is missing. No one admits to the theft. I can’t prove it, but, I believe it’s one of those six that I jabbed in the foot. I just couldn’t master walking with a cane on a crowded ship as it sways from side to side.

  The Captain assigns me to duties that do not include carrying food. He decided this after I spilled hot soup on the Ensign’s lap. The poor Ensign walked bowlegged for a week. Fortunately, for me, I mastered my handicap before I was thrown overboard; that’s what some shipmates jokingly told me. Were they joking; I’ll never know, but I’m glad I don’t have to find out. I still walk into objects, but that’s mainly because of the ship’s swaying. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself and still do. It became a lot easier, on my self-esteem, when the novelty of my clumsiness wore off; I was getting tired of the snickering. Even the bowlegged Ensign talks to me without anger in his voice.  

  Eventually, the Andy Dor spots a British Frigate. This will be our first naval battle. The earlier capture of the transport ships didn’t count; they gave up without a fight.

  When the Captain shouts, “CLEAR FOR ACTION”, we prepare for the battle. The cannon crews load their cannons and the sharpshooters, after shouldering several muskets, across their back, climb the rope ladders to the firing tops; we have three, one on each mast.

  With muskets loaded, Ebenezer and the other sharpshooters calmly wait for the British to come within range. Their job is to shoot as many of the British as they can; with the British Officers top on their list.

  During the preparations, I didn’t have time to think about the impending conflict. Along with the other loaders, after strapping on cartridge boxes and powder horns, I make my way up the rope ladder to join the sharpshooters.

  With the spare muskets loaded and nothing to do but wait, I look around. I can see Skinny-Tom, waiting by his cannon, staring out into the distance. When I look towards the stern, I see PANTS, with fear in his eyes and several pistols by his side, steering the ship. Although, I don’t see them, I can hear the Doctor giving orders, to the men assigned as aides, they’re setting up an infirmary in the galley.

  The Captain startles me when he shouts, “SILENCE BOYS, SILENCE”. He shouted that to silence the sailors cursing the wait. The crew is green and he didn’t want panic to set in.

  It seemed like an eternity as we wait for the Captain to shout “FIRE”.  During the wait, an eerie silence fell across the ship.  You could feel your heart pounding against your chest. 

  Captain Nicholas finally breaks the silence when he says, “steady boys, just stand fast.  Cannon crews, set your cannon’s elevation to zero, we need to take out her cannons with our first volley.” 

  With the wait over, I think, now it’s time to make the training pay off. No more talk about how we’re going to fight; this is the real thing. Make a mistake now and you’ll surely pay the ultimate price. 

  As Captain Nicholas is about to give the order to fire, out of the corner of his eye, he sees another ship. The ship is one of ours, the Sakanash, and it was signaling us of its intent to draw first blood. Realizing, we’re on a collision course, with the intruder, Captain Nickolas orders a hard-right turn. As the Sakanash riddles the British with a broadside, it scrapes our port side.

  Everyone was so focused on the impending battle; even the lookouts didn’t notice the other ship. Along with our lookouts, were’re guilty of breaking rule number one, ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. Someone, besides the captain, should have noticed the Sakanash.

  Well, it wasn’t a surprise to the British; they did not forget about rule number one. They were ready and waiting. When their broadsides aligned, both ships fired their cannons. The Sakanash, having fewer cannons, received more damage than the British did. While we were maneuvering, into position to fire our cannons, the British Ship turned and fled.

  While watching the British flee I thought, that British Captain is smart not to stay. We were about to hit them, on the same side that the Sakanash did and I doubt they could reload their cannons in time

  Pulling alongside the damaged ship, Captain Nickolas sent our Doctor and some men to help with the wounded. He also motions for the Sakanash’s Captain to come aboard.  

  As they enter Captain Nickolas’s cabin, he says to the Captain of the Sakanash, “Captain, you put up one gallant fight.  When you’re ready, I will escort you to New London; we should reach it in a fortnight.  I apologize for almost ramming you.  Even so, it’s not prudent to pick on someone bigger than you.” 

  The Captain of the Sakanash replies, “I assumed that you or your lookout would have seen the signal flags on my forward mast.  When I realized you didn’t see me; I was too close and couldn’t get out of the way.” 

  After admitting they both made mistakes, they parted as friends.  The Captain, of the Sakanash, refused the offer of being escorted and heads towards the nearest port for repairs. 

  As we continued heading north, the men started resenting the daily three to four mock alerts. During each alert, the lookouts, upper deck gun captains, men on the firing tops and all officers had to shout what they see. Captain Nickolas, ordered these random drills to ensure we never forget about our surroundings.

  While approaching the Puerto Rican coast, the lookout spots a sail on the distant horizon.   

  When notified, of the sail, the Officer on Deck hollers, “CLEAR FOR ACTION; WHEN YOU GET THERE STAND AT THE READY.  HELMSMAN, HOLD YOUR COURSE STRAIGHT AND STEADY.”  

  Some of us thought it was another one of the Captain’s silly drills.  A few of the men were taking their sweet time to their assigned posts. 

  That all changed when they heard the lookout shout, “IT’S AN ENEMY SHIP OFF THE PORT BOW.” 

  The Officer shouts to the stragglers “HURRY UP YOU SLACKERS; MOVE IT, AND THAT MEANS NOW.” 

  Some of us believed that maybe this time; we’ll be able to put all that training to use. We were inexperienced, but eager to fight. Captain Nickolas comes out of his cabin to see what the commotion is about. His nap was disturbed, and he wasn’t happy about it. When the Captain realizes that we are about to confront the enemy he takes over.   

  The British fired the first shots.  Its rear cannons sent two cannon balls towards us.  The cannon balls fell short.  Captain Nickolas did not order us to fire.  Another volley came at us.  This time the cannon balls splashed on each side of the Andy Dor.  Although the cannon balls missed, the splash caused Captain Nickolas to get wet. 

  This angered the Captain; after wiping the seawater off his face, he shouts to the forward gun crew, “Tom, I need you to aim for her mast.  I need you to slow her down, otherwise we’ll never catch her.  Taking out one of her sails is all we need.” 

  We all watch, as the cannonball sails through the air. As we watch the cannonball shatter the mast, I wonder, is he really that good or was it just a lucky shot? Shortly after the mast falls, the British lower their colors. 

  Before hitching the two ships together, Nicklolas orders the British ship to close the doors on their lower cannon ports. If this surrender is a ruse, he doesn’t want those cannons firing at our ship, while we’re lashed together.

  While, some of our men, board the ship, the rest of the crew aim their weapons at the British. When Ebenezer whistles, the British Captain instinctively looks up and sees where Ebe
nezer is aiming his musket; it’s just below the British Captain’s belt buckle.  I look at the British Captain and wonder; what’s making him so nervous.  Is it the musket pointed at a sensitive location?  Maybe it was the smile on Ebenezer’s face.  The smile is one of those; go ahead, try something, please give me a reason to turn you into a eunuch. 

  The nervous British Captain trips as he boards the Andy Dor. By his clumsiness and sad expression, we could tell he was scared. As the Officer walks towards Captain Nicholas, he trips again. His forward motion causes him to run into the mainmast. He hits it so hard that it almost knocks him out. We do our best to hold back our laughter, if not; we will face the wrath of our Captain. British or not, Captain Nickolas would never humiliate, or let us humiliate, another Officer.   

  It did not take much coaxing, by Captain Nickolas, to get information out of the British Captain.  The British Captain told Captain Nickolas about a British convoy that was sailing towards America.  The convoy is transporting muskets, cannons, ammunition, and soldiers needed for a summer offensive.  The Andy Dor and the captured British Ship sail to New London.  Once in port, Captain Nickolas tells the proper authorities of the British Convoy.  Captain Nickolas believes the British convoy is heading for Canada.  

  While waiting for the orders, we unloaded the cargo off the Andy Dor.  With the unloading completed, we are resupplied for the new mission.  It took a week, for the orders to search for the convoy, to come.  

  Just before raising the anchor, Captain Nickolas orders a Company Formation and says, “Men I believe the information about the convoy is accurate.  We need to engage the enemy before they land.  When we engage the British, I will need your best and more.  Those supplies are badly needed by General Washington. Plus any cargo that’s not military is ours.” 

  We were all in high spirits as we sailed out to sea.  The convoy should be easy pickings.    The weight of the cargo will cause the ships to sit deep in the water.  The ships will be slow and difficult to maneuver. 

   After a week at sea, we finally spot a British Ship called Boars Head. Captain Nickolas noticed that it was sitting deep in the water. He figured that it must be part of the convoy and somehow became separated. Through his telescope, Captain Nickolas could see his opponent out gunned us two to one. This concerned the Captain, but he felt we could capture her. Although outgunned, we are faster and could easily outmaneuver her. As the Andy Dor fired two shots from her forward cannons, the Boars Head immediately lowered her colors and signaled that she wanted to surrender. No one on the Andy Dor expected the Boars Head to surrender without a fight.  

  As we slowly approached the Boarshead, Captain Nickolas says, “stay sharp men; aim your cannons below her water line, in case it’s a trick.  At this range, our cannonballs will go through her, and she’ll sink fast.” 

  As the Andy Dor and the Boars Head came alongside each other, we looked, but couldn’t believe what we saw.  Every cannon is made out of wood.  The wooden cannons are painted black, so from a distance they look like real ones. 

  The Captain of the Boars Head and his Officers come aboard the Andy Dor to surrender.   

  While accepting his sword, Captain Nickolas asks the British Captain, “I have to ask, in these waters why would you sail with cannons made of wood?” 

  The British Captain answers, “To put my men in harm’s way like this is a crime.  This was the brainchild of the British Admiralty.  They thought, the lighter the ship the more supplies and arms I could transport.  The British Army is planning a massive offensive later this year.  The Admiralty ordered me to put those wooden cannons in plain sight.  They figured, when you see the cannons, you would not want to fight and let me pass. A stroke of bad luck caused me to get separated from the others.”  

  Captain Nickolas has half the cargo transferred to our ship.  He wants to make room, on the Boarshead, to imprison the British. 

  Captain Nickolas says to Lieutenant Snibly, “Lieutenant, take half of our men and sail the captured ship; furthermore, take Tom along with cannon crews four and five. He can teach them the proper way to load and fire their cannons. Better, they waste British gunpowder and ball than ours. Oh, before I forget, have a cannon transferred to the Boars Head. They can’t practice on wooden ones.”

  Captain Nickolas has orders to take any captured ships to Boston, where wagons are waiting to take the captured armaments to Washington. As we start to sail towards the coast, other British Ships approach us; these ships want to fight. 

  Two British Men of War, with real cannons, were looking for the Boars Head.  Seeing her with us, they came running with guns ablaze.  They wanted her back. Fortunately for us, the cannonballs fell short.  Captain Nickolas, with half the crew on each ship, knew that fighting them would be disastrous.  He hails the Boars Head and signals her to go west, and we head south.  Somehow, we managed to outrun the British.  The British Ships could not keep up.  The extra troops and supplies, they are carrying, slowed them down. Unable to catch either of us, the British head north.  They wanted to rejoin their convoy, in case more Americans are close by.  

  The Andy Dor and the Boars Head were to rendezvous in Boston Harbor. We dock in Boston’s harbor and unload the cargo. After the cargo is unloaded, we wait another week for the Boars Head to arrive. When they don’t show, I become concerned about Tom. As the Captain ponders what to do about the missing crew, he sees Lieutenant Snibly coming on-board.  

  Once Snibly is on-board, he tells the Captain; “Sir, the British recaptured the Boars Head. I and five men managed to lower a rowboat before they could stop us. They let us go; they probably figured we were not worth the trouble to capture. Unfortunately, I had to leave the others behind.” 

  Nickolas tells Snibly, “Lieutenant, thank you for the information; now, go to your quarters and get some rest.  I need to go to the Admiralty and request more men. We can’t sail with only half a crew.”  

  When Captain Nickolas enters the Admirals office, he stands in front of the Admiral’s desk and snaps to attention.

  While holding a piece of paper, the Admiral says, “Captain Nickolas, according to this dispatch, your men are waiting for you at Hampton Roads.” Hearing, the good news, Captain Nickolas does his best not to smile. “Now go get your men and here are your new orders.”

  It only took a few days to reach Hampton Roads. As we enter the harbor, the lookouts see the crew waving at them from the dock.

  Once they were on-board, Nickolas calls us to Company Formation and says, “I’m happy to see all of you together again.  Now get ready to set sail, I don’t believe I have to tell you what to do.”

  After a brief celebration, the Andy Dor with a complete crew sails out of Hampton Roads, and heads south. With things back to normal, I walk into the galley and see Tom sitting at one of the tables. Finally, I get a chance to talk to him. Other than Tom, Ebenezer is there preparing the evening meal.

  Sitting down, across from him, I ask, “Tom, tell me what happened? Lieutenant Snibly said the British got free and took over the ship. How was that possible, they were locked up in the cargo hold?”

  Tom takes a deep breath and says; “Joe, as you know, we sailed west. When Lieutenant Snibly was sure that we weren’t being followed, we turned around to head to Boston. On the second day, I woke up to a musket in my face.”

  I stop him and say, “Tom, you’re lucky they didn’t shoot you while you slept?” When Tom doesn’t respond, I ask, “Tom, tell me how did they manage to get out of the cargo hold?”

  After a moment, Tom continues. “As you know, Scots wear kilts; although I have never checked, it’s my understanding that they wear nothing under those kilts. Well, the Scottish Sargent hid a spare key between his cheeks. He must have buns of steel; imagine holding a key between your cheeks for any length of time.” Tom ignores my attempt not to laugh. “As you know, Lieutenant Snibly and a few others managed to escape.
The rest of us spent the voyage in the cargo hold. The British sailed the Boars Head for the friendly port of Hampton Roads. When we entered the harbor I overheard that Scottish Sargent mention, ‘Lord Dundly and his Loyalists will welcome us’. With the ship secured to the pier, they open the cargo hold. Before letting us out, they shackle our hands and legs. While two of them escort us towards the stern, we hear one of the British Sergeants shouting to a person on the pier. ‘Ahoy there, tell Dundly the British Saviors are here. Tell him to meet us in the pub and to buy each of us a beer’... Before he could finish his sentence, several men, hiding behind shipping crates, stand up and aim their muskets at the British.”

  Tom stops talking when Ebinezer places a mug, filled with tea, in front of him. While he’s taking a sip, I say, “Tom, please continue, this is getting interesting.”

  Tom takes another sip before putting the mug down. “The surprised British gave up without a struggle. Except for the ones guarding us, the British were unarmed. Being twenty feet apart, even a blind man can’t miss. The British expected a welcome, but not that kind. With hands above their heads, one by one, the British walk off the ship. When the British Sargent sets foot on the pier, one gloating Patriot says to him; ‘Sargent we can’t tell Dundly of your arrival, because he’s no longer here. Oh, by the way, in our jails we don’t serve the prisoners beer’. I ask the man removing my hackles; ‘Sir, who do we thank for our release?’ One Patriot points to a fishing boat tied to the other end of the pier and says; ‘Sailor, you can thank them’.” Tom leans back, folds his hands behind his head and smiles. “Lucky for us, the British don’t subscribe to our Captain’s favorite rule, BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.”

  While smiling, Ebenezer asks, “Tom, what makes you say that?”

  Tom smugly says, “WELL, if they did, they’d never have lowered our ensign and raised theirs.”

  “Why’s that?” I ask.

  “Simple,” Tom says. When the British recaptured the Boars Head, they quickly raised the Union Jack. In their joy, they didn’t notice the fishing boat. Being faster, the fishing boat sailed into Hampton Roads ahead of the Boars Head. I have to say it’s a good week for the Colonies. The Loyalists were kicked out of Hampton Roads, and the Boars Head once again belongs to us.”