Thunder On the Sea: A Tim Phillips novel (War at Sea Book 11) by Richard Testrake Read Free Book Online Page A

captains did not quite understand his orders, and the ship did slip out last week. We have not seen or heard from her since. We do know there are vast quantities of arms on shore, left over from the previous war. I believe that frigate’s captain, a M. Henri Touffet, would have had no trouble re-arming his ship. The ship itself is a 36 gun 18 pounder frigate named Aphrodite. I should say she was designed as such during her career in the regular French Navy. Exactly how her civilian owner armed her is a matter of conjecture.”
    “Her crew is another story. During the peace, many of the trained seamen took berths on merchant vessels. I suspect her captain was forced to hire many unemployed and untrained hands from the docks. He will probably need to spend weeks training his crew. I have already sent out the two frigates who allowed him to sail out of port. Now I wish to do the same with you. I realize you only command a post ship with 24 nine pounder guns. Hopefully, should you locate this frigate, you may be able to stay out of her reach. I want you, should you happen across her, to follow her. If you encounter another King’s ship of sufficient force, you will assist such ship to bring Aphrodite to action.”
    “This Aphrodite is a great danger to all the supply ships we have in this area. At this moment none have been taken yet and I hope this luck continues.”
    Phillips wondered, “What about my Marines? As it stands now, I only have a lieutenant of Marines, besides my major, of course. Will there be any chance of getting a few Marines from your transport?”
    Commodore Wilson replied. “I will try to get you a few dozen men. At this moment I have no idea of the actual numbers available. Actually, your Major Bentley is in charge of all matters on this station regarding Royal Marines. Hopefully, you will be able to retain your lieutenant of Marines, but I can make no promises.”
     
    After some ship-visiting and negotiations, Major Bentley determined he could spare twenty Marines for Rupert and still have sufficient men for his mission on-shore. Their original Marine officer, Lieutenant Haynes, would remain aboard Prince Rupert and assume command of the ship’s Marines.
    Major Bentley had been ruthless in his selection of men, and the Marines allotted to the post ship were not what one might expect. In any draft of men, there were always those people that no other unit would accept. Bentley had intuitively selected those he felt might fit into this category. The selected individuals were all men that had been in more than their share of trouble back in the depot, and one would hope to have an experienced sergeant and corporal to keep them in order. He would gladly hand these people over to any superior insisting on his right to some of the men.
    Of course, Captain Phillips’ request fell into this area and in Bentley felt no shame at all delivering his miscreants to HMS Prince Rupert.
    Unfortunately, Bentley had kept all of the non-commissioned officers for himself save for one corporal he sent to Prince Rupert.
    Corporal Henderson was old for his age, mostly toothless, with a body ravaged by the effects of drink and a dissolute life. Haynes learned the man had once been a sergeant but repeated charges of being drunk on duty had him reduced to private.
    Now, years later, he was a corporal, but from the look and smell of him, it appeared likely he was about to slide back to the ranks again. The disconsolate Lieutenant Haynes sought advice from Captain Phillips that evening.
    He explained, “Sir, with the men I have to work with, I need a good corporal and sergeant who will be able to keep them under control. Most of them were troublemakers in civilian life and their abbreviated training in depot was not enough to instill discipline. I am afraid we are in for trouble with this lot.”
    “What about this Corporal Henderson? I could furnish one or two of my own people to help him instill order among your