AAR August Solo Mission 8 – ‘I am envious only of glory.’

[Bligh]

Exigencies of the service.

Captain James Roberts of HM Frigate Amelia turned over the Admiralty orders once more. At the second reading they seemed even worse.





He reflected upon his fate. First nursemaid to a wrecked 74 which he barely came off with, and now nursemaid to a wet behind the ears, no experienced second, who was in his first command with more patronage than experience. Moreover, if the lad did not shine in this his first command, his father who just happened to be Naval Lord to the Admiralty Viscount Lord Ogleby. Whitehall would not look favourably on any Captain involved in his son's humiliation.





The following morning, shortly after high tide Amelia and the Sloop Fairy commanded by Lt. The Hon Peregrine Ogleby slipped out of Kingston harbour and set course for English Harbour Antigua, and from thence to patrol the Antigua and Barbuda channel.





Over the next week and a half the two ships patrolled in company, as Roberts worked up both ships hands into something like half efficient crews.





Preparing the ship for action, running out the guns, and timed broadsides were all practiced to the point of fatigue, with an extra tot for the best team at the end of each day.





Nor did he miss out on ship handling, with constant changes in course, sail settings and signalling, to such an extent that by the end of the week both ships could move in harmony just as if they were joined by an invisible cable.





He was so pleased by this success that when the ships returned to English Harbour to re provision, he recalled the Sailing Master from the Fairy, to resume his duties on board Amelia.
Let's see how Ogleby handles his Sloop on his own from now on.
The only thing to spoil his week, was that, apart from a Naval Packet, and two Merchantmen, not a single sail had been sighted in the channel.


The following week was to prove somewhat different.

Bligh.

[Bligh]

August Solo Mission 8 – ‘I am envious only of glory.’


The Action.

During Tuesday night a sudden squall had struck, driving the two ships apart. It was well into the forenoon before Fairy remade contact with her consort.





At the same time a masthead lookout hailed the Deck.
"Sail ho! Two points off the bow Captain."




The usual scurry of hands and Junior Officers aloft now ensued, with each one eager to gain the shilling prize, for being the first to identify the strange sail." As usual Mr Bowyer the American Second Lt. was quickest. Eschewing the use of his spyglass, he discerned that by the cut of her jib and lines, she was a French Frigate, not a Dutch one.




"Makes little odds to me what she is. A Frenchman is still our enemy."
Clear for action and, Beat to Quarters Mr Smalls if you please." James ordered.





As the French ship made no attempt to alter course, a signal was made to the Fairy to put the prearranged plan for meeting single enemy ships.





As James ordered the hands to shorten sail, he noticed that Ogleby seemed to be making no attempt to follow his order for Fighting sails only.
"If he don’t shorten sail soon the damned fool will be taking on the full might of the Frenchie before we can come up." he remarked to Bowyer.
"Aye sir! and there can only be one outcome then." Bowyer replied.
James now ordered an order for a change of course a couple of points to starboard in order to come up on the Frenchman's Port side to try and draw his attention from the Sloop.





Coming about onto his previous heading, He was astounded to see that the Fairy had also come about.





"Now the idiot is trying to cut across the Frenchie's bow Sir." said Bowyer with a sound of utter disbelief. "That will put him on the same side as us, and undo your course alteration."
"Indeed it will." Replied Roberts with a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.



However, Monsieur was having nothing to do with the young Terrier, and at the last minute cleverly put up his helm crossing the bow of the Sloop and ignoring it entirely, intending to give his full broadside to the British Frigate's bow, or ram and board her if she continued on her course.





The ploy failed, as to avoid a catastrophe with his own sloop Roberts had just shortened sail and slid through the gap between the two other ships.





He now put his helm hard over and coming alongside the French ships Port side exchanged fire with it.




James had taken precautions to double shot all his guns, and at that range the balls were devastating to the Frenchman's crew as they swept the deck aided by the fire of the Marines muskets in the Fore and Main Tops.




The Frenchman was already taking on water, had a fire burning on the foredeck and lost her mizzen t' gallant all in one broadside.




Her response by comparison was feeble, although several crewmen took the brunt of her reply in a hail of splinters from the bulwarks, there was little structural damage to the Amelia.
"Continue to bring her about helmsman. now steady as you go.
Aye, aye sir."
"Fighting sail."

"Mr Moffet get those wounded men below if you please, and send me the Carpenter."
"Aye, aye sir"
With that, Amelia took up her new heading to the stern of the "Proserpine" whose name could now be seen clearly emblazoned across her stern in Gilded letters.


At last a frustrated Ogleby got into the action away on the Proserpine's Starboard quarter.






The already crippled French frigate could only make a feeble response with what gun crews were left to her.
Seeing the weak reply, James continued to come about and as soon as his guns came to bear upon the Frenchman's stern, the Carronades barked.



The whole stern gallery complete with the Gilded name disintegrated, as the balls ripped through the Main deck turning over cannon and pulverizing anything, and anyone in their way.
Proserpine seemed to shudder as if in a death spasm, and gradually at first, and then with increasing velocity her Mizzen mast started to topple, sipping shrouds, and back-stays out as it went over the side.
Within minutes, the ships colours followed it down, and 20 minutes later Captain Roberts stood on her quarter deck studying the devastation around him, and waiting for Capitaine de Fregate, Leo Delibes, to have his wounds dressed and then to surrender his sword.
Meantime he dispatched a signal to Fairy requesting her Captain to repair aboard the Amelia, at his earliest convenience as soon as he had secured his ship, and attended to his wounded.

Bligh.

[Bligh]

The Butcher's Bill.




Frigate HMS Amelia, Superficial damage. Captain James Roberts. (P.) RTP. captured one ship.





Sloop HMS Fairy.Light Damage. Captain. 2nd Lt. The Hon Peregrine Ogleby. (AI) RTP. assisted in capture of French Frigate Proserpine.






French Frigate Proserpine, taken. Condition reduced to a hulk.
Captain Leo Delibes (AI) wounded and taken prisoner.

Bligh.

[Union Jack]

Anticipation, the nightmare of all good captains, and sailing masters of course.

[TexaS]

Very much so, Neil.
As usual it starts off great to make the wait even worse.

[Bligh]

Now I wonder just where I got that technique from Neil?
Rob.

[TexaS]

Congratulations on the success!
It looks as if it was a little close that the young Ogleby could fire on the Frenchman, but "all's well that ends" as Jack Aubrey would have said.

[TexaS]

And as usual "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Bligh again"...

[Bligh]

Congratulations on the success!
It looks as if it was a little close that the young Ogleby could fire on the Frenchman, but "all's well that ends" as Jack Aubrey would have said.

I was astounded the way the AI worked out Jonas.
I headed straight for the Frenchie at top wack, but every time Ogleby was about to get a shot, the Frenchie changed course, or my Frigate got in the way.
Rob.

[TexaS]

Just barely avoiding being raked it looks like.

I do believe Ogleby will say that he made the Frenchman strike before you fired the last broadside and musketry, and if poor James Roberts tries to say otherwise he will get to know the wrath of the Admiral. All other captains will just look knowingly at Roberts and nod to Oglebys stories.

[Union Jack]

That young man will dine out on this story of his heroic victory,, to the confoundedness and dismay of more experienced captains! Damn his eyes Sir. Take him to task before he becomes a liability to the squadron.

I say well done to Your victory, the young wippersnapper just out of diapers and snot still hanging form his nose.....needs a good....well enough of that before I get carried away.

Here's to you and Your victory.

[Bligh]

Thank you Neil.
As you may have read in my journal Ogleby was ordered to repair on board the Amelia post haste by James Roberts.
After a chat in the Captains day room, he left looking rather shaken, with no thought of claiming anything, and feeling that he had escaped a Court Martial by the skin of his teeth, and only because the good graces of Captain Roberts. I'm sure, that in fear of the whole issue coming to light, he will not be mentioning anything to the Admiral, or anyone else for that matter.



What actually passed between the two in the Captain's cabin we shall never know, unless the Marine stationed outside the door had exceptional hearing.
Bligh.

[TexaS]

[Union Jack]

A good keelhauling would have been the punishment in my day, pah, young'uns these days don't know how to take orders and to wet behind the ears to give them!

[Bligh]

Even I would draw the line at keelhauling a fellow Officer Neil.
Bligh.

[Union Jack]

Then the only thing he's good enough to command is a one man (well boy) paddle boat beached at Brighton!

[Bligh]

Or we could just give him a desk job at The Admiralty!
Bligh.

[TexaS]

That would lessen the damage at sea until his ideas takes hold among the admirals.

[Bligh]

That would lessen the damage at sea until his ideas takes hold among the admirals.

Would we really notice the difference?
Rob.

[TexaS]

Oh, you don't think the admiralty is correct in its analysis of the world?
It's not the thought, but mentioning it out loud!

It's a state secret!

[Bligh]

And we all know how good the Navy is at keeping state secrets Jonas.
Bligh.

[TexaS]

"Come now, belay that talk. We must be friends. It is the French that should get to taste our sharp tongues and swords. Let us have a drink and then part as friends. I know of your orders from friends of mine in the Admiralty. I think you will be pleased." Commodore Croft said pouring glasses.
"These things should never leave their intended audience. How can we keep secrets if every admiral tells all his friends!" Smith whined on.

From my June AAR: At War Again

[Bligh]

Spot on there dear fellow.

Bligh.