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

many and men and supplies were not reaching him in the quantity required. Defeat was a possibility. Touffet’s former first officer thought these difficulties, as well as his defeat by a smaller British ship the size of a corvette were the cause of his suicide.
     
    Proceeding to Livorno, they found the fleet had sailed to Malta, without leaving word for Phillips. Irritated at the oversight, he was about to order the sailing master to set a course for Malta himself when the deck watch spotted a boat setting out from a decrepit brig in their direction. The curious aspect was a Marine lieutenant sitting in the stern, seemingly in charge.
    Reporting aboard, Lieutenant Baker admitted to belong to Major Bentley’s force of Royal Marines stirring up trouble on the French coast. When Baker produced a sealed packet, Phillips invited him into the great cabin for a glass of wine.
    Reading the letter Lieutenant Baker handed him, Phillips learned Major Bentley had found himself in a spot of trouble. His force had ranged along the coastline of southern France, attacking such strongpoints as were determined loyal to Bonaparte. The brig had transported the force by sea so as not to waste time marching along the poor coast roads. They had attacked and taken a small port that had a shipyard. This establishment was engaged in building a pair of vessels planned on serving as privateers in Bonaparte’s service.
    The vessels under construction were burned and all military supplies destroyed or seized. It was then Major Bentley learned a military depot was located not ten miles away. Its purpose was to gather and prepare recruits for their long march to join the main army up north. Bentley reported there were often several hundred recruits present. While they were issued muskets and a limited supply of cartridge, by no means could they be regarded as front-line troops.
    If HMS Prince Rupert was free to join him for this endeavor, he would like her to lie to in the harbor and fire into the depot while he assaulted the depot from the rear. Bentley assured him he had learned the single battery of guns guarding the harbor was manned by untrained men freshly recruited and should not pose any major difficulty to the ship.
    Lieutenants Haynes and Fitzhugh were summoned and asked for their views. Haynes was enthusiastic, volunteering to take his Marines ashore to take part in the assault on the depot. Phillips wondered how the Marines were coming along under the tutelage of Corporal Henderson.
    “Henderson is doing a first rate job, sir. He has instilled a sense of discipline in them and they seem now to take pride in themselves. I believe a sharp action will give them additional confidence.”
    “What about Henderson’s drinking? Not very long ago, he was useless as a leader.”
    Haynes thought about the matter. “Henderson is useless if he is deprived of his rum for long. I have tried a strategy which seems to be working. As a non-commissioned officer, he is allowed to take his rum neat, at ¼ of a pint daily. I have his rum issued to myself, which I dole out to him in small quantities as needed. If necessary, I may add to his ration with my own supply.”
    Phillips asked, “The important question here is, can we depend on this man? Will his men find themselves in a tough spot some day when he is unable to get his rum ration?” 
    Haynes answered, “I have stressed to the man the importance of his work is to his men and the ship. I have told him I would take every effort to see that he has his rum, but there may be times when that is not possible.  I really believe we can depend on the man.”
    Phillips decided, “Very well then. Let us give the man his stripes back again. We will have the Marine detachment drawn up on the quarterdeck in their uniforms and present Henderson with his stripes then. Perhaps you would see to that, Lieutenant Haynes.”
    The post ship left the harbor on the tide accompanied by the old transport brig. Sergeant