Midshipman Porter--In Harms Way by Jack M.D. Owen

Author:Jack M.D. Owen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sailng ships, Revolution, Pirates, American Navy, Royal Navy, Sea battles
Publisher: Jack Owen
Published: 2016-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

DUCKLING TO DRAKE (1798 1799)

"Master Porter Get you in here, instanter,” bellowed Captain Thomas Truxton past the startled uniformed Marine on guard outside the main cabin of the U.S.S. Constellation. The mahogany door slammed with force enough to rattle the louvered upper-half, barely missing the newly-powdered wig as the purple-faced Truxton withdrew his head.

The chattering and packing Midshipmen loud from liberal use of spirits celebrating their freedom, stilled in the cabin-flat as Truxton's infuriated bellow penetrated the thin make-shift partitions. Midshipman David (Davy) Porter froze in the act of lovingly wrapping the dirk, bought by his father two months before for his seventeenth birthday to celebrate when his commission had come through. His eyes lifted to the tableaux of others in the cramped Gun Room, sifting through their sea-chests in preparation of departure.

"You're not going, of course, are you?” the lazy drawling voice of Simon Gross, a junior lieutenant in charge of midshipmen and lord of the mess. He sipped rum from a silver tankard, peering over its rim at the blushing Porter.

"I'm still under navy orders, until my resignation has been accepted,” Porter snapped. "I have no choice."

The others looked knowingly at each other, recognizing the truth of the statement, and the penalties which could occur if a direct order were to be disobeyed. Especially given the Captain's temperament and track-record to date of punishments. Stoically, Porter straightened his uniform and followed the summons.

Many crowded events of the previous months led to that pivotal moment of time when his whole future lay in the outcome of the next few minutes.

@@@

Davy had returned from Europe to an America in tumult and Baltimore in turmoil, as events accelerated toward the eve of the Quasi-War with France. The Constitution and America had been launched despite pro-French opposition, and the Constellation was ready to slide down the ways at Stodder's yard, into Harris Creek.

He had been lucky to return at all, with the jittery Danes fearful of antagonizing French or British by shipping an American seaman who had escaped the press-gang and deserted a British war-ship. But Captain Karrell had been better than his word, finding Davy a berth on a German vessel taking immigrants to the New Land. The ship had sailed from Kiel, touching in at Copenhagen where a seaman with too much schnapps in his belly, fell into an open hold when returning from a night ashore. Almost before the captain had become aware of it, Captain Karrell was urging him to accept Porter as a replacement.

The ship was no better, nor worse, than others he had served aboard, but there was a vibrancy about the immigrants seeking a new life in his country which fanned the flames of his patriotism to braggadocio status. They turned to him for information, which he tinted with rosy hues. Aboard the ship, during the long periods of smooth sailing, the monotony was broken by impromptu concerts performed by one talented family of Jews. Despite himself, Davy found himself drawn to them and their music.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.