Old Glory by Christopher Nicole

Author:Christopher Nicole [Nicole, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 27214009
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 1986-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8 – Bahamas, New York and France, 1776-77

‘There is a battery mounted here,’ Ezek Hopkins said, prodding his map. ‘This commands the western approach to Nassau Harbour. This is the only practical approach, as the eastern entrance is encumbered with reefs, and is also protected by a fort, called Montague. Up here, behind the town on this ridge, is another fort, Fincastle, which commands the harbour. But it is the western battery that concerns us. This is not actually a fortress, but it is certainly manned at all times, and as I have said, it totally commands the entrance. Therefore it must be dealt with before we can attempt to seize the town.’

‘A landing party,’ Paul Jones said. ‘I will lead it.’

‘You will not, sir,’ Hopkins told him. ‘Captains stay with their ships.’

‘Then allow me to volunteer, sir,’ Harry said.

‘The entire force will have to be volunteers, Lieutenant McGann. This is a dangerous mission.’

Harry nodded. ‘I will see how many I can muster, sir.’

‘Then go to it, and God speed. I estimate we will lie off the harbour by dusk tomorrow, if this wind hold steady. The forts must be destroyed just before dawn on the following morning, that we may enter at first light.’

‘Aye, aye,’ Harry said.

Paul Jones followed him on deck. ‘Ever the man for action, my fighting Irishman. How I envy your inferior rank at this moment.’

‘How I look forward to seeing your ships sweep into the harbour, John, at dawn the day after tomorrow.’

Paul Jones squeezed his fingers. ‘We shall be there. I shall be there, at the least. But mind you are alive to greet me.’

There was no problem in obtaining volunteers. Each captain took the plan back to his ship with him, and soon every rigging was crowded with men eager to take part. Harry decided on two boats, a total of forty men, and took six from each ship, with ten from the Andrew Doria, as he knew them best. During the day, while he was accumulating his force and making sure every man knew what he was about, the squadron sailed up the Western Providence Channel in a light south easterly breeze, and altered course past the Berry Islands to beat down towards New Providence itself, on which the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, was situated. They passed but one fishing boat, the crew of which waved at them cheerfully enough, obviously unaware of what their flags stood for.

Before dusk they were in sight of Hog Island, the pine clustered sandbank which guarded Nassau Harbour itself and made it one of the safest in the New World. To Harry’s surprise, but not apparently to Hopkins’, this island was deserted and undefended. The town beyond, on the larger island, could be seen in the distance beyond the harbour, but the batteries were hidden from view, and the squadron dropped anchor in the shelter of the pine trees so as not to be overlooked from the shore. Undoubtedly the Nassauvians would know there

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.