Under the Black Flag (Treachery And Triumph Book 4) by Cal Clement

Author:Cal Clement [Clement, Cal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

7

‘U.S.S United States’

26 May 1809

32 degrees 44’ N, 79 Degrees 50’ W

“Cast lines and pipe our departure,” Captain Woodhaven ordered. “First lieutenant has the ship, take us out and plot our course southward.”

“Aye, I have the ship,” the first lieutenant replied before turning inboard to the quarterdeck. “Lookouts fore and aft, I want a sounding every five minutes until we have forty fathoms under the keel. Helm, come about with the wind and make your heading east by southeast, full mains and top, leave gallants and royals reefed until we are out in the swells.”

“Aye aye, sir, east by southeast,” the helmsman repeated. “Coming about with the wind.”

“You heard the first lieutenant, sheet those mainsails and tops, stay lines for the foremast,” the sailing master shouted orders through a speaking trumpet. “Haul the spanker over, we mean to come about with the wind!” He turned to the first lieutenant and growled, “Some of these replacements aren’t the sharpest, but our boys will have them in ship shape in no time, sir. Mark my words, we will be ready next time we see that Union Jack flapping in the wind.”

The first lieutenant exchanged a look with Captain Woodhaven before turning back to the sailing master. “See to it, once we are clear of the coast the captain means to run through maneuvers.”

Captain Woodhaven stood firm on the quarterdeck. His eyes surveyed the deck of U.S.S United States while his mind scoured the events of the previous evening as he had been preparing to set sail. United States’ refit had been a rushed affair, due in no small part to his own urging. The damage his ship had taken in her engagement with H.M.S Cutlass had been repaired, inoperable cannons were replaced, deck timbers and mast sections painstakingly torn away and fit with fresh live oak. Replacements for the dead and wounded had been added to the ship’s log. A week in port, and by the captain’s reckoning, a week he could ill afford. The situation he had been briefed on had only grown worse. U.S.S Constitution was said to be on her return voyage from the Mediterranean, where she had been successful at interdicting pirates off the Barbary coasts. Her return would not be for several weeks, and even then, she would need to refit and resupply before she could lend her strength to any fight. Acts of British impressment were the hot topic of port, both in the naval offices and in the taverns. Merchant ships were being stopped within sight of the American coastline and sailors were being pressed against their will into the service of the crown.

“It’s dark days ahead, I can smell it in the air!” a tavern keeper had regaled Captain Woodhaven with his thoughts on the matter. “There is another war with Britain coming, and this time, we may not fare out so fortunate. The French are too busy trying to conquer all of Europe to care much for our problems.”

With the wind in his

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