Fic :The Day Before Challenge
A vignette in the complex, if not always bitter, brew that is a captain's life.
Author:Nodbear
Rating:Very safe for work or anywhere else!
Characters: Captain Pellew,Mr Bowles, the C-in-C Portsmouth,John Gaze,a [real] senior midshipman and offstage Archie and Horatio,Cleveland and Hether.
Length: 2008 words.
To be an Indefatigable
from a document now found in ADM 1/12 index as ADM1/3154 B 101 letters from Commanders in Chief
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From C in C Portsmouth
to Captain Sir Edward Pellew
Indefatigable
Sir
I am pleased to convey to you the intelligence that ,further to your several representations to their Lordships through me, that you are to be allowed the increase in your ships' complement to that of a fourth rate as from today's date .To that end there will transfer from His Majesty's Ship Justinian, tomorrow morning the midshipmen, mates and seamen named in the margin. Their papers and certificates they will present themselves or will be supplied by Captain Keene.
Their lordships also have appointed Lieutenants Ecclestone - and - Chadd,formerly first and third of the Justinian to replace the officers recently promoted from the Indefatigable.
I trust this will enable you to make ready to sail forthwith and resume your command with the squadron,of which further details are in additional papers sent together with this letter…
Aboard Indefatigable,1794
Captain Sir Edward Pellew looked up from the letter he was reading aloud to his sailing master, who paid it considered attention as he did to all ship’s business.
“I remain, sir,etc etc - all the usual flannel- so what do you think, Mr Bowles ? "
" Well sir, It will be good to have the fourth rate complement - she's a demanding and big ship for a frigate, and we could use the extra people, especially if we are to be in action often” Bowles paused ..
" I sense a hesitation there - or a caveat ?" enquired Pellew quietly.
"its just - well its the source of our new bounty, sir, the Justinian. The word in Portsmouth is that she is an unruly ship - being lying idle too long and the men restless and "
" Her Captain worse than useless - no, I go too far- I hear the poor beggar is like to die ere long - damn the navy for making men struggle on so when their strengths and faculties are gone.This is war and we have no time for such folly as to think any captain is better than none. The old and the ailing deserve honour and retirement not a struggle to maintain order under cauldron conditions." Pellew furrowed his brows in the usual signal of his earnestness.
" Have you knowledge of any of the officers or the boys sir ?"
Hmmmnn - - I have heard of Ecclestone , he is said to be a decent fellow but if the tales of that ship he is on are even half true one has to wonder what the man is letting happen on his watch. Never heard of the other man,-Chadd-.quite young I think
Pellew took another look at the paper in his hand “ and as to the boys -well, Hether, - think he is a sprig from that Lincolnshire admiral's family, the admiral died a while back in the West Indies- know no more than that
Cleveland - No - no idea of him at all- should be ready for master's mate by now - except that on that floating dump I doubt they learn their seamans' craft diligently.
And listen to me complain! I should say I am sorry, Thomas, it is all work for you I seem to be listing here
" That is well sir , I am proud to do it. After all it is not often the Indefatigable fails to perform her transforming skills sir and I have enjoyed the challenge.There are four midshipmen you say - . the other two, sir, any news of them?”
Kennedy...Archibald - with that name he ought to be something to do with Lord Cassilis---but surely any son of that house would never be learning his sea legs on such a wreck of a vessel- perhaps he is an er “unofficial” branch of that tree?
Hornblower, Horatio -seems to be a recent admission- I am told that there is a packet on its way from Justininan with further information- we will see what Keene has to say about his charges -....
" Rumour mill is already circulating much about that last one - heard only this morning form our gunner and his missus who were yarning with the woman who rowed out those supplies to us, her sister is a maid at the Lamb. Something about a duel - some midshipman killed and another one dripping blood all over the taproom .But you know how these stories gather shape ,sir, it may be nothing - or .....
“Good God, what are they sending me now ? Its bad enough that we fight undermanned and without sufficient resources, and must we have midshipmen who behave as if in melodrama?”
“ they are very young, sir and tend to guard their honour. It can sometimes mean a great soul
“ True , and one must acknowledge that = and also that it can mean a very bad one I remember once …“
Was it Bowles imagination or had a small shiver made the captain’s hand unsteady as he laid the letter down on the desk.
“ sir ?”
“it is of no moment Mr Bowles - just a memory of my more foolish young days .Well, we will give them all the benefit of a new start. When they have come aboard I will address the assembled ships company and then I will see the midshipmen - the boy Hornblower first.
We will let Ecclestone and Chadd wait their turn. It may give them something to contemplate. I would like to form my impression of how things have been from the young and sharp eyes that travel all decks."
There was a confident knock at the door and Pellew looked up expectantly.
" Come in ! Ah, Mr Gaze, are those the despatches from Justinian ? Good, leave them here on the desk if you please and Mr Gaze - "
" aye, sir ?"
"We have a number of new officers and men coming aboard in the morning early - I want you to be responsible for the midshipmen = four of them. See to it that they are installed safely -and I do not mind a mild induction to the Indefatigable but I do not wish to hear of any behaviour resulting in any young gentlemen being unfit to work tomorrow - we shall be sailing at evening and I want everyone alert and in their right mind =show these newcomers what being an Indefatigable means. Do you understand me ?
Aye Aye sir ! Sir may I ask a question ?”
“ You may,Mr Gaze”
Sir = did we hear the word right, is it true these men are all from the Justinian ?
" You have heard correctly and your other implied question is of course “Can anything good come out of Justinian?” Well the apostle Nathaniel learned that it could and so may we! But your question has some value too I admit. So then, it must be a challenge to you and the other seniors of the mess to show by action and example the standard you have yourselves come to expect. I wish you will detail Mr Pateshall to help you in the task of welcome. He can attend to Mr Kennedy and Mr Hornblower and you the more senior two…
Gaze and Bowles having both departed, the captain took out the wedge of reports in Keene’s spidery sick man's hand and, characteristic frown between his brows,he began to read, first glancing at the portrait of his lady which hung on the cabin wall and later, adding a little to the long letter he had already half written to her that morning
. “ I know what you will say my dear, that ere long these boys will be yet more loved children to bring home to feed and entertain- and that they have hope and youth and we should protect both. If only there was time to send them to you to look over - but I must to sea again and can only hope I do not take bad influence with me.
Forgive me, my dear, I am in danger of meandering again but there is much to contemplate .There is a young man called Hornblower, hardy in the service five minutes and already with a reputation as a hothead and duellist -except that it appears another duelled in his place. He is either a quixotic maverick or a devious coward and I shall tell him how foolish he has been - though is he any more foolish - indeed doubtless a good deal- less than a young post captain and husband who once fought his own former first lieutenant. Dear God, the memory of what might have been and what I could have done to you and the cubs.. Even so does command make hypocrisy a tactical necessity and I shall of course dispense my hard earned wisdom and if the boy has a good heart it will become evident I know….
Head propped on one hand, the despatches and the letter completed,Edward Pellew turned over in his mind the faces of the many youngsters he had already nurtured, truculent ones, reluctant ones, bright and heroic ones ( Sometimes reluctant and brave into the bargain) and smiling a half smile, turned to what he must say to the company to unite them tomorrow.
Set out his stall and take them with him. The quarterdeck was,after all something of a stage and, even if he were not Prince Hal in rhetorical skill, he could make a case worth the stating.
“My name is Captain Sir Edward Pellew and I am here to tell you that your days of idling ( And duelling and indiscipline) are over !”
There would be a line of faces peering up at him, among them Hether and Cleveland, Kennedy and the fool -or just possibly far more than that, this enigma Hornblower. Keenes evidence hinted at a noble youngster …and what was there keene was so evidently not saying about Kennedy - well he could only wait for time to reveal all these things .He stretched tired shoulders and took himself off to sleep. Let tomorrow come and sufficient unto the day….
---------------------------------------
Author’s notes :
The ADM file number is from the correct shelf mark in the National archives but the number itself does not of course exist !
#
In January 1796 Pellew did indeed manage to persuade the Admiralty to let him have the complement of petty officers, marines and men for a fourth rate even though the Indy was officially a fifth rate . His other plan, to get the whole ship re rated to gain promotion of a kind for the entire crew, did not come to fruition- which is hardly a surprise. That he tried is however entirely characteristic !
John Gaze joined Pellew in the Nymph and followed him into the Arethusa the Indefatigable and indeed for most of both of their careers at sea. He was a loyal and devoted friend to his captain and to Pellew’s whole family. He would have been the second most senior midshipman at the time of Archie and Horatio’s arrival.
Pellew is quoting from or paraphrasing the gospel of John where Nathaniel displays cynicism that any religious leader and teacher worth following could come from a dive like Nazareth.
Edward Pellew fought a duel when a young post captain against a man who had been his first lieutenant. .A letter he wrote to one of the other officers on the day following survives, and has been discovered by anteros_lmc and me, in which it is evident the relief he felt at being alive to return to his wife and their first two children who were babies at the time. It is one of the most emotionally charged letters we have seen from him. The circumstances of the duel remain obscure but it is certain that Pellew followed thereafter his own advice to Horatio “ never fight another, that is better” .
Author:Nodbear
Rating:Very safe for work or anywhere else!
Characters: Captain Pellew,Mr Bowles, the C-in-C Portsmouth,John Gaze,a [real] senior midshipman and offstage Archie and Horatio,Cleveland and Hether.
Length: 2008 words.
To be an Indefatigable
from a document now found in ADM 1/12 index as ADM1/3154 B 101 letters from Commanders in Chief
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From C in C Portsmouth
to Captain Sir Edward Pellew
Indefatigable
Sir
I am pleased to convey to you the intelligence that ,further to your several representations to their Lordships through me, that you are to be allowed the increase in your ships' complement to that of a fourth rate as from today's date .To that end there will transfer from His Majesty's Ship Justinian, tomorrow morning the midshipmen, mates and seamen named in the margin. Their papers and certificates they will present themselves or will be supplied by Captain Keene.
Their lordships also have appointed Lieutenants Ecclestone - and - Chadd,formerly first and third of the Justinian to replace the officers recently promoted from the Indefatigable.
I trust this will enable you to make ready to sail forthwith and resume your command with the squadron,of which further details are in additional papers sent together with this letter…
Aboard Indefatigable,1794
Captain Sir Edward Pellew looked up from the letter he was reading aloud to his sailing master, who paid it considered attention as he did to all ship’s business.
“I remain, sir,etc etc - all the usual flannel- so what do you think, Mr Bowles ? "
" Well sir, It will be good to have the fourth rate complement - she's a demanding and big ship for a frigate, and we could use the extra people, especially if we are to be in action often” Bowles paused ..
" I sense a hesitation there - or a caveat ?" enquired Pellew quietly.
"its just - well its the source of our new bounty, sir, the Justinian. The word in Portsmouth is that she is an unruly ship - being lying idle too long and the men restless and "
" Her Captain worse than useless - no, I go too far- I hear the poor beggar is like to die ere long - damn the navy for making men struggle on so when their strengths and faculties are gone.This is war and we have no time for such folly as to think any captain is better than none. The old and the ailing deserve honour and retirement not a struggle to maintain order under cauldron conditions." Pellew furrowed his brows in the usual signal of his earnestness.
" Have you knowledge of any of the officers or the boys sir ?"
Hmmmnn - - I have heard of Ecclestone , he is said to be a decent fellow but if the tales of that ship he is on are even half true one has to wonder what the man is letting happen on his watch. Never heard of the other man,-Chadd-.quite young I think
Pellew took another look at the paper in his hand “ and as to the boys -well, Hether, - think he is a sprig from that Lincolnshire admiral's family, the admiral died a while back in the West Indies- know no more than that
Cleveland - No - no idea of him at all- should be ready for master's mate by now - except that on that floating dump I doubt they learn their seamans' craft diligently.
And listen to me complain! I should say I am sorry, Thomas, it is all work for you I seem to be listing here
" That is well sir , I am proud to do it. After all it is not often the Indefatigable fails to perform her transforming skills sir and I have enjoyed the challenge.There are four midshipmen you say - . the other two, sir, any news of them?”
Kennedy...Archibald - with that name he ought to be something to do with Lord Cassilis---but surely any son of that house would never be learning his sea legs on such a wreck of a vessel- perhaps he is an er “unofficial” branch of that tree?
Hornblower, Horatio -seems to be a recent admission- I am told that there is a packet on its way from Justininan with further information- we will see what Keene has to say about his charges -....
" Rumour mill is already circulating much about that last one - heard only this morning form our gunner and his missus who were yarning with the woman who rowed out those supplies to us, her sister is a maid at the Lamb. Something about a duel - some midshipman killed and another one dripping blood all over the taproom .But you know how these stories gather shape ,sir, it may be nothing - or .....
“Good God, what are they sending me now ? Its bad enough that we fight undermanned and without sufficient resources, and must we have midshipmen who behave as if in melodrama?”
“ they are very young, sir and tend to guard their honour. It can sometimes mean a great soul
“ True , and one must acknowledge that = and also that it can mean a very bad one I remember once …“
Was it Bowles imagination or had a small shiver made the captain’s hand unsteady as he laid the letter down on the desk.
“ sir ?”
“it is of no moment Mr Bowles - just a memory of my more foolish young days .Well, we will give them all the benefit of a new start. When they have come aboard I will address the assembled ships company and then I will see the midshipmen - the boy Hornblower first.
We will let Ecclestone and Chadd wait their turn. It may give them something to contemplate. I would like to form my impression of how things have been from the young and sharp eyes that travel all decks."
There was a confident knock at the door and Pellew looked up expectantly.
" Come in ! Ah, Mr Gaze, are those the despatches from Justinian ? Good, leave them here on the desk if you please and Mr Gaze - "
" aye, sir ?"
"We have a number of new officers and men coming aboard in the morning early - I want you to be responsible for the midshipmen = four of them. See to it that they are installed safely -and I do not mind a mild induction to the Indefatigable but I do not wish to hear of any behaviour resulting in any young gentlemen being unfit to work tomorrow - we shall be sailing at evening and I want everyone alert and in their right mind =show these newcomers what being an Indefatigable means. Do you understand me ?
Aye Aye sir ! Sir may I ask a question ?”
“ You may,Mr Gaze”
Sir = did we hear the word right, is it true these men are all from the Justinian ?
" You have heard correctly and your other implied question is of course “Can anything good come out of Justinian?” Well the apostle Nathaniel learned that it could and so may we! But your question has some value too I admit. So then, it must be a challenge to you and the other seniors of the mess to show by action and example the standard you have yourselves come to expect. I wish you will detail Mr Pateshall to help you in the task of welcome. He can attend to Mr Kennedy and Mr Hornblower and you the more senior two…
Gaze and Bowles having both departed, the captain took out the wedge of reports in Keene’s spidery sick man's hand and, characteristic frown between his brows,he began to read, first glancing at the portrait of his lady which hung on the cabin wall and later, adding a little to the long letter he had already half written to her that morning
. “ I know what you will say my dear, that ere long these boys will be yet more loved children to bring home to feed and entertain- and that they have hope and youth and we should protect both. If only there was time to send them to you to look over - but I must to sea again and can only hope I do not take bad influence with me.
Forgive me, my dear, I am in danger of meandering again but there is much to contemplate .There is a young man called Hornblower, hardy in the service five minutes and already with a reputation as a hothead and duellist -except that it appears another duelled in his place. He is either a quixotic maverick or a devious coward and I shall tell him how foolish he has been - though is he any more foolish - indeed doubtless a good deal- less than a young post captain and husband who once fought his own former first lieutenant. Dear God, the memory of what might have been and what I could have done to you and the cubs.. Even so does command make hypocrisy a tactical necessity and I shall of course dispense my hard earned wisdom and if the boy has a good heart it will become evident I know….
Head propped on one hand, the despatches and the letter completed,Edward Pellew turned over in his mind the faces of the many youngsters he had already nurtured, truculent ones, reluctant ones, bright and heroic ones ( Sometimes reluctant and brave into the bargain) and smiling a half smile, turned to what he must say to the company to unite them tomorrow.
Set out his stall and take them with him. The quarterdeck was,after all something of a stage and, even if he were not Prince Hal in rhetorical skill, he could make a case worth the stating.
“My name is Captain Sir Edward Pellew and I am here to tell you that your days of idling ( And duelling and indiscipline) are over !”
There would be a line of faces peering up at him, among them Hether and Cleveland, Kennedy and the fool -or just possibly far more than that, this enigma Hornblower. Keenes evidence hinted at a noble youngster …and what was there keene was so evidently not saying about Kennedy - well he could only wait for time to reveal all these things .He stretched tired shoulders and took himself off to sleep. Let tomorrow come and sufficient unto the day….
---------------------------------------
Author’s notes :
The ADM file number is from the correct shelf mark in the National archives but the number itself does not of course exist !
#
In January 1796 Pellew did indeed manage to persuade the Admiralty to let him have the complement of petty officers, marines and men for a fourth rate even though the Indy was officially a fifth rate . His other plan, to get the whole ship re rated to gain promotion of a kind for the entire crew, did not come to fruition- which is hardly a surprise. That he tried is however entirely characteristic !
John Gaze joined Pellew in the Nymph and followed him into the Arethusa the Indefatigable and indeed for most of both of their careers at sea. He was a loyal and devoted friend to his captain and to Pellew’s whole family. He would have been the second most senior midshipman at the time of Archie and Horatio’s arrival.
Pellew is quoting from or paraphrasing the gospel of John where Nathaniel displays cynicism that any religious leader and teacher worth following could come from a dive like Nazareth.
Edward Pellew fought a duel when a young post captain against a man who had been his first lieutenant. .A letter he wrote to one of the other officers on the day following survives, and has been discovered by anteros_lmc and me, in which it is evident the relief he felt at being alive to return to his wife and their first two children who were babies at the time. It is one of the most emotionally charged letters we have seen from him. The circumstances of the duel remain obscure but it is certain that Pellew followed thereafter his own advice to Horatio “ never fight another, that is better” .