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Battles at sea always resulted in mass casualty rates. It just happend that his first day aboard as a midshipman, his captain had been issued orders from the Admiralty to sail for the Baltic Sea. His exact destination was to be stationed just off the Russian Coastline.
At that time, Great Britian and France were at war for the 1st time in over fifty years. Napoleon Bonaparte had ordered his troops North to the Russia's for a complete takeover only a month before. Since then, the French Empyrial Navy had transported the troops and all provisions through the Baltic. The Greatly Outnumbered Britian put it upon herself to defeat the French, who had by this time taken over much or most of Europe, including the greatest naval forces of Denmark, Spain, Portugal & Italy. His Majesty, deciding that Europe had to be restored to it's former self, declared war upon France and began preparing immediatley.
Having already been at War with the Colonies of the America's over their right to independence in the West, the British Royal Navy had captured enemy prizes. These comprised of Neutral Merchants & American ships, mainly Boston built. Known as "Yankee She-Devils", these swift ships ranged in size, though most were smaller Schooners and Brigatines (or "Brigs" wink . Among these captured prizes, was a small fleet by the name of the "Liberty Class" that consisted of:
Washington Hancock Boston Revere Iris Discovery
The Washington,named after General George Washington, had been refitted to fit British Naval Qualifications and was recommisioned and assigned to the command of the young Captain Horatio Nelson, underwhich even younger Jack Kurisutofa would serve. Once recruiting had been pressed, officers were re-ranked and written into the book and the ship had been watered, provisions stored away and cargo placed deep within the hold, the Washington was ready to make sail, but first she needed orders. As Captain Nelson awaited the proper command from the Head of the Admiralty, 1st Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hughes.
During this time, young Jack was given one of two options back home in the town of Bristol. Either he was to be an apprentice to Father Shefferd, a clergyman that seemed to have turned against his holy books for the drink. Or his other option. His uncle, William Bonden who had a home in Bath, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy & had put his connections and any further services he could offer in the hands of young Jack Kurisutofa. Having a certain flare for adventure, Jack decided upon the life of an Able Seaman. Soon he found himself preparing to go abroad. He was outfitted and ranked as a midshipman and recieved his orders to report to the Washington immediatley. Doing so, he found himself the last to be written into the Washington's log books and was rated as Midshipman and Captain's Servant. As a "middy", he would apprentice to become a fine naval officer. All he needed to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant was six years of seatime, to reach the age of twenty and to apply to the Admiralty in person. The was he saw things, it was a great future ahead of him. Though, soon things seemed to take a turn for the worst...
According to Kurisutofa and the logs of the Washington, the first day out, she unwillingly ran straight into a French Naval Squadron bound for the Denmark. Unluckily, it consisted of three ship-of-the-line's (battleships) and one frigate named the Acheron. Outnumbered and out of luck, Captain Nelson found himself surrounded and with an unexpierenced guncrew. Try what he must, all he could do was take their broadsides, one after the other and attempt to break through thier lines and make a run for it. One after another it was too. Blood poored from the catheads as the crew was cut to pieces & slaughtered. Out of the original compliment of 258 men aboard the Washingotn, only 50 remained. Quickly running lines to and fro, the Washington flew all sheets and managed to quickly limp away. Putting nautical miles between them and their pursuers, they remained at sea for another two days before slowly crawling back towards Ireland for repairs...
Admiral Lord Cochrane · Mon Dec 12, 2005 @ 11:32pm · 1 Comments |
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