Tale of a Patriot Part Four

By Grandpa Casey

In Part Three we left Joe walking up the ramp of the USS Constitution. When the Revolutionary war ended the new United States Congress, short on money, retired the Continental Navy. This action ended the careers of many sailors; including his. Refusing to give up sailing, he borrowed money and bought a used ship. This made him one of the youngest, if not the youngest Merchant Captain in the new United States of America. Life was good, he was doing what he enjoyed and, except for some close calls, he didn’t have to risk his life to do it.

When Joe loses his ship, dreading the thought of working on the family farm, he searches for work. With too many sailors out of work and not enough jobs available, when Joe hears that Congress resurrected the Navy, he enlists in the new United States Navy. Receiving his previous rank of Lieutenant, Joe helps in defeating the Barbary Coast Pirates. While his ship is docked in Boston, Joe takes his swag (his share from the sale of captured enemy ships and cargo) with him to Lexington. There he plans to hide the money on his family’s farm. Along the way he outwits a group of highway robbers.

With a peace treaty signed and his enlistment up, Joe planned to retrieve his money and put a hefty down payment on another ship. Again, his plans are thwarted. The USA declared war on England; which became known as the War of 1812. Realizing this is not a good time to buy a ship, for the third time, Joe enlists in the Navy and almost loses his life while battling “The Devil Ship”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grandpa Casey
• Release date: Dec 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311069795

Grandpa Casey

I'm a retired Grandfather who likes telling stories to my Grandchildren. Now that they are older I want to share them with everyone. My books are my credentials. A percentage of the profits, from all my books, will go to ZFRF, a nonprofit organization that helps families of people with cancer. For more information on ZFRF visit www.zfrf.net

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TALE OF A PATRIOT

PART FOUR

By Grandpa Casey

Copyright Pending

All the characters in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real people, ships, or actual incidents is purely coincidental

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ONE

After the Revolutionary War, the Colonies, now call themselves The United States of America. In a cost cutting measure, the US (United States) Congress dissolved the Continental Navy. For some foolish reason, they convinced themselves, or were convinced, that Armed Merchant Vessels could deter pirates better than any US Navy can.

At first, things were going well, because the armed Merchant Ships traveled in convoys the Pirates did not attack them. Like wolfs, following a heard of sheep, the Pirates waited and attacked any straggler, that should stray from the convoy.

All that changed when Pirates from Africa started cruising up and down the American coast and attacked every ship or convoy they came across; they even stole from other pirates. When shortages became the norm, an outraged American Public finally convinced their Congressmen to establish a Navy. In 1797, with the building of several ships, the United States Navy was born.

When I heard about this ‘New Navy’, I reenlisted for the second time and was able to retain my permanent rank of Lieutenant. Three months later, I’m assigned to the USS Constitution.

When I see her, I marvel at her stature. She’s a Frigate (a ship built for speed and maneuverability), whose deck is the same height from stem to stern (front to back). Paul Revere’s company fashioned her copper clad bottom and brass fittings. With three masts, forty-four cannons and a crew of at least 450 men, which also includes the newly formed ‘US Marines’, the USS Constitution is a formidable opponent to any ship that challenges her.

Before setting foot on its deck, I hear someone in a muffled tone behind me, Lieutenant, please come here. I turn around and see a Navy Captain standing at the foot of the Constitution’s gangplank, bidding me to come to him while softly saying, I need to talk to you.

My curiosity gets the better of me and I turn around, walk down the ramp, stop in front of the Captain and say while saluting him, Sir, how may I be of assistance?

While waiting for him to return my salute and answer my question, I think, I hope this won’t take long. I’ve been traveling all night and could use some sleep.

After returning my salute, the Captain says, Lieutenant, instead of the USS Constitution, how would you like to join my crew, on the USS Condessa? Washington told me about your prowess and I need officers of your temperament. He pauses and waits for my answer; when I don’t reply, he says, SO, what do you say, is it yes or no?

I’m still speechless, I’ve never been asked to join a ship; ordered yes, but never asked.

Agitated, that I’m making him wait, the Captain sternly says, Lieutenant, it’s time to either defecate or get off the pot. Time’s a wasting, I need an answer.

His colorful expletive, takes me aback.

Feeling that I’m not going to join his ship, The Captain says, Good luck, Lieutenant.

Seeing that he’s about to leave, I snap to attention and say, Sir, if you can get my orders changed, my answer, to your question, is yes.

Hearing that, the Captain says, GOOD. Then he opens his satchel and hands me two papers. Lieutenant, here is the order countermanding the one you have. Print your name in the blank space. Then he pulls out a quill pen and small bottle of ink, Also, I need you to sign on the bottom left line. Do the same thing to the other paper; it’s your copy.

As the Captain continues babbling something about, God and Country, I kneel on the deck, open the ink bottle and, after dipping the quill pen in the ink, I do as he asks. When I’m done, I get up and hand him one of the papers while keeping the other one.

While putting the paper in his satchel, the Captain says, Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more officers to common…. I mean recruit. After taking two steps, the captain turns around, looks at me, points to the next pier and says, Our ship is docked over there. Show the Officer on Deck, your orders and he’ll have someone take you to your quarters. Then, to quell my concern, he says, All your questions will be answered during dinner.

As the Captain turns to leave, I look at my copy of the paper, authorizing my transfer and think, well I’ll be. Generic orders, what’s next? I look up and watch the Captain as he walks out of sight. What have I gotten myself into? Oh well, it’s too late to worry about it now.

After neatly folding the paper and tucking it into the inside pocket of my jacket, I fling my sea bag over my shoulder and walk towards my new ship. As I’m about to step off the pier, I hear shouting coming from the Constitution’s deck. Without turning around, I think, maybe I’ve made the right decision.

Before walking up the Condessa’s boarding Ramp, I give her the once over. HUH, she looks the spitting image of the Constitution. If it wasn’t for her name plaque, I’d swear I was about to board the USS Constitution. Well, no sense putting it off any longer; I might as well report in.

Walking to the top of the ramp, I stop and salute the Ensign, who is the Officer on Deck, and hand him my orders. He welcomes me on-board and has a sailor take my sea bag from me. When the sailor puts my bag at the foot of my bed, I thank him, take off my jacket and begin the task of unpacking. After settling in, I lay on the bed and attempt to take a short nap, but for some reason I can’t. Getting out of the bed, I walk around the ship’s interior. My intention is to become familiar with every nook and cranny, from bow to stern. When I’m finished with my tour, I walk outside and wonder when her cannons and sails will arrive; she looks naked without them. Stopping at her stern, I lean on the rail and gaze at the bright red sunset.

You don’t see sunsets like these on the farm, a voice from behind me says.

I turn around, when I see it’s my new Captain, I snap to attention, salute and say, Sir.

After returning my salute, he says, At ease, Lieutenant Joe. As the both of us turn to look at the sunset, I wonder how he knew my name. You are Lieutenant Joe, aren’t you? I nod yes. Good, I would hate to think I recruited a different Lieutenant with an eye patch.

Before he leaves me, he says, Lieutenant, get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day. The rest of the crew is due here tomorrow, around 1200 Hours.

As the Captain walks away, I think, he’s not too bright. If he looked at my signed transfer paper he’d see my name is Joe. I hope it’s an oversight and he can actually read.

After the sun sets, I enter the Officers’ Quarters, lay on my bed and think, the last time I was on a military ship I sailed to France with General Lafayette as his aide during the peace talks. It didn’t take long for England and France to start fighting again; they sign a treaty in 1783 and start battling each other by 1793. Thank goodness, this time we’re not part of that lunacy. One version of why France declared war on England is, unlike us, France wants to liberate any country that’s ruled by a king. On this one thing, I can empathize with England. Just because France had a revolution and overthrew her King, that doesn’t give her the right to overthrow kings of other countries. Knowing the feelings that England and France have towards each other, I’m inclined to believe the more prevalent version, which is that France declared war on England because England was funding militants who wanted to overthrow the governing bodies of their territories…. Before I can finish with my thoughts, I fall asleep.

I wake up when someone comes into the room and says, Sir, the Captain wants you to join him.

As the Sun rises, I walk up to the Captain, who is standing next to the Center Mast, snap to attention and salute, while saying, Sir, reporting as ordered.

The Captain returns my salute and says, Lieutenant, I’ve just received word that the rest of our crew will be here within the hour. After you have your breakfast, come up here and supervise their arrival. Give them the morning to settle in, then while they’re having their noonday meal send for me; I’ll be at the Admiral’s Office.

Like clockwork, the men arrive. The officer with them, another Ensign, stops them in front of the ramp and comes on-board to report to me.

He comes to attention, hands me the roster, and says, Sir, we have arrived, all present and accounted for.

Taking the roster from him, I say, Ensign, have the men come on-board the ship. They’ll have until the noonday meal to settle in. While they’re eating I’ll go and fetch the Captain; during that time Ensign Gerald will be in-command.

SIR, YES SIR, the Ensign says before turning around.

As I watch him walk away, I think, I should reprimand him for not saluting. I will later, when we’re alone. He looks new at this. Besides, I don’t want to scold him in front of the men; I fear there’ll be plenty of time for that later.

As the Ensign dismisses the men, I think, the first