My dearest Belinda…
If the courier brig found _them in time before the battle she would eventually read it. By then it would all be over, but at least she would know what he was thinking at this moment, as with Benbow in the lead the little squadron sailed towards the shadows of evening.
Bolitho listened to the muffled squeal of calls and knew it marked the arrival of another of his captains for the brief conference. And it had to be short, for with so many ships in the vicinity, backed up by patrolling frigates and brigs, supply vessels and the rest, they were not free to anchor.
The last week had been busy but less tense. Once committed to a plan of battle, no matter how hazy it must appear to an ordinary seaman or marine, the people went to work with a will. Shifting stores, powder and shot to retrim the hulls which had for the most part been living too long off their own fat.
During daylight hours the masthead lookouts reported sighting more ships of Hyde Parker's fleet as it gathered together for the first perilous thrust through the Sound Channel.
There was a tap at the door and Bolitho heard feet moving beyond it, like players waiting to emerge on stage.
Browne peered in and said, 'All present, sir.' As an afterthought he added, 'Wind's as before, sir, and Mr Grubb says there's little chance of a change.'
'Let them enter.' Bolitho walked to the door to greet and shake hands with each of his young captains.
Veitch of the Lookout and Keverne of the Indomitable. The latter had changed not at all in spite of his authority. He still had the gipsy good looks which Bolitho remembered when he had been first lieutenant in his own Euryalus. Inch and, of course, Neale of the Styx, followed closely by Captain Peel of the Relentless.
The last one to enter with Herrick was Captain Valentine Keen of the Nicator. They had shared so much together before the war, in the East Indies and later in the Great South Sea where Bolitho had-all but died of fever.
Bolitho shook his hand warmly. `How is everything with you?'
Keen knew that Bolitho's question had a double edge. Nicator's previous captain had been a coward and a liar, and it was said he had died from a ball fired by one of his own company. Nicator had been an unhappy ship then, but under Keen's command had prospered with surprising swiftness.
'Aye, sir. I am ready.' He gave a smile. 'You can depend on it.'
Herrick clapped him on the shoulder. 'Enough said, young
Val! Let's get this meeting completed in time for a glass, eh?' Bolitho stood behind his table, his feet taking the gentle roll
and plunge of the deck.
`I have received the final instructions, gentlemen.' He saw them watching him, eager, anxious, some trying to hide their feelings completely.
'More intelligence has been received about the armed galleys which Captain Neale and I observed when we made our little venture into the Baltic.' He saw a few smiles. `The Danes have many more than first believed, and have been keeping them to the south of Copenhagen. They present an obvious threat to any slower vessels sailing in single-line. It has been agreed that Vice-Admiral Nelson will lead the main assault on the defences and moored men-of-war, and all else which the Danes have prepared for us.'
Even Hyde Parker must have been embarrassed by agreeing to his junior accepting the hardest part of the battle. Bolitho saw Neale nudge Inch with his elbow and guessed they were thinking along the same tack.
'It is now definite that the Danish batteries will open fire as soon as we attempt to enter the Baltic. The Swedish commander has made no comment, but we must assume they may follow that example. When I was in Copenhagen I heard talk of the Danes removing buoys and steering-marks from the channel.'
They were no longer smiling. Without definite knowledge of the channel it would mean a more cautious approach. Just two ships running aground could tam an orderly advance into a shambles long before they reached their objectives.
'So,' Bolitho paused and glanced down at the neatly written instructions, `this squadron will enter the channel under cover of darkness to bypass the harbour defences and attack the galleys before they can get amongst our main fleet.'
He had to speak carefully to conceal his dismay.
`Soundings will be taken by the boats of the squadron, each to be under the charge of an experienced lieutenant or warrant officer. Close contact will be maintained at all times, but with a minimum of signals. It seems certain that we will not complete the passage without detection, and some casualties and damage must be expected. For this and other reasons we will keep to the Swedish side of the channel and make it as hard as possible for the Danish gunners, understood?'
Most of them nodded, but Peel stood up abruptly to ask, 'If the main fleet is held by the Danish defences, sir,, what will become of us?'
Bolitho said, 'Ask me when it happens.'
He liked the appearance of Captain Rowley Peel. At twentysix he had earned a fine reputation as a frigate captain, although he looked more like a young farmer than a sea officer. It was hardly surprising, Bolitho thought, as Peel came from a long line of landowners and would be as much at home with his beasts and crops as on a quarterdeck.
Peel grinned. 'Aye, sir. With Nelson at one end and you at t' other, I think we shall live!'
Bolitho leaned on his hands and looked at each face in turn.
'Now to the order of battle. Relentless, being the larger of the frigates, will lead, with Lookout in dose support.'
He turned to Neale, seeing his crestfallen expression as he added, 'You will follow astern of the squadron to repeat signals from the fleet or pass information to it.'
You would think he had just ordered Neale's court martial rather than saving him from the first crushing broadsides.
For a moment all their faces seemed to fade and he felt alone in the cabin.
Relentless's part was vital and the choice left no alternative.
When Damerum had put his suggestions to Hyde Parker he must have found it hard to conceal his elation. He would have discovered about Pascoe's appointment to the frigate and would have known how precarious that position would soon become.
A few questions came and went, answered by either Herrick or Browne.
Ozzard appeared with a tray of goblets and each man was soon drinking the loyal toast.
Then Bolitho said quietly, 'Most of us have known each other for a long time. In war that is a fortunate thing. During the fight ahead, our knowledge of each other will be as important as gunnery and seamanship, and to me, most of all, it will be a great encouragement to know I am among friends.'
Herrick raised his goblet. 'To us!'
Then they began to take their leave, each probably devising the best way to explain what was expected to his own ship's company.
Herrick and Browne left the cabin to see the captains into their waiting boats, but Peel hung back, his face embarrassed. `What is it, Captain Peel?'
'Well, sir, it's not for me to say, of course. But it's fairly common knowledge through the squadron about your clash with Admiral Damerum. I can understand why this dangerous course must be followed, and for my part I am proud to be in the van when we attack. If Sir Hyde Parker needs all his gun-brigs and bomb vessels for the assault on Copenhagen harbour, then it is obvious that we must play our part and scatter the galleys.'
Bolitho nodded. 'That is a fair summing up, Captain Peel.'
Peel said stubbornly, 'But there is nothing to state that your nephew, must be in my ship when it happens, sir! After all that's gone before, it would be the least I could do to replace him,'
Bolitho faced him gravely. 'Thank you. That could not have been easy for you.'
Peel swallowed hard. 'He came aboard with me anyway, sir, to speak with the flag captain. I should like to consult your sailing master on some recent charts.' He raised an eyebrow. '$hall I send Mr Pascoe aft, sir?'
'Yes. And I am grateful for your concern.'
It seemed an age before Pascoe came to the cabin. He looked very pale, as if he was in fever.
Bolitho said, 'Sit down, Adam.'
