The Bomb Vessel

additional heavy blockships.

'The channel into the port, dockyard and arsenal lies behind the Trekroner Forts and joins with the King's Channel just north of the forts. It is thought to be closed by a chain boom and is covered by enfilading fire from batteries on the land. Other ships, a seventy-four, a heavy frigate and some brigs and smaller vessels are anchored on this line.

'Batteries are also mounted on Amager, supporting the southern end of the line. In all the Danish defences extend four miles.'

The admiral paused and sipped from a glass of water. Drinkwater thought his face looked grey with worry but a fierce light darted from his one good eye and he watched the expressions of his captains as if seeking a weakness. He cleared his throat and went on.

'Each of you will receive written orders as to your station in the action from my secretary as you leave. These are as concise as possible and written on card for ease of handling. However it is my intention to explain the general plan to avoid needless confusion.

'As you have already been made aware, all the line of battleships are to have their anchors ready for letting go by the stern. They will anchor immediately upon coming abreast of their allotted target. Edgar will lead with Mr Briarly temporarily serving in her. Fire may be opened at your discretion. Captain Riou in Amazon is to take Blanche, Alemène, Arrow and Dart and co-operate with the van in silencing the guns commanding the harbour mouth, or as other circumstances might require. The bomb vessels will take station outside the line of battleships and throw their shells into the dockyard and arsenal. Captain Rose in the Jamaica, frigate, is to take the gun-brigs into position for raking the line at its southern end, thus discouraging reinforcement of the floating batteries from the shore. Captain Inman in Désirée will also take up this station. Captain Fremantle with five hundred seamen will concert his action with Colonel Stewart and the 49th Regiment to embark in the flat-boats and storm the Trekroner Forts as soon as their fire is silenced.' Nelson looked round the assembly. 'It looks formidable to those who are children at war,' he said smiling inspiringly, Imt to my judgement, with ten sail of the line I think I can annihilate them.' There was a murmur of agreement. 'That is all. Are there any questions? Very well then. To your posts, gentlemen, and success to His Majesty's Arms.'

The captains, commanders and lieutenants-in-command filed out, collecting their written instructions as directed and Drinkwater, looking for his boat among the throng of craft pressing alongside Elephant's flanks, found himself button-holed by Mr Briarly of the Bellona.

'Hold hard, sir. I ask you for your support for a moment. Lord Nelson has sent for masters and these damned pilots. They are still arguing about the approach to the King's Deep. You know Fothergill's boat is missing this morning?'

'Aye, it must have been driven off station by an ice floe, I warned…'

Briarly nodded. 'I heard,' he broke in impatiently, 'Look, Mr Drinkwater, you seem to have the admiral's ear, can you not persuade him that although there may be greater water on the Middle Ground side it is so steep-to that a small miscalculation…'

'Mr Briarly, his lordship has appointed you to lead the fleet in Edgar, surely the rest will follow.' Drinkwater was getting anxious about preparations aboard Virago.

'I was out this morning at first light, if each ship steers with…' he pointed out some conspicuous marks to Drinkwater which ensured a lead through the King's Deep.

'Are you certain of that?'

'Positive.'

'And will tell the admiral so?' Briarly nodded. 'Then I am certain you will carry the day, Mr Briarly. I am sure you do not need my assistance and I beg you let me return to my ship…'

'Morning, Drinkwater.' Drinkwater turned to find Martin at his other elbow.

'Good morning sir,' Drinkwater said absently, fishing in his pocket and remembering he had left his pocket compass in his greygoe. He would have liked to check the bearing of Cruizer to ensure Brisbane had anchored her in the correct place. Briarly had already gone to try and brow-beat the pilots.

'You are to be in the battle, Drinkwater,' said Martin, 'thanks to my good offices.'

'Yours sir?' Drinkwater looked up in astonishment. Martin nodded.

'I put in a good word for you the other day when I attended Lord Nelson.'

Drinkwater choked back an insubordinate laugh. 'Ah… I see… er, I'm greatly obliged to you sir.' And then he added with irresistible impishness, 'I shall inform Lord Dungarth of my obligation to you.'

Martin further astonished him by failing to see the implied sarcasm. 'I'd be vastly pleased if you would my dear fellow, vastly pleased.'

It was only when he was being pulled back to Virago that he remembered he had failed to take a bearing of the Cruizer from the Elephant.

'The admiral's just hoisted Number 14, sir,' reported Rogers as Drinkwater returned once again to Virago. ''Prepare for battle and for anchoring with springs on the anchors and the end of the sheet cable taken in at the stern port.''

'Very well.'

'The ship is cleared for action, sir.'

'Very well, I shall make my rounds now. Mr Easton! Mr Easton be so good as to attend the flagship's signals. Here,' he handed his instruction card to the master, 'Study that. I do not anticipate weighing until after the line of battle ships.'

Drinkwater led the way below with Rogers following. In the cabin space the bulkheads had been hinged up so that the after car-ronades and stern chasers could be fired if necessary. 'Only the gun captains and powder monkeys to remain with these guns, Mr Rogers. All other men to be mustered on deck as sailtrimmers, firemen or for Mr Tumilty's shell hoists…'

'Aye, aye, sir.'

Drinkwater looked at the place where his table had so long stood. Beneath it the previously locked hatch to the magazine had been removed. An artillery private armed with a short fusil stood guard over it.

'Mr Trussel and Bombardier Hite are below, sir. The felt curtains are well doused and Mr Tumilty is satisfied.'

Two men emerged carrying a box each. 'Mr Willerton's powder boxes, sir, checked for leaks and found correct.' Drinkwater remembered Tumilty's strictness on this point. A leaking powder box laid a gradual powder train directly from the deck to the magazine.

'Very well.' He nodded encouragingly at the men and reas-cended to the poop, striding the length of the waist alongside the carronades.

'Same arrangement for the waist batteries, Mr Rogers…'

'Aye, aye, sir.'

Drinkwater climbed onto the fo'c's'le where Matchett had his party of veteran seamen at the senior station. 'You will have the anchor ready?'

'Aye, sir. With a spring upon it sir, as soon as it's weighed and sighted clear.'

'Very good, Mr Matchett. Leave the spring slack when we anchor again. It is the line of battle ships his lordship wished to anchor by the stern to bring them swiftly into action and avoid the delays and risks in being raked as they swing. We shall most likely anchor by the head.'

'Aye, aye, sir.'

'Good luck, Mr Matchett… Mr Willerton what the devil are you up to?'

Willerton appeared suddenly from the heads with a pot of red paint in his hand and his eyes innocently blue in the sunshine that was now breaking through the cloud.

'Attending to my leddy, sir, giving her a nice red tongue and lips to smack at the Frogs, sir.'

Drinkwater smiled. 'They ain't Frogs, Mr Willerton, they're Danes.'

'All the same to 'er leddyship, sir.'

Drinkwater burst out laughing and turned aft, nodding to the men waiting by the windlass. 'You may heave her dead short, my lads.'