Man Of War

with the terms of the ceasefire, and sail his ships to whence they came, Constantinople or Alexandria.’

There was general approbation. Peto nodded to his signal midshipman, who then unrolled another chart, on which was drawn large in charcoal the bay and the dispositions of the Ottoman fleet.

‘Gentlemen, you perceive that the admiral’s intelligence is most particular.’

They did indeed, for the dispositions were in the greatest detail: every man-of-war by name.

‘The Ottoman fleet consists in all of three ships of the Line, each of seventy-four guns, some twenty frigates, thirty or so corvettes, half a dozen brigs or sloops and five fireships. They are arranged in what might be called a horseshoe in the space enclosed by the citadel, the small island, and Sphacteria – which on some charts is rendered “Sphagia”.’ He indicated each with his finger. ‘In the front line, at a distance of about two cables apart, they have moored their battle-ships and most powerful frigates. In the second line, covering the intervals of the first line, they have placed the rest of the frigates and the most powerful corvettes, these latter being reinforced by a third line of corvettes. There are fireships placed at the two ends of the arc – two of them on the side of New Navarin, and three under the island of Sphacteria, protected by its battery.’

There was much nodding of heads. The Ottoman fleet did not possess so many ships of the Line as the French at the Nile, but the dispositions here were altogether stronger.

‘You will perceive, however, that the right wing is rather less powerful than the left. This we may suppose is because the Turks imagine that since the right wing faces the entrance of the bay, the main weight of any attack, taking advantage of the wind, will be directed to the left wing.’

They all nodded.

‘Now, gentlemen, Sir Edward Codrington’s design . . .’

Peto spoke for a quarter of an hour. He told them that the French admiral would place his squadron abreast of the Egyptian ships to the south-east. These, he said, were the ones on which the French advisors were still embarked. Codrington’s own squadron would anchor abreast of the Turkish ships to the west, and the Russian squadron next in succession, the Ottoman 74s each being matched by an allied two-decker. The allies were to moor – supposing there was no hostility committed against them – with spring anchors, just as had the Turks. ‘No gun is to be fired from the combined fleet without a signal being made for that purpose,’ he added gravely, taking his finger from the chart at last, as if he had come to the end of his orders. ‘Unless, that is, shot be fired by a Turk . . . in which case the ships so firing are to be destroyed immediately.’

There was a deal more acclamation, until it dawned on each of the officers that Peto had said nothing of Rupert’s place in the enterprise. The quizzical looks returned.

‘And so, gentlemen, to our own part. Once the combined fleet has entered the bay, we shall take station at the entrance in such a manner as to suggest that a further squadron of first-rates is disposed ready for action: there’ll be sloops showing their tops on the horizon. The Turkish admiral shall therefore be obliged to put from his mind any thoughts of resistance which his mere numerical superiority might tempt.’

The stratagem met with approval.

Peto stepped back from the table. ‘I trust thereby that the design is entirely clear, gentlemen?’

Heads nodded.

‘Very well. Now, it is possible that these Turks will attempt to quit the bay under cover of darkness, without obligation to leave Greek waters. Lookouts are therefore to be doubled. All hands shall be piped to stations at first light. If there is no signal from the flagship within one hour, I shall have them piped down again, to breakfast. After breakfast we shall clear for action.’

The words ‘clear for action’ struck home, with relish and apprehension in equal measure on the assembled faces.

‘And an extra tot of rum for each man to toast the Immortal Memory!’

‘Ay-ay, sir!’ they chorused, with a will; there was nothing like an increase in grog to signal fighting intent.

‘Carry on, Mr Lambe.’

The lieutenant replaced his hat and touched the point as the captain took his leave accompanied by the signal midshipman.

Back in his cabin, Peto sat in the Madeira chair, and began rubbing his chin. ‘What say you, Mr Pelham?’

‘Sir?’

‘What say you the Turks might do to confound this manoeuvre?’

‘Sir, I . . .’

‘Come, Mr Pelham. You are entitled to your own thoughts on the business, and I would know how you think.’

The midshipman stood rigid.

‘Easy, man!’

‘Well, sir, it seems to me that in a place of such little sea room, a fireship could do horrible destruction. Is there not a danger the Turk might make a pretence of parleying all day, making ready their fireships the while; then they could set loose a deal of confusion when night came?’

Peto nodded. ‘Your thinking does you credit, Mr Pelham. They are precisely my thoughts. The admiral gave no indication of how long he would allow the Turks to quit the bay. He will be aware of the destruction that might follow if the fireships are loosed. But, as you intimate, if the Turks appear to want to parley, it will be devilish hard to call them out.’

‘Sir.’

Peto rose, and turned to look out of the stern lights. ‘My compliments to Mr Lambe, and have him inform me the instant there is sight of the Firefly.’

‘Ay-ay, sir.’

‘As soon as she comes alongside I wish you to escort Miss Codrington aboard.’

‘Ay-ay, sir.’

Peto cleared his throat. ‘That is all, Mr Pelham. You may dismiss.’

When he was gone, Peto poured himself a glass of Marsala, and took his copy of Thucydides from the rack. He leafed through it to Book Four, to the events at Pylus – Navarino as now was. The Athenians had been tempted to bring to battle the Lacedaemonians – the Spartans – by landing and erecting defensive works. The historian of the war described the bay in some detail; Peto did not suppose it had changed much in its essentials in the intervening centuries.

Demosthenes, before the coming up of the Peloponnesian fleet, had timely despatched two vessels to Eurymedon, and the Athenians on board that fleet now lying at Zacynthus, pressing them to return as the place was in danger of being lost; which vessels made the best of their way, in pursuance of the earnest commands of Demosthenes. But Lacedaemonians were now preparing to attack the fortress both by land and sea: presuming it would be easily destroyed, as the work had been raised with so much precipitation, and was defended by so small a number of hands. But, as they also expected the return of the Athenian ships from Zacynthus, they designed, in case they took not the place before, to bar up the mouths of the harbour, so as to render the entrance impracticable to the Athenians, for an isle that is called Sphacteria, lying before and at a small distance, locks it up and renders the mouths of the harbour narrow; that near the fortress of the Athenians and Pylus a passage for two ships only abreast, and that between the other points of land for eight or nine. The whole of it, as desert, was overgrown with wood, and quite untrod, and the compass of it at most is about fifteen stadia. They were therefore intent on shutting up these entrances with ships moored close together, and their heads towards the sea. And to prevent the molestation apprehended, should the enemy take possession of this island, they threw into it a body of their heavy-armed, and posted another body on the opposite shore: for by these dispositions the Athenians would be incommoded from the island, and excluded from landing on the main-land: and, as on the opposite coast of Pylus without the harbour there is no road where ships can lie, they would be deprived of a station from whence to succour the besieged: and thus, without the hazard of a naval engagement, it was probable they should get possession of the place, as the quantity of provisions in it could be but small, since the seizure had been executed with slender preparation . . .

Peto closed the book, thoughtful. The Turks might have occupied the place with slender preparation, and their quantity of provisions might be small, but they had fireships and forts to block up the entrance, not merely the