In contrast to the New Yorkers arriving at Claresville, as the sailors in the boats grew close to the anchored flotilla they heard cheering. The crews aboard the ships lined the decks and swarmed up the rigging, yelling a raucous welcome that made Wake laugh out loud. And there stood Rork, taller than most, in the foreshrouds of the St. James, hollering along with the rest.
Safely over the last of the shallow bars off the beach, Lieutenant Erne came aft and stood at the stern of the tug with his arms akimbo, smiling broadly at the sight of the boats tethered in lines astern. He slowly came to attention and raised his hand in salute while looking directly at Wake. Just then each anchored ship fired a blank charge to celebrate the return of the men of the naval landing party. Wake returned Erne’s salute and struggled to maintain his composure, seeing that others around him were doing the same. It was the moment they all needed. They were back where they belonged.
***
Captain West of the U.S.S. Bonsall, looked concerned as Wake stood before him to give his verbal report, the written one having been delivered thirty minutes earlier. West invited him to sit at the chart table and have some tea, which Wake accepted.
“Mr. Wake, it was a close run thing, I see.”
“Yes, sir. But we made it, and the operation can continue.”
West changed his expression from smiling to a frown. “I am hearing grumbling though, Lieutenant Wake. Grumbling from Colonel Wherley’s people that you precipitously went further inland earlier than originally planned and did not fall back to the camp when attacked. Other grumbling from naval officers that the army did nothing but sit at the camp and let the sailors fight their battle for them. Which was it, Lieutenant Wake? Your report does not indicate any major problems at all.”
Wake took a moment to arrange his thoughts, for he had anticipated this line of questioning from West and knew there would be no right answer. West wasn’t interested in what happened, only how the events on shore would affect his career.
“Sir, the mission was accomplished. I did move forward earlier than planned because the situation unfolded differently than expected. It was taking longer to get the soldiers ashore and the crossroads needed to be secured. Once we were there, we found that the enemy was approaching for an attack. The enemy would’ve bottled up the Federal forces if they could have made it down that road through the swamp to the beach camp, and so we fought them at Claresville to stop that from happening.”
“And the army’s participation in all this, Lieutenant Wake?”
“They relieved us this morning at Claresville, sir.”
West shook his head and looked at Wake closely. “I do not understand how it is that you constantly seem to antagonize senior army officers, Wake. First at Tortugas, then Key West, and now here. You’re getting known for that. This operation was a simple one in concept and yet became convoluted when you became involved in its execution.”
“There has been absolutely no intent of antagonism on my part toward any army officer anywhere, sir.”
“Yes, well, I further understand that now Colonel Wherley is mysteriously sick and wants to go back to Key West immediately to convalesce, so I guess I’ll have to put him aboard the Nygaard. Word is that he has a fever and regrets not taking quicker action to reinforce the sailors. Says the fever debilitated him.”
“Yes, sir. I saw that he was feeling sick myself, sir. Appeared very ill just this morning when I saw him last.”
West kept eyeing Wake. “From what I heard he was feeling quite well, and angry about you, until this morning. Then he told people he had been sick and put Martin in command. Is there anything else about this I should know?”
“No sir, that about sums it up. I believe the operation can go forward with some chance of success. Major Martin appears to be a competent leader and the New Yorkers have enough strength ashore to deal with the most likely opposition.”
West shook his head again and picked up some papers lying on the chart table. A waft of breeze came down the companionway into the cabin and Wake watched the wind ruffling the water through the ports behind West. He struggled to remain calm and sip his tea as his superior spoke again.
“Well, on another matter, I have dispatches and orders from the squadron at Key West. It seems that yellow fever has broken out in Key West and at Tampa. Several ships’ crews have been affected so much that they cannot work their vessels. Many people at Key West are down with it. Of course, it is the damned season for yellow jack, and so I guess we must expect it to come aboard our ships.”
West paused in thought, then continued. “Now, Bonsall, the tug, and a schooner, are ordered to stay here and support the army operations. The other vessels will depart for other assignments. Nygaard and St. James are to report to Key West for further orders. Nygaard will stop at Tampa, and you will stop at Boca Grande to see about conditions at those places and report them to the admiral. You will depart immediately upon the wind serving. Questions on that?”
“No, sir.”
“There was some mail delivered to your ship yesterday from the steamer that dropped off the dispatches and orders. Bosun Rork has done well in your absence and I have no complaints about him.”
“He is a good man, sir.”
“All right, Lieutenant Wake, you may go. Nygaard will be faster and will carry my official reports of the actions undertaken here. I hope for your sake that there will be no animosity amongst the army officers about the situation here. I tried to plan and
