The Privateer's Revenge

'Sir.' The frigate captain leaned forward, 'But do we have recent intelligence as will —'

'This last two days Commander Kydd has returned from a reconnaissance of the harbour. By means of remarkable exertions he was able to look into the port directly and make an account of the shipping therein. I have no reason to doubt his information.'

Selby sent a quick smile of respect to Kydd, who did not acknowledge it.

'I've heard something of this daring, sir,' Carthew interjected, looking pointedly at Kydd, 'and I rather feel it would be of interest if we could hear his justification for taking prize a fishing-boat, contrary to the common usages?'

O'Brien murmured something but Saumarez cut across quickly: 'The vessel was not made prize, and was restored immediately afterwards. And I understand the master did not decline the sum that was offered him for the, er, hire of his craft. You should understand Mr Kydd has my entire approbation for the initiative he displayed in this matter.'

Carthew exchanged a significant glance with the others.

Saumarez frowned. 'And I shall be looking to more of the same from all of you in the very near future.' Heads rose as the implication of his words penetrated.

'Yes, this meeting is not one about defences, gentlemen. We are to make an assault on Granville.'

There was stunned silence, then a hubbub of excited talk. If it went forward it would be the first real offensive operation in these waters against the French so far in the war—and the best chance in sight of some form of distinguished action. But Granville? In so formidable a defensive position with forts and a walled town overlooking the harbour? It would take considerable military resources—did Saumarez have these?

The admiral called the meeting to order and went on, 'The essence of my plan is this. The primary objective can only be the invasion craft: I propose to inflict such damage on them that their sailing to join in concentration those readying opposite England's shores cannot be in contemplation before the winter season is upon us.

'And by no means may we consider a landing. This leaves us in prospect of a massed boat action, which I can only think will be a bloody affair indeed, and I will not have it. There is, however, one possibility left us. Bombs.'

Saumarez paused while his captains took his words in. A bomb-vessel was a specially constructed craft with a huge mortar throwing explosive shells. If it could be manoeuvred into position . . .

'I have therefore sent for a pair from the Downs Squadron to assist us in the assault. Sulphur and Terror will be joining us, with their tenders, and then we sail against the enemy.'

There was no mistaking the feeling in the pugnacious growls round the table.

'With shoal water out beyond cannon fire before Granville, there is limited sea-room and thus our force is constrained. Therefore I am making the following dispositions: I will be shifting my flag to Cerberus frigate from Diomede to close with the coast more nearly and will, of course, be in overall command. The two bombs will also be under my direction and will form the core of the assault. To this end, there will be a force of three sloops and cutters whose sole duty will be the protection of the bomb-vessels.'

This was a small force to set against the might of the French but if a ship-of-the-line was present it would necessarily be compelled to remain powerless far offshore, and with the bomb-vessels warped close in only smaller craft could keep with them.

'Under whose command will the covering force be?' Carthew asked. He left unspoken his realisation that any valiant defence of the bombs would certainly be applauded but only the man in command would bear the public credit.

'For this task I will be asking Commander Kydd,' Saumarez replied levelly.

'Sir! I must protest!' Carthew said hotly. 'This officer has been in these waters only a few weeks and, besides, I feel I must draw your attention to the fact that he is considerably my junior in the list of commanders.'

'I'm not in the habit of defending my decisions, sir,' snapped the admiral. 'However, you will recall that Mr Kydd has had a recent and intimate acquaintance with the object of our expedition and has done nothing to disabuse me of his suitability for the post. He will assume charge and I expect all my captains to support him.'

Sailing with the early-morning tide the small fleet laid course for the enemy coast—the flagship Cerberus in the van and HMS Teazer immediately following, leading the close-support squadron.

However, even before Jersey was laid to larboard it was clear that the bomb Terror was unable to stay in the line, her broad, flat-bottomed hull making atrocious leeway in the combined south- south-westerly and strong tidal current. It was essential that she be in position before dark: her mooring arrangements were complex and technical, for it was not the mortar she aimed but the whole ship.

Her sister Sulphur was delayed in port. There was now every prospect that the assault would fail even before it started and there were bleak looks on every quarterdeck. Later in the afternoon Cerberus backed her topsails and hove-to with 'Teazer's pennant and the signal for 'come within hail' hoisted.

Saumarez's voice sounded through the speaking trumpet, strong and calm. His orders were to go on and anchor before Granville and await the bomb-vessels, which would now necessarily be obliged to conduct a difficult night moor. A council-of-war would be called upon arrival.

Pointe du Roc was raised by five o'clock, and well before dusk Cerberus let go her bower anchor, a second streamed out by the stern. She settled just outside range of the guns of the fort on the louring heights. The signal for 'all captains' was immediately made.

'As you see, gentlemen, we have set ourselves a challenging task,' Saumarez opened, with a tight smile. 'I propose to place the bomb-vessels to seaward of the peninsula. Their fire will overarch and descend into the harbour the other side among the dense-packed shipping with the object of causing general damage and the utmost confusion, for there is nothing that the French might do to prevent it falling among them.' He looked meaningfully at Kydd. 'Unless, that is, they are able to make a sally against the bombs.'

'They'll not touch 'em, sir—that's m' promise.'