WHIRRR… BOOM!
WHIRRR… BOOM!
"Damme, Mr. Decker, what's that?"
"We're being attacked, sir," a trembling wild-eyed midshipman answered the fourth lieutenant of HMS Diamond 64.
WHIRRR… BOOM!
CRASH!… "Watch out, zur, the foremast 'as been hit," a scrambling seaman shouted out as he ran by, looking back at the wild-eyed midshipman.
Brown, the fourth lieutenant snarled, "Aye, we're being attacked, Mr. Decker, but by whom and how in God's name did they get this close without being sighted?" BOOM!… BOOM!…
Dozen's of shadowy figures came up from below decks. Among the half-crazed men, Mr. Knight, the ship's first lieutenant, was still dressing as he made his way on deck.
BOOM!… KABOOM!…
Flames came spurting up like a bonfire from a nearby vessel.
"That's the mail packet, sir, the HMS Mosquito."
"Well, I hope to hell all the mails off," Knight answered sarcastically, then stared at Brown. "Beat to quarters, Mr. Brown."
"Aye, sir. Bosun!"
"Aye, Mr. Brown."
"Beat to quarters."
"Aye, aye, sir."
BOOM!… BOOM!…
The assault continued… then another explosion.
"Damned if we aren't being attacked by a fleet, Mr. Brown. I believe a cannon fires about every time I take a breath," Lieutenant Knight exclaimed.
Then as if to emphasize his remarks the whole ship seem to shudder as another ball had found its target.
"Where's Captain Stafford?" Knight asked.
"He… ah… sent a note aboard with his cox'n, sir, and said he'd be ashore tonight, but I'm sure he's heard the cannons so he's bound to be on his way back," the frightened Decker stammered.
"No doubt our captain is awake," Knight responded, "But what about those fools in the fort? They've not fired a shot."
"Mr. Knight!" It was Williams, the carpenter, "We're sinking sir. We've got over three feet in the well and it's gaining." Then as an after thought he continued, "The pumps have either been destroyed or what's left can't keep up."
"Well, hell's fire, we've been attacked by God knows who, the fort is yet to fire a shot and Commodore Meriwether's flagship is going to sink right here at the entrance of Saint Augustine Harbour."
BOOM!… CRASH!…
Another ball had scored a hit and overturned a cannon.
Wounded men were crying out in agony while others were cursing.
Then another explosion as the schooner, HMS Amsterdam, was hit and immediately engulfed in flames.
"Does anyone know where the Commodore is?" Knight asked the group in front of him, a group that had increased in numbers, as the men came forward looking for direction.
"Ah…," this again from the midshipman Decker, "Sir Percival is being entertained ashore this evening as well, sir."
"Well, it better be a hellish fine entertainment to make up for what's in store when he faces the Admiral."
"Sir!" a pleading Williams cried. "What about all these men?" gesturing to the wounded that lay about.
Knight could see four sets of sails rounding the bend from the south. Had they even gotten off a shot, he wondered. Was this to end his career? Surely there would be a court martial and he'd been in the Navy long enough to know "shat ran downhill".
Diamond shook as she was hit again with splashes all around indicating several near misses.
"Mr. Brown!"
"Aye, sir!"
"Prepare to abandon ship. Make sure the wounded are carried off first and send for the gunner and any of his mates still left alive.
I want every gun still usable made ready to fire." Bewildered Brown asked, "To what purpose, sir?"
"Honour!" Knight roared back. "Damn your soul. Honour!
Now get moving!"
"Aye, sir!"