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Booshway
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“Mr. Woodstock, right rudder. Bring her about to sou’west by west.”

“Aye Captn’, southwest by west.”

The Lady Jane turned and pointed her bow toward the distant Jersey shore. She is a good ship, and without the drag of towing a whaleboat, even in the light breeze she was making four knots. However, she was crossing before the warship, and that enemy ship was on course to intercept her.

“Mr. Barr, stand amidship and be prepared to relay instructions from Gillespie back to the helm when we near the beach.”

Hiram Gale stood at the lee rail and glared at the approaching frigate. Then he turned to face the shoreline, looking for the river entrance that meant their salvation. Did I calculate right?, he asked himself. Are we where I think we are? He fought down the panic that had been rising in his chest. It is there. It has to be!

Time dragged slowly by as the two ships rolled in the Atlantic swells, gradually coming closer together. One going agonizingly slow toward the relative shelter of a small coastal river. The other, almost, but not quite as slow under the gentle breeze, intent on capturing its prey.

From high on the foremast of the Lady Jane a voice was heard; “Ease off two points to larboard.”

Roscoe Barr repeated the order, calling back to the helm from his position on deck amidships.

Captain Gale called out; “The ship is in your hands, Mr. Gillespie. Take her in.”

A geyser of water spouted off the Lady Jane’s starboard quarter. It was followed by the distant boom of a cannon.

They all could see the river entrance now, the white sand of the shoreline on either side, the ocean swells piling up and crashing in leaping, foaming cascades that ran up the beach only to drain back and do it again. The incoming tide would work with them, helping to draw the Lady Jane into the river mouth.

“Bring her two more points to larboard.”

Jonas Woodstock eased the ship’s wheel to the left, then held her steady as she settled on the new course.

Another geyser spouted, closer this time, salt water spattered down on the stern of the Lady Jane.

They had passed before the frigate and were inshore of her now. But HMS Reliance was only a half mile astern of the Lady Jane.

Gillespie called out; “Hard right rudder! Bring her around to due west. Quickly now!”

The Lady Jane shuddered as a nine pound iron ball smashed into her stern cabin. Glass shattered, wooden beams splintered as the ball passed through the ship tearing an exit hole in her side.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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Captain Donaldson dared not take his ship any closer to the unfamiliar shore. He ordered a reduction of the sails so that HMS Reliance slowed down, making just barely enough headway to maintain steerage.

“Keep firing as long as they can be seen Mr. Patterson.”

“Aye, Sir.”

“Lower our two boats with full crews, well armed, and all of our marines. We will have those yankee pirates yet.”

*

Another cannon ball crashed through the stern rail of the Lady Jane. It gouged the oak planks of the quarterdeck, narrowly missing Jonas Woodstock, bounced up and flew the length of the ship, smashing into the forecastle, throwing a deadly shower of dagger-like splinters in every direction.

Gillespie called out; “Left rudder! Bring her around until you bear on the three tall pines.”

“What?”

“He wants you to steer straight for those tall pine trees, Mr Woodstock.”

“Oh. Aye, sir.”

A cannon ball whistled over the stern, splashing harmlessly in the river beyond. Then the Lady Jane passed behind a line of scrub covered sand dunes. Only her mast tops were still visible to the Englishmen in the Reliance, a half mile off the shore.

They could only see her topsails as she turned again, following the river channel. Then, the Lady Jane was gone. A forest of oak, pine, and cedar hid her further movements from English eyes.

The two longboats separated from the Reliance. Sailors in white pulled strongly at the oars, while scarlet marines filled the center of the boats. The boats bristled with men and muskets. The late afternoon sunlight gleamed off polished buttons and steel gun barrels. With eight men rowing each boat, and going with the strong in-coming tide, they soon entered the river mouth.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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“There’s our whaleboat, sir. Off our larboard bow.”

“I see them Mr. Barr. Have them fall in beside us.”

“Aye, sir.”

Hiram Gale strode forward until he could be heard by the topmen. “Mr. Gillespie. I want to run aground, but gently so it will be easy to kedge off when the tide is right. Do you know of a good place?”

“Aye, sir. That I do. Not far ahead.”

“Very well. Take us there and gently put our nose in the mud.”

“Take in the headsails and the main, Mr. Barr.”

“Aye, sir.”

Under reduced sail the Lady Jane continued to slowly follow the curves of the wide Manasquan River channel. Forest lined the shores, broken here and there by small farm clearings, and an occasional cabin or small barn. There were no villages within several miles.

Two teenage boys in a punt paused while gathering in a gill net to stare with open mouthed amazement at the passing ship.

The Lady Jane approached an island that stretched across most of the river. Gillespie indicated that the main channel passed to the south of the island. The other side had a smaller, shallower channel between it and the green forested north shore.

Gillespie called down; “There’s the place Captn’. Bear to starboard and let her nose in between the island and the north shore.”

There was a grinding sound as the Lady Jane struck the sand. She creaked, and her masts swayed. She rolled slightly onto her starboard side, and then lay still. The river gurgled around her.

“All hands on deck! Arm yourselves. Mr. Barr, have Mr. Anderson unload the gunpowder on the island, then take the whaleboat below our bow and stay hidden there. Tell him to keep out of sight until we fire the swivels, then he is to come out and join the fight.”

“Aye, sir.” There was a big grin on Roscoe Barr’s rawboned face.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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The British boats came around a bend, sailors rowing strongly, one boat fifty yards behind the other. They were going directly into the setting sun, but by shielding their eyes they could see the sails of the stolen brigantine a mile or so ahead of them.

Lieutenant Harris of the Royal Marines stood up in the first boat. With a hand over his brow he surveyed the scene.

“I believe they have run aground. Bend to your oars! We have them now.”

The sailors pulled with renewed vigor. The boats surged ahead, going with the tide, quickly closing the distance between them and the Lady Jane.

It was difficult looking into the sun, but Wilburn Curtis Harris thought that he could see several men crouched on the stern of the ship. He sat down and ordered the two marines behind him to stand and make ready.

One hundred yards from the ship he ordered; “Fire!”

Two muskets went off in unison. White smoke drifted away.

“Second rank. Ready. Fire!”

“Third rank. Ready...”

Like a sudden thunderclap, a boom came from the stern of the brigantine. It was closely followed by another. Dozens of musket balls tore through the longboat like a swarm of angry hornets. A ball struck Lieutenant Harris in his left eye. Another passed through his throat and into the chest of the marine behind him. Other men were hit, both sailors and marines. One man fell over the side of the boat and disappeared beneath the water. Blood splattered. Men screamed.

The longboat veered sharply to the right, the man on the tiller shot through his hand. With no one rowing, it’s momentum slowed. It drifted with the in-coming tide. There was utter chaos on board as men lay dead, dying, and writhing in pain. Those still unhurt jumped around trying to help their fallen mates.

A black whaleboat appeared beside the stranded ship. The swivel gun mounted in it’s bow boomed and belched a cloud of white smoke.

A one pound ball smashed through the side of the English boat, taking the left foot off a sailor, and tearing a hole through the boat’s bottom. River water rushed in.

The second British boat bumped into the first. Men were pulled out of the sinking boat.

The two swivel guns on the ship fired again. Musket balls raked the British. A marine fell over the side, two balls through his chest. Three muskets fired from the ship added their bullets to the confusion.

Again, the swivel on the black whaleboat fired. The solid iron ball struck the British longboat just below the water line, smashing through the plank, through the body of an already dead marine, and out through the opposite side of the boat.

“Get away! Get away! Man the oars!”; men shouted.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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Jonas Woodstock sat on the deck as Clement Sprague bent over him, plucking long wooden splinters out of his bloody leg.

“Well done, lads”, said Captain Gale as he watched the British longboat disappear around a river bend as it was returning to sea.

The other boat had slipped beneath the waters of the Manasquan River, taking ten or twelve men down with it.

“We have work to do. Mr. Barr, have the whaleboat come alongside.”

The Lady Jane was safe in American hands, at least for the moment. The local militia was contacted and came to help. Over the next two days the wounded were taken ashore. The gunpowder was carried back on board and secured in the hold, minus several kegs that were given to the militiamen. Another anchor was procured from the village of Tom’s River, about ten miles to the south. Temporary repairs were done to patch the cannonball damage.

At high tide on the third day after the fight, the new anchor was used to kedge the Lady Jane off the sandbar. She was soon back at sea, and bound for Chestnut Neck.

FINIS

Who knows what other adventures Captain Hiram Gale may venture into. I hope that you liked this one.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Thanks for the GREAT Story!!!!! Smiler
 
Posts: 109 | Location: NH | Registered: 05 July 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
Picture of Hanshi
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Very, very enjoyable stories.


*Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.*
 
Posts: 3559 | Location: Maine (by way of Georgia then Va.) | Registered: 26 January 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Hivernant
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Great story! More, More!!


God Bless
Whisler
 
Posts: 123 | Location: Northern Kaintuckee | Registered: 21 December 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Factor
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WOOT!!!!Great yarn!Keep 'em coming!


Beer is proof that God loves us,and wants us to be happy-B. Franklin
 
Posts: 2014 | Location: Oreegun Territory | Registered: 24 March 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
Picture of MountainRanger
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Heck of a story!!!!!!!!


Sua Sponte
 
Posts: 460 | Location: SW Virginia (New River Valley) | Registered: 13 August 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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Thank ye lads. I enjoyed writing it.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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Thanks Rancocas, growing up in the north eastern part of the state we knew about Jockey Hollow,and Fort Lee, but never gave much thought about what might have happened down the shore during the AWI.
 
Posts: 353 | Location: Pocono Mts. in PA | Registered: 12 June 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Greenhorn
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Can't wait for the next yarn!
 
Posts: 29 | Location: Derby Kansas | Registered: 30 March 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Booshway
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I've been thinking about it. Maybe after the holiday.


Know what you believe in. Fight for your beliefs. Never compromise away your rights.
 
Posts: 1296 | Location: Cherokee Land, Tenasi | Registered: 06 January 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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