| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - September 24 2004 : 08:11:24 AM
“Man-O-War” By Sgt. Munro
Mouth of the Maumee River, Lake Erie
10 April 1764 / 0745 Hours
“They are still gaining on us, sir!” Captain Patarcity shouted over toward Major Cooper’s canoe.
“Good Stephen, we do not want to loose them.” Major Cooper replied, as another musket ball whistled between two of the three canoes.
As Patarcity and his men kept the fast stroke up, he thought to himself, “I sure as hell hope he knows what he is doing.”
The three canoes of the Royal American Rangers were about one hundred and fifty yards ahead of the ten pursuing Wyandot canoes. The chase started about an hour before sunrise, and the warriors were not giving up. The better-rested Wyandots were slowly closing the distance, and the rangers were starting to feel fatigue. Major Cooper’s canoe was leading the loose wedge formation, as he started toward the fog bank off of their port-bow.
“Rifleman Morris,” Major Cooper ordered, “Light the lantern and secure it to the bow.”
Watching from his canoe, Captain Patarcity said, to no one in particular, “One lantern, in this fog? We are in open water…”
…Meanwhile, aboard HMS Iroquois:
“Light off of starboard amidships!” Able Seaman Johnston called out, “Three small craft approaching, at a distance of two-cable!”
“Beat to quarters! All crew to action-stations!” Lieutenant Englehardt shouted.
As the Royal Marine Drummer sounded the alarm, Chief Gunner MacWilliam was on the gun deck with his best crews manning the starboard battery of four 6-Pounders. Each of the guns had its own name, given by the crew of the weapon. Chief MacWilliam’s gun was aptly named ‘King O’er the Water’. The Commander thought that it was because of Chief MacWilliam’s excellent gunnery skills, but only the Chief knew the real reason behind the name.
“Stand fast, lads!” Chief MacWilliam said to his gun crews, “Wait for the word.”
On the quarterdeck, Master Fischer was looking through his spyglass when he said, “Excellent, it is them! Mister Englehardt, do make signal that they are to approach portside, via the stern.”
The Lieutenant replied, “Aye-aye, sir.”
Ska-ki, a sub-chief and war-captain of the Wyandot, urged his flotilla on. He knew that the white men must be tiring; and soon they would gather a great coup, one that would bring him great honor amongst his own people and that of the Miami. As the fog started to dissipate, Ska-ki’s heart swelled with pride, because there appeared a small merchant vessel directly ahead of his lead canoes. Realizing that the white men in the canoes would not get very far, Ska-ki changed plans. A large vessel, like the one in front of him, might have a cargo of munitions and trade goods. This would add to his honor, if he could make a gift of what is seized to the Miami’s. Calling to the other warriors, he said, “Forget the canoes for now, attack the trade ship!”
The Wyandot Flotilla changed course, and headed directly for the facing side of their new target. They found out too late, that this was no fat and lazy merchant vessel…
“Chief MacWilliam!” Master Fischer shouted below, “Run out the starboard battery! You may fire when ready!”
“Aye-aye, sir!” The Chief answered; and then turning to repeat the order to his gun crews, “Starboard gun ports, open! Run out the battery!”
Ska-ki knew that something was amiss; he noticed the open ports and cannon barrels moving outward too late. As a last act of desperation, he yelled, “Turn back! Turn back now!”
Taking position, port-fire in hand, next to ‘King O’er the Water’; Chief MacWilliam then ordered, “Give, fire!”
BARRROOOM!!!
The canister shot from the four 6-Pounders all but vaporized the five leading canoes. The warriors in the next two canoes being shot to pieces by musketry and swivel-gun fire followed this. Ska-ki guided his three remaining canoes away from the action at as fast a pace, as his reduced crews |
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