Sails on the Horizon

It is 1797 and Second Lieutenant Charles Edgemont, his ship The Argonaut are in battle with the Spanish.  As the battle ensues, men are killed, including the captain.  Sudden,y Edgemont is now in charge of the ship.  The Argonaut is in diar straits when she is raked with cannon shot by Santa Brigida.  Edgemont vows revenge for the carnage left when the Santa Brigida flees.

Daniel Bevan,the first Lieutenant, and Stephen Winchester, the midshipman are both raised in rank after he battle.  Admiral Jervis assigns Edgemont as acting commander to the Louisa,  he requests to take Bevan and Winchester with him.  Edgemont's share of the prize money after the battle is substantial and he is able to lend sufficient to his brother to maintain the home of the family.

Edgemont is given temporary charge of a brig in Liverpool while waiting for his own ship.  Unfortunately he finds that the Lomond is in bad shape as are the crew.  He sets to righting the deficiencies immediately, but chafes at the bit because there are no orders from the admiralty.

It isn't long after that, that the Channel Fleet mutinies and Edgemont, Bevan, and Winchester are ordered to Plymouth to their new posting, the Louisa.  When they arrive at their new ship, they find it inadequately equipped and lacking men.  When they do set sail for the Mediterranean, they have a very motley crew.

The time at sea is good for training the crew.  They are assigned to stay near Corunna.  The Santa Brigida is discovered in port.  Edgemont draws her out for a minor skirmish.  After the skirmish, the Louisa returns to Portsmouth for re-supply.  Admiral Jervis needs the Louisa back as soon as possible.  He orders Edgemont and the crew back on the day Edgemont gets married.

Author Jay Worrall has given the reader a glimpse of life in the British navy in the late eighteenth century in "Sails on the Horizon".  His descriptions of battles are explicit.  A good read for naval history buffs.