Richard Castle and the USS Santa Barbara
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: Except for the true parts, this is fiction. Rating: K, mostly. Time: The turn of the 20th Century.
As soon as Rick and Kate were alone, she pulled him aside.
"You'll carry me if you have to? You know perfectly well that I'm capable of walking thirty miles." She said angrily.
"I know it, but McCalla doesn't. But he thinks he's been a gentleman by offering you a pony to ride, and you didn't spoil it for him by telling him you didn't need any special consideration as a member of the weaker sex."
"Weaker sex? I'll show you who's the weaker sex when we get to a first-class hotel."
"I'll be thrilled to be shown." He said with a grin.
She grinned back.
As the Americans got ready to move up, McCalla and Castle were approached by an Austrian officer, who spoke no English. Kate translated.
"Captain, this is Frigate Lieutenant Ritter Georg von Trapp, the commander of the Austro-Hungarian unit. Ritter is a title of nobility, I suppose we'd call him a knight in English, and he commands some twenty-five men. However, he says they're pretty well supplied with ammunition, and he'll be following right behind us."
"Tell Lieutenant von Trapp we're happy to have him with us. Very happy. With his men, we still have under a hundred and fifty men to lead the column."
The column got under way and moved slowly along the river bank. The first day they made only three miles.
"At this rate it'll take us ten days to reach Tianjin and we'll be out of food, water and more important, out of ammunition by then." Castle grumped to McCalla.
"If you didn't want to be in danger, Castle you should have stayed in New York."
"But then I never would have met and married Kate. That's no bargain."
Both men laughed.
The Seymour Expedition
Near Tianjin, China
June 28, 1900
"We're in trouble, Castle. Real trouble." McCalla said.
Castle nodded.
"We ran out of food yesterday and some of our friends are down to no more than ten rounds per man. If the Chinese make one more attack on us, they'll find out we're out of ammunition. Then they'll make an all out attack. Even if it's just the Boxers, it'll be swords and spears against bayonets."
"We're going to need a miracle, Castle."
"One miracle coming up, Captain McCalla." Kate said, walking to the two men.
"You have a miracle, Mrs. Castle?"
"Not exactly a miracle, since it required no divine intervention, but I was talking to a Chinese farmer just over that little hill." She glanced at Rick. "Oh, don't worry. I had both my rifle and pistol with me. Anyway, he said there's a Chinese army fort and arsenal called Xigu, which he says only has a few men in it. He says it's full of arms and ammunition and food as well. And it's only some six miles from Tianjin."
Admiral Seymour wasn't sure he could trust a Chinese who'd talked to an American woman, but Captain McCalla said that as the officer in charge of the advance guard, he was going to perform a reconnaissance in force to check out the fort and arsenal.
It was exactly as Kate had said it would be. The few Chinese soldiers fled when attacked, and the arsenal was full of modern arms and ammunition, plus enough food for a few days.
McCalla, Castle and Kate examined the stored arms.
"Mauser rifles, 1895 pattern in 7mm. Like the Spanish hornets we ran into in Cuba and then in the Philippines." McCalla said. "None of the ammunition will fit any of our rifles, even the Germans' Mausers are 7.92mm. But every man will have a new rifle, even our Marines, if they want one and enough ammunition to fight until next winter."
"But not enough food to last until winter." Castle remined him.
"We're only six miles from Tianjin. Surely we can get a message through."
Later that night, a friendly Chinese snuck through the Chinese lines and made it to Tianjin. A force of two thousand men marched from Tianjin and escorted Seymour's column to safety.
The first attempt to rescue the embassies and legations in Beijing from their besiegers had ended in failure.
The China Relief Expedition
Outside Beijing, China
August 12, 1900.
"That's one hell of a wall around the city, sir." Castle said. "It must be fifty feet tall."
"More like thirty feet, Captain Castle. Oh, it would have kept out the Mongols or anyone with no modern artillery, but we have modern artillery."
The speaker was Major General Chafee, who commanded the American units trying to raise the siege. He had the Ninth and Fourteenth Infantry, as well as a battery of the Fifth Artillery and a detachment from the Sixth Cavalry, plus a battalion of US Marines, all in all, some 2,500 men. However, the army of the eight nation force outside Beijing numbered over 18,000 men with the Japanese, the Russians and the British Indian Army being the largest contributors. The French contributed only some eight hundred men with the Germans, Italians and Austro-Hungarians contributing very few men.
"Now, we're going to go through that gate…"General Chafee stopped when he saw other soldiers attacking the American's gate.
"Those are Russian troops, sir." Castle said.
General Chafee turned to Kate.
"You did explain to the Russians the plan agreed upon, Mrs. Castle? And that the gate that they're now assaulting is the one we're supposed to assault?"
"I did, sir. But this gate is the closest to the Legation Quarter. I think the Russians want to have the honor of being the first to liberate the besieged."
Chafee watched as the Russians brought up an artillery piece and at nearly point-blank range blew the gate open. Then the Russian infantry charged inside. They could hear the Russians cheering, but then the cheers were drowned out by a continuous blast of rifle fire.
"Somebody have the 14th Infantry send a patrol there and find out what happened. That's way too much firing for just the Russians."
It took nearly an hour, but eventually a patrol led by a mud covered lieutenant reported back.
"Sir, the Russians ran into an ambush. They made it to the gatehouse, "the lieutenant pointed at the huge multistory gatehouse, "but there are hordes of Chinese on the other side as well as in the upper stories of the gatehouse."
General Chafee studied the scene for a long minute, then turned to his staff.
"Tell Captain Reilly to train his artillery on that damned gatehouse and have the men bring it under rifle fire as well."
Kate spoke up.
"Sir, I've noticed there don't seem to be any Chinese soldiers on top of the wall by us."
The officers, perhaps a bit embarrassed that they had been concentrating too much on what the Russians were doing and not enough on what the Chinese weren't doing, stared at the wall above them.
"There are lots of cracks, crevices and holes in the wall." Someone said. "A man could climb up, if there are no Chinese hiding up there."
"We need a volunteer to go up and look." General Chafee snapped.
"I'll try, sir." Said a young soldier some distance away.
"You think you can do it, son?" Chafee asked.
"I'm a pretty good climber, sir. I'll take the regimental standard with me and when I get to the top, I'll unfurl it and everyone will know I made it."
"If you take the flag, you won't be able to take your rifle."
The soldier shrugged.
"If there are Chinese up there, I won't be able to use a rifle, sir."
The young man was given the folded regimental flag but before he left, Castle stopped him. He took off his gun belt and cinched it around the younger man's waist. Then showed him how to use the Colt.
"If there are one or two of them up there, this'll help." Castle said. "What's your name?"
"Bugler Calvin Titus, sir."
"Well, Bugler Calvin Titus, be sure to bring my pistol back to me."
"Yes, sir."
When Titus was about a third of the way up the wall, other soldiers began to climb after him, and soon an entire company was going up. Titus got to the top and unfurled the flag and waved it. The soldiers below began cheering until ordered by their officers to keep shooting.
Soon the Americans were over, or through the wall, and were in the City of Beijing.
Castle, Kate and the other Americans moved slowly through the narrow streets of the city, heading for what they hoped was the Legation Quarter.
"Are any of these signs street signs?" Castle asked Kate.
"Not unless were on Pork Sellers Street or Tailors Street." She replied.
"At least if we don't find the legations, we can eat and get new clothes." He said with a smirk.
"Not funny, Castle." She said, but grinned.
The soldiers in front of them stopped.
"There's a flag on a building ahead. I don't think it's Chinese. Anyone have any ideas?"
Kate pushed her way to the front of the group.
"That's the German flag. The US Legation should be on the other side of it."
They moved slowly down the street until a dirty and tired looking Marine stepped out in front of them.
"Nice of y'all to drop by. Did y'all stop and have lunch or sumpin' on the way here?" he asked, but smiled when he said it.
"We heard you were having a little party and thought we'd drop by." Said an infantry sergeant.
"More than welcome. Why don't y'all come on in?"
"We're we the first to get to the legations?" The sergeant asked.
"Sorry," replied the Marine." The Japanese fellers got here about an hour ago." As he turned to reply, his eye fell on Kate.
"Oh, my God. They have women Marines now?"
The soldiers laughed.
"Mrs. Castle is an interpreter and works for the government." Said the sergeant. "Speaks about every language there is. She was with the Seymour expedition and with us. She took to wearing some uniform clothing so's she wouldn't stand out to the Boxers and get shot. The Navy officer is Captain Castle, her husband."
"Glad to see you, ma'am. And all the rest of you."
Later, Rick and Kate were with General Chafee when he talked with US Minister to China, Edwin H. Conger about what would happen next.
"Our orders, Mr. Conger, are to clear Beijing of any remaining Boxers and leave enough of a garrison here to keep the legation safe. General Arthur McArthur, the new military governor of the Philippines was none too happy to have to send so large a force here from the Philippines when we're still fighting the Insurrectos."
Chafee looked around him to make sure no one not under his command was listening, especially reporters.
"The other nations are leaving large forces here ostensibly to track down the remaining Boxers, but mostly to be able to advance their own nation's political and commercial interests. President McKinley doesn't want us here doing any of that. And we won't."
And so, most American troops soon left China to return to the Philippines.
Washington, D.C.
November 12, 1901.
Rick Castle looked at himself in the full length mirror of the hotel room they were staying in.
"Admiring yourself?" His wife teased.
"Hoping I don't look foolish. I've never really worn a full dress uniform before."
"You look magnificent." She said, coming over to give him a kiss.
He smiled down at her and decided she looked remarkable.
"You're remarkable. And the dress is perfect for you."
She looked at the dove grey dress she wore. It fit snugly to her body, but not too tight.
"We should be going, Babe." She said.
They went downstairs and out the front of the hotel to the carriage he had waiting for them. He handed Kate into the carriage and when he got in, he told the driver to carry on.
"You know how to get where we're going?" He asked.
The driver laughed.
"Yes, sir. It's rather well known here abouts."
Castle was nervous until the got to their destination, then he became very nervous.
They got out and approached a Marine sentry.
"Lieutenant Richard and Mrs. Katherine Castle." He said.
The sentry nodded.
"You're expected, sir. Right through the door."
Before they had done more than gotten inside, they were grabbed by a stocky older man, not much taller than Kate.
"Captain Castle!" He boomed, shaking his hand violently." Mrs. Castle!" He said only a bit softer and also pumping her hand. "Welcome to the Executive Mansion. How are you two?
Castle, for once was stuck for words, so Kate replied.
"We're both just fine, Mr. President."
"Bully! Bully for you! For you both! But you should call me Theodore and I shall call you Kate. I've heard so much about you and your adventures in the Orient. You must tell me all about them."
He turned to Rick.
"And may I call you Rick?"
"Of course, sir. But I don't think I could call you anything but President Roosevelt."
He laughed and showed off his smile.
"Very good then, Rick. Now, we must go upstairs to the living quarters. Dinner awaits us."
He led them upstairs and called to his family.
"Edith! Children! Come and see who's here! It's the famous Captain Castle and Mrs. Castle."
"Um, sir." Castle said. "As I no longer command a ship, I'm not really entitled to be called a captain."
Roosevelt stopped and looked at Rick.
"I see. In fact, I just noticed you're out of uniform, Rick."
A look of horror crossed over Rick's face. Out of uniform in front of the President of the United States? What had he done?
"You don't have the correct rank insignia on, Lieutenant Commander Castle." He reached into his pocket and took out two shoulder boards with lieutenant commander's rank on them.
"Have your lovely wife put these on for you and be sure she gives you a kiss."
"Sir, I'm too junior to be promoted to lieutenant commander. It can't be done."
The President laughed. "I wanted to promote my old friend, "Black Jack" Pershing, who led his 10th Cavalry up San Juan Hill with me in Cuba along with my Rough Riders. I asked the War Department to promote him from captain to major. They told me it was impossible. They pointed to the almighty rulebook and said it couldn't be done. So, when it came time to send the Senate my nominations for general officers in the Army, I put Pershing's name at the top. The Senate agreed and he was promoted from captain to brigadier general." Roosevelt laughed. "So, when I asked the Navy Department to promote you one rank, sure enough, they pointed to the almighty rulebook and said it was impossible. I just smiled at them and said, "Well, I guess I can just promote him to rear admiral." You never saw anyone find an exception to that rulebook faster than those fellows. So go ahead, have your wife put your new insignia on."
Kate took his old insignia off and put the new insignia on, then gave him a scorching kiss.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander Castle." She said.
Roosevelt put his arms around both of them and led them to dinner.
"I believe we're going to be good friends, the three of us. Tell me, young man, what do you know about Panama?"
The End
Author's note. Lieutenant Commander Castle and his wife may have more adventures, but I have no idea what they might be.
If the Castles' trip up the Red River in what was then French Indo-China reminds you of the novel, The Heart of Darkness, or the movie Apocalypse Now, there may be a reason for it.
The Seymour Expedition was even more poorly led and planned than I have written. Really, Kate could have carved a better leader out of a banana.
The timeline for the attack on the Taku Forts and the Seymour Expedition is a bit skewed as I thought it flowed better my way. I write Castle fanfic. If you want real history, try the library.
Georg Ritter von Trapp was on the Seymour Expedition. He later had a very large and very musical family and inspired the musical, The Sound of Music.
Bugler Calvin Titus did scale the walls of Beijing and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Based on that medal, he became a cadet at West Point. He was awarded his medal by President Theodore Roosevelt while a cadet, being the only cadet ever awarded that medal while a cadet. The fictional Calvin Titus did return Castle's pistol to him.
In 1900 the capital of China was usually spelled as Pekin or Peking. I used the current spelling, Beijing as I felt my readers would better know what city I was referring to. Tianjin was known as Tientsin in 1900. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
President Theodore Roosevelt did promote John J. Pershing from captain to brigadier general after the army refused to change its policy of promotions based solely on seniority. However, this took place long after the time of this story. The moral of that is, don't mess with the President, especially if he's Theodore Roosevelt.
Next up is The Adventure of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Rick and Kate have a nice relaxing vacation planned, but some old friends show up and ask them to do something…not so relaxing.