Chapter 17: Commencement
It was day in Tortuga, June 1781, with the usual manner of things going on. Over the past year, the Black Pearl and her small fleet had marauded about the Caribbean, occasionally getting news of the Revolution. As their booty collections got larger, so did Tortuga. It had gone from a medium-sized locale to a full-sized city, spreading from rock wall to rock wall and back near to the top of the hill on the island.
Jack Sparrow and John Depp were once again in the Seven Seas pub when they were approached by a Continental. The man was very familiar to Depp. "Benjamin Martin, is that you?"
Martin looked at him, realization dawning. "John Depp? I haven't seen you since..."
"Fort Wilderness." Both men involuntarily shuddered. Jack noted it and did not ask.
"So you are..."
"Colonel Benjamin Martin. I was sent by Nathanael Greene."
"Ah, good old Nat," Jack said. "Please, sit down. You're making me uncomfortable."
The South Carolinian did so gratefully. "I do hope this won't take long. Is this how Tortuga always was?"
"No," Jack said with a wistful look. "It used to be much, much smaller, more concentrated."
Martin obviously found the idea disconcerting.
"I take it that reminiscence and reacquaintance are not what you're here for, Colonel."
"No, it's not. A French Admiral called de Grasse is coming from France. He is one of the best officers in France, and we would like you to go with him, offer him your services, etcetera."
Jack looked at him. "Can we assume that this time our French Admiralty will be more reliable then d'Estaing?"
"Oh, don't disregard the French," Martin cautioned. "I have one that operates with my militia—one of the best fighters I've ever seen." Martin digressed. "De Grasse plans to move into the Chesapeake and go after the British fleets. Will you be there?"
"Yes sir, Colonel."
"Excellent. He is coming from here, so he leaves very soon. When do you plan to depart?"
"We'll depart tomorrow, and wait for the French to catch up outside Cuba."
Martin nodded. "Alright. I shall inform Admiral de Grasse."
It was a week later that the two fleets encountered each other. Jack dressed himself in the Royal Navy Admiralty uniform, keeping his One Hat, and brought John and Mera along, both of whom wore Continental uniforms. Together, the three of them rowed over to the French flagship, where they were greeted by an elder man, who carried a bearing about him that Jack hadn't seen since Norrington had been in the Navy.
"Admiral Jack Sparrow." The French count nodded to him.
"Admiral François, Count de Grasse." The pirate returned the nod.
"The uniform looks...interesting on you, Sparrow."
Jack looked down at the British naval uniform. He thought it looked rather dashing, and said so. De Grasse merely rolled his eyes.
"You are, if I may say so, everything I was told to expect."
"Thank you, Admiral."
"And your companions are...?"
"General Jonathan Depp of the Continental Army, and Captain Mera Sparrow of the Black Sun." Both bowed to their French acquaintance, who returned the gesture.
"Well, Admiral Sparrow, we have business to undertake. And perhaps General Depp would appreciate the cargo we carry..."
On August 30th, a fleet of French and Sparrow warships, headed by de Grasse and Sparrow, entered the Chesapeake, and blockaded the new British port of Yorktown. They blocked the mouths of the Chesapeake, and called for General Lafayette, who had gone on far ahead of them, to meet them on board the French command ship, the Ville de Paris.
The Admiral de Grasse was very kind and gracious to General Lafayette, a refreshing change from most of the other Frenchmen who did not care for the man's position of power over their own.
"General Lafayette, I have sailed here with a force of thirty-four of his Majesty's finest warships, plus eleven others, composing Admiral Sparrow's group. The ship on which you now sit carries one hundred guns, and is the most powerful warship on this earth...save for the Black Pearl," de Grasse nodded graciously at Sparrow, "which is apparently undefeatable. I don't wish to dispute your orders, but I imagine General Washington intends that this fleet do more than...annoy the enemy. Perhaps your situation would be improved by the addition of my particular cargo."
The words dawned on Lafayette. "Sir? Cargo?"
"General, I have transported something over three thousand infantry, who, I am quite certain, would prefer making camp on land than spending one more day in the comfort of my ships. Might you have some good use for them?"
"Three thousand troops? You would offer them to...my command?"
De Grasse smiled. "I am told that General Washington places his highest confidence in you. Is there any reason why I should not do the same?"
A few weeks later, a group of British vessels came down from New York, attempting to break de Grasse's line. They failed, and retreated back to New York fast as they could.
Over the course of a month, preparations began. Embankments were built. Groups were deployed. Washington arrived from New York. Near the end of the month long wait, he had cannon and entrenchments built around the city overnight.
On October 9th, 1781, Washington himself fired the first cannon round into Yorktown, and then the other cannon followed suit, opening fire on the city. The Siege of Yorktown began.
A/N: Okay, readers. I'm going to place the next two chapters on today, and then wait for your responses to Chapter 19.
Any of you "The Patriot" fans catch the colonel's name? Eh? Story is almost finished-but there's a chapter coming up where I will need reader input very much; it is a matter of life and death for a character. REVIEW!
