lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Mar 2, 2023 20:12:39 GMT
So how about a little feed back? Would love to comment but in this genre i have as much experience as a fire work maker at SpaceX. |
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oscssw
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Post by oscssw on Mar 3, 2023 14:15:05 GMT
So how about a little feed back? Would love to comment but in this genre i have as much experience as a fire work maker at SpaceX. Don't sell yourself short my good friend The Rock.
Do you find it interesting? Do you find it written in a style that is pleasant enough not to be a chore to read? What do you think of the character development? IMO, that is my weakest area and I am working to improve it. Do I paint a picture when I describe topography, weather and the technology of the day such as ships, clothes, buildings etc.? Are my attempts at humor effective at all? Has my grammar improved enough to produce a cohesive narrative yet?
As for the story itself, the more I research the OTL the more convinced I am that what I propose was really possible even without the ATL divergences I have made.
I would like to make one thing clear. I do so enjoy doing the research. When I write especially about technology, navigation, fire arms, the merchant marine, military and navies it is as accurate as I can make it.
OK all my friends here please answer my questions because I desperately need feed back because I intend to keep up this scribbling.  |
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lordroel
Administrator
Posts: 64,686
Likes: 45,767
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Post by lordroel on Mar 3, 2023 14:31:18 GMT
Would love to comment but in this genre i have as much experience as a fire work maker at SpaceX. Don't sell yourself short my good friend The Rock.
Do you find it interesting? Do you find it written in a style that is pleasant enough not to be a chore to read? What do you think of the character development? IMO, that is my weakest area and I am working to improve it. Do I paint a picture when I describe topography, weather and the technology of the day such as ships, clothes, buildings etc.? Are my attempts at humor effective at all? Has my grammar improved enough to produce a cohesive narrative yet?
As for the story itself, the more I research the OTL the more convinced I am that what I propose was really possible even without the ATL divergences I have made.
I would like to make one thing clear. I do so enjoy doing the research. When I write especially about technology, navigation, fire arms, the merchant marine, military and navies it is as accurate as I can make it.
OK all my friends here please answer my questions because I desperately need feed back because I intend to keep up this scribbling. If I find something to comment then I will do it. |
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
Posts: 954
Likes: 1,556
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Post by oscssw on Mar 4, 2023 11:59:19 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATL
March 4
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage
Marco caboto.
18 March 1619 aboard Grande Impresa on passage to Canary Islands. Winds are brisk from the North North East that allows us, with a single reef, to keep to my planned track. Seas are choppy with an occasional white cap. Grande Impresa has proven to be a good sea boat for the Atlantic, just as Matteo and our Ship Master predicted. There were those who wanted us to invest in an expensive Galleon but our carrack has proven a most suitable vessel.
A week has past since our pirate battle and our shrewd Ship Master has kept our now short handed crew busy. That, time and the booty from Hizir has them quite content. Everything that could be made right by ship's company, especially replacement of our much shot up standing and running rigging gave proof our mariners were mostly truly Able Seaman. Those that are not got plenty on the job training and sometimes even special attention by Bosun Abruzzo.
Our acting carpenter, Bosun and Ship Master are satisfied with the ship. Master Shipwright Colleoni has proven to be both an expert but willing to stand in for our dead carpenter. Some shot holes, well above the water line had been plugged, the ship's belfry and bell was shot overboard, all the boats required some work.
Before Hizir sank I went aboard with Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere, six of his soldiers and just as many of our most experienced mariners. I was searching for inteligence, they were searching for booty and we both found what we were looking for. I found a wounded agent of the French along with some of his documents. They found a keg of silver, French, Double Tournois coins and a small chest of French gold Florins coins.
After I, with the aid of Tomocomo, vigorously interrogated Msr. Eustace Fleury stated these pirates were in the pay of the French and he was the paymaster. Just the presence of our Indian advisor frightened Fleury so much he told me everything he knew about the french plans to thwart us establishing NOVA GENOVA. We also got to hear the story of his life which was not all that dull.
Eustace had once been a member of a Benedictine monastery in Boulogne, but he left the simplicity of monastic life to serve the Count of Boulogne. Eustace achieved nothing except disrepute, so much so, he was wanted as a criminal, which led him to run away for a life at sea as a privateer. With his ecclesiastical background and the pirates' love of nicknames, it comes as no surprise that Eustace became known as the 'Black Monk'. Eustice died from putrification of his wounds this day.
19 March 1619 As a result of a 15 minute meeting, between Commissario Anziano and Pope Paul V at the Vatican yesterday ,just long enough for the Pope to make his demand, a man stood before him. He was Monsenior Guido Sarducci, Papal Nuncio and NOW ecclesiastical diplomat permanently assigned to the Bank of St. George. The Pope insisted The Bank’s Nova Genova colony now required church assistance for the propagation of the faith just as did Spain and Portugal.
Commissario Anziano knew Camillo Borghese before he became Pope in 1605. As one of the powerful and unforgiving Borghese clan, he was never a man to be trifled with. Therefore, he was sure Monsenior Sarducci had other responsibilities and was surely an agent of the Vatican's clandestine intelligence service Santa Alleanza ("Holy Alliance") or L'Entità ("The Entity") Motto “Cum Cruce et Gladio” (With the Cross and Sword). It was established by Pope Pius V in 1566 in order to gather intelligence from the court of Elizabeth I and facilitate her overthrow from power.
He knew about three other Bank employees who worked for L'Entità and initially paid them handsomely to report that The Bank was a staunch supporter of the church. Once the bank had irrefutable evidence of their disloyalty to the Church their pay dropped substantially. The important question was how much would it take to buy Monsenior Sarducci?
For the time being he’d see the Papal Nuncio was provided a comfortable accommodation staffed with agents of The Bank who would soon learn what drove this man. He would also instruct Governor Moreno and the officials and staff of The Bank to treat him with the utmost respect and to provide the Papal Nuncio with access to themselves and “any” safe records he desired. All in all, this trip irritated him because of the loss of time traveling. So be it, his personal attendance on that Borghese bastard was the mark of respect required not to make an enemy of this Pope.
21 March 1619 sighted Canary isles at the end of the morning watch. Wind and seas should allow us to anchor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife harbor on the island of the same name, before nightfall. This should not cause suspicion because it is almost an obligatory stopover for ships traveling to the New World. Santa Cruz has very good facilities for the repair, provisioning, manning and entertainment , (mainly brothels and grog shops), for visiting ships.
Our shipmaster intends to be on the next leg of our journey in less than a week. It should be possible, with shore assistance to complete repairs on the little we could not do at sea. We should also have time to refill all our water casks, take on fresh provisions, especially fresh meat and citrus fruits. A few of us think, but can’t prove, they keep a crew healthy. A few days run ashore, after knock off, should keep our men happy; with luck we will loose none and the rest will not be too poxed.
Our Super Cargo Aldo Volpe, also acting as purser, will be a very busy man. Aldo at 35 is a fellow with rugged good looks, a beard and large nose. Unlike the rest of we hired on for this voyage and maybe the next, he is a long time agent of The Bank with plenty of trading experience. He will be sure to submit his own detailed report of this voyage and especially the conduct of our shipmaster and myself. Volpe has no executive powers while at sea but in matters of trade and acquisition of fur, other trade goods and land for the bank he is responsible to me alone. For this he has a good supply of trade goods along with a keg of Silver Lira and Scudo d’ARGENTINO and a smaller chest of Gold Ducats. I act on my peril if I countermand any of his decisions in his capacity as Super cargo.
Signing on the mariners here should be very easy, but recruiting soldiers will be far more difficult. The Capitano and his 1st Sgt want healthy recently discharged veterans in their prime. They would accept any nationality but English or French. Ideally, honorably discharged veterans of the Spanish Tercios, especially those trained as arquebusiers in the "mangas’ would be ideal.
As navigator, I will use the surveyed site at Latitude N 28° 28’. 39 and Longitude W 16°13. 54 as my marker. Our course will be along the line to the Bahamas N 25° 1' . 33, which lies three degrees, about 210 miles, south of the Latitude of the Canary’s. Aided by the steady trade winds and mild summer weather we should make landfall in 3 weeks about, about April 21st. With luck, fair winds and the 4 knot Gulf stream current we could make land fall in NOVA GENOVA by the second week in May. Plenty of time to do what we came for and still make the Northern Atlantic passage East in fairly good weather. With very good luck I will be reporting to the governor by late October.
27 March 1619 underway for the Bahamas. Course is south west, wind is from the North east at about 9 knots. The one thing that bothers me is that we have a considerable bujildiong swellswell it has gone from three to six feet in to 6 feet in the course of last night. .
Shipmaster, Bosun and our Master Shipwright “carpenter” are all well pleased with after battle repairs.
Super Cargo Volvo, despite being a spy for The Bank, has proven his worth many times over this past week. We are fully stocked and all our water breakers are full with the sweet water of the Canary’s. He has replaced our spare cordage, sail cloth and other Chandlery essentials with high quality goods and we are actually better supplied now than we were when we left San Luca.
We are a happy ship since Shipmatser Pietra, with my consent, advanced our men, against their eventual prize money a very small portion of our captured silver to live it up in the flesh pots. No doubt some of them are poxed and all have need for a sea voyage to wash the wine out of their blood. The bosun, who was not too well himself when we sailed, is working them hard and should soon sweat the shore dives out of them.
We sail with 15 new but experienced mariners, a ship’s carpenter’s mate, three tough orphan boys and eighteen recruits. Dr. Andriotti has examined all our new shipmates and pronounced them free of disease and sound of body, (if not of mind and morality). The boys are all about 10 years old and have been living on the street for a few years. One has been to sea before; all are eager to become well fed mariners.
Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere spent his second night ashore drinking with a few of the senior sergeants of the garrison. From them he learned the governor had been ordered to reduce the size of the garrison by Madrid. The current establishment garrison had been increased by the unauthorized addition of the remains of a stranded Tercio company a couple of years ago. Some how Madrid became aware of this a few months ago. A Tercio arquebusier Company at full strength had on the rolls only 78 were left two months ago when they were let go without the means to get off the island. Most were unfit for much but soldiering an hard labor. A score of them had been garroted or sentence to hard labor prison terms for their crimes. The others would probably go the same way eventually.
Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere had been ordered to enlist soldiers and these arquebusiers would do very well. He asked the most senior Sergeant if he would help him find the best of these men? The Sergeant replied “Oh I know where they are and who the real soldiers among them are but, like you I am only a poorly paid soldier and have my duties to do.”
Sergente 1st calss Panettiere replied in good humor, “ I understand. Would you be willing to help me for a small bounty on every soldier who enlists in # 6 Co. Liguria Regiment?”
The Senior Spanish Sergeant replied, “it would be a pleasure if the bounty is right?”
Sergente 1st calss Panettiere “What would you say to five to denier per man?”
The spaniard did some quick calculation and responded. “ My friend these are all good soldiers certainly they are worth more than 5 coppers to you? It is my opinion that they are well worth silver.”
Sergente 1st calss Panettiere upped the anti with “I only have copper to pay but I am willing to to pay two Sou per man.”
The Spaniard, knew the Sou was worth 12 deniers and quickly agreed to the price.
“I can have them for your inspection here tomorrow, after roll call when I can get away from the garrison for a few hours.”
30 men selected by the senior Sergeant met at she ship naxt morning. Dr. Mario Andriotti found 25 fit for duty. After being questioned by Sergente 1st calss Panettiere he slelect the best 20, although there really was not that much difference between them. Capitano Marino then read them into the rolls of the Regiment and paid each a signing bounty 5 Sou, minus the two that went to the Spanish Senior Sergeant. He then turned to Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere and said, “They are all yours.” and to the men “I advise you to pay attention to what the sergeant says. I NEVER countermand his punishments”. The Capitano smiled as he thought ALL payments for the new hands and soldiers were provided from those taken off French funded pirate ship Hizir (Hence French coinage) ,were authorization by Expedition head Caboto with the consent of Super Cargo and agent of the Bank Aldo Volpe.
STORM AT SEA
29 March 1619 seas are still building, wind freshening from the North East . We are still able to hold my plotted course but our shipmaster has taken precaustions against heavy weather. We are now flying the Storm canvas, sails and running rigging that is less efficient and much heavier than our normal rig but is designed to withstand the firece tempest of an Atlantic storm.
30 March 1619 The previous day and night we experienced both the seas and wind building rapidly now we are pelted by rain. So far Grande Impresa is riding well, for the Atlantic gales. The fierce winds are still fair to hold my plotted course. Shipmaster Pietra says his ears have been popping, a sure sign of a major storm. He and first mate Titurio Sabino are the only ones allowed to stand officer of the watch.
One of the most important reasons our ship is riding as well as she is that our Shipmaster had reballisted her during our fitting out for this voyage. It was Pietra, after taking her to sea to judge her sailing qualities who had recommended Grande Impresa be bought by the bank. It is in no small part thanks to the care our shipmaster had taken during fitting out including reballisting her that I thank God Matteo selected him to command this ship. It is not by chance that the first element that is stowed into a ship is the ballast. It takes a keen sailor’s eye and much experience to selected the right proportion of stones and large-grained sand to maintained the stability of the ship in all manner of sea, wind and weather.
Life lines have been rigged, all gear has been double lashed. The bilges and cargo hold are now inspected by either Master Shipwright Bartolomeo Colleoni or our new Carpenter’s mate, who are now standing larboard and starboard watches each hour. The well is also “sounded” by them at the turn of the glass. As to be expected we are taking on more bilge water than usual so the watch is augmented by some of Capitano’s Moreno’s men who work the pumps under direction of either Colleoni or the Carpenter’s mate. The Capitano told me the men assigned to the pumps are those who displease Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere and they know it. "Ncvle (uncle)" says it is both good exercise and will make these men better soldiers.”
Additional lashing and wedges have been placed to stop the cargo from shifting. No one but the watch is allowed on deck. Trips to the heads are suspended until further notice. We make do with buckets that are emptied at the turn of the watch by the watch standers. The tiller is now double manned with relieving tackle rigged. The watch standers and especially the top men are uneasy and perform their duties with great care. Our mariners know this is going to get worse before it gets better. Most of our soldiers are miserable with sea sickness. Even the First Sergeant’s skin is looking a bit green.
During a previous voyage across the Atlantic our shipmaster had learned of the terrible storms that frequented this vicious sea. He is aware of certain signs that mark these storms approach. I prize his storm knowledge and ability to read the signs in sea and sky of these approaching great storms called ‘huracan’.
31 March 1619 We are in a very powerful storm, wind is boxing the compass, seas are mountainous. We are making no attempt to hold my plotted course. Our shipmaster has our storm canvas double reefed and is doing everything he can to keep us from broaching too. The decks are taking so much water our scuppers are hard pressed to clear it before the next rogue wave almost swamps us again. This last day of March finds finds us all tired, already battered and brusied and the non mariners with varying degrees of sea sickness.
The soldiers have it worst but Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere is driving them ruthlessly to their duties at the pumps and anywhere else we need help. He tells me, with his green complexion, sunken eyes and fowl breath that this storm is making his job easier in turning these young men into the disciplined soliders. “It will stand us all in good stead, when we will badly need REAL Soldiers to confront vastly superior numbers of Indian savages.”
I told him “First Sergeant that need not be the case.”
He told me “Are you willing to bet your life on that Master Navigator? I am not.
I accept as just part of soldiering that I may become maimed or killed but not because my men and I am not ready for war.”
He then said in a low tone, “ Have you talked to Tomocomo ashore, when he has been drinking, about how his people treat captives warriors, especially the leaders of their enemy? It is a long, very painful death. When and if your found they will find you had a small fire built on your prick and balls while you were still alive and your roasted prick stuffed into your mouth.
AND they have even more inventive ways to draw out your painful death”
1 April 1819 This day finds us in giant Waves and harsh rain combined lashed at the sides of our ship. The deck is soaked, and so is the crew. Shouted comands and replies often have to be reapeated many times, a very dangerous problem because we are deafened by thunder with every crash. There were times we thought this massive storm would pluck our masts right out of the ship but, thanks again to the skill and forethought of our shipmaster, that was only a fear and never came to pass. What was not just a fear was the overpowering salty smell of the sea or that our legs began to shake from the constant bucking of our ship. No fires are allowed and the best our cook can do is to issue wine and rock hard ship’s bread to keep up our strength.
Several times there was a great BOOM as a fork of lightning struck the sea close by, lighting up the dark night for just a moment. We all thought “How long could this go on for”? I pray the gripping hands of this damned ocean storm will let go before our shipmaster, crew and our sturdy ship give out. This being the third day, I have hope we will find ouselves on a kinder sea by next morning. Amen.
2 April 1619 Thanks be to God and the skill of Enrico Pietra Shipmaster of Carrack Grande Impresa we have made it through the worst of that storm. All through last horrible night first the wind, then the rain and finally toward dawn the seas fell. It was not too soon because we are all at the edge of our endurance. The watch standers are ouit on their feet.
Winds are still high but now seem to be stabilizing from the North East and so we can once again make my plotted course. I will take observations today, if the seas calm enough to use my instruments with any degree of precision, to determine our latitude and give a course to bring us back on track. Just how far we have been blown off track is any one’s guess. There was no use in even trying dead reckoning navigation during that storm. With dawn our shipmaster has finally turned in, leaving the ship in the hands of first mate Titurio Sabino.
Capitano Moreno’s marines are still at the pumps and in the daylight I can see the bilge water is coming up clear. Well the bilges will be sweet for a while after this scouring. Our suction bilge pump has stood the test. It has proven to be sturdy, efficient, very reliable, easy to use and easy to repair. Master Shipwright Bartolomeo Colleoni only had to make repairs once and that only took him less than a glasses. I don’t think one of the mechanical pumps would have been able to handle the volume of bilge water or the strain on the mechanism of this storm.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
Posts: 954
Likes: 1,556
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Post by oscssw on Mar 10, 2023 23:58:25 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATL
March 10
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage Marco Caboto.
3 April 1619 Moderate Winds from the North East. The sea swell is now rounded and beginning to flatten as we leave what is left of that storm behind. The height of each wave in these swells was very irratic yesterday and that is what defeated me from making an accurate fix.
Yesterday, the mates did not push the mariners too hard. Only the essential repairs, none that actually threaten the ship, were made by the watch. The off duty watch was put to light duties such as cleaning up the ship and then allowed a make and mend day.
Today our shipmaster, who appears not the least fatigued, is determined to make good the storm damage as quickly as possible. Bosun Abruzzo and Master Shipwright Colleoni have working parties of the most experiencd mariners setting to right our hull, sails and rigging. The mates have the rest of the mariners doing general repairs and whatever else is required.
Doctor Andriotti has a relatively small Binnacle List (a report of sick and injured aboard). He lists no deaths and only 7 mariners and 3 soldiers unfit for duty. Two of the Mariners have broken bones, one has a minor concussion, one has lost a finger to our rigging and the rest have sprains of various types. As our shipmaster has often said he only sails with Iron men to man his wooden ship. The soldiers all have broken bones from being tossed about during the storm.
Our doctor is charged by our shipmaster with inspecting the lower decks including the hold and bilges. He has the least useful mariners, ships boys and a dozen soldiers to take whatever action is required for sanitation and to preserve the health of the crew. With all the vomit and inability to visit the heads there is filth to be cleaned, areas to be swabbed with vinigar, the hatches and gun ports to be opened to air out the ship. He has been told he has to get the permission of the shipmaster or one of his mates tbefore any hatch or gunport is opened. Enrico Pietra knows better than to trust our good doctor with the safety of Grande Impresa.
In order to make the the run to the Bahamas, located at latitude 25° 3' 36'’ N and Longitude 77° 20' 42'' W I had to determine our present position. Needless to say, the storm has pretty much made any attempt at navigation for three days impossible and my fixes before that less accurate then I let on. All I had now was a best guess and that would not do.
No one can accurately determine Longitude at sea by the use of a celestial “Fix” because we can not determine what time it is. No clock at sea is anywhere near accurate enough, after the first few days, so I have to rely on an educated guess based on “Dead Reckoning” which is more of an art than a science. Our shipmaster is a better navigator than most and so I have Pietra check my calculations and assumptions for errors.
One of my duties is to “polish” the mates navigation skills so he insists they accompany me when I am fixing the ship’s position. Both men can read and write, have some mathematical skills and experience assisting their shipmatser in “navigating” but are far from expert enough for Pietra to rely on them. We start from a known point of Latitude and Longitude based on our last landfall and then use our compass, the distance trvelled by using an hour glass and the chip log to determine our speed carefully recorded. The traverse board is used to keep track of changes in a vessel's speed or course over the period of a four-hour watch. A peg is put into a hole in the traverse board every half hour for the course steered, and another is inserted to reflect the approximate speed sailed. At the end of each watch, the courses and speeds are added together, with the help of my personal traverse tables, and marked in the logbook.
Finding latitude is much more science than art. Actually, the art is one’s ability to accurately use the Backstaff and can only be perfected by constant practice on a rolling deck, although there are many who never develop this skill and therefore make terrible navigators. Fortunately for us all, our shipmaster knew both mates from previous voyages and he therefore selected them, in part, from his estimation he and I could make fair navigators out of them. They had good coastal piloting skills and the basics of ocean navigation before shipping but still needed careful watching and guided practice.
25.0343° N, 77.3963° W I must find latitude was on a soldiers wind, that meant a fair wind requiring minimum tacking, reffing and resetting sails.
My backstaffs, I have three with me, are copies of John Davis’s, of Northwest passage fame, invention, also called a Davis quadrant. The design dates from 1594 and, in my opinon, no one has surpassed it for accuracy. My copy of Davis’s book “Seaman’s Secrets” has all the plans necessary for my instrument maker to duplicate his Backstaff along with instructions of how best to use it. With this fine instrument a good navigator can measure angles.
The Backstaff measures the altitude of the sun by the projection of a shadow it is an essential tool for ocean navigators unike Coastal Pilots. Before the backstaff we navigators were forced to stare into the sun, which would surely lead to bad eye-sight and all too often blindness. The genius of the Davis quadrant is that the navigator can rely on the sun’s shadow, rather than having to look directly at it. Now we can turn our backs to the sun, and adjust so that the shadow falls on the horizon vane. The navigator can now sight the horizon and measure the height of the sun at the same time.
The Davis backstaff, is made of dark wood such as ebony or rosewood as mine are. The Davis Aquadrant is triangle in shape with adjustable vanes – used for sighting; and two arcs – used for taking angle measurements. One arc was 30 degrees, the other was 60 degrees. The Vanes allow accurate sighting of the horizon, while the sun showed a shadow on another vane. That would sufffice to establish a fairly accurate Latitude.
For night navigation, which mainly involves accurately measuring the angle from the North Star to the pointer stars, either in Ursa Major (the Big Dipper or Big Bear) or in Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper or the Little Bear). I use the vertical as a reference, and required the month and date to be set.
Needless to say even with these marvels of the age a Navigator must first be a superior mathamectican to solve trigonometric navigational problems. So you can see why Pietro demands his mates accompany me. I spend more time teaching them advanced mathematics than the physical use of the various instruments.
I was very pleased to provide our shipmaster with a compass bearing to intersect The Bahamas latitude. With this wind and moderating seas, we should be making our “Westing” turn by the afternoon watch tomorrow. Despite the storm we should still make landfall in the Bahamas about April 21st. With luck, fair winds and the 4 knot Gulf stream current we could still reach NOVA GENOVA by the second week in May. That would allow us adaquate time for our recon of the future colony, unless the savages united against us and we became just another failed expedition. If all went well we could build our fort and trading outpost in time to make the Northern Atlantic passage East in fairly good weather. That should allow me to deliver my report to the governor by late October.
14 April 1619 Winds are freshening, seas are building and the rain is pelting us again. I fear we have another storm in the making. Our shipmaster told me he thinks this will be a much milder storm than the last. How he could know that is beyond me. None the less he has once again made all preperations to ride out another fierce blow. The storm canvas has been bent, life lines rigged, Obruciatore di Stufatold" (Stew Burner) our Ship's cook has boiled plenty of salt beef before the cook fire was jettisoned over the side. We will have cold but cooked meat and ship’s bisquit washed down by watered wine this time. That should help with the stamina of the crew.
16 April 1619 the storm has passed, although the last 24 hours had been very hard on the ship, crew and soldiers. The pumps had been manned continuously by our soldiers. The bosun and Bartolomeo Colleoni our "The Master Shipwright" carpenter have a few hard days hard for their working parties to set all in order. Our junior mariners had learned much from the last storm and the work was done much faster this time. The “Stew Burner” relit his cook fire and served out a good hot meal to all which had done much to restore our spirits. Pietra was no fool in his choice of ship’s cook.
18 April 1619, our shipmaster had all his senior people dine in with him. Following a very good meal over cigars, cheese and not his dwindling supply of best wine we discussed the matter of the Fort and trading company’s garrison. Of great interest was who and how many of our party we leave to await the colonists. I shared with them the Governor’s direction to me on that subject. Adorno had decided that Aldo Volpe Supercargo Grande Impresa would command those who stayed behind. He also wanted Tomocomo "Uttamatomakkin", our Indian advisor, to stay at the fort and trading outpost. His language skills and knowledge of the natives would be vital to the survival of the Trading post. The Capitano and most of his soldiers were also to man the fort and with the foue light field pieces. As Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage, based on what we learned about the tribes, I would make the final decision.
Volpe, Tomocomo and our capitano proposed we buy mues in the Bahamas to stock NOVA GENOVA. I must admit I had not thought about that. Volpe told us Columbus brought four jack donkeys and two jenny donkeys to the New World, along with horses. These animals were instrumental in producing mules for the Conquistadores in their exploration into the American mainland. He also told us there was a supply of the beasts in the Bahams that he could buy at reasonable price. Their idea made very good sense to me. Capitano Carlo Marino, stressed the fact they would prove invaluable for his scouting missions.
Shipmaster Pietra was not at all happy with the idea. He knew only to well how much trouble the beasts would be aboard ship. He had very bad experiences transporting horses. He also told us they died of broken legs and other injuries, even abaord specially fitted out horse transports, which Grande Impresa was not, at an alarming rate at sea especially if we encountered a storm. Bosun Abruzzo agreed with his Shipmaster, knowing well he would be the one responsible the loading and taking care of the mules. He also stated mariners hated the animals.
The Bosun also informed us a dozen mules would be the very most our ship could carry and that many would be a real hardship on the entire crew. For one thing our “Carpenter” would have to construct special stalls that would take up a lot of room. We would also have to stock fodder for the beasts and the decks would be awash with horse shit and piss endangering
the health of the crew even if we took extraordinary measures to clean up after them. The mules would also seriously stress the amount of drinking water for the men.
By not telling me their idea before this meeting those three put me in a very awkward position. I was loath to overule our shipmaster in front of the others. I valued our good working relationship too much to insult him. I took the coward’s way out and said I would have to think about their suggestion.
At this point Capitano Marino, volunteered his soldiers as our mule keepers. Futhermore, he said Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere and many of his men had much experience of mules and he would be able to advise our Bosun and “Carpenter” exactly what was required.
I turned to our shipmaster and asked him to speak to the 1st Sgt and then he and I could make the final decision. Reluctantly Pietra agreed to listen to what the 1st sergeant had to say. That being the best I could get we moved on to other subjects.
22 April 1619 the mast head reported land one point on the larboard bow.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on Apr 3, 2023 15:18:31 GMT
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
APRIL 3
The following are from reports made by Matteo Adorno, First Governor of NOVA GENOVA to Luigi Grimaldi "Commissario" (Chairman BOD) The Bank of Saint George
22 April 1619 Commissario Grimaldi, per your instructions, I submit the following draft of the people best suited to establish a successful NOVA GENOVA. I have enlisted the aid and opinions of various members of The Bank, the Doge’s representatives, prominent men in trade, agriculture and mechanics. I have also taken into consideration discussions on this topic with Marco Caboto, Capitano Carlo Marino and Tomocomo before they embarked on Esploratore (scouting) voyage. I have reviewed The Bank’s intelligence on the successful Spanish, particularly Dutch and French colonies in North America. I have also spoken to various people who actually have lived in or visited the French and Dutch North American colonies, as these most closely resemble the rough outline of ‘Trading Post” colony we agreed NOVA GENOVA should be.
Captain Adriaen Block, was particularly helpful as he lived in the Dutch settlements from 1614 to last year when he was badly used and discarded by the Dutch West India Company authorities. The man knows much and is willing to share his knowledge for a nominal payment. I am not too sure if we should bring him on as part of the expedition and would appreciate your opinion. The man has a rabid hatred for his own countrymen and such men are dangerous.
I have come to the conclusion, which I believe you favor, of the model of Trading colony established by the Dutch West India Company, focusing their interest on the fur trade is the one we should follow. To that end, like they, we should cultivated good relations with the Five Nations of the Iroquois to procure greater access to key central regions from which the skins com.
According to Block the earliest Dutch settlement was only built around 1613, and consisted of a number of small huts built by the crew of the "Tijger" (Tiger), a Dutch ship which had caught fire while sailing on the HudsonRiver. Soon after, the first of two Fort Nassaus built and In 1617, another fort was established at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers (where Albany now stands). I would have preferred the Dutch outpost had been established about a decade earlier to validate their long trem viability.
These forts were actually small “factorijen” or trading posts, where commerce could be conducted with the Algonquian and Iroquois population, possibly at Schenectady, Esopus, Quinnipiac, Communipaw, and elsewhere. The Dutch have been calling their North American possessions “ Nieuw Holland” (New Holland) , of late.
What I think we must avoid is a kind of feudal aristocracy the Dutch have established in “ Nieuw Holland”. Granted it has been successful in attracting settlers to the region of the Hudson River. I defer to you what is in the best interest of “The bank”.
Further south, a Swedish trading company that had ties with the Dutch tried to establish its first settlement along the Delaware River three years later. Without resources to consolidate its position, New Sweden was gradually absorbed by New Holland and later in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Given the short time the Dutch have been in North America and the fact our Spanish allies chose to concentrated further South and West than NOVA GENOVA; I fear our sworn enemies the French provide the best source of study.
I found “Histoire de la Nouvelle France” printed in 1609, by Marc Lescarbot of great value in learning how to and how not to set up a Trading Colony in North America.
Nouvelle-France, initially embraced the shores of the St. Lawrence River, Newfoundland, and Acadia (Nova Scotia) but is now gradually expanding into to the Great Lakes region.
Samuel de Champlain was employed in the interests of successive fur-trading monopolies and sailed into the St. Lawrence in 1603. In the next year he was on the Bay of Fundy and had a share in founding the first French colony in North America—that of Port-Royal, (now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia). In 1608 he began the settlement that was named Quebec, selecting a commanding site that controlled the narrowing of the St. Lawrence River estuary.
After having financed the first expeditions, France neglected the newly discovered territories and abandoned them to individuals or private companies, like “The Bank” because no gold mines were discovered. “It would not be prudent to depopulate his Kingdom as he would have to do to populate this wilderness” Thus few colonists were sent to settle in the new territories. The French Crown power was satisfied with encouraging trade companies that tried their luck overseas. The New France’s trading company, the Company of One Hundred Associates, managed by noblemen and entrepreneurs, was granted a monopoly to exploit and administer the colony. It was under its control that colonization actually got underway, particularly in three centres, Québec, Trois-Rivières in 1608.
This is the model, I think would be best for NOVA GENOVA. With establishment of the small French trading posts, a bartering system, the fur trade and Native people became accustomed to trading manufactured goods for pelts that were sent to the mother country to supply the hat industry. Fur gradually became the primary resource of New France, despite some small efforts to diversify the economy. The Native people would bring in their furs to the colony’s principal centers. The merchants were gradually forced to travel further afield to obtain the precious merchandise and ensure it would not be sold to British competitors. Some were simply houses built in Native villages, others were used both as a point of sale and a warehouse for trade goods. The stored merchandise was later redistributed to all the smaller posts in the region.
The fur trade was the principal driver of the New France economy. I think we have a good chance of also establishing a profitable fishing trade. Marco Caboto also thinks we should try to establishing a Whale fishery because of the great number of the loviathons he observed on his earlier voyages. We both know just how valuable that oil is in Europe. Nova Genova’s excellent harbor, large timber tracks and iron deposits, along with a shipyard or two would make this project very profitable for The Bank. With your concurrence I will engage some whaling masters to assess this possibility.
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Post by diamondstorm on Apr 9, 2023 17:46:47 GMT
I personally think it's not that far off base for one or more of the Italian states to colonize parts of the Americas since the wealth and capital were there. All that was missing was the ambition if I recall correctly. So this is a good premise.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on Apr 13, 2023 15:47:13 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATL
APRIL 13
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage
Marco caboto.
23 April 1619 yesterday’s landfall proved to be the Island of Hispaniola, part of the he Spanish Grandes Antillas (Greater Antilles).
Today, at about noon, we were met by a Guarda Costa cutter of the Armada Española (Spanish Navy) at the entrance to Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Ciudad Trujillo harbor. The Port of Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent European city in the Western Hemisphere and the first base in the New World for colonial Spain. It is located at the mouth of the Ozama River on the southeast coast of the Island of Hispaniola.
Capitano Carlo Marino paraded # 6 Company Regiment Liguria on deck as the Guarda Costa cutter’s commander Capitán de corbeta Francisco José Macarurio Sors came aboard with a doctor to certify us plague free and 6 armed sailors to searched the ship for contraband. Capitán de corbeta Sors took one look at the soldiers and hollered a command to his ship. His crew immediately manned their six 4 pounders of her larboard battery.
Capitano Marino quickly ordered his men to present arms as he performed the sword salute to the Spaniard. That defused a tense situation long enough for Supercargo Volpe, who spoke Spanish fluently, to hand Sors an envelope with the embossed Crest of the Spanish crown. Sors read the note provided by Don Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, better known as the Duke of Lerma, requiring the full cooperation of all subjects of Philip III to the Genoese bearer of this letter. To this was fixed the royal seal.
Our Shipmaster Enrico Pietra, who spoke passable Spanish, invited the Guarda Costa commander below for wine and to examine our ship’s papers. Aldo Volpe Supercargo and Marino followed the Master and Capitán de corbeta below to his cabin. Mario Andriotti, our Ship's Doctor, accompanied the Spanish doctor , who spoke Italian, in an inspection of the crew and and joined them in our Master’s cabin.
As soon as he had a glass of wine in his hand Capitán de corbeta Francisco José Macarurio Sors made it clear the presence of a foreign vessel with a company of infantry, four field guns and carriages, much powder and shot was not a normal practice here in the Grandes Antillas. He also reminded them of the piratical conduct of English free booters that had in past included sacking Spanish cities.
Therefore, even with Don Francisco’s letter, our ship and crew will be kept under constant armed surveillance and moored under the guns of the fort. No one accept Supercargo Volpe would be allowed ashore under escort at the governor’s convenience to discuss what arrangements we would be able to make for reprovisioning our ship.
As to be expected, Volpe paid the port tax in French gold Florins and dispensed silver from the pirate ship’s keg of coins to the Armada officer and the doctor which ensured our immediate certification as plague free and permission to enter the port and anchor in the roadstead. The Capitán de corbeta politely informed our men that a “Gift” to the governor was customary. The amount would be set by his excellency when Volpe met with him.
26 April 1619 Supercargo Volpe, armed with a list of supplies, goods and services Empressa required for the next leg of our voyage, written in Spanish, met with the governor and his staff. Volpe had specific instructions from myself about shore leave for our crew and the soldiers, if at all possible. He was also to request permission to conduct business directly with the merchants.
It was clear the governor had let us wait to show his importance. His bribe was outrageous but after being reminded of the exact wording of Don Francisco’s letter, Volpe was able to reduce it to a manageable amount. He even got permission to rewater our ship and have a supply of citrus fruits put aboard imediately, my highest priorities. The governor granted our crew the freedom of the town as long as they obeyed HIS laws. As for the soldiers, he graciously consented to allowing 10 of them ashore at a time unarmed.
The Governor instructed one of his staff to see to our needs and Volpe handed his list to that catch fart. After studying the list the staffer assured Volpe Hispaniola could provide everything and that included the very strongest mules in all the Grandes Antillas. He would also have a dockyard official sent out to Grande Impresa tomorrow to arrange pier space at the Royal Dockyard and talk to our "The Master Shipwright" Bartolomeo Colleoni about any repairs to our ship and the building of the stalls for our cargo of mules.
Finally the governor invited Volpe, our ship’s master, Capitano Marino and anyone of importance aboard the ship to dine with him this evening. Volpe thanked him for his hospitality and asked if two more guests would be acceptable. It was, a time was set and Volpe bowed his way out.
I had to think long and hard about attending the Governor’s table. I decided against going allowing our first mate and doctor to attend. I felt it was best if we did not confuse the Spanish as to who was the head of this expedition. For now they thought Volpe, as supercargo, was our leader and that was fine by me.
I instructed Enrico Pietra to find out all he could from local ships’ masters about sailing directions for our next leg, particularly, likely weather conditions, currents, prevailing winds and hazards to navigation. He should also pump them about pirates and what other nation’s warships, particularly French and English were in these waters.
27 April 1619 Today I visited the local cartographers. Local charts, of varying accuracy, were available of the route to NOVA GENOVA. I selected three that looked promising.
The first was a recent ,locally updated, copy of Spanish origin covering the area from
the Grandes Antillas to San Agustín in La Florida.
The second was from a locally produced coastal pilot commissioned by the Captain General of Cuba about 10 years ago covering the Viceroyalty of New Spain. I had been assured it was considered essential for coastal voyages North of La Florida. The chart and coastal pilot extended to 32° 4' 34.23'' N.
The third was of English origin updated locally and covered the coastal are up to Plymouth Colony. It was a copy of one of my own trusted charts but had greater detail.
This afternoon I had Pietra, armed with my new charts, make some inquiries of shipmasters in harbor of their usefulness. The ones willing to talk to him agreed these were the best available and a few showed him their copies profusely annotated and corrected by the master’s themselves. Our Shipmaster arranged for our new charts to be updated, to mirror what he considered the best he found, for a small bag of the French pirate’s gold. The Spanish shipmaster promised to have the three charts ready in 5 days. Pietra paid him about a quarter of the agreed on price and would turn over the rest upon reciept of the updated charts in 5 days.
28 April 1619 Today I wanted to find out what was going on as far as the natives along the shore were up to and likely to do. I asked Tomocomo and Sergente Di Prima Classe to accompany me ashore on the off chance he would be able to talk to some natives and the hard men about current conditions regarding the natives and this colony. I wanted the muscle because I was sure we would have to visit some real dives to get some of the information I was seeking. I also wanted them along to select the dozen mules we would buy.
As it turned out we had better luck with the mules than in information. The Sergente Di Prima Classe was quite familiar with the excellent Spanish mules. He was also a very tough negotiator and it helped that Tomocomo came dresssed and well armed to intimidate even the hard mule traders.
Between our Sergeant and about a half dozen mule traders we got what we wanted at what seemed like a reasonable price. Our shipmaster had insisted we ship no more than a dozen mules. Sergeant Riccardo conducted a very detailed examination of the mules available for age, health and size. We wanted them big, strong, healthy and not too young or too old. He finally selected 4 females for riding and 8 males for pack and wagon. He also selected tack , saddles, pack frames, wagon harness and 10 large wagon wheels. He assured me our "The Master Shipwright" Bartolomeo Colleoni would have no trouble building two sturdy wagons from local timber but wheel making was a very specialized art and it was best to buy those.
I also got an education concerning Spanish ASS ( mules ) in the Americas over wine to bind the deal. I learned Mules—a cross between a male donkey (“Jacks,”) and a healthy, big mare could do an equivalent amount of work as horses with less food and water and were far sturdier and less prone to sickness. They might be stubborn but that was because they were much smarter than any horse. Male offspring are sterile whereas female offspring are only very exceptionally fertile.
The size and use of the mule varies according to the selection of the dam. The smaller mules generally have Castillon dams and tend to be used as pack or riding horses. The larger mules are ideal for agricultural work (logging, wagon teams) , traction and driving. The mules with Anglo-Arab dams are very well-known as riding horses and for endurance. Our Sergeant decided to purchase only the largest of mules.
The animals the sergeant selected were of good temperament, willing to work, easy to use, absolutely calm in difficult conditions. It adapts itself, thanks to its resilience, to all situations, all weather conditions and the most varied terrain. The Spanish Ass is sure-footed, and its generous temperament has made it pleasant to use.
The first Spanish Asses came to the Americas on ships of the second voyage of Christopher Columbus, and were landed at Hispaniola in 1495. The current heard descended from a shipment of mules, along with three jacks and twelve jennies, that arrived in San Domingo from Cuba ten years later. In the early days of the Conquest, jackasses were highly valued as sires for mules,which were esteemed as riding animals by the Spanish, and reserved for the nobility. Mules were bred for working local mines and expeditions to mainland Americas. Male mules were preferred for pack and wagon animals; the females were best for riding. Mules were used in silver mines, and each Spanish outpost in the empire bred its own mules from its own jack.
When I returned to the ship an agente di commercio (agent) of The Bank was waiting for me. He handed me a sealed envelope. Inside was another envelope with a message written in in the Bank’s secret cypher. I asked him if there was any verbal messages. He said the Bank was prepared to assist you in obtaing whatever you require to advance your mission.
I found the three letter label that told me which cypher the message was written in. I broke out my cypher key and decoded the message. The message, dated 19 March informed me that the French have planned to sink Grande Impresa with all hands. Two Marine Royal Galleons are fitting out in Acadia, in the service of the Compagnie des Cent-Associés (Company of One Hundred Associates) . One is Galleonis Prinsipe Royal, of 450 tons, 140 man crew and twenty Ordinary Culverin weighing 4,500 lb firing a 17 lb 5 oz shot. She is fast , very sea worthy and weatherly. The other is the Province de Normandie of 375 tons, 105 man crew and sixteen Culverin of 4,000 lb firing 14 lb 9 oz iron shot. About half the crews were Compagnie Ordinaire de la Marine troupes of the Armée régulière infantry units for service at sea.
The Compagnie des Cent-Associés plan is to follow the inshore edge of the “Gulf Stream” south until they made contact with our ship. They would then take the ship, strip it of anything of value, interrogate the senior members of the expedition and then sink the ship and drown everyone.
I called a war council after supper consisting of Supercargo Volpe, Enrico Pietra and Capitano Marino. I opened the council with a bottle of sherry I purchased today. It had been imported from Spain and had not traveled well. A few sips and I gave it to my servant to do what he could with it. I then was forced to uncork one of my few remaining bottles of good Rioja Baja. The wine proved to be very deeply colored and highly alcoholic, with very little acidity or aroma. Some blend the hearty Rioja Baja with other wines such as Rioja Alta and/or Rioja Alavesa but that would never do with my hard drinking crew.
With our second glass of wine I broke the news about the French galleons. No one was surprised about the news but neither was anyone happy about it. There were at first a few questions about the source and reliability of the agent that I could not answer. I am a navigator not a man of international intrigue. That was the actual trade of Supercargo Volpe who had a long history of such service to The Bank. He swirled his wine around for a few minutes, I think to buy time to decide just how much he could reveal.
Finally he said. “The source is known to me and the information was very reliable.”
He added, “WE had heard rumors, at the bank, about the French Crown being very determined Genoa would not gain a foot hold in the New world especially anywhere near Nouvelle-France.”
I then added “Gentlemen, the question is what can we do about reaching NOVA GENOVA intact and able to carry out the rest of our assignment because turning back or even delaying our trip North is out of the question.”
Our shipmaster pretty much confirmed fighting those two war Galleons would be a good way to commit suicide. He also regrettably informed us even a single ship action against the smaller of the two would require extraordinary luck for us to survive, let alone come out of the action seaworthy. Our very best bet was not to be intercepted by the Marine Royal.
Then one time Genoan Naval Captain and veteran sea warrior Enrico Pietra raised our spirits. “I don’t think a plan to move South against the Gulf stream with only two ships in any way assures a successful intercept with us. Mast head to mast head they can only scan about 20 miles of ocean and that is only in very good weather and during the day. They are assuming we will hug the west boundary of the Gulf stream. Now that we know their plan, I say we cruise far into that ocean stream until we are level with NOVA GENOVA. We then wait for the proper weather conditions and phase of the moon to make a dash in by night to our anchorage.”
He then dashed our hopes. “If I can come up with that simple a way to upset the French plan any French Naval Lieutenant would come to the same conclusion. If I were ordered to stop us I would patrol off the mouth of Narraganset bay. Two ships could easily do that. So the questions are:
Can the Senior Marine Royal captain convince his masters in Arcadia to alter the plan and allow him to meet us where we must absolutely be, at our objective?
Or will he choose to disobey the original orders to carry out what is obviously land lubber’s impossible plan and take station where he knows he can meet and defeat us just seaward of Brenton reef?”
At this point Volpe spoke up again. "The Marine Royal has not shown well for a long time and is not favored by Louis XIII. IF the outcome was a seriously upset the plans to found NOVA GENOVA Louis just might support his senior naval Officer’s disobedience. He is just as likely likely NOT to forgive any serving officer who violated his lawful orders. So that really means only getting his orders changed.
Capitano Carlo Marino C.O. # 6 Company Regiment Liguria spoke up next. "The date on that message is the 19th of this month. Today is the twenty eighth, that is nine days. The message stated the galleons were still fitting out.
“Shipmaster how long does that take?”
Enrico swirled his second glass of wine and said. "Carlo there is no way of telling. If they were are in commission it could only be a matter of days to victual, water and store ship but the wording leads me to believe both ships were laid up in ordinary and that means weeks if not months before they sail.
The Capitano then said “Shipmaster and Supercargo would you agree that in either case we should quit this port as soon as we can?” They both said that would be best and everyone looked at me for a decision.
I said to my servant “Call the Bosun, Cook, first Sergeant, Doctor and The Master Shipwright to this cabin imediately.”
To my “Guests” I said "Where do we stand on procuring your individual ship’s needs?"
Volpe said he had, with the aid of both the Bank’s representative and the governor’s lacky arrange for all victuals and other ship’s supplies.
Carlo said “My Infantry will be fully supplied by the end of the day tomorrow.”
I informed the group I would have all the charts needed in a week but I would visit my cartographer and see if some French gold would speed up the corrections.
Ten minutes later Bosun, Cook, first Sergeant, Doctor and The Master Shipwright were standing with a glass of my good wine. I asked each where he stood getting Impresa shipshape, Bristol fashion and in all respects ready for sea .
The bosun was the first to speak. “I will have everything ready in two days.”
The cook spoke up next, “The Supercargo has all victuals ordered with delivery pierside by late tomorrow ready to be ferried pout to us. We cleaned and filled our fresh water casks and will top them off whenever I get the word."
The doctor said, “The crew is still healthy, it will take a couple of weeks to see what gifts the “Ladies” of this port have given the men. My sick bay holds three men all should be ready for light duty in a few days and regular ship’s work in two weeks."
Shipwright Colleoni vouched that the Impresa was was sound in hull and spars.
"I will start on the horse stalls and other requirements for the mules tomorrow and with any luck should be ready in two days."
Finally Riccardo Panettiere "Ncvle (uncle)" Sergente Di Prima Classe (1st Sgt) # 6 Co. Liguria spoke up. The mules can be delivered to the ship tomorrow. It will then be up to our Bosun to get them on board. I have gone over the ways I have seen it done in the past with Paolo and the mates. Our bosun has shipped horses and mules before and so has our shipmaster. They agreed on a method to get the beasts aboard from boats.
It would be much better to do it tied up to the pier.”
Volpe spoke up. “I have had talks about mooring us to a warf and am sure a visit to the Port Captain with a few of our French coins will find us a berth tomorrow.”
APRIL 30 1619 Volpe was as good as his word we warped into a very good wharf this morning.
Supplies were coming aboard by mid morning. Our shipwright was hard at work converting part of our hold for mules. Our shipmaster detailed the best shipman with carpentry experience to his working party. Our sail maker was busy sewing belly bands for the mules.
May 1 1619 The 1st Sergeant and bosun worked their crews with great skill and energy. Not a single mule was injured. Santo Domingo, being an established port, the mules were pulled onto the deck using a special ramp and then secured in a stall specially designed to minimize injury during transportation. It involved mooring the ship to a wharf utilizing the ship’s block and tackle rigged from the ship’s mast and spars. A stevedore gang was hired for the task but our mariners and especially the mates had to supervise the stowage, for the safety of the ship.
As an animal transport Impresa had to carry large amounts of fodder and water to keep the animals docile, healthy and alive. The ship holds had poor ventilation and slippery footing. The belly bands should minimize falls. Sea travel remains a highly stressful experience for the Mules, often with a high mortality rates, especially if the animals were kept in the stuffy conditions below deck. To reduce this our bosun had canvas "ventilators" sewn and then rigged in such a way a constant supply of fresh air reached the hold.
Our mariners did not like to crew animal transports because the workload was much higher than aboard a normal cargo ship. On top of their regular duties they had to feed, water and keep the animal deck clean. The process was called "Mucking Out" and involved daily shoveling very heavy urine and vomit saturated manure into buckets swayed up by yard arm tackle out of the holds and then dumped into the sea. Working on the animal decks was very hazardous. The Capitano put his first Sergeant in charge of working parties of his troops to take over this necessary but very important duty which pleased our mariners.
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are from reports made by Matteo Adorno, First Governor of NOVA GENOVA to Luigi Grimaldi "Commissario" (Chairman BOD) The Bank of Saint George
May 1 1619 Commissario Grimaldi, I submit this report on the latest inteligence of French activities in North America. Our agent in Port-Royal Acadia “ Mlle Jacques” latest report arrived two days ago. She has included her own observations, and those of her sources throughout Nouvelle-France. She has cultivated one of the local “commissionaires” of the French Fur Trading company currently in Acadia. The man is smitten with with her and drinks himself into a stupor devulging much useful information. He remembers nothing he said or did while inebriated. She has him convinced he is the greatest lover of all time.
The French have not given up on their plan to sink Grande Impresa with all hands. To this end two Marine Royal Galleons have been fitted out in Acadia by Compagnie des Cent-Associés (Company of One Hundred Associates) . The larger of the two Galleonis is the Prinsipe Royal, of 400 tons, 120 man crew and twenty Ordinary Culverin weighing 4,500 lb firing a 17 lb 5 oz shot. She is fast , very sea worthy and weatherly. The other is the Province de Normandie of 350 tons, 105 man crew and sixteen Culverin of 4,000 lb firing 14 lb 9 oz iron shot. About half the crews were Compagnie Ordinaire de la Marine troupes of the Armée régulière infantry units for service at sea.
Our 250 ton Carrack Grande Impresa is no match for even Province de Normandie even with Capitano Marino’s company. Granted her crew were now veterans of a sea battle against pirates and her mariner gunners did give a good account of themselves manning her eight four pounder canons and 10 swivels. However, they were hardly gunners up to the standard of the Marine Royal. Against both French warships her only chance, if found, was to run but they are both faster and more weatherly.
The Acadia by Compagnie des Cent-Associés plan is to follow the inshore portion of the “Gulf Stream” south until they made contact with our ship. They would then take the ship, strip it of anything of value, interrogate the senior members of the expedition and then sink the ship and drown everyone. “ Mlle Jacques” has sent a message to our ship that should be waiting at her first Caribbean port of call Hispaniola advising Carboto and Volpe of the French plan. Knowing our Master Navigator I think, if he receives the message he will plot a course to evade the French.
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage Marco Caboto.
May 2 1619 the Carrack Grande Impresa was underway heading North with the Gulf stream and a fair wind.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
Posts: 954
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Post by oscssw on Apr 23, 2023 20:39:33 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATLApril 23 THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY
DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage Marco Caboto.
May 2 1619 the Carrack Grande Impresa was underway heading North with the Gulf stream and a fair wind. I now know just how right our Shipmaster and Bosun were when they warned me just how much trouble and the distinctive aroma that went along with shipping livestock. Sergente Di Prima Classe has selected his mule minders well. Although no one but an idiot would like “Mucking Out” the mule deck, they really seem to enjoy taking care of our mules. It’s early days yet but all of the mules, aside from sea sickness and loose bowels, seem to be doing as well as any other newly caught “land Lubber” does at sea.
I have plotted a course that takes us a few hundred miles East away from the coastal edge of the Gulf stream. I hope that will mean the Marine Royal Galleons will miss us completely. Pietra believes they will be waiting for us off Narraganset Bay, unless they are driven off their station by a fierce storm. He proposes we work up level to the entrance and then wait for a dark, stormy night. He then wants to hazard a dash into the bay. I fear he has too much confidence in my navigational talents and too much hubris about his own abilities as a mariner and weather witch.
May 14, 1619 about 150 miles due East of Brenton Point after a remarkably fast run with the aid of favorable seas, good winds and a strongly running Gulf stream. Now we wait for a stormy and moonless night. The more I think of his plan the less I like it.
May 16, 1619 about 125 East of Narraganset Bay. We have had two days of perfect spring weather and still we wait. I see the hand of God in this delay because I have now decided to allow our shipmaster to make his night landfall but on a full moon and in good weather.
Enrico Pietra, Shipmaster of Carrack Grande Impresa was anything but happy with my decision and he told me so in no uncertain terms. I had to remind him who it was The Bank
put in command of this voyage and if he refused my order I would have him relieved and rely on Titurio Sabino, his First mate, to take command of Grande Impresa and sail us into the bay. He calmed down and told me that would not be necessary; he would follow my order and take Grande Impresa to her fate.
The moon was waxing gibbous, so I set our course taking full advantage of a fair wind to reach the soundings at nautical twilight on the twenty first. There are no secrets aboard ship and as soon as Enrico ordered the course change all the mariners and even a few of the “Live Lumber” knew we were making our run into the coast.
I called my senior people together and informed them of my decision. Pietra, was a good man and kept his doubts to himself. It was Supercargo Volpe who asked about the French Galleons. I told him by now they were cruising far to the South. He stared at me long and hard obviously not believing I could know for certain that the French had followed the plan revealed to us by The Bank’s agent in Port Royal on Acadia. Our shipmaster then spoke up and said he expected all of us to do our duty and prepare Grande Impresa for whatever fate held in store for us. He would be inspecting the entire ship this afternoon and that inspection would be a “Right Bitch”, your warned. To the bosun he said “ I want your very best Leadsman ready with the deep sea lead late this afternoon. Warn them that we would be feeling our way in and I would be calling for casts of the lead for the next few days. He turned to First mate Sabino, “Revise the watch bill to ensure I have reliable leadsmen in every watch section. To his mariner assigned as “gunner”, he gave orders to fill plenty of cartridges for both the four pounders and swivels but also the muskets and pistols of the soldiers and crew. He was also to have one of his striker ship boys to put a good edge on our boarding pikes, swords and knives. He also wanted a supply of grenadoes and rockets ready for immediate use on deck and protected from the weather. At that I let them reduce my supply of wine again and then dismissed them to their duties. By my best calculations we were Latitude 41° 29′ 17″N and by guess and the mercy of God close to Longitude 71° W. May 17, 1619 Light winds from the South East. A cast of the log showed Grande Impresa doing 6 knots. A look at the traverse board showed an average speed of only 5 knots over the past 24 hours. The Northern set of the gulf stream required a course south of my objective. It was becoming obvious combined with these light airs means a land fall of early morning on the 19th was more likely than at nautical twilight on the 17th . Now was the time to alter course so that we would reach our harbor at nautical twilight on the 19th. I therefore asked Our shipmaster and Tomocomo "Uttamatomakkin", our Indian advisor, to join me to enlist their opinions. I spread out my charts and the new annotated one of the harbor I paid dearly for in Hispaniola. As usual another of my dwindling bottles of good Rioja Baja was uncorked and poured. Tomocomo had local knowledge of the bay and inner harbor. He was no navigator but he could read a chart. He could speak Spanish fluently but had trouble with the script notations. I helped him with those. After a about a half hour of scrutiny and thought he pronounced the annotated chart as he remembered the bay and river mouth inner harbor. That was comforting until Pietra pointed out “ I grant that Tomocomo knows the land and surface of the bay but he has no experience with deep draft ships in that harbor. I have seen the type of canoes used on this coast that he would have used and they draw barely six inches. That means he easily past over submerged reefs, shifting sand bars and lone rocks that would tear the bottom out of Impressa, with her 9 foot draft. He then said, Tomocomo where are the best fishing grounds of the bay?” Tomocomo quickly pointed out a number of areas on the chart. After asking my permission our Shipmaster noted locations on the chart with his lead stylus. He said, “I would avoid these areas because fish tend to congregate around sunken rocks and reefs.” I noted that most of those areas had already been noted on the chart, which gave my some comfort and confidence in this chart. He then added if I had my way we would make this passage on the flood but we have no way of knowing when that will be. Therefore, I am of the opinion, if we have a clear weather, I’d recommend dawn on the 19th as our best chance not to be wrecked.” I said “What if the Marine Royal is waiting for us at the mouth of Narraganset bay?” He replied “A fair wind for us will be foul for him. If we keep a good lookout we should be able to beat out to sea before they can bring their guns to bear and we try another time.” Tomocomo asked Pietra if he could launch one of Impressa’s boats to scout the bay before we try to enter? Pietra said, “Of our four boats I think our 28 foot Pinnace, would be best for this task. Under sail, she is both weatherly and very fast and is also a good rowing boat, rigged for three oars aside. In a pinch she can carry two dozen. If it is crewed properly it would be very difficult to spot and had a very good chance of outrunning and galion.. Although the sight of it would reveal our presence to the French and we loose the any chance for surprising them. I am in favor of Tomocomo’s plan with Conte as boat officer. Alanzo is a very experienced small boat sailor. It will do our Second mate good to have an independent command.” All three of us smiled at that remark because Alanzo had bent everyone’s ear about the great things he would de when he became a shipmaster. I said “So be it. That is what we will do. Shipmaster pick your boat’s crew and see it is equipped for this scouting trip.” Tomocomo volunteered but I forbade it. He was much to valuable to risk. Tomocomo then said “This boat should be well armed, with some of Capitano Marino’s soldiers and swivels. I know that would not be much against a Marine Royal warship but it would be against any of “The people”, who fish here.” May 19, 1619 Turn of the morning watch about, 0400 Winds moderate from the North East, seas calm, skies clear, gibbous moon. Grande Impresa hove to off Seal Ledge in 50 feet over a rocky bottom. Ship’s longboat, has been lowered in the lea of Impressa. Long boat under command of 2nd mate Conte with 8 mariners and 6 soldiers. Boat armed with two swivels, each mariner has a cutlas and pistol, the troops are armed with muskets and bayonets. Conte is to scout the entrance to the harbor for signs of French warships. 0500 Conte is at the seaward end of Eastern Passage between Brenton and beaver tail points. No sign of the French so far. 0530 Conte has passed Butter Ball Rock to starboard and south West Point to Port. No sign of the French. 0600 Long boat hove too just south of Bull Point. There is the sound of a ship’s bell ahead. 0630 Found a French Galleon moored across from Bull Point on the peninsula topped by Tonomy Hill, on the Eastern Passage. She was NOT flying a commissioning pennant of the Marine Royal. She appears to be about 500 tons burden. Alonzo counted 10 gun ports aside. There was a tent camp and a rough log stockade under construction overlooking the Galleon’s mooring. The French had an anchor paid out into the passage and the ship moored to stout trees that lined Tonomy Hill peninsula. The French were building a log pier between the ship and shore. 0645 Our boat had to withdraw under muffled oars until it reached Bull point and then was able to proceed under sail. 0730 The long boat hoisted aboard, secured and Impressa is standing north toward Price Neck. Second mate Conti reported mediately to Pietra and gave him a brief verbal report of his successful scout. Pietra asked “You saw no lookouts until you got close to the Galleon Alonzo? According to the charts there are several excellent looking places a prudent shipmaster, especially a Navy captain, would station reliable men to warn him of our approach. After all they are here to ambush us.” Alonzo answered, “I took the pinnace in under oars as soon as I passed Brenton point to reduce our appearance. We were looking closely for the french on both sides Shipmaster and found none. As I returned I and my lookouts lookouts searching the shores again, now in brighter light and we still found no sign of French outposts.” “Do you not find that strange Alonzo?” said the shipmaster . The younger man replied “Yes I do Sir.” “Go below and get something to eat. You did well enough bringing my men back unhurt and the Pinnace undamaged”, said the Shipmaster”. He then returned to conning his ship but both puzzled and wary. Why no French lookouts? It made no sense to him and what he did not understand he did not like, not at all. May 19, 1619 0830 anchored off of Price Neck . I called together, “Supercargo” Volpe, Shipmaster Pietra, Second mate Conti, Capitano Marino and Tomocomo. Alonzo’s description of the moored French ship matched that of Prinsipe Royal of 400 tons, 120 man crew and twenty Ordinary Culverin weighing 4,500 lb firing a 17 lb 5 oz shot. She is fast , very sea worthy and weatherly. Knowing the French half that crew, say 60 marines, who also served the great guns will be Compagnie Ordinaire de la Marine troupes. Shipmaster Enrico Pietra said flatly “Impressa would not stand a chance against her in a single ship duel. We need a way to even the odds.” Capitano Marino spoke up. “I have an idea how to take that ship. I now have 104 effectives in the Company. We have 12 mules and men who know how to ride them and fight mounted. I suggest Master Navigator, an overland expedition to take the French Galleon.” The capitano had only yesterday been talking to his first sergeant about how long the mules would need ashore before they could be worked. "Ncvle (uncle)" Sergente Di Prima Classe (1st Sgt) # 6 Co. Liguria had answered, “nothing to worry about Capitano, mules are not like horses. Once ashore they will need only a few hours before they will be as nasty as before their sea voyage.” To Tomocomo he asked. “Could you lead a force of 125 men and mules from here to Tonomy Hill in the dark?” Tomocomo responded quickly. “With this moon and as long as it does not overcast yes.” I said to the “Capitano, you do know for this to be of any real help you have to take that ship? She has at least ten Culverins pointing into the Eastern Passage and the other broadside will be able to sweep the shore with 18 lb shot and bags of Grape. If those guns are manned and handled coolly they will grind your fine soldiers into bloody blotches before you get anywhere near the Galleon.” It was now Second mate Conti that spoke up. “I can take that ship, or at least distract the crew long enough for Capitation's soldiers to rush her from the shore. I am talking about a cutting out raid up Eastern Passage and hit them on their seaward side. I’ve been there before. I know the passage. I know there is either no lookouts or they are very lazy because I brought the long boat within a couple hundred yards of the Galleon this morning.” Shipmaster Pietra began a cruel laugh and said to Second mate Conti, “Now you are a sea raider and an expert small boat navigator Alonzo. What a bargain I made in hiring you on as second mate.! All it would take is one alert lookout to get you, which is no great loss, but my mariners and long boat who are vital to this mission all murdered. A cutting out raid requires surprise, great boating skill, exact navigation and a leader men will follow into the mouth of hell. Because if those Frenchman have time to man a 18 pounder with grape that is where you will all be going. Are you the man to do that? I think not but after tonight you just might be.” He then turned to me “Master Navigator, I have taken part and led a number of successful and failed cutting out raids. I should lead the raid. If we fail that Galleon will get underway and soon be stalking Impresa. At best we can run off shore and hope to evade. First mate Sabino is more than capable of doing that and guiding Impresa back to Genoa. Our mission will be a failure because once warned they will never be caught unprepared again. Besides, a failed attempt would mean the loss of most of the landing force. So we must not fail. I give us the best chance of a successful cutting out raid. With my trusted mate Alonzo along, with his recent knowledge of the passage, as second in command our chances are even better . I have every confidence if I should fall Alonzo will carry on with the raid no matter what the cost.” He then raised his glass in salute to Alonzo and gave him a wink. Volpe now spoke, in his capacity of Agent of the Bank that he backs the capitano’s plan and that the risk of loosing Shipmaster Pietra is unfortunately acceptable.” I said, “So be it and may our Lord favor us in this mission. I want everything ready to go at nautical twilight today. Capitano will have overall command of the operation. Pietra and Tomocomo will advise him but make no mistake his word is law tonight.” Carlo turned to our Shipmaster and asked that he order the Bosun to begin unloading of the mules as soon as possible, as they will need a few hours ashore before the raid begins. Pietra replied, “I will do as you direct Capitano but first I will move Impressa closer to the beach to ease the boat work.” Pietra also ordered a servant to inform BOSUN Paolo Abruzzo and, with the consent of the capitano, Sergente Di Prima Classe # 6 Co. Liguria Panettiere to make all preparations to land the mules as soon as we anchor. The capitano said, “Thank you sir, that will be of great help.” At that they decided to have another bottle of my good wine to toast the success of the landing party and cutting out raid. The bastards are drinking me dry and that Bank Agent Volpe is enjoying every minute of my sorrow. I’ll fix him. I said, “It is time for our Supercargo to share his fine wine store with his ship mates is it not? They quickly joined in approving wholeheartedly of my suggestion. Volpe surprised me with a laugh and directed my servant to break out two bottles of his Vermentino. It is about the best wine made in Liguria and is not cheap but well worth the price especially here at the end of the earth. Once our glasses were full Volpe proposed a toast. “May The Bank reward us generously for our successful completion, of this very high risk and desperate venture. I said US and I meant it. I will go with the Capitano’s party. There just may be need for the services of a Supercargo, like taking charge of the possible treasure in the Frenchman’s lazarette. ” After my wine and two bottles of Volpe’s Vermentino, this bunch better be sober enough to oversee the preparations for tonight’s raid. I ordered my servant to hand out mugs of my best Brazilian dark roast coffee and good but not my best Cuban Cuban cigars. May 19, 1619 10:30 I now found out about the vast knowledge and experience of our Bosun and First Sergeant. Off Loading horses and cattle was always dangerous, mainly to the live stock but also to the mariners . The back-breaking task of handling cargo is most easily accomplished by mooring the ship at a wharf, setting a gangway from dock to ship, or, for heavier loads, utilizing a harbor crane or pulleys rigged from the ship’s mast and spars. We hand no such facilities. Therefore, we off loaded a ship at anchor and moored to tree trunks along the shore was necessary. The mules and other supplies for the landing party had to be off loaded into the ship’s 32 foot longboat, by slings. One of our smaller boats was beached, then decked over and a ramp built to the beach. The longboat, with the mules came alongside and secured. The mules were coaxed up a portable gangway by their handlers onto the beached boat “Pier” and then down the ramp. It was still very tricky often meant broken legs and useless animals. Mules were not as fragile or as likely to panic as were horses. The key, known to the soldiers, was to blindfold the mules, limit the distance from ship to shore and to have mule tenders who were trusted by the brutes keep a tight reign on the beasts and guide them ashore slowly. As it happened all but one mule made it safely ashore and the one that did not was shot and will provide steaks for the crew. Tomocomo said mule meat can’t be any worse than moose or bear which the soldiers will get used to soon enough. The mule handlers began exercising them easily an hour after they landed and were watered. They then saddled the six riding mules and carefully positioned and adjusted the pack frames, loaded them and continued to walk the pack train. At last, the Mule riders mounted and began to put their “Chargers” through their paces. 1600 the riding mules were unsaddled, rubbed down, curried and then watered, fed and allowed to wonder with the make shift coral. The packs mules were were unloaded, watered and fed and also placed in the Coral. The mule handlers watch them closely and reported they were all in fine condition with one unknown the amount of stamina the sea voyage had robbed them of. Only the trek tonight would tell that story. 1700 the landing party had their mule steak supper and then mustered in full marching order for inspection. The soldiers were well turned out and eager for the fight. The First sergeant put them through the manual of arms and then various formation changes; something; they could not practice aboard ship and found them wanting. He then drilled them mercilessly. It took a few hours until their old skills and muscle memory were once again acceptable. Tocomo spent some of his limited time with the foot skirmishers/scouts. He was hardly satisfied with them but, he had no more time to spare He was fairly sure he had taught and had them practice the basics as many times as possible and that would have to do. Tocomo, exchanged his fine European clothes for those of an “Indian” hunter. He was off to scout the route, in daylight, the landing party would take this night. He had not asked permission because he thought Caboto and Marino valued his skin much too highly to allow him a one man scout. At heart he was still a “Redman” warrior and he was very, very good at his woodsman craft. He also knew success would depend on how well he could guide the Genoese to the ship and camp. He and he alone of his companions was the only one who could do what had to be done. He also wanted to take a good look at the French camp. His one great fear was that the French had enlisted the aid of local warriors to provide security for their ambush. He would know that soon enough. Capitano Marino drilled the mounted troops. He found, all selected had been cavalry men once, had not forgotten what was beaten into them. Again the short time for drill left him uncertain about their effectiveness in scouting and battle. Pickets had been posted and their reliefs informed to relieve them in two hours. The landing party men were dismissed and told they would be awakened for stand too in about four hours. Marino wondered where Tocomo had gotten to and asked he asked his Sergeant. "Ncvle (uncle)" Sergente Di Prima Classe had noticed Tocomo’s absence when the new skirmishers returned from their drill without him. He had asked one of the brighter old soldiers where Tocomo was. The man said, “I saw him change into his native skins with his big knife, a bow and arrows and a half pike and head into the forest. He said to his capitano, “I’m sure he is just taking a walk around, after all he lived here for quite a while.” Capitano Carlo Marino C.O. # 6 Company Regiment Liguria, was not happy with that reply and anger flared in his eyes. He was in his Army Commander mindset now. As such he would brook nothing less than strict military discipline and having his scout wondering off was unacceptable, especially at a time he wanted to talk over his plans for tonight. He also knew “Ncvle” well enough to suspect he knew or guessed more of Tocomo’s absence than he admitted. He decided to let it go because he was sure if Tocomo’s absence in any way jeopardized tonight's mission Sergente Di Prima Classe would not hesitate to inform him. “Have him report to me as soon as he returns Panettiere”, was all the Capitano said but the way he said it did not sit well with Riccardo. 1730 Shipmaster Pietra shoved off to check the boat’s trim and practice his crew in the finer points of a cutting out raid. He rebalanced the ship’s long boat stores, after sailing it for about an hour. The crew consisted of 2nd mate Conte, 12 mariners and 12 soldiers. Boat was again armed with two swivels, each mariner has a cutlass, dagger and pistol, the troops are armed with muskets and bayonets. They also carried a box of grenadoes and three heaving lines tipped with grapnels. His boat’s crew practiced silent rowing with oar shafts muffled by wool and leather where they made contact with the thole pins. He also practiced them in the art of rowing without splashing the oar blades. Using the Impressa as a stand in he instructed them on the best way to board a ship silently using the grapnel lines to gain the deck and then made them do it until they got it right. Finally, he had them practice where and how to disable the anchor watch, silently if possible, but with everything bit of violence they had in them if the alarm was sounded and, at all costs, deny the crew the great guns. With this worst case in mind he had hand picked big men who did not panic, were able seamen and had proven themselves in the fight with the pirates to welcome battle and killing. He had left it to One of his mariners suggested he take along his cross bow to silence sentries before they could give the alarm. Taking nothing for granted Peitra asked his mariner to prove he was a marksman. The man said “I could shoot an apple off Second mate Alonzo’s head as he stood on deck from say 75 feet away.” That brought a laugh from all listening accept Alonzo. Pietra, had a comfortable way of dealing with his mariners and countered. “As strange as it seems I need Alonzo’s knowledge of these waters; something he could not give me with a bolt through his head. Instead I want you to hit the Lion’s face on our cathead at 125 feet. Pietra had used a crossbow in his day but he was no marksman with that or any other weapon. He examined his man’s cross bow carefully. The weapon which measured Length of 22 and bow Width 12 and a half inches, had an intricately decorated hardwood butt stock. The bow was crafted from good steel, with pieces of leather on each end which connect to the hemp bowstring. The front sight, back sight, and stirrup were all made from burnished metal which added to the durability. He also examined his seaman’s quiver of wooden bolts tipped with metal. The mariner proved he was really as good as he boasted and put a bolt into the cathead eyes and mouth and at over 125 ft. Pietra held the man in his gaze and said, “you do that tonight and you get one of our French Florins from me tomorrow.” Finally, satisfied with his raiders he brought the longboat alongside, set a boat watch and told the others to eat but to go easy on the wine and then turn in until he called them. He sent Alonzo along with them to ensure no one over did the wine. 1800 "Uttamatomakkin" of the Powhatan tribe lay on his belly searching the area of the French camp and committing to his predigeous memory everything of note. He had counted two large tents and 30 smaller ones arranged in military fashion. The Log “fort” was not far along at all. At present it had logs planted to mark it’s four corners and two gates with a few logs on either side with a lot of work needed to join the parts. There were no canons ashore yet. The French had posted sentries, who marched their beats in military splendor not more than a couple hundred yards from the camp. A lot of good they would do. After a while he noticed a small patrol of three come out of the woods and make for the camp. At least one of these men was not a Soldier, he had to be a “Coureurs des bois”. The “Wood-Runners” very skilled woodsmen fur traders from New France. At least they were not local Indians. He then turned his keen eye on the ship. He had learned a lot about ships since he joined Impressa. This one was larger and had four trees with both square and triangular sails drying in the light breeze. There was a considerable amount of water between the ship and the shore. The mooring lines ran from the ship two four large oaks and there was another two lines running from the seaside bow and stern to something a couple hundred feet in the bay. Must be an anchor to keep the ship in place. A rowing boat with something a little bigger than a swivel mounted in the front with three oars aside and 12 men was slowly pulling up and down just outside the anchor location up and down the coast for about a half mile. Come sunset and that boat would be useless so he guessed the French would pull it in closer to the ship for the night. He could not make out a single lookout post on either side of Eastern Channel. Only a post manned by his people would escape his gaze. Not even the “Coureurs des bois” could deceive him at this distance in broad daylight. His time was up and he headed back to the landing party. He was observing everything as he traveled and still no outposts. He came across a few game signs that appeared to be recent and therefore no white man had been in this area recently. He was almost to the edge of the woods at the landing place when he noticed a small hunting party of Narragansett observing the camp. It was obvious the Genoese “Pickets” had not noticed them. He had a decision to make here and now. This was his chance to find out if the Narragansett were now allied with the French. He decided to take the chance. He dropped his bow, quiver and half pike and calmly, with his palms facing out and empty, calmly walked to the locals. He made the sign of peace and continued until he was signed to stop where he was. His Y-dialect of the Algonquian language, which the locals spoke, was a bit rusty. He took his chance and said “ I am "Uttamatomakkin"of the Powhatan tribe and I come in peace to my brothers of the mighty Nanigonset. I am a blood brother of Sachem (chief) Massasoit Ousemequin.” At this they lowered their spears and their leader Hobbamock bad me sit with them. So far so good. Hobbamock asked me if I was with the French in the bay? I answered I was not. They were my enemy and that of the Genoese you are watching on the beach. This caused a good deal of low muttering and surly looks among the young warriors. These bucks are just looking for a fight I thought, as I ran my hand through my hair and moved my other hand closer to my knife. At this point Hobbamock defused the moment with a snide remark about the Genoese would all be dead if he had a few dozen more warriors like these with him. That caused grins from the young warriors. It was obvious their leader was held in awe and reverence by his young men. So it was he I had to win over. Hobbamock then told his band to stay where they were and watch the “Whites make fools of themselves”. He wished to have a pipe with the Powhatan “mogkiomp” (“great man”) and blood brother of the might Sachem (chief) Massasoit Ousemequin. He walked me back about a quarter mile to a beautiful stream and filled his calumet, (pipe) with fine fresh tobacco flavor with a few other herbs. Hobbamock’s pipe marked him as man of importance. The pipe bowl was made from red catlinite or pipestone. Catlinite is an iron-rich, reddish, soft quartzite slate typically excavated from below groundwater level. He handed the pipe to me to smoke first. I did so and commented it was good and handed it back to him. He inhaled deeply, held it for what seemed a couple of minutes exhaled through his nose and handed it back to me. I tried to duplicate his feat but came up short. I did not caught but I could not hold the smoke as long as he did. We continued in silence taking turns with the pipe until we finished our smoke. He then said to me “What is it you want to know “mogkiomp”. I asked him if his people were in alliance with the French? His answer was NO. In fact the great canoe in the bay had sent warriors armed with fire sticks who drove our people away from their village and had used some of the young women very cruelly. The French Sachem had those who did that hanged from the trees on his great canoe. We decided not to attack those great fire sticks for now and have had nothing to do with them unless they tried to take more land. We have killed two parties who made camp overlooking the entrance to the bay. The French have not tried again. They send small bands into the trees close to their village and we watch that they go no further. “Now tell me about the Genoese who accompany you!” he said. I was in a real bind now. These people had a bad taste of Europeans and now I had to convince them The Bank’s trading colony was a good thing for them. He was no fool. He was obviously highly respected in his tribe. He had no reason to help us. I had to find something we could provide the Narragansett valued highly enough to risk our presence in NOVA GENOVA. I began “Mighty Warrior Hobbamock I tell you as one of “The people”, the Genoese and the French are the most bitter of enemies. They intend to kill as many Frenchmen as they can and steal their great war canoe. Would the Nanigonset (Narraganset) allow us to do this?” He thought about this for a while and said, “I have no problem with the Genoese killing Frenchmen and stealing their great war canoe. My young warriors would be happier to see ALL White Devils kill each other and leave our land.” Think fast Uti ( my childhood Powhatan nickname) he is making good sense. I said “ Your young warriors are handsome, virile and brave but are they wise? I was not wise at their age and had to followed the wisdom of old fathers of our clan, especially the Powhatan sachem, mogkiomps and shamans. So I ask you, who the young men obey, for permission to allow the Genoese to kill the Frenchmen and steal their great war canoe. If you agree, I pledge, with my life, that the Genoese Sacham will pay you and your young warriors whatever you please from the dead Frenchmen and their Great war canoe.” Hobbamock thought about this for a long while before he said. “I am not the Sacham of the Nanigonset and can only command my band now. I will not be able to guarantee the Sacham and the council of elders do not decide to kill of you after you kill the French. For now I pledge this band will not make war against your White Devils today, for the price of what we wish from the dead Frenchmen and the great war canoe. Once we have what we want I will release you from your pledge. I will also show the tribe what you paid us for this day. It is possible the Sacham and the Council of Elders will make a treaty with you if you pay us a ransom for for the land I know you want here. ” I agreed to his counter offer and we became blood brothers in the Powhatan and Nanigonset manner to seal the deal. We made a cut on the chest and then daubed the blood on the tongue and forehead of each other. We then smoked another pipe and returned to his young warriors. There was some grumbling when Hobbamock told them of the agreement. Once he explained the fact they got to choose their booty they came around to his wisdom. At this point I was about to leave when Hobbamock called to a really fierce looking warrior, he called Miantonomo, and told him of my pledge and it was his honor to stay by my side and kill me if the agreement was not kept. He then added “He is to kept safe by your strong arms as long as he keeps his word. If he breaks his word make him die slowly and painfully.” So much for my Blood Brother! 1930 Tomocomo with a second goblet of whine in his hand and his new “shadow” Miantonomo (Hobbamock’s young warrior), fully armed standing behind him delivers his report to Caboto, Volpe and Marino ( Pierta was already underway with his pinnace). Volpe was first to reply. “We must thank you Tomocomo for saving Nova Genova. This attack on the French is absolutely vital to our success and you, by your scout and bargain with that war Chief (he could not recall Hobbamock’s name) has given a very good chance against that Galleon.” Marco Caboto speaking officially as the commander of this scouting voyage agreed with Volpe. He said “Whatever the Nanigonset want, it is worth it. Besides, I know these savages and I can assure you what they value will not cost us much, especially since it will all come from the French!” he then added “It’s a good thing your savage friend, can’t speak Genoese, eh Tomocomo.” All but Miantonomo laughed heartily as a release of tension at that poor jest. Finally Capitano Carlo Marino C.O. # 6 Company Regiment Liguria, still in full his Army Commander mindset spoke next. “Things worked out well for you, this time. We had decided your life was too valuable to the success of our mission to risk it on one of one of your savage whims. It is up to our Commander Caboto to decide when to risk your life. Don’t run off without asking for my permission in future as long as you are part of my command.” Carlo was dead serious and his anger was evident, especially to our Powhatan guide and advisor. I had to once again defuse a possibly deadly situation. The Capitano was a brave, skillful and still a young soldier but Tomocomo was the most dangerous kind of close in killer. I could see in the Indian’s eyes he was barely keeping his temper under control. I said to Carlo in as stern and authoritative voice as I could muster. “Capitano Carlo Marino, apologize to Tomocomo right here and now!” Carlo hesitated, being a young man and Officer with great pride who did not allow an insult to go unanswered. I walked over to him “stand at attention when your Commander addresses you. You have been given an order to apologize to Tomocomo. Do it now or I will break you and when we return to Genoa your Colonel will be informed of your insubordination and why you spent the rest of the voyage in chains in the bilge.” To his credit the Capitano replied with a yes sir. Standing before Tomocomo, he apologized for his unwarranted remarks and acknowledged the Indian had done us all a great service. He also stated he was remiss in his duties as military advisor not to get permission to allow his scouting trip of the French. Tomocomo, let the young man stew for a few minutes and then held out his hand, in the white devil manner and shook Carlo’s. When Tomocomo spoke he said, Carlo my friend, I now know what made you so angry. You were humiliated by your failure to do your duty by not scouting the ground before the march and could have cost the lives of all the men you are responsible for. “ Volpe told me later “That savage is far smarter than I gave him credit for. Marco, we have to keep a very close watch on him. If he “Goes Native”, we are all dead men and so is Nova Genova. There was not the slightest hint of humor in his voice, face or body; our Supercargo, who did not terrify easily, was now frightened of Tomocomo. I said nothing because I had come to that same conclusion on the day I met our guide and Indian advisor.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on Apr 24, 2023 11:30:20 GMT
 ![Sea stories]() I personally think it's not that far off base for one or more of the Italian states to colonize parts of the Americas since the wealth and capital were there. All that was missing was the ambition if I recall correctly. So this is a good premise. miletus12  |
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
Posts: 954
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Post by oscssw on Apr 30, 2023 14:50:21 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATL
April 30
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.) The following entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore/scouting Voyage Marco Caboto.
May 19, 2330 Shipmaster Pietra ordered his bow oar to shove off the Pinnace. He had waited until sunset and counted on nautical twilight to provide just enough light to steer by. His boat and cutting out crew were as ready as he could make them in the time allotted. 2nd mate Conte, was in the bows. For now, with a fair wind, the Pinnace was under her single Dipping Lugsail. When the time came he planned to double bank (two mariners per oar) his six oars. The 12 soldiers were more than passengers. Four were lookouts and the rest were ready under arms for an unexpected meeting with the French. He kept the Grenadoes by his foot as he manned the tiller himself.
The Pinnace was armed with two grapeshot loaded swivels, slow match burning in a small half water filled bucket and the troops with loaded but not primed Snaphance lock muskets. Each of his mariners carried a cutlass, dagger and wheel lock pistol. His three best seaman carried heaving lines tipped with grapnels. One also carried his excellent silent killer of a cross bow. For this cutting out raid Pietra had armed himself with two double barrels wheel lock pistols, a sturdy cutlass, his Genoan dagger and three grenadoes.
He had selected Geoffrey Bouchard, one of the two Huguenot Frenchmen in Impressa, with a fierce hatred for their Royalist Catholic countrymen to come along. Pietra spoke a simple French, much better Spanish and passable English, with an accent that would fool no one let alone a Frenchman. This man’s perfect french just might be the difference between succes and a bloody failure of this air brained raid.
He wanted no firing or any other noise until the moment he led his men onto the deck of the Frenchman. That is how to give the attacker the best chance on a cutting out raid. To that end his boat’s crew had practiced silent rowing with oar shafts muffled by wool and leather where they made contact with the thole pins. He had also practiced them in the art of rowing without splashing the oar blades. His men were now well drilled in the art of boarding a ship silently using the grapnel lines.
The Snaphance lock muskets caried by the soldiers, first appeared in the late 1550s and was still considered a relatively new weapon to Pietra. The Capitano and far more knowledgeable veteran First Sergeant assured him they and their men had been well drilled in it’s use and they found it quite acceptable, especilly compared to the match lock. Like the earlier snaplock, the snaphance drives flint onto steel to create a shower of sparks to ignite the priming powder in the pan, the flash partly passing through the touch hole into the barrel where it ignites the main charge.
The flint is held in a clamp at the end of a bent lever called the cock. Upon pulling the trigger, this moves forward under the pressure of a strong spring and strikes a curved plate of hardened steel (called simply the steel), to produce white-hot steel shavings. These fall into a flash pan holding priming powder. The flash from the pan travels through the touch hole to cause the main charge of gunpowder to explode. The steel is at the end of an arm that can be moved independently of the pan cover.
Pietra initially steered South west for Seal Rock then due West. He had tested his boat compasses to find the most accurate and now, with the aid of a shielded lantern held below the gunnel by one of his mariners, he was able to hold his course. At this point he increased taking a cast of the lead to every 50 strokes to clear Brenton Reef. Finally, when his leadsman reported successive sounding of 50, 60 and 70 feet he turned due North.
Beavertail point to Larboard. He could still hold his course, with his dipping lug sail close hauled.
2345 The landing party was awakened and ordered to “Stand too” for inspection. All was in order so Capitano Marino ordered Tomocomo to take his novice scouts forward and ensure the main party was not ambused. Tomocomo, with his shadow and possible executioner by his side, called his “Scouts” close and told them there was a band of friendly indians in the woods. Under no circumstance were the scouts to fire on them. “The man who fires will find himself on my knife blade before he can reload. Do you all undertsand me?” They all nodded. He checked every man and then said “Now let us go and teach the French that we the two legged wolves own this land.”
May 20, 1619 0100 The Pinnace was now in the mouth of the bay with Brenton Point to starboard and Beavert Point to Larboard.
One of Tomocomo’s scouts reported back to the Capitano all was clear and he would leade them to he forest trail . Carlo turned to Sergente Di Prima Classe (1st Sgt) # 6 Co. Liguria Panettiere and said. “Get them moving quietly.” Follow the scout until I tell you diffferntly.”
He then turned to Tenente Anziano (Senior Lieutenant) Salvatore Lucania to take his mounted men and the two field guns and limbers to the end of the column along with a dozen infantry as rear guard and to help with the guns. The the three pounders were manned by picked gun crews of Impressa’s mariners. The dozen sailors selected could be relied on to work the guns, no matter what was going on around them. The limbers were loaded 25 round shot, 50 bags of grape shot and 25 bags and Langrage shot. Grape shot, fastened in a cluster of about 10 small iron balls in a canvas bag scatter best at 50 to 75 yards. It is devestating aginst formed infantry at short range because it turns the cannon into a huge shot gun.
Langridge is cheap ammo, made up of bundles of nails, forks and similar objects. It has the shortest range of any ammo , say pistol or even half pistol shot but does horrific damage. The gunners got to be very steady, as by the time Langridge is ordered only a few rounds can be loaded and fired before charging infantry would be upon the gunners. However, not many of those diretcly assaulting the guns would be standing after recieving two blasts of Langridge . veteran attacking commanders would try to flank the guns and hit them from at least three sides simultaneuously.
The mounted men were armed with boarding pikes, in lieu of lances, and two wheel lock pistols. They would probably not be of any real value until the column cleared the forest. On fairly open ground they should be able to do some good scouting and carry messages. There were far too few of them to use in a charge.
0200 The Pinnace was north of Butter Ball Rock in 100 feet of water, with a big hill on a promentary off his qurter as a guide. It was here Pietra orderded the dipping lugsail struck, furled and his men to man the oars single banked for the time being.
0225 The landing force passed into the forest led by a platoon of skirmishers, then the bulk of the infantry. Next came the “Artillery Train”, two three pounder guns on field carriages. The three pounder gun and limber pulled by a four mule team had no problem, so far, keeing up with the column. The mule “cavalry” brought up the rear. The deeper they got into the forest the darker it got.
0230 Pietra, after taking a bearings on South West Point off his port bow and the most northern tip of The Neck off the starboard bow and a the latesst cast of the log at 150 feet he judged himslef in the Eastern channel and set his course North, North East. The full moon was casting more than enough light now for him to make out them lay of the land and movment on the water for a respectable distance.
0245 Pietra orderded his men to rest on their oars as he, the lookout and 2nd mate Alonzo searched for the guard boat.
0300 Capitano Carlo Marino C.O. # 6 Company Regiment Liguria called a halt of the landing force. They were very deep into the forest at this point and had been climbing a moderate assent for a half hour. The deeper they got into the forest the darker it got. The platoon of skirmishers were spread out in a horse shoe formation covering the main body. The bulk of the infantry broke ranks stacked arms and rested close to trail ready to form at a moment’s notice. Capitano Marino kept 20 formed and vigilant troops under his direct command as the camp guard.
0315 Tomocomo reported to Capitano Carlo Marino and informed him the French were camped in a field just past the edge of the forest, not a quarter mile from where the Landing Force was halted. Marino ordered the men to fall in in column and follow Tomocomo to their dispersal area just inside the tree line. He detailed a squad to wait for the guns and handed the Corporal a message for then to join up with the main column as soon as possible.
The “Artillery Train”, had fallen behind. Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere led 30 men back down the trail to aid the artillery train. The halt would allow them to close up. The three pounder gun and limber pulled by a four mule team had a problem keeing up with the column now because the trail had led through a swampy area and hauling the three pounder brass gun barrel was approximately 4 feet long and weighed 440 pounds. The field carriage and attached loaded limber limber weighed another 1200 pounds.
Master Shipwright" Bartolomeo Colleoni had built the field carriages and limbers from the well aged oak, very strong but very heavy timber aquired in Hispaniola. This first treck had proven how wise the purchases of large, heavy wagon wheels had been by the First sergeant in most terrain but only added to the off road difficulty in solft and sodden soil. The halt would allow the guns to close up.
Sergente Di Prima Classe Panettiere reported to Tenente Anziano (Senior Lieutenant) Salvatore Lucania. It was clear the swamp and lack of road had the the guns mired and the team mules were now completely worn out to the point niether the whip or the goad would get them to pull. The First sergeant asked the Tenente if double etaming the guns had any luck. Lucania said they tried that and the already overworked mules still could not move the guns. At this the First sergeant suggested constructing a chordoroy road through the worst of the swamp. The totally frustrated Officer agreed. He said he would report to the Capitano and tell him of the problem. The First Sergeant suggested the tenente wait until we tried the corduroy road before reporting. With luck, he would be able not only the reason the guns were falling behind but the fact he had ordered a solution to that problem. The young man decided to wait to see if the new plan would work.
0330 The artillery train was moving along the chordoroy road at a reasonable pace.
0345 Pietra had observed the routine of the guard boat and now decided it was time to silence it’s crew. He ordered oars out and pull together, quietly. The oars were double banked. The Swivels were trained on the guard boat. Geoffrey Bouchard sat in the bottom of the boat at his foot, ready to answer the guard boat and trabslates for the shipmaster. The crossbow archer sat next to the second mate in the bows, ready to silence whoever he was told to kill.
The soldiers presented arms ready to fire on the guard boat only at the direct command of Pietra. The plan called for them to board the guard boat and finish off the crew with cold steel. If they had to fire or the French got off a warning shot they would kill evryone in the guard boat and the double banked oars would be bent ton to get them to the side of the French galleon as quickly as possible.
0400 The artillery train was met by their guides. The mules were badly in need of water and rest so they proceeded slowly. The mule “cavalry” brought up the rear deployed mounted to screen the guns.
0445 The artillery train was moved into position to support the infantry attack. The mule “cavalry” conducted mounted scouts to each flank of the landing force.
0515 The landing force deployed for the attack just outside the tree line.
0525 Pietra’s crossbow mariner put a bolt into the neck of the French Guard boat’s helmsman who was also it’s master.
0530 The raiders rushed the guard boat and imediately stabbed the three remaining sailors many, many times. They died without sounding the warning. The pinnace now followed the guard boat’s route, with her shielded light identification signal flashing just inside the kedge anchor point. The pinnace came closer to the galleon with every passage.
0545 The Pinnace’s grapnels were heaved and one caught on to the fore chains of the galleon and swung in to the bow under the cat head. Pietra quickly gained the forecastle followed by rest of the cutting out party. The other two grapnels had been hauled tight to hold the boat in place. They rushed the anchor watch and killed every last man with cold steel before they could sound the alarm. They then took station covering the main hatch ways with the ship’s own guns run in, loaded with grape shot and barrels depressed to sweep the hatches. The sound of the gun trucks could not be avoided. As the first Frenchmen erupted from the hatches a fierce shower of grape ripped them to bloody shreds. We quickly reloaded, this time with Lagrange over ball shot, and leveled them on our targets. Still game the French tried to get on deck again and this time were met by a screaming pieces of scrap metal that was devastating to naked flesh. By this time the scuppers were dripping a thin stream of blood.
0550 At the sound of the first gunfire on the Galleon the landing force infantry advanced on the sleeping French camp at the double quick. The French Grand guard of 20 men, under a lowly Sous-lieutenant, sounded the alarm and then formed his men to give fire on the attackers. They drew the fire of the landing force and were soon either dead, including the Sous-lieutenant or badly wounded. Not a man ran and they paid the price of their bravery.
0555 The two three pounders, on the flanks opened fire on the French camp concentrating on the large tents. This was followed by the infantry, in three rank line formation. poured platoon fire into the Frecnh Tentlines.
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE
COLONY DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following are from the journals entries of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore (scouting) Voyage Marco Caboto and the senior surviving Marine Royal Officers charged with the clandestine sinking of the ships with all hands of the Esploratore Voyage.
0557 sunrise the officers gallantly sortied from the after companionway of the Prinsipe Royal, led by their captain and were met by one of their own great guns loaded with grape over round shot. The Captain, Premier Lieutenant (XO) and four other commissioned officers were shredded and never got the chance to rally their marins. All of the Compagnie Ordinaire de la Marine troupes and their officers were ashore and so no ready guard, accept for the Anchor watch, were available to imediately engage the boarders.
Capitano Marino’s infantry was kept in formation, with difficulty as the charge entered the camp area. It was here that the steadying influence of Riccardo Panettiere "Ncvle (uncle)" Sergente Di Prima Classe (1st Sgt) # 6 Co. Liguria and his sergeants paid great diveidends. They forced their wild men to reload their snaphances. Once reloaded Capitano Marino ordered controlled volley fire into the disorganized French soldiers.
The French officers and sergents tried to rally and organize their men. Seeing this Tenente Anziano (Senior Lieutenant) Salvatore Lucania ordered his two guns to concentrate on them. The three pounders’ grape shot did terrible execution, and after three discharges Tenente Lucania ordered his guns back to raking the still forming French, for lack of Officer targets. He directed his guns to fire into any group of formed troops and brake up their ability to form rallying points for their comrades.
0615 Prinsipe Royal ’s crew manged to get three of their 17 lb 5 ounce great guns into the fight. They cooly loaded with round shot and took the three pounders under counter battery fire. These were excellent veteran gunners, direct by the ship’s Warrant Gunner Bienaymé , whose first small broadside dug up the ground close by one of the three pounders. Our guns did not have the range to return fire effectively. Keeping his head, Tenente Lucania displaced his battery to a point masked by a slight rise from the ship’s guns but still able to target the camp. He then continued to rake the camp.
0620 the French gunners shifted their target to our formed troops. They tried grape shot but the range was too long causing to large a dispersion to do any damage. The Warrant Gunner then switched to Round shot and now the balls were hitting our troops killing and wounded a few but our formations held as we closed with the French soldiers. Soon the Warrant Gunner Bienaymé ordered his men to cease fire because he was doing as much damage to his own soldiers as ours.
Now Gunner Bienaymé and the only surviving Compagnon de maître junior ( Junior Master’s mate) organized their shipmates, had them take up small arms and divided them into four sections. Each section, led by a warrant officer, gathered by a a section of gun ports. This would allow them to hit the boarders from bow, stern and midships avoiding the great guns aimed at the deck hatches. The signal would be his whistle. Surprise woud get them onto the weather deck and then their numbers should carry the day.
Pietra’s cutting out party stood ready at the great guns, slow match lit and cartridge, grape and langridge at hand. They had been fighting hard were weary and half deaf. It was a total surprise when the French erupted, screaming like demons onto the deck surrounding them. There was no time to shift the great guns or even spike them from the hatches so Pietra ordered his men to retreat to the break in the poop. Here they were shielded to some extent. He then had his few soldiers form line and deliver volleys at the attackers trying to get the great guns shifted to target the cutting out party. He told his sailors to take up the boarding pikes, stored around the mizzen mast, cover the soldiers and engage the French Marins charging them. Those with pistols were to hold their fire until he gave the word. He was hoping even a pistol volley would momentarily check the French from closing upon them. There would be no time to reload. They were then defend themselves with cutlas and daggers.
It was now that 2nd Mate Alanzo proved his worth again. He had carried the box of grenadoes and one of the slow match buckets from the guns as he retreated. He, the crossbow marksman Geoffrey Bouchard and I began lighting and throwing grenadoes into the closesly packed, charging hate filled Frenchmen. The first round did little to slow down the French but the third salvo all landed close togther and brought down a dozen of the leading attackers, including their leader. They checked and the soldiers shifted targets for one volley and brought down four more attackers. The rest of that group took shelter among the deck guns.
Now the party under direct control of Warrant Gunner Bienaymé had succeeded in laying one of the great guns on us and was in the act of loading it with double grape. Geoffrey Bouchard, with four grenadoes in his shirt and a slow match in his hand, bending low ran toward the loading great gun covered by our soldiers and hurled four grenadoes, one after another as quickly as he could light them. Two landed amongst the guns, killing and maiming the gunners and one set off the ready service cartridges causing terrible burns to the packed men. He then charged into the French with his dagger and was put down by a pistol shot to his mouth by Warrant Gunner Bienaymé although his hair was singed and his clothes smoldering. That much abused Huguenot’s hatred had checked the French, for the time being.
0630 Pietra was now wounded along with most of his cutting out party but still able to fight and direct his men. Four of his men were dead. The French were without Aristorcratic leadership and the one compagnon de maître ( warrant officer) still standing, along with his men was in no mood to spare the cutting out party. Our soldiers were down to their last few paper cartridges, our pistol armed sailors had not a single round and we had just three Grenadoes left. So it would be bayonets, boarding pikes, cutlass and daggers to the hilt. That was when I noticed there was a clear path into the great cabin for the time being. Pietrra orderd the soldires to fire a last volley, carry the wounded who needed it and then withdraw to the great cabin and go over the stern. He told his boarding pike mariners to withdraw slowly through the passageway into the great cabin. Once they were inside the great cabin and the passage was jammed with blood mad Frenchmen he lobbed his remaining grenadoes into the mass and told his men to go into the water, NOW. He was the last man in the water and was swimming toward Prinsipe Royal ’s boats moored astern. Most of his men could not swim and they used the boats mooring lines to hand over hand to the safety of the boats.
There were no oars or rudder stored aboard the boats. He took a muster and found he had eight soldiers, seven mariners, 2nd mate Alonza and himself left. They were all wounded and exhausted. They had eight bayonets, two cutlasses and ten daggers available for defense. As long as they stayed close astern no great gun could reach them.
0645 The French had run a 17.5 pound stern chaser out but were having trouble depressing the muzzle low enough to hit them. In desperation they had used hand spikes to lever the breech far above what the quoin would allow and held it in place with the leg from a sturdy table. The gun fired and the round shot sank the boat next to them. The gun jumped, dismounted, crushed five of the gunners and set fire to the cabin. The French seeing the cartridges strewn on the deck retreated back to the deck. They then took up match lock muskets and fired upon the cutting out party.
There was no choice now but to cut the mooring line and trust to the current to push the boat out of range and maybe wash up ashore. Pietra did not have to order his men to hug the bilge of the boat. Two more of his men were wounded again and they grounded in the shallows. He ordered everyone into the water, to keep the boat beteen them and the marksmen and make for the shore. Once ashore, two of his men were missing, they were hidden from the Prinsipe Royal musket fire.
0730 The fighting ashore was over for the time being. The French had died hard but, unable to establish their formations, by the canon fire, massed volleys of the # 6 Co. Liguria
and the death of their senior officers were slaughtered wholesale. Capitano Marino had listend to Supercargo Volpe, speaking for The Bank, who advised him taking prisoners was not warranted as they would cause great problems. Volpe had talked this over with Tomocomo who was of the opinion gifting them to the Nanigonset would solve our problems and favorably dispose our Indian neighbors toward The Bank. Volpe agreed and also thought it would send a very strong message to the North American French to leave us alone.
When Marino met with the senior French officer, a mere teenage Lieutenant, his terms for sparing the troops was that the Prinsipe Royal surrender to him. The boy assured our Capitano he had no authority over the Marine Royal. Carlo told him his men have cut you off from the safety of the ship’s guns. “Surely you have noticed that the ship is not supporting you? I will agree to a one hour truce to give you a chance to plead your case to the Captain of your galleon.”
The young officer agreed and hastened to reach the ship under a flag of truce. He was met at the entry port by the singed Warrants Gunner and Master’s Mate. When he was told all the commissioned officers were dead, the young man tried to exert his authority over the warrants . The old man, who spoke for both, just lughed at him. He said “Have your men come aboard Prinsipe Royal and we will sail out of this bay, back to our base at Port-Royal Acadia and let our master’s decide what to do next.”
The boy said “We are cut off and can’t make it to your ship Gunner. It is either we and you surrender or the Genoese or they will turn us all over to the Indians.”
The old warrant answered “So YOU trust them not to do just that once we are helpless? Boy you ar a fool. Fight your way under our guns and we will butcher the Genoese if they interfere with you.”
During the truce our Capitano placed his best marksmen in concealed positions within easy musket shot of the Galleon’s upper deck, masts and rigging. They were told to wait for his order and then kill anyone on the upper deck or in the rigging. He was determined not to let that ship escape.
0800 The cutting out crew was found by one of Tomocomo’s scouts exploring the water’s edge. He led them to the left flank platoon of the landing force. Pietra then met with Capitao Marino to make his report as the men were being attended to by the landing force medics.
Marino met him with “Although you did not take the galleon Shipmaster, you did ensure it was of no help to the French land force and saved the lives of many of my men. For that I commend and thank you.” From the Shipmaster’s report it was clear the galleon could drop down the bay and escape. Imprseea was no match for Prinsipe Royal’s 10 gun broadside and with her soldiers ashore a boarding action was impossible.
0830 The young French Lieutenant informed the Genoese that the ship would not surrender under any conditions. He then asked under what conditions we would guarantee the lives of his remaining 32 men if surrendered. The landing force was down to 76 infantry fit for duty, including the gun battery squad, and about 15 sailors. Thanks to Tomocomo, landing force losses had been fairly light. Carlo wanted no more and so agreed to vouch safe the lives of the french soldiers but not the ship’s crew. The young Frenchman agreed to that.
0835 Capitano ordered his concealed marksmen to kill anyone on the upper deck or in the rigging. The ship responded with impressive gouts of fire, smoke and noise from it’s great guns that did little to harm the snipers.
0900 The landing force commander met with Supercargo Volpe, a wounded Shipmatser Pietra, Tomocomo, The first Sergeant, Tenente Lucania and Second Mate Alanzo Conte. The question was how do we take the Galleon without killing and wounding more of our men?
Supercargo Volpe, speaking for The Bank, said “It would be best if we captured that ship intact. It woud also be highly desirable to interrogate the senior warrants and read through the captain’s orders. Although the bank does not pay prize money, I am sure they will prove very generous to the members of this scouting cruise, specially if we take that ship and establish a firm base of trade and security in this bay.”
Pietra was the next to speak. “Taking that ship by boarding will be a blood bath. What we have to do is demoralize them into surrender. We could threaten to burn them out and back that up with a shower of burning arrows from our Nanigonset friends. I think the threat of turning them over to the Nanigonset is our best chance.”
He turned to Tomocomo and asked for his views. Our Indian advisor was prepared and said. “yes I agree saving the white devils from my people would be our best way of getting them to surrender. I would prefer we try the fire attack threat. Maybe a fire arrow barrage would get them to agree. I will talk to Hobbamock ,who is close by observing our little battle, and ask him to provide 30 warriors only to shoot fire arroews into the great canoe, NOT attack it. I think with a few gifts he will be willing to lend us his warriors as long as there is little chance of harm coming to them.
1000 The 32 French effectives and 19 wounded stacked arms and surrendered to the landing force. Our soldiers searched and relieved them of any weapons and valauables. They were then marched down to a clean stream and allowed to rest. They all needed it badly. Our medical people, such as they were, did what they could for the wounded but when they made their report to the capitano they thiought most of the wounded would be dead within a week.
1030 Tomocomo, his shadow Miantonomo, Hobbamock and 40 bow carrying warriors arrived. Tomocomo introduced the honored war chief of the great and feared Nanigonset, Hobbamock, to Supercargo AldoVolpe and Capitano Carlo Marino C.O. # 6 Company Regiment Liguria. With Tomocomo translating courtesies were exchanged, a pipe was smoked that Carlo and Volpe really enjoyed and then they got down to negotiations.
Hobbamock demanded the French White Devils be turned over to him because they had destroyed a village, killed warriors and raped his maidens. Marino answered that he had given his word the french would not be given to the mighty Nanigonset before he knew of what they had done to our friends. Tomocomo’s translation did convey Marino’s answer. He also informed the mighty warrior that he himself had told Tomocomo a much different story about the French. When Hobbamock smiled Tomocomo said he understood that Hobbamock was just bargaining and would not tell the white Devil so. In the end Hobbamock agreed to leave the French with the Genoese for a suitable gift of the spoils to include iron knives, spear heads, swords and axes cooking pots and woven fabric for the squaws.
Noon An envoy under truce deliverd the “Final” ultimatum to Warrant Gunner Bienaymé stating either surrender or your ship will be burned with all of you aboard.
If you surrender the ship intact the Genoese will not turn you over to the Indians. If the ship is burned any survivors will be delivered to the meciesof the Nanigonset women.
The answer was “Come and get us”.
So be it the Capitano signalled to Hobbamock who gave a single hollar and the first wave of fire arrows were loosed. Most fell short but a few struck the deck and were quickly doused from fire buckets. My Marksmen did not hit a single Frenchman. The second arrow flight was far more accurate as the bowman had adjusted their aim for distance. This time most of the arrows rained onto the deck and a few stuck in the rigging, setting a very few furled sails afire. Once again the French raced on deck and extinquished the fire arrown with their refilled buckets. This time my sharp shooters managed to hit three of the score frenchmen.
Seeing how poor my musketmen were Tomocomo said something to Hobbamock who hollared something to his warriors who adjusted their aim again and then fired the third arrow flight. This time many more of the flaming arrows stuck in the rigging causing much more damage to sails, masts and especially tarred rigging. The french responded by jumping into the rat lines with buckets and lines. They then doused the sails, rigging and spars. The ropes were used to keep a continuous supply of eater buckets available to the sailors aloft.
This time my Marksmen did a little better and killed five Frenchmen but what really mattered was the fires from the third flight were not out when the fourth and fifth arrow wave struck. At this point the French hauled own their colors and fired a great gun from their disengaged battery. Our marksmen got off one more volley and killed four more Frenchmen. A word from Hobbamock halted the archers.
1330 After we allowed the French to save their ship the Young French army Lieutenant, shipmaster Pietra, our Capitano, and a guard of 12 of his soldiers approached the Prinsipe Royal under the The Arms of Genoa Banner. They were met by the two warrants who surrendred their swords to Carlo. Our Capitano bowed to them and asked them to order their men to clear the ship and muster before our bayonet armed main line of infantry.
Two of our mule cavalry were imediately dispatched to request Marco Caboto order Titurio Sabino First mate and acting master of Grande Impresa to come up the bay and anchor just out of great gun range of Prinsipe Royal. He was to send over BOSUN Abruzzo, Master Shipwright Colleoni, Ship's Doctor Andriotti and 10 mariners as soon as he anchored to take charge of the french ship.
1400 Shipmaster Pietra and eight of the soldiers went aboard for an initial inspection and to secure the powder magazines, the small arms lockers and the captain’s cabin with it’s numerous documents. |
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on May 5, 2023 23:30:20 GMT
IRIC Italian Rhode Island Colony ATL
May 5
THE EARLY YEARS OF RHODE ISLAND’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENT AS A GENOESE COLONY DISCUSSION / ANALYSIS (Cont.)
The following entries from the journal of Master Navigator and Commander of the Esploratore/scouting Voyage Marco Caboto.
Carrack Grande Impresa.
May 20, 1619 1600 The Two mule cavalrymen raced onto the beach opposite Princessa on lathered horses.
They immediately ran over to BOSUN Abruzzo, who was in charge of the camp, and told him about the “Great Victory” over the French 20 Gun Galleon and they had an urgent message for Navigator Caboto and First mate Titurio Sabino. The Bosun roared out an order to man the boat.
Abruzzo then ask “Did our Shipmaster survive the cutting out raid?”
One of the Mule Cavalrymen, named Spinetti replied, “Bosun, he is wounded, but not seriously as are most of his boat crew.”
Abruzzo ask next, “Did that young fool mascerading as a second mate Alanzo survive?”
Private Spinetti replied, “Bosun, you might have to change your opinion of Conte. If what I heard is correct, and I heard it from one of the Soldiers in the cutting out boat, Alonzo not only did a very good job as the Shipmatsre’s second but he actually saved the entire boat crew from the French Sailors. Shipmaster Pietra actually told him IF, he behaved when they got back to Impressa the way he did in this little boat ride he might just be worth what he was paying him some day.”
The Bosun said , “Well I’ll be damned if that is true. I’ll have to wait and see the new Conte for myself. Your just a soldier and your opinion of what a sailorman’s conversation means carries very little water with me!” He then tossed a wine skin to the Cavalryman and told him to share it with the other mule rider.
By that time the boat was manned and the talkative Mule cavalryman jumped in as his junior took charge of the mules, that badly needed water and forage.
Once aboard Grand Impressa private spinetti informed the anchor watch he had a message for Navgiator Caboto and First mate Titurio Sabino. He then added the landing force and cutting out raiders had taken the 20 gun Galleon Prinsipe Royal. The watch keeper sent his a ship’s boy down to inform the two senior men a messenger from the landing force had an urgent message for them. The ship’s boy , being no fool, informed First mate Titurio Sabino before the Navigator.
Sabino accompanied the boy to Caboto’s great cabin. Once there, Caboto told the ship’s boy to bring the landing force messenger to him right NOW! Private Spinetti entered the Great cabin, came to attention and informed the expedition leader. “Sir, Capitano Mareno and Shipmaster Pietra reprt the capture of the french ship and her whole crew including the soldiers. They also respectfully request you order the First mate sail Grande Impresa up the bay and anchor just out of great gun range of Prinsipe Royal as soon as possible. The shipmaster, who is wounded but not badly, requests BOSUN Abruzzo, Master Shipwright Colleoni, Ship's Doctor Andriotti and 10 mariners be sent aboard the our new galleon as soon as you anchored to take charge of the french ship.
Caboto, dismissed Private Spinetti after giving him a silver coin and telling him to inform Obruciatore di Stufatold" (Stew Burner) Ship's cook by my order he was to give you a good meal with plenty of wine. He then said to the first mate. Call back the beach party and make sail immediately for the bay. The sun sets at 7:31, that gives us three hours of good daylight, nautical twilight and then the almost full moon rises at about 9. We can do this only if we act now and drive this depleted crew and the soldiers we still have aboard hard. See that you do that.”
First mate Titurio Sabino instantly replied. Yes sir, have no worries with this breeze from the East we will be anchored off Prinsipe Royal by Moonrise.” He then added “I’d feel a lot better if Shipmaster Pietra had mentioned the whereabouts of the other French Galleon.”
Caboto, replied, “Nothing we can do about that but to clear Impressa for action and keep a good lookout. If Province de Normandie had been in the bay I’m sutre Pietra would have informed us immediately. So she is not. She may be patrolling off shore but I think she is probably traveling along the shoreward side of the Gulf Stream looking for us further South.” Actually Marco was not all that confident they would not run into Province de Normandie with her 105 man crew and sixteen Culverin firing 14 lb 9 oz iron shot before they anchored up the bay. Even fully manned Impressa was no match for Province de Normandie. Grande Impresa, mounted eight 4 pounders and 10 swivels. With their greatly reduced crew and almost no soldiers aboard all they could do is spot the Frenchman first, set every rag Impressa could carry and either weather or outrun the larger warship. It would help if they had the weather gauge if they met.
Spanish 16 gun War Galleon with a 100 man crew firing 14 lb 9 oz iron shot similar to Province de Normandie
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on May 6, 2023 5:21:48 GMT
So how about a little feed back? Would love to comment but in this genre i have as much experience as a fire work maker at SpaceX. I have two alternate history timelines, a war timeline and a ten hour a day job to cram in and an actual life somewhere. Plus; I think I am (woof-woof) trying to change an error byte rate I discovered. I'll try to weekend binge, but like the Showboat, it may be a spotty review this Sunday. M. |
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miletus12
Squadron vice admiral
To get yourself lost, just follow the signs.
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Post by miletus12 on May 6, 2023 6:03:07 GMT
Please keep your ideas on IRIC coming. I assure you I will think about each one.NOW Hear THIS  I have made up my mind that NOVA GENOVA (that name cracks me up every time I write it. I bet my hero Mel Brooks would approve!) will be a colony of Genoa.
Exactly what type of colony I haven't decided upon yet. I do think it will start as a small Indian trading center affair on the French North American model, possibly , with strong initial links to Spain. I can see NOVA GENOVA maturing into a more traditional New England type of colony with aspirations of strong local government? I am thinking long term NOVA GENOVA gets swallowed up by Great Britain possibly in French and India wars ? Might be strong militia conflict between NE and NG, especially with NG being a Papist colony and maybe a haven for Massachusetts dissenters per RI in the OTL? Possibly with a vibrant and influential Jewish community as RI had in the OTL.
This could make NG ripe to join the 12 UK break away Colonies. Vengeance is very, very deep rooted trait in Italians. Maybe, tempered by the Jewish Community, reason just might prevail in NG, for the time being, over animosity toward Massachusetts?
Thus far in; these are my observations. 1. Italian ship-wrighting was not up to cross Atlantic transit. Note that their start point proposed is Genoa via the Gibraltar straits. That is the hurricane lane as those storms generate off west Africa. They will need to do what Portugal did FIRST, which is to improve the carrack to a galleon. 2. The Italians have to get there early and landfall where no-one else is likely to show up, or they will be overrun, like the Dutch were in my state of New York. 3. Being a bit Dutch in outlook, I tend to be somewhat "hostile" toward religious persecution, in ANY form; nevertheless, as a motivator or driver, it would be a good excuse for Italian "protestants" to get out of Europe entirely and perhaps look for a colony at a major landing site where other gold-hunting Europeans are not looking and by this I mean Nova Genova could have been founded at the mouth of the Mississippi River. 4. Economically, Genoa and Venice were the middlemen for the Spice Road traffic from China and points nearer in Asia. When the Mongols and later the Ottomans interfered with that trade, the Italians still managed to keep some of it going, but what if they had not or what if the trade was entirely cut off instead of merely throttled down? Then the Italian banking houses and the city states they controlled would have an incentive like Spain and Portugal did; to sail west. ===================================================== Those of you, who read me, know that I think in macros. You give me Savo Island and I will throw everything at you, from why Crutchley, who mishandled Warspite at 2nd Narvik and lucked his way through it, was so overrated because of that luck, such that he was picked to replace the far more competent Crace who hated Americans. Crutchley, the WORST possible commander for the surface forces guarding Watchtower, was picked because he "liked to get along with everybody" and not because he knew the first thing about (American, or any) tactics. And I would drag in the Connecticut Congressional delegation, protecting a "state industry", as being a major cause for why American torpedoes did not work in that action, all the way to Richmond Kelly Turner being educated at Stockton High School, by a rote memory system more devoted to build self-esteem than critical thinking skills, which was the reason that he became an egotistical emotionally-stunted, empathyless, arrogant sociopath, who quarreled with everyone, thought he knew better than anyone and could not take advice. That is just how I think. So you give me this ATL and some rather stiff doses of RELIGION as a motivator for the story? I will be looking at Italian religionists who were persecuted. |
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on May 6, 2023 12:21:39 GMT
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I have made up my mind that NOVA GENOVA (that name cracks me up every time I write it. I bet my hero Mel Brooks would approve!) will be a colony of Genoa.