At the end of Master and Commander, Aubrey finds the Acheron’s captain had disguised himself as a surgeon during the capture, and is presently on board the captured ship, which is heading to the nearest friendly port; Aubrey therefore decides to turn around and give chase. Knowing little about 19th-century naval matters, I ask: Why would the French captain want to avoid capture as a captain, and why would Aubrey care enough to turn his ship around?
I can think of several reasons, of course. One possible reason is honour: insofar as the battle between the two ships is a battle of wits, somewhat tinged by personal obsession, between their respective captains, the French captain’s ploy is just another way to outwit Aubrey. (On the other hand, isn’t this kind of weaselly conduct a bit dishonourable? On yet another hand, they sail under false colours all the time in order to catch the enemy by surprise, so it’s not like anyone is playing fair.)
I’m also sure that there are military and strategic reasons why you want to capture a captain; the English would likely want to interrogate any captured officers, and would use them for bartering, in exchange for English prisoners-of-war.
The guy is presumably in irons, no? Possibly even behind lock and key? How can he take back the ship?
Not that it’s a physical impossibility (I’m pretty sure Hornblower did it once, or had it happen to him once), but neither does it strike me as very likely.
In another thread on this subject a few months back it was mentioned that it wasn’t uncommon in that era to NOT lock up gentlemen who had been taken prisoner. The French captain was pretending to be the ship’s surgeon, as such he might very well have been allowed to move about freely once he had been taken prisoner.
After placing a prize crew on board, the officers would be the only persons locked up (if they did not give their parole). The rest of Acheron’s men would have been needed to sail the ship safely; it takes many hands to make the ship go.
With Captain Poltroon not under arrest nor having sworn parole, Jack is sure that he will try to rally his men and recapture the ship from the prize crew.
As a surgeon, he would likely be free to move about the ship to tend to the wounded, if the prize crew had none of their own (or, as in this case, a very inexperienced one). This would make it very easy for him to attempt to retake his own ship.
If the Surprise had been captured, Stephen would likely have been allowed the same freedom, although Jack would have been taken to the victorious ship and kept under surveillance.
If Jack had been aware of the French captain’s ruse, he would have taken the man aboard; if circumstances required the French captain stay on his own ship, he’d have been locked up, probably in his own cabin.
Actually, at least in the books, Jack was free to move about the ship himself…once he had given his parole that is.
But I think as far as the movie goes the implication was that the french captain would have freed his crew and retaken the ship. Its probably complete bullshit, as at least in the books the officers and petty officers were ALWAYS taken aboard the capturing ship, so the captain, even if he did free his crew, would have had no officers to help him run it. He’d of been SOL basically.
I also found it amusing that, at least as far as I remember, in the book the movie was based on, the ship was an American Frigate and it was during the 1812 war. Instead they made it a French flagged American Frigate run by a privateer. Kind of funny.
“I also found it amusing that, at least as far as I remember, in the book the movie was based on, the ship was an American Frigate and it was during the 1812 war”
As it happens I’m re-reading the novels and just finished revisiting Far Side of the World. It’s odd that so many people, myself included, harp on the change from an American to a French enemy when really that’s the least of the changes to the story. For example … (long list of book and movie spoilers below)
[spoiler]… The bit about the enemy captain pretending to be someone else isn’t in the book (I think it’s taken from one of the later books)
… Jack does not in fact fight and defeat the enemy ship they’re chasing at all, either at the begining of the story or at the end! This plotline is resolved in a very different way in the book.
… Stephen does not stop in the Galapagos: his request to cross an island while the Surprise sails around it is denied.
… Stephen’s medical crisis is different in the book. (His operating on himself is taken from one of the earlier books.)
… The aristocratic midshipman who loses an arm isn’t in the book. (Can’t remember if he’s from one of the later books or whether he was made up for the movie.)
… The “Jonah” story is entirely different. There’s still a suicide involved, but there’s adultery and murder before the suicide … and it’s not the Jonah who commits suicide!
… Lots of great stuff was cut out, like Jack nearly getting castrated.
… Various material from earlier books was added, e.g. the trepanning, “lesser of two weevils,” etc.[/spoiler]
I definitely remember some of the parts in the movie as coming from earlier (or later) books, as Wumpus says. Especially the part where Stephen operates on himself. THe movie was like a mosaic of all the books together. Be interesting if they do another Master and Commander movie to see how they patch it together again.
Personally, I thought Horatio Hornblower, both the books and the series, was much more interesting.
I do recall something like that from the books (though later in the series, I believe). Though I don’t remember all the details offhand, there was a similar situation involving the capture of a French ship off the Pacific Coast of South America:
Stephen was on a secret mission to encourage revolution in the South American colonies of Spain, then an ally of France. Stephen was going ashore to meet with the Revolutionaries, when Jack captured a French ship that unbeknownst to him had a French counter-agent. The agent disguised or misrepresented himself and was sent ashore with a prize so that he could interfere with Stephen’s mission. Hijinx ensued.
Looks like I was beat to it (as usual ;)). The French captain disguised himself as the surgeon so he could take back the ship later. If he was captured as captain, most likely he would have been taken aboard the Surprise and locked up below. By pretending to be the surgeon, he could wander around on the Acheron and since the crew would continue to remain his (they wouldn’t just get a new English crew on the spot), he’d bide his time.
Does anyone happen to know which book this was taken from? I read The Far Side of the World looking for this scene, and was disappointed not to find it. I’d love to read the book in which it takes place.
Fascinating reading, gentlemen. One day – in, oh, about twenty O’Brian books’ time – I shall have to read Wumpus’ spoiler box.
I didn’t realize they didn’t lock up their prisoners. Are there any known (by members on this board, at least) incidents where a crew, with or without their officers, recaptured their own ship while in custody?
I enjoyed the Hornblower films immensely. I would love to hear other recommendations in the same vein. (Actually, anything sea-related is my cup of tea; I don’t care about the century, as long as it’s about life on the ocean.)
You will have to raise the rib, M’Alister,’ said Stephen. 'Take a good grip with the square retractor. Up: harder, harder. Snip the cartilage ’ The metallic clash of instruments: directions: perpetual quick swabbing: an impression of brutal force, beyond anything he had conceived. It went on and on and on. 'Now, Jack, a steady downward pressure. Good. Keep it so. Give me the davier. Swab, M’Alister. Press, Jack, press