The Captain Stood on the Carronade

Capt. Frederick Maryyat

The Captain stood on the Carronade - "first lieutenant," says he,
"Send all my merry men aft here, for they must list to me.
I haven't the gift of the gab, my sons, because I'm bred to the sea
That ship there is a Frenchman, who means to fight with we.
Odds, blood, hammer and tongs, long as I’ve been to sea,
I’ve fought ‘gainst every odds - but I’ve gained the victory!"

That ship there is a Frenchman, and if we don’t take she,
‘Tis a thousand bullets to one, that she will capture we.
I haven’t the gift of the gab, my boys, so each man to his gun,
If she’s not mine in half an hour, I’ll flog each mother’s son.
Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I’ve been to sea,
I’ve fought ‘gainst every odds - and I’ve gained the victory!"

We fought for twenty minutes, when the Frenchman had enough,
"I little thought," said he, "that your men were of such stuff."
The Captain took the Frenchman’s sword, a bow made he to he,
"I haven’t the gift of the gab, monsieur, but polite I wish to be.
Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I’ve been to sea,
I’ve fought ‘gainst every odds - and I’ve gained the victory!"

Our Captain sent for all of us, "My merry men," said he,
"I haven’t the gift of the gab, my lads, but yet I thankful be,
You’ve done your duty handsomely, each man stood by his gun;
If you hadn’t, you villains, as sure as day, I’d have flogged each mother’s son!
Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, long as I’m at sea,
I’ll fight ‘gainst every odds - and I’ll gain the victory!"

About the Poem

A carronade, gets its name from Carron in Scotland where it was first forged.

It was a mortar-like cannon, carried on the ship's upper deck for use at short range.

The standard package of shot per gun was 25 roundshot, 15 barshot, 15 double-headed shot, 10 "single" grapeshot, and 10 "single" canister shot.

It was meant for slaughtering people.

"Odds bobs" is a euphemism for the oath "God's body!"

About Capt. Frederick Maryyat 1792 - 1848

Capt. Frederick Maryyat was a military hero, successful author and poet.

After running away twice, he was permitted to volunteer, as a fourteen-year old Midshipman, under Lord Cochrane, arguably the most audacious frigate commander England ever produced.

Maryyat distinguished himself, both in combat and personally, repeatedly diving into the sea to rescue shipmates. (Many sailors could not swim.)

He commanded one of the ships guarding Napoleon at St. Helena, where he sketched Napoleon on his death bed.

He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society for his invention of a lifeboat, and a system of flag signalling.

Despite fighting them, he received the cross of the French Legion of Honour for his services to navigation.

After numerous other commands and adventures, including a raid on Orleans, Massachusetts, he resigned his commission to become a writer.

Maryyat's adult and children's books were great financial successes.

He's generally credited with creating the naval action novel.

Emotionally unstable, he separated from his wife after having 11 children, 8 of whom survived infancy.

Special

My English teacher, Miss Washington, warned us that no one would fail her class because she was sure that person would win the Pulitzer prize and name her in their acceptance speech.

The Captain Stood on the Carronade is from an assignment Miss Washington gave us.

Thanks, Miss Washington.