[@Wick]
Just how I write,
[hider=Napoleonic Naval battle]
For two nights the Leer had sailed, drilling and making good time.
On the dawning of the 2nd day, sails were sighted on the horizon. The country the ship belonged to was still a mystery but the sail plan looked to be a Ketch, the ship in question was beating towards them. So the Leer had the weather gauge. In maybe half an hour the ship will be known. The tension rose as the flag had been identified as the French flag. Now White had to make a choice, fight this ship and possibly take it as a prize or attempt to manoeuvre around it. White knew that because he held the weather gauge he had an advantage either way. 
“Beat to quarters” White ordered calmly 
After the drills that the Lieutenants had been running, the crew got to their stations in a quick but orderly way. The order was given for round shot to be loaded in one bow chaser and chain the other,a mix of chain and round shot loaded into the 28 9 pounders, and grape into the 6 pounders. Once the Ketch came within range White ordered the Round Shot in the bow chaser be loosed across the bow of the Ketch then to be reloaded with chain. With the boom and the smoke rising, White knew his orders had been followed. No retaliation shot was heard, nor did the Ketch heave to. “Fire the bow chasers when you bear”, at that both guns fired their whizzing shot into the rigging and sails. A great ripping sound was heard from the Ketch telling that at least one of the shots hit their target. “Starboard broadside fire and reload as you bear”, as the Leer passed the bow of the Ketch the 14 guns spit their shot with a loud boom and the telltale clouds of smoke, the smell of powder rising, as the ships passed damage could be seen along the starboard bow of the Leer. Not much damage, meaning the Ketch must not have heavy guns but enough to splinter the deck. The story was different on the other ship her main mast had been cut and was dragging in the sea by its rigging, multiple holes could be seen along the port side but all above the waterline. A boarding action would secure the ship for the crown, White thought.
 “Prepare for boarding” White called from the quarterdeck. 
As the drumbeat changed so did the actions of the men, the movements were faster, adrenaline fuelled, and yet still in order. White could see men grabbing grappling hooks to pull the ships together, he could see the marines lining up along the gangways, and up on the fighting top the swivel being loaded with grape, we shall board from starboard he announced. The port gun crews ran across the deck and grabbed their boarding axes, and pikes. To White, some small parts from the big picture stood out to him, a Midshipman struggling with his dirk, a smug Marine attaching his bayonet, a sailor calling out to his mates mustering as much courage as possible, and a gun captain gathering his crew in one spot and checking them over. White looked down and noticed that without thinking he unsheathed his sword from its scabbard. A new weapon, never used… till now, it gleamed in the midmorning sun. As the Leer came around, the grapples were thrown, and the gap between the ships closed. The men started steaming across between the gap, White watched as two of his men stumbled and fell between the gap to be crushed between the hulls. Then White himself jumped across and found himself on a chaotic, noisy deck. As he looked around a French officer ran at him, fury in his eyes. White took his sword and quickly blocked the charge and pushed back, sending the officer off balance, White then thrust at the man's chest but was parried, the officer then tried to go for White’s legs, opening his upper area. White brought his sword down to the officer’s skull and watched as he fell. By this point as White looked up, the boys of the Leer separated the crew of the Ketch in two, one half on the quarterdeck, and the other on the forecastle. The marines were attacking the latter while the sailors were fighting their way up the rigging and up to the quarterdeck. White moved to assault the quarterdeck and came to a clearing, with the French captain in the middle. White said to his counterpart, in broken French “Give me your sword”. The French captain realized that for him the battle was over, he kneeled and held his sword out just as the Marines took the forecastle. The battle was over and White came out on top. The men looked to White for orders. 
To the captain of the marines, Fort, White said “Clear below decks” then he called for Freeman. 
To Freeman whe said “Gather a prize crew, start repairs on the ship and stay in close company with the Leer” Then White called for Hill “take the prisoners somewhere and put a guard on them, then let's focus on moving the wounded back to the Leer for Mr. Page to handle. 
    Lieutenant  Durand was thrown into a room with his other comrades, what had led up to this? He remembered leaving Cherbourg a week ago. It was a normal voyage, the Adjoint, his ship was beating up wind this morning, when a sail was sighted. Captain Laurent ordered to continue on the same course. Then the ship was identified as a British frigate but they were already within range. A shot was fired across the bow, but the Adjoint had no forward facing guns to reply. Then two guns fired on the frigate, Durand caught the feeling of fear in the crew. Once the mainsail was ripped Durand knew the battle was over. Then looking up he could see the broad side of the frigate… what the the British call it.. the Leer, and the guns released hell onto the deck. A few of the Adjoint’s guns managed to fire but as the foul smelling smoke cleared, the full extent of the damage could be seen. The main mast was dragging in the water, the decks were stained crimson with horrid body parts scattered, and the Adjoint was holed, not below the waterline, that would mean the she was lost in this immobile state, but below the deck, causing chaos and havoc below. A smell rose into the air, it smelled like defeat to the Adjoint. Then the frigate grappled and as some of the men were attempting to release the two ships they were cut down by a volley from the crimson clad marines on the higher deck. Then with a yell the enemies threw themselves at the Adjoint. The French sailors were surprised from the viciousness of the assault. Durand watched as his fellow Lieutenant charged the enemy captain. Durand, retreated to the quarterdeck and watched as his captain surrendered his weapon. Then he was taken and thrown into this bare and musty cabin with 8 other men. Two marines guarded the door, everything seemed hopeless. 
[/hider]
[@pandapolio] will recognize the ship name and characters, I continued the writing into a WIP book.