The Captain's Red Shirt

Captain Smith was one of the bravest and toughest seamen the old British Navy had.  I had the opportunity to serve as his personal ensign during the war.
 
We were crossing the Atlantic one day, and the lookout in the crow’s nest shouted out
“Two Pirate Ships approaching, flying battle flags”.
Undaunted, the captain called to me “Ensign, Bring me my red shirt”.
He put it on, and stood right in front of all the crew and led the bloody battle to victory.

A couple days later the lookout cried out “Four enemy ships approaching for battle”.
“Ensign, bring me my red shirt.”  the captain again ordered.  He again donned the red shirt and led the battle to victory.

I asked him that evening “Why do you always call for your red shirt when going into battle, sir?”
“I often get cut up and injured while I am fighting, and I don’t want the men to see the blood and think we might lose…. With the red shirt they never know when I am injured and they keep fighting to win.”

No wonder he is known as the bravest captain in the navy!

About a week later the lookout cried out from the crow’s nest “Captain…..twenty ships approaching, flying battle flags”.

        “Ensign….Bring me my brown pants”……