Ramage is 3rd lieutenant of the frigate Sibella (later in the series he is referred to as 5th) when she is sunk on a mission to rescue aristocratic refugees from Tuscany, recently invaded by the French. He discovers the Captain's orders, and escaping in boats with several of the crew, decides to carry them out himself.
He goes ashore with a small party and manages to make contact with the refugees, among whom is a childhood friend, Gianna, now Marchesa di Volterra, a leader of the anti-French movement in Tuscany. One of the three refugees, Count Pitti, is left behind, Ramage thinking he is dead: the third refugee, Count Pisano, is offended by Ramage's refusing to take orders from him and accuses him of abandoning Pitti.
Taking to the sea again the party is recued by the frigate Lively, (in theory at least this could be the Lively later commanded by Jack Aubrey) and taken to Bastia (Corsica being then under British protection) where Ramage is court-martialled for the loss of Sibella (as senior surviving officer) and for allegations of cowardice made by Pisano. Captain Croucher of Trumpeter, as senior captain in port, presides over the court martial: he is a protégé of Admiral Goddard, one of Ramage's father's enemies.
The court martial is interrupted by the arrival of Commodore (at the time) Nelson, who summons all the captains on board his flagship Diadem. Ramage is then given command of the cutter Kathleen, with orders to go to the rescue of the crew of the frigate Belette, which has been wrecked on the Italian coast.
The mission is successfully completed, and on his return Ramage discovers that Count Pitti is in fact alive, has been rescued, and can confirm his bravery in searching for him on the beach. The charges are dropped.

Period Covered:	September - October, 1796
Vessels commanded:	Sibella (28-gun frigate); Kathleen, cutter
Fleet actions:	(none)
Minor actions:	Sibella v. the 74-gun Barras off Argentario, Italy: Sibella is sunk and her other officers killed.
The crew:	Sibella: Scott, midshipman; Brown, boatswain; Jackson, coxwain; Matthew Lloyd, carpenter's mate; Smith, seaman. Kathleen: Southwick, master; John Appleby, master's mate; Evan Evans, boatswain's mate; Jackson, coxswain;
Historic characters:	Nelson
Other characters:	Giana, Marchesa di Volterra, one of the refugees Ramage rescues, and subsequently falls in love with Nino, an Italian peasant who helps with the rescue Lord Probus, captain, and Jack Dawlish, 1st lieutenant, of the Lively Aloysius Croucher, captain of Trumpeter Blenkinsop, one of her lieutenants who is made temporary Provost Marshal Barrow, her purser, who is appointed Deputy Judge Advocate Blackman, Herbert, Ferris: captains on the court martial board Sir Gilbert, British viceroy in Corsica, & Lady Elliott Captain Laidman, Belette