LT. Hamiltons Log 18 November

Noon sighting place Acasta 43˚ 48’ N 59˚ 46’ W. We passed to the east of Sable Island.
Sky is bright, winds fair and steady from the NNE and a moderate chop on the sea.
Being my first log in ten days due a bout with the bilious fever and the Doctors ministrations I am happy to note that my health is fully restored.

I am also pleased to report that in my absence from duty the Doctor and the Lieutenant were indeed able to work their way back to the coast and ignite the luminary directing our boat to the rendezvous point. Both gentlemen are safely back on board and performing their duties. The Doctor, having been absent from his surgery, approached my recovery with the utmost zeal and fervor to the point that I have developed a great resolve to remain healthy.

The ships stores remain in excellent condition in consequence of our re-provisioning in Halifax. Acasta state of repair is also excellent form same visit as above.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 6

After the long trip back from the Indiana Territory, Lt. Ramsey and I have returned to the coast where we were instructed to signal the Acasta. We got there earlier in the day than expected, several hours before the pre-set time, so we sat on the coastline and watched the ships moving up and down through our scopes.

At noon, Lt. Ramsey thought he espied the Acasta, and told me to have a look to confirm it before we set up the rocket. I used my new scope, and with its greatly enhanced magnification over my older scope, I was able to pick her out instantly, I could nearly make out the individual men on deck!

Lt. Ramsey got the rocket out of the pack and we set it at an angle to send it out over the water where it might be seen by those aboard with the greatest ease. We lit it and sent it on its way, there was a great red conflagration and then the flare fell slowly to the sea.

A Report from the Field Conclusion

The infamous Sgt. Baker

Not to belabour the issue, but t'was at this point that we KNEW who had the packet of papers, but simply did not have enough information to fetch him, not knowing what he looked like. And Sgt. Baker was too well protected by the men of the rifle company, who had been warned to keep him from us.

Thus, one might say that our mission was partially successful, in that, we discovered the name of the American Spy, but were unable to retrieve the stolen documents.

So ends our after action report.
Signed and dated this day by our hands.

A Report from the Field Part 5

After capturing Miss W. & Mrs. Cooper

After drinks at the Harmon Estate, we returned to the Ordinary to take rest for the evening.  The next morning we returned to our chase with a renewed sense of determination.  Believing that our best chance of taking this Sgt. Baker was to ensnare him in a trap, we approached the 95^th Rifles in order to enlist their assistance.  Upon speaking with their Captain, it was determined that Lt. Lynch was to gather a small volunteer force to first capture the courier and then we would use her, under threat, to help capture Sgt. Baker.  We hoped that we would also collect our double agent in the capture of the courier, in order to keep suspicions down and use her to pass the courier’s message to the American spy.  Unfortunately, our agent was not with Ms. Waterman, but Mrs. Cooper, the wife of one of the American Riflemen, was.

Lt. Lynch of the 95th Rifles

Having captured the courier, we reset the trap for Sgt. Baker.  Seeing that Mrs. Cooper would be unwilling to serve the same purpose as our agent, we decided that our only course of action was for one of us to stay and lead the ambush and the other to see if he could somehow bring Sgt. Baker out of the American camp.  The Doctor to stayed with the 95^th Rifles and I should escort Mrs. Cooper back to the American camp hoping perhaps by pressing Mr. and Mrs. Cooper we would be able to at least give a face to the American spy.  In the enemy camp, Ms. Cooper did everything in her power to show her distress and raise the alarm.  I attempted to pull Mr. Cooper aside in order speak with him but an impertinent private among their ranks interrupted us.  Words were exchanged between the private and I as angers arose and characters were questioned.  On the verge of demanding satisfaction, the private apologized after seeing my commission.

Before the situation could deteriorate any further and I could be clapped in irons, I decided that it would be best to return to the Doctor’s position in the town, as I had not declared formal parlay upon entering their camp.   When I returned to the town the men of the 95^th Rifles were recalled with a reported of Action being soon at hand.   Crestfallen we were forced to re think our strategy.

...to be continued...

Lieutenant Hamiltons Log 23 October

It had been my ardent hope to slip into shore with the cutter under the cover of darkness to recover the Lieutenant and the Doctor and avoid the notice of the Americans. The cutter is far easier to bring in close and could make the return much quicker than then ships boat. Mind I have no military concern. No doubt Acasta could handle any colonial American ship encountered. My concern was of reputation. I wanted to avoid Acasta being named as agitating the Americans; that is without proper orders to do so.


A night rendezvous failing, we have had no choice but to stand in at midday and watch for our party or perhaps for their signal rocket.

This is a complex coastline with a network of hundreds of small islands in inlets and the lieutenant is without a proper horizon to fix his position. He is a competent officer however and the Doctor possess an uncommon intellect. I am sure the delay in their return has a harmless enough cause.

We have stood in these last 2 noons without success and without indecent. We shall try again tomorrow.

Weather clear. Winds a light northwest.

Lieutenants Hamiltons Log 21 October

Acasta stood off and on last night in the vicinity of the rendezvous point. The cutter was lowered and I took her in near shore about 8 cable length off Swan Island in Toothaker Bay. There is a narrow but deep enough channel for the cutter, but not so deep as to draw large ship traffic. We understand the the locals prefer the wider channel out of Jericho Bay to the south. That being said, we did have the discomfort of the close passing of what I believe were 2 fishing smacking in the predawn.

Our orders not being quite exact and not knowing what to expect I had taken a file of 8 marines and made the expedient of mounting 2 swivel guns in the event the Doctor and the Lieutenant might have angered their relatives.

Perhaps if was unfortunate that the smacks did not come closer after all as the wardroom would have enjoyed fresh fish pie for their dinner.

As dawn approached it became clear that the rendezvous was not going to occur so made our way back out to Acasta.

Acata is now sailing north northeast on apparent course toward Halifax.

At noon winds out of the Northwest, sky overcast, no observations.

A Report from the Field Part 4

Realizing our position, we returned to the notes from our original interview. The only name that was not mentioned by Miss Waterman that was mentioned by Miss Bosworth was that of Sgt. Baker.

We concentrated on the American Riflemen's camp, although many theories were examined, it was believed that Sgt. Baker was real and he was in fact our man.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon surveiling the American camp as they went about their business. We noted that every man wore a black haversack at his side. We were visited by Miss Bosworth, who again assured us that Sgt. Baker was in possession of our packet and that it was IN his haversack. She also informed us that his superior had ordered that Baker was not to be left un-escorted when he left camp.

Later that afternoon, Midshipman Raley and Mr. Campbell had to return to their duty elsewhere, and Lt. Ramsey and I were issued an invitation to dine at the Harmon Estates before the ball to take place that evening.

We cleaned up and made ourselves as presentable as possible for dinner and the ball.

Dinner was a lovely three course affair with the finest company, including Mr. Cooper of the American Rifflemen, still in his green uniform, right across the table from me.

We all departed company and Mr. Cooper excused himself to return briefly to the American camp. Lt. Ramsey and I noted that upon his return, he wore his rifleman's frock and was adjusting his newly retained black haversack at his side.

Why would he wear his haversack to a ball? We noted that he had gone all the way back to camp to fetch it. Lt. Ramsey and I looked about to espy the other riflemen, all were wearing their haversacks at the ball! As we stood by the exit to the great tent, one of the riflemen passed, I stopped him.

"Are you one of the American Riflemen?" asked I.

"Y-yes." he looked near panic.

"What's your name soldier?"

He replied that it was something that started with an A, but even then didn't sound terribly sure of himself. He was obviously nervous.

"Why are you wearing your haversack to a ball? That seems like a funny thing to wear to dance in." I queried.

"We were ordered to." answered he.

A scene from the Ball.

 In our minds, this only served to confirm that Sgt. Baker must surely be in possession of the packet and that the entire company had been ordered to wear their haversacks in order to avert our suspicion of only ONE man wearing his haversack to a ball. We would have been able to pick Baker out immediately had he been the only one.

Sgt. Baker's only card to play was that we did not yet know what he looked like.

After the ball, we returned to the Harmon Estate for a bit of an after party, wherein Lt. Ramsey caught my eye and raised his glass.

Quietly, so that others around us would not hear above the din, he said in way of a covert toast, "To King, Country and the success of our mission!"

Lieutenant Hamilton's Log October 18

Weather clear and brisk.

Noon observations 43 47" N 68 17" W. This puts Acasta just to the north and east of Matinicus islands. We will cursie here to stay in positon to retrieve the doctor and lieutenant.

A Report From the Field Part 3

Having decided that our best opportunity to take Mrs. Burns and the prize was during the American’s next engagement, we divided in order to keep our numbers small.  Midshipman Raley and Mr. Campbell went to view the actions being taken, down on the River, while The Doctor and I broke away back into the town in order to dine at the Ordinary and to make a few purchases, one of which was a lovely new telescoping glass that the Doctor had his eye on for some time.

Having used our time in leisure all the while excited with the anticipation of our coming victory we rendezvoused with Messers  Raley and Campbell within the first few volleys of the second engagement betwixt the King’s men and the Americans.  Spread out, we made our way to the American camp hoping to ensnare our quarry in an ambuscade.  But upon arrival in their camp we quickly ascertained that Mrs. Burns had not, as we assumed, planned to view the battle in support of her husband and his company, but instead she had retired to the town.

Making use of what time we had we marched at the double into town to search for Mrs. Burns where we found her inside one of the shop on the main road through town.  Instantly, we interviewed and demanded to see inside the basket that she carried.  We found the packet… no, on closer examination we only found a packet.  It seems that the latest fashion plates from England and France had just arrived and Mrs. Cooper had taken it upon herself to send copies to some of her friends.

Completely crestfallen at the existence of this damned unlucky development, we found a place to sit in order to reexamine our notes…

A Report from the Field part 2

Midshipman Raley of the Terpsichore

We entered the American Camp and began our investigation. We asked about with several of the riflemen as to the whereabouts of Sgt. Baker... all the riflemen knew the gentleman we spoke of, but none could seem to agree on where he was.

On our way down the hill towards town, we spotted a gaggle of ladies coming down the hill towards us. Mrs. Birkenbach and Mrs. Burns were among them, Mrs. Burns carried a small basket under her arm. There, from the end of the basket I espied a packet peeking out!

The middle of the American Camp was no place to affect an arrest, so Lt. Ramsey, Midshipman Raley, Mr. Campbell and I adjourned to the Widow Black's Coffee House to make plans. We were now decided that Miss Bosworth had perhaps fed us the information about Sgt. Baker as a ruse to lead us away from the true culprit.

We played One and Thirty and partook of the widow's fines. We gambled and began to make plans in how we would each spend our shares of the prize money, even going so far as to divide it up in various ways accounting for Miss Bosworth's assistance or the lack thereof (with the mathematical aid from the widow Black herself.).

The Coffee House, click to enlarge

All the while we made plans to detain Mrs. Burns, deciding that the best way to take her with ease would be to do so during the afternoon engagement when the men were all away.

Lieutenant Hamilton's Log 12 October

Halifax

I have ordered the Blue Peter up.
Acasta is re-provisioned and we do have 10 hours to catch the tide. However, after some visits ashore, I fear the crew may have been over socialized by the local …entertainments and thus slow to their duty. We will not miss the tide.
We have been ordered to cruise SSE keeping at least 100 leagues off shore. This I am sure in preparation for the restoration of the Doctor and the Lieutenant to Acasta form their personal trip.

A Report from the Field part 1

Miss Waterman, the Courier

At 10AM on Saturday morning we rendevoused with Mr. Midshipman Raley late of the Terpsichore and Able Seaman Mr Cambell of the same, who were to assist us in our mission. Shortly after, we encountered the courier, Miss Waterman and her travel companion Miss Bosworth.

I delivered my letter of condolence to Miss Bosworth, who was in mourning for her recently departed brother, and bid the ladies good morning. As they departed, we signaled Mr. Campbell to follow them. Mr. Campbell was our first card to play.

The letter to Miss Bosworth was the second card to play. It read as follows:

Miss Bosworth,

Please allow me to pass on to you the my most sincere condolences for the recent misfortune of your family.

Because I respect you and your unfortunate situation, I shall not mince words. It has been brought to my attention that the loss of your brother Thomas places your family in a delicate financial situation with your creditors back in England. Your Father owes a good deal to his creditors, Young & Erskine of Glasgow as well as loans from the Bank of England itself for the capital required to start his plantations here. You may not have been made aware, but with the harsh winter of '09 and last summer's drought, your Father's income from his exports has flagged and the creditors have begun to circle like vultures to collect their due.

I have been assigned by the Royal Navy to capture a treacherous Spy that is here in this country. It is the belief of the Navy that your friend Miss Emily Waterman, is in possession of a packet of papers that she is to pass off to the unknown Spy. It is the intent of the British Government to ferret out the identity of this Spy and place them under arrest.

Miss Bosworth in Mourning.

Your need not fear for the safety of your friend, Miss Waterman, it is our belief that she is being forced to act as courier against her will. The Navy's only concern is finding out the identity of the Agent she passes the sensitive packet on to.

If you are able to reveal to us the recipient of said packet and a successful arrest can be made, the packet returned with its contents intact, it is with great pleasure that I inform you that I have been authorized by the Admiralty Office in Whitehall on behalf of His Majesty to offer a settlement that they hope will be satisfactory to all parties concerned. In return for revealing identity of the recipient of the packet, the Crown will pay off your Father's hefty debts and give you an additional Fifty Pounds  for your cooperation.

It is my firm belief that Thomas would not have wanted to have left this mortal coil and endangered the future of his parents and dear sister. This simple act will ensure your family's well-being into the foreseeable future.

Know Miss, that I offer my best compliments to yourself and Family. If, in any of your affairs here, I can render you any acceptable service, I beg you will use that freedom with which I wish you to command, my dear,

Your affectionate and obedient servant,

etc, etc...

After a long half-hour of waiting for the packet to be delivered to the unknown American Spy, we left the British encampment to detain the courier and to begin our investigation.

We separated Miss Waterman and Miss Bosworth and questioned each of them alone.

Miss Waterman, when questioned about who she had seen in the past half hour, gave up the names of a series of ladies that she had seen that morning.

Mrs. Fast and Mrs. Cooper
Mrs. Birkenbach, and Mrs. Burns
A woman in yellow whom Miss Waterman could not remember the name of
Mr. Kannick and the Dubbelds

...and that her route took her through the Indian camp straight into the American camp, then back around down the main road to 96 Warehouse. The route was confirmed by our tail, Mr. Campbell.

Miss Bosworth gave up the same list of names, except that she stated that while they moved through the American camp, Miss Waterman passed the packet on to a fellow by the name of Sgt. Baker with the riflemen encamped there.

The Doctor, Mr. Campbell, Lt Ramsey on the hunt.

Could it have been so simple? Sgt. Baker of the American Rifle Company? We went to investigate, following the path taken by the two young ladies into the heart of the American Camp.

...to be continued...

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 5

We have arrived in the Indiana Territory after a good deal of rather exhausting covert travel in order to intercept our target who, we have discover'd, is still in possession of the packet. We hope to be able to surveil her whilst she makes contact with her counterpart. Then once the packet has been passed, we hope to be able to effect an arrest of the still unknown American agent.

There is a great row of shops nearby, and I should very much like to purchase a new telescope with greater magnification, if one is available.

It is our belief that there are Royal Naval officers encamped in the area and I have discussed with Lt. Ramsey the possibility of enlisting their aid in making the arrest. We will have to be careful, as there are several large encampments of American soldiers nearby as well, and neither of us is anxious to encounter them if we do not have to.

We are, each of us, arm'd with our service pistols and a few cartridges, and the red rocket, which MUST be saved for our return to the coast so we can signal the Acasta.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 4

We have kept to the small villages and towns in an attempt to avoid unwanted attention as we move ever further inland.

I have discovered over the course of our travels that Lt. Ramsey (formerly un-named) has a terrible 'American' accent and his attempts at such cause raised eyebrows everywhere we may stop. Yesterday, we were nearly refused service at a tavern because the innkeep decided Mr. Ramsey sounded 'too English'.

This morning on the road we encountered a farmer who called out a greeting to us, and upon Lt. Ramsey's reply, the farmer eyed us with suspicion until we were out of sight.

The Lieutenant and I have discussed it quietly amongst ourselves and unanimously agreed that we do not like being this far from the ship.

From the personal Journal of Lieutenant Ramsey

The latest orders from the Admiralty have required an interesting change in the routine of Naval life aboard the Acasta, or at least for two of its members. Dr. (name withheld) and I are to be set ashore in the United States on a mission of Great import. A task which may take us far away from the waters of the Naval world.

Early in my Naval career, as a young Midshipman, I had many dreams and ambitions of the many glories that surely lay before me. Never in all my imagination could I ever have foreseen that the Requirements of the Service would ask me to participate in acts of such a Politico nature. It would seem that my mind will have to my countenance must become accustom to subterfuge as my legs become accustom to the land. But, as they say, we are not the Designers of our own Destinies.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 3

The Lieutenant and I continue Southwest in our attempt to intercept the courier who bears the stolen packet. We are both filthy and exhausted from our journey as there as been a good deal of rain of late.

We have discussed it amongst ourselves, and are both of a mind to pool our funds and stay in a nearby tavern, but have discovered the critical flaw in our plan is that we have very little in the way of what would pass for 'coin of the realm'.

While I suspect that the people of this area would take any of the money I have in my pockets, I do not wish to raise too much suspicion with foreign coinage.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 2

The weather today has been miserable and wet, autumn has begun in full force here. The leaves cling to my boots in great wet clumps as we walk. Good English weather.

We head toward the Southwest along the rough roads of this country. We have taken great pains to avoid people and towns as we go. We thus far have traveled mostly during the night, hoping that the darkness would protect us from being spotted by the locals. Our eventual destination is some ways off, and we must make good time in order to intercept the American courier who is in possession of the stolen packet.

My mind has been on Mr. M------, my surgeon's mate back aboard the Acasta. He is a capable fellow when it comes to surgery of course, but I am concerned for the men aboard the Acasta should there be a grave injury whilst I am away. It seems quite a foreign thing to absent myself from my post and be on land, even if it is on the King's business.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log

I was called into the Great Cabin at six bells in the Forenoon watch with 3rd Lieutenant (name withheld).

Lt. (name withheld) and myself have been assigned a covert mission to recover a packet of important papers that has fallen into the hands of an American intelligence agent. It is believed that this agent will pass the papers on to a more prominent American agent on or about 7 October.

Capt. Frymann has ordered us to go ashore in our regular clothes in an attempt to recover these papers and discover the identity of the prominent American agent. We were told to carry our Navy commissions along with a letter writ by him in the event that we should encounter other Navy men and might need to enlist their aid.

The Captain has inform'd us that starting on the 20th October (giving us just under two weeks to get there and two to get back) he will begin to bring the Acasta in near the coast daily at [a pre-set time] for an hour and look for our signal in order to be able to retrieve us. He has called to the Armourer for a RED Congreve rocket for us to fire when we are ready to signal the Acasta for our return.

The Captain took the Acasta in as close to shore as he felt he could get at around five bells in the Middle watch in order to avoid the attention of the American ships stationed nearby. Mr. (name withheld) and I packed our civilian clothes and were escorted ashore in one of the longboats by Lt. Hamilton. We were dropped ashore and Hamilton saluted and wished us 'happy hunting'.

Mr. (name withheld) and I checked our pistols to ensure that they were in good working order and stowed the red rocket in our bag. We watched as the longboat pulled away for the Acasta, and then made our way up from the coast to the nearest road by moonlight.