Acasta takes the Betsy - 200th

We received news this afternoon of the capture of the Betsy, an American schooner of 127 tons on her way in to Boston. And the best news of all was that she was captured by our own Acasta! 

According to the stories we heard in town, Betsy was loaded with barrels of Brandy from Naples. I have never seen sailors or officers so excited about a captured cargo in my life! Every man in our shore party think themselves accursed that they were not there in person to take part in the action (and, I suspect, to sample the kegs of brandy aboard her). 

Our party continues inland on our way to our mission in the area of the Fair held at New Boston.

Account of the capture of the Betsy taken from:
"AMERICAN VESSELS CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH DURING THE Revolution and War of 1812 The Records of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Halifax, Nova Scotia."

A Letter to the Admiralty

Copy of a Letter from Captain R. Freymann, commanding HMS Acasta, concerning the outcome of a recent mission to New Boston, addressed to the Admiralty.

H.M. Ship Acasta at Sea,

North American Station.

SIR,

I have the honor to report to you for the Information of Their Lordships that this day that a Landing Party from His Majesty's Ship Acasta was able to retrieve, and destroy, a Package from the Secretary of State's Office, which had been smuggled into North America by enemies of the Crown. On the third of September, owing to a shortage of potable Water and being reluctant to return to Halifax to replenish our Stock, the Decision was made to send a small Landing Party ashore to procure Water from a suitable Stream located near the Village of New Boston. Local Fishermen, many of whom are opposed to the Conflict and openly trade with us, were able to provide Intelligence regarding the arrival in New Boston, of an Individual claiming to have secreted on Her Person, a Package surreptitiously obtained from His Majesty's Government and passed to Her by an unknown Accomplice. 

It was therefore resolved that the Acastas would attempt to recover the purloined Documents whilst ashore in so much as it would not lead to an untenable Situation in which we could not easily extricate ourselves. We were greatly aided in both of our Efforts through the Assistance of Irishman who, despite having lived amongst the Americans for some period, retained his Allegiance to His Majesty not only guided our Landing Party to the Water Source but also provided invaluable Service by closely observing the Movements of the suspected Individual. The task of supervising the filling of our Water Cask fell to Midshipman Raley, who acquitted his responsibilities with Efficiency and Alacrity. Lts. Hamilton and Ramsay, Dr. Roberts, my Clerk Mr. Cushing, and I were guided to the Village of New Boston by our Irish Compatriot. We were much surprised to find the Inhabitants, for the most part, totally unconcerned over our Presence, notably due to the unpopularity of "Mr. Madison's War" as they referred to the current state of Conflict and the willingness of local Merchants to accept His Majesty's Currency in Payment for Items purchased. 

Despite several false Leads, the Documents were found secreted upon the Person of a female, neatly hidden in her Turban, who despite Protestations to not "having the slightest inkling" of how the Items came to be in her Headdress, surrendered a Package containing a blank Passport and sum of Money in both His Majesty's Currency and that of the United States. I took it upon myself to personally destroy the blank Passport, should it be retaken. The Funds, for which no clear Ownership could be established, have been sent to Your Office, where it is hoped, Sir, that the Funds will be treated as Prize Money and distributed accordingly. 

Your Obt. Servant, 

Robert Freymann, Captain 

His Majesty's Ship Acasta

A Report from the Field 9

It was not long after this that the final piece of the puzzle fell into place in my mind. This occurred a little further up Medicinal Spring Road when I noticed Mrs. Cooper walking with two women, one of whom was the unknown woman in the Blue Dress and Purple Turban mentioned to us by Mr. Kelly!

This was the link I needed. Mrs. Cooper was the connection between the woman in Blue with Miss Waterman. I was more certain than ever that the woman in Blue had the packet in her possession, I glanced at the bulge in her reticule, it was the perfect size to be the packet. 

I found Capt. Freymann again and told him of my suspicions and respectfully suggested that we assemble all the Acastas to make the arrest. We did that very thing and less than a quarter of an hour we were all gather'd and approached en masse as she took her ease at the Hickory Tavern atop the hill.

Capt. Freymann greeted the woman and asked that he might have a look in her reticule. She submitted to his request. I watched eagerly, knowing that Capt. Freymann would, any moment pluck our victory from her little bag.

Capt. Freymann sorts through the reticule.

But that moment of triumph did not come. Capt. Freymann's face fell as he searched. The reticule bore no packet!

I sort through the reticule, the Acastas assembled looking none too impressed.

The Captain passed the reticule down the table to me to have a look through, and I too found nothing!

I stood there for a long moment with the eyes of all the Acastas upon me. The failure of our mission seemed imminent and my heart dropped. I was CERTAIN that she was the American Spy, I looked at her and tried to discern where else the packet could possibly be? 

I stood at the end of the table and it occurred to me. 

I wonder madam if we might have a look underneath your great bonnet, asked I?

She took off her bonnet and there it was! She removed the packet from beneath the large headpiece.

Capt. Freymann gets the packet from the American Spy!

Back at the Acasta camp later that afternoon, Capt. Freymann burned the documents that had been contained within the packet to ensure that they could not be recaptured. He then sorted through the money from the packet and divided it up in the same manner as the Admiralty splits up prize money, and gave each man his share.

The Acastas spent our final hours in New Boston before breaking camp with full pockets and glad spirits that we had accomplished our mission for King and Country.

It is now back overland and a rendezvous with the Acasta for our merry band.

A Report from the Field 8

With Mssr. de Villeverte at his tent.

On Sunday, I had a strong inclination to search the French Lace Merchant, Monsieur LeFarceur de Villeverte, the Acasta Ship's Clerk Mr. Cushing and later that day Miss K. Nowack a particular friend to Miss Waterman.

I made my way to Monsieur de Villeverte's lavish tent and discussed with him the trouble with the lost packet. He gave me his word as a gentleman that he had neither seen or received such a packet.

Searching Mr. Cushing's things.

Later that morning I took up the Bosun's mate, Mr. Alexander, and detained Mr. Cushing. I searched his market wallet thoroughly to no avail. But there was something suspicious in his manner that did not signify. It was a knowing look in his eye whilst I went through his things that I did not care for.

That Afternoon I was walking along Dudery Street with Captain Freymann and his Lady when we spotted Miss Waterman shopping with Miss Nowack. Miss Nowack had a small basket under her arm that I took notice of, and as they stopped to talk with us, I pressed her to allow me to search it. Another dead end, her basket contained nothing of value to us.

I was beginning to lose hope that we would discover the American Spy.

In an effort to make certain that I had covered every inch of ground, I had another talk with Mr. Kelly, the Indian Agent who had followed Miss Waterman to begin with. We discussed again the route she had traveled while delivering the packet. I asked them if, at any time, Miss Waterman had been out of their sight? Mr. Kelly informed me that they had stayed close to her the entire time, save when she went behind the Black Horse Tavern on Medicinal Springs Road.

Behind the Tavern? I had not understood this to be the case originally. And I pressed Mr. Kelly,  had he lost sight of her behind the canvas of the Tavern for a few moments? Yes, for a minute or so said he. 

Was she back there long enough to pass off the packet do you suppose? inquired I.

He and his wife both agreed that she might have had enough time to drop off the packet to someone. And that when she made her exit, the unknown woman with the Blue Dress and Purple Turban exited shortly thereafter.

I thanked Mr. Kelly and once again fetched after Mr. Alexander and bade him bring his musket along. We arrived in good time at the Black Horse which was busy with the usual fair-going crowd. Mr. Alexander and I made our way through the canvas behind the tavern itself and found ourselves in a space I was unaware existed. There was a great area sectioned off from the eyes of the publick by tall walls of canvas.

We looked around for a moment before we were approached by a slender, bearded fellow in an apron who was smoking a little cigarillo, he desired to know if he might help us.

I asked him if he had seen a lovely young lady there the other morning in a white dress with a green spencer. I went on to explain that she had 'lost' something there the morning before. Mr. Alexander caught my eye at this and smiled slightly.

The Tavern man was very eager to be helpful after that, and insisted that he HAD seen such a young lady, and even went on to comment on how lovely she was. She had come in, stood about for a bit, then left to the best of his knowledge.

Did she perchance make use of the facilities, asked I, pointing to the large 'necessary' behind me.

He insisted she did not.

Was there anyone else there with her, continued I?

The Tavern man said that he could not recall there being anyone, but that he had not been there with her the entire time. I thanked the fellow and exited via the canvas as he insisted he'd be on the lookout for the 'lost' packet for us.

A Report from the Field 7

Saturday evening in the Acasta camp was very pleasant. There was a good deal of Port and Madera supplied by Lt. Hamilton and even a little singing done by the lot. I discovered that Mr. Midshipman Raley has a fine voice, but because of the moisture in the air from the recent downpours, his drum would scarcely make any noise at all. 

The fair was reopened on Sunday morning with another flourish of pomp and circumstance, but this morning would be very different. The search for the missing packet and the American Spy would have to be temporarily postponed I had decided, after a great deal of thought, that I would propose to Miss Waterman. 

My fondness and friendship for her over these past two years has grown into the most magnificent sort of love. Mine is a love unlike any I have previously experienced, and nothing else would do. 

You may see the fruit of my labour below: 

There was a great deal of weeping, and I was so nervous that I scarcely recall what was said... but I do recall that I garnered her consent through her tears. I could bear the loss of the Packet and its secret documents if I could keep the woman I love by my side. 

Special thanks to everyone who helped me through the planning stages of this and helped to make it a fantastically special day!

A Report from the Field 6

We received word that the fashionable and well-bred ladies were to have an archery competition at the bottom of the hill near the woods. The Acastas in camp decided that such a spectacle was not to be missed. I took a piece of unused canvas from camp to recline on, and Lt Hamilton took a fine ladderback chair. Mr. Raley joined us as well. We positioned ourselves on the slope just above the target and relaxed with our coats off. I even took my great spy glass so as to better see the positioning of each fired arrow in the target.

Taking our ease atop the hill was not quite the difficult duty I had initially envisioned when given this assignment, but the taking of the territory by Brock and the dispersal of the local militia certainly served to make New Boston a more friendly to the British forces.

While the ladies partook in the archery, I was able to espy Mr. Tumbusch from afar through my spyglass while he stood with the participants under a great tree. He carried on his shoulder a large market-wallet that could have contained the packet in it, and I had seen him in possession of a basket with shoulder straps earlier that could have served that same purpose.

We decided it was time to secure Mr Tumbusch for questioning. We took him up from the group and returned him to our camp so as to avoid any unpleasantness as well as the rain that was fast approaching.

We searched Mr Tumbusch under the fly as the rain began to fall in earnest. He stood with arms akimbo as we emptied the contents of his market wallet and basket onto the ground under the canvas of the Acasta camp. After a very thourough search, it was concluded that he was not in possession of the packet.

The three initial suspects produced no results.

A Report from the Field 5

Shortly after our conversation with Mr. Mains, we found the the woman in Blue with the purple turban. She and a friend were out shopping and the woman in blue carried with her a great matching reticule. From a distance it seemed that it might be large enough to contain the packet if it were folded in two. 

We followed at some distance, and if the woman in blue noticed she didn't give herself away. We strolled casually down Ward Lane to the smell of all the food from the nearby eateries, the road was packed with visitors to the fair eager to fill their bellies. 

Eventually, the woman in blue and her friend took refuge in the tent belonging to Mr. Kingery's Ox-Bow Livery, at the North end of Ward Lane. We took up a position where we could see her about 40 yards away. 

It was at this point that Lt. Ramsey approached us and hullo'd the party. I informed him as to our activities and pointed out the suspect to him. I also informed him that I would allow him to approach her, as he was in plainclothes and might garner more cooperation from her than a gang of armed Navy men. And besides, I had questioned Mr. Mains. 

Lt. Ramsey approached and entered the tent and Mr. Raley and I stood back a bit. I could not hear what Mr. Ramsey said, for as he began to address the lady, Mr. Kingery the proprietor approached me in a huff to inquire as to the nature of the trouble. 

I assured him that we were about the King's business and that there was no trouble, and my explanation seemed to placate him. But by the time we had completed our conversation, Lt. Ramsey was exiting the tent. 

Lt. Ramsey

After a brief discussion about our business, the Lieutenant was satisfied that the Lady in blue did not have the packet, so much so that he had not even bothered to search her. 

That left only Mr. Tumbusch to question. We made our way back to camp as the looming storm clouds moved into the area.

A Report from the Field 4

It didn't take but a short time for the Captain and his Lady to return with Miss Waterman. We sat her on a bench at the Hickory Tavern and began to ask her questions about where she had been and who she had encountered. Miss Waterman was as lovely as ever in her white dress and green spencer.

We gave Miss Waterman her parole and advised her that we may have need of her in the future. 

We returned to the fairgrounds and questioned the British Indian Agent who followed Miss Waterman. The fellow had even used his own wife to aid in the work! They relayed the route taken by Miss Waterman in her mission to deliver the Packet to the American Spy. Mrs. Kelly relayed in great detail Miss Waterman's exploits, she had met with a large group of fashionable ladies on the road next to the furniture shop, she had encountered Mr. Jesse Mains from Kentucky, she encountered the Tumbusches, and then disappeared for a bit behind the Black Horse tavern where she could not be seen by the Kellys. They said when she finally emerged, she was followed shortly thereafter by an unknown woman in a blue dress and a purple turban. 

Mrs. Kelly claimed that she had SEEN with her own eyes Miss Waterman pass the packet to Mr. Tumbusch. She was very adamant about it.

We now had a workable list of suspects which consisted of: 

Tom Tumbusch - former Acasta and a mutual friend of Myself and Miss Waterman

Jesse Mains - a fellow from the Kentucky Territory

The Woman in blue - an unknown element

Mr. Alexander, Bosun's Mate

Mr. Raley and his division accompanied me to Mr. Barker's wagoneer camp where the oxen lay in the shade avoiding the mid-day heat. There stood Jesse Mains with his rifle in hand as he spoke with a fellow there in camp. 

We milled about the entrance for a bit, I taking an opportunity to have a look over Mr. Main's person in an attempt to ascertain if he might have a place to hide the packet. He was in possession of a small pouch and a small wallet on his belt either might be a place to hide the documents. I am not ashamed to confess that I approached Mr. Mains with some trepidation, knowing his reputation as a frontiersman from the Kentucky Territory. I knew that if he decided to fight, the lot of us might not be able to prevent his escape. 

We had the strategic advantage for sure, the lot of us blocking the only clear exit from camp, and Mr. Barker and Mr. Main's conversation companion were not obviously armed. 

I waited for there to be a lull in their conversation when I asked loudly, "Mr. Mains? May we have a word with you?" 

Mr. Mains

He seemed surprised, but moved toward us slowly and with deliberation, I breathed a sigh of relief when he passed his weapon off to Mr. Barker who laid it casually across his lap. 

I questioned him as to his encounter with Miss Waterman that morning. He seemed quite at a loss, and claimed not to have been passed anything by the young lady in question. While he did not submit to a search, he did show us the small pouch and the wallet on his belt, and I was satisfied that they did not hold the packet we sought. 

We thanked Mr. Mains for his cooperation and requested that he not leave the area in the event that we might have further need of him. As we left the camp, it occurred to me that Miss Waterman had met with him directly in the middle of the road where she might be seen easily by any onlookers. 

I was now more convinced than ever that Mr. Mains was not in possession of the packet.

A Report from the Field 3

 Saturday came and the Fair opened with the usual amount of enthusiasm and excitement. 

A local 'birdhouse' board.

Before the official opening ceremonies, Mr. Raley was ordered to take a small detachment out to the fairgrounds and pass out bills to the merchants as well as posting them on the local 'birdhouses' and in other such publick places. It was a small broadside advertising a Fifty Pound Reward for information leading to the safe return of the stolen documents. 

The Broadside, click to read.

At opening ceremonies, New Boston surrendered to Brock without a shot, and Captain Freymann was there at Brock's side as the announcement was made to the populace. There was the usual jeering and expressions of displeasure, but when the local militia was dismissed, they offered up no trouble and the fair went on as usual. 

Capt. Freymann and I with our telescopes trained.

Afterwards, the Acastas made their way to the Hickory Tavern located upon the hill at the Northeast end of the fair. From this vantage point we surveilled the courier as she went about the business of delivering the packet of stolen documents to the yet unknown American Spy. 

She made her way away from the Tavern down Medicinal Springs Road, stopping along the way to socialize on several occasions, but not passing the packet off to any of them. We then lost sight of her briefly, as she ducked just out of our line of sight.

Like spotting the proverbial needle in the haystack.

I spotted her a few moments later as she stood at the South end of Wood Workers Lane. There she stood, as bold as you please in the middle of the road with Jesse Mains. They stood there for a few moments and conversed, and from such a great distance it appeared that she might have passed him something, but Capt Freymann and I were uncertain. 

The Captain and Mrs. A.

She then left his company and disappeared into the thick crowds again. We did not see her again until we were certain she had made the drop, and Capt Freymann and his Lady, Mrs. Ashbourne, went to retrieve her. 

A Report from the Field 2

We arrived in New Boston on Friday and laid out our camp atop a grand hill that overlooked the site of the annual trade fair. The wind was constant from SWbS and played havoc with the canvas as we attempted to get it set up. Our camp consisted of a large 10x10 tent, a 12x12 dining fly flanked by a multitude of wedge tents. 

Mr. Houston and I beneath the Acasta dining fly

Mr. Alexander and Raley in camp.

 The party from the Acasta consisted of Captain Freymann and his Clerk Mr. Cushing, First Lieutenant Hamilton, Second Lieutenant Ramsey, Midshipman Raley, Myself, Master Minnis, Coxswain Mr. Houston and Bosun's mate Mr. Alexander. 

Our camp was overjoyed to learn that Brock's forces had taken Detroit and had even come in so far as New Boston. The Americans were sure to surrender New Boston after such a morale crushing blow as Detroit! 

Mr. G. Kelly

If the area was taken for the King, it would make our time in the area all the more pleasant, giving us our liberty to shop and socialize a bit instead of having to sneak about like criminals or spies. 

Lt. Ramsey, in plainclothes, secured the aid of the local Indian Agent, an Irishman by the name of Mr. Kelly, to follow Miss Waterman, the courier who was to pass off the packet to the American Spy. He was exactly as I would have imagined such a character, rough-hewn and native in his dress and eccentric in his appearance.