While in Town 4

 All images taken at Colonial Williamsburg.

Open Call to Writers

Open Call to ALL Reenactors, 

Historians and Creative Writers!

The Royal Navy reenacting group that represents HMS Acasta will be attending the Jane Austen Festival in July of this year. One of the things that I'd like to be able to do is deliver a 'mail packet' full of letters to the various Acasta members. This is a project that I have undertaken in the past with other groups with awesome results.

This is where YOU come in!

Anyone who would like to submit a period correct letter to add to the packet is encouraged to do so! We'd love to have your contribution, however large or small! Anything added to the packet will help to enhance the historical experience for not only the Acastas who receive them, but for the public who will attend the Festival as well.

At last year's event, the Mail Packet was a huge hit with the Acastas and the public alike. Mr. Midshipman Raley delivered the packet to the Captain about mid-day on Saturday and the letters were passed out.

Some examples of things that we got as part of the project:

The Doctor got a secret coded message from Sir Joseph Blaine with the Admiralty. Obviously from a Patrick O'Brian fan.

Lt. Tumbusch got a notice from the Dutch East India Company letting him know that his stock was now worthless.

Rev. Mr. Griswold got a letter letting him know of the death of one of his parishioners.

Mr. Raley got a letter from his 'mother' back home written a professional author of nautical historical fiction.

A letter arrived for the Purser from a mysterious wife and children he claimed to know nothing of.

Capt. Freymann got a letter from a father in England looking for news of the location of his two sons.

Need some ideas for what to write? Try one of these:

Letter from a friend or colleague back home. 
(But none from 'family' this year if you please, last year we had to leave a letter out because Mr. Raley got TWO letters from his 'mother')
A bill or request for payment.
An overdue payment of debt.
A letter carrying news of the war(s)

Or, use the link below to see some other types of period letters:

The Complete Letter Writer...

Wondering what a period letter looks like? Here are some beautiful examples:

http://www.bathpostalmuseum.co.uk/john-palmer/

Contact me to find out where to send your finished letter… or questions, or for any other additional information.

Finshed letters will need to be to ME by the end of June so that they can find their way into the Mail Packet!

Don't know WHO to write to? Here's the lot of Acastas who are usually to be found at the festival:

So pick up your pen and paper and get writing, and HAVE FUN!

Post Labels

The eclectic band of historical reenactors and interpreters that makes up the 'CREW' of HMS Acasta spans a wide spectrum of real life occupations.

We are made up of students, educators, academics (a surprising number of us are teachers) even a Ph.D., present and former Coast Guard and U.S. Naval men, artists & artisans, tailors, musicians, professionals & executives. We even have a freelance copywriter, farrier & presidential presenter thrown into the mix for good measure! (hint: look for the fellow that looks like Jackson from the twenty dollar bill!)

What does this odd lot all have in common? A love for the history of the Royal Navy and passing it on in a unique way to the public.

You can find specific content by following the labels at the bottoms of each day's posts, or by clicking on the links below, the NEW labels are highlighted in YELLOW:

200th - Posts with this label are posts that have to do with the 200th anniversary of some event that took place during the War of 1812. Either with the Acasta herself, or the war in general. Want to know what was happening on a particular date? Here you go.

Apple - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's carpenter Mr. Jas. Apple.

Baptiste - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Acasta Surgeon's Mate.

Capt Freymann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Captain Robert Freymann

Capt Hurlbut -  Posts with this label are either written BY or about Captain Tom Hurlbut, friend to the Acasta.

Event Invite - These posts are invitations to the general public to attend specific historic events. A great way to figure out where the Acasta crew will be during the year!

Images - This label is given to any post that is picture heavy. Looking for lots of awesome War of 1812 or Royal Navy recreation pictures? Look no further! The Acasta has been gifted with some amazing photography over the years from a variety of sources.

Jane Austen Festival - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Jane Austen Festival that is held every July in Louisville, KY.

LIST - This label is given to the series of reenactor list, Ways to improve, the best and worst things about the hobby, stupid questions asked by the public and so forth.

Lt Ramsey - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Second Lieutenant Michael Ramsey.

Lt. Hamilton - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's First Lieutenant Jim Hamilton.

Lt. Tumbusch - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Third Lieutenant Tom Tumbusch.

Master & Commander - Posts that have to do with the Aubrey-Maturin series of books by author Patrick O'Brian or the 2003 movie.

Mail Packet - This label will involve letters (real or digital) sent or received by Acasta crew. It also occasionally has to do with a call to readers for letters, a fun project for authors and historians alike!

Midshipman Raley - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta Midshipman David Raley.

Miscellany - A grab bag of odds and ends posts that couldn't really be labeled anything else.

Mission 1 - All posts pertain to the Acasta's first play test of the "Spy Game", a first person activity played between teams at Mississinewa 1812.

Mission 2 - A writing exercise by members of the crew involving the 1813 chase of the US vessel, 'Young Teazer'

Mission 3 - These posts involve the Doctor's special assignment to take part in a mock Naval assault at Niagara on the Lake.

Mission 4 - The Acastas go ashore at the Fair at New Boston in an attempt to catch a spy, and the Doctor gets engaged!

Mississinewa 1812 - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Mississinewa 1812 event that is held every October in Marion, IN.

Music - Music or lyrics (or both) to old period songs.

New Boston - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Fair at New Boston event that is held every Labor Day Weekend near Springfield, Ohio.

Press Gang - Content and images from the Acasta's Press Ganging activities at events.

Red Box - Content and images having to do with the "Red Box' game.

Signal Flags - These posts involve images and information having to do with this means of communication during the War of 1812. Sometimes they even involve fun messages to be decoded!

The Doctor - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's surgeon Albert Roberts

Toasts - information pertaining to the Daily Royal Naval Toasts given at dinner.

Vassermann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Surgeon's personal servant James Vassermann.

Video - Any post with a video or a link to a video in it can be found here.

Wedding - These image heavy posts are all about the Doctor's 1813 style wedding.

USS Constitution, her blog

From the Log Lines site:
Log Lines is the blog of the USS Constitution Museum's curatorial department. Here, you can take a behind-the-scenes look at the Museum's archives and collections, gain new insights into Constitution’s history, and explore some of our favorite artifacts and recent acquisitions.

Contributors:
Matt Brenckle, Research Historian
Kate Monea, Archivist
Harrie Slootbeek, Collections and Exhibits Manager
Sarah Watkins, Director of Collections and Learning

Well worth a read, visit their blog... LOG LINES

Know Your Nelson 9

A Note to the Surgeon from a Sailor

Dear Doctor Roberts,

I tell you my story of my false impressment, and your man Baptiste has said you might listen. It is a sad tale indeed. I ask you as you are a known friend to the poor sailormen aboard this ship, and in the hopes that you will listen to my tale, determine the truth of it, and allow me a fair hearing with the captain.

In the few weeks before Acasta sailed from England, the ship’s lieutenants led parties of loyal men to seize upon any likely sailors to come and serve aboard the ship as she was short-handed. I was one taken up by such a party and despite my telling that I was not a sailor at all, it was insisted that I must be, and told I should just take the bounty as a volunteer and be done with it.

I asked why it was that I must be a sailor? Why, by my clothes and queue, it was obvious to all.

“Oh, that”, I said. “Well, I am a man-servant to a rich man who fancied himself a sea-captain and had all his household staff wear checked shirts, neckerchiefs and blue jackets! We all called him ‘Captain’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Your Honour’ and answered, ‘Aye, Aye!’ as briskly as possible to please him. We even went so far as to use what sailors’ words as we could think of and came to the manner of saying, ‘Avast!’ and ‘Blow me down!’ and such like as would make our master think he was aboard ship. I could never remember starboard from larboard but I don’t think he knew either as I used each many times for left, right, front and back and he never corrected me.”

The men of the press gang laughed although I couldn’t see the joke.

One man says if I take the bounty, we could all have a drink. I was sore tempted as it had been a while since but I was on an errand for my “Captain” and told them I must be about my duty. They laughed again.

A bos’n’s mate says, “What ship have you run from?” “Why,” says I, “I don’t run at all. I’ve a bad leg. Rheumatism in the knee.” They laughed again.

One says, “You must come aboard and kiss the gunner’s daughter!” this with a distinct glint in his eye as if he is suggesting real mischief.

Not knowing which of  these men was the gunner, I said with as much respect as I could, “I’m sure she’s a right pretty thing and any man would be honoured for the privilege, but married I am already, and it would not be right to kiss another!” and I meant it. My poor Polly! She didn’t know what happened to me!

They laughed the harder at my misery.

Another says, “You’ll get a taste of the cat!” and they roared with laughter again!

“Well,” says I, “I’m alright with beef, pork or mutton and hens, duck or goose, and once, I had venison, but I’ve no thought to eat your sailors’ vittles, thank you very much! Maybe rabbit?”

More laughter..

“Take the bounty,“ I hear again and then I tried to run away.

When I came to my senses, I was down on the orlop deck, covered with filth and stinking of ale. The man standing over me says, “Awake? Good! We’re to make more sail! Up you go!” and he pushed me up the stairs. I made it to the upper deck, noticed that there was no land to be seen, and then was urged forward by one fellow whom I remembered from the shore party. “You took the bounty,” he says. “Remember that!”

I did?

“Yes!” he says, “and you’re a topman!”

I am?

“Hands aloft! Shake out a reef in the foretops’l!” says a man in a cocked hat.

The men I was standing with began to run towards the rope ladders. I stood motionless. Then a mate struck me with a piece of rope (not hard, he too was in the gang), “Move, you!” I scampered to the side and began the terrifying ascent. He hit me again and followed me up to the platform (he called it the foretop). I arrived much later than the rest and didn’t know how they managed to get past the part where the ropes go backwards, away from the mast. He pushed me through the small hole.

“Don’t look down!” he whispers in my ear. Of course, I wanted to see why not and so looked. In an instant, I was struck motionless! The height was dizzying and I also realized that the whole ship was rocking. I was often well out over the ocean and then over the deck, to and fro, again and again. I began to feel quite unwell.

Then two of them came down from the yard above and hauled me up to stand on the rope hanging from it and pushing me out to the extremity! Now I realized that the ship was also pitching, front and back together with the sideways! I don’t think I’ve ever grasped anything as tightly as that yard before!

I had men on either side of me and they were busy working on the sail. “Undo that” says one as he works with both hands on a rope tied to the sail and around the yard. I feebly worked at the knot with one hand as I clung with the other in a death-grip.

Death-grip.. I’ve heard of that before but only then realized what it REALLY means.

The man to my side says, “I’ll get that, ye lubber!” not unkindly and he smartly completed my work. The sail instantly bellied out further with a monstrous thump and the mast leaned a little more over the sea. The men began their descent to the deck. Tightly between two, I made my way towards the centre and then down to the foretop and then to the deck. I didn’t look down, the others guided my feet into the places on the rope ladder..

Men on deck then took hold of other ropes and I looked upwards as the yard was hauled up and the sail became flatter. The ship leaned over some more. I was not feeling well at all.

As I stood there, the men around me quietly said, “Thanks for the drink!” in turn, and I remembered half of them as being in the press gang that took me. Cocked hat then stood before me and said, “A prime topman, are you?” “Well,” I say and the mate who struck me says, “Oh Sir, he’s just recovering from drinking his bounty! He can hand reef and steer with the best of us, but he can’t hold his drink!” and they all laughed, cocked hat too.

Now Doctor, I CAN drink and I need quite a bit before I feel it. I never took the bounty, never saw a penny of it and never had a drop of the ale it went for except for the half-pint they poured over my head after they beat me senseless and before they dragged me aboard!

Well, they’re my mates now and, I wouldn’t want them to have any trouble on the bounty money and them telling those stories about me as a topman..

And, I find I don’t miss my Polly half as much as I should.

But I’m scared witless whenever I get any higher than a short flight of stairs!

I beg you Doctor, to appeal to the captain on my behalf, to allow me to serve in some other way than that which has befallen me!

And Sir, if you can, could you show me where the gunner’s daughter is? I find I may wish to see whether she needs a kiss or not.

Forever in your debt,
Todd E. Lickspittle
A Reluctant Topman.

Leaving Bermuda

Today's post by Gordon Laco, supplier of traditional sailing hardware, reserve officer for the Royal Canadian Navy & historical consultant for documentaries and feature films including being the lead historical consultant for the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Captain Freymann:  Mr Hamilton, I see you’ve about completed your morning preparations – you’re ready to face the new day I presume?  Good.  With no further delay I’ll have her underway on starboard tack; we shall depart the harbour clearing the leeward cape without need to take a board to windward.  Carry on.

1st Lt Hamilton:  ALL HANDS, ALL HANDS, HANDS TO YOUR STATIONS, PREPARE TO GET UNDER WAY.  (more quietly, addressing the Master)  Mr. MacLachlan,  we shall recover the starboard hauser and hang by the port till I give the word.  Mind you do this smartly, not like last time.  HIS eyes are upon us.  Pray do not place young Moreton where you had him last time.  We cannot bear another drama.

1st Lt Hamilton: starborlines away aloft!  Cast off your fore and main tops’l gaskets, cast off your forestaysail gaskets!  Stand by to haul away!

1st Lt Hamilton:  Waisters... Brace your yards to starboard.... Forward there, brace your foreyards aback!

(up forward the starboard cablet has been recovered from the buoy... The port one is still made fast but hauled short)

Midshipman Raley on foredeck:  Starboard cablet’s away and recovered sir!  Port is at short stay! (the port cablet is hauled short and is angled down at the same angle as the forestay)

1st Lt Hamilton:  Let fall your fore and main topsails!  Haul away your foretops’l halyard!... (A pause of some minutes as the foretopsail yard creeps up its mast...)  Haul away your forestaysail halyards!  Back your forestaysail!  Haul away your foretopsail sheets!  Helm down!

(the forestaysail fills aback...as does the foretopsail... The frigate begins setting aft, pulling against the remaining cablet)

1st Lt Hamilton:  forward there on the cablet...SLIP! (the inboard end of the cablet is released from the cavelle cleat.. Its end snakes over the side and through the ring on the buoy... The foredeck hands begin hauling it in)

1st Lt Hamilton:  (watching the ship gather sternway, her head being pushed to port by the backed staysail and foretopsail...) HAUL AWAY SMARTLY YOUR MAIN TOPSAIL HALYARDS SMARTLY!  CAST OFF YOUR DRIVER BRAILS!  MIDSHIPS HELM!

(the Acasta is sliding backward away from the buoy, turning her head away from the wind to port.  As soon as she’s about 60 degrees off the wind, the 1st Lt centres the rudder, and begins setting sail to drive her forward...)

1st Lt Hamilton: HAUL AWAY YOUR MAIN TOPS’L SHEETS!  FORWARD THERE.... TACK THE FORE STAYS’L!  TACK THE FORETOPS’L!  AFTERGUARD...HAUL AWAY YOUR DRIVER SHEET!  SET MAIN AND MIZZEN STAYSAILS!

(the frigate stops her sternway under the forward drive of the sails.... Now the forward gear is no longer pushing back and to port, but pulling ahead.  For a time the frigate is stunned and makes only leeway, a boil of turbulence rising to windward of her... Then she starts moving forward...)

1st Lt Hamilton: (to the master)  Mr MacLachlan – meet her there – hold to the weather side of the channel, steer a fair course out....

As the frigate gathers way the leeway decreases.... With yards braced hard on starboard tack she slowly accelerates and begins answering her helm.   The 1st Lt glances at the Captain who has been standing aft during this... And gives an imperceptible nod. 

1st Lt Hamilton: (to the Master)  Mr. MacLachlan, I’ll have t’gallants and upper staysails on her...carry on.  

It all seemed to go well;  much relieved, the 1st Lt turns to write up the deck log.  Glancing astern, he is horrified to see a boat, his ship’s launch, struggling to keep up but being left behind by the gliding frigate.  He had forgotten to recover the party he’d sent to the buoy....  His eye darts to the Captain, who of course had not forgotten the boat, and is staring at him with his right eyebrow arched, arms folded, and an indecipherable expression on his face.

The 1st Lt gasps and stands frozen with the slate in his hands.  The afterguard all avert their expressions.  Mr. MacLachlan, the master, turns his back and squints at the foretopmast head, privately wondering what the service has got to....

The beginning of another day.