‘Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired-captains, Post-captains, and Commanders, Whose Names Appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the Commencement of the Present Year, Or who Have Since Been Promoted; Illustrated by a Series of Historical and Explanatory Notes’ by John Marshall. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1825
‘Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs Of The Services Of All The Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired Captains, Post Captains, And Commanders... ...From The Commencement Of The Late Reign, In 1760, To The Present Period. With Copious Addenda.’ By John Marshall (B), Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Vol III - Part II. London: Printed for Longman, Rees Orme, Brown and Green, Paternoster Row. 1832.
‘A Naval Biographical Dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's Navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. Compiled from authentic and family documents.’ By William E. O'Byrne, Esq. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, publisher to the Admiralty. 1849.
‘British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863' Design, Construction, Careers & Fates. by Rif Winfield
‘The Navy List corrected to the end of Dec. 1814' Published by John Murray, bookseller to the Admiralty & Board of Longitude, No. 50 Albemarle Street. pg 48
List compiled by Albert Roberts, updated 3/14
For more information about the original Acasta and her REAL CREW, be sure to check out the HISTORY page.
You can find specific content by following the labels at the bottoms of each day's posts, or by clicking on the links below:
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.
Book Review - These posts take a look at books written about Naval subjects of interest.
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. Capture- Information regarding historical captures made by the Acasta during her service.
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.
In The News - Historical news articles that make mention of the Acasta or her crew.
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.
Letter Writing - Posts relating to writing letters that look to be from the period portrayed by HMS Acasta. Great help if you wish to participate in the Mail Packet project.
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!
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!
Mission X - All posts related to the Doctor's covert mission to France.
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.
Real Crew - Posts with this label are either written by or about REAL historical members of the crew of the Acasta between 1797-1815.
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.
Nelson's Trafalgar- the Battle That Changed the World by Roy Atkins
a short review by Tony Gerard
I've said in the past that I'm not a strategy and tactics guy. I only bought this book because it was $2 in the used book store. I loved it! It was very readable. Atkins often goes off on tangents not directly related to the battle, but always interesting. He also delves into the people behind the battle, with accounts of their lives and personalities.
Best of all he includes lots of period accounts and quotes. Nothing beats hearing about history from someone who was actually there. He also provides accounts of the aftermath of the battle and following storm, both in England and on the Continent.
TUPMAN. Acasta Midshipman under Capt. Wood, post 1802.
George Tupman was born 16 Aug. 1785, and died 22 April, 1847.
This officer entered the Navy, 8 Aug. 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Vengeance 74, Capts. John Rodney and Geo. Burlton, stationed in the Channel. In April, 1796, he joined, as a Supernumerary, the Royal William, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, lying at Portsmouth ; and from Jan. 1797 until April, 1802, he was employed, at the Cape of Good Hope, on the coast of Ireland, and in the Mediterranean and Channel, a great part of the time as Midshipman, in the Saldanha 36, Capt. Geo. Burlton, Legere sloop, Capt. Joshua Rowley Watson, Haerlem 64 and Africaine 38, Capts. G. Burlton and Jas. Stevenson, and Acasta 40, Capt. Jas. Athol Wood. He then became Master's Mate of the Galatea 32, Capt. Henry Heathcote; of which frigate, stationed on the Irish coast and in the West Indies, he was confirmed a Lieutenant, after having acted for some time as such, 19 March, 1805.
Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.
It has been some time since I have written. All my other letters to you are still here in my keeping, perhaps they all shall reach you at the same time. If Mr. Clark is reading this to you ask him if he does not think my English writing has become much better?
We have had a stroke of good fortune since last I have written. Several days ago a topmast man spied a sail just at dawn. The other ship also must have spied us, for they changed their course to avoid us. This said to us that they were Jonathans - this is how we call Americans - and we gave chase.
A chase at sea is not as many would expect, for it is slow- very, very slow! All day we chased after the prize with hardly any noticeable gain. The blockade duty is so very dull and tiresome that now all among the crew become tense with excitement. Every fellow does his job with a will and as fast as possible. Some whistle to try and increase the wind, this is a superstition among them. All eyes watch the prize like a wolf watches a sheep, but still the distance between us seems the same.
By dusk the topmast men say they are certain we have gained on the prize. Night falls, but fortune is with us for the moon is full and the sky clear. Throughout the night each watch keeps careful track of sails before us and at dawn- smiles on everyone- for even the landsmen among us can tell we have gained upon the prize.
All that day we gain steadily on the prize. Throughout the day the prize is won and lost a thousand times as all among the crew judge the set of their sails and ours, the strength and direction of the winds and currents and a thousand other parts of the chase.
That afternoon I am below deck when I hear a cheer from above. As I start to go up a sailor shouts down "They've started their water over the side!". When I go to the rail I can see they are pumping their water- the fresh water- over the side to lighten their ship. This means they have become fearful they cannot escape. They soon begin to throw many things overboard and each splash is greeted with a cheer from the crew.
Still we continue to gain on them, but ever so slowly. Everyone that can be is on deck now. The officers now question one another - should this sail or another be adjusted, how much longer do you think, do you think they will strike right away or fight? Only our Captain seems serene. He comes and looks from the quarter deck with his spy glass, perhaps gives an order to an officer to make some small adjustment of sail- which all rush to obey- and returns again to his quarters.
As we are watching the Jonathans throw more things overboard a topmast man who is my friend- Araiza is his name- slides down a ratline to where my friend the carpenter, Apple, and I are standing. He tells us that our course is going to take us through the path of those floating things they have tossed overboard. "Perhaps we should do a bit of fishing" Apple says, goes below and comes back with two grapples with lines. Joshua Wilson, who is known to be skilled with this sort of thing, comes back with him also with two grapple lines.
We are on the starboard side and all other eyes are on the prize to larboard.
Araiza goes back up to direct them where he thinks things will come closest. The first things that float past us look worthless or hard to catch, barrels and crates and such. Then Araiza calls that there are pigs coming, and soon we see them floating. They had either been killed before they were thrown overboard or they drowned.
As the first pig comes past Wilson throws the grapple past the pig, then pulls it in as fast as he can. Suddenly he gives it a yank as he thinks it is close to the pig, but the pig rolls and the grapple comes over the top of the pig. Apple's throw lands too far behind, I throw and land far short. Wilson puts a foot on his first line and grabs the second, but our prey is past us now.
Araiza calls that another is coming and we move forward some and soon see it. A large white pig with black spots, but further out. Wilson throws hard and lands his grapple just past the pig. He heaves back hard and - luck is smiling on us - the grapple holds. Apple throws, his line crosses Wilson's, hauls back and also hooks the pig. I throw and fall short again.
Araiza calls out that a chicken coop is very close. I run forward and see it right alongside. All I have to do is lower the line to catch it. The grapple catches easily on the bars. It is heavy, but not too heavy to haul up by myself. It is filled with drowned chickens.
"Belay that and help us Frenchy!" calls Apple and I hurry to help them. Now the pig is alongside. Apple hands me his line- the pig is heavy! - and takes another. He drops it over and, after two tries, catches in the pig. "Easy now boys" he says and we begin to carefully haul up the pig. Araiza has now come down to help us.
Just as the pig is almost to the rail Wilson's grapple pulls loose. He and Araiza each jump forward and catch a leg and we all heave the pig onto the deck. We give ourselves a little cheer and from above us we hear a voice say "Mr. Apple, what are you about?" The Captain is on the quarterdeck above us!
We all step back to salute him and he see the pig. He almost smiles "Well, you've fished up Brother Jonathan's pork. Well done" he says. Just then the sound of a gun- the Jonathans have fired a ranging shot- far short. Now even the Captain has the wolfish look and he hurries to larboard.
Everyone moves toward quarters even before it is called - which is right away. I take the coop with me to the orlop deck and I am surprised to see that three of the chickens have revived. Eight others are drowned. I have plenty of time to examine them after the doctor and I prepared ourselves and - wish me joy Marie! - they are not dunghills but game cocks! And not just any gamecocks but the Delaware Blue gamecocks that are so famous among the Jonathans! I recognized them by what I have heard of them. I have one splash hen, one splash cockerel and one blue cockerel. The other chickens go to Araiza, Wilson and Apple less one we give to the Doctor for his indulgence.
We took the prize without a fight. They had a fever among their crew during their crossing that had carried off many. Being short handed they struck as soon as we came within range and fired a single shot from our bowchaser guns.
So more prize money is due me, but I am happier with the Delaware Blue Cocks. How happy Mssr. Rochambeau will be to receive some of this bloodline!
But how much happier will I be to again be home with you and the Boys! I miss you all with all my heart!
Sources:
