Taken from: The Naval Surgeon Comprising the Entire Duties of Professional Men at Sea
By William Turnbull
1806
Tuesday, September 13
Monday, September 12
Duties of the Surgeon
From: Regulations and Instructions relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea.
Established by His Majesty in Council. 1790 Edition.
Friday, September 9
Thursday, September 8
A Window in Time
Stop over and have a look at the Acasta's Instagram page, each image is like looking through a little window in time! Follow us at:
Wednesday, September 7
The Fair at New Boston 2016
A new interpretive program added to the Fair at New Boston this year by the Acasta was the 'Lord Nelson Arms', a period tavern impression.
Jake Book reads a reproduction of a period newspaper from the era. Mrs. 'Sally Brown' poses outside of her tavern with her new sign and Acasta fighting cock "Lord Nelson", the namesake of the tavern.
Saturday night in the tavern. The cock fighting pit gets built.
Tuesday, September 6
5 Easy Ways Reeanactors Can Improve Their Game
The reenacting season is under way, and it got me to thinking, 'How can I improve my impression'? Here are some of the easiest ways I can think of to do so with very little effort or expense. Please keep in mind that the suggestions are coming from a fellow who's regular time period ranges from 1750-1820, so these may not apply to YOUR particular time period...
DON'T BE SO CLEAN
This goes double for soldiers and sailors who regularly worked and fought in the mud, tar, gunk and grease of the world of old. Months on end on campaign would really take its toll on your uniform, even if there were dedicated people in the unit who did nothing but laundry. And have you ever seen a proper period laundry demonstration? The beating that the garments got was brutal.
Next time you're at an event and get a little dirt on your elbows or knees, let it stay.
SHAVE/DON'T SHAVE
Facial hair was either 'in' or 'out' depending on what time period you reenact. If you're doing a time period where facial hair wasn't the thing, shave it off... conversely if you're doing a time period where beards were the thing, grow it out.
Facial hair, or the lack thereof can go a long way toward improving the authenticity of your period appearance. Razors are easy to lay hands on... and facial hair isn't all that difficult to grow back between events.
TRY A LITTLE FIRST PERSON
Okay so I get that not every event is geared for this sort of interpretation, and honestly, not every guest or visitor to a historic site is going to be up for this either. But if they ARE, you should give it a try. It's a lot of fun and a great way to get outside yourself for a little while and come just a smidge closer to the period by portraying someone from the era.
GET RID OF YOUR HAVERSACK
I'm liable to make a few enemies with this one, but haversacks weren't generally worn by civilians to carry your stuff around in (like a modern purse or messenger bag). Haversacks were primarily used by soldiers.
Need something to carry your stuff in? Make a simple market wallet. Baskets are also good.
READ MORE
The best way to improve your reenactor game? Reading. Read everything that interests you about the time period you portray. It will serve to teach you new aspects about the period you enjoy, or even refresh your memory about things you read long ago that you'd forgotten.
Don't 'plateau' or get stagnant, don't be rigid in your interpretation, always be learning and working toward new and interesting things... and remember to always be as accurate as you can be. You might be the spark that ignites an interest in history for the next generation of historians, museum professionals or reenactors!
Do you have any easy suggestions for reeanactors to improve their impressions? Please feel free to share them in the COMMENTS section, we'd love to hear your ideas!
The Acasta log is generally updated every weekday at 8am CST, visit back often, and encourage your History Nerd/Reenacting/Royal Navy friends to visit us.
DON'T BE SO CLEAN
This goes double for soldiers and sailors who regularly worked and fought in the mud, tar, gunk and grease of the world of old. Months on end on campaign would really take its toll on your uniform, even if there were dedicated people in the unit who did nothing but laundry. And have you ever seen a proper period laundry demonstration? The beating that the garments got was brutal.
Next time you're at an event and get a little dirt on your elbows or knees, let it stay.
SHAVE/DON'T SHAVE
Facial hair was either 'in' or 'out' depending on what time period you reenact. If you're doing a time period where facial hair wasn't the thing, shave it off... conversely if you're doing a time period where beards were the thing, grow it out.
Facial hair, or the lack thereof can go a long way toward improving the authenticity of your period appearance. Razors are easy to lay hands on... and facial hair isn't all that difficult to grow back between events.
TRY A LITTLE FIRST PERSON
Okay so I get that not every event is geared for this sort of interpretation, and honestly, not every guest or visitor to a historic site is going to be up for this either. But if they ARE, you should give it a try. It's a lot of fun and a great way to get outside yourself for a little while and come just a smidge closer to the period by portraying someone from the era.
GET RID OF YOUR HAVERSACK
I'm liable to make a few enemies with this one, but haversacks weren't generally worn by civilians to carry your stuff around in (like a modern purse or messenger bag). Haversacks were primarily used by soldiers.
Need something to carry your stuff in? Make a simple market wallet. Baskets are also good.
READ MORE
The best way to improve your reenactor game? Reading. Read everything that interests you about the time period you portray. It will serve to teach you new aspects about the period you enjoy, or even refresh your memory about things you read long ago that you'd forgotten.
Don't 'plateau' or get stagnant, don't be rigid in your interpretation, always be learning and working toward new and interesting things... and remember to always be as accurate as you can be. You might be the spark that ignites an interest in history for the next generation of historians, museum professionals or reenactors!
Do you have any easy suggestions for reeanactors to improve their impressions? Please feel free to share them in the COMMENTS section, we'd love to hear your ideas!
Interested in having a look at some of our other reenactor lists?
7 Stupid things asked of Historical Reenactors
7 Historical 'Facts' Learned From Reenactments
6 Skills Our Forefathers Had That Reenactors Don't
7 Historical 'Facts' Learned From Reenactments
6 Skills Our Forefathers Had That Reenactors Don't
If
you have enjoyed reading this or the other adventures of the HMS
Acasta, be certain to become an honorary member of the crew. This is a
easy way to show us that you're out there and paying attention. If you find a post that you are particularly
fond of... be sure to share a link with your friends, over Facebook,
Tumblr, Google Plus, etc. so they can enjoy it too!
The Acasta log is generally updated every weekday at 8am CST, visit back often, and encourage your History Nerd/Reenacting/Royal Navy friends to visit us.
Thanks for reading!
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Thursday, September 1
The Commissioner's House, Naval Yard, Halifax
Description of Plate CXLV.
THE annexed plate exhibits a view of the Commissioner's House in the Naval Yard, Halifax. It was built during the peace before the last, while the present Deputy-Comptroller of the Navy was at the head of Halifax Yard. The following description accompanied the drawing from which the engraving has been made, and which was transmitted by our old friend and correspondent,
HALF-PAY.
To the Editor of the Naval Chronicle
The enclosed view was taken from the Moorings in Halifax Harbour, south-east of the Naval Yard. The yard is on the western shore of this safe and capacious harbour, about a mile from the centre of the town of Halifax. Here our largest men of war heave down, shift their masts, and undergo every repair but that of docking, with ease and security. About a quarter of a mile higher up the harbour on the same shore, is the Naval Hospital, a large and commodious building. -Alongside the yard, under the Sheers; a line-of-battle ship is introduced; and in the fore-ground, the Commissioner’s yacht, and an Indian bark canoe.
Hoping the above sketch may be the means of your receiving more particular information on this subject, I am
Your humble servant,
HALF-PAY
July 3, 1803
Taken from The Naval Chronicle for 1804: Volume 11.
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Front View of the Commissioner's House and barn c. 1890s. Naval Historical Library, London. |
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