Saving Private Miller

Reenactor Mark Miller volunteered to act as wounded after every battle and his fantastic performances always drew large crowds of public to the British hospital tent. I'd like to publicly thank him for his assistance, his help contributed greatly to the success of the British Hospital demonstration at New Orleans.

Trepanning at New Orleans

The crew of HMS Acasta ran the British Field Hospital at the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in Jan. 2015 located in the town of Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, LA. The Hospital was open after every battle that took place that weekend and was intended to serve as a tribute to the men on both sides of the line that fought and died in that final battle of the War of 1812.

278 Men for a Frigate?

A well made video about the division of men aboard a Frigate during the Napoleonic era that you might enjoy.Special thanks to Acasta N. Johnson for bringing this video to our attention.

A Letter for Jas. Apple

Today's post submitted by Charles Winchester

TO: James Apple,
CarpenterAboard H. M. S. Acasta
His Majesties Fleet,
Jamaica Station.
St. George, Bermuda

22 November,1804

My dearest Friend Jim,

It has been nigh onto two years since last we met. Much water has gone under the keel since then. You will no doubt recall that when our good ship and Captain took little Boney s ship Avanture, I was Placed aboard as part of the prize Crew.  Oh how I Hated this at the time, having grown Fond of my old chums aboard the Acasta.  But such is Life as they say and I reckon it was for the best.  We returned to Portsmouth with our Prize and believe me when I tell you the Coin did not burthen my Pockets for long.  

At the urging of the Cockswain I did entrust a few Quid to my old Solicitor back in Bristol. My girls, when they come of age, will appreciate that I did. I sailed aboard the Royal Edward- a sharp little Brig of twenty-eight guns on September last. She is fast and keen and a joy to sail-how she cuts through the water. It would make your spirits rise.  But the real news that I want to share with you now is this.  You may recall how I always longed to be on the gun crew while aboard Acasta.  I have at last got my wish. 

Our lieutenant said he saw me as a lively little fellow and that I couldbe better served on the guns than as a Topman- always there on our old bark and my new one as well. So off I go to work on the twelve pounders.  It was hot work and long days let me tell you. Our Captain, Reynolds, says within ear shot of the Gunners that he would have us the fastest Artillery in the Fleet or see us all drop dead at our guns from fatigue.  This was no idle boast.  Work and work we did.  He, the Captain, has paid for powder from his own pocket that we might fire the Guns more frequently than is ordinarily required by the Service.  He believing that dry Firing alone does not ready the men for Battle.  All the while he stands by with his time piece, “Not good enough! Faster!”  he cries, and faster we go  There is much Labour and shouting and sweat. Much as in actual Battle- without the Blood under our feet, of course.  Our hard work has paid off though aswe are Each given an extra Gil of rum and two of Grog for our pains.  

You would think me quite deef after a month or two of this but the Deck Officer had us stop our ears with tow and wax. None of the Boys liked this at first but now I believe to a Man they are Grateful for this kindness.  He says it is no Kindness but makes an effiecient crew- for how in H- can we hear his curses if we are deef as a stone  The Captain in his exortations to us has us believe that a smaller Ship may yet defeat a larger one by way of a disciplined gun crew. And by Jove after a time at this I believe him right.  

Our gun is numbered 7, witch of course is good luck and I believe She favours us.  We have on our Crew a red Indian from America- taken from a Yankey Whaler and a black Jamaican. Butwe are all well drilled and Disciplined and if I may say it the best Gun crew on the entire Ship.  We are excused from some other duties as Artillery men and are much favoured by the Captain. Which causes some jealousy from the other Boys.  Also we have been given new Cloathing and all green ribbons for our Hats to mark us as gunners.  You would think us the Captain's Launch crew if you saw us lined up on the Deck as smart a show as we make!

I have another surprise for you. I know you do not forget the beautiful Negress with the Cinnamon Skin and yellow eyes- I wish I could see the smile on your face that I know must be there as you read this. Oh the memories! I was walking through the Market whenlast we were in St. George in Bermuda.  Often I had thought of Her whilst laying in my Hammock at night when I learned we were bound for this place. As I and some of my Mates walked though the Market I hear a cry from that Angelic throat- “Char Lay Char Lay is it you for true.”  She leaps into my arms verily knocking me to the cobbles.  When I work my way our from under her embraces and kisses you would have given your Grog ration to see the looks on those old Tars faces.  

“How now Carpey, What is this?” This is their name for me, but that is a story for another time. But on to Margarite.  

Oh how this unexpected meeting set my heart to pounding. As I helped her up I look into those yellow Eyes and, Jesus help me, if I Did not fall in love all over again.  She is kissing me again and I can feel my face Pulse. At length I look around to see if the whole World is looking at our Spectacle and standing directly behind me is the biggest, blackest Man you have ever seen, staring, with a Countenance that would surely melt a Stone, Directly into my eyes.  Margarite says with a veritable squeal,  “Char Lay, you must Greet my new Husband, Marcelle”.  

I can see Tell you at that instant I would rather have faced the entireFrench fleet alone than to have been Standing there looking up into the Eyes of this Giant!  Sweet weeping Jesus, I am a dead Man.  Even the other boys stood in silence, no doubt ready to Flee back to the safety of the Ship at any moment. This Behemouth suddenly lifts me into the air Squeezing me so tightly against his Chest that I could not breathe if I had wanted to. But that was not a Concern at all.  The fear that Siezed me at that instant had stopt all thought of anything and my brain clean forgot to tell my lungs to work as God had Ordained.

At length He sets me on the Ground and with the widest smile he says to me  “I have heerd much stories of you from my beautiful Wife.  Is she not beautiful, yes?”    

“No!  Yes!”  Said I.  Then praying that my death would be swift but fearing it would be very slow and painful.  Suddenly he laughed a laugh that echoed down the Street and through the Crowd, which had now given us a very wide Bearth.   

“Come Marcelle give drinks for Char Lay and his Friends,” says Margaritte. At this the boys cheered. Then they, I, and the long forgotten Margaritte slipped dutifully down the street following the giant to an old awning set up off a Veranda in their part of Town. Old Tote, who is one of my mates, says in my ear, “Reckon he means to get us in our Cups and then cut all our throats?”    

Marcelle stops and looks at him and says, "Not to worry, little Englais man.  Marcelle is a friends to the Sailors".  He picks up the well named Tote and carries him under his arm the rest of the way to the ale House.

All ended well, and I must tell you now, having time to reflect, that this ending is for the best.  But, oh, how I do pine after those yellow eyes and that sweet voice of the finest silk.  Maybe in another life. I fear I have rambled too much and as paper is dear, I must close for now.  I trust you are well and in fine health and spirits. I miss you leading us in our old chantey songs. None of the Boys on board the Edward sing with the same lust and joy as our old Ship’s Carpenter. 

Godspeed and live well.

I remain affectionately, your friend,

Charles Grierson

p.s. This Letter was taken down by Midshipman B. Hillman as told to him by Mr. Grierson, Able Seaman.  He says he continues to Work on his Letters as you taught him and hopes that his next Letter will be in his own Hand.

Doctor Heal Thyself

There has been a great deal of celebration, what with Christmas and our recent captures. We have been back and forth to the Poictiers several times to dine. 

It would seem that my exposure to the winter air above decks and in the longboat has laid me open to a newly formed cough that I cannot get rid of. I am quite cross about it, for there is far too much to be done for me to be sick. And I fear that even Vasserman will attest that I can be a bit unpleasant when I am, myself, ill.

It is attended with a fever and I am quite tired and have a raw throat from all the damn'd coughing. It is, I fear, the enemy despised, the much dreaded cold.

Vassermann is ditirmined that I be bundled into my cot with every blanket available to 'break' my obstructed perspiration. He has placed a blanket 'round my shoulders every time he has passed by me at my desk this morning.

To ease my cough, I have been dosing myself with a private mixture of equal parts honey, lemon-juice and sugar-candy. A table-spoonful taken by mouth at my pleasure does help ease the cough.

Baptiste, my mate, knows well enough to stay away from me unless his assistance is requested. Instead, I have given over my daily duties to him in an attempt to keep him from feeling any obligation of calling upon me in my current state.

from:

DOMESTIC MEDICINE or, a TREATISE on the PREVENTION And CURE OF DISEASES BY REGIMEN And SIMPLE MEDICINES. WITH An APPENDIX, containing a DISPENSATORY for the Use of Private Practitioners.

By WILLIAM BUCHAN, M. D.

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.

THE ELEVENTH EDITION.

CHAP. XXIX.

OF COLDS AND COUGHS.

When oppression of the breast, a stuffing of the nose, unusual weariness, pain of the head, &c. give ground to believe that the perspiration is obstructed, or, in other words, that the person has caught cold, he ought immediately-to lessen his diet, at least the usual quantity of his solid food, and to abstain from all strong liquors. Instead of flesh, fish, eggs, milk, and other nourishing diet, he may eat light bread-pudding, veal or chicken broth, panado, gruels, and such like. His drink may be watergruel sweetened with a little honey; an infusion of balm, or linseed sharpened with the juice of orange or lemon; a decoction of barley and liquorice, with tamarinds, or any other cool, diluting, acid liquor.

Above all, his supper should he light; as small posset, or water-gruel sweetened with honey, and a little toasted bread in it. If honey should disagree with the stomach, the gruel may be sweetened with treacle or coarse sugar, and sharpened with the jelly of currants. Those who have been accustomed to generous liquors may take wine-whey instead of gruel, which may be sweetened as above.

The patient ought to lie longer than usual a-bed, and to encourage a gentle sweat, which is easily brought on towards morning, by drinking tea, or any kind of warm diluting liquor. I have often known this practice carry off a cold in one day, which in all probability, had it been neglected, would have cost the patient his life, or have confined him for some months. Would people sacrifice a little time to ease and warmth, and practise a moderate degree of abstinence when the first symptoms of a cold appear, we have reason to believe, that most of the bad effects which flow from an obstructed perspiration might be prevented. But, after the disease has gathered strength by delay, all attempts to remove it often prove vain. A pleurisy, a peripneumony, or a fatal consumption of the lungs, are the common effects of colds which have either been totally neglected or treated improperly.

Many attempt to cure a cold, by getting drunk. But this, to say no worse of it, is a very hazardous experiment. No doubt it may sometimes succeed, by suddenly restoring the perspiration; but when there is any degree of inflammation, which is frequently the cafe, strong liquors, instead of removing the malady, will increase it. By this means a common cold may be converted into an inflammatory fever.

Strange Fortune - part 4

A story in four parts by Tony Gerard.

Dey cut de heads off all de Spaniards and gather up some of dere tings. De heads dey put into baskets
some of dem carry on dere backs. Dey give me one to carry widt a Spaniard head in it.  Dey sign for me to go widt dem on a trail into de mountains.

Dat night dey build a fire and some begin to peel de flesh off de heads widt der axes. I am feared dey will make a soup of it- but no, dey just have dem to show dere family all de fellows dey kill. Dey save de skull bones and jaws.

 De Spaniards call dem Igrots- savages of de mountains. Four de next four years I live among dem.  I become good friends widt the fellow dat cut off Gasparia's head- his brother and father also. I live in a longhouse widt de other single fellows, I learn dere language, dere dances. I go to war widt dem. Sometimes against Spaniards, more often against other Igrots.

I become very fond of a girl, de sister of my friend. I call her Marie and it make her to laugh. To dis day I have never been so fond of any other woman. Finally I ask for to her for a wife. Her family agrees and we is married. We have a house of our own. We grow camote an tarro an wish to have children. I am very content- but for one ting.

I cannot forget my promise to Russo. Finally it torment me so dat I decide to leave- which break my heart because I love Marie so. When I tell her she say dat she will go widt me- she love me too much to do widout me. I am allways telling to her how handsome she is to me and how fond I am of her. Her peoples do not say does tings to one another- and she say she cannot do widout hearing does things from me now dat she knows dem.

So we go to leave. De day we are to depart her father come to me. He have a gong dey play for to dance. De handles of de gong is made of killed fellow's jawbones. He cut one side loose and give me de jawbone. "Is dat fellow you kick in de balls" he tell me.

So we make our way to de sea an steal a canoe. We avoid de Spaniards and go from island to island. Whenever we come to people in dose island I hold out Gasparia's jawbone and say "Espaniard" and we are welcomed. No one like de Spaniards. Finally along de mainland we find a ship- another Dutch ship- but I am signed on and work to pay our passage.

A year after we leave we arrive in Louisiana. I seek out Vilot. I tell her of Russo, dat his last toughts was for her and he wish her to marry again- a good fellow. It has been six years now since we sail- and she has never taken another fellow. She tell me dat now she know what has become of Russo she will take another husband. She say dat Russo's younger brother has  looked after her for dese last years, and he wish to marry her. She will marry him now she say.

"Wot about the lin- lin- go?" asked the topman slowly. The laudanum was having its effect.

"Oh, it was a gift from Marie's family"

"A good yarn" drawled the topman "but not very believable"

"Less believable than a sober man falling from de tops of a becalmed ship?" The topman smiled and laid a finger woozily beside his nose. Roberts pretended not to notice. Two broken legs were punishment enough in his book, no need for  the fellow to be lashed for drunkenness when he recovered.

"An your headhunter wife? Wot become o her?"

"She waits for me in Louisiana. We have twin sons now"

"I loves a happy ending..." The topman smiled with his eyes closed. He began to snore softly.

Strange Fortune - part 3

A story in four parts by Tony Gerard.

"So we is like dat for many days. We see only Pedro. Is as if dey have forgotten us.

After some long time it come to a blow- many, many hours. We is all sick. At last we hear de sound dat all sailor's dread - de crash and grind of de ship upon a reef! De carpenter and his mates come into de hold- water is coming in quick- we plead widt dem to free us but dey pay us no mind. Sailors begin to take tings from de hold - we plead widt dem also- but dey pay us no mind. Finally we see Pedro- he come to us widt de key to our shackles!

De water is already almost to our knees. I happen to be de first on de chain  and Pedro must feel under de water widt de key- but at last he free me. Russo is next, but as Pedro is feeling to free him Gasparia appear. In Spanish he say" What are you about fool? Saving rats when de ship is lost!" and he strike him on de side of his head-  and de key go flying- strike the side of de hull and fall into de water! He shove Pedro to help de sailors. I can see dis because dey have lanterns dey bring to work by.

I feel beneath the water to find de key. Of the tree still chained Tomas pull frantic like an animal on de chain where is bolted to de beam, Louis is very calm and say "Hail Mary's" , and Russo he keep calling to me. I say to Russo I am feeling for de key and he say "NO you must speak widt me!". He say it so strong I stop and go to him. He was Creole same as me- we sign on together and he is my tiemate. He say "Vilot-  his wife- he say Vilot is young, she love me very much. If you live you must tell her to take another husband- he must be a good man- she should not spend her life to grieve for me- promise me you tell her dat if you live. I say I do not wish dis- I must find de key- He grab me strong- our hand are not chained- and he say YOU PROMISE ME!  I say "Yes. I swear it" Den he release me and I continue to search for de key.

De water is to cover Thomas first, as it is almost to cover him he strike his head hard against de beam- I swear I can hear his skull bone break, and he fall into de water. Louis is still calm. He finish his Hail Mary- look to me and nod- den he go under de water. Russo is last. He look at me and say- you promised- he keep his eyes on mine until he go under.

De Spaniards have all gone some time ago now. I make my way up out of de hold, de ship is on her side almost. As I come onto de deck is still some daylight- I see de ships boats, dey had tree, pulling away. Some of the crew is in de water holded onto de side of one of dem because dere is too many. I see Pedro in one. I hope he lived. I still remember to pray for him if he is still alive or in purgatory.

I stay widt de ship most of de night. She work till she begin to come apart. I take a hatch cover and rope myself to it- not tied to it , 'cause I can swim and I don't wish to be flipped over an drown - but widt enough rope to pull myself to it should I be trowed off. I take all my courage and I jump into de sea on the hatch cover. Is very rough and many times I loose my grip, but each time I pull myself back widt de rope.  Finally I hear de sound of breakers. De waves is great-  I am trowed all to once, hard up on de beach. I begin to give a tanks to Mary- when I am yanked back into de sea! Is de hatch cover I am tied to being dragged back. Tree times I make de beach and tree times I am dragged back. De third time I get myself to loose- but now I am too tired and I begin to drown- when again I am trowed on the beach.  I crawl up beyond the waves, give tanks to Mary and go to sleep.

I wake up because is water splashing into my face. I open my eyes- Gasparia is pissing on me!

"At least one rat did not drown" he say to de fellows widt him and kick me hard.

Is him and ten other Spaniards.  Dey have also made de beach, but dey have lost der boat. All de powder dey have is wet- no food also. So dey treat me for a slave. We live five days dere on de beach. We gather coconuts, crabs and shells to eat. Dey keep a fire going for de smoke to be seen. One Spaniard die from de sting of a posion snail. Another is bad cut up from coral when dey loose dere boat- and his wounds become red and stink.

One morning Gasparia kick me awake- he do dat every morning- an say- "de fire need more wood". I take tree steps toward de woods when I see a fellow lookin at me from among de trees. He is almost naked- have a spear and a shield. He is marked all over like a savage from Louisiana. As I look at him more of dem stand from hiding. Gasparia begin to curse me for not moving- den he see dem also.  He slowly draw his sword. Dere are many of dem- maybe twenty. Gasparia slowly walk toward dem- a pace beyond me. He say to his men in Spaniard " we will show des monkeys how real men die". I tink is my time to be killed and I have nothing to loose- so I kick Gasparia from behind - hard in de balls.  As he fall all dose savage run forward. One run to Gaspiria- he is on de ground - pin his neck widt his shield. Quick as a cat he take a strange axe and cut off his head.  I am wait for him to strike me also, but he only smile and speak to me dat I cannot understand. The Spaniards is all dead quick.