Lt. Hamilton's Log Sept. 26

The weather these past five days has been remarkable foul. Mist and fog with winds variable hardly blowing from a consistent quarter for more than an hour solid.
The crew is exhausted. Three days were had all hands watch and watch as we beat back up the coast with never a day where noon sights were possible.
Early this A.M. we were able to pick up a pilot coming out from Ketch Harbor and make our way into Halifax.
We are now safely anchored in harbor and the Captain has gone ashore to call on Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 2

The weather today has been miserable and wet, autumn has begun in full force here. The leaves cling to my boots in great wet clumps as we walk. Good English weather.

We head toward the Southwest along the rough roads of this country. We have taken great pains to avoid people and towns as we go. We thus far have traveled mostly during the night, hoping that the darkness would protect us from being spotted by the locals. Our eventual destination is some ways off, and we must make good time in order to intercept the American courier who is in possession of the stolen packet.

My mind has been on Mr. M------, my surgeon's mate back aboard the Acasta. He is a capable fellow when it comes to surgery of course, but I am concerned for the men aboard the Acasta should there be a grave injury whilst I am away. It seems quite a foreign thing to absent myself from my post and be on land, even if it is on the King's business.

Lt. Hamilton Log Sept 21

 Aboard HMS Acasta, September 21
Weather overcast with drizzle
We have arrived at the coast. Position 44˚04’ N 68˚25’W.
I have lead a part to dropped off the Doctor and a Lieutenant ashore in the dark to conduct some personal business.
Boats and crew returned to the ship without incident. Ships course ENE.

Lt Hamilton Log Sept 19

Aboard HMS Acasta, September 19
Weather clear with winds out of the NNE steady.
The captain has given orders to bend on all sail course due West.
We have been making 9 knots. At this rate and course we will make land fall in 2 days in southern New Brunswick new the territory disputed by the Americans.

Lt. Hamilton log Sept. 18

Aboard HMS Acasta, September 18
Weather clear with winds out of the NNW.
Noon sightings 40˚ 58’ N and 60˚ 17’ W. This puts us around 257 sea miles ESE of Halifax.
I am expecting orders from the Captain at any time to make for Halifax for fresh water , firewood and other stores.
Guns were exercised during the forenoon watch with much slovenliness. As a result seaman Gutterpup had his foot rolled over on the recoil. Odd however, for there was no blood. Just some swelling and his leg seemed to be attached at a most peculiar angle. The seaman was carried to the surgeon.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log

I was called into the Great Cabin at six bells in the Forenoon watch with 3rd Lieutenant (name withheld).

Lt. (name withheld) and myself have been assigned a covert mission to recover a packet of important papers that has fallen into the hands of an American intelligence agent. It is believed that this agent will pass the papers on to a more prominent American agent on or about 7 October.

Capt. Frymann has ordered us to go ashore in our regular clothes in an attempt to recover these papers and discover the identity of the prominent American agent. We were told to carry our Navy commissions along with a letter writ by him in the event that we should encounter other Navy men and might need to enlist their aid.

The Captain has inform'd us that starting on the 20th October (giving us just under two weeks to get there and two to get back) he will begin to bring the Acasta in near the coast daily at [a pre-set time] for an hour and look for our signal in order to be able to retrieve us. He has called to the Armourer for a RED Congreve rocket for us to fire when we are ready to signal the Acasta for our return.

The Captain took the Acasta in as close to shore as he felt he could get at around five bells in the Middle watch in order to avoid the attention of the American ships stationed nearby. Mr. (name withheld) and I packed our civilian clothes and were escorted ashore in one of the longboats by Lt. Hamilton. We were dropped ashore and Hamilton saluted and wished us 'happy hunting'.

Mr. (name withheld) and I checked our pistols to ensure that they were in good working order and stowed the red rocket in our bag. We watched as the longboat pulled away for the Acasta, and then made our way up from the coast to the nearest road by moonlight.

TAKE NOTICE.

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The purpose of the HMS ACASTA and the ROYAL TARS of OLD ENGLAND is to accurately portray a crew of His Majesty's Royal Navy circa 1800-1810 for the educational benefit of the public and for the mutual research and enjoyment of the individual members.

But we're gonna do it differently than it's been done before...

Our organization will educate via a series of first person activities designed to demonstrate the real lives of sailors as they go about their business and live their lives. Landing Parties, Surveying Crews, Recruitment Drives, Press Gangs, Shore Leave... these are but a few of the activities that our crew will undertake whilst encamped at an event. During duty hours, we follow proper Navy protocols and sailors are expected to live a sailor's life.

There will be no quarter giv'n when it comes to authenticity. No modern glasses, no tennis shoes, no facial hair. Our clothing is hand-finished and the materials all linen and wool, like what the officers and sailors of His Majesty's Royal Navy would have worn. Our purpose is to present a faithful representation of what life in the Service was like to those who hope to learn from the events we attend, but also that we may have a deeper appreciation for the lives of the men we say we represent.

To that end, if you're ready to go all out for a challenging, first person historical experience that is educational, entertaining and as accurate as they come, then sign on now.