A Most Peculiar Dream

I had the most unusual dream last night...  I attended a great ball with many friends and relations, but I seemed to be one of the only people dressed in the proper fashion. Some wore clothing from my father's generation and earlier, some wore fashions or uniforms I did not recognize. Other than the unusual garb, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

Miss Tattman and I do not seem to be able to make head nor tail of it.

The garb worn by all seemed quite out of sorts.

At one point near the end, I do seem to recall Miss Waterman dancing with a dog.

Lt. Tumbusch and his wife lead the merriment.

Don't forget...

For the Kids

 Some educational period Navy fun for young and old alike can be found at 

asailorslifeforme.org 

A site funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and a project of the USS Constitution Museum. Play games, explore the ship, meet the crew, this website is as educational as it is entertaining!

Mississinewa 1812

To learn more about this ACASTA game, be sure to visit our GAMES page.

To read up on our previous adventures at Mississinewa playing the SPY GAME, be sure to visit MISSION ONE.

For more information about Mississinewa 1812, be sure to visit that EVENT'S page.

Recent Changes

You may have noticed that the Acasta website has recently gotten a new look. I made the biggest changes on Tuesday with a new background and a wider window for text and images. I am finished with the bulk of the overhaul, but you may notice a few additional tweaks here and there in the days to come. 

The 'Journal Archive', 'Honorary Crew' & 'Logs by Author' features have moved to the bottom of the page.

We are very pleased to have you as a reader to our efforts here aboard the HMS Acasta. If you would, take a moment to comment on this post and let us know what type of of thing you enjoy reading here the most. Your input is very valuable and would be much appreciated!

WANTED. Spirited Young Men for the Royal Navy

The Acasta is looking for quality reenactors

to portray English sailors circa 1800-1812

Our organization seeks to educate via a series of first person activities designed to demonstrate the real lives of sailors as they go about their business etc. 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. 

First, be sure to read the Clothing guidelines for Acasta Sailors. 

Then check out our Philosophy: 

If these sound like a good fit for you, then you may have what it takes to be an Acasta! Email Albert Roberts today to find out more about joining the crew at:

Want some cheater's hints at how to get in good with the officers? 

Here's what we're looking for in new members. Someone who is motivated to learn and share their knowledge, someone who knows about the position that they're portraying, someone who can act in the manner befitting the station that they portray. First-person and acting skills (no 'Monty Python' accents need apply). And don't forget to salute!

Post for the Captain

Another letter from the Mail Packet, this one for Captain Freymann. You may examine the original letter and the comments of its author HERE.

Captain Freymann – 

Your letters home have enjoyed a great deal of circulation around the neighborhood, and the general society hereabouts is quite in raptures at the skill of yourself and your crew in the varied arts of letter-writing. Your exercise with the flag-hoists was thought very clever -- such small perfect pictures! --even for those of us without a Popham’s close to hand, and the basic geometrics of navigation were enough to put even the most devoted of shore-bound mathematicians through their paces. One wonders how you gentlemen ever make it home with such instruments at your disposal! I suppose, like all other pursuits, it is one that requires a great deal of practice to perfect.

You must think me very forward to write this, being that I am of no particular relation to you. Suffice it to say that I am an admirer of general writing practice, and a firm supporter of the advancement of the art of naval warfare, and in both of these matters you and your crew have garnered my unstinting praise. Your own letters have been both instructive and entertaining, and I mean only to repay the compliment.

I imagine, in this season of the year in which so many family gatherings are the usual practice, that you and your crew must, feel a little longing to be at home. I cannot claim to have any especial knowledge of how the New Year is rung in at sea (though several estimable naval gentlemen of my acquaintance, Captains Wentworth and Aubrey, are attempting to rectify the matter) but I am sure that you must have some hint of merriment aboard.

There was some suggestion in this neighborhood of first-footing, but as fair-faced dark haired young men are thin on the ground in this part of the country at present, we have kept the old tradition here of waiting up for the first chime of the clock at midnight to let the old year out and the new year in, and that shall have to suffice. The chimes of our clock seem long indeed when the door is open – I fully wished the new year would hurry up and get inside before Papa and all the rest caught a chill! After we had waited out all twelve chimes, the door was shut tightly, all our luck for the new year locked in, and Mama’s punch liberally distributed to one and all for a toast. I imagine there was a little laughter and a good deal of singing that dreadful Scotch air after that, but I went to bed shortly after the punch. Did any of your young gentlemen stay up to bring the New Year in? I cannot see ships having front doors, but you must have a custom of some kind.

Today being rather cold, the cutting and fitting of a new dress will keep me inside – though I must endeavor to be quiet about it. It is near past ten, and most of the rest of the household has not yet risen – too much punch at last nights’ festivities, I should think. I shall not trouble you with the rest of the day's plans, as they are not likely to be of much interest to you, and my letter grows long without them. How I should hate to have you squinting over a crossed-over page for them! Let me then close. All the best of luck to you and your crew this season, or fair weather and plenty of prizes, however you should reckon it.

I am, your humble neighbor,

Mariah Gray

You too can get in on the fun of writing a letter to your favorite Acasta crew members, to find out how... be sure to have a look inside the MAIL PACKET.