HMS Acasta Images

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 awesome photgraphers and sources. From Events, games, battles, press gangs, clothing, weddings, you name it... you'll find it here.

Have a look at some of the Image Posts!

200th Anniversary Posts

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.

It can be anything from 200th Anniversary events and historical reenactments, posts from period books, letters and documents and lots of Acasta actions. Most of these posts are not only labeled as '200th', but they are also marked with a special '200th' ribbon graphic created to make them easier to spot.

Check out all the 200th Posts!

Pride of Baltimore II

From their website:  One of the most famous of the American privateers was Captain Thomas Boyle, who sailed his Baltimore Clipper, Chasseur, out of Fells Point, where she had been launched from Thomas Kemp's shipyard in 1812. On his first voyage as master of Chasseur in 1814, Boyle unexpectedly sailed east, directly to the British Isles, where he unmercifully harassed the British merchant fleet. In a characteristically audacious act, he sent a notice to the King by way of a captured merchant vessel that he had released for the purpose. The notice, he commanded, was to be posted on the door of Lloyd's of London, the famous shipping underwriters. In it he declared that the entire British Isles were under naval blockade by Chasseur alone! This affront sent the shipping community into panic and caused the Admiralty to call vessels home from the American war to guard merchant ships which had to sail in convoys. In all, Chasseur captured or sank 17 vessels before returning home. 

On Chasseur's triumphal return to Baltimore on March 25, 1815, the Niles Weekly Register dubbed the ship, her captain, and crew the "pride of Baltimore" for their daring exploits. 

Pride of Baltimore II

Bulletins of the Campaign 1813

My copy of 'Bulletins of the Campaign 1813' compiled from the London Gazette arrived with the last mail packet. To my dismay, it would seem that it was damaged in transit! The lower third of the book was missing, to such an extent as to make the copy almost completely impossible to read.

I will write immediately to the London Gazette offices to have them replace it with an undamaged copy.

You may see the damaged volume here.

Acasta Labels

Looking for something to read? 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.

Capt Freymann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Captain Robert Freymann

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.

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.

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.

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!

Midshipman Raley - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta Midshipman David Raley.

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!

Mississinewa 1812 - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Mississinewa 1812 event that is held every October in Marion, IN.

Mr. Cushing - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta Purser Brian Cushing. 

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.

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.

Evade Your Enemies

Sailors Wanted

The Doctor & the Captain.

When the seeds were planted in May of 2011 to create the HMS Acasta between Robert Fryman (Captain) and Albert Roberts (Ship’s Surgeon), it was decided right from the start to have the group be ‘invite only'. This was to ensure that the individuals would mesh well and that all members would be on the same page with the Acasta's philosophy of education through first person activities and demonstrations.

To that end, for the purposes of recruitment of new people to the group... we have the ‘Landmen Program'.

How it works:
Contact us and arrange with the Acasta leadership to attend one of our official events throughout the year. Then, you come dressed out to the prearranged event with the Acastas as a sort of 'audition'. This gives the Acasta leadership a chance to see how you mesh with the other members and how you interact with the public as well. This is not a guarantee that you'll get in, the leadership of HMS Acasta reserves the right to refuse anyone membership.

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!

Be sure to read the Clothing Guidelines as laid out on the Acasta website:

Then check out our group’s Philosophy:

Do you think you have what it takes? Contact us to apply today!