A Report from the Field 6

We received word that the fashionable and well-bred ladies were to have an archery competition at the bottom of the hill near the woods. The Acastas in camp decided that such a spectacle was not to be missed. I took a piece of unused canvas from camp to recline on, and Lt Hamilton took a fine ladderback chair. Mr. Raley joined us as well. We positioned ourselves on the slope just above the target and relaxed with our coats off. I even took my great spy glass so as to better see the positioning of each fired arrow in the target.

Taking our ease atop the hill was not quite the difficult duty I had initially envisioned when given this assignment, but the taking of the territory by Brock and the dispersal of the local militia certainly served to make New Boston a more friendly to the British forces.

While the ladies partook in the archery, I was able to espy Mr. Tumbusch from afar through my spyglass while he stood with the participants under a great tree. He carried on his shoulder a large market-wallet that could have contained the packet in it, and I had seen him in possession of a basket with shoulder straps earlier that could have served that same purpose.

We decided it was time to secure Mr Tumbusch for questioning. We took him up from the group and returned him to our camp so as to avoid any unpleasantness as well as the rain that was fast approaching.

We searched Mr Tumbusch under the fly as the rain began to fall in earnest. He stood with arms akimbo as we emptied the contents of his market wallet and basket onto the ground under the canvas of the Acasta camp. After a very thourough search, it was concluded that he was not in possession of the packet.

The three initial suspects produced no results.

A letter from the Doctor

My recent missive to Mr. Rothman concerning a sequel of some interest to those assembled here:

My dear Sir,

Though the agreeable news of Captain Aubrey's capture of the Acheron arrived here in the North American Station some time back, their too long silence has given us all so much uneasiness of late. It has been quite some time since any word was received from our mutual friends aboard H.M.S. Surprise and I will speak frankly when I say that we have all begun to fear for their safety. It is not that I doubt the skill of our Captain Aubrey or his men, but as you know, the perils of life in His Majesty's Service combined with the deviousness of Bonaparte's forces should not to be underestimated. 

It is my hope that you can forgive this impertinence, but your address was supplied to me by Capt. Aubrey himself some time ago. He suggested that if there were no news of the Surprise that you might be the man to inform us of her where-abouts. And as you may know, there has been no word of her these long years. It is my hope that you know something of her that we do not. I am very sorry to press you ; but if I had not reason, I should not have called upon you. 

Any word of the fate of the Surprise that you might be able to pass along would be greatly appreciated by myself and the crew of the Acasta. It would certainly bolster the morale of His Majesty's forces here in the North American Station during this long war. 

We are all, thank God, very well, and desire to be remembered to you; and be assured a letter from you will give great pleasure to all your friends here, but none more than 

Your Humble and Obt Servant, 

Dr. A. Roberts 

Ship's Surgeon 

HMS Acasta 

Navy Hall, Halifax

 You may contact Mr. Rothman yourself as instructed by Capt Aubrey if you wish by addressing your missive to the following:

20th Century Fox Theatricals 

ATTN: Tom Rothman (Master and Commander 2) 

P.O. Box 900 

 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900 

foxmovies@fox.com 

rothmana@fox.com 

A Report from the Field 5

Shortly after our conversation with Mr. Mains, we found the the woman in Blue with the purple turban. She and a friend were out shopping and the woman in blue carried with her a great matching reticule. From a distance it seemed that it might be large enough to contain the packet if it were folded in two. 

We followed at some distance, and if the woman in blue noticed she didn't give herself away. We strolled casually down Ward Lane to the smell of all the food from the nearby eateries, the road was packed with visitors to the fair eager to fill their bellies. 

Eventually, the woman in blue and her friend took refuge in the tent belonging to Mr. Kingery's Ox-Bow Livery, at the North end of Ward Lane. We took up a position where we could see her about 40 yards away. 

It was at this point that Lt. Ramsey approached us and hullo'd the party. I informed him as to our activities and pointed out the suspect to him. I also informed him that I would allow him to approach her, as he was in plainclothes and might garner more cooperation from her than a gang of armed Navy men. And besides, I had questioned Mr. Mains. 

Lt. Ramsey approached and entered the tent and Mr. Raley and I stood back a bit. I could not hear what Mr. Ramsey said, for as he began to address the lady, Mr. Kingery the proprietor approached me in a huff to inquire as to the nature of the trouble. 

I assured him that we were about the King's business and that there was no trouble, and my explanation seemed to placate him. But by the time we had completed our conversation, Lt. Ramsey was exiting the tent. 

Lt. Ramsey

After a brief discussion about our business, the Lieutenant was satisfied that the Lady in blue did not have the packet, so much so that he had not even bothered to search her. 

That left only Mr. Tumbusch to question. We made our way back to camp as the looming storm clouds moved into the area.

A Report from the Field 4

It didn't take but a short time for the Captain and his Lady to return with Miss Waterman. We sat her on a bench at the Hickory Tavern and began to ask her questions about where she had been and who she had encountered. Miss Waterman was as lovely as ever in her white dress and green spencer.

We gave Miss Waterman her parole and advised her that we may have need of her in the future. 

We returned to the fairgrounds and questioned the British Indian Agent who followed Miss Waterman. The fellow had even used his own wife to aid in the work! They relayed the route taken by Miss Waterman in her mission to deliver the Packet to the American Spy. Mrs. Kelly relayed in great detail Miss Waterman's exploits, she had met with a large group of fashionable ladies on the road next to the furniture shop, she had encountered Mr. Jesse Mains from Kentucky, she encountered the Tumbusches, and then disappeared for a bit behind the Black Horse tavern where she could not be seen by the Kellys. They said when she finally emerged, she was followed shortly thereafter by an unknown woman in a blue dress and a purple turban. 

Mrs. Kelly claimed that she had SEEN with her own eyes Miss Waterman pass the packet to Mr. Tumbusch. She was very adamant about it.

We now had a workable list of suspects which consisted of: 

Tom Tumbusch - former Acasta and a mutual friend of Myself and Miss Waterman

Jesse Mains - a fellow from the Kentucky Territory

The Woman in blue - an unknown element

Mr. Alexander, Bosun's Mate

Mr. Raley and his division accompanied me to Mr. Barker's wagoneer camp where the oxen lay in the shade avoiding the mid-day heat. There stood Jesse Mains with his rifle in hand as he spoke with a fellow there in camp. 

We milled about the entrance for a bit, I taking an opportunity to have a look over Mr. Main's person in an attempt to ascertain if he might have a place to hide the packet. He was in possession of a small pouch and a small wallet on his belt either might be a place to hide the documents. I am not ashamed to confess that I approached Mr. Mains with some trepidation, knowing his reputation as a frontiersman from the Kentucky Territory. I knew that if he decided to fight, the lot of us might not be able to prevent his escape. 

We had the strategic advantage for sure, the lot of us blocking the only clear exit from camp, and Mr. Barker and Mr. Main's conversation companion were not obviously armed. 

I waited for there to be a lull in their conversation when I asked loudly, "Mr. Mains? May we have a word with you?" 

Mr. Mains

He seemed surprised, but moved toward us slowly and with deliberation, I breathed a sigh of relief when he passed his weapon off to Mr. Barker who laid it casually across his lap. 

I questioned him as to his encounter with Miss Waterman that morning. He seemed quite at a loss, and claimed not to have been passed anything by the young lady in question. While he did not submit to a search, he did show us the small pouch and the wallet on his belt, and I was satisfied that they did not hold the packet we sought. 

We thanked Mr. Mains for his cooperation and requested that he not leave the area in the event that we might have further need of him. As we left the camp, it occurred to me that Miss Waterman had met with him directly in the middle of the road where she might be seen easily by any onlookers. 

I was now more convinced than ever that Mr. Mains was not in possession of the packet.

A Report from the Field 3

 Saturday came and the Fair opened with the usual amount of enthusiasm and excitement. 

A local 'birdhouse' board.

Before the official opening ceremonies, Mr. Raley was ordered to take a small detachment out to the fairgrounds and pass out bills to the merchants as well as posting them on the local 'birdhouses' and in other such publick places. It was a small broadside advertising a Fifty Pound Reward for information leading to the safe return of the stolen documents. 

The Broadside, click to read.

At opening ceremonies, New Boston surrendered to Brock without a shot, and Captain Freymann was there at Brock's side as the announcement was made to the populace. There was the usual jeering and expressions of displeasure, but when the local militia was dismissed, they offered up no trouble and the fair went on as usual. 

Capt. Freymann and I with our telescopes trained.

Afterwards, the Acastas made their way to the Hickory Tavern located upon the hill at the Northeast end of the fair. From this vantage point we surveilled the courier as she went about the business of delivering the packet of stolen documents to the yet unknown American Spy. 

She made her way away from the Tavern down Medicinal Springs Road, stopping along the way to socialize on several occasions, but not passing the packet off to any of them. We then lost sight of her briefly, as she ducked just out of our line of sight.

Like spotting the proverbial needle in the haystack.

I spotted her a few moments later as she stood at the South end of Wood Workers Lane. There she stood, as bold as you please in the middle of the road with Jesse Mains. They stood there for a few moments and conversed, and from such a great distance it appeared that she might have passed him something, but Capt Freymann and I were uncertain. 

The Captain and Mrs. A.

She then left his company and disappeared into the thick crowds again. We did not see her again until we were certain she had made the drop, and Capt Freymann and his Lady, Mrs. Ashbourne, went to retrieve her. 

A Report from the Field 2

We arrived in New Boston on Friday and laid out our camp atop a grand hill that overlooked the site of the annual trade fair. The wind was constant from SWbS and played havoc with the canvas as we attempted to get it set up. Our camp consisted of a large 10x10 tent, a 12x12 dining fly flanked by a multitude of wedge tents. 

Mr. Houston and I beneath the Acasta dining fly

Mr. Alexander and Raley in camp.

 The party from the Acasta consisted of Captain Freymann and his Clerk Mr. Cushing, First Lieutenant Hamilton, Second Lieutenant Ramsey, Midshipman Raley, Myself, Master Minnis, Coxswain Mr. Houston and Bosun's mate Mr. Alexander. 

Our camp was overjoyed to learn that Brock's forces had taken Detroit and had even come in so far as New Boston. The Americans were sure to surrender New Boston after such a morale crushing blow as Detroit! 

Mr. G. Kelly

If the area was taken for the King, it would make our time in the area all the more pleasant, giving us our liberty to shop and socialize a bit instead of having to sneak about like criminals or spies. 

Lt. Ramsey, in plainclothes, secured the aid of the local Indian Agent, an Irishman by the name of Mr. Kelly, to follow Miss Waterman, the courier who was to pass off the packet to the American Spy. He was exactly as I would have imagined such a character, rough-hewn and native in his dress and eccentric in his appearance.

From the Surgeon's Personal Log 20

ededThe analysis of my recent trouble continues.

On a nature walk

I really only desire to be in the company of ONE individual in particular. We were thrown together a good deal during my mission to Upper York, Niagara on the Lakes and our shared adventures while on my way back to the Acasta.

 We have known each other near these two years now, thrust together after the attentions of a meddling Aunt in London. From the very beginning, Miss Waterman's Aunt seemed to be on a campaign designed solely to bring us together. Miss Waterman was sent to the United States where she was given over to the care of her new guardians, the Hegewoods. We were much in the same social circles as I was in my state of half pay from the Navy. Through letters and our many encounters at various parties, balls and other such events I have discovered that Miss Waterman and I share a multitude of common thoughts and interests.

Reading to my girls

 She is fashionable, clever, well bred, talented, brave and curious about the world around her. I enjoy her company above any woman I have previously encountered. Even upon my re-entering His Majesty's service on the outbreak of this new war with the United States, she has been steadfast and loyal as no other could ever be.

Playing at tug-of-war

And though she is four and twenty years and of an age where fashionable society fears she has lost her bloom, I shall have none of this. She is, to my eye, the most striking woman I have ever encountered, not only in her exterior appearance, but she possesses that bright inner beauty as well.

A stolen kiss under the mistletoe.

I have come to the conclusion after much careful contemplation that the root of my recent troubles springs from the fact that, I am hopelessly in love with Miss Emily Waterman.