Getting ready for Christmas

Longing for Christmas at home.

Birdsall Cottage will likely be decorated for the season by now.

The Court Martial of Mr. Cox

A COURT MARTIAL was lately assembled at Portsmouth, to inquire into the cause of the loss of H.M.S. Penelope,* on her passage to Quebec; when the Court, upon the evidence adduced, decided that her loss was occasioned principally by the state of the weather, and the set of the current : that Mr. Homer, the master, was not sufficiently attentive to the situation of the ship a short time previous to her running ashore, and did adjudge him to be placed at the bottom of the list : that due attention was not paid by Captain Galloway and the first lieutenant of the ship, to the safety of the ship's company, by their neglecting to make proper arrangements for getting them on shore ; and that great blame was therefore also imputable to the said Captain Galloway and the first lieutenant. The Court thereupon adjudged Captain Galloway, in consideration of his having been afflicted with the rheumatism, to be only reprimanded, and Lieutenant B. Hooper to be severely reprimanded ; and that no blame was imputed to the other officers and ship's company, except Walter Howell, who for drunkenness, disobedience of orders, mutiny, and desertion, was sentenced to receive 500 lashes.

Robert Cox, a seaman of the Acasta, was also tried for deserting to the enemy, on the 13th of May, 1813, with the cutter, when employed on the coast of America, and for encouraging the other part of the boat's crew to give way, cheering them up himself. The charges being fully proved, the Court adjudged him to suffer Death on board such of his Majesty's ships as the Commissioners for executing the office of the Lord High Admiral may direct.

from: The Naval Chronicle : containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects
Volume: 34 Page 165

Rule, Britannia!

Welcome aboard HMS Acasta! 

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.

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.

If you enjoy reading the adventures of the HMS Acasta, be certain to become an honorary member of the crew. This is a easy way to show us that you're out there and paying attention. It is a simple matter really, there is a blue button that will allow you to join.

And Second, I would ask that you comment from time to time on the posts that interest you the most. This is an excellent way to let the crew of the Acasta know what you, the reader, is the most interested in seeing. It is always most gratifying to know what the readers like. For those of you that have commented in the past, we thank you for you support and interest!

If you find a post that you are particularly fond of... be sure to share a link with your friends, over Facebook, Tumblr, Google Plus, etc. so they can enjoy it too!

The Acasta log is generally updated every weekday at 8am CST, visit back often, and encourage your History/Royal Navy friends to visit us.

Thanks for reading!

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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.