A Letter of Intent RENEW'D

I have posted a letter of intent similar to this in the past... doing so in this various places for years, but wanted to renew the sentiments for the coming season.

My dear friends,

I write today you to tell you of my RENEWED intentions for this year so as to spare you any confusion or frustration when next you encounter me. It is my intention to remain 'in character' as much as possible during my travels for this present year.

This seems especially fitting given that part of the charter of HMS Acasta states that:

"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."

There is no doubt in my mind that this could be difficult for me, but also for those around me; and I do not wish to alienate any of my friends or compatriots. Things will not be much different, I imagine, than they have been in the past... you've all met the Doctor during YOUR travels, and know the agreeable sort of fellow he can be.

I am generally already 'in character' for all the visitors and guests I work with at various events, if done correctly, I believe it can be a powerful learning tool for the public.

In addition, I'd like to request that you all help me to do this by not trying to 'snap me out of it' by mentioning a bunch of modern stuff to me whilst at an event. I believe that enough of you have my email address and are friends with me on various forums, message boards and social networking sites... that any out of character conversation can safely take place there at any time.

I tell you now that if you attempt to talk to the Doctor about movies, internet, cellphones and the like, he will be terribly confused. There is a time and a place for talk of that sort, and for me, it's NOT while I'm dressed out at an event.

I daresay I will go one step further and challenge YOU once again to give your interpretation and character some thought. It's no fun if I don't have a few of you to play along!

Special thanks to everyone that has encouraged me (verbally & otherwise) to do this in the past, I look forward to the additional research that I need to do over the fall and winter to get me where I need to be... and the Doctor looks forward to meeting you in the year to come. This has the potential to be a really fantastic learning experience!

Allow me to present my compliments to you and yours; and if, in any of your affairs, I can render you any acceptable service, I beg you will use that freedom with which I wish you to command, my friends,

Yr Humble & Most Obt Svt,

The Doctor

Heritage Artisan Days, New Harmony, IN.

Every year for the past few, your Royal Navy Doctor has been invited to perform my medical program at the Heritage Artisan Days event in scenic New Harmony, Indiana. The fine folks who put the event on put me in the Murphy Auditorium, a big theater built in the early 1900's. I generally do nine shows for school kids from the surrounding area ranging from 4th to 8th grade. My crowds are a great mix of public, private and home school kids. This year, I performed for 2700+ kids as the Navy Surgeon, and talked to the kids about 'joining His Majesty's Navy'. After my pep talk, I could have easily recruited several hundred boys single handed! If I keep it up at this rate, they'll call me the 'one man press gang'!

The Royal Naval Medical talk was a big hit, I'm hoping that I can convince Mr. Vassermann to join me next year to assist me with the big crowds!

The children showing off their Naval salute!

Preparing for 'amputation'.

Niagara-on-the-Lake 2012

The inaugural event of the Colonial Sailors Program took place July 13th - July 15th, 2012, near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Some 550 naval and military re-enactors staged an historic land and sea battle demonstration at the Fort George National Historic Site (Queen's Royal Park).

The naval contingent consisted of four brigantines, two schooners, and fifteen longboats. Together they created a scene on Lake Ontario and the Niagara River not witnessed for two centuries.

The event was a collaborative effort organised by Parks Canada, The Directorate of Naval History, and Heritage of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Welcome Aboard!

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.

The eclectic band of historical reenactors and interpreters that makes up the 'CREW' of HMS Acasta spans a wide spectrum of real life occupations.

We are made up of students, educators, academics (a surprising number of us are teachers) even a Ph.D., present and former Coast Guard and U.S. Naval men, artists & artisans, tailors, musicians, professionals & executives. We even have a freelance copywriter, farrier & presidential presenter thrown into the mix for good measure! (hint: look for the fellow that looks like Jackson from the twenty dollar bill!)

What does this odd lot all have in common? A love for the history of the Royal Navy and passing it on in a unique way to the public. 

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 at the bottom of the page 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!

Find the Doctor on Facebook!

A Letter to Polly

From: Todd E. Lickspittle

HMS Acasta,

At sea.

To: Mrs. Polly Lickspittle,

Care of

Captain Ernest Brine,

Gundeck Manor,

Portsmouth.

April 16, 1814.

My Dear Polly,

I have thought naught of any but yourself since my impressment, these many months past, and I wish I could simply walk up the path to the door of the kitchen with you to open it but I have taken the King’s Shilling and must do my duty or be flogged to the bone. In truth, I must not talk of this matter for they are hard task masters here, and would have the skin from my back for less.

Things have improved since my letter to the Doctor, that grand learned man, and I am no longer required to climb the masts to set sails as before. Instead, I have become the Wardroom Steward and serve the dinner to the lesser officers. Usually, this means I don’t have to go on deck where I might fall overboard or be washed away in storms as waves sweep over the ship! Being on the berthing deck, it is amongst the driest and warmest places aboard. But for the surprising events of this evening’s dinner, I would be as content as I could be away from my snug bed in Portsmouth.

It is my duty to bring the vittles and drink as the officers demand and at dinner this evening, I was about these tasks. There are three Lieutenants on Acasta and they and the Master would eat in the Wardroom together with the Surgeon and some of the senior warrant officers. As there is always a commissioned officer on duty, this was the 1st Officer’s watch and he was walking the quarterdeck. Another of the Lieutenants was a guest of the Captain, together with one of the Midshipmen and so, the remaining Lieutenant Ramsay and the sailing master MacLachlan and the Doctor and the purser were the seniors present, and one of the midshipmen too, as a guest of the Wardroom.

The plates for the food had been removed and the Lieutenant called for port for the toasts and I was as fast as I could be, producing the bottle. Glasses were filled and then the loyal toast was made. “The King!” and a curious thing happened. The Master, before he drank, passed his wine over a cup of water and then drank. The Lieutenant had seen this and became very angry. “You…!” he spluttered at the master and then, glared at me! “Why did not you remove the water from the table?” and the master, seeing that he had been observed, began to laugh. “Auld habits”, he said in a low voice and leans back, still smiling.

“You fool!” says the Lieutenant to me. “Do you not recollect the date?”

“No, Sir. Is there some significance to the date? Your birthday perhaps? Happy Birthday, Sir.” says I, as humbly and cheerfully as I can. I offer to fill his glass.

After another burst of laughter, the master, a Scot says “Come noo Ramsay! It was a lang time ago and the last o’ the Stuarts are lang dead. Leave off the puir mon, he’s scar’t white!”

“And you!” yells Lt. Ramsay! “What of your oath of loyalty?”

The master is now angry too.

“Loyalty? There’s none more so, but my grandfather and his eldest son were lost at Culloden Moor in ’46 and so I do this for my broken-hearted father, now passed.” He looked hard into his glass. “Toadie!” he calls to me.

“Yessir?”

“You’re to ensure the water is removed from the table before bringing out the port, aye?”

“Oh, yes Sir!” says I.

“That make ye happy, Ramsay?” and they all just sat in silence for the rest of the meal.

I admit to being completely baffled by this turn of events.

Otherwise, duty herein the Wardroom has been uneventful.

I will send this by the first ship that leaves for Halifax and you shall receive it soon. I wish I could follow it home.

Your ever faithful,

Todd.

A Letter to the Captain

To: Captain Robert Freymann,

HMS Acasta,

On blockade duty off the coast of the United States

From: Captain Thomas Hurlbut

Royal Naval Dockyard,

Kingston, Upper Canada.

April 14, 1814.

Dear Captain Freymann,

This has been a banner day in Upper Canada with the launch of two ships, designed to wrest control of Lake Ontario from our counterparts on the American side of the lake. These are the largest ships ever seen on our inland seas and should give the superiority necessary to gain the upper hand in our conflict.

HMS Prince Regent is a spar-decked ship of 1293 and 50/94ths tons burthen, 155 feet and 10 inches between perpendiculars and a maximum breadth of 43 feet and 1 inch, making her nearly as large as the big American frigates. She will be armed with 28-24 pdrs on the upper deck with 4-68 pdr and 24-32 pdr carronades on the spar deck.

Shortly after Prince Regent was launched, a second ship slipped down the ways and HMS Princess Charlotte joined her large consort in Navy Bay. She is smaller, having been altered on the ways from a proposed transport, and measures 756 tons burthen, 121 feet between perpendiculars, with a breadth of 37 feet and 8 inches. She will be armed with 24-24 pdrs on the upper deck, with 2-68 pdr and 16-32 pdr carronades on quarterdeck and forecastle giving her a formidable broadside for a vessel of this size.

HMS Prince Regent

Both these ships are expected to be fully commissioned in a few weeks.

While the Americans have not been idle, they have been slow to start and their expected frigates are still far from completion. The ordnance for their ships comes from Oswego on the New York shoreline of Lake Ontario and must be transported to Sacket’s Harbour. If we can take the place and intercept the guns, then their ships will be toothless and no threat.

Sir James will hoist his broad pennant on Prince Regent and the newly posted Captain William Mulcaster will take command of the Charlotte. While no-one could complain that this deserving officer is unworthy, I confess to being disappointed at not being awarded a command. As new ships spring from the shipyards, so too do command officers arrive from Britain.

I shall continue to tell you of our struggles here in the interior as opportunities afford. The ice is out on the lower lakes and the battle will be renewed. Wish us good fortune as I do you.

Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant,

Thomas Hurlbut,

Captain, RN,

Kingston,

Upper Canada.

Our Schedule

Where are the Acastas planning on being?

2014

June 21-22  Battle of St. Leonard's Creek
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Saint Leonard, MD.

July 18-19-20 Jane Austen Festival at Locust Grove 

Louisville, KY.

Aug 30-31 The Fair at New Boston (Press Gang)

at Springfield, Ohio 

Oct 10-12 Mississinewa 1812 (Red Box)

at Marion, Indiana 

2015

Jan 6-11, 2015 200th Anniv. Battle of New Orleans
Chalmette Battlefield, New Orleans, Louisiana