'Going Home' Dinner

As the original Acasta was called home after the war in July of 1815, we decided to celebrate the passing of her final 200th anniversary with a 'Going Home' dinner at Locust Grove this past weekend. New Acasta recruit (and real life 5 Star Chef) Mike Schwendau slaved in the period reproduction kitchen in the record setting Kentucky heat to prepare a fantastic period feast! Below are some of the images he snapped while it was in production, along with his comments:

ingredients waiting to be tended to for the dinner before home...

Chickens.... getting ready to go into the dutch oven.

The steamed pudding nestled into the bowl and ready to sing...

searing pork loins before going to the dutch oven. Topped with sage and thyme from the garden. In the copper the boiled pudding is just beginning to sing a bit.

Steamed pudding of dried cherries and dowsed with Apricot Brandy and Blue Berries, accompanied with English custard… not pictured.

Lemon Polenta Pound cake. garnished with fresh strawberries, dried cherries and almonds. Spritzed with Apricot brandy and topped with english custard at service.

Special thanks to Locust Grove for allowing us to make use of their amazing facilities, and HUGE thanks once again to Mike Schwendau for making the dinner happen! More images of the dinner to come soon!

Naval Establishment Gazette (Amended)

Naval Establishment Gazette 2015 (Amended)
By Their Lordships Command
Naval Establishment Gazette
For the Year A.D. 2015

Given at Merrickville, U.C.
This 7th day of July, 2015.

Notices and Appointments

After the success of the demonstration off Fort McHenry in September of last year, Commander Peter Rindlisbacher is promoted Post Captain, to be dated October 1st 2014, and he is charged with the Command of the newly created Gulf Station, there to police the seas and rid them of enemy vessels, pirates and privateers, and slavers.

After the success of the raids in the Chesapeake, and in particular of HMS Acasta’s crew in numerous boat actions, Robert Fryman is promoted Post Captain, dated January 1st, 2015 and to continue in 

Command of HMS Acasta, currently patrolling the Atlantic Coast of the United States.

Maurice DePas of His Majesty’s exploration vessel Discovery, is promoted Master and Commander in her, dated to January 1st, 2015 and will patrol the southern Pacific Coast Station from Panama to the north of California.

Christopher Sorenson of His Majesty’s Brig Chatham, is promoted Master and Commander in her, dated February 1st, 2015, and will patrol the northern Pacific Coast Station from the Bering Strait south to California where, from time to time, he is expected to co-operate with Commander DePas in covering that hot-bed of enemy activity, and frustrate their efforts.

The success of the recent patrol on Lake Champlain leads to the promotion of Midshipman Michael McLeod to that of Acting-Lieutenant on the Lake Simcoe and Upper Lake Huron Station. At a future Naval Establishment event, he and other candidates will have opportunity to demonstrate their suitability for permanent rank at a Lieutenants’ Board

Other appointments, Lieutenancies and Warrants are under review and shall be Promulgated shortly.

The Naval Establishment Squadron

The following vessels and longboats have served, or expressed willingness to serve, as vessels of A Naval Establishment squadron and Longboat Flotilla when circumstances and available support warrant.

Fair Jeanne, brigantine
St Lawrence II, brigantine
Pathfinder, brigantine
Playfair, brigantine
Mist of Avalon, schooner
Lynx, schooner
Empire Sandy, schooner

La Revenante, schooner (sold out of the service)
Caledonian, schooner (sold out of the service)

The Naval Establishment Longboat Flotilla
Subject to revision and correction

Witch
Rolette
Surveyor
Thunderer
Lynx
Badger
Auld Alliance
Dawn Star
Kestrel
Heron
Insolent
General Arnold
Guttersnipe
Dromedary
Bytown Whalers (2)
Royal George
Pandora
Ferret
Rumbustion
Georgiana
United

I have the Honour to be

Yours

With very great Regard

Victor Suthren

Rear Admiral Commanding

Naval Establishments

Crown Forces North America

G O D S A V E T H E K I N G

The Most Beautiful Thing

There was a great stirring up on deck, more so than the usual sound of men about their watches. The stir was followed shortly by a choir of excited voices and cheers from every man on deck from the focsle to the quarterdeck. The Doctor put on his coat and went up to see what was afoot. 

Once there, he noted that it seemed as though every man aboard the Acasta was up on her deck looking across to the water larboard at the flags that Valiant had hoisted.

On the quarterdeck, Captain Freymann had the younger Midshipmen rooting through a well worn copy of Popham's Telegraph Signal Book to decipher the signal. Young Calhoun sat on the deck with his legs folded, the large book on his lap, the older boys looking over his shoulder and instructing him on where to look, urging him to turn the pages faster.

"Good Afternoon Doctor!" Freymann's face shone with joy as the ship's surgeon drew near.

"Indeed it would seem to be." The Doctor replied, referring to the general sense of mirth among the men, "What have I missed?" he asked, appearing a bit confused.

Freymann looked across the water toward the Valiant again through his glass before he continued, "About two hours ago the Flag received her mail. Then a few minutes ago they made our number, and followed it up with this!" The Captain passed his telescope carefully to the Doctor, who had a reputation for dropping them and cracking lenses.

He took up the glass, steadied it against a rope as he had been instructed years ago and looked across to the Valiant, he espied the signal right away, "It's a short one." the Doctor observed.

"That it is, but it is the most beautiful thing!" Captain Freymann replied, smiling.

Your Presence is Requested

This Saturday, July 18

at Locust Grove

561 Blankenbaker Lane,

Louisville, KY 40207

Your presence is requested at 


A Splendid Wedding 


accompanied by much Hustle & Display 

Historic Picnic & Croghan Family Wedding


Relive the historic 1822 wedding of


Miss Ann Croghan to General Thomas Jesup

Come dressed in the attire of any period you wish, including the present.

The day’s festivities will include special performances, picnicking on the grounds, food &
beverage for sale & a GRAND BALL in the evening.
Festivities begin at 12 pm; the ceremony will be performed at 4pm


Details at: locustgrove.org/historic-picnic-croghan-family-wedding/

$8 General Admission/$4 children/under 6 free
$12 Additional for Ball
Ball reservations recommended - (502) 897-9845

Events of the day:
- Historic picnic- beginning at noon - bring your own, or purchase here

- At 1:00 - Kentucky Shakespeare Company reads some of Miss Jane Austen’s humorous and little-known early works.

- Re-creation of the wedding of Ann Croghan & General Thomas Sidney Jesup at 4 pm.

- Tours in the 1790s house 

- Vendors of period goods 

- The Acasta crew, a Royal Navy vessel, will be in residence.

A GRAND BALL will commence at 7:00 pm, with traveling dance instructor, Dr. John Gardiner-Garden. The dances to be called are listed here. The ball will be held in the air-conditioned Audubon Auditorium in the Visitors Center. Post & Crown from Cincinnati will provide live music. Advance reservations for the ball are recommended, $12 per person - call 502-897-9845.

For more information call 502-897-9845.

Thanks to the Jane Austen Society of North America- Greater Louisville Region for co-sponsoring this event.

WANTED

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. 

Be sure to read the ABOUT US page

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:

Some Images of Acasta sailors at work (and play):

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!

In addition here is the 'Visual Guide' for what we want our sailors to look like:

What's This Now?

Welcome aboard HMS Acasta! 

The purpose of 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 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!

You can also find the Acastas on INSTAGRAM where we post images of life in the Royal Navy circa 1800-1810. It is our goal to have these images be as if you are looking through a window in time. Give us a follow and keep up with all things Acasta!

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!

Flag Generator

Capt. C. Bertani

Captain Bertani of HMS Cornwall (74) has written a program that will translate typed text into 1806 Popham Telegraph Signal Flags!

Not only can you choose to use the start and finish flags, but you can alter the shape and size of the flags themselves.

Thanks to Capt. Bertani for writing this fun program and for pointing it out to me!

SIGNAL FLAG GENERATOR