Wednesday, December 31

The Events of 2014

Today we take a look back at the events the Acastas attended in the year of our Lord 2014. The Acasta site normally updates every weekday at 8AM CST, but we'll be taking a break, our next post will go live on January 12th 2015 after the big reenactment of the Battle of New Orleans! Happy New Year everyone!


Acasta's 'School of the Sailor', Locust Grove, Louisville, KY. January 2014

 The Doctor aboard USS Constitution at Boston, Mass. March, 2014

 Recruiting for the Navy at New Harmony, Indiana's
'Heritage Artisan Days' April 23-24-25, 2014


'Celebratiung Jane Austen', Ramsey House,
Knoxville, TN. June 7th 2014



200th of the Battle of St. Leonard's Creek, Jefferson-Patterson Park & Museum,
St. Leonard, MD. June 21-22 2014


Jane Austen Festival, Louisville, Kentucky, July 2014


200th of the Battle of Bladensburg,
Bladensburg, MD. August 23-24, 2014




 The Fair at New Boston, Press Gang & Battle, Springfield, Ohio, Aug 2014


200th of the Battle of Fort Bowyer
Ft. Morgan State Historic Site, Mobile Point, AL. Sept 12-13, 2014


Mississinewa:1812, Battle & Surveillance, Marion, Indiana, October 2014

AND be sure to stop over and have a look at other images taken in 2014 on the Acasta's INSTAGRAM page:

A photo posted by @hms_acasta on

Monday, December 29

Nesbit Josiah Willoughby, First Lieutenant

Nesbit Josiah Willoughby later in life.
WILLOUGHBY, Kt, C.B., K.C.H.
Acasta First Lieutenant, c. 1804-05, aged approx. 27 years.

Sir Nesbit Josiah Willoughby, born 29 Aug. 1777, is third son of the late Robt. Willoughby, Esq., of Cossall and Aspley Hall...

This officer entered the Navy, 12 May, 1790, as a Volunteer, on board the Latona 38, Capt. Albemarle Bertie, employed on the Home station, where, and off the American coast, he continued to serve until Jan. 1793, latterly as Midshipman, in the same ship, and in the Edgar 74, Capt. Anthony Jas. Pye Molloy, Alligator 28, Capt. Isaac Coffin, and Vengeance 74, Commodore Thos. Pasley...

...In Feb. 1805, having taken command of a merchant schooner of about 30 tons burthen, manned with three passed Midshipmen and 30 Volunteers, he entered the harbour of Santa Martha by means of a ruse de guerre for the purpose of endeavouring to effect the capture of a Spanish corvette of 20 guns and 130 men, reported to he there. Finding, however, that the vessel had sailed three days previously, he was obliged to put about, but was unable to get clear off without awakening the suspicions of the enemy, who, upon the British repassing their batteries, opened on them a fierce but fortunately a harmless fire. Mr. Willoughby's next and last appointments as Lieutenant, after his return home with Sir John Duckworth as First of the Acasta 40, were—11 Aug. 1805, to the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall—28 Dec. 1806, to the Formidable 98, Capt. Fras. Fayerman— and 15 Jan. 1807, to the Royal George 100, bearing the flag of his friend Sir J. T. Duckworth.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Tuesday, December 23

2015 Schedule


Where are the Acastas planning on being?

2015

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

May 23-24, 2015, Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous,
Vincennes, IN.

July 18, 2015, Acasta Dinner at Locust Grove 
Louisville, KY. 

Sept 5-6, 2015, The Fair at New Boston (Press Gang)
at Springfield, Ohio 

Louisville, KY.

Monday, December 22

Meet Joseph West

WEST.
Lieutenant assigned to Acasta under Capt. Kerr, 6 July 1814.

Joseph West entered the Navy 1 June, 1807, as Sec.-cl. Vol., on board the Temeraire 98, Capt. Sir Chas. Hamilton, lying at Portsmouth, and sailed, towards the close of the same year, in the Sapphire, Capt. Geo. Davies, for the East Indies, where he became Midshipman, in May, 1808, and July, 1811, of the Piemontaise 38, Capt. Chas. Foote, and Phoenix 36, Capt. Jas. Bawen. While attached to the Piemontaise, of which frigate he was for 14 months Master's Mate, he was employed on shore in 1808 in co-operation with the army at Quilon on the coast of Malabar, and was twice wounded in cutting out gun-boats from Bantam, in the island of Java. In 1809 he was present in an attack upon a body of Malay pirates ; and at the celebrated capture, in Aug. 1810, of the island of Banda Neira, he was one of those who escaladed the walls of the castle of Belgria.

In 1811 he assisted at the capture of Palambang and Sambas. Returning to England in 1813 in the Bucephalus frigate, Capt. Barrington Reynolds, he joined, in the spring of 1814, the Newcastle 50, Capt. Lord Geo. Stuart, and Meteor bomb and Furieuse 36, Capts. Sam. Roberts and Wm. Mounsey—the two last on the coast of North America ; where, after having accompanied an expedition to Penobscot Bay, he was made Lieutenant, 6 July, 1814, into the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr. That ship however he never joined. He was employed next, between Oct. 1814 and Sept 1815, in the Fantome 18, Capt. Thos. Sykes (under whom he was wrecked on his passage from St. John's, New Brunswick, to Halifax 24 Nov. 1814) Bulwark 74, Capt. Farmery Predam Epworth, Fueiedsb .again, Capt. Mounsey, and Bann 20, Capt. Thos. Whinyates.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849

Thursday, December 18

Original Crew Members

Sources:

‘Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired-captains, Post-captains, and Commanders, Whose Names Appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the Commencement of the Present Year, Or who Have Since Been Promoted; Illustrated by a Series of Historical and Explanatory Notes’ by John Marshall. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1825

‘Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs Of The Services Of All The Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired Captains, Post Captains,  And Commanders... ...From The Commencement Of The Late Reign, In 1760, To The Present Period. With Copious Addenda.’
By John Marshall (B), Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Vol III - Part II. London: Printed for Longman, Rees Orme, Brown and Green, Paternoster Row. 1832.

‘A Naval Biographical Dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty's Navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. Compiled from authentic and family documents.’
By William E. O'Byrne, Esq.  London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, publisher to the Admiralty. 1849.

‘British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863' Design, Construction, Careers & Fates. by Rif Winfield

‘The Navy List corrected to the end of Dec. 1814' Published by John Murray, bookseller to the Admiralty & Board of Longitude, No. 50 Albemarle Street. pg 48
 

List compiled by Albert Roberts, updated 3/14

For more information about the original Acasta and her REAL CREW, be sure to check out the HISTORY page.

Thursday, December 11

Whatever shall I 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.

Book Review - These posts take a look at books written about Naval subjects of interest.

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

Capt Hurlbut -  Posts with this label are either written BY or about Captain Tom Hurlbut, friend to the Acasta.

Capture - Information regarding historical captures made by the Acasta during her service.

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.

In The News - Historical news articles that make mention of the Acasta or her crew.

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.

Letter Writing - Posts relating to writing letters that look to be from the period portrayed by HMS Acasta. Great help if you wish to participate in the Mail Packet project.

LIST This label is given to the series of reenactor list, Ways to improve, the best and worst things about the hobby, stupid questions asked by the public and so forth.

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.


Master & Commander - Posts that have to do with the Aubrey-Maturin series of books by author Patrick O'Brian or the 2003 movie.

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!

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!

Mission X - All posts related to the Doctor's covert mission to France.

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

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.

Real Crew - Posts with this label are either written by or about REAL historical members of the crew of the Acasta between 1797-1815.

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.

Wednesday, December 10

A Window in Time

A photo posted by @hms_acasta on



Have you discovered the Acasta on Instagram yet? Each image is like a little window in time that will take you back to the golden age of sail.


Tuesday, December 9

Nelson's Trafalgar a book review

Nelson's Trafalgar- the Battle That Changed the World by Roy Atkins

a short review by Tony Gerard

I've said in the past that I'm not a strategy and tactics guy. I only bought this book because it was $2 in the used book store. I loved it! It was very readable. Atkins often goes off on tangents not directly related to the battle, but always interesting.  He also delves into the people behind the battle, with accounts of their lives and personalities. 

Best of all he includes lots of period accounts and quotes. Nothing beats hearing about history from someone who was actually there. He also provides accounts of the aftermath of the battle and following storm, both in England and on the Continent.

Monday, December 8

Mr. Midshipman Geo. Tupman

TUPMAN.
Acasta Midshipman under Capt. Wood, post 1802.

George Tupman was born 16 Aug. 1785, and died 22 April, 1847.

This officer entered the Navy, 8 Aug. 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Vengeance 74, Capts. John Rodney and Geo. Burlton, stationed in the Channel. In April, 1796, he joined, as a Supernumerary, the Royal William, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, lying at Portsmouth ; and from Jan. 1797 until April, 1802, he was employed, at the Cape of Good Hope, on the coast of Ireland, and in the Mediterranean and Channel, a great part of the time as Midshipman, in the Saldanha 36, Capt. Geo. Burlton, Legere sloop, Capt. Joshua Rowley Watson, Haerlem 64 and Africaine 38, Capts. G. Burlton and Jas. Stevenson, and Acasta 40, Capt. Jas. Athol Wood. He then became Master's Mate of the Galatea 32, Capt. Henry Heathcote; of which frigate, stationed on the Irish coast and in the West Indies, he was confirmed a Lieutenant, after having acted for some time as such, 19 March, 1805.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.