Thursday, November 27

An Artistic Endeavour


When first I set foot down the Royal Naval path of reenacting, I had no idea what an artistic journey I was setting out on! From custom graphics, headers, footers and backgrounds for the Acasta website, to creating the gobs of repro paperwork they used, to painting banners and mail packets… I just didn't see it coming. I've enjoyed it greatly and thought I'd take a moment to share some of the pile of artwork that has gathered.


A few of the original website headers…



The original and current website backgrounds






























Tuesday, November 25

Lt. Tumbusch sends a second letter to Thomas Harner

Ship-Letter


Thomas Harner, Bosun

HMS Resolute
Portsmouth


24 Nov, 1814

Dear Sir,

I write in haste to give you joy of your son Johnny, who has this day arrived in Halifax hale and sound aboard HMS Wasp, and to alleviate any concerns you may have as to his welfare.

As related in my previous letter, Wasp now has a new commander in whose charge she has become a far happier — and luckier — ship. Since last I wrote to you, Wasp has taken the schooner Wm. Tudor (previously taken by the US privateer schooner Snap Draggon), retaken the ship Gelen (previously captured by the US privateer Invincible), re-captured the Landrail cutter off Cape Sable, retaken the brig Charlotte (twice taken by the American privateers Mammoth and Grand Turk in turn), the brig Alexander, and the schooner Mary.

While your son's share in the proceeds of these prizes is merely that of a ship’s boy, it is nonetheless the greatest sum of money he has known in his lifetime. When I spoke with him this evening (he has earned sufficient trust from his new commander to be permitted liberty in Halifax) he expressed great satisfaction with his lot aboard HMS Wasp, exclaiming that a dozen press gangs could not compel him to quit the life of the sea. He is beloved by his messmates, who address him affectionately as “Big Johnny,” and has suffered no such abuses as concerned your wife Mary (to whom I shall again post a copy of this letter) since his new commander took charge.

Wherefore I charge you to set your mind at ease, knowing that your son willingly and proudly serves king and country in the Royal Navy, as do you and your humble servant,

Lt. Tumbusch


Monday, November 24

Lieutenant Thompson

THOMPSON.
Acasta Lieutenant under Capt. Lane/Fellowes.

John Thompson
is brother of the present Retired Commander Chas. Thompson, R.N. ; of Mr. Wm. Thompson, Purser R.N., who died in the West Indies in 1802 ; and of Major Jas. Thompson, R.M., who died in 1839.

This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1787, as Captain's Servant, on board the Scout sloop, Capt. Chas. Cobb, employed on the Home station ; where he became Midshipman, in the early part of 1791, of the Woolwich 44, Capt. Nowell, and Brunswick 74, Capt. Sir Roger Curtis. In June, 1792, he joined the Lion 64, Capt. Sir Erasmus Gower, fitting for the conveyance of Lord Macartney as Ambassador to China. During the passage and when yet in the Channel a small tender of 80 tons, on board of which he had been placed, parted company with the Lion in a gale ; nor did she again join the latter until they had both reached the Straits of Sunda. For the good conduct he had displayed in the navigation of this tender, Mr. Thompson was recommended by Sir E. Gower for promotion. On his return to England he was received, in Oct. 1794, on board the Royal George 100, Capt. Jas. Gambler; and on 18 Dec. following he was made Lieutenant into the Bombay Castle 74, Capts. Chas. Chamberlayne, Jas. Maonamara, Wm. Shield, and Thos. Sotheby. In that ship he served at the blockade of Toulon, took part in Hotham's action, 13 July, 1795, and was eventually, in Dec. 1796, wrecked in the river Tagus. His exertions on that occasion (he was performing the duties at the time of First-Lieutenant) in saving the crew, and the able manner in which he afterwards detailed the particulars connected with the catastrophe to the court-martial, procured him the thanks of the President, Sir Chas. Thompson. 

During the after part of the war he served in the North Sea and West Indies in the Acasta 40, Capts. Rich. Lane and Edw. Fellowes, and Sans Pareil 80, flag-ship of Admirals Lord Hugh Seymour and Robt. Montagu. Under Capt. Fellowes he assisted at the capture of a large number of the enemy's vessels. In command of the boats of the Acasta, aided by those of the Ceres, he cut out on one occasion a privateer. La Mutine, of 16 guns and 90 men ; and on another he succeeded in a small prize with 15 men, in taking, in the Bay of Venezuela, a guarda costa brig of 10 guns and 70 men, which had the day before beaten off the boats of the Magicienne frigate. In an attempt made by him in a six-oared gig to capture 30 or 40 of the mutineer-crew of H.M. late ship Hermione, who were on their passage in an American bottom from Puerto Cabello to Laguira, he had 5 men wounded, 1 of them mortally. He was also, in a small schooner with only 15 men, present, near Laguira, in an affair with 19 gun-boats, in which the Governor's son, while attempting to board him, was shot dead. On his joining the Sans Pareil, the ship above named, Mr. Thompson had the gratification of being informed by Lord Hugh Seymour, publicly on the quarter-deck, that he had been removed to her as a reward for his good conduct.

...While attached to the Acasta... Thompson was often thanked for his services by Sir Hyde Parker, who was part of the time Commander-in-Chief. He married, in 1805, a sister of Dr. Pickering, of the Military College at Sandhurst, and has a large family. One of his sons, Thos. Pickering, is a Captain R.N.

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.