Tuesday, July 29

Recent Captures

Ships recently captured by Acasta:

On 2 July 1814, Acasta was among the vessels sharing in the capture of the schooner Little Tom and her cargo of lumber, plank, and shingles. Multiple ships shared the capture, they were Albion, Dragon, Acasta, Severn, Loire, Narcissus, Jaseur, and St. Lawrence.
The London Gazette: no. 17209. p. 89. 14 January 1817.

American schooner Prudence, of 4 men and 17 tons, captured by the Acasta; arrived at Halifax in July.

Stephanie, schr., 71 tons, 1 gun, 9 men, F. W. V. Reynegom, master, Philadelphia to Havannah, captured July 16, 1814 by Acasta. Cargo flour, lard and onions. Arrived at Halifax July 22nd.

Diana, sloop, 69 tons, Wm Paynter, master, Philadelphia to Havannah, captured July 19, 1814, by Acasta. Cargo: 480 bbls. flour. Arrived at Halifax July 27th.

Friday, July 25

Lt. Tumbusch responds to Thomas Harner



Ship-Letter

Thomas Harner, Bosun
HMS Resolute
Portsmouth

25 July, 1814

Dear Sir,

I read with much concern your letter of 3 May, relating that your son Johnny had been pressed into service aboard H.M. sloop Wasp. The same packet also brought me a more lengthy communication from your wife Mary, obligingly penned on her behalf by Mr. Crain, recounting the event in greater detail. My anxieties were further heightened by the knowledge that Wasp touched here at Halifax earlier this month reporting the loss of her captain and at least one member of her crew to the Yellow Jack whilst en route from Havana.

I shall do what I am able to ascertain the fate of your boy when next Wasp touches at Halifax, or should Acasta providentially encounter her at sea. It is only fair to advise you, however, that I shall likely be utterly powerless to effect any such change of his situation as suggested by you and your wife. As you are well aware from your own years at sea, it would be the height of impertinence for me even to imply any shortcoming in his treatment by a fellow officer. In the unlikely event that some means of assisting him without casting aspersions upon his superiors should present itself, I shall endeavor to do so. 

Not all of my tidings are ill, however. It is with much satisfaction that I am able to report that John Fisher — an admirable officer with a reputation for great fighting spirit — has been made acting commander of Wasp. While I cannot claim the pleasure of his acquaintance myself, what I hear of him gives me every reason to hope that Wasp is even now becoming a more tightly-run ship under his command.

I shall send further tidings as soon as I am able and remain, yours respectfully, 

Lt. Tumbusch
HMS Acasta
Halifax

P.S. A copy of this letter shall be posted to your wife at Portsmouth.

Thursday, July 24

From the Courier-Journal


Lovely footage of Lt. Tumbusch's private tea in the garden with friends and lots of footage from the recent Jane Austen Festival. You will see a good deal of your Acastas as well.

Wednesday, July 23

A Love Letter from Germany




29th October 1813

My dear Mr Ramsey, 
                                                                                
waiting.waiting.waiting…
I dare say it is like a severe fever, that weakens our beloved German countrie, and lately it has befallen me. This fever has our countrie kneel weeping and mourning at the graves of hundereds and thousandes lost in battle, and it strangels my faint heart with the coldest hands.

The passed summer with the fires and ceased fires, treaties and sudden infringements and with the waiting, with all that waiting! turned into a darkened autumn when the armies clashed near Leipzig to aim for victory or defeat and gained solely death…and more waiting.

No éclat. No bonnefires. The French defeat, barely two weeks ago, fell upon us like a wave of suffer with letters written by the blood-stained hands of loss, despair and agony.

No letters from my mother’s brother and his family near Magdeburg in the passed days. 

I shall say, that is what caused the fever in me and benumbed me, but the truth is: no letter from you…not one single letter since May 1812.

First I wondered if my letters would have failed to reach you, although my goode-hearted Aunt Seckenberg obliged to send the letters from Hamburg to London. 

My letters remained unanswered.

It deeply aggrieved me that my dear Mr. Ramsey must have forgetted me or else would he not answer? Answer like in that letter, which I received late in May, months after father and I returned from London to Cologne.

But now, in the midst’s of my countrie’s agony from facing all the death, a question distresses me with the direst pain, that I dare not write it down...I shant ever feel rejoicing again.

Please, my dear Mr Ramsey, tell me you’re alive! You have to! Indeed, you’ve said you fear nothing. Is it not?

My dear Mr. Ramsey, I beg you kindly, do not scold me for telling you, that your letter is the last I cast my eyes upon before I blew out the candles at night. I’ve read it over and over again, since you’ve sent it, recalling the most fond memories of my life.

The September of 1811 is still vivid in my heart, as I thought it would be in your heart!
My dear father and I stayed at Aunt Seckenberg’s house south of Audeley Street, before she moved back to Hamburg in March 1812. 

I shall ever remember my first assemblée at Mr Heathcote’s house at Portman Square.

I shall remember the golden lustre of illumination, the chatter, the music, and the enchanting and utmost pleasing atmosphere. 

I remember you.

Your stately appearance in the uniform (which my Aunt Seckenberg described ‘utterly handsome’), your witty remarks and your endearing kindness toward my Aunt and me.

My heart felt faint when Mrs Heathcote asked me to perform a German traditional, but your acclaim after my tune was singed did allay my fears and doubts. Bless you, Mr Ramsey!

And my heart danced from faint to fortune, when you kindly invited my father, dear aunt and me to the opera on the following Friday.

I shant never forget that night at Covent Garden at Sheridan’s play ‘The Duenna’. Mr Sinclair’s performance of Carlos. He did it with such exceedingly fervour, that it bringed tears to my eyes. It was the most beautiful play I have ever seen, and never before I have heard such abundant acclaim.
I could not sleep that night!

My heart was full of song and cheer…and you have left us that night with the promise to show us the Tower of London with it’s beasts on Sunday, before duty would called you back to your ship in Portsmouth. 

Chaperoned by Aunt Seckenberg we took a carriage to the Tower of London. The 22nd of September was such a bright day, with blu skies. No winter yet lingering in the air.
The last page of the letter.

I however recall the cold and dark of the Tower. And the fierce beasts! The savage Grizley bear, which was brought from America that very month! 

My brave Mr. Ramsey! While the audience fearfully flinched at that Grizley’s gasthly roar, you did not move an inch. You do not fear anything in the world, Mr Ramsey!

And while waiting, that certainity has become my humble prayer and it consoles my heart.

On the long-passed assemblée in September, when I’ve performed Arnim’s ‘Der Himmel ist oft hell’ and the applause has ceased, it was that brave and bold Mr Ramsey, who said to me, that my voice and song was the sweetest thing ever. ‘The sweetest thing’, I did replied, ‘of which I know, are Hagedorn’s Himbeer Bonbons’

Do you remember your answer, my dear Mr Ramsey? 

This morning I went to Hagedorn’s Confectionery to chuse a box of said raspberry bonbons. 

I cannot enclose a song, nor my voice in this letter, nor the sweetness, which hasn’t ever touched my lips - I shall send you bonbons instead, singing my song…and the plea to take the wave of suffer from me:

End my waiting…please, do write, Mr Ramsey. Do write!

Yours affably...

Special thanks to Acasta reader Sabine Schierhoff for this AMAZING little package for 2nd Lt M. Ramsey! It was such a joy to watch it come together over the last few months and it was a HUGE hit at the festival.

Tuesday, July 22

The Mail Packet, Deliver'd

The much anticipated mail packet arrives in camp!
The captain enlists the aid of one of the sailors to cut the cord.
Lt. Tumbusch assists with the distribution of the mail.
Ship's Carpenter, Jas. Apple shows off one of his letters.




In this clip, our Surgeon's Mate discusses some of the letters he got as part of the packet while ashore with his fellows.

Monday, July 21

Mail Packet 1814 (2014) part 2

Your usual "Real Crew" post has been put on temporary hiatus to bring you another look at the recent Mail Packet Project...

In many cases with the pieces of mail turned in from you, our readers, the backs of the letters were as much fun to look at as the fronts!











Once again many thanks to our participants who helped to make the Mail Packet project such a success. Stay tuned for more mail packet fun!

Friday, July 18

Mail Packet 1814 (2014)

A sneak Preview for you dear reader of the contents of the most recent mail packet project to be deliver'd to the Acastas at Noon tomorrow.


Make note that I played 'post office' with the letters, marking them for postage and using my collection of postmark stamps copied from period sources to give the mail the proper look.






All the marks denote where they're from, or where they went through to get to the intended recipient.









A few pieces that showed up at the last minute!
I'd like to personally thank the following for their amazing efforts:

David VanMeter
Jennifer Jones and her participants with the Harford County Library
Elizabeth Layton
Mr. Bartgis
Juti Winchester and her students
Sabine Schierhoff
Alessandra Reeves
Anna Miller
Amanda Evans
James C. Albright
Lisa Peterson
Angela Grimes
Tony Gerard
Dwight 'Shark' Mayeux

…and all of our other readers who submitted pieces for the education and enjoyment of our members and the public. Without you, the mail packet project would have been woefully empty. More goodies from the Mail Packet next week, be sure to stop back by!