Tuesday, January 27

A Promotion!



Our Captain Fryman has been recognized by the Crown Forces North America (CFNA) Naval Establishment group for his real life nautical and military experience. The Mission Statement of the Naval Establishment of the CFNA is as follows:

To portray with accuracy and fidelity the Royal Navy and Provincial Marine as it would have appeared and acted on service in North America during the War of 1812;

To provide instruction and experience in seamanship of the Navy of the Georgian era, and all sailorly arts pertaining thereto; and

To participate in company and cooperation with Crown Forces military reenactors in the design, organization, execution and mutual enjoyment of Crown Forces North America events and activities.

Robert Fryman's real life Coast Guard qualifications include:

- officer leadership and training (advanced to CG Lt - Junior Grade (equivalent to 1st Lt in the Army and Marines)

- PQS in Communications and Navigation

- Watch Stander, Sector Charleston

- Recipient of 2 Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations (one of which was for my participation in Operation Joint Response)

- Boat Crew qualified

- Since 2010 have been active with the CG Auxiliary assigned to Sector Hampton Roads as staff officer for Marine Program Visitation and Public Education

Therefore Robert has been made a 'Post Captain' in the CFNA! The CFNA has some fairly strict standards for their Post Captain candidates.

They require their Post Captain candidates to possess a CCG/MoT 60-Ton Limited Waters Command Qualification with Sail Endorsement, or an equivalent USCG-certified or United Kingdom MoT qualification or parallel certification (e.g. British Yachtmaster minimum with additional certification) and an acceptable record of command of multi-masted traditional-rig vessels, or professional certification as a practitioner of a naval/marine art or skill that historically was recognized by the granting of Post rank or its equivalent, e.g. Dockyard Captain. A further qualification shall be an acceptable degree of historical knowledge about the Navy of 1792-1815.

It's really awesome that Robert has been recognized in this way. We give him joy of his acknowledgement!

Friday, January 23

Images from the Hospital

The following are images taken by Tony Gerard and Jim Apple in the British Hospital run by members of HMS Acasta at the 200th anniversary or the Battle of New Orleans.












Wednesday, January 21

A Letter to the Captain


8 December 1813

Dear Robert,
     Greetings once again from Verdun. I have  no idea if my letters ever reach you- except for two that were returned which I know certainly did not- perhaps this will be the one to escape the continent. This week begins the fourth year of my confinement. I use that term loosely, for I am free to go and do as I please as long as I am within the borders of the village by dusk. But My God how slowly the time passes! I have completely given up hope of being exchanged. As the war continues it seems the "little corporal" has given up the practice entirely. I am convinced only his defeat will grant me liberty. Remember when old Wallis would send us up to the tops with mathematical exercises to complete if our books were not up to snuff? Those hours fairly flew by compared to the last three years spent here.

However life here is not without its diversions. We have several different smoking clubs. There is a cockpit, and some of the French bird lines are quite remarkable. I actually managed to have one of my horses from home imported through Germany- a King's ransom it cost me! , but the comfort he affords me I count as worth the cost. The problem is the foxes here! Every third one goes to ground like a hare without giving even the pretense of a good chase. They could learn a thing or two from our noble English foxes. If an English fox  were imported here I am sure he would be King of the Foxes within a year! Ha! 

Quite a number of the fellows here have brought over their wives or even entire families. Others say that to house their entire family here would be too expensive, but in actuality most necessities are cheaper here than at home for a person of means. I think the actual truth is that a French mistress is less expensive still! Ha!

A photo posted by @hms_acasta on

Along that line Michael Denton was a Mid with you I believe? Took him three reviews to pass for Lieutenant I have heard. Well, he is here and actually betrothed to a local girl!  How disappointed she will be when she learns that he is the youngest of three in line for his father's estate. 

In that same vane the better families here are constantly putting on some social event or another. You would hardly know our countries are at war. Their daughters are very ambitious and as a widower I am quite in demand! Ha! But Lord! Robert how pretentious they are! They take things to a level beyond our genteel  huntresses at home! Give me a simple low bred country girl any day! Ha!

John Carslake, I believe you know him, and another lieutenant, John Bingham are my neighbors. Poor Clarslake has been here since 09. They have taken to gardening to pass the time and help with their expenses. Their garden rivals any I have seen here, and outshines almost all at home.

I have a servant here, an old fellow who was a clerk for one of the bourgeois who was guillotined back in the nineties. He came very close to losing his head also I understand. He speaks good English, is an excellent servant and I have grown fond of him. If at all possible I plan to bring him with me when I finally return home.

I see from the papers that you are still on the Acasta on North American station and that you have taken a prize or two. I will bet that brother Jonathan puts up a better fight than the French? After all they were once English! Ha! God willing they will be one day again! Ha!   Well, it is now late and I have a busy day of twiddling my thumbs and whistling tomorrow, Ha!, so I will close.

I pray I will always be your friend and brother in arms, 
Bernard Prater

PS Forgive me if I draw one of Bonaparte's infernal bees near the seal. Carslake tells me that letters so adorned stand a better chance of escape!

Monday, January 19

Meet Charles Anthony

ANTHONY.
Acasta First Lieutenant under Capt. Beaver, c.1806-1813

Charles Anthony entered the Navy, 6 March, 1793, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Russel 74, Capts. John Willet Payne and Thos. Larcom, the former of whom, after participating in the actions of Howe and Bridport, he rejoined, in Oct. 1796, on board the Impetuehx 74. During the three following years he served, as Midshipman and Master's Mate, under Sir Thos. Livingstone, Sir Home Popham, and other officers...

...From 19 June, 1806, until promoted to the rank of Commander, 29 Dec. 1813, Mr. Anthony was next employed, as First Lieutenant, on the Home, West India, and Canada stations, of the Royal George 100, flag-ship of Sir John Duckworth, Acasta 40, Capt. Philip Beaver, Hippomenes 16, Capt. Edw. Woolcombe, Harpy 14, Capt. Geo. Wm. Blainey, St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir Rich. Strachan, and Wolfe 18, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo.

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.

Wednesday, January 14

British perspective on the Battle of New Orleans





The following report from the 200th of the Battle of New Orleans was made by DEEPAK SAINI of local ABC affiliate WGNO who came out and interviewed members of the British camp on Friday, Jan 9th. In the video, you'll see some sailors that you know...


From Chalmette (WGNO)– This week, we’re looking back 200 years to the Battle of New Orleans. As usual, there are always two sides to every story. WGNO reporter Deepak Saini takes you to the British camp near the Chalmette Battlefield.

Monday, January 12

John Alexander

Happy New Year!
Today continues the prolong'd weekly series wherein we introduce to you some of the REAL Acastas, the men who served aboard at some point between the period from her launch in 1797 to her final year in service to the Crown in 1815. Stop back every Monday to meet an all-new, REAL Acasta!

ALEXANDER.
Acasta under Capt. Dunn.

John Alexander entered the Navy, 5 May, 1800, as Ordinary, on board the Fairy 18, Capts. Fred. Warren and Rich. Dalling Dunn. If we except a brief attachment in 1804, and again in 1806, to the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Wm. Fitzroy, and Hurcule and Veteran, Capts. Barrington Dacres and Andrew Fitzherbert Evans, he afterwards, from Nov. 1801, until the early part of 1807, served uninterruptedly with Capt. Dunn, and nearly the whole time also with Admiral Sir John Thos. Duckworth, in the Southampton, Leviathan, Hercule, Acasta, and Royal George, on the West India and Mediterranean stations. While in the latter ship, he took part in a desperate skirmish with a body of Turks on the island of Prota, 27 Feb. 1807, and was severely wounded at the re-passage of the Dardanells. Being promoted to a Lieutenancy (by commission dated 28 Feb. 1807) in the Standard 64, Capt. Thos. Harvey, he subsequently, on 26 June, 1808, succeeded, with the yawl belonging to that ship under his orders, in capturing a French despatch-boat, Le Leger although exposed to a sharp fire of musketry from the island of Corfu.

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.