School of the Sailor AAR

[Scoutboat]

Captain Warren 20 March, 1776
HMS Squirrel
Cruizing off St. Augustine

My detachment made it safely to Barnwell’s bluff on the 10th inst. We were greeted by other detachments from the Perseus, Falcon, and Neptune who were dispatched there for exercise of the great guns and piraguas. These men were very amiable, and somehow alcohol disappeared from the town and made its way to the bluff. I soon learned that Capt. Hadley of the Perseus had command, and shortly thereafter greeted him on his return from the village. With the sun setting and more men coming ashore, the captain quickly decided to postpone the exercises until morning. Fortunately that night most of the men were drunk enough to ignore the mosquitoes. It makes one wonder how our father in heaven could have created such vile creatures. I awoke early the following morning to find a man by the name of “Mole� from aboard the Falcon attempting to start a fire with a few of his shipmates. Shortly thereafter, the cook from Neptune arrived from his hammock to prepare breakfast with Mole’s assistance. The men roused out of their various berths and headaches in time to enjoy a welcoming serving of burgoo. With some ballasts in their holds, the men were put to practicing small arms and exercising the great guns. After knocking the rust off of the old salts and initiating the landsmen that are joining the ships company, we enjoyed a stew made from some mystery meat that the cooks had brought ashore for lunch. The texture, flavor, and size of the meat and bones used reminded me of the rats we devoured during my time aboard the Manly Merchant in the East Indies. Following the meal, Capt. Hadley decided to have all hands gather in the blockhouse to allow their mystery meat to settle. While the men suffered from their meal, the Captain reviewed naval protocol and other administrative information with the combined crew. Needless to say, we old salts took berth in the rear of the group where we slept and attempted to get some fresh air through the portholes. After awhile Capt. Hadley ran out of information to impart, and left us to our own vices. Some of the landsmen had not the time to acquire proper short clothes before making their way to the rendezvous at the bluff, and upon learning that one of the Perseus’s marines was previously a tailor and I a slop-man, pressed us to discuss with them ways to make appropriate clothing once aboard the ship. I decided to save the fact that we will have slops available on board ship as a surprise when they report on the quarterdeck. During the afternoon rest, we suffered six casualties to dysentery, not from the stew, but from improperly lined cookware that was acquired on site upon arrival. The epidemic was minor, and all hands were back on their feet shortly thereafter. It was agreed that the landsmen needed to be taught the art of boat handling and some men from the Falcon set up an elaborate shore station to allow practicing boat drill on land before placing the lubbers in the boats. While the starboard watch was involved in practicing boat handling, the larboard watch drilled with pikes and cutlasses on shore. Once we returned to shore, we switched stations with the larboard watch and proceeded to engage ourselves with the pikes and cutlasses while they left in the piragua. With the sun setting yet again, the combined crew took to a night of jollification and shanties that lasted until the sun began to rise the next morning. While the landsmen were detailed to pack up the vessels for the return trip to Charles Towne, we boatswains along with the Captain and a few select able hands made our way up to the towne of Darien. There we reveled with the Scottish lassies while partaking of haggis and beer. With our holds full and our figureheads blushing, we made our way back to the fleet of piraguas and ships boats for the trip back into Carolina. It is with great honor that I may report to you the success of the training in regard to not only polishing the experienced hands but also forging the landsmen who are eager to come aboard and utilized these new skills in the services of the King. These new hands have made me proud, just as I am sure they will you and the rest of the crew aboard HMS Squirrel.

Our Ships at Sea,
Adam Cripps, HMS Squirrel
Residing at the sign of the Teapot
Charles Towne