HM Bomb Ship Terror Historical Society

Master's Mate Jas. Ramsay of HMS Terror visited the USS Constellation in his old age today. He saw the noon gun fired and marvelled at how much and how little had changed in naval technology for sailing vessels since the War of 1812. The last time he was in Baltimore was aboard Terror as she bombarded Fort McHenry in 1814, wherein the British were defeated by American defenders during the Battle of Baltimore.

Today also marks the 160th anniversary of the Pratt Street Riots, as summarized by its Wikipedia entry:

"The Baltimore riot of 1861 (also called the 'Pratt Street Riots" and the 'Pratt Street Massacre') was a civil conflict on Friday, April 19, 1861, on Pratt Street, in Baltimore, Maryland. It occurred between antiwar 'Copperhead' Democrats (the largest party in Maryland) and other Southern/Confederate sympathizers on one side, and on the other, members of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania state militia regiments en route to the national capital at Washington who had been called up for federal service. The fighting began at the President Street Station, spreading throughout President Street and subsequently to Howard Street, where it ended at the Camden Street Station. The riot produced the first deaths by hostile action in the American Civil War and is nicknamed the 'First Bloodshed of the Civil War'."

Back in late March I gave a presentation on tacking and wearing ship via Zoom, utilizing a simulation program and a white board shenanigans that was well received by attendees and the Naval Establishment.

Aside from sail evolutions, the presentation also talked about sail theory and some things to think about when deciding how you are going to maneuver your vessel under sail power.

If you missed the original presentation, want to re-watch it, or to share it with other people, please follow the YouTube link below!

Cheers,

Gunner Jas. Hsu
Unit Head
HM Bomb Ship TERROR
CFNA: Naval Establishment

Tacking and Wearing Ship w/ James Join James Hsu, unit head of the HM Bomb Ship TERROR: War of 1812 Reenactment Crew, for a presentation and discussion on tacking and wearing ship as well as ...

Welcome to the public page for HM Bomb Ship Terror Historical Society.

This is a War of 1812 reenactment group that uses demonstrations, online presentations, and third-person historical interpretation to educate the public about the conflict, the history of sailing, naval vessels, and the Napoleonic era. Our most important focus is the Vesuvius-class bomb ship TERROR, purpose-built for the war and gaining later notoriety as one of the vessels in the doomed Franklin arctic expedition.

We strive to accurately portray the warrant officers and working sailors of this era and further public knowledge of TERROR's less well known actions during the War of 1812.