capnwilliam

Wow! Glad to see that this old thread was resurrected! Glad also to be able to recount that our cannon crew is doing a lot better than I was forced to indicate back in my November 2004 message. Capt. William

It must be a hardy fish. They still survive in Lake Michigan. Capt. William

Yer abdomen and the rest of yerself look fine to me, Kass! Capt. William

Your analysis seems right on the mark to me, Wages. Capt. William

If yer interested in Elizabethan Seadogs...I started a Yahoo Group list - http://www.seadogges-subscribe@yahoogroups.com - years ago, when I was active in the SCA. It still exists, but has been inactive for a long time. Capt. William

Yer doing a great service, Kass! I have a hard enough time trying to get my Battle of New Orleans Baratarian cannon crew to dress for 1815, rather than for their conception of 1715 (which generally turns out to be 1775 anyway; when it isn't Johnny Depp! ) Capt. William

I don't doubt it, Callenish. I salute you fer yer service! But you were a soldier, going up against other soldiers: everyone armed and ready to fight to the death. Somehow I doubt that pirates felt the need for so many small arms. If intimidation via the black flag didn't do the trick, I would think a shot fired over the prey vessel's bow would. Remember that pirates weren't - voluntarily - going up against the Royal Navy, but rather poorly armed merchants, manned by crewmen not inclined to fight it out with them. I'm still curious as to what period documentation exists that pirates carryied multiple braces of pistols: other than the Blackbeard portrait. Capt. William

What a cutie! Congratulations! Capt. William

Aye, set yer controls for "the beginning", and you'll have 223 topics to contend with! Capt. William

Aye to that! I believe you can see the same idea at work in those famous posed Civil War photos of ordinary Billy Yanks and Johnny Rebs, posing in the studio with sabres, Bowies, a pair of .44 revolvers, etc. People today would take that as "period documentation" of what rank and file soldiers actually carried into battle, when in reality it's nothing but a souvenir photo of a young recruit trying to look fearsome for the folks back home. But, I'm getting out of period here. Capt. William

I tend to take the whole "carrying multiple pistols" idea with a large grain of salt. Police friends have told me what a blessing it is to unbuckle that single, two-pound .357 or 10-round .40 at the end of an 8-hour shift. I believe that our conception of pirates walking around with 4 - 8 huge pistols in baldrics or sashes is based on a drawing of Blackbeard so attired. Whether he or anyone else actually did so in real life is debatable. Anyone who wants to carry multiple heavy pistols should first try carryimg ONE around for several hours. Capt. William

I went to Zack's lecture when he was here in New Orleans a couple of years ago: have a signed copy of the book, but haven't read it yet. Just not enough time.... I'm currently reading Remini's book about The Battle of New Orleans: The Blue and the Gray, a terrific history of the Civil War, compiled from excerpts of original documents: and Swords Around a Throne, about Napoleon's Grand Army. Capt. William

You always make great stuff, Patrick! Capt. William

FOOD! Anything other than liver or lima beans! Capt. William

I'd want a harness that kept ME IN the boat. To hell with the rod and reel! Capt. William

We have a banana tree at the house we just moved into: haven't seen any bananas on it yet, though, it's a young tree. How old before they start bearing fruit? Anyone know? Capt. William

I'm a civilian employee of the Department of the Navy. You'd fit right in at my office! We "secure" it at night: buildings have "decks" rather than floors! Capt. William

Longbows and crossbows alike were passe before 1600. But, anything's possible. Crossbows are sometimes used to this day by special operations groups, for silent work. Butchers and divers still use chain mail, for that matter. Capt. William

Beautiful stuff! Some day I'd like to get a fighting-quality cutlass - not a fantasy piece or wallhanger, but something 1815 era, that could actually be used. A Bowie knife, too! Capt. William

Skull and crossed cutlasses, hands down (unintentional pun). Capt. William

I highly recommend barrels and kegs around camp. They look great, add a real note of authenticity, can be used to store things (out-of-period, and otherwise), and make great camp chairs. I always sit on one when we Baratarians do our vignette for the tourists. Capt. William

Armour of any sort - save for the (ornamental anyway) gorget. and the heavy cavalrayman's cuirass - was passe by the GAOP. And as others have pointed out: armour is heavy, restricts yer movements, is hot, would drag ye down to Davey Jones' locker if you fell overboard while wearin' it, and wouldn't provide much protection against bullets. Capt. William

I especially like the Homeward Bound one. Capt. William

I suspect you figured out the real reason! It's always risky trying to figure out real life reasons for reel life situations. Capt. William

This is true for earlier periods like the Elizabethan era, Capt. Jack, but by the GAOP, I doubt that there was much use of the off-hand in a sword fight: unless it contained a pistol! Capt. William