The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-12-23

'ty retreat, he resolved at all hazarus 70 az
tempt the accomplishment OF his design.
To the Headquarters Of general Prcscott,
about mile from the shore, the party III hse
divisions now proceeded III silence.
was door on the south, the east ana west
sides of the house in which he resided. nc
first division was ordered to advance upon the
south door, the second the west, and inc thito
the east, the fourth to guard the road ana elie
fifth to act on emergencies. IN theif liai1n
they passed the guard house OF the enemy, on
their lett, and on their right house occupied
by Il company Of cavalry, for the purpose o.
carrying with expedition the orders o. tiie
general to remote parts OF the lslaha. oh
arriving at the head quarters OF the eheHy,as
the gate of the front yard was opened, they
were challenged by the sentinel on guard.
The party was at the distance of about TWEEN
ty-five wards from The sentinel, but row OF
trees partially concealedthem from his view,
and prevented him from determining their
number. No reply was made to the chal-
lcnge Of the sentinel, and the party proceed
cd on in silence. The sentinel again demand
ed, "Who comes there" "Friends," re-
piled Barton. "Frieds," says the sentinel
i" advance and give the countersgn."
Major Barton, affecting to be angry, said
Damn YOU, we have no countersign-have
YOU seen any rascals to night and before
the sentinel could determine the character
of those who approached him, Major Barton
had seized his musket, told him he was
prisoner, threatened in case of noise or resis-
lance to put him to instant death. he
poor fellow was so terrified that upon being
demanded if his general was in the house, he
was for some time unable to give any an
swer. At length i'll fiultcring voice, he
replied that he was. By this time each di-
vision having taken its station, the south door
was burst open by the direction of Major
Barton, and the divisions there stationed,
i with their commander at their head, rushed
! into the head quarters Of the general. At
\ this critical moment, one of the British SOL
dicrs effected his escape and fled TO the quar-.
tiers Of the main guard. This man had no
article of clothing upon him but shirt, and
\ having given the alarm to the sentinel on
| lnty, passed on to the quarters OF the caval-
rY, which was more remote from the head
quarters Of the general TheGentinel rous-
ed the main guard, who were instantly III
arms and demanded the cause Of the alarm.
lie stated the information which had been
! given by the soldier, which appeared so in
j credible to the sergeant of the guard, that he
Insisted lie had seen ghost. The sentinel,
70 whom the account Of his generals capture
appeared quite as incrcdiblesas to his com
man,ling officer, admitted that the messcn-
ger was clothed in white and after sub
1 hitting to the Jokes OF his companions as a
punishment for his credulity, was ordered to
resume his station, while the remainder OF
the guard retired to their quarters. 1t was
I fortunate for Major Barton and his brave fol-
lowers, that the alarm given by the soldier
was considered groindless. Had the main
guard proceeded without delay to the relief
of their commanding general, his rescue
certainly, and probably the destruction oil
tho party would have been the consequence.
The first room Major Barton entered was
occupied by Mr.. Perine, who positively de-
MED that Gen. Prescott was in his house
He next entered the room of his son, who
was equally obstinate with hN father in de-
nying that the Gen. was there Major Bar.
ton then proceeded to other apartments but
was still disappointed in the search. Aware
that longer DELAY might defeat the object
of his enterprise, Major Barton, resorted Il
i stratagem to facilitate his search. Placinl
himself II tho head of the stair way, and de.
claring his resolution to secure the genera
dead or alive. he ordered his soldiers to SCI
fire 10 the house. The soldiers were pre-
pairing to execute his orders, when a voice
which Major Barton at once suspected to be
the generals, demanded what's the matter
Major Barton rushed to the apartment from
whence the voice proceeded, and discovered
an elderly man Just rising from his bed, ant
clarping his hands upon his shoulder, de
manded Of him, if he was general Prescott
He answered, Yes SIR g You are my
. Prisoner, them" said Major Barton. Q / ack.
nowedge that am" said the general. In
moment General Prescott found himself hal
dressed, in the arms Of the soldiers, who hur
ried him from the house. In the mean time
Major harrington the aid of General Prescott
discovering that the house was attacked BY
the Rebcks, as the enemy termed them leap
} ed from the window of his bedchamber, ant
was Immediately secured prisoner. Gen
cral Prescott supported by Major Barton an,
one of his officers, and attended by Maioi
I harrington and the sentinel, proceeded, sur
rounded by the solderv, to the Shore. Upol
seeing the five little boats. Gen. Prescott
who knew thcp position ofthc British shippinc
appeared ouch confused and turning to Ma
: ior Barton inquired ifhc commanded the par
! ty. On being Informed that he did, he ex
( pressed hope that no personal injury was in
, tended hip, and Major Barton assured til,
general Of his protection, while he remainct
! under his control.
t The general had travelled from head quar-
, tiers to the shore in his waist-coat, small
: clothes and slippers. A moment was nov