Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-02
CITE Constitutional geabip.

From the ALVllI number of the North Auera Review
we extract the following interesting account of several very
splendid exploits performed by ancestors during the Re-
voltionary War The feat of undaunted hcroisn,
achieved by them occurred Immediately after the inell-
gence OF the Battle OF Lexington Macas in Maine
"neh the people, goaded and cxasperated by OPPRESSION
broke forth into fierce rcsoiuc hostiyn and j, thus
described:
British armed schooner was al that time living ,t
hlachias. Considering hostites as now begun pIan
was immediately formed TO capture the unsuspecnc
enemy The first intention was to seize upon the of;
GERS oil tue schooner while attending church on the fol
lowing day, which Sundays but this design was de-
eated oy tne vigilance or the activity of the officers
VINO made their escape to the vessel and after frinr
re" random shot at the town, dropped down the bay-
unwilling 10 lose the prize, party of volunteers the
next day took forcble possession of lumber soop and
Immediately began pursuit. The whole equipment for
hiS sudden cruise consisted according to Mr. Godsbo
rough OF three charges of powder and ball for tyent
low ling pieces hireen pitchforks ten or twelve axes
lew pieces ofsalt pork, &C.n No circumstance coud
more strkng,y exhibit the reckless and confding bra
very OF this little band, than that il should have been
without any acknowledged leader until the moment nj
overtaking the enemy, when Mr. jeremiah Orien was
chosen ny unanimous consent Unappallcd by the dis
parity OIL ioce he at once laid his soop alongside of the
schooner and after short but severe contest carried
her 10y boarding. The British vessel said 10 have b,d
our SIX Founders, twenty swivels, two wall pieces and
an abundance OF culaSses, fire arms and ammunition and
CIe" CoIislsuTP Vol TWO commissioned officers and
hiry-eIght petty officers and menu The crew of tho
lumber soop IS stated have been less Than forty
WIN The armament of his prize, O'Brien fitted out
Sai' yessei caed the Liberty, and captured two
o.hcr priiIsh armed schooners sent in pursuit of
niHl, Whosc crews he conducted prisoners 10 Boston
where, upon the recommendation of General !y.sb;no
loh ne was appointed Captain by the Provincial Com
SfesS OF Massachusetts Returning Machias he soon
manned two vessels the Liberty aud the Diligence
with volunteers sailed for New Brunswick and took
by surprise Fort Howe, with its garrison and ,oiIitr
s'0'es' anu loaded brig, lying in the harbour which
was destined for the British troops at Boston.
ne declaration OF independence had not vet been
'haue' mere was still an opening for accommodation
lingering allegiance still existed in the hearts of d.
ihuude and while the contest was supposed TO he onl
win the latter measures seldom extended beyond, do
iensVe CHARACTER A small fleet was, however eouip.
Cu ny the general Congress the close of the
I75, with view TO more energetic ooeratiooe ;rt;
squadron that went forth upon the deep in defiance
OF power, whose unreasonable superiority rave th
character OF foriorn hope consisted of the Alfred
uhry guns; The Columbus, twenty eight Guns. Andre,
Dora, sixteen guns; Sebastian Cabot fourteen onrs
ana the providence, twelve guns; and was under the
command OF Commodore Ezekiel Hopkins who bearino,
'hat the island OF New Providence had large mIitarv
stores unproyIded with proper defence sailed tl,bo
and succeeded in capturing the covernor tl,o ,,;
and stores. On has return, he made priz, Of bomb
Orig OUT falling IN an engagement with the Glaseoyy
% twenty guns which, after gallant defence against
the cabot and The Alfred, made its cscaue fo, m Ioo,
| he was much Censured by his countryrnen
The beginning oftIie year 1776 was marked by manv
"cc'einekts which were as honorable to the actors s
SerVceaoie to the country. The short and brilliant
career of Captain Mugford of Boston attracts rart
! lar attention. We can hardly excuse Mr. Cfntisba
rough for having merel mentioned hrs name Accord
ing 10 Clarke's Naval History, tins active and introid
mariner was me master OF trading vessel when he
was appointed by General Ward after ,nuch soI;c;,o
ton to the command of the Franklin = nn,lic arnI
vessel OF four guns. 1t appears that General Wa
through want OF confidence in him. which not account
eu Tor subsequently intended to revoke the appointment
but Capt Rlugford, through his indefatigab BILE cycr
had already put sea. His first prizc yv.s tho H.
ship OF 800 tons and six guns which he canturod in
sight OF the English Commodore Banks "This recenI
exceeded IN valne, "says Mr. Clarke aDy fbno which
| had yet been captured by the Americans TIcr cn
consisted OF 800 barrels of powder 1000 carbines
number oil travelling carriages for cannon and a moe,
complete assortment OF artillery instruments and MO
neerS Tools" The unpreparedness with which the CO.
ioeS hau begun me contest, rendered every acouisi
ton of this kind of ncaculable Importance In con
Quoting his valuable prize to Boston if was necoss
IN order to aviod the British cruisers TO aemnt did
cult and almost unried channel. He was snccossfl
10 gong up but 10 coming down again shortly after or
another cruise, through the same passare he ran =.
ground, and while in that situation was discovered he
the British squadron. Eight or nine barpes were inn
! medIately dispatched against him. Being aware of
their approach he first received them with his small
arms, and then, cutting his cable so as to swing rond
brought his broadsdc 20 bear: but before second dis
charge could be made many of the boats had reached
the vessel All efforts to board, however, were prompt
y and successfully repealed In the midst of this close
aud desperate struggle, Captain Mugford while reach
ing over the quarter, to seize the mast of one of the
boats and upset her. received pistol ball i'm his breast
ODdiSmayed by the mortal wound he called to his first
Lieutenant 81 am dead man; do not give up the ship
you will be able to beat them off" and in few minutes
after expired But his daring spirit still animated his
crew; the enemy repused, with the loss of two bar
ges, and many killed and wounded.
The name of Paul Jones has kind of romantic f,
miarity with every American ear. Fireside tradition
imprnts upon the mind of almost every child lone be
fore he dips into history, vague idea of his desperate
valor and sanguinary bates and when in riper years
he ascertans the sober truth, he is surprised and some
what disappointed, to find how many exaggerated no
lions he has to surrender Paul Jones was appointed
lieutenant IN the American navy at the beginning o
the revolution, and sailed in that capacity under Com
nodore Hopkins to New Providence. After his return
he was appointed to the Providence twelve Guns
and IN the year 1776 promoted to the rank
of Captain. While still in command of tho
Providence he fell in with the British armed vessel
Solebay, of twenty-eigh guns, and sustained an ac
ton with her for some hours, occasionally within MS
to shot, and finally by his expertness extricated him
self from her superior force. In the same cruise he