Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-05-04

L
NORTH RIVER: JULY. l776.
1t is related by Marshall, in bis life Of
Washington, that in July, 1919, while
the american army yet had possession
of New York, Lord Howe, who had but
recently arri, ed before that city with his
fleet, sent up two frigates by the Ameri-
can batteries, which took their stations
in North River, and thereby put a stop
to the communication between the ar
mics at New York and at Ticonderoga
And to remove this interruption, plan
was formed. to set the frigate on fire,
by means OF fire ships, which though ad
dress and courage were manifested in
the enterprise, failed in the execution,
and only tender was burnt
We have alluded 20 this event, in or
der to do justice to the character Of
some Of the men who risked their lives
in the hazardous attempt TO destroy
these frigates, IN the manner already des-
cribed One of them is yet living in our
neighborhood, from whom we have
learned the circumstances attending the
transaction, and though We are willing
| 10 make oil suitable allowance for the
coloring which an actor in such a scene
would be apt to give its description, yet
| we believe II TO be substantially correct
as we hnd il coroborated BY history,
and other teslimons Of living witnesses.
The individual 10 whom we allnde Is Mr..
Joseph Bass, of Leicester, whose nara
tive we sill endenvour 10 give srepea
ted by himselti though now a humble
| Individual in society, we have incontes>
tIble proof that he was brave soldier
in the war OF our independence.
He was, ut this time, attached to the
water service" under the command OF
Commodore Upper, who WAS directed
TO prepare to send up two fire ships to
the British frigates. The Commodore
selected Bass to take charge of one, and
put the other under the command Of Capt.
Thomas, who belonged to New London.
The vessel commanded by Bass was
sloop, called the Polly, OF about one
hundred tons burden. nearly new. That
commanded by Thomas, was Of small
SIZE. The frigates lay about eight miles
above kingsbridge, but having had in
tlmations that they might be attacked,
removed their station towards the IVES
tern shore Of the river. where the shore
was bolder, and the water deeper than
on the east side.
The vessels intended for fire ships
were prepared at New York, and lmoved
up TIE river on the day before the inten-
ded attack, to creek. near Kingsbridge,
which crosses in from the east, called
SpIklng Devil Creek
he vessels had been prepared with
iaggois of every combustible of wood,
winch had been dipped in melted pitch.
and bundles Of straw cut about a foot
long prepared in the came way
These iaggots and bundles filed the
deck, anu commune ated with tough
OF fine gunpowder which h extended along
under the deck, from the hold into the
cabin, and into this was inserted match,
that might be fred by a person in the
cabin, who would have time to escape
through door cut in the side OF the ves-
sci into whale boat that was dashed TO
''the quarter" of the sloop. Besides
these combustiDles. there were in each
vessel 10 or IL barrels of pitch, and a
very great number of yards of canvass,
cat in strips about foot in width, CO.
vering the yard. and rigging. and exten.
ding down to the deck all OF whit h had
been dipped in the spirits of turpentine.
Every thing had been so prepared that
raoment was sufficient to put the whole
. into full blaze.
The fire ships started from the creek
about da k, with a south wind, and ia
vorable tide. The night was cloudy and
dark. with occasionally a little rain.
Bass had nine men attached 10 his ves-
sci, three OF whom he stationed in the
whale boat, one acted as pilot, while he
stationed himself with a match in the
cabin To fire the materials.
Besides the two British frigates, there
were bomb ketch and two tenders in
company, and moored near them They
were anchored in line about north and
south; first the Phenix of "A guns; next
the Rose of SO guns; then the bomb
ketch, and above that lay the tenders.
As the night was dark, and the fire ships
kept near the middle of the river, they
were not aware that they were near the
British, VI sseIs, until they heard imme-
diately on their left, the bells of the ves-
sells, and the cry of the sentiuels "all's
xvoll,1 fro.., tho;r eoroxoI lncle me-.