The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-01-10
Vol. 10.
From the Boston Centinel.
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES
Cupf,iyV ef he Ry;f;sb Csa pr>scaSf ~

Capture If he British Gen. Prescott, ky
Ire .lmoioan Ii. Col. Barton.
The following narrative of one Of tho
most interesting events Of the Revolution
ary War 10 hieaIy worthy Of record. 70
is from an entirely authentic source. The
intelligent reader will hardly know which
most to admire aud approvs;--the consume
mate skill and cool courage of the projee>
tor Of Ito bloodloss enterprise; ;--the mod
~, and ingrnious manner in which tho
narrative 10 penned; ;-or tho true Yankee
kindness and humanity shown to an open
enemy in timo Of high excitement.
NARRATIVE.
a detachment Of British troops took Maj.
Gen. Lee prisoner by surprise. Having Q
very high opinion Of the Generals abili.
ties, was resolved, IL ever IN opportunity
offered, to surprise Major General OF tho
British army, with a view to procure hia
exchange. In the month of December.
the same year, the enemy took possession
Of the islands Of Rhode Island, Consnicue
and Prudence. ] being then in the SER
vice of this State, was ordered TO the post
at Tiverton, where used the greatest enc
doayors to gain intelligence Of some Brits
ish officer Of the same rank with Najob
Gen. Lee, whom ] might surprise, and
thus effect an exchange Of that great man.
On the Goth OF June l777. Mr.. Coffin
made his escape from the enemy on Re
Island, and was brought 10 my quarters.
When asked, where Major General Pres.
colt quartersd, he said at tho house Of Mr..
Overing, on the west side Of tho islnndl
and being requested, gave u description ~
tho house. l now entered very seriously
upon the plan Of surprising General Press
colt, IN his own quarters. A iow days sfe
ter this, a desertor came off the islsnds
who gave the same intelligence 40 MIR.
Coffin. could not yet enter fully on the
enterprise, there were 80 many obstacles
presenting themselves. The troops, 40
well as myself, were not long Injured to ser~
vice, and never had attempted an enter-
prise Of this sort; aud was sensible II our
plan should DO blasted, that my country
would reprobate my conduct as rash and
imprud0nt; but after some considerable
struggle with those 0flicultiss, l deter,
mined to throw myself into the hands oe
fortune, and make the attempt. j commu~
nicated my plsn To Col. Stanton, then come
manding officer OF this post, and ssqaess-
cd his ,ermisson 10 put it into executione
lie very readily gave me liberty 20 go nD4
attack the enemy when aud whore
pleased. ] then selected several ofiicsrss
IN whose abilities and secrecy, from per-
sonal acquaintance, ] could confde.
then asked them If tboy were willing "
go on al enterprise; but where, and fos
what particular enterprise, could nut
then inionn tlcm.--lhey MI consented 10
20. The nancs Of the officers are 40 fols
Iows- Ebcne ger Adams, Captain Of Artile
ery; Samuel Philips, Captain; James Pots
ter, Lioutenoht; Joshua Babcock, Licus
tenant; Andrew Stanton, Ensign; and
John Wilcocks. The next step To be tas
ken was, to procure boats, which was at--
tended with some difficulty, as there was
but two ht our post; however, in two %
three days we obtained five whale boats
and had them fitted IN tho best possible
manner.
Having obtained the men, and oil thinge
in readiness, we embarked on the 9TH oC
July, with an intention to proceed u
Bristol. Aftsr we got into Mount Hppa
Bay, thorc can't, on heavy storm Of ihun-
der and rain, by which lost sight or all
the boats but one; tho two boats which
were not separated, pushed on with all
speed, and LANDED OF Bristol at 70 o'clock
at night, being. the 9th. went to tho
Commanding olHcer's quarters, where there
was a deserter, who had Just rnado his es.
cape from RhodIe .Islond; taking him in,o
a private room, questioned him concern.
ing the eneniy's position, whether there
bad beer any alteration in the British en-.
campment within q few days; he said
there kad not. ] then asked him where
the commander in chief quartered; be yety
much Surprised mo when he answered ia
the town of NnwporA ] asked him IL eve
or he went with such a guard 40 q ser.
goeDt and ten men 10 tho west part Of the
island; he told me he had not. agaiR
asked him IL he knew OF such guard be-
ing detached from the grand parade every
morning at eight o'clock; he said he did.
] was now very well convinced that part
Of what he said arose from his ignorance
OF the quarters. At eight o'clock the oth-
er boats joraed us. I then took the Off,
GERS with n,e on q snail island, called
Hog lsanD in plain sight Of the British
encampmest and shipping, where, after
we had viewed them come time with Q
glass, ! thrIi addressed them; Gentlemen,
the enterprise which ! have projected, and
which ] want your assistance 10 execute.
IL this; to 40 on to the island Of Rhode Is
land, surprse Major General Prescott, at
his own quarters, and bring him prisoner
to the msin. The officers, who know
Nothing of gny intention seemed somewhat
surprised. Igaye them oil the intellig igenco
which had been obtained, the situation of
the house where the General quartered.