Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-12

wide, was under the power Of Congress, and the
revolutionary army was stationed at no great dis
lance in New Jersey. in a winter en~campment of
wooden huts.
The party that should undertake this enter
prise would have to embark in boats from the
jersey shore; and it was essential that the whole
affair should be accomplished between sun and
sun.
The following is a plan intended to be observ-
ed, copied literally from the original. i'll the hand
writing of Col. Ogden:
sit will be necessary to have four whale-boats
(which can be procured without cause for suspi-
cion); they must be well manned by their re-
spective crews including guides, &C.; besides
these, one captain, one subaltern, three sergeants,
and thirty-six men, with whom the boats can row
with ease.-N. B. 1t ia known where the boats
are, and that they can be collected without sus-
picion, with the Oars-men; and 1t Is taken for
granted the owners will not object, though, for
fear of giving the least cause of alarm, nothing
has as yet been said to them.
"The time Of embarkation must be the first
wet night after we are prepared. The place is
not vet agreed on, as it will be necessary to con.
suit those skilled in the tides previous to deter.
mining, which must be put off until we are as
nearly ready as possible, for fear of differences
being drawn from our inquiries. We must, how
ever, set of from such part of the Jersey shore,
as will give US time to be in the city by half past
nine. The men must be embarked IN the order
Of debarkation.
"The Prince quarters IN Hanover Square. and
has two s~entinels from the doth British regiment.
that are quartered in Lord Strings old quarters
in Broad-street, 900 yards from the scene OF ac-
ton. The main guard. consisting of a captain
and forty men. is posted at the City Hal'-a SER
49, =. Al Lool oF Al ILL c1,. a
sergeant and twelve opposite the coffee house
these are the troops we may be in danger from,
and must be guarded against. The place of land
ing at Coenties Market, between the two SER
gean,s' guards. at the head Of the old slip, and
opposite the coffee. house.
1.-The order of debarkation to agree with the
mode of attack as follows: =
First-Two men with a guide, seconded by
two others, for the purpose of seizing the senti-
nels-these men to be armed with naked bavOn-
cts and dressed in sailors habits-they are not
to wait for any thing, but Immediately execute
their orders.
"Second-Eigllt men. including guides. with
myself, preceded by two men with each a crow
bar, and two with each an axe, these for the pur-
pose of forcing the doors should they be fast. and
followed BY four men, entering the house and
seizing the young Prince, the young noblemen,
aides, &c.
.Thinl-A captain and eighteen to follow
briskly, form. and defend the house until the bu-
slness is finished, and retreat a half gun shot IN
our rear.
:. Fourth-A subaltern and fourteen, with
half of the remaining boats crew, and form on
the right and left Of the boats, and defend them
until we rcturn-the remainder of the crews to
hold the boats in the best possible position for
embarking.
"Necessary-Two ciow.bars, two axes, four
dark-lanterns, aud four large oil-cioths.
six men with guns and bayonets, with those
unemployed in carrying of the prisoners. to pre-
cede those engaged in that business, followed
BY the captain Joined by four men from the sen.
try) at a halt gun-shot distance, who is to halt and
give a front to the enemy, until the whole are
embarked in the following 91le,:
"First-The prisoners, With those preceding
them.
"Second-The guides and boatmen.
"Third-The subaltern and fourteen.
"Fuurth-The rear"
Such was the daring plan laid for the capture
Of the Prince, and which, even if not fully sue
c~eessful, might have placed his Royal Highness
in a most p~erilOus predicament. 1t appears,
however, from a fragment of a letter addressed
by Gen. Washington to Col. Ogden, and appa-
rentIy written almost Immediately after the pre-
ceding one, that some inkliug of the design had
| reached Sir Henry Clinton, then in New York,
aud Commander in-Chief Of the British forces.
General Washington communicates in his letter,
the following paragraph from a secret despatch,
dated March Esd, which he had just received
from some emlssary in New York:
"Great seem to be their apprehension here.
About a fortnight ago a great number of flat
boats were discovered by a sentinel from the
bank of the river (Hudson's). which are said to
have been intended to fire the suburbs, and in
the height of the conAagration to make a descent
upon the lower part Of the city and wrest from
our embraces His Excellency Sir II. Clinton.
Prince William Henry, and several other illus
trious personages; since which great precautions
have been taken for the security of those gentle
men, by augmentins the guards, and to render
their persons as little exposed as possible"
In another letter. dated Newburgh, A pril Sd,
1882, General Washington observes, " After |
wrote to you from Morris Town, | received in
formation that the %sentries at the door of Sir
Henry Clinton were doubled at eight o'clock
overv NIGHT from an annrphpnsion of an attemDt