Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-01-02

9th, 1913, under the hand Of General
Sullivan, | was appointed a Captain Of
the boats, under my father, with the pay
Sc. Of Captain in the Army. BY vir-
tue of this warrant, / enlisted number
of boatmen, who were allowed the same
pay as the troops, in the service of the
State. After the failure Of the Expedi-
tion, we were ordered to proceed with
the boats, for their safe keeping, to Digh-
ton, in the State of massachusetts, nj where
we remained until the 10Th Of March,
1873; when we were all discharged by
General Sullivan then retired with
my father, to the farm on Seconnet Point.
Towards the latter Fart of the July
following, a large party of Refugees
from Newport, came to Little-C Compton,
for the express purpose Of making pris-
oners Of my father and his sons, who
were peculiarly obnoxious to the enemy.
This party landed undiscovered f; al
though there was guard kept at the
house where we dwelt, and sentinels
were stationed on the shore. Two of
the sentinels, discovering boat, hailed
and fired; but were Immediately seized
by the enemy, then at their backs, with
threats Of immediate death for daring to
fire. We were alarmed at the house,
by the report of the muskets; and l and
my unfortunate brother, having armed
ourselves, were the first to reach the
shore; and were instantly made prison.
ers by the enemy, who were in ambush.
As they appeared to be in confusion, my
poor brother attempted to escape, by
leaping over stone wall; and had pro-
ceeded some distance, when he was fired
on, and wounded through the thigh. -
One Of the merciess desperadoes pur-
sued, and run him through with bayo-
net. Although more than half n centu-
ry has passed since that cruel and saw
age deed, my blood still thrills at the
recollection Of the tragic scene! They
then took four ofOur party on board their
schooner, and lodged us in the Jail, al
Newport, which was then used as pro-
vost l there remained as prisoner, ioi
about a fortnight when with u Captain
Benjamin Borden, Of Fall-River, made
my escape, in the following manner -
The prisoners were occasionally permit.
ted to 60 into the cellar; where we OBJ
served that instead Of iron, the windows
were furnished with wooden bars, which
might be easily removed with a good
knife. But even then, there were diff
fculties to be surmounted, which to per.
sons less determined than ourselves
would doubtless have appeared insupeF
able. Sentinels were placed both ir
front and rear of the prison; and were
continually patroling. AT the East ent
Of the building, there was, and still is ;
narrow street communicating with thu
front and back streets of the prison.
From the cellar window, by which WI
escaped, n few stops brought ns into tn,
street in front, and in view ofthe soldier
who, fortunately for US, was at that tim'
J in the sentry-box, on account ofthe rail
which was falling. We had previousl,
selected topic Of conversation respect
ing Newly York; that we might appear Il
have recently arrived from that place
in order to avert any suspicion whicl
might arise in the mind of the sentinel
or Of any other person whom we nigh
meet We had agreed to walk deliber
ately, and without betraying any signs O
fear: and were providcntiaIly enabled t.
pass, in the twilight, safely through tn
compact part OF the town. Near the ha
scales in Broad street, we went into tn
fields on the SOUTHEAST of that street
and at a short distance from thence with
out detection, we crossed the lines whic
] enclosed the town; although these wer
e strictly guarded. We then attempted
r cross the road, and to steer our cours
It between the Forts by Irish's and Tau
=. many Hill; in order to avoid the reg
3 ment of Anspach, which was encampe
n near by; but as il had then become ver
r dark, we soon found ourselves much tC
e near for our safety. The darkness
0 however, prevented our re-captu'e; 10
= as we heard the sound when the guar
i was relieved at the Fort at Irish's, W
il Ito use not unapt metaphor were Ell
it ablcd "to steer between Scylla al
j. Charybdis." We came out into the We
= road; and having proceeded about eig
!, or nine miles towards Bristol Ferry, ha
3, ed at the house of Nathan Brownell, wi
l. received US with great kindness.
y As the troops, at that season of Il
h year, were encamped in the fields, it W
l. extremely hazardous for us to visit,
W seasonable hours those ofthe inhabitar
y who were friendly to the Americ
r cause-but still greater, and apparent
" insurmountable obstacles opposed al
r attempt to leave the Island, undiscovt
n ed. As the shores were closely qua
m dcd, we could not possibly obtain boi
III and our only alternative was to procu
q. number of rails from the fences, for
E. construction of raft; and then to aw
X n proper time for making an attempt