The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-04-12
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAND.
1856.

lie VI Soioh1 uuh S1pNN''y
of the town of Newport, were frequently
under arms for exercise and improvement
in the military art. A young man by the
name of Hacker, came, early in the war,
from Boston to Newport, who possessed the
military art, in great perfection, as 1t was
practised at that day. He introduced all
the new practice of sham fights, and diyi-
ded the men into miniature armies-there
were the Regulars or Kings troops, the
Proyincias and the Indians, each of which
were taught their respective duties, and sta
toned in their proper places in the various
battles aad skirmishes. The yonng men
who represented Indian warriors with their
faces hideously painted, were subjected to
the ralery Of their comrades as long as they
lived, who face,iously said that they never
were able to wash the Indian entirely off.
Hacker continued to be the hero of the pa
rndc, and when the troops of Rhode-lslan
went Canada he was commissioned as
Captain and went in that capacity. The
first battle in which the Rhode-Island troops
were engaged, Hacker was the first man to
run. which drew upon him the contempt
and raillery ofthe others, who made all kind
Of fun of him for his bravery on parade, and
his cowarLice in battle. They rugged him
out with n wooden sword, and exposed him
to the contcmpt of the troops, who also per-
secuted him by singing dosgerel rhymes,
most of which we have forgotten, two lines
however we're:
"A peticoat, choir tobacco
And wooden sword, for Captn Hacker
Tho swarns of sailors which thronged
the streets Of Newport on the return of the
pyivateers and prizes, when flushed with
success and full Of prize money, knew liit'o
law but that Of their own making; they
were caressed for their bravery, and latter
ed, and induIgei by the merchants TO Sc
cure their future services. As one pass
ed along street all was fun, revel and fro-
ic, the sound of one fiddle WAS rarely lost
before another was heard almost every
amusement was tolerated Bull batting was
very frequent, Cock lighting and Gambling
were everyday amusements, in which the
people of the town participated with the sal
lors, from whom they derived some consid-
cradle profit. One Of the great resorts for
sailors was house which stood near the
road leading to Middle,own, ION the land
now owned by William Thurston) kept by
man named Gmdeffr Lindee another
and larger establishment Of the kind was
situated in Middletown few rods short of
four miles from Newport, on the west side
of the west road there was n large hall for
dancing, and there the sailors, with their
girl. resorted much, especially in the sum
mer. The house was KEEP; by a female
called Nab Stoacmaa. Az this place all
kinds of dissipation, licentiousness and OBJ
scenity were practised. One piece of a
musement invented by the sailors, was to
make up purse for the winner at foot race,
between two girls, who were to run under
cover of their under garment only. We
could relate trsditionsry stories of such
kinds, almos, without end, but sufficient has
been shown to give the reader some idea of
the manners of those times, when war and
rapine were the leading pursuits ofthe town.
Sober and correct people had to look on
without the power to control the practices,
or the influence to regulate the general man
ners OF that period Of war and violence.
Col. Godfrey MaIboue, whose country
seat was at the place long known by the
name of Malbone's Garden, was largely
concerned as an owner ofPrivateers. When
one of his vessels arrived from a cruise aud
wa. paid off, he invited every person tina,
composed her last crew, from Capt. down to
tho ,cullion, black and white, to dine with
him a, his country seat, "a short walk from
the town. A large table was set. at which
he personally presided, where the whole
,hio's crew were entertained and feas,ed a
II they had been body Of Princes and No
blemeu. When the cloth was removed ib'
punch, wines, and liquors, flowed IN un
sparing prniusion, until the smallest man
or boy in the company, became hero cqus
to the great Colonel, their brave aud gener
ous host. When this excitement had arrive
its full height, the Colonel rose and gay
ii. Kings health, which imposed an obi