The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-23

.ilon (Obio) Gazette, the following remark
able narrative Of suffeiings aud escapes =
RETURN OF THE CAPTIVE.
Our citizens yesterday morning were in
troduced To the acquaintance Of John Wood
a man whose tae of sorrow could not fail
Of interesting the heart, however callous, OF
however prone to credulity. A meagre
sketch can only be given now. The ample
history of his misfortunes may hereafter be
presented to the world and, if given by a
master hand will command the interest,
and enlist the sympathy, of the public, when
the mawkish productions Of fiction, which
now cumber our book stores and insult our
taste, shall have become despised and for
gotten.
In the war of 1912, John Wood, now ff-
ty years old, was young and industrious
farmer in Bracken county, Kentucky. He
was th husband of a young ald interest
ing woman, and the father of two infant
children. He was living in happiness on'a
farm which he had earned by his industry,
when the gallant Captain Butler (wbo af-
terward fell at the capture Of the British
batteries at Fort Megs) raised his flag, and
solicited the hardy Kentuckians of Brack-
en- county to enroll themselves among the
defenders Of their country. John Wood was
one of the number. He suffered all the
privatons to which the army of the North
west was exposed, during the disastrous
campaign which resulted in the defeat Of
Winchester at the river Raisin. BY good
fortune he escaped the tomahawk of the
savage allies of Great Britain, and was sent
prisoner of war to Quebec.
He was next; with other American priss
oners, despatched in n transportto Plymouth
in England. From Plymouth, accompani-
ed by crowd of fellow prisoners, he was
about to be transferred to Dartmoor, when
he found an opportunity TO elude his guards,
and make his escape. He wandered through
The country, stealing through by-ways un-
til he found himself at Bristol. Hunger
compelled him to enter a grocery, the head
quarters Of press gang. Here he was
pressed; and despite his protes,ations that
he was a citizen Of the United States, and
fugitive prisoner of war-facts which
might have been easily proved by reference
to the military authorities at Plymou,h-he
was hurried on board H,s Majesty's frigate
Sea Horse, then the flag ship of the cele-
hrated Sir Peter Parker, and compelled to
bear arms against his own coun,rymen.
On board the Sea Horse were several
other Americans. who, like Wood, had fall
EN- victims to the British system of impress
ment. They determined on desertion; and
when lying in the port of ST. Johns, they
succeeded in securing boat, in an ex-
sren,ely dark night, and attempted to reach
the eastern coast Of Maine. They were in-
stantly pursued, and were obliged to desert
their boat on the shore Of New Brunswick,
and seek safety in the woods. After wan
dering about for two days, exhausted with
cold and hunger and fatigue, they were ap-
pretended by party of British soldiers,
and again transferred to the Sea Horse.
The punishment, that followed this act of
deserton, was inflicted with all that ingen-
ious refinement Of cruelty for which the
British navy is so celebrated.
The Sea Horse attached to the squadron
under Admiral Cockbnrn, vas shortly af-
ter ordered into the Chesapeake, and took
an active part in the robbing, burning and
numbering of the defenceless inhabitants of
the coast. MIR. Wood and the impressed
Americans were never permitted to leave
their vessel. He was on board on the night
when Sir Peter Parker met bis fate on
shore. few days subsequent to this event
he, in company with seven other impressed
Americans, attempted an escape in brond
daylight, by boldly jumping into boat n
long side, and pulling rapidly for the shore.
One of the number was shot by the senti-
mel on duty. The others reached the beach,
but were apprehended Immediately on Ian
ding by party of marauders belonging to
the Sea Horse.
BY order OF Admiral Cockburn, they were
sent in irons to Nova Scotia, where, after
undergoing trial, they were sentenced to
be shot. The sentence, however, was COM
muted TO service for life in bis Britannia
Majesty's army in the East Indies. They
were accordingly shipped to England, and
thence, with a regiment of newly levied re-
cruts, despatched to Calcutta. For TWEEN
ty-one years Mr.. Wood served as private
soldier in the East India service and eigh-
teen months since, when broken down in
spirit and la constitution, he was permitted
to sail for England. Destitute aud heart
broken, he reached London, stated bis case
TO the Uunited States consul, and by him
was furnished with the means of reaching
New York. He left New York in January.
and wended his weary pilgrimage toward
the hosae of his childhood.
1t is now twenty-six years since he left
his wife and children in Kentucky, and not
one syllable has he heard relative to their
situation since the moment Of their separa-
ton. The citizens here forced few dol
lars upon him-for, poor and decrepid as
he is, he still possesses NIL the pride of
of Kentuckian-and sent him on his way
in the stage to Wellsville, from which town I
he intends to embark in a s,enmboa, for
in Kentucky.