The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-07-03

over the minds of the whole party, but no
one spoke, as had given the most positive
orders not to have one syllable uttered.
Thinking on the matter for a moment, l
was sure that the enemy could not have the
least knowledge of our designs, and conclu-
ded, il must be horses running as they often
do.
We now pushed for the shore there
was man left to each boat 10 keep them
ready for push, for we expected that the
enemy might try to impede our retreat the
party being now ready, we marched with
the greatest silence, in five divisions, to the
house where the General quartered the
entrance into it was by three doors, the
south, the east and the west. The first d.
vision was to attack the south door, the sec
ond the west, the third the east, the fourth
to guard the road, the fifth to act in emer-
gencies. We left the guard-house on our
left, and on our right was small house
where party of Light Horse quartered in
order 10 carry orders from the General to
any part of the Island. When we opened
the gate of the front yard, The sentinel who
stood about twenty-five yards from us hail
ed who comes there We gave no answer,
but continued marching on; there being a
row of trees between us and the sentinel, he
could not well discover our number; he u
gain hailed who comes there; we answer
ed friends: friends advance and give the
couniersign. spoke as though in great
passion, aud said we had no eountersign,
have you seen any dcserters tonight This
had been previously contriyed as decoy,
which had the desired effect; for before he
suspected US 10 be enemies, we had hold of
his musket, told him he was prisoner, and
# he made the least noise he should be in
stantly put to death. We asked him i'll
General Prescott was in the house. He
was SO frightened, that at first he could no:
speak but ut last with faltering voice,
and waving his hand towards the house, he
said yes. BY this time each division having
got its station, the doors were burs, open.
We first went into a chamber were we saw
a MIR. Overng, the General was not there
We went into another chamber where Mr..
Overing's son was he said the General
was not there; then went to the head of
the stairway and called for the soldiers to
set the house on fire, for we were determin-
ed to have the General dead or alive; on
this we went below and called for General
Prescott, we heard voice saying what is
the matter' proceeded from whence i,
came, and entering room, saw man just
rising out of bed, and clapped him on the
shoulder, asked him if he was General
Prescott; he replied Yes Sir; desired him
10 hurry; he requested he might be allow
ed to put on his clothes; told him very
few, for our business required haste. Ia
The meantime Major Darlington, the Gen
erals Aid-de-Ca finding the house was
leaped out of the window; but
by the time he was to the ground was Sc
cured a prisoner. After the General had
slipped on few clothes, we marched for
The shore. We desired the General to put /
one arm over my shoulder and the other o.
yer one of the officers, that he might go
with the greater ease and despatch. Ma
or Darlington and the sentinel were kept
in the middle of the party; In little time
we came to the shore. The General see
ing the FIVE small boats, and knowing in
what manner the shipping lay, appeared
much confused, and asked me if l CON-
manded the party told him ] did he
said hope you will not hurt me. assur-
ed him, whilst in my power he should not
be injured. Before we got into the boats
we put on the Generals coat, for as yet he
had on only waistcoat, breeches and slip
pers. We were very soon seated in our
boats, the General in No. (; after we had
got a small distance from the shore, we
heard three cannon and saw three sky rock
cts, which was the signal for an alarm. II
was fortunate for US that the enemy on board
the shipping could not know the cause oft,
as they might with ease have cut off our re-
turn 10 the main. We proceeded on till
broad daylight. when we landed at Warwick
Neck, the place from whence we took our
departure, having been gone abopt six hours
and half The General when on shore,
turned towards the island, and beholding
the shipping, said TO me, "Sir you have
made d---d bold push tonight" !"
replied we had been fortunate. We went
10 the highest house, were the General and
lis ABIDE Camp were asked if they would
rest themselves with sleep, which ihey did.