The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-05-22
JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
KEPT BIT JOHN TREvErT, OF NEWPORT.
CConiinued.1

[Con,nued.l
Nothing material happened until October
when u fleet of merchant ships came in from
different parts of Newfoundland, to sail uu
der convoy some for Lisbon and other
for the West Indies. The first notice | haC
of the fleets sailing, was by a signal givei
to the merchant ships by the Admiral's ship
and in short time the Prison-ship p was sur
rounded with boats from many Of the Mer
chantmen, and was boarded by barge from
fifty gun ship, with Lieutenant on board
soon found what their business was; i
was, for every fifth man the ships had
to take one American. i spoke to thi.
Lieut., who appeared to me to be as tyrnn.
ical as negro driver in Jamaica, and ask.
ed him if this was their mode of exchanging
prisoners and said, for my part, if ] had
known this, would have procured some
palm oil, and applied it, and that would
have made them look much better, for they
were turned cut in shameful manner. Ii
""S ooe Sbott p'oV1 cCioiC hoIC tiih
common savage, Brocannon, came with
my name and five others, to be sent on board
of Brig letter-of- Aarque, bound TO ST.
kits. spoke TO the Lieut.. and also to
Capt. Brocannon, master of the Prison-ship
and informed him, us an American Nava
Officer, that | had known number of A,
mericans exchanged, but none of them in
this way and called myself prisoner o
war; and meant to be exchanged as such
Brocannon said 4" d--n your blood, mon
60 and pick up your duds, or will have
you hove into the boat" l Instantly wen
down into the lower regions, us they sup.
posed to pick up my duds, but was was de.
iermined not to go, as ! knew the fleet musl
all sail in the course of the day. This in
fernal Scotch scoundrel, Brocannon, with n
trumpet at his mouth, called on me to come
up. Innswercd him kindly, with ms hard
words as could give, that would not come.
He said "D-n his blood get another
mon in his place." and they did so. Capt.
Brocannon was more of knave than fool
but | believe he was a coward, for I was
all this time in the lower regions of the ship,
and he knew, that if we put the lights out
we should be all Of one color, and | knew
was safe down there, and remained be-
low until evening, when the fleet had sailed
Brooannan went on shore every night
gambling &C., as | was credibly Informed
by his own officers, and some mornings he
would come on beard very civil, but not Of
ten. In two or three days he seemed to be
very clever; ! then spoke to him about TAX
ing out prisoners in snch manner. lie
said he had his orders from the Admiral
/ always thought they had taken SO many
men out Of their merchant ships tn man
their ships Of war, that the Admiral took
our poor Yankees and Frenchmen to pay
the debt, for Frenchmen were taken as well
as American.
A few days after this Cartel arrived from
Boston und passed by our Prison-ship ane
went up The hurbor, along side one Of tn,
ships of war. was very anxious TO bea
what news she brought, for knew wha
Capt Brocannan told me was lie l coulc
get on shore any night had a mind to, fol
money will speak all languages, and thr
next night, young man belonging to tn,
Eastward, and myself, went on shore. We
stopped at several Taverns to hear the news
and we soon learnt ,ha, several Quebec ship:
had been taken by our Priva,eers, and car.
ried into Salem and other ports, and a nun
Der Of their prisoners had come in the Car.
tel got back to the Prison-ship Before
midnight; this happened very well for me
Capt. Brocannan would have something te
say every morning, and the ne1t morning
asked him what news from Boston. III.
said to me, "You will oil be exchanged
soon, for the rebels are all coming in, sne
have come in oil but FIVE States, SO ,hs, vol
have got but FIVE stripes to your bunch o.
Buggars," as he called the American ,trioe.
told him could not believe it, and in ,
SMILING way Isaid, should think the A mer
leans he'd taken bunting enough out of tn,
Quebec fleet, to sdd thirteen more stripe.
TO our flag. This dispIeased the Scotch
rillsin, and he called me a ID rebeI