The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-03-13
JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
KEPT sr JOHN rREvErr, OF NEWPORT.
lContinued.1

lContinued.1 -
The time soon arrived when the British
prisoners came with Capt. Ayers from Bos-
ton, and I took two Of our mdshipmen
from the sloop Providence with me, to
work the csrlel. We all disguised ourselves
in the sailors dress, and made sail for New
port, and came to anchor near the Long
Wharf Shortly after a barge came from
the ship Reuown, of so guns, laying outside
the fort ] informed Capt. Ayers and the
British officer. that our cable was so poor
we should be apt to go ashore, if we Was to
60 outside of the Fort-Island by that
means the barge went on board, and brough,
Midshipman, and some men with him to
take charge Of the Cartel, and the British
allowed Capt. Ayres to 60 on shore, when
the prisoners were landed, and he went to
Mr. Thomas Townsend's. Very cold wealth
er and tho cove froze over. had the pleas
ure Of seeing the Diamond frigate lying on
cream. below the Long Wharf, stopping
up the bruises we gave her the week before,
at Warwick Neck. was contriving how l
should get on shore, but said nothing to my
two shipmates about it. Knowing we had
but one gang cask Of water oil bourd, hut
plenty of good rum and sugar, and knowing
that sailors like sling or canhook, in the
informing, such biuer cold weather, l slept
into the hold ia the night, and turned the
gang cask buns down. went by the name
Of Jack, by my shipmates; SO us to deceive
Capt Ayers At daylight, as expected,
our British officer wanted sling. As Jack
was very attentive, they said to mo have
you got any good spirits sn beard' in
formed them ns good as jamaica could af-
ford. Then they said, 8" make u sling, well
to the Nonhwara." Immediately told my
shipmate Tom, (as that was the name he
went by then) To get the water, whilst j
would get the rum and sugar ready. Tom
went into the hold aud soon returned swear
ing, aud said by some accident the cask had
20, bung down, and there was no water on
board. This was u short time after dayligt /;
the officer turned to the and said, Jack, do
you know where you cun get water handy y
4 Informed him That had sailed from this
place sometime before, and told him there
was some good water near The Long Wharf
"Jack," said this officer, "step into the
boat with two hands," Chat was our mid
shipmen Tom and William, them were the
names we sailed then by,) and the officer
gave US a strict charge, not to be gone more
than 20 minutes. This was just what
wanted. went iuto Mr.. Philip Wanton's
dock, took out the gang cask, and my two
snidshipmen carried it up. / went with
them into Mr.. Wantop's washroom, where
they had pump, with good water. Who
should I see there, but Mr.. George Lawton,
washing his hands. asked him to lend
mo a funnel to fill the cask he told me he
had none, but told me Mrs. Ba,tey had one,
on the long wharf saw Mr.. Lawton
looked hard at me, but made myself
scarce. I went to Mrs. Battey's ard found
her alone making fire. knew her well
I asked Mrs. Battey to lend me n funnel
she answered very short, 'uo" As no sou
was near l went up to her and told her sh;
shosld Ieud me one. She knew my mode o
speaking, and said, "for Gods sake wher'
are you 'front.' informed her from Prov
idence. "How did you leave my son =
meaning Capt. Henry Dayton. Iinfornet
her, we'll. "Now," said she, "sPeak low
for have 20, over head several of the Brit
ish officers boarders with me, and l expec
klr. Bat,ey ashore this morning, as he is
Pilot on board one Of the ships Of war, ant
if he sees you he may know you. Here i
the funnel, will you eat or drink any thing 7
told her no. must remark here, tha
four or five months before, took up tbi
same Battcy for tory. had the cask hll
ed in short time, aud carried the funns
back. We had considerable conversation
aud before left her, she said she was afrai'
her sou and would be hanged, for th
British certainly would bea, the A american,
4 laughed at her, and said that can neve
be, and never saw her more. then wen
10 the lOug-boa, and got in the gong ea.I
of water, and then the tide was abou, hal
down. I said TO Tom and Will, ls, tb
boa, now groune, for wsst to take cruis
round town. whith they did. then wen
TO Mr. PeIeg Barku's, where the commsn
ders Of the Hessian, quartered. fOun'