Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-05-11

IL
| As the article has been copied bv papers.
whose taste we appreciate, and as we have
no!hIng more interesting to offer 10 our rea-
ders, we are encouraged to present 10 them
another recollection Of the same period.
Alter the fleet under the command of Sir
Thomas Hardy, had been fairly beaten off
by the little band of heroes at Slonington:
on the fourth day ofthe attack, finding that
no impression could be made on the battery
winch defended the village; and finding al
SO that the militia of the adjacent couotrv
had assembled in such force as would pre
vent the possibility of landing, the Com
modore withdrew bis squadron from their
inglorIous attack and moving up Fishers
Island Sound with his whole force, anchor
ed OFT i" Groton Long Point" nearly oppo-
site the mouth Of Mystic river, and within
about mile Of the shore.
Gen. lsham, who commanded the force
when had been collected near Stonington.
during the four days bombardment, imme.
d!ately on learning thatthe enemy had an
chored near the mouth Of a river where a
large amount OF property was exposed, and
where delcnceIess population would be
snDlpctcd to the lncursions of the enemy.
ordered the Sth regiment, then under the
command OF Col ReIcher TO proceed forth
"''h from 'hcIr cncampmcnt near Stoning-
toh' ahd take position at the mouth Of the
Mystic river. The first battalion consist
ing Oh i've companies, arrived at Mvstle
soon alter the enemy had anchored Ii
was commanded by gentleman who has
since received testimonies of the regard
and confidence of bis fellow. citizens. Inn
medlately after his arrival at the point to
which he had been ordered, he met with
Captain Simeon Haley and Capt. Burrows.
the former OF whom had been one of that
little band who gained immortal honor in
defending the battery at Stonington, and
who Will always be kept in grateful re-
membrance by such Of his relow-citizens
as remember the war aid It's Incidents
The latter we believe also to have been one
OF that brave little company; but Of this we
are not assured. These two gentleman
made all arrangement with the Command
er OF the Detachment which resulted in one
OF the most brilliant little affairs of the
war
IN order that the cement may be
understood by the reader Of the present
| day, 1t is necessary 10 state that during the
| period while the British fleet infested the
waters Of the Sound, all communication bv
! means OF regular coasters was cut off, and
that flour, pork and other heavy articles
OF necessity, were conveyed from place to
place along shore, by means Of kind Of
craft, called "Nineyard Boats" These
were generally very fast saiers were
sharp at both ends like whale boat, with
great breadth of beam, enabling them to
carry about % barrels burthcn-thev were
generally navigated by two men only, and
ofconrse for safety dependcdo on their speed
alone. Many Of these boats were taken
from time 10 time during the war with car
goes which were very acceptable to the
bIockading squadron.
Captains Haley and Burrows, had such
a boat in readiness, and It was immediate
| ~ arranged between them and the major
commanding the detachment, that thew
should place on board their boat so much
ballast as should give her the appea rance
of being deeply laden, and proceed out of
! the mouth Of the river as if bound west
ward; and that if chased by a British boat,
! they were 10 put back and run the boat
ashore al point agreed on just outside the
entrance OF the river. This being arranged,
and the boat having started, Captain John
| Barber, a brother of the commandant of
the detachment, who had by this time COM
municated the plan 10 Col Belcher his
! commanding officer. proceeded with thirty
volunteers down towards the place agreed
upon: keeping the movements of his little
| band concealed from the enemy by march
ing through such woods and cornhelds as
could be intcrposed between his party and
the fleet, which was little more than mile
from the shore. The rnsc succeeded ex-
acily as designed. After passing out of
the river, Captains Haley and Burrows
| kept close in shore, and made all sail 10
the Westward, as if anxious 10 escape OBJ.
scryation; but as they expected before they
passed Avery's point, long, black row.
! galley shot out from the lee of one Of the
! ships and pulled for them with every assn
rance Ct getting a prize-our friends hauled
their tcInd, and seemed TO make every ef-
fort to get back into Mystic river. but be-
fore they could reach it, they were cut off
by the barge, and were apparently forced
10 beach their boat, which they were care
ful to do al spot, which Capt. Barber had
indicated by setting little bircheA wand
over the brow Of a cambridge. Scarcely
had our two friends ensconced themselves
behind the ridge, and the keel of the British
barge grated hard on the shore in hot pur-
suit before thirty muskets were evelled
at the surprised crew, land before it could be
prevented by their commander, one division