Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-03-29


boat arrived, without having heard from them.
If the chase was continued, they probably were
as intended they should be, deceived by the
clattering of hoofs upon the road, and followed
the post-rider's horse.
"The boat came at length, and we stood up
Sound, on our way to New York. INTENDED
to put into - Harbor, where my wife was
residing with her family; but at the chops OF
of the bay spoke vessel coming out the mas
ter of which was an old acquaintance, who ad-
vised me not to venture in. There has been
an express through from H to New YORK,
which left dispatches for our Committee OF
Vigilence, and orders are out for your appre-
hension. New York is entirely under the con-
troll of the Sons of Liberty, and you Will fare
hardly in the hands of Lamb, McDougall, and
others. There is no doubt that they are on the
alert TO intercept you at Hell Gate NO option
was now left me. and commencing M iaini!y
to the protection OF Providence, gave last
look towards the place which sheltered them.
and bore away for Boston. At Boston solo
my cargo, and taking in another. sailed under
convoy for Jamaica: and remained, dIog.ug q
bout among the Islands until the summero the
next year; when hearing that formidable ar
mament was proceeding against New York,
took advantage of the protection OF some OF his
Majesty's cruizers ordered to join the expedl-
ton: and arrived in safety, just after the A
merican forces had evacuated the city. ap-
Piled to the commandant for flag, to enable
me to bring my family to the city: and rented
a small tenement, vacated by its wing proprle-
tor upon the invasion. | sold my vessel and
was on the look out for some employmentwheh
the great fire which took place in September,
consumed the house | occupied; and was a
gain adrift. then removed to Long Island.
within the British lines; and not being will
ling to be idle, | purchased a suitable vessel,
and wood lot on the island, and obtained a
contract with the quartermaster's department
to furnish fuel for the troops. In this humble
caracity, hoped to drugde on through the war;
which was expected by the loyalists to be a
short one. Most bitterly did deplore the I'M
natural struggle: and every battle, let the VIC
tory be to whom it might, was to me source
of poignant misery. Thusthinking and feeling
I hoped to be exempt from any collision with
my countrymen; but this was not permitted
The predatory cruises of the whale-boatman, of
both sides, in the Sound, were carried on to ex-
cess: and it would have been difficult to Judge,
by which of two parties most atrocities were
committed: andfrequently many passages were
wayaid: and was compelled to defend my lit
tie vessel from the cruisers of theSound. These
50 frequently occurred, that | was obliged
to increase my pre- partitions for resistance. My
crew consisted of five persons. The mate was
an Englishman, whom had redeemed from Jail,
where he had long been confined for debt; and
Of the remaining four, two were white Long
Islanders, and two black ones. The most trus-
ty of the four was Mungo, slave Of my own.
With wind enough, there was little cause for
apprehension; but frequently becalmed near
the land, bright lookout was necessary to pre-
vent surprise. One fine moon-lit night, retur-
ming from New York, having on board young
sister of my wife, betrothed to a Lieutenant in
Regiment, stationed near the head Of the
bay: about eight o'clock, the wind and tide left
us mar Lloyds neck: and we had scarcely got
our anchor down, when boat shot cut from
under the land, of no equivocal character
Preparations were made to receive her. A
box of fixed ammunition was hOisted out of the
run and opend: and as there was danger of ex-
plosion from the wads of our assailants, part
only was taken on dock; and my sister was
charged with the duty of serving it ont from
the companion way, as it might be wanted
Our bulwarks were high, and I'VE were provi-
ded with an imperfect netting, into which the
mattresses and spare sails were slowed, affor
ding tolerable defences. The enemy rowed
eight oars, and as he was expected to board,
al ter delivering his fire, our forces were mus
tered in the waist, with orders to wait for his
volley; to return it: and then rely upon the
bayonet. For myself depend upon my pistols
and cutlas. The boat was briskly brought up
within thirty yards; the oars were run in; and
the coxswain, putting his helm down, brought
her broadside to bear, when the balls whizzed
, past and over us. All escaped, but my poor
black friend, who was shot through the head,
the ball entering the center of the frontal bone,
iust above the eyes. His piece. however, was
, discharged with the lest, when he fell. The
effect of our volley vas apparent; but the oars
, were soon manned, and we were laid aboard,
in the chains. Up sprung four men, cutlas in
. hand; and while the one nearest me yet grasp
ed the shroud with his left hand, in the act of
eaping on deck, shot through the left Shout
der from my pistol broke his hold, and he fell
backward The bayonets Of the crew sent two
others to join him, and home thrust from me
, cleared the chains. The unexpected resistance
and the serious loss they had sustained, obliged
the enemy to desst from the attempts the boat
was cast off; and as she drirted astern, three
, of her crew-probably all that were unhurt-
, perceivinc something white through one of the
cabin window, discharged their pistols through
the glass; The object aimed at was m sister,
, who after having handed up sufficient anmuni-
ton, had seated herself on the locker, awaiting
the issue of the BATH. The torn muslin, wit
, messed the accuracy Of the enemy's aim. hut
although every shot took effect in =. rnos for
tunatelv she escaped uniniured.
oil awe had no leisure to examine our wound
: ed man, whom found lying upon his back
tnerfectly sensible. Quite sure that his death
+ was inevitable-he expressed great joy at the
n ldefeat of the assailants. 'Pm quite sure salt
I, 1he, shat hit some body; may be the same
! man who hit me: hope so.' / comforted thu
n poor fellow as well as could,w hopes which
: / scarcely INDUCED. 1t is true that | had reat
i the adventure of the celebrated Colonel Gardi
e ner, when an ensign in Flanders, who wa
o wounded precisely in the same place; and still
= possessed sufficient recollection to devise I
scheme to save the gold in his pocket from plum
+ der, by clutching it in his hand; and smearint