The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-11-05
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT.

| "A SCiAeS VI Ill cTcStIHS SkctCHeS, from
the pen of the late Mr.. Buckingham, OF
Boston, has recently revived many remark
able incidents Of the American revolution.
Among others, he gave an account of the
''attempt to blow up the Eagle man-of-
war, off the Battery at New York, in Ju-
ly, l776," and attributed that daring en-
terPrise to person named Shipman.
This has drawn forth an article from DR..
Samuel H. P. Lee, of New York, in which
he shows conclusively that the actual hero
OF the adventure, was his father, Captain
Ezra Lee, distinguished patriot and SOL
dier of the revolution. In support OF this
the following obituary notice is repub-
lished, which was written by Charles
Griswold, Esq, son of Gov. Roger Girls
void, of Connecticut, and inserted in the
New York Commercial Advertiser, of No
vember Is, 1921.
The story is very remarkable and ro-
mantle, and will not be the less interest
ing to our readers when we state that the
gallant officer referred to, was the grand
father of DIR. Lee, Of this city, Mobile
Register.
"DrED-At Lyme Connecticut. on the
29th ult., Capt. Ezra Lee, aged II. a rev.
olutionary officer. 1t is not a little re-
markable that this officer is the only man
of whom it can be said that he fought the
enemy upon land, upon water, and under
the water. The latter mode OF warfare
was as follows:
"When the British fleet lay in the North
River, opposite the city of New York, and
while General Washington had possess
sion of the city, he was very desirous to
be rid of such neighbors. A Mr.. Bush
nell, of Saybrook, Connecticut, who had
the genius Of Fulton, constructed a sub
marine machine, Of cardinal form hound
together with iron bands, within which
one person might sit, and, with crank and
sculls, could navigate it to any depth un-
der water. In the upper part was affixed
vertical screw, for the purpose of pene-
trating ships bottoms, and tn this was at
tached IA magazine Of powder, within which
was clock, which, on being set to run
any given time, woul1, when run down.
spring gun-lock, and an explosion would
follow. The Marine Turtle so called
was examined by General Washington
and approved. To preserve secrecy, it
was experimental within an enclosed yard
in twenty or thirty feet water, and kept
during daylight locked in vessels hold.
The brother of the Inventor was to be the
person to navigate the machine into action,
but on sinking it the first time he declined
the service.
General Washington, unwilling to re-
linquish the object requested Major Gen
eral Parsons to select person, in whom
he could confide, voluntarily to engage in
the enterprise. The latter being we'll ac-
quainted with the heroic spirit, the patr;-
otism, and the firm and steady courage Of
the deceased above mentioned, Immediate
ly communicated the plan and the offer,
which he accepted, observing that his life
was at General Washington's SERVICE
After practising the machine, until he
understood its powers Of balancing and
moving under water, a night was fixed
upon for the attempt. General Washing
ton and his associates in the secret, took
their stations upon the roof of house in
Broadway, anxiously awaiting tie result.
Morning came and no intelligence could
be had of the intrepid submarine naviga-
tor, nor could the boat which attended
him give any account of him, after parting
with him the first part of the night.
While these anxious spectators were a.
bout to give him up as lost, several bar
ges were seen to start suddenly from
Governors Island, then in possession of
the British, and proceed toward some OBJ
ject near the Asia ship-of-the-line. AS
suddenly they were seen to put about and
steer for the island with springing oars.
In two or three minutes an explosion took
place, which aroused the whole city and
region. The enemy's ship took the alarm
signals were rapidly given-the ships
cut their cables, and proceeded to the
Hook with all possible dispatch, sweep
ing their bottoms with chains, and with
difficulty prevented their affrighted crews
from leaping overheard.
'During this scene of CONSERVATION the
deceased came to the surface, opened the
brass head Of his aquatic machine, rose
up, and gave signal for the boat to come
to him; but they could not reach him un-
til he again descended under water to a.
void the enemy's shot from the island,
who had discovered him, and commenced
firing in his wake. Having forced him
self against strong current under water
until without the reach OF the shot, he
was taken in tow, and landed at the Bat
terry, amidst great crowd. He reported
himself to General Washington, who ex-
pressed his entire satisfaction, that the
object was effected without the loss OF
lives.
''The deceased was under the Asia s
bottom more than two hours, endeavoring
to penetrate her copper but in vain. He
frequently came up under her stern galle-
ries, searching for exposed plank; and
could hear the sentinels cry. Once he
was discovered by the watch on deck, and
heard them sneculate upon him and con-