Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-30
Daring attempt with Fire Ships

Daring attempt with Fire Ships.
1t is related by Marshall in his life of Wash
irgton, that in July, l77G, while the Ameri-
can army yet had possession of New York,
Lord Howe, who had but recently arrived be-
! fore that city with his feet, sent up two frg-
ates, by the American batteries, which took
their station in North river, and thereby put a
stop to the communication between the armies
at New York and at Ticonderoga; and that to
| remove this interruption plan was formed to
set the frigates on fire by means of fire ships,
which, though address and courage were man
ifested in the enterprise, failed in the execu-
ton, and only tender was burnt.
A particular account of this daring act,
which we believe is not even referred TO in
Cooper's Naval History was published in
the newspapers some twenty-five years ago,
from information given by Mr.. Joseph Bass, of
Leicester, who commanded one of the fire ships
Mr. Bass was brave soldier in the war of our
independence, and was, at the time referred
| to, attached 10 the 'waier service, under the
command of Commodore Hopkins, who was
| directed 10 prepare and send up Two fire ships
| 10 the British frigates. Bass selected to
take charge of one, and the other was PIT un-
der the command of Captain Thomas, who be-
longed TO New London. The vessel COM
manded by Bass was sloop called the Polly,
of about one hundred tons burden, nearly new
That commanded by Thomas was of smaller
size. The frigates lay about eight miles above
kingsbridge, but having had intmaions that
they might be attacked, removed their station
towards the western shore of the river, where
the shore was bolder, and the water deeper
than on the east side. The vessels intended
for fire ships were prepared at New York, and
moved up the river on the day before the in
tended attack, TO creek near kingsbridge,
which crosses in from the east, called Spiking
Devil creek.
The vessels had been prepared with fagots of
very combustble wood, which had been dipped
in melted pitch, and bundles of straw cut about
foot long, prepared in the same way. These
faguts and bundles filled the deck, and COM
municated with trough of fine gunpowder,
which extended along under the deck from the
hold into the cabin, and into this was inserted
match that might be fired by person in the
cabin, who would have time to escape through
door cut in the side of the vessel into a
whaleboat that was lashed TO the quarter of the
sloop. Besides these cOmbustibles, there were
in each vessel ten or twelve barrels of pitch
and very great number of yards of canvas,
cut in strips about foot in width, covering the
yards and rigging, and extending down 10 the
deck, all of which had been dipped in the spir-
its of turpentine. Everything had been so pre-
pared that moment was sufficient to put the
whole into a full blaze.
The fire ships started from the creek about
The night was cloudy and dark, with occa.
sionally little rain Bass had nine men al
tached to his vessel, three of whom he sta
toned in The whaeboat, one acted as pilot
while he stationed himself with a match in the
cabin, 10 fire the materials.
Besides the two British frigates there wert
a bomb ketch and two tenders in company
and moored near them. They were anchored
in line, about north and south; first the Phe
nix of A guns; then the bomb ketch, ant
above that lay the tenders. As the night wa
dark, and the fire ships kept near the middle o
the river, they were not aware that they wer'
near the British vessels until they heard i'm
medately on their left the bells Of the vessels
and the cry of the sentinels, of 'all's well,
from their several decks. 1t was twelv
o'clock, and little did those who were slumber
ing there imagine the destruction that hun,
over them. The shore was bold, and ros
above the masts SO that the Americans did nc
perceive till that sound how near they had ar
preached, nor could they distinguish the situa
uon OF the vessels enough to ascertain thei
size, or which of them were the friga,es.-
bass was considerable distance in advance c
thomas, and upon hearing the cry of the ser
tinels, Immediately bore down upon the lin
, of the British fleet. He was already very nea
the bomb ketch before he was discovered by III
. enemy, who Immediately began severe car
r nonade upon his vessel, which damaged he
, rigging and mast, and some of the shot entere
her hull But he was now under so rapid
'headway' that he had no opportunity, even
g he had been inclined, to have retreated. A
soon as he saw himself near enough to the We