The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-07-04
An Incident of Commodore Tucker

| An Incident of Commodore Tucker
/ Among the heroes of the great revolutonar
Estruggle of our country there were many brav
hearts who have long sunk to rest, not "wt
all their country's honor blest," but in obscur
ty and neglect. Surely, it is the duty of histr
ry, rs lar as possible, to embalm their memor
upon its pages, and to give it in living colors
poSteIly. Commudore Samuel Tucker, who's
remains repose in an obscure retreat on th
rough coast of Maine, is case in point. 1t va
on retired spot in that part Of Bristol, nov
Bremen. burdering on Broad Cove, that h
passed the latter pant of bis days. 1t was pro
badly owing to his secusion from society, tha
this brave and distinguished officer has escape(
the notice of writers on our naval history. Fo
man who had captured, under his individual
command, over 4 900 men, and 400 guns-th|
individual selected by Washington, while d
Cambridge, as above all others, the best quail
fled to cunvey 10 France our FIRST agent, and 81
whose success depended the fate of the countrj
that such q commander should have bee
unnoticed is matter Of surprise. His order
from Washington were to run from everythn|
and land Mr.. Albums safe in France. The Boz
ton, common merchant ship, was purchase
for This purpose, and was fitted up. under Tuck
ers direction, as a sloop of war bearing twent. (
guns. A British seventy four, and two frigates|
were stationed at Newport, K. l., to intercept
him, having probably received notice from spies
of Tucker's expedition, and knowing as they
did that Washington was opening negotiations
with France, they were determined to intercept
all communication with that country. Tuck
,er, well knowing the risk Of his important en1
terprise, on which depended the success ofthe|
Revolution, bad additional sail made to the
B"ston, and rigging to accommodate, that in a
lgh: wiud she was literally covered with can
vas, and many of her sails, to use his own ex
preston, were never before nor siuce known I'd
any vessel. We regret that the limits of
sketch will not admit of some interesting an
doles of this brave man, which are now in
writer's possession. He was born at Mari
head, Massachusetts. November 18th, l747
S He entered the naval service at about e
en- years old, and was in the George, tive
gun ship, cruising off Loui>burg in search
French transport frigate, at the time Of VOL
death, Sept 1859.
On his passage t" France in the Boston, c.
Tucker, 10y his knowledge Of British <ig
and cush,ms, and the distribution of their 81
of war on this coast which he had learned
England when the revolution conmen,
came up with British sloop ofwar about
own force. who was cruising in search Of
and after the first fire she struck to him.
she was so near the English coast that she
retaken soon after. fuckers escape from
three ships Of war that Game out of NewI
to cut him off. was mastery manGuvre,
was effected by feint in running down
their best sailer, which was coming up with
at Il sufficient distance from the others to
prehend that she must fight single handed
This induced him to tack ship, and night =
ing on Tucker changed his course; and,
one of the most buisterous passages ever e
rienced in crossing the Atlantic. he landed
Adams safely in France. In one of these
pests he encountered when near the Goa
France, his mizzenmast was shivered to pi
and one man killed by Lightning, a short
before his arrival. Hon. john Quincy Add
then lad, accompanied his father in this pe
GUS voyage, and has been heard frequently
speak in terms of high commentator of th2D
conduct Of Com Tucker during their passage.
After the evacuation of the city of Boston, he
captured seven vessels, some of them transports,
and one thousand men destined for that place.
During the siege of Charleston, he captured ii
fort, and blew it up within gunshot of Corn
wallis and his siege. But, as we have already
stated, the limits of this sketch will not permit
US to recount more of his valiant deeds, in
which he always displayed warm and gener.
ous heart, aud cool, calculating, mathen,ati.
cal head.
After the close Of tie war Tucker resided in |
Boston, and by his too generous feelings, and
ending his name to Others lost an ample for.
tune. Stnng with the ingratitude of his coun.
Try, that never paid him for apart of his Rev.
,lulionary services, and finding those who en-.
Dyed his bouities, and pro6ted by his benevo
ence during the nountde of his prosperity,
urning from him with cold hearted Indifference
IN the eve of his misfortune, he became dis
,usted with the world, and his proud and lofty
spirit sought that retirement that now marks
lie solitude Of his humble grave.
u