The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-17
Capt. Alden and Gen. Prescott.
HoRsEwHIPPING A TYRANT.


SPIRITED petty iyrants, who, when in power, ex
ercIsed their ingenuity TO The utmost IN devisinp
means ot annoying and harrasSng ali who have
the misfortune 10 be subject their authority, but
when circumstances place them in the power oil
! others, are The most cOntemtble sycophanis and
parasites. An aristOcrat by BIRTH he had been
reared IN the lap OF power and nurtured under the
influence oil those peculiar institutions which. in
| eleVatIng the lew depressing and degrading the
mass, prepare that privileged few to become the
most Vicious and arbitrary rulers particularly of u
people who aspire 10 freedom and equality. Mar.
r"w'mnde d IN the extreme, with heart which
knew moi the least touch Of benevolence, and cal.
ious 10 every feeling oil pity, he far from being
a TT person TO be placed in authority over the pat.
| rIouc inhabitants OF Rhode Island, who could be
! more easily conquered by lenient measures than
! Oy The U.S. OF co1strainIns influences. From the
first day OF his power, he pursued IA system Of The
most PlIiu. tyranny, with a view 10 crush The
spirit OF those who had dared 10 resist the op.
Presslons EeaPed upon Them by The mother coun-
try.
WrIthlng under n sense of wrong and injustice
and maddened 10 desperation by the mcunness
and mag"i'y of their tyran, the people OF the is.
land deIermlnd to rId themselves OF the curse, no
matter a, what risk or sacrifice. Various plans
were suggested, and even ssination was hIn-
ted but II was reserved for Col. Barton OF Provi-
dcnce, bold and courageous man, to mature and
carry ont plan by which they were relieved OF
their burden Tor time. and their lyrant was
taught severe but we'll mc:itcd lesson. Ii was
bold and daring experiment, but its success
proved that The most hazardous enIer erprIsP, when
undertaken with zeal and carried out with d.ci.
sion and energy, may be accomplished. Its very
daring IS IA guarantee OF success.
With u few choS, n men, in four whale boats,
Barton emba rked about 9 o'clock in the evening
at Warwick Point, and with muffled oars, careful
y and sIealIhIIy felt his way across to the Rhode
Island share, passing The British ships and guard
boats lying at anchor in the bay, without attract.
ing attention. Landing in little cove not far
from Prescott's headquarters, he divided his men
INFO squads each having lis special duty assign
ed-and silently advanced toward the house.
Passing about midway between British guard
house and the enclmpmPnt OF light horse, the
Colonel and his party reached the gate where
stood sentry OH guard.
..Who goes Ihere?" he cried, as he became
aware Of lie party.
Friends" replied BIrton.
advance, friends. and give the countersign."
I'VE have no countersign 10 give; have you
seen any deSertrrs to.nIght!'
This threw the snder off his guard thinking
th'm friends from the camp-and his musket was
s"iZrd and himself gagged and bound before he
aware that he was in the hands OF enemies.
Entering the house, Barton found Mr.. Oserun,
the proprietor, reading in the large open hail. the
rest of the family having retired. and inquired of
him Tor Prrscon's He pointed upwards,
inIimaring it WAS Immediately above. Hastily as
crnding the stairs, the Colonel found The door
Locked. No time TO be lost, und the door
burst open by blow from the head Of negro,
who OF the party and they rushed IN 10
find Prescott, who took th' for robbers on the
floor. in his nigh clothes, with his watch and purse
IN his hands. Stepping up to him. and laying his
hand quietly upon his shoulder, B'ron informed
him that he was his prisoner, and that any noise
o alarm would insure his immediate death. Pres
colt begged lime TO dress, but it being a hot July
night this was refused, and he was hurried on
board the boat with his aid de camp, who was also
secured together with the sentinel. With as .IlIle
noise they came, the party returned TO War
wick, where they found Carriage IN waiting to
Convey the prisoner to Providence.
you have made bold push tonight said Pres
colt TO Barton. they drove hastily over the road
end"avOnng to draw him into conversation.
1--WE have been fortunale," replied the Colonel
laconicaIlv, and thus the cooquy ended
Before morning the prisoners and their captors
were in Providence. where Prescott was delivered
into the custody Of Gen. Spencer, who treated hun
with considrration far above mis- deserts.
After u few day sIay IN Providence, Prescott
was sent under escort 10 the headquarters OF
Washington, on the Hudson. On reaching Leb
anon, the parry StOpPeu lot olnheF dt 'ne 'd'cIH
of Capt. Alden, " no arden: Whg, and
hated the very name Of Prescou. Nothing could
ford him higher qualification than the opporluni-
ry nfct c"ndign punishment upon the detestrd
tyrant, and Z. unwitrngIy afforded him that oP'
portunilY.
At the table, Mrs. Alden waited upon the Gen.
eral, and among the dishes presented for his nc
crptance, was some "succOtash," or corn and
beans a favorte dish with New England people,
but which see med to excite Prescott's wrath and
resentment. Taking the dish in his hand, and
forgetting that his position was that OF prisoner
and not a master, he locked at it for Il moment
and excIa imed Indignantly, "whaI's this what's
this! are you going 10 treat mo 10 the food OF
hogs?" As he said this, he dashed the dish with
iorce upon the floor, breaking it in pieces, and
surewing the contents in all directions. Mrs. A.
was a woman of too much spirit TO brook such an
insult to her cookery aud table, and left the room
TO inform her hus band of the circumstances. In a
few moments, Captain Alden, bearing huge
cart whip in his hand entered the room and de-
mnnded Of Prescott what he meant by such con.
duct in his house The General, seeing ven.
g'ancs written on every ineament of the captain
face, appealed TO the officers of his escort for pro-
teclon.
''Protection u said the captain, "Ill show you
the protection you deserye;" and seizing him by
The collar he dragged the covering wretch from
his chair, and with all the forcs of vengein arm