Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-20
The Capture Of General Prescott
STORY AND SONG OF THE REVOLUTION.

|
In the year I777. the Town of Newport, RI,
was held by the British, under Gen. Prescott,
who caused himself TO be very much disliked
by the citizens on account Of his overbearing
conduct. Lieut. Col. Barton, of the Militia
stationed al Providence. made a prisoner of
! Prescott on the night OF the 10Th Of July. IT,
and he was sent to Washington's quarters on
| the Hudson. Next spring, being exchanged
| Cor Gen. Lee, Prescott returned to his troops
in Rhode Island. He went to dine, one day
! after his return, with the Admiral, on beard
of the la,.er's ship. II had been customary
TO send such men or boys as had committed
some slight offence, 10 this ship, and confne
them for some time by the authority Of those
in power. After dinner, the guests having
passed The bottle freely, song was called for.
| The First Lieutenant remarked, that they had
Yankee lad who was capital hand at a
song. The little felow-some thirteen years
Of age--did mol know Prescott; and when re-
quested to sing, replied that he "couldn't sing
any but Yankee songs" Prescott spoke, in
his naughty manner, You young rebel! give
US song, or I'll give you dozen." The Ad-
mirai interfered, and assured the little fellow,
that he should be sci at liberty, the next day, "f
he would sing them song-any one he could
recolecl." The lad then struck up the fol-
| lowing, (wrilten by sailor Of Newport
which correctly describes the amusing. and
yet in its influence quite important, enterprise
Twas on a dark and stormy night,
The wind and waves did roar,
! Bold Barton then, with twenty men,
Went down upon The shore.
| And in a whale boat they set off
! Unto Rhode Island fair,
To catch red coat General
| Who then resided there.
Thro' British fleets, and guard-boa;s strong
They held their dangerous way,
Till they arrived unto their port
And then did not delay.
Atawny son of Afric's race
| Then through The ravine led,
And took them 10 the Overing house,
Where Prescott ate his bread.
But to get in, they had no means,
Excepting Cufee's head,
Who beat the door down, then rushed on
! And seized him in his bed.
"stop. let me put my breeches on"
The General then did pray.
"Your breeches, Massa, l will take;
For dress We can not stay"
Then, through rye. e.stubble, him they led,
With shoes and breeches none,
And placed him in their boat quite snug,
And from the shore were gone.
Soon the alarm was sounded loud,
1.-The Yankees they have come,
And stolen Prescott from his bed.
And him they've carried home"
The drums were beat. sky-rockets few,
The soldiers shouldered arms,
And marched around the grounds they knew
Filled with most dire alarms.
But through the fleet, with mufled oars,
The Yankees held their way,
And landed him on 'Ganset shore,
Where Brtons held no sway.
And when unto our troops they came,
! Where rescue there was none,
"a d-d bold push" the General cried,
"Of prisoners am one
There was general shout of merriment,
in which Prescott joined most heartily, and
handing the boy guinea he said, "Here. you
young dog. is a guinea for you" The nexl
morning, the lad was set at liberty.