The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-12-02
chsslssssa In Oldsa Times.


chsslsstsn IN Oldea Times.
coMhopoaE ALsxAsbsk atLLoN, THE
'r FIRST oAPrAIN or rHE osRNAs TU
sILtsR COMPANY. .,r.g sss,f
=Alexsudss Giiion, more fsmiliarly
known ~ Commodore Gil'on, having
occupied . very prominent position .du-
ring the revolutionary struggle, aud,
sfter the termination Of the war, having
taken prominent part in the affairs Of
tho State and nation, We will give the
following brief sketch Of his ser, ices.
Commodore GiiIon was q man Of
vary enc personal appearance, and Of .
very acute, we'll cuItivs.ed mind. He
eosid converse In seven different Ian.
gusgsa, and write 10 Eve Of them. He
vas born in Rotterdam in l74l; his
family being one Of the oldest and most
wealthy in that great commercial city.
In l757 and l77s The port Of Char
lesion was blockaded BY several British
cruisers. At one tiue three Of them
were particularly troublesome. There
was but one armed vessel in port at that
time, and sbe was but a poor match FOR
either Of the British vessels siDgly. =,
Alexander Gillon, at that time Cap.
tain or the German Fu.iIier Company,
and sxten,ively engaged in mercantile
purSnits in Charleston, volunteered TO
70 out against the three vi ilh this single
vessel, if the Governor would sanction
", and supply him with suitable mum
Der Of mariner 10 addition 10 the crew
of the weasel. The proposal was accept
ed, aod the marines drafted from the
regulars in the service Of the State.
~" Csp.sin Gillon disguised his vessel
by s,eans Of tarpaulins and . change Of
siagiEx TO look like q merchantman.
by nesiag with secrecy aud grea. dis
pateh, The secret enemies on shore could
not notify the BRUSH Of the changes
msde and movements contemplated By
the Americans. s
Captain Gillop went TO sea while the
enemy were IN sight, bat at some dis.
tsncc. and little scattered. Captain
GiIlon, in HE assumed character, pre-
tended to run away from the British
cruisers, and concealed all hi. men IN
der HE windward ratings. One of the
enemy psrsued him, and thus became
st s,ill grsaier distance from his com.
Sades. When he came up With Cap.
tain Gillon's vessel, be ran alongside
with the utmost confidence. Captain
Gillon then ,hrew bic graphing iron.
on board, and, nj the head Of his ma
rinss. boarded the Biiti.h vessel, and
captured her With very little loss on
either eide. -
Captsin Gillon thea divided his pris
ouers between the two vessels, and %.
cured thsm under tho matches. He
also divided bic men and officers be.
tween the two vessels, and considered
hisaaelf . match Tor the two remaining
blocksders, able and willing to 6gbl
them, II fighting should be necessary
still he proceeded In disguise. lie kept
the B'iti.h Gag flying on lis prize, and
reversed the American flag on his own
vessel, over which he hois,ed the British
fisg 70 indicate that bis vessel had beer
csptursd, and not the other. The tive
then made easy sail towards the British
ysssels, On coming up With the FIRST
he ran alongside in her eomrade which
he had just captured, and surprised he
BY bcasdisg without firing gun. Tn,
third blockadef seeing no 6yht, an,
hearing no firing. sutfsrea herself to b
surroands1 before she could suppo.
they were her enemys vessels; bu
when thsit asgs we're, at g given signal
MI dispisyed In form, she found iha
escape wsa impossible and re.istanc
ussssss; shs, ,hsIsioss. surrendered q
diAcrstiop. 80 @.'s5'tt -. 'sr-i
Captain Gilton relutned in trump
iato Charleston with his prises. aud .Li
brilliant exploit transferred him fror
tAA sosseiag house 70 the quarter de.
ofths 6nsst ftigate then siioat.
The Legislature Of South CaroIin
resolved 70 purchase o. build ,bnss ri
Rssss IN France, aad TO have Comms
dose and three Captains to oommap
thsm. Captain GiIIon ,was accordingl
slsstsd. Commodors, and John Joy ne
William Robsstson aud John McQuee
elected Captains. They were ,commi
siopsd By President Rswlias Lownd,
In. shs spring Of r71s, and called
Etsncs. taking with them q great de,
efindigo. rice and tobacco, the produ,
Of the country. 10 sunply the funds q,
sesssSy fps Tie oo,flls Of the thr,
figstss.
On Ne ssh November. l777, pris
10, The election, Of Captain Gillon
Commodors Of tho naval forces Of Sou,
CaFolina,. hs wrois to Henry Laursu
Prssidsna Of Congress, proposing 10 4