The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-12
A Reminiscence of the EntcrDrise and


A remonstrance against the removal of the
bodies of Lieut.. Burroughs and Captain Blythe
from their wel-knowu resting place in the Eas-
tern burying-ground was presented to me few
days ago, which was very glad to sign. 1
trust the scheme has been squeched, and l
hope that the City Government will take care
| that these ancient heroes of the war of 1872
| continue to rest in peace where our ancestors
placed them.
The attempted removal of their remains re-
minds me of remarkable incident connected
with the battle in which they persisted, and as
| believe it has never been made public, 1 will
| now relate it.
On visit to Portsmouth last Fourth of July,
at the commemoration of the two nundredth
and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of
the town, had the pleasure of renewing my
acquaintance with Mr.. Charles Tappan of Bos-
ton, an elder brother OF the late Lewis Tappan,
the well-known philanthropist. Mr.. Tappan,
although SO years old, had come from Boston
among the sons of Portsmouth, and walked in
the procession under broling sun, more fresh
and vigorous than most men of half his years.
The venerable gentleman told me that he NOV
ed to Portsmouth in 1906 and becoming an i'm
| pOiICI VI ooOuc, hhs ouoiuCco Wdo cCli-
| ously embarrassed by the war with England,
which broke out six years after and lasted near
| ly three years.
| During its progress both governments found
| 1T necessary to relax the strictness with which
| the rules of war excluded British importations
and in fact actually winked at their violation
| Accordingly Mr.. Tappan, in 1914 receiving an in
| timation from the Custom House that the gov
| eminent of President Madison had given direc-
| tons not to scrutinlZe too narrowly the impor-
| tation of British goods, accompanied with a
caution to look out for American privateers
| which were beyond the control of the govern
ment, resolved to bring into Portsmouth car
| go Of forbidden goods.
| So he managed to sail one of his vessels to a
foreign port where she was metamorphosed
| into Swedish bottom, and after this white
| washing" as Mr. L. called it, sent her to Eng
| land, where she took in a cargo and brought it
| to st. John, n. B. As soon as he heard of her
arrival. Mr.. Tappan went to st. John and found
| Capt Blythe, of H. b. M. brig Boxer, in that
| port, who, having little to do. agreed for 800
| sterling to carry Mr.. I. vessel as ar as the
| mouth of the Kennebec, which was as far west as
| he thought it prudent to attempt to sail her.
| In pursuance of this arrangement Mr.. Tap
| pan drew his bill of exchange OH London and
| returned to await the arrival of his vessel
+, while Capt. Blythe commenced his voyage,
| keeping at a suitable distance from his convoy,
| except when as near Eastport the fog permitted
| him to approach and take her in tow.
| In this cautious way the two vessels Deared
| Seguin when the weather being clear and some
urva.eers in sight, Capt Blythe thought
| proper to fire a few blank shots at his convoy
| the more effectually to deceive the prIvateers
| The device was successful and the merchant
man arrived s9fely at Bath, whence in due time
her cargo was re-shipped to Portsmouth but
1 il so happened that the wind was easterly, and
| the sharp ears of Lieut. Burroughs, who was
| lying in this port with q. S. brig Enterprise,
| caught the low boom of the Boxers guns. and
| instantly made sail to the eastward coming up
with the Bri ish brig. and after short but
| desperate contest, disabling and capturing her,
| with the loss of both commanders.
Mr.. Tappan heard of the battle and its re-
| suit, aud being anxious about the bill OF eX
| change came to Portland, went on board the
| Boxer as she lay in this barbor, Informed the
| first surviving British officer of mis- negotiations
| with his deceased commander, and paying the
officer $500 in gold, received back the bill of eX
change for e100, which was found in the pocket
! of Capt Blythe, as his body lay in state on
board the captured brig.
| Mr. Tappan detailed all the circumstances
| with minateneSs, describing so wildly the anx-
iety under which he suffered, first for the safety
| of his vessel and cargo, and afterg9rds lest the
| fatal bill of exchange might diyulge the tran
| saction, and his relief when he had it once more
ia his possession, that it was difficult to realize
! that the hale and vigorous narrator was an actor
| in events over which time has drawn the veil OF
| ffty-nlne years. T. w. u.