The Republican journal., 1873-09-25
From the Portland Press
A Reminiscence of the Enterprise
and Boxer

\ rtmonstrance against the removal OF
the bodies of Lieut. Burroughs and Cap
tain Blythe from their well-known resting
place III the Eastern burying- ground, was
presented 10 me few days ago, which
was very glad to sign trust the scheme
has been squelched, and 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
reminds mr Of 4 remarkable incident con-
nected with the battle in which they per-
ished, and as / believe it has never been
made public, | will now relate it,
On visit to Portsmouth last Fourth of
July, 1T the commemoration OF the two
hundred and tiftieth anniversary of the
settlement Of the town, had the pleasure
OF renewing my acquaintance with Mr..
Charles Tappan of Boston, 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 the broiling sun, more
fresh and vigorous than most men of half
his Years. The venerable gentleman told
me that he moved to Portsmouth in 1906,
and becoming an importer of English
goods, his business was seriously embar-
raised by the war with England which
broke out six years after and lasted nearly
three Years
During its progress both governments
found it necessary to relax the strictness
with which the rules Of war excluded
British impOrtatiOna, and in fact actually
Wlnked ut their violation. Accordingly
Mr.. Tappan, III lSl4, receiving an intimi-
ton from the Custom House that the GOV
eminent Of President Madison had given
directions not to scrutiniZe too narrowly
the importation OF British goods, accom-
panied N It'll u caution to look out for
American prlyatecrs which We're beyond
the control of the government, resolved to
bring into Portsmouth Il cargo of forbidden
goods
so he managed TO sail one Of his vessels
to a foreign port where She was metamor-
phosed into a Swedish bottom, and after
this embarrassing, as Mr. T. called it,
sent her to England, where she took in Il
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. NJ brig Boxer, in that
port who, having little to do, agreed for
Zoo sterling to carry Mr.. rs vessel as
far 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. Tappan drew his
bill Of exchange on London and returned
to await the arrival of his vessel while
Capt. Blythe commenced his voyage,
keeping at Il suitable distance from his
convoy: except when near Passport the
fog permitted him to approach and take
her in tow
In this cautious way the two vessels
neared Seguin. when the weather being
clear and some privateers in sight, Capt.
Blythe thought proper to fire few blank
shots at his convoy the more ctfectually to
deceive the privateers.
The device was successful and the mer-
chairman arrived safely in Bath, whence
in due time her cargo was re-shipped to
Portsmouth, but il 50 happened that the
wind was easterly, and the sharp ears of
Lieut. Burroughs, who was lying in this
port with U. s. brig Enterprise, caught
the low boom Of the Boxers guns, and
instantly made sail to the eastward, com
ing up with the British brig, and after a
short but desperate contest, disabling and
capturing her with the loss of both com
manders
Mr.. Tappan heard of the battle and its
result, and being anxious about the bill of
exchange, came to Portland, went on
board the Boxer as she lay in this harbor,
informed the first surviving British officer
Of his negotiations with his deceased COM