The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-07-01
The First Armed British Vessel Cap.
tured by the Americans.

tured Dy the Americans.
Almost at the extreme limit of "DowI
East, in Maine, and on 8 river aud bay o
the same name, lies the good old town o
Machlas. AT the date of the Revolution
it contained about eighty families and on,
hundred single men. In the spring o
lIo there reached Machias the proclama
ton of the Massachusetts Congress, au
thorlzing preparations for resistance tC
Great Britain; and, in a few days, a tai
lioerty-pole was erected by the patriots o.
the village.
On Saturday, the 9th of May, intelli
gence OF the battle of Lexington reached
them, having been brought by the crews
OF TWO lumber sloops from Boston. The
vessels had come for "pickets and plank, y
to be used by the British in defense oi
Their position at Boston against the Amer.
lcans. In order to secure the desired car.
goes, and the safe return of the vessels, the
British armed schooner " Margaretta " at
tented them as convoy. When the cap
tain OF the schooner saw the liberty pole.
he weaf on s'sore and informed the people
that it must be taken down, or he should
fire upon the town. A meeting of the in
habitants was held within few hours, but
they voted not to take down the pole.
The owner Of the two sloops, wealthy
merchant trading in Boston and Machias,
represented to the captain that the meet
ing was not fully attended; and he in
duced him to wait for the action of anoth-
er meeting. to be called on Monday, before
carrying out his threat.
The next day being Sunday, Captain
Moore, of the " Margaretta," attended
worship at the village church. During the
service, he saw through a window some
twenty men, with guns in their hands,
crossing the river on the logs. Suspect
ing design of seizing him in church, the
captain made his way over the seats to the
nearest window, and, leaping through
II, he ran to the shore, closely
followed by his officers. The party
which he had seen, joined by others,
fastened along the bank of the river in
pursuit. But the crew of the Margaret
ta'' had observed the movements on shore,
and, bringing her guns to bear, succeeded
IN Keeping the pursuers at bay until the
captain and his companions were on
board. The schooner soon dropped down
the river, firing few shots over the town
as she got under way.
The party which had come across the
AlHCl llOul GiIC iCdstIlG StIlIC-
ment, about twenty miles westward-hay-
ing been sent for the day before by the
Machias people, who by no means intend
ed TO have their liberty pole taken down.
The Pleasant River men had only two OF
three charges of powder apiece and the
next day woman arrived at Machias,
having come all the way through the
woods alone to bring her husband horn
0f rlnxu-lar xyhioh chn ho6 nT.o H.,
had gone.
Early on Monday morning, four young
men took possession of one of the lumber
sloops, and, bringing her up to the wharf,
gave three cheers, TO call the attention OF
villagers. fhirty-fiye athletic men were
soon gathered at the wharf, and design
Of capturing the "Margaretta'' was made
known to them. Arming themselves as
well as they were able at So brief notice,
they set sail in pursuit of the British YES
sci, which was lying at anchor few miles
below. As yet, they had no commander;
but an election was held on the way, by
which jeremiah O'Brien, the eldest of six
noble brothers on board, was unanimous
Iy chosen captain. He Immediately gave
for all who did not wish to
venture in the attack, to leave the vessel,
and three men accordingly went ashore in
the boat.
When the "Margaretta" observed the
approach of the sloop, she weighed an
,hOr and crowded on all sail to avoid a
conflict. In changing her jib she carried
iway the boom; but, continuing her
flight, she ran into Holmes Bay, and took
, spar from vessel lying there. While
repairs were making, the sloop hove in
sight; and the "Margaretta" stood out
to sea, in hope still Of avoiding her. So
anxious was Captain Moore to avoid a
that he cut away his boat to in
crease the speed of his vessel; but this,
too, was Intellectual. Finding the slOop
Flst closing upon him, he at length opened
FIRE upon her.
The g Margaretta had an armament of
four light deck guns and fourteen swivels;
while the sloop had only single cannon,
-udely mounted, with which to return the
fire. The first discharge killed the ''Mar
yaretta's" helmsman and cleared the quar-
.er-deck. The schooner broached sud-
ienly to windward, throwing the sails
back, and bringing her deck into full view
Df her pursuers. Those of the patriots
who had firearms instantly discharged
hem.
In a very few moments the vessels came
together. Then ensued a contest with
Captain Moore himself throw
ng hand-grenades into the sloOP with
considerable effect. An attempt was made
1y the patriots to board the schooner
but only one man-John O'Brien, broth
er of the commander-reached her deck.
seven of the British crew discharged their
guns at him almost at the same moment,
)ut not ball struck him. Then they
charged apon him with bayonets, but he
escaped these by jumping overheard. The
vessels had fallen some thirty yards apart
but he swan to the sloop, and was taken
On board without having received any
worse harm than a wetting. The Ameri-
,an vessel was again brought alongside
he enemy, and twenty men, armed chief
y with pitchforks, sprang on board the
schooner. Captain Moore had already
allen, pierced by two balls; and the con
iict was so fierce that the officers fled,
Danic-stricken, to the cabin.
Thus the schooner and her stores fell
nearly uninjured into the hands of these
brave freemen of Machias. The loss of
he Americans was four killed and eight
DR. nine wounded; that of the British was
more than twice as many.
The Margaretta was the first British
armed vessel captured by the Americans
N the War Of Independence. This enter
prise was entirely private one, the Con-
mental Congress not having authorized
any nautical force until the following
October.-Gso. J. Var7sey, in st. Nicholas
for July.