The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-08-12
sINGLE-HANDED CAPTURE.
A Story of the Revolution.


During the early part of the struggle
that resulted in establishing the so-called
rebels against royal authority free and
independent people among the nations
of the earth, the only resource and sole
reliance they depended on to cope with
powerful antagonist on the ocean, that
claimed the proud title Of ''Mistress of
the Sea" were private armed vessels or
Letters of Marque," as they were then
termed. Captain Curtis, of Salem, was
commissioned by Congress to cruise
along the coast of Nova Scotia for the
purpose of destroying the British fish
cries. Captain Curtis selected as his
lieutenant Robert Erskine, who, al
though but a youth of nineteen years,
had already established reputation for
cool, unflinching courage in the face of
danger; this quality, combined with
great physical strength, 81 commanding
statue aud good judgment, fitted him
for the important post he, notwithstand-
his youth, was called to fill. The crew
was composed of hardy young fisher
men, filed with hatred and resentment
against the tyrant who sought to deprive
them of those inalienable rights claimed
by the immortal "Declaration Of indie
pendence," and animated by a love for
adventure, and inspired with devotion
to the sacred cause of liberty and the
rights of man. During the first two
weeks nothing Of importance occurred
to relieve the monotony of tie cruise.
Young Erskine became impatient, and
knowing the fact that they were in the
vicinity of an important English post
called Annapolis Royal, he urged Cap
tain Curtis to allow him to take a boat
and reconnoiter the harbor. Curtis at
first refused, knowing well that in case
of capture his men would be treated as
pirates AMI INSTANTLY ex ecutad; bnt Mt
last young Erskine's Importantly pre-
vailed, and the prudent old Captain
gave his unwilling consent. Erskine
departed IN boat manned by twelve
men, two hours before day berak
Fortunately, at the time a dense fog
prevailed, that served them as a cover,
under which they could approach the
shore with little fear of being discover
ed; so with stout arms and courageous
hearts, under the guidance of their fear
less young leader, they pulled steadily
for the hostile shore. After an absence
of several hours from the ship, the day
began to dawn and the fog TO lift.
When, to the establishment of all
hands, they discovered that they had
entered the harbor, and found them
selves right under the guns of the fort,
which had been constructed close to the
waters edge, Erskine ordered his men
to lay upon their oars, and after
an interval of five minutes and no
alarm being given, he felt assured that
they had not been discovered; then,
turning the boats head to the beach,
with the intention of landing, he order
ed his men to give way. They were
about to comply with his orders when
he made the important discovery that
the sentry posted on the beach was
asleep. There he stood with his head
bowed down, using his musket for sup
port, utterly unconscious of the presence
of an enemy. 1t was here that Young
Erskine showed himself equal to the
emergency by display of GOODNESS.
courage and au,laeity; ordering his men
to remain perfectly quiet, he hastily di-
vested himself of his garments, and
quietly dropping into the water, swan
boldly for the shore. His men watched
their young leader as he reached the
shore and, with eat-like tread, approach
ed the slumbering sentry. Springing
upon him Erskine wrecked the musket
from his grasp, and presenting the muz-
Zle to his head. informed him that his
life was the forfeit if he made the slight
est resistance or attempted to give an
alarm.
The boats crew quickly effected a
landing, Erskine resumed his dress, and
the frightened soldier consented to lead
them to the Governors quarters. Err
skine detailed four men to rem ain with
the boat, with orders, if discovered from
the fort, to push out into the bay and
fire a pistol as a signal of alarm, then;