, 1876-08-12
A Revolutionary Incident.

British troops had evacuated Boston in
March, and there WAS luIl in hostilities
because both parties were short of pow.
der. Efforts had been made for year
to manufacture powder within the colo.
nies with very little success. Gen. Wash
ington was anxious for the future. The
British troops lay IN Nantucket Roads
waiting no less anXiousIy for transports
from England.
Shortly before this, James MugFord.
MarbIehcad man, twenty five years OF agr
md been impressed on board OF one of
the enemy's sloops lying outside of the
h,rbor. His wife said hat if the people
did not rescue him she would do it her.
self, and young Mugiord WAS dismissed
by the captain at her entreaty. While
on board of the sloop he overheard the
talk about the expected transparts, and
ascertained that the signal of the powder
ship would be powder-keg at the mast
head. As soon as he reached the shore
be- sent word to Washington for permis-
SION to fit out vessel for it's capture,
and then, impatient of delay, started
from Beverly in the schooner Franklin, a
craft of sixty tons, armed with four two
Founders, and lay out in the hay await
Ing its arrival. On the morning OF Fri
day, the 18th, the lookedfor signal was
seen at the mast head of an approaching
vessel, and Capt. Mugtord, offering his
services as pilot and exposing but few
men, received the welcome signal to come
on board before the British captain un-
derstood the character OF his visitor.
"Where is your commission 2" said
the Briton.
You have two aboard was the re-
ply, "anu that's enough for both of u.s."
The British fleet was not more than a
mile distant, and they were on the point
OF sending their boats to welcome the
powder-ship, when Capt. Muglord hav.
ing pursuaded the English officer to sur.
render, was seen bringing his valuable
prize into tho harbor. The citizens
we're just returning from their several
places of worship, the day being set
apart for fasting and prayer by the con.
tinental congress, when the enemies sup.
ply'ship, containing three times as much
ammunition as the whole American army
then had, was at their veiy doors II
being ebb.tide, the ship ran ashore north
of Governors island, where she 10y till
the following night, but the people
quickly transported her valuable cargo
to the city in boats, and the joy at her
capture was felt even more keenly at the
D headquarters Of the army, when the dis
4 tress for powder was better known. The
only time when Washington was said to
have laughed during the revolution was
on hearing of the taking of this powder
ship. II was brilliant and daring sx-
plot, and made Mugford the hero OF the
hour The people received him IN State,
then Kings street, with great enthusi-
asm, and there was rejoicing throughout
the city.
The following Sunday night he deter
mined to return with his own vessel to
harblchead. In passing out OF the har-
Dor, the schooner ran upon the rocks of
Put in Gut, and they were obliged to
wait till the rise OF the tide before she
could be floated of. Meanwhile the in.
intense indignation Of the commander
oI the British fleet led to the sending of
10 boats, manned by 900 men, to capture
mugtord, and deal summary justice to
the young privateer. Tho dark night
favored their approach. The command
Of the expedition was entrusted to a
young nnbleman, who begged this privi.
'ege OF his superior officer, against the
advice of down-east pilot, then pris.
'ner ON the British feet, who warned
MN of he desperate character Of the
'nen he had to fight. Capt. Mugford
aa''ed the boats as they approached and
warned them to keep off, threatening to
arc upon them if they came nearer.
ihey disregarded bis threats, and Mug.
ioro received them with discharge
w rom hla musket, his men firing at the
sa''e time, and then cutting his cable, he