Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-31


from Quebec to the Cowpens.-John
Esten Cooke, IN Harper's Magazine for
June.
The Hero of Marblehead.
The Boston Commonwealth says On the
18th OF May one of the most brilliant
exploits of the Revolutionary epoch
was appropriately communicated by
the Marblehead people in dedicating
monument to its hero. One hundred
years ago Capt. Mugford, aged twenty
seven years, a native Of Salem, Mass,
but resident of Marblehead from his
childhood, was impressed on board the
British frigate Lively, then at anchor at
Marblehead, and transferred to a Brit
ish slOOp-of-war at the mouth of the
harbor. Mrs. Mugford, feeling indig-
nant at the British, went ON board Of
the frigate to request the release of her
husband. The Captain, a man of hon
or, promised his release and Immediate
ly dispatched an order that he should
be restored to his family, which was
done. Mugford had been on board
about a powder-ship that was daily ex-
pected to supply the British fleet then
in Nantasket Roads. Considering that
the Continental Army was scantily sup
piled, and that the British were anx-
iously waiting the arrival of their pow
der-ship with implements of war, he
applied to Gen. Ward for the command
of the Continental cruiser, the Frank
lin, of four guns and fifty tons. After
much importantly on his part, he was
appointed to command her, and, with
twenty-one on board all told, Mugford
sailed. He was not long at sea when
the Hope, ship of $50 tons, six guns
and seventeen men hove in sight. Mug
ford resolved to attack her, notwith-
standing the English Commodore
Banks, with his fleet lay few miles off
and in sight. He accordingly bore
down on the English ship and boarded
her. While he was engaged in taking
possession of his prize, the captain of
the Hope ordered his men to cut the
topsail halyards and ties, with view to
impede the sailing of the ship, and
thereby give the boats of the squadron
time to come up. Mugford, sensible of
the danger he was in, threatened the
captain and all on board with immedi-
ate death should the order be executed,
and by his resolute manner and vocif-
Grafton terrified them so much as to
make them desist from their design.
Capt. Mugford, with his prize, arrived
safe in Boston harbor. Her cargo con-
sisted of 1900 barrels of powder, 1000
carblnes, travelling carriages for can
non, and complete assortment of ar
tillery implements and pioneer tools.
AS soon as Mugford saw his prize safe
in port he again put to sea. The tide
making against him, he anchored. At
daybreak next day thirteen launches
were perceived rowing toward him from
the English fleet. Mugford was pre-
pared for action before they came
along side, and sunk five of them. The
crews of those that remained attempted
to board, but in so doing many of them
had their hands and fingers cut off, as
they laid them over the gunwale of the
American schooner. The brave Mug
ford, while making blow with his cut
lass at the men in launch, received
mortal shot-wound in the breast from
an officer in the launch. He called to
his lieutenant and said, in words that
bespoke the greatness of his soul: II
am a dead man; do not give up the YES
sci; you will be able to beat them if
not, cut the cable and run on shore"
In a few minutes after he expired. The
lieutenant ran the schooner on shore,
and the launches made off. The Eng
lish lost 20 men in this engagement.
Capt. Mugford was the only victim on
the American side. His body was ta-
ken to Marblehead and buried in great
state. After hundred years a monu-
ment is to go up over his honored ash
es. The exercises were held in the
Unitarian Church, and consisted of
prayer, the reading Of odes written for
the occasion by Rev. John w. Chadwick
and Miss Marcia M. Selmon, an ora
ton by Hon. George B. Loring, an his
torlcal description of the engagement
In which Mugford was killed, and the
singing of hymns by the Marblehead
Musical Association. The common
wealth was represented by the presence
of Gov. Rice and his official staff.
AS boy was going down street in
Boston, woman opened the front door
of house and called, "John, John,