Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-08

just returning from their several places of
worship, the day being set apart for fast
ing and prayer by the Continental Con-
gress, when the enemy's supply-ship, con-
tanning three times as much ammunition
as the whole American army then had,
was at their very doors. 1t being ebb-
tide, the ship ran ashore north of Gov
ernor's island, where she lay till the 1ol-
lowing 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 headquarters
of the army, where the distress 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. It was a
brilliant and daring exploit, and made
Mugford the hero Of the hour. The peo-
pie received him in State, then Kings
street, with great enthusiasm, and there
was rejoicing throughout the city.
The following Sunday night he deter
mined to return with his own vessel to
Marblehead. In passing out of the har-
Dor, the schooner ran upon the rocks of
Putin Gut, and they were obliged to wait
till the rise of the tide before she could be
f1oated off. Meanwhile, the intense in
dlgnatiOn of the commander of the Brit
ish fleet led to the sending of thirteen
boats, manned by 300 men, to capture
Mugford, and deal summary justice to
the young priv ateer. The dark night
favored their approach. The command
Of the expedition was intrusted to a young
nobleman, who begged this privilege of
his superior officer against the advice Of a
down Least pilot, then prisoner on the
British fleet, who warned him of the des-
perate character of the men he had to
fight Capt. Mugford hailed the boats as
they approached, and warned them to
keep off, threatening to fire upon them if
they came nearer. They disregarded his
threats, and Mugford received them with
discharge from his musket, his men fir
ing at the same time, and then, cutting
his cable, he brought his broadside to
bear, and discharged his cannon loaded
with musket balls directly III upon them
Before the cannon could be discharged a
second time, two or three boats were
alongside. Capt Mugford and his men
now met them SO closely with firearms
and spears that two boats were soon
sunk, and all the men either killed or
wounded. The flash from his gun as he
fired at the enemy in the heat of the en-
gagement revealed his form so distinctly
that the next moment he received shot
through the heart, and fell mortally
wounded. He did not yield even then.
His last words were; Don't give up the
vessel. You will be able to beat
them off," The two parties were so
near that MUgford's mate, seeing the
flash Of the officers pistol, which killed
his captain, transfxed that man (who
proved to be the young nobleman in com
mand) with his spear and tore open his
body. The enemy retired at the end of
half an hour, with a large number killed
and wounded. The scene the next day,
as the privateer sailed into Marblehead
harbor, was thrilling. The whole popula-
lation, the news of Mugford's herOism
having just reached the town, turned out
to welcome him. No heart beat higher or
more gladly than his wife's. She had
rescued him from the enemy once, and
now he had captured the most valuable
prize of the Revolution. No news of the
engagement of the evening before had
come to the people. The flag at half mast
was the only tidings of evil. The town was
profoundly moved on receiving the dead
body of its young hero, and gave him a
public funeral, the grief for his loss
silencing all demonstrations of joy with
which they were prepared to welcome
him
His exploit reminds one of the capture
OF Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen, Gin the
name of the great Jehovah and the Con-
tinental Congress-" the year before. It
was, in some respects, the most brilliant
naval duel Of the Revolution, and certain
ly one of the most serviceable Before
people could make up their minds to re-
gard Great Britain as an enemy, Mugford
on the sea and Allen on the land, COM
panions in daring, had taught the English
by significant examples the character of
the people they failed to conquer. JUS
tice mas been trdy to the memory of
Mugford. Even Marblehead, until re-
Gently, had not erected a slab over his
grave.-Boston AdUerttser.