The New York herald., 1877-07-10
PRESCOP7'S CAPTURE.
Centennial Celebration of the Event
at Newport.
HISTORY OF THE SURPRISE
Tyranny and Intolerance Of the
English General.
NEWPORT, r. l., July o, 1877.

NEWPORT. r. l., July 0, 1871.
Tomorrow the one hundredth anniversary OF the
capture Of General Prescott at Overing Place BY
Colonel Barton will be celebrated here number Of
addresses will bo made By prominent citizens and
others representing the Rhode Island historical So
ceties The light infantry will be here from Provi-
dcnce and take part In the proceedings Should tho
weather be favorable It Is expected that great crowd
will DO present from the adjoining counties. Professor
Diman, OF Brown University, Will deliver the oration,
aud Mr. f. Denison will read poetn written specially
for the occasion.
THE PLACE OF THE CAPTURE
The place OF to.morrow's celebration is located IN
the town OF Portsmouth, which reached by passing
the main road and keeping to the west through rich
farming district. Hero ID the house, which stands
back from the road and which occupied py Gen.
eral Prescott his headquarters at the time he was
captured, as described elsewhere. The gate and the
path remain unchanged, and one can easily imagine
Colonel Barton and his men quietly drawing near TO
the house with the determination OF accomplishing
their object sacrificing their lives in the attempt
Tho house at that time was in the possession OF the
Overng family, and TO this day it is known as the
covering Place" Since that time, OF course, IL has
changed hands several times.
General Prescott's headquarters in this city II also
standing and fine old family mansion It Is 1t is io
Gated the Of Pelham and Spring streets, dr.
roctly opp0Slte tne Un1too
is now owned by the sayer family. During the war IL
was owned by tho Banister family. The house is OF
the old school, and it is finished throughout with pauc
work, elaborate moulaings rooms of ample dimon-
sions, Wide hall and very unique staircase General
Prescott in pleasant weather. used to walk from the
corner of house Spring street to tho north
Of the block and to have dry walking he caused
sufficient number OF stone steps to bc removed from
tho neghboring dw eings and placed his spc
cial accommodation.
PREsCorr's TYRANNY RESENTED.
Tho next estate TO his headquarters in Portsmouth
known as the Redwood Farm, and at the time OF III
Generals capture 1t occupied by General Smith,
who second IN command.
From all accounts General Prescott very inso-
lent fellow While walking the streets OF this city he
would take occasion, should he persons talking TO-
gether TO say to them while shaking his their
faces, .Disperse ye reoels!" One day he met old
Quaker named Elisha Anthony, and hearing the latter
say. IN answer to question OF friend as to why hc
did not take his of when the General passed. that
SIT was against his principles 10 show those signs OF re-
spect to man." ordered hts servant to knock of the
Quaker's hat which he did. While Prescott was
prisoner he taken to Windsor, Conn, and is said
that the landlord of the house where he stopped
brought him dish OF beans and corn (succotashh AT
which he was so indignant that he threw them inte
the landlords face. The latter, after deliberately wpna
his face with his shirt sleeve LETT the room, but -e
turned with horsewhip and gave the General sound
thrashiDg.
ceLOSxL BARroN AND HIS TRIALS.
Colonel Barton the hero OF to-day's celebration
born In Providence in 1850 II is not generally known
that Congress- in addition 10 the sword voted him, hse
awarded him Revolutionary services grant Of
land IN Vermont by the transfer of which he upi,r-
tunately became entanged in the mesnes Of tho
in consequence Of which he thrown into ps,
for debt whore no remained for many years When
General Lafayette visited this country 1926, the
guest OF America, Colonel Barton, then Old man Of
upward OF seventy-hve years, was still In PRISON
Lafayette, as soon heard Of the late OF tho gall
..set tho prisoner free" fhe poet Whittier, in hm
poem written many years ago against imprisonment
conhnement-
hath ss gray r. wi.
God mace the old man poor
BARTON REvIsirNG ovERNG PLACE
Three years aftcr Colonel Barton's release he came
to Newport and his visit is thus described by eye
witnessI was then only eight years Of age, but 70
member the veneration with which regarded and
listened to him and the very pleasant day that wal
spont with him visiting the scenes OF his exploits HI
spent several days at my iather's house. Ny fathel
made up party pany tho hero TO the Overini
Place which filed several carriages. II was lowell
day. Alter reaching Overing Place the Colonel led the
way to the chamber In which he surprised Prescott.
pointing the particular location OF the bed in which
ne sleeping whom SO suddenly aroused by the crash
Of the breaking panel Down the stairs, across the
lawn and road followed the old gentleman Of eighty
years. the field, not quite TO the shore where he
embarked with his noted prisoner that memora-
bic night he recountng ali tho stirring
events Of that we'll remembered night Though
fifty -four years had intervened, seemed
vivid to him as II 1t had transpircd only lev
months previous. Tncre may be persons livingin
Newport who with the party on that memorable
day, but can only remember one The Colonel sang
In tho coach the ride home and he the life o
the party one OF the songs, 'Od Age' was his
composition. After reaching homo he dictated, while
q cousin OF wrote the words Tho copy thus writ
ten have Tor many years bus these lew
lines, then impressed upon my childish memory, are
all that can now recall
Why should the rich despise tho poor2
Why should the poor repine
A little time will make all
In equal friendship join
Tho only circum stance O earth,
That could find
To soften and tempcr mirth
Issweet content Of mind.
The chorus
we'ro much to blame, wc're sll the same.