St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-27
Barton's Capture of Prescott.

BartOn's midnight capture of the British
General Prescott, during the first year
of the Revolution will be of great inter
est to many readers. 1t is from the ad-
dress of Prof. j. Lewis Diman of Brown
University at the Centennial observance
at Portsmouth, R. l., July 9:
On the evening of the 4th of July,
just one year after independence had
been declared, the little party left their
encampment at TivertOn. The follow
ing is Colonel Stanton's order, which
have copied from the original in the
cabinet of the Historical Society:
HEADQUARTERS, CAMP TIvERToN,
4th July, 1777.
Lieut.. Col. Barton:
You will proceed to the Island of
Newport, and attack the Enemy when
and where you think proper, and make
report to me of your proceeding.
Jos. STANTON, Jr., Colo.
A storm of unusual violence separ-
ated the boats in Mount Hope Bay, and
on the evening of the 5th only two had
succeeded in reaching Bristol. The
third arrived little later. Before re-
firing Barton took his party to Hog
Island, and there, in full view of the
British ship, he for the first time dis
closed his plan. They were astonished
at its boldness, but were not deferred
by the evident risk which it involved.
They then returned to Bristol, after ii
solemn pledge to reveal nothing res
pecting the purpose of the expedition.
On the evening of the 9th, they passed
over to Warwick Neck, which afforded
the best point of departure, as it was
essential for their purpose that they
should run down on the west side of
Prudence. But another severe storm
delayed their departure so that it was
not till the evening of the 9th at about
nine o'clock, that they finally left War
wick Neck. Before leaving the men
were numbered, and each one appoint.
ed to his place. The party consisted in
all of forty -one, officers included. Among
them was black servant of Barton,
who, according to his own account,
played no mean part in the adventure.
The man on whom Barton most relied
was John Hunt, who belonged to Col.
Elliott's regiment of artillery. He was
native of Portsmouth, and had been
brought up not far from PrescOtt's quar-
ters, and was of course well acquaint-
ed with the locality. Two Others of
the party, James Weaver, and Samuel
Cory, also came from the same neigh
borhood, and were of much service as
guides. Silently the little party gath
cred about their leader to receive his
last orders. In low voice he strictly
enioined them "to preserve the strictest
order to have no thought of plunder !;
to observe profound silence, and to take
with them no spirituous liquors. More
judicious directions could hardly be
conceived. His brief address closed
with solemn invocation of the divine
blessing. Each man raised his hat and
proceeded to take his appointed station
in the boats. The commander at War
wick Neck was directed to keep sharp
lookout, and if he heard the report of
three muskets to come to the north end
of Prudence and take them off. So,
under the silent stars of the summer
night, the little expedition sci forth on
its perilOus and uncertain errand. Each
man was well aware what his fate would
he should detection follow. Bar
led, in the forward boat, with pole
ten feet long having a handkerchief
tied at the END, so that his boat might
be easily distinguished. With muffied
oars they pulled between Prudence and
Patience islands, to avoid the enemy's
vessels which lay near Hope, and then
hugging close the west shore of Pru-
dence. rounded its southern extremity
in safety, but going so near the enemy's
ships that they could distinctly hear the
sentinel's cry, "All's WE'LL" When neal
the Rhode Island shore they heard a
noise like the running of horses, but "A
brief pause convinced them that it was
due to some accidental cause, and in a
few minutes they touched the land. On
reaching the shore man was left in
charge of each of the boats, while the
rest of the party, formed in five divis-
ions, marched silently forward. A deep
gully wore by the water through Il bank
helped to conceal them, and they gain
ed the house in safety. The entrance
was by three doors, on the south, east
and west. Three of the five squads
were ordered to attack each door, the
fourth remained to guard the road, the
fifth to act as circumstances might re-
quire, while BartOu's black servant was
eniOined to keep close behind his mas
ter. AS the party approached, they had
the guard house on their left, near
which General Smith, second in COM
mand, was posted, while on their right,
at the distance of two hundred yards,
were the quarters of company of light
horse. A sentinel was also stationed
about twenty-five yards from the gate.
In the house, besides Prescott and Ma
jor Darlington, his aid, were Mr.. Over
ing and his son, with several servants.
| Ac thn nnnnnH fha nal
put the usual question. No answer was
returned, but the party continued to
advance, row of trees preventing
their number from being clearly seen.
He, therefore, repeated the question
without being alarmed, when Barton
answered: "Friends." advance and
give the countersign,n was his response
ave have none," said Barton, ''but
have you seen any deserters toni ght ?"
Before he could reply he was seized by
John Hunt, his musket was taken from
him, and his arms piniOned, and he him
self threatened with instant death if he
made the slightest noise. When asked
if Prescott was within, he was so much
frightened that at first his tongue re-
fused its Office, but at length he moved
his hand towards the house, and an
swered Eyes" In moment each di-
vision had reached its station, and the
door was forced. 1t CHANGED that the
first chamber entered was the one occu-
pied by Overing himself, who, when
asked where the General was, pointed
in great agitation to the room beneath,
Not believing his statement, Barton en-
tered the next chamber, where he found