Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-05-04

COnbhuuCN W Audho utA4both uASdSToO~
able TO the people within his jurisdic-
tion Among the American troops
raised in Rhode Island for the patriot
cause, there was resolute and enter
prising young officer, Lieutenant Col
onel William Barton, thirty three years
Of age, born and reared on the Rhode
Island coast Like most Of the Rhode
Island boys Of that time, he was as
much at home in a boat as a Western
cowboy is upon his mustang pony, and
he had already distinguished himself
by some dashing exploits with boat
parties against Tory privateers. He
had been offered a promotion for these
services. but had declined it "till he
had done something more to deserve
promotion.
A few months before, party of Brit
ish dragons had captured General
Charles Lee, and carried him off to
their camp. It was this event that
probably suggested to Colonel Barton
the idea Of getting possession of Gener-
al Prescott He happened to fall in with
deserter from the British army in
Newport. who gave him a particular
description Of the large, old-fashioned
mansion, about four miles from New
port, where General Prescott had his
headquarters It stood alone, about
three-quarters OF mile from the shore,
and was usually guarded by a small
force Of troops posted at some dis
tance The very house, / believe, is
still standing. or was until recently,
and no one need wish q better house
at Newport than that.
Colonel Barton selected forty men to
go with him in five boats to capture
the British General. When they were
assembled on the shore, about ten
miles from the scene of operations, he
made them little speech, telling them
that the expedition was dangerous, and
that probably some OF them would lose
their lives. He added:
''If any Of you are unwilling to en-
gage in the enterprise, you are now at
full liberty to decline it; and shall not
have the worse opinion OF any person
for so doing. want no man with me
who does not go willingly"
On putting the question to them,
every man expressed his willingness to
go, and they at once took to their boats.
They rowed swiftly, with muffied oars,
past British fort, passed several re-
doubts, past several British ships OF
war, without exciting any alarm, and
reached the shore nearest Prescott's
house a little before midnight. A
silent march of three-quarters of mile
brought them within hail of the sentry
on duty near the front door. Him they
first deceived, then seized and silenced,
while the men surrounded the house.
A mighty negro named Prince, who
lived many years after to tell the tale,
stove in the front door with his head
He butted it once without effect, but at
the second blow the panel yielded, and
Barton instantly entered. This woke
the landlord, who was forced by the
threat of instant death to point out the
door OF Prescotts room. Another lunge
of tho negro's head broke in that door
also, and in a moment Barton was by
the Generals side.
General Prescott, you are pris-
oner," said he.
II know it," said the General. Give
me time to put on my clothes"
In breeches and slippers, the stout
old General was started down the stairs,
with an officer at each elbow, his aid
de-camp being also captured by the men
without.
"You must run, General" said Bar
ton.
"rm an old man, and can't" he re-
piled,
But stout soldier at each arm helped
him along at a good pace, though the
stalks in a field of barley cut his naked
legs badly.
Gentlemen, doyou mean to kill me?"
said the captive.
"No, we do not intend to kill you,
but to exchange you for General Lee;
and after that we do not care how soon
the devil has you.
At daybreak the whole party, pris-
oners and all, landed safely within the
American lines, and dispatch was in
stantly sent to Providence for q vehicle.
At noon of the same day, General Pres
colt and his aide, attended by Colonel
Barton and some of his officers, drove
into Providence in a four-horse coach,
and had a reception there which the
Oldest inhabitant never forgot The
news rang through the country. The
gallant Barton was promoted, and was
presented by Congress with sword
and piece of land No event OF 80
little Importance more keenly gratifed
the American army during the war
than the capture of this pompous old
General. The newspapers did not fail
to keep the people in mind that it re-
quired seventy British dragons to
capture General Lee, who had no army
and guard, while Barton's party of
thirty-eight privates and six officers
captured General Prescott from the
midst Of powerful forces both on sea
and land.
Few men enjoyed Barton's exploit
more than General Lafayette, who re-
membered it vividly when he returned
to America in 1924. Judge of his sur
prise when he learned that Colonel
Barton, the hero Of the exploit, had
been in prison for debt in Danvilie,
Vermont, for the long period of four
teen years! Colonel Barton had lost a
suit involving bis right to transfer a