Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-10-12

1S feIuSSteu W PlSSSHo A'noA "
headquarters at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon to receive instructions from
General Washington in regard to
special duty in Bo tom" To ex-
plain how became captain IN
the Continental army and the rea-
son I was selected for special service,
it will be necessary to go back several
months.
Before the war began I was q peace
ful resident of Boston. / had been
we'll educated by my father, he having
gone to England when young man
to study there. lie also, forseeing
that there must be war between US
and the mother country, taught me
the use of arms, so thatI became very
proficient, especially with the sword.
My fencing was improved from another
source. At social gathering in IA
I met Frenchmen who had been a
prominent figure in the French court
and famous and almost sinFincible
swordsmau. His last duel caused SO
much trouble that he left France to
seek fortune in the new world. This
man took liking to me. and taught
me the French method of fencing,
but, being unwilling to drop the Eng
ish style wholly, I combined the two
and, always used French dagger in
. my left hand. From this time on, Ill
ali friendly contests up to the begin
ming of the war, was never bested,
but what ] could do in actual conflict
was yet to appear.
On the morning of the 10th of
April, IT'S, I learned that on expedl-
ton had left Boston to destroy mill
tary stores at Concord and was not
much surprised to hear later that
there had been fight. saw some OF
the, returning men the next day, and
they were in bad condition. Many
of them were wounded, and all were
dusty and half dead with fatigue.
p About two weeks after this l packed
up some of my clothing and other
property and quietly slipped out of
the town, armed witha letter of intro
duction from my father to Colonel
William Prescott. At this time | was
25 years of age and very strong and and
: active.
ttif iifsctl my sersiee with
General Washington, / must come
down to that glorious day, june II,
1775, and the fight on Breeds Hill,
now called the battle of Bunker Hill.
We worked hard the night before aud
continued throwing up defences in the
morning right under fire of the man-of-
war Falcon in the stream below.
When, at last, almost o'clock in the
afternoon, the British troops started
up the hill all was finished. Colonel
Prescott had appointed me lieuten-
ant, and I had command o. squad OF
men in the redoubt. AS the attacking g
party came in shot of the works they
began to fire, and we had great diff
Guilty in preventing our men from
doing the same. One or two excited
Americans did fire and many more
brought their guns down to take aim.
Without thinking of the consequences
I jumped up on the parapet and ran
along kicking up the guns and thus
prevented their discharge. forgot
all abent the enemy, but they were
brought forcibly to my mind as l
jumped down, for bullet stuck the
silver handle of my sword. My pane
was engraved on the sword-hilt, and l
found that the ball had cut off the last
three letters, leaving it Nathaniel
Cush--." I paid no attention to
this then, but it afterwards did me a
good turn. This was the act for which
Colonel Prescott saw fit to promote Inc
to the position OF captain and later
recommended me to General Washing
ton. When the latter took command
of the army he honored me with a
place on his staff. The rest of the
battle is matter of familiar history
now, so I need speak no further about
it. And now, having explained my
position, 1 will go on with my story.
When I presented myself at the
headquarters of General Washington
on the afternoon of January 3 he
greeted me pleasantly and immediately
stated what he desired me to do.
'sTnere is some danger in the trip 1
wish you to take, captain" he said,
'but with your usual careful and in
telligent work I think you need have
no trouble. Take q boat tonight,
which I will have ready with sufficient
men at the waters edge, off Potter's
Hill, Dorchester Neck, and go across
to Boston. I have you go from there
because no enemy will be expected
from that side. Go around the South
Battery, and you will find quiet
place to land Just beyond. From there
make your way to the house of Samuel
Perkins on Treamount street almost
opposite the Kings Chapel. He
kaows you, and at the door in the
rear of the house will be prepared to
deliver some papers relating to the
condition of the town. After you have
received these find out for yourself as
much as possible about the condition
of the people and the plans of the
British. The best way to do this lat.
:. ter is to hear the conversation of the
English officers. If you are captured
yon wilI-b hung without delay, but
I rely on you and shall expect you
back safely"
In accordance with these directions
I was rowed quietly across the bay
about I o'clock, making wide circuit
of the Battery. The night was cold
and cloudy, and there was not much
danger of being seen. Although mid,
winter there was no snow on the
ground. A landing was made without
difficulty on the beach near Milk
street, and, leaving orders for the boat
to wait, started quickly up towards
the centre of the town. did not ex'
pect any trouble in the first part Of
my duty. Many people were about
the men being dressed Just as I was,
for. OF course, 1 did not wear my uni