New-York tribune., 1908-06-21

ure of the Macedonian. and he made ready 10
meet attack. believing that the hostile feet
would sail up the river and try not only TO re-
capture the ship but TO humble the American
commander who had won a victory over the
British. A triangular fort thrown up on
the top of the hill. 13O by 10 by 90 feet IN
dimensions, and over the side Of the steep tn
cline the huge guns were hauled from the ships.
which had been brought up the river toward
Norwich and dismantled- The task OF throwing
up the earthworks and OF pulling the guns into
place consumed weeks, but Decatur feared
attack during the winter months.
Scouts reported the British fleet outside the
New London harbor in a cosey anchorage near
Stonington. which the troops had burned. De-
catur settled himself meet the attack. which
he felt must eventually come, but which never
did. Weeks slipped into months. and the life
of the sailor soldier garrison grew irksome-
Tales have been handed down of the fish catches
in Great River. in Gfroton. by Decatur and his
officers and of the grabbing and lobster expedi-
tfons of the sailors along the same coves of the
Thames in which the college substitute oars
men or guests make rare finds even now.
Until a few years ago there were living in
Gales Ferry men who told how they used to turn
a penny by swimming the blockade with blad-
ders filled with New England rum tied around
their necks. This contraband brought high
prices from the sailors.
Fourth of July. 1913 fell Sunday, and the
stiff. unbending Puritanism Of the Gales Ferry
church members forbade celebrating the day in
the usual style. The sermon by the Rev. Ralph
HurIburt in the little village church was one
of the rigid doctrina1 character prescribed by
orthodox convention and lacked patriotic refer
ence. While il being delivered the roar OF
cannon was heard. and the minister had hardly
time to reprove either the sailors OF Decatur's
fleet for their impious salute his flock for the
excited reception they gave IT, when he awoke
to the fact that every male member had van
isred. The clergyman ansriy dismissed the
women of his congregation and never forgave
Decatur for his lack of tact
Cupid played an active part In the stay OF
the sailors, and grandsons of parents united in
marriage during the blockade soon after
ward still live near the present settlement and
traffic with the oarsnen- Repeated reconnois-
sances established the fact that the British
blockading fleet had Iessened its vigilance and
its numbers. and gradually Decatur deserted the
fort equipped his ships again and put them in
successive anchorages nearer the mouth OF the
Thames.
New London tradition relates his abortfve att
tempt to escape by night. Every ship had been
made ready for the flight, and at midnight the
fleet was to drop down the river into the Sound
tauk Point. Two or three hours before time for
the start mysterious blue lights appeared along
the Groton shore, and Decaturs men, believing
them To be displayed by Tories, or. rather.
FederaIists, who were British syrnpathizers
gave up the plan to escape. His report to Wash
ington formally laid the blame for the failure
to make the dash TO the Federalists. and their
nickname. Blue Light Federalists.' arose from
this incident
Relieving that spies would Illustrate any at
tempt to escape. Decatur mOurnfulIy withdrew
his ships upstream. dismantled them and wear
fly took up his vigil in the fort above Gales
Ferry. The Hornet alone the blockade sue
cessfuly and reached New York in 1914 The
sailor band remained guard till the close OF
the On February Is. 1915. after peace had
been proclaimed. public reception was ten
dered the British and the American officers in
the courthouse at New London Decatur came
into port in the frigate President and assisted
In receiving socially his former besiegers.