Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-03
A REVOLUTIONARY HERO

A REVOLUTIONARY HERO
Captain Musford Ran the British
Blockade and Captured Powder ship.
Had Great Britain made peace with
the American colonies after the British
army had been driven from Boston.
James Mugford would be popular
hero today. But Great Britain con-
tinued the war for eight long years,
and 30 many heroes were made that
the name Of James Mugford, ''the
world forgetting, and by the world for
got" was lost. GIf5 r
Mugford died 1877 years ago today
In an insignificant fight that the larg-
est histories barely record now. He
and his "a companions were attacked
by zoo British marines. They fought
most all night, and the British were
whipped, but the gallant captain was
killed by pike thrust. 10 ,RI
The British under General Gage
evacuated Boston, in March, I776. The
British feet remained behind In Bos-
ton to blockade the port. General
Washington hurried to New York with
the main Colonial army to dispute the
proposed British landing there. Gener-
al Artemas Ward was left In command
Of a pretty sizeable American army
around Boston; but washington had
taken all the powder and most of the
guns. steifN91 ~ att
The Americans were at the mercy OF
the British ships, only the British
didn't know It. General Ward zeal, {,
ously guarded the fact that his powder
supply was NIL, and planned to fill his
magazines at the invaders expense.
Accordingly two small ships, the
schooners Hancock and Franklin, were
outfitted and ordered to sea for the
purpose Of capturing a supply ship.
Captain Samuel Tucker commanded
the Hancock. James Mugford, citi-
zen Of Marblehead. Mass, was APP
pointed master of the Franklin. His
vessel carried crew of 81, including
himself. - glysistel u
On May CAPTAIN Tucker captured
two brigs laden with valuable sup
plies; but no powder. He took his
prizes to Lynn. General Ward COM
municated with Captain Mugford and
explained to him the desperate straits
the army was fronting. tai1 s!tf1i
'Tll get some powder" said the
short-spolen Marblehead. And he did.
The British ship Hope, carrying war
munitions for the British, was due. II
had powder for the feet. Captain
Mugford heard Of its expected arrival
and put to sea. eofaf.' ii1
Almost within sight Of the British
feet he met the Hope and captured It.
But how to land the prize2 He didn't
have men enough to take 1t to Lynn
or any other port very distant. The
British fleet lay between him and the
American army In Boston. 81 rt
Captain Mugford choose to run the
British blockade and fight the whole
feet of a dozen ships or more. II nec-
essary. He put a few Of his best men
aboard the Hope and made the British
crew sail It. Then, In the Franklin, he
arrogantly sailed toward the British
fleet and dropped few cannon balls
its way.
The British were astounded. What
could this crazy skipper mean by at
tacking feet with one dinlxy little
schooner They would teach him q
lesson, The whole feet rnaneuvered
round to blow the Franklin of the
bay. Meanwhile the Hope sneaked in
the harbor, and then Captain Mug
ford outsailed the British feet and got
In himself. ! In the hold Of the Hope
the Americans found as tons Of pow
der and other war stores needed just
then more than men or gold. Mugford
had made good his word. ,agsYei
Very naturally the British were an
CRY. The admiral issued an order
that James Mugford was to be cap
tured by any hook or crook and
promptly killed. Somebody told Cap
tain Mugford about the order.
"Oh, piffie!" he said. or something
like that. 'Tll run by his derned old
feet every day in the week and twice
on Sunday IL I want" r.t,.
The Sunday following. May 10. 1776,
Captain Mugford. In the Franklin. with
II men. and Captain Cunningham, in
the privateer Lady Washington, ves-
sci carrying seven men and a few
small swivel guns, started to puncture
the British blockade again. They would
have succeeded, but the Franklin
grounded. A iotilla Of small boats
from the feet, carrying 200 well-arm-
ed men, started for the attack. Cap
tain Cunningham refused to leave his
companion, so both he and Captain
Mugford prepared for battle.
1t was fiercely fought contest and
lasted the better part Of the night. On
May 20 General Ward made the fol-
lowing report of the engagement:
Captain Mugford was very fercely
attacked by 70 or 13 boats full Of men,
but he and his men exerted themselves
with remarkable bravery, beat or the
enemy, sunk several OF their boats
and killed a number Of their men; II
is supposed they lost so or 20. The In
trepid Captain Mugford fell little be-
fore the enemy left his schooner. He
was run through with a lance while
he was cutting of the hands Of the
pirates as they were attempting to
board him, and It Is said that with his
own hands he cut of five pairs OF
theirs. No other man was killed or
wounded on the Franklin.-Kansas
City Star. I.s
They Chow cordite.-One Of the
troubles Of most European armies Is
that those soldiers who can get hold
of It insist on using that terrible explo-
siye cordite as II IL were a sort OF