Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-12
CENTURY OLD PAPER
TELLS OF WAR CONDITIONS
Found In Back of Book Cover by
Frank 7. Mooty, of
49, TrcvilianS.
DESCRIBES ssf;iis FIGHT AT BOSTON
Also Contains Letter In Regard tn
Battle Of Niagara, and Dcnounces
Reasonable Conduct OF Certain
Bankers OF New England.


Bankers OF New England.
The Times Dispatch is in receipt
OF a most Interesting old paper from
Frank T. Mooty. of Trevilians. va.
who found il used as part of the pad
ding OF an old book cover. The paper
IS the front page of the Virginia gus.
and is the issue OF August Il. 1919
making il 1903 years old almost 10
day The Argus. one learns from the
inscription at the top of the page. was
published on the mornings of Wednes-
: day and Saturday OF each week by
Samuel Plcasn. printer to the Common
wealth, near Fell Tavern. AMI the sub
scription price was 81 per annum.
In size, the sheet is about eighteen
by twcnty-four inches. the type. set by
hand. of an antiquated style. There
was no telegraph news. of course. To
enlixen the front page of semi
weckls's,of those days. so the matter
prinfsd lis from exchanges and special
correspondence. The clippings from
the exchanges are under the head of
"DsfEtred Articles and the first OF
thesestsy from the Boston Patriot. being
setssforth as Correct and Circum-
staRffai Account Of the Late Affair at
PASSPORT" Papers of those days saw
history in the making even as those
OF to-day and there were wars and
rumors of wars The article excepted
from the Boston Patriot begins as
follows:
Several OF the officers OF the
Fortieth Regiment who were taken
and paroled at Eastport have arrived
in town They report that the Martin
sloop OF war, Captai~ Stonehousc. was
the first ship that appeared having
white flag The Island of Campobello
hid the approach of the fleet until they
came within three miles of the fort
The flagship came up within pistol
shot, Of the wharf and sent boat on
shore with flag and summons to sur
render the fort, otherwise the town
would be laid in ashes Major Put
nam went out and received the officer.
and conducted him to the quarters
The flag officer stated to Major Put
nam That he was allowed five minutes
to give him an answer.
sELECTMEN INDUCE HINT
TO SURRENDER FORT
Major Putnam replied that he must
read the summons and the proposed
charges before nc could give an an
swer. After which the British officer
said that the time was expired and de-
manded peremptorily: do you sur
render the fort" Major Putnam re-
piled: las long as the American flag
Is flying. do not surrender" On
which. 1.-the officer returned TO his boat
and 'iiroceeded to the ship. Major
Putnam consulted his officers as to
the,,SShrbpricty of defending the fort.
The selectmen also interfering re-
inc ms @
tense and the certain destruction o.
the town. he felt it to be his imperious
duty to accept the terms of capitula
ton offered him, and the flag was ac-
4 cordingly struck. and Immediately ar
ter this the British troops were landed
at different points of the island and
Immediately marched into the fort TO
tho number of ZOO men. Major Put
nam surrendered himself. five officers
and fifty-nine privatcs. eleven OF whom
were sick, and Immediately paroled.
+ When Colonel PilkinGton entered the
fort. he addressed Major Putnam as
follows: i want your mon. Major
Putnam replied: Here are my men,"
The British officer said: IL want all
your men | want all your command"
Ho repeated five or six times, IT want
your men" and was replied to by
+ PIkington then went away evidently
chagrined that he had brought such
a force to cappare fifty nine men and
a small fort w'th'sfx cannon. Well he
y might have been mortified when he
found His Royal Majesty had fitted
out an expedition consisting of one
s seventy-four and one sixty-gun ships.
q three sloopS Of war and three trans
4 ports. with 1000 land forces and 5000
sailors TO capture ffty-ninc private
4 eleven OF them sick), and six officers
s of the Fortieth Regiment of Infantry
& IT is grim sort OF humor which per-
Z vades these echoes OF a former war
when America and Great Britain were
anything but allies. The last para
graph OF the tale would do credit to
z the pages of current daily. so rcpletc
6 is 'it-in the bitter irony which char
acterzed the attitude Of the press of
that period toward the English.
Such" concludes the article from
the Boston Patriot. lis the rise, prog
4 Jess and completion OF this mighty
conquest of forty-cight Yankees by the
renowned Sir Thomas Hardy and the
gallant lieutenant, Colonel Pilkington.
4 John. Bull never appeared surrounded
4 with so much glory since he rcigncd
over the British Guls"
q DENoUNCEs SUPPLY OF MONEY
- TO ENEMY AS TREASON
e There is an emphatic expression Of
IL opinion from correspondent signing
IA his name Common Danger" relative 10
6 form Of treason, from which he
3 warns all patriotic citizens.
ITO supply the enemy with the mu-
s; nitions OF war is treason" declares
& this patriot Of a century ago. and his
q words apply as forcibly to the present