Year: 1877

The l7th of May, 1776, was critical moment for General Washington. The British troops had evacuated Boston in March, and there was a lull in hostili- ties, because both parties were short of powder Efforts had been made for a year to manufacture powder within the colonies with very little success. Gen. Washington was anxious for the future The British squadron lay in Nantucket roads waiting no less anxiously for transports from England. Shortly be- fore this James Mugford, a Marblehead man, twenty-five years of age, had been impressed on board of one of the enemy's sloops lying outside of the harbor. His wife said that if the peo- pie did not rescue him she would do it herself, and young Mugford was dis missed by the captain at her entreaty. While on board the sloop he overheard the talk about the expected transports and ascertained that the signal of the powder ship would be powder keg at the masthead. As soon as he reached the shore he sent word to Washington for permission to fit out vessel for it's capture, and then impatient of delay started from Beverly in the schooner Franklin, craft of sixty tons, armed with four two-pounders and lay out in the bay awaiting it's arrival. On the morning of Friday, the 17th, the looked for signal was seen at the masthead of an approaching ship and Capt. Mulford offering his services as pilot, and expos ing but few men, received the welcome signal to come on board before the Brit ish captain understood the character of his visitor

 "Where is your commission ?'' asked the Briton. "You have two aboard, :" was the reply, ''and that's enough for both of us." The British fleet was not more than mile distant, and they were on the point of sending their boats to welcome the powder ship when Captain Mugford having persuaded the English officer to surrender was seen bringing his valuable prize to the harbor. The citizens were just returning from their several places of worship, the day being set apart for fasting and praying by the Continental Congress, when the ene- my's supply ship containing three times as much ammunition as the whole American army then had was at their very doors. It being ebb-tide the ship ran around north of Governors Island, where she lay till the following night, but the people quickly transported her valuable cargo to the city in boats, and the joy at her capture was even more keenly felt at the headquarters of the army, where the distress for powder was known. The only time when Washington laughed, it is said, during the Revolutionary war, was when he heard of the capture of the powder ship. It was brilliant and daring exploit, and made Mugford the hero of the hour. The people received him in State, then Kings street, with great enthusiasm, and there was great rejoicing through out the city.

 The following Sunday night he de- termined to return with his own vessel to Marblehead. Tn passing out of the harbor the vessel ran upon the rocks of Put-in-Gut and they were obliged to wait till the rise of the tide before she could be fioated off. Meantime the in- tense indignation of the British fleet led to the sending of thirteen boats and two hundred men to capture Mugford and deal summary justice to the young pri- vateer. The dark night favored their approach. The command of the expe- dition was intrusted to young noble man, who begged the privilege of his superior officer against the advice of an old pilot, who warned him (while he was prisoner) of the desperate charac- ter of the men he had to fight. Captain Mugford hailed the boats as they ap- preached and warned them to keep off, threatening to fire upon them if they came nearer. They disregarded his threats and Mugford received them with a discharge from his musket, his men firing at the same time, and then cutting his cable he brought his broad side to bear on them discharging his cannon, loaded with musket balls, di- rectly upon them. Before the cannon could be discharged a second time two or three boats were along side. Cap tain Mugford and his men now met them so closely that with firearms and spears two boats were soon sunk and all the men either killed or wounded. The flash of his gun as he fired at his enemy in the heat of the engagement revealed him so distinctly that the next moment he received shot through the head and fell mortallv wounded. He did not