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Show UU DARING EXPLOIT OF AMERICANS In the latter part of 1776, Major-Gonoral Major-Gonoral Charles Lee, during Washington's Washing-ton's retreat through the Jerseys, unfortunately un-fortunately fell into the hands of the enemy, and was convoyed with triumph Into Now York. This Incident Inci-dent greatly depressed the spirits of tht Americans, particularly as they had no prisoner In their hands for whom he could bo exchanged. Under thoso circumstances many enterprises wore projected to capture cap-ture some English officer of equal rank, but it was reserved for Major Barton, of the Rhode Island lino, to successfully plan and accomplish this purpose. At tho time Barton was stationed at Tlvorton on Narragansett bay. The British were In possession of Rhodo iBland, and several Islands feet the object. Iryo7890$ In tho bay. The American Major anxiously watched an opportunity to offect tho object he had at hearL. In Juno, 177G, he learned from a prisoner that General Richard Pros-cott Pros-cott had established his head-quarters on tho west side of Rhode Island, tho prisoner giving a minute description of the house. Barton resolvod to cap- ture Prescott, but realized that the enterprise en-terprise was hazardous to the extreme Several officers personally volunteered volunteer-ed to assist him, but none of them knew of the object in view. Finally, all the plans wero made and the little party started off in boats upon a very dark night early in July, 1777, arriving unmolested on the Rhode Island side of the bay. The General's headquarters were about a mllo inland, and to reach It it "was necessary to pass a number of guards and a house where a company of cavalry was quartered. Barton divided his men into five "parties which were to surrounded tho house. On arriving at Prescott's" headquarters head-quarters the party was challenged by a sentinel He was soon overpowered, Barton himself seizing his musket. In his bewilderment the sentinel replied re-plied that the General was in the house. Tho signal was givon and in an instant the south door was hurst open and the Major and a few of his party rushed Into the building. The first persons met absolutely denied that General Prescott was in tho house. Not being able to find him in the rapid search through the apartments. Barton now had to resort to strategy. In a loud voice he declared his Intention o capturing the General dead or allvo, and ordered his men immediately to sot fire to the house. At this juncture a voice which Barton suspected to belong to the General, Jnqulred the cause of the disturbance.. Barton rushed to the apartments from which enmo tho voice he heard, and finding there an' elderly gentleman just rising from his bed, he accosted him as General Prescott. Pres-cott. To this the gentleman assented and declared he bore the name and title. 'Then you are my prisoner," replied Barton. The General was only allowed to partially dress himself him-self when he was hurried off by his captors. Meanwhile a singular circumstance cir-cumstance had occurred. At the very moment that Barton gained admission into the house, one of the British guards effected an escape, and flew to the quarters of the main guard to give alarm. This man, In the alarm of tho moment, rushed forth with no other clothing than his shirt. When the officer of the guard came to explain the matter mat-ter to tho sontlned on duty he was , laughed at and told that ho had seen a ghost. Ht admitted that the messenger was clothed In white, and after being heartily laughed at ho was ordered back to his post This was a most fortunate circumstance, for had the alarm of the soldier ' been believed nothing could have preserved the gallant Major and his band from destruction. The whole party with the English General In their midst marched rapidly toward the shore. They had not gotten far out into the bay when tho discharge of cannon and three skyrockets gavo the signal of alarm. But, for somo cause, the signal was not understood by thoso on the ships, and by this fortunate circumstance the gallant band was preserved. When the party of captors landed on the opposite shore of the bay and out of reach of the enemy, General Prescott said to the Major: "Sir, you have made an amazing bold dash tonight." "Wo have been fortunate," was the modest reply. The British commander was convoyed as a prisoner pris-oner to Providence. The gallant en-terprise en-terprise was soon noised abroad, and it was received everywhere with unqualified un-qualified admiration and tho gallant Major and his party became the heroes of the campaign. It was not long alter the performance of this brilliant exploit that the prisoner was exchanged for General Lee to the great satisfaction of the American army. nn |