[1] “Brig.-Gen. Prescott ... had been nurtured in the lap of aristocracy,
and taught all its exclusive precepts.... He was a tyrant at heart,
and, having the opportunity, he exercised a tyrant’s plentiful
prerogatives.”—_Lossing’s Pict. Field Bk. of the Rev._, vol. ii.,
p. 74. “William Barton was a native of Providence, Rhode Island....
Lieutenant-Colonel in the militia of his State ... when he planned and
executed the expedition for the abduction of General Prescott,” who
commanded the British forces at Newport, Rhode Island.—_Idem_, p. 75.
_Note._
[2] “Prescott ... had a fine sidewalk made for his accommodation along
Pelham and up Spring streets; for which purpose, he took the door
steps.”—_Idem_, p. 75. _Note._
[3] “His habit, while walking the streets, if he saw any of the
inhabitants conversing together, was to shake his cane at them, and say:
‘Disperse ye rebels.’ He was also in the habit, when he met citizens
in the streets, of commanding them to take off their hats, and, unless
the order was instantly complied with, it was enforced by a rap of his
cane.”—_Idem_, p. 74.
[4] “He overtook a Quaker who did not doff his hat. The general, who was
on horseback, dashed ... him against a stone wall, knocked off his hat,
and then put him under guard.”—_Idem._
[5] “Prescott caused many citizens of Newport to be imprisoned, some of
them for months, without any assigned reason. Among others ... William
Tripp.... He had a ... family, but the tyrant would not allow him to hold
any communication with them either written or verbal.... His wife sought
... a personal interview.... A captain, ... echoing his master’s words
... informed her, as he shut the door in her face, that he expected her
husband would be hung as a rebel in less than a week.”—_Idem._
[6] “General Prescott was quartered at the house of a Quaker, named
Overton.”—_Idem_, p. 75.
[7] “These were three British frigates with their guard-boats ... almost
in front of Prescott’s quarters.”—_Idem._
[8] “With a few chosen men, Barton embarked in four whale boats with
muffled oars at Warwick Point at nine o’clock in the evening.”—_Idem._,
p. 75. “Mr. Barton, by request, furnished me with the following list
of the names of those who accompanied his father on his perilous
expedition. OFFICERS.—Andrew Stanton, Eleazer Adams, Samuel Potter, James
Wilcox. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.—Joshua Babcock and Samuel Phillips.
PRIVATES.—Benjamin Pren, James Potter, Henry Fisher, James Parker, Joseph
Guild, Nathan Smith, Isaac Brown, Billington Crumb, James Haines, Samuel
Apis, Alderman Crank, Oliver Simmons, Jack Sherman, Joel Briggs, Clark
Packard, Samuel Cory, James Weaver, Clark Crandall, Sampson George,
Joseph Ralph, Jedediah Grenale, Richard Hare, Darius Wale, Joseph Denis,
William Bruff, Charles Hassett, Thomas Wilcox, Pardon Cory, Jeremiah
Thomas, John Hunt, Thomas Austin, Daniel Page (a Narraganset Indian),
Jack Sisson (black), and—Howe or Whiting, boat-steerer.”—_Idem_, p. 76.
_Note._
[9] “They heard the cry: ‘All’s well,’ from the guard-boat of the enemy
as they passed silently.”—_Idem_, p. 76.
[10] “Barton divided his men into several squads.... The main portion
passed ... between a British guard-house and the encampment of a company
of light-horse, while the remainder was ... to approach Prescott’s
quarters from the rear.”—_Idem._
[11] “As Barton and his men approached the gate, a sentinel hailed them
twice, and then demanded the countersign. ‘We have no countersign to
give,’ Barton said, and quickly added: ‘Have you seen any deserters here
to-night?’ The sentinel was misled by this question, supposing them to be
friends ... until his musket was seized, and himself bound and menaced
with instant death if he made any noise.”—_Idem._
[12] “Barton entered the front passage boldly. Mr. Overton sat alone
reading.... Barton inquired for Gen. Prescott’s room. Overton pointed
upward, signifying that it was directly over.”—_Idem_, p. 77.
[13] “With four strong men and Sisson, a powerful negro ... Barton
ascended the stairs, and gently tried the door. It was locked; no time
was to be lost ... the negro drew back ... and using his head for a
battering-ram, burst open the door at the first effort.”—_Idem._
[14] “The general supposing the intruders to be robbers, sprang from his
bed, and seized his gold watch that was hanging upon the wall. Barton ...
told him he was his prisoner, and that perfect silence was now his only
safety.”—_Idem._
[15] “Prescott begged time to dress, but it being a hot July night, and
time precious, Barton refused acquiescence, feeling that it would not be
cruel to take him ... where he could make his toilet ... at his leisure.
So, throwing his cloak around him ... the prisoner was hurried to the
shore.”—_Idem._
[16] “Prescott’s aid, hearing the noise in the general’s room, leaped
from a window to escape, but was captured.”—_Idem._
[17] “At Warwick Point ... Prescott first broke the silence by saying to
Col. Barton: ‘Sir, you have made a bold push, to-night.’ ‘We have been
fortunate,’ coolly replied Barton. Captain Elliot was there with a coach
to convey the prisoners to Providence.”—_Idem._
[18] “For that service Congress honored him by the presentation of a
sword, and also by a grant of land in Vermont.”—_Idem_, p. 75. _Note._
[19] “And on the 24th of December following he was promoted to the rank
and pay of colonel in the Continental army.”—_Idem_, p. 77.