Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/496

 396 THE HISTORY OF BAERINGTON. The Hessian Musket. At the time of the landing of a force of 500 British and Hessian troops, on Sunday, May 25, 177S, on the northern boundary of the town of Bristol, to invade and pil- lage Warren, Moses Tyler was conspicuous in his efforts to prevent them from crossing the river to invade Barrington. The British had already blown up the powder maga- zine, burned the Baptist meet- ing-house, and the adjoining parsonage, and several other buildings in Warren. During this work of destruction and pillage, a few of the Hessian soldiers made their way to the north part of the town, but soon returned to join the main body. Two Hessian soldiers, more adventurous than the rest, secui-ed a small boat and prepared to cross the river to the Barrington side to continue their work of destruction. Mr. Tyler, with musket ready, and with am- munition prepared by the hands of his wife and daugh- ter, hastened to the bank of the river just below his house, ready to dispute the passage of the two red-coats across. As they pushed off into the stream he hailed them, and warned them of their peril, and of the fate that awaited them. They replied to his warning with derisive oaths, and, nothing daunted, con- tinued their course. Waiting until they got within range, Mr. Tyler took aim and fired, instantly killing one of the soldiers. The other, realizing that the samefate awaited him, hastily turned the boat about, and pulled for the Warren shore. Mr. Tyler, jumping into his own boat, pursued but could not overtake the fleeing Hessian, who, in his haste to escape, was only too glad to abandon his dead com- rade to his pursuer. When he reached the abandoned boat, Mr. Tyler took possession of the dead Hessian's musket and accoutrements, and with the assistance of a neighbor, gave him a decent burial and re- turned to his home. During his lifetime, Mr. Tyler kept in his possession this musket as an interesting relic of his experience during the American Revolution. In his old age and shortly before his death, he gave it, together with the story of its capture, to the keeping of his then young grandson, Haile Bowen of Warren, who cherished it with affectionate regard dur- ing his long life. In his old age he likewise gave it into the care of his young grand- son, Sylvanus Haile Bowen, in whose affectionate care it will remain, to be, in time, again ti-ansmitted to the same jealous care of his descend- ants, an eloquent reminder of the long and unequal struggle of the American Colonies for their independence, and of the noble character of their hon- ored and honorable ancestor.