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 temporary relief for so numerous a family. Some time after this, the same authority put him in possession of a confiscated estate, called the Seconnet Point Farm, which was extremely exposed to the enemy, as will be found in the sequel of this narrative. Early in the summer of 1778, another expedition for taking possession of Rhode Island was planned, under the direction of Major-General Sullivan; and a very large force from the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, was collected to carry it into effect. My father was appointed to command the boats intended for landing the troops, with the rank, pay, and rations of a major in the army; and afterwards, by a warrant, dated May 8th, 1778, under the hand of General Sullivan, I was appointed a captain of the boats under my father, with the pay, &c., of a captain in the army. By virtue of this warrant, I enlisted a number of boatmen, who were allowed the same pay as the troops in the service of the State. After the failure of the expedition, we were ordered to proceed with the boats, for their safe keeping, to Dighton, in the State of Massachusetts, where we remained until the tenth of March, 1779; when we were all discharged by General Sullivan. I then retired, with my father, to the farm on Seconnet Point.

Toward the latter part of the July following, a large party of Refugees from Newport, came to Little Compton, for the express purpose of making prisoners of my father and his sons, who were peculiarly obnoxious to the enemy. This party landed undiscovered; although there was a guard kept at the house where we dwelt, and sentinels were stationed on the shore. Two of the sentinels, discovering a boat, hailed and fired; but were immediately seized by the enemy, then at their backs, with threats of immediate death for daring to fire. We were alarmed at the house by the report of the muskets; and I and my unfortunate brother, having armed ourselves,