Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/189

 perty of his majesty^s peaceable subjects in this colony — on Wednesday night last, a party from an armed ten- der landed near Hampton, and took away a valuable negro slave and a sail from the owner. Next morning there appeared off the mouth of Hampton river, a large armed schooner, a sloop, and three tenders, with soldiers on board, and a message was received at Hampton from captain Squire, on board the schooner, that he would that day land and burn the town; on which a company of regulars, and a company of minute men,* who had been placed there in consequence of former threats denounced against that place, made the best disposition to prevent their landing, aided by a body of militia who were suddenly called together on the occasion. The enemy accordingly attempted to land, but were retard- ed by some boats sunk across the channel for that pur- pose. Upon this they fired several small cannon at the provincials without any effect, who in return discharged their small arms so effectually, as to make the enemy move off, with the loss of several men, as it is beheved. But they had in the mean time, burnt down a house belonging to Mr. Cooper, on the river. On intelligence of this reaching Williamsburg, about nine o'clock at night, a company of riflemen was dispatched to the aid of Hampton, and the colonel of the 2d regiment, sent ta take the command of the whole; who, with the company, arrived about eight o'clock next morning. The enemy had in the night cut through the boats sunk, and made a passage for their vessels, which were drawn close up

��* Captain George Nicholas commanded the regulars, and captain Lyne the minute men; captain Nicholas therefore, as being in the regular service, had the command of the whole, in the first skirmish. This gentleman was the eldest son of colonel Robert C. Nicholas; and on the return of peace, be- came highly distinguished both as a pohtician and lawyer.

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