The exploit of Colonel Barton took place on the 10th of July, 1777. The British general, Prescott, was commander of Rhode Island, and had his head-quarters on the west side of the island, near Narraganset Bay, about a quarter of a mile from the shore, and at some distance from any body of troops. He was but slightly guarded, trusting chiefly for security to the numerous cruisers, and to a guard-ship, which lay in a bay opposite his quarters. Colonel Barton, at the head of forty men, officers and volunteers, passed by night from Warwick Neck to Rhode Island; and although they had a passage of ten miles by water, yet, by keeping near the land, they eluded the vigilance of the British ships-of-war and guard-boats which surrounded the island. They conducted their enterprise with such silence and address, that, about midnight, they reached the general's quarters undiscovered, secured the sentinel, surprised the general in bed, and, without giving him time to put on his clothes, hurried him on board, with one of his aides-de-camp, and conveyed him safely to Providence. This event was very mortifying to General Prescott, and to the royal army; but occasioned much exultation among the Americans.
The capture of General Prescott provided a boost to the morale of the colonial forces. It showed the enemy to be vulnerable or at least mortal. Even Lt. Mackenzie, a British officer, was impressed with the action. He records in his diary: "The Rebels certainly run a great risk in making this attempt. . . They, however, executed it in a masterly manner and deserve credit for the attempt. It is certainly a most extraordinary circumstance that a General Commanding a body of 4,000 men encamped on an Island surrounded by a Squadron of Ships of War, should be carried off from his quarters in the night by a small party of the Enemy from without, and without a shot being fired."
Prescott was eventually exchanged for General Lee, and arrived back in Rhode Island in time to command his troops in the Battle of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Assembly rewarded Barton and his men with $1,120, and Congress voted him a sword.
More information about this daring raid can be found at American Heritage.
At the posted coordinates is the building that served as headquarters for General Prescott. At the that location is a small white sign next to the door. On the plaque is a four digit number: ABCD.
The final cache can be located at:
41 3D.CC5 N
71 17.A69 W
You can access the cache by crossing the small bridges at B1, B2 and B3 below. The cache is right off trail. Please re-hide as well as possible.
The event summarized above actually took place at this location, giving a much needed boost to the morale of the new American Army. It is just one of many events that led to the Independence of the Republic. Just over a year later the Battle of Rhode Island took place when Americans under Gen. Sullivan tried to retake Aquidneck Island.
Many different methods of sending secret messages were used throughout the American Revolution, by both sides. Invisible ink of several types, coded messages, dead drops, were all employed. The method here is very similar to one employed by General Sir Henry Clinton (Commander-in-Chief of British Forces during the American Revolution) in a letter to John Burgoyne in August, 1777. I have taken some liberty with the method, to make it a little easier on myself and you, the cacher.