Blue Water Men - And Women - 187 Raid On Enemy Ship Is Highly Successful By FRED HUMISTON It was toward the end of Au- Young Edward Preble of Fal- gust that Capt Little learned mouth (Portland), son of the fa- that the British brig "Allegi- mous Brigadier, had fought his ance," 14 guns, was out to get first naval engagement in the the "Winthrop." With Castine as Massachusetts State ship "Proc- a base and lying over each night tector.' Although an "unhandy" under protection of the fort's ship, the "'protector" had been guns, she was searching high very successful until she fell in and low for the sloop, but not with two British frigates. taking any chances. Preble, now a lieutenant, was Capt. Little decided to "find" overboard, some threw down sent to the terrible prison hulk, the enemy brig, before she their weapons and raised their "Jersey," in New York harbor, "found" him, to cut her out in hands. Leaving the prisoners un- where he contracted typhus and a night raid. Forty men, the der guard, Preble with a few probably would have died, had bulk of his command, dressed men burst into the cabin, where he not been rescued by a for- in white smocks for identifica- he told the startled British brass, mer Falmouth resident a n d tion, were told off, and Lieu- just beginning to turn out, that friend of the family. Tory Col- tenant Preble put in charge. resistance was useless. onel Tyng. The sloop slid into Castine He then got way on the prize It took a full year to restore harbor under cover of the night and was taking her out before his health and now Edward at and laid alongside the brig with- the fort came to life or could 21 was known for his ability and out discovery. (Something must fire a shot. The "cutting out" sudden tempers Of short dura- have been wrong with the enemy had been a bold and skillful per- tion, they did make him feared deck watch) Preble leaped into formance, and the best part of it by those under his orders. the brig's main chains with what all, he had not lost a man. That As First Lieutenant of the many claimed was an Abenakis was the way to fight a war, Massachusetts State ship warwhoop, but which he latter Preble reflected with satisfac- "Winthrop," newly commission- denied. Warwhoop or ordinary tion. Keep it one-sided. ed, Capt. George Little, his-re- shout, he was there, with 14 (To Be Continued) sponsibility was great for 21. It of the 40 behind him. Then was indeed a marvelous oppor- somebody made a snafu, or the tunity for the Mainer to serve "Winthrop" had too much way, under such an expert seaman. for she came loose and drifted THE "WINTHROP" apart, leaving Preble and his sloop-rigged. Not as a sloop-of- 14 to handle the whole British war, which could be anything, company. including a full-rigged ship, but "Do you need more men?" Lit- an actual one-sticker even if tle called worriedly. rather large. She carried but 12 "No," Preble bellowed back, guns, yet conducted one of the in a voice that rose above the best minor cruises of the war, roar of battle, the pistol shots, operating off the Maine coast the clanging of cutlasses, the through the summer of 1782. She cursing. "We have too many captured two large privateers now: they stand in each other's and a vessel of unspecified way.' class, but that was only the be- SUDDENLY the British pan- ginning. icked and broke. Some leaped