Lt.
Dudingston's account of the burning of the Gaspee,
written by him to
his superior officer, Admiral Montagu, as an "immediate" report of the
event. [We have modernized the spelling and added
paragraphing, for clarity.]
SIR: On Wednesday morning about one o'clock, as His
Majesty's schooner was lying upon a spite of land called Nancutt, the sentinels
discovered a number of boats coming down the river toward us. As soon as I was
acquainted with it, I came upon deck and hailed the boats, forbidding them to
come near the schooner, or I should order them to be fired upon.
They made
answer, they had the sheriff with them and must come on board. I told them the
sheriff could not be admitted on board at that time of night, on which they set
up a halloo and rowed as fast as they could towards the vessel's bows. I was
then using every means in my power to get the guns to bear upon them, which I
could not effect as they came right ahead of the vessel, she being aground.
I then ordered the men to come forward with their small
arms and prevent them from boarding. As I was standing myself to oppose them,
and making a stroke with my sword, at the man who was attempting to come up, at
that instant I found myself disabled in my left arm and shot through the groin.
I then stepped from the gunwale with an intention to order them to retire to
close quarters, but soon saw that most of them were knocked down and myself
twice, after telling them I was mortally wounded. They damned me and said I was
not wounded; if I was my own people had done it. As loss of blood made me drop
upon deck, they ordered me to beg my life and commanded the people to surrender.
As I saw there was no possibility of defending the vessel against such numbers,
who were in every respect armed and commanded with regularity, by one who
personated the sheriff, I thought it best for the People's preservation to
propose to them that I would order them to surrender if they assured me they
should not be hurt, which they did, I then called out which was immediately
echoed by the people around me, that I had given them orders to surrender.
They
hurried all the people below and ordered them up one by one and tied their hands
behind their backs, then ordered them into different boats.
I then begged they
would either dispatch me or suffer my wounds to be dressed. Upon that they
allowed my servant to be unbound, to get me things for dressing and carried me
below. But what was my surprise when I came down in the cabin, two surgeons were
ordered down from the deck, to dress me, who were furnished with drops and began
to scrape lint for that purpose.
During this time I had the opportunity of
observing the persons of about a dozen who were in the cabin. They appeared to
me to be merchants and masters of vessels, who were at my bureau reading and
examining my papers. 'They promised to let me have the schooner's books and my
clothes; instead of which, as they were handing me up to go on the boat, they
threw them overboard, or into some of the boats.
I was soon afterwards thrust
into a boat, almost naked. During the time they were rowing me on shore, I had
the opportunity of observing the boat, which appeared to me to be a very large
long boat. I saw by the man who steered her a cutlass lying by him, and
directing the men to have their arms ready. As soon as they put off the sheriff
gave them orders to land me on some neck and the boat to come off immediately
and told me if I did not consent to pay the value of the rum I must not expect
to have anything saved. I made answer whatever reparation law would give I was
ready and willing; as to my things they might do with them as they pleased. They
were accordingly going to land me on this neck, which I told them they had
better throw me overboard.
One man, who had a little more humanity than any of
the rest said they had better land me on the point of Pawtuxet. As I was unable
to stand they unbound five of the men and gave them a blanket to carry me up.
When I was half way on shore I heard some of the schooner's guns go off and
heard the people say she was on fire. I had not been carried far when the people
exclaimed, I was on an island, and they saw no house on which they laid me down
and went in quest of one. Soon after they came to acquaint me they saw one,
which I was carried to, a man was immediately dispatched to Providence for a
surgeon.
A little after the people joined me with a midshipman; all of whom I
could persuade I sent on board His Majesty's sloop BEAVER.
The schooner is
utterly destroyed and everything appertaining to her, me and the schooner's
company. If I live I am not without hope of being able to convict some of
principal people that were with them. The pain, with the loss of blood rendered
me incapable of informing you before of the particulars. There are none of the
people anyways wounded, but bruised with handspikes.
I am Sir,
Your most Humble Servant,
W. Dudingston.
