May 10, 1976 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 13161 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE DAY THE BRITISH TOOK BEAU­ the Bite) and dropped anchor. From the ship behind Ca.pt. Gibble's house. At this time FORT-LAST BA'ITLE OF THE a small boat was launched manned by five they saw Ca.pt. Singletry coming along the REVOLUTIONARY WAR men. As they approached the shore, the beach by the house. They watched helpless whalers wandered down the beach to meet as he was charged by the enemy. The whole them. The boat landed, the crew jumped out group rushed from behind the house and HON. JESSE A. HELMS and, wiith the help of the whalers, was pulled surrounded him and took him prisoner. Eas­ up on the sand. The captain of the crew OF NORTH CAROLINA ton ordered the cannon, turned in that di­ greeted the whalers. He reported that their rection, fired. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES ship was from New England and the others As full light came, one could see small Monday, May 10, 1976 a prize of war which they had taken. They boats leave the fleet (boats of the townsmen wanted to pass through Old Topsail Inlet to who were held prisoners). They approached Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I would the Port of Beaufort. The whalers advised the town, landing where they chose on the like to share with my colleagues a major them to wait for the next daylight high tide, beach, spreading into all sections of the town new discovery in the history of North and gave them directions for crossing the bent on plundering. Carolina. Jean Bruyere Kell, Bicenten­ bar. They then walked up the beach to the Being overpowered by numbers, Easton and nial projects coordinator for the Car­ Davis house for a drink, a.ll drinking to the hJs men retired from the Battery to Gabriel's success of the visitors and their fine prize house about one-half mile from town. on taret County Bicentennial Commission, for their country. the way they spotted men loaded down with has recently uncovered rare historical The next day at high tide the townfolk of plunder. They overpowered and captured two documents which show that the last bat­ Port Beaufort, gazing toward the inlet, of them. At two o'clock Col. Ward arrived tle of the American Revolution was ac­ watched as the ships approached the bar, w1th'20 men. They decided to make their post tually fought in North Carolina. saw pilots board and guide them to anchor a.t the town bridge and an advance post three In April of 1782, a full year after the under Borden's Banks, fronting the town. quarters of a mile from their main body. surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, a Their curiosity was aroused. No landing They set up camp. Women, old folks and British force setting out from Charles­ boats were launched. A great many of the children ca.me in great distress, drtven from inhabitants decided the only way to find out their homes by the British. There was no one ton made a raid on the colonial North who these sailors were, where they were from left in town to protect them. Carolina town of Beaufort. Led by Colo­ and why they had come to the Port, was to The next morning Easton collected a.bout nel John Easton, the citizens of Beaufort sail or row to the vessels. eight Lighthorse who were kept constantly fiercely resisted the British attack, and Major Denrus and his companion, Capt. patrolling and reconnoitering the enemy's after several days of battle finally drove Dedrick Gibble, from a high porch, viewed situation. Messengers were sent with orders the invaders back into the sea. Their the scene. Something strange was happening. for the Bogue and White Oak companies to heroic effort probably saved other Tar The boa.ts went out but not one returned. remain on the west side of the Newport River. Heel seacoast towns from similar British Upon discussion they decided it might be an under Major West, to prevent the enemy from enemy vessel. Gibble decided to look the plundering and destroying the public invasions. situation over and set out for the mysterious granary. A full account of the battle of Beau­ ships, carrying a flag of truce. Dark was fast A guard of 13 men was established at fort, written by Jean Bruyere Kell, ap­ approaching; he did not return. Becoming Barker's Island to observe the British actions pears in the Spring, 1976, issue of the alarmed Dennis hurried to Beaufort's Capt. there. A letter was sent from Capt. Wm. Bull, New East magazine, a fine regional pub­ Easton, reporting the several circumstances a prisoner on board the "Commodore", to lication devoted to the pa.st, present, and to him. Mrs. Thomson stating that the enemy would future of eastern North Carolina. The Easton quickly dispatched riders through­ be willing to have a treaty for exchange and article is entitled, "The Day the British out the country for help and to warn the parole of prisoners. people. He gathered what men he could find, Sunday, April 7, two of the town officers Took Beaufort." armed them with guns which had been and two of the enemy met to negotiate the Mr. President, I know that others will turned over to him when the local militia exchange of prisoners. Small parties had cap­ enjoy reading this interesting article, disbanded. tured a number of enemy as they went about and I ask unanimous consent that it be It was now dark. Easton and eight men plundering the town. A cease-fire was ar­ printed in the RECORD. began to patrol the shoreline. The sound of ranged for four o'clock but was not carried There being no objection, the article approaching boats was heard near the mouth out. Hostililties commenced again. A cannon was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, of Taylor's Creek (at that time east of Ful­ shot from Biddies Fort, now occupied by the as follows: ford Street). They all headed for the sentry enemy, fell on the camp. Militia from differ­ placed there. A voice shouting in from the ent parts of the county began to arrive. A THE DAY THE BRITISH TOOK BEAUFORT-THE boats was trying to convince the sentry that reconnoitering party arrived and reported LAST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR they were friends. the enemy were staying close wilthln their Th account which follows, by Jean Kell Easton sensed the deception, called the works. But when Major Mount Florence ar­ of Beaufort, reveals an entirely new and un- sentry to him and ordered his men to fire. rived he reported the enemy were very busy known chapter in the history of North Caro­ Out through the night the guns rang as the moving the booty they had taken out to the lina. Working in the state archives on the defenders poured shot after shot on the ships. · Carteret County Bicentennial Book, of which landing party. On Monday, April 8, word was received that she is editor, Mrs. Kell was astonished to find The enemy retired about a half mile east­ the enemy had attempted to land and plun­ a blow-by-blow description of a major battle ward and landed their men on Carrot Island. der Barker's Island, but were repulsed by the at Beaufort, one full year after the surrender Then they crawled undiscovered and began men stationed there. Capt. Foot, command­ of Cornwallis and his British forces at York­ to ford the Creek about 300 yards from the ing twelve men in two boats, went out in town. Details of this la.st revolutionary bat­ point where Easton had posted a man. The the harbor to intercept the enemy's boa.ts tle, taken from contemporary journals and other men were patrolling their various sec­ carrying plunder and goods. Capt. Nixson, of documents, are given here for the first time tors. Two were near the spot where the enemy Onslow County, Joined the camp with thirty anywhere. were attempting to land. horsemen. The enemy shot another six pound The year was 1782, the time, April 3rd. A Just as the first rays light dawned, shots cannon ball into the camp. A large force ad­ feeling of warmth and peace was in the air, from the sentry's gun alarmed Easton, who vanced to the school house and fired upon the first April in seven long years that a man rushed up with four men, spotted the ford­ the sentry. A sktrmish ensued. Col. Ward ar­ could relax his vigilance and look toward the ing party, and ordered his force to open fire. rived with twenty men. The enemy retreated sea without apprehension. The continental The commander of the enemy contingent (a. behind the school house. A short time later army had, the fall before, won the decisive Major Stewart) was wounded, and a. private they set fire to it and retired to the Battery. battle at Yorktown. mortally injured. One of Easton's men re­ On Thursday, April 9, threats were received The peace treaty had not been signed. The ceived a slight wound in his thigh. They kept from the British Commanding officer that peace was not secure. But somehow that did up constant firing. the town of Beaufort would be destroyed. A not trouble the whalers on Shackleford's At 4:30 in the morning Easton and his party of men from the town forces surprised Banks, on the North Carolina coast, as they men retired to the town Battery, built a few the enemy plundering Lewis' home on the rested in the sun, near the recently deacti­ years before by the townsmen under the west side of North River, took three prisoners vated battery called Fort Hancock, exchang­ guidance of Capt.