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Martinsburgh Gazette
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Major Chapin and 28 men escaped Canadian confinement during the War of 1812 by overpowering their guard of 16 on boats en route to Kingston, capturing arms and boats, and safely reaching Fort George on July 13, 1813.
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Copy of a letter from Major Chapin to General Dearborn.
Fort George, July 13th, 1813.
SIR— I have just arrived from my confinement in Canada, with my men, without our parole. Our return happened in the following manner : I received orders at Burlington Heights on Monday morning to go to Kingston : we set off accordingly under the care of a guard of sixteen men; I had with me 28 men. We all went on very quietly till four o'clock in the afternoon, at which time I gave a signal to attack the guard, which were stationed in the following order—a sergeant and one man in the boat with my men, a lieutenant and 13 men in the boat with me and two officers. At the signal my men ran along side of the boat I was in. Lieut. Showers ordered them to fall astern. I ordered them on board; at which time the officer attempted to draw his sword. I seized him by the neck, threw him on his back—two of his men drew their bayonets upon me. I immediately seized both bayonets at the same instant and threw them on top of the officer and kept all down together ; at the same moment my men seized the guard and wrested from them their arms—we then having possession of the arms changed our course and arrived here this morning half after two o'clock, all safe. We have brought two boats with us.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
CYRENIUS CHAPIN.
Major General Dearborn.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Fort George, Canada
Event Date
July 13th, 1813
Key Persons
Outcome
escaped safely with 28 men, captured guard's arms and two boats; no casualties reported.
Event Details
Major Chapin and 28 men, recently confined in Canada, were ordered from Burlington Heights to Kingston under guard of 16 men. At 4 PM, they attacked: Chapin subdued Lieut. Showers and two guards, while his men seized the rest, taking their arms. They changed course and arrived at Fort George at 2:30 AM on July 13, all safe.