On December 13, 1776 at an isolated New Jersey Tavern, George Washington's second in command Major General Charles Lee was captured by a party of British dragoons. The American army needed a British captive who was the same rank as General Lee. Rhode Island's William Barton planned and executed the cross-bay capture of Major General Richard Prescott at the Overing house in Middletown, where Prescott commanded the British garrison occupying Newport and the rest of Aquidneck Island. Barton's raid was the outstanding special operation of the Revolutionary War and still ranks as the greatest in American military history. But did the pride he earned from this mission ruin thirteen years of his life?
In the Colony House on December 12, 2013 at 5:30pm hear Christian McBurney answer this question and discuss his new book Kidnapping the Enemy: The Special Operations to Capture Generals Charles Lee and Richard Prescott. Admission is $5.00 per person, or $1.00 for members of the Newport Historical Society. To RSVP please call 401-841-8770.
