d whether his general was in the house, he was for some time
unable to give any answer. At length, in a faltering voice, he replied
that he was. By this time each division having taken its station, the
south door was burst open by the direction of Major Barton, and the
division there stationed, with their commander at their head, rushed
into the head-quarters of the general. At this critical moment, one of
the British soldiers effected his escape, and fled to the quarters of
the main guard. This man had no article of clothing upon him but a
shirt; and having given the alarm to the sentinel on duty, passed on
to the quarters of the cavalry, which was more remote from the
head-quarters of the general. The sentinel roused the main guard, who
were instantly in arms, and demanded the cause of alarm. He stated the
information which had been given him by the soldier, which appeared so
incredible to the sergeant of the guard that he insisted that he had
seen a ghost. The sentinel, to whom the account of the general's capture
appeared quite as incredible as to his commanding officer, admitted that
the messenger was clothed in white; and after submitting to the jokes
of his companions, as a punishment for his credulity, he was ordered to
resume his station, while the remainder of the guard retired to their
quarters. It was fortunate for Major Barton and his brave followers,
that the alarm given by the soldier was considered groundless. Had the
main guard proceeded without delay to the relief of their commanding
general, his rescue certainly, and probably the destruction of the
party, would have been the consequence.

"The first room Major Barton entered was occupied by Mr. Pering, who
positively denied that General Prescott was in the house. He next
entered the room of his son, who was equally obstinate with his father
in denying that the general was there. Major Barton then proceeded
to other apartments, but was still disappointed in the object of
his search. Aware that longer delay might defeat the object of his
enterprise, Major Barton resorted to stratagem to facilitate his
search. Placing himself at the head of the stairway, and declaring
his resolution to secure the general dead or alive, he ordered
[Illustration: CAPTURE OF GENERAL PRESCOTT.] his soldiers to set fire
to the house. The soldiers were preparing to execute his orders, when
a voice, which Major Barton at once suspected to be the general's,
demanded 'What's the