HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 195 



Connecticut and elsewhere with salt and other articles, 

 and brought back provisions and general supplies. 

 They chose those boats because they could pass Ilhode 

 Island in them with greater safety during the night 

 than in vessels. And notwithstanding the danger of 

 navigating such frail barks, they selected the most 

 stormy nights even in winter to pass ports in posses- 

 sion of the enemy; for they had rather encounter the 

 hazard of foundering at sea than of falling into the 

 hands of the British. By these means, and with what 

 breadstuff was raised on the island, the people were 

 prevented (and in many instances barely prevented) 

 from starving to death. . . . 



"As long as the vessels lasted, they afforded employ- 

 ment for the poorer class, but their number lessened 

 very fast. The loss of these, however, w r as not the 

 greatest evil which the people had to sustain. The 

 prison ship was much more dreaded. Whenever a 

 vessel or boat was seen coming from any quarter, anx- 

 iety of mind was depicted on every countenance. All 

 were dependent in some degree on casualties abroad ; 

 those who had property at stake w T ere desirous of hear- 

 ing from it, but above all those who had fathers, hus- 

 bands, brothers, or other connections, absent from 

 home, were watching with anxious eyes every sail that 

 made its appearance, or listening with intense interest 

 to catch some tidings from their friends, apprehensive 

 the while that the next news would blast forever all 

 their hopes of earthly comfort and happiness. In the 

 middle and latter part of the war, accounts from abroad 

 were rarely received which did not tell of the death of 

 one or more of the people belonging to the place. 



