The Gaspee Incident by Kipp Soldwedel
Ephraim Bowe’s Account of the Burning of the Great Gaspee by Will Johnson
The Burning of the great Gaspee was a significant event in the American Revolution. The Burning of the Gaspee was one of the first attacks by the American militias. The Gaspee, a British Navy ship, went upriver and got stuck in the river due to the change in tide. A man then went through the streets beating a drum. This told the town that the Gaspee had run aground. The townsmen then proceeded to go out to the Gaspee. Soon they approached the Gaspee. Once they were within 50 yards of the Gaspee, the crew members were able to see the rebels approaching the ship. The rebels soon after boarded the Gaspee without any fight from the British. The rebels then stole British supplies and took them on the smaller boats, that they used to reach the Gaspee. One boat, which held the leaders of the attack, stayed and burnt down the Gaspee to the ground.
In Ephraim Bowe’s account, there is much more information about the people in the attack and who was personally affected. He talks about a man named Lindsey, who was the man who told the town of Providence about the Gaspee being run aground. Lindsey informed a man named Mr. John Brown at once on entering the town. Brown, knowing the tides, knew it would be stuck for some time. He then gathered eight of the largest longboats in the harbor and waited to gather men to go steal supplies. A man after sunset came through the streets and beating a drum sounded the attack. Ephraim himself stole his father’s gun and went out onto one of the longboats to help in the attack. There were about five captains in each group for this attack. Once they approached the ship, a man yelled down, “who goes there?” Captain Whipple replied saying, “I am the sheriff… I have a warrant to apprehend you.” Shortly after Captain Whipple said that the Americans boarded the Gaspee. Soon after they ordered all men to leave the boat and returned onto the small boats, except for the leaders. The leaders stayed behind and set fire to the ship.
