USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > History of the town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 with a genealogical register of stonington families > Part 8
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BRIGADE ORDERS. "3d Brigade, Conn. Militia.
"Pursuant to orders and instructions from his Excellency the Commander in chief. The Brigadier General directs that an inspection be made without delay of the troops under your command, and you will see that they are in every respect prepared, as the law directs, for immediate service. If orders cannot be furnished to the respective Captains in season to have the inspec- tion made on the first Monday in May next, it is the pleasure of the Captain General that the inspection may be performed by the commissioned officers at the dwellings of the men to prevent burdensome meetings of the militia. The Captain General relies with confidence on the zeal and fidelity of the several officers in the performance of the duty so essential at the present juncture. From the recent movements of the Hostile Squadron in our waters, there is reason to apprehend that further attempts will be made to invade the territory of the State, as well as to destroy the vessels in our harbor. For these reasons the Brigadier General is directed by his Excellency the Com- mander in Chief, to call upon all officers and soldiers, of the 3rd Brigade to
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hold themselves, in readiness to march at a moment's warning, completely equipped and furnished for immediate and actual service. The respective Lieut. Cols. Commandant of Regiments will immediately on the receipt of this, establish some suitable place, on the most elevated ground and as near the center of their Regiment, as possible, which they will provide at the ex- pense of the state (for a signal to give notice to their men, in case of an alarm), several Tar Barrels to be raised one at a time on the end of a pole to be erected for that purpose, and burnt in succession as circumstances will require, the Barrels to be furnished with such a quality of tar and other articles as to burn the longest time practicable, and emit the largest quantity of fire and smoke, particularly the latter, if fired in the day time, and have them so arranged that fire may be put to them in a moment, and some proper officer must be entrusted with this duty residing near the spot. Let this be done without delay in each Regiment, and notice given as soon as possible to the brigadier of the place where these signals are erected, and also the names of the officers who are appointed to take charge of them. Should an alarm first come to the knowledge of the Brigadier, he will send expresses to the officer who has charge of the signal in these regiments whose services may be required, and the Commandant will do the like, in their respective regi- ments should the alarm first reach them, and should the signals be made at any time of day or night, the troops in the Regiment will forthwith and with- out further order, assemble at some alarm post (as near the southern limits of their Regiments as can be with convenience), to be previously designated by the respective commandants and notified in their orders, from which alarm posts (to be also communicated to the Brigadiers) the men will march as soon as a company or part of a company has assembled, to such point as the Commandant of Regiments shall direct, if they first notify the alarm, or as shall be directed by the brigadier, in case he gives notice, and in that case he will by express, at the same time he notifies the officer in charge of the signals, also gives notice to the colonel where to march his men. In addition to these signals a Capt. commanding artillery companies will, when the signals are made, immediately fire three alarm guns in quick succession.
"Given under my hand at New London this 28th day of April one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
"JIRAH ISHAM, Brigadier General.
"By order: George L. Perkins, Brig. Maj.
"To William Randall, Esq., Lieut. Col. Command 30 Regt. Militia, Stonington. "General Jirah Isham:
"Sir-Your order of the 28th of April, 1814, came to hand the 9th of May, and I have given the necessary orders as therein directed. I have established the place for the signals near the dwelling-house of Maj. Nathan Wheeler, on what is called Grant's Hill, and have directed him to erect a pole and procure tar barrels to burn in case of alarm; who will also take charge of the signals and give notice to the Brigadier should an alarm take place in this Regiment and the quartermaster and quartermaster sergeant of the regiment will also attend to their orders and assist in giving the signals, and such other duties as circumstances may require. "WILLIAM RANDALL,
"Lieut. Col. Commanding 30th Reg. Conn. Militia.
"Dated at Stonington, May 15th, 1814.
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WAR OF 1812.
By the Ist of July, 1814, the British squadron in Long Island Sound was largely augmented, and so imposing was their arma- ment and so imminent was the danger of invasion, and so divided were the American people relative to the origin and mode of prosecuting the war, that President Madison, on the 8th of August, 1814, issued a proclamation calling an extra session of Congress.
The language of the proclamation indicates the danger ap- prehended by the President, for he said: "Whereas great and weighty matters claiming the consideration of the Congress of the United States form an extraordinary occasion for convening . them," etc. The blockade of the harbors on the Connecticut coast was so close and effectual that it was almost impossible for an American vessel to leave or enter our ports, but now and then a privateer would slip by, or through the British fleet.
On the 30th of July, 1814, a privateer disguised as a merchant vessel, with a crew of fifty men, made her appearance in Long Island Sound, running in for the north shore. She was discov- ered, and a British barge, under the command of Midshipman Thomas Barret Powers, was dispatched in pursuit. Not know- ing her true character, and seeing but a few men on deck, not more than were necessary for the navigation of the vessel, Powers pressed on for a prize. The wind being light he soon overhauled her, and when within short musket-range the men rushed upon deck, and Powers immediately took off his hat in token of surrender. A Dutchman among the crew without or- ders leveled his musket and shot Powers through the head, killing him instantly. The barge surrendered and was brought into Stonington Borough. The remains of the young midship- man were buried with military honors in the burial place now embraced in the Stonington cemetery. The Rev. Ira Hart, then chaplain of the Thirtieth regiment, delivered an appropriate address on the occasion, which was listened to with deep feeling, drawing tears from many an eye unused to weep.
This unfortunate young officer was but eighteen years of age, and great sympathy was manifested for his untimely end.
After peace took place with England, late in the summer of 1815, a grave and elderly gentleman came to Stonington and quietly took lodgings at the hotel kept by Capt. Thomas Swan. Soon after he arrived he inquired for the clergyman of the place,
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who was sent for and introduced. He then revealed to him his name and his mission, telling him that he had come all the way from England to visit the grave of his only son, and to thank him and other kind friends for the Christian burial extended to his dear boy. Mr. Hart, who was a man of strong sympathies, was deeply moved for his stranger friend, and procuring a carriage took him to the burial place of his son.
Before the British fleet left our waters, the Hon. Capt. Piget and his brother officers of the ship "Superb" erected a monument to the memory of the fallen midshipman. When the monument that marked the last resting place of his son came in view, he requested Mr. Hart to remain, as he wished to be alone by the grave. Slowly and with reverent steps he approached it, when, overpowered with the agony of his own sorrows, he fell upon the grave and wept with unrestrained emotion until the fountains of nature were exhausted. Composing himself at length, he re- joined Mr. Hart, who had witnessed his grief, when together they returned to the hotel. Before leaving Mr. Powers ex- pressed himself in grateful terms for the kindness and consid- eration to his feelings which Mr. Hart had manifested, and warmly shook his hand at parting.
When the British fleet was seen in motion, sailing easterly, August 9th, 1814, the people of Stonington Borough did not believe that ships of such size would dare to venture in Fisher's Island Sound, on account of its water depth and reefs ; but when those ships were seen coming in between Fisher's Island and the mainland their object became apparent, which was soon dis- closed by a flag in charge of an officer from the ship "Pactolus," who approached the place in a boat, which was met by a boat from the shore which received this note from the officer in com- mand of the fleet :
"His Majesty's Ship "Pactolus," 9th of August, 1814, half-past 5 o'clock p. m.
"Not wishing to destroy the unoffending inhabitants residing in the town of Stonington, one hour is given them from the receipt of this to move out of town.
"T. M. HARDY, Captain H. B. M. Ship 'Ramillies.' "To the inhabitants of the Town of Stonington."
From the date of this communication it will appear that Com- mander Hardy was himself on board the "Pactolus" to direct the attack, the "Ramillies" then lying at anchor at the west of
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Fisher's Island. The people assembled in great numbers to hear what was the word from the enemy, when the above was read aloud. The enemy in the barge lay upon their oars a few moments, probably to see the crowd and if some consternation might not prevail.
Whatever effect was produced, this we know, that Sir Thomas's unoffending inhabitants did not agree to give up the ship, though threatened by a force competent, in a human view, to destroy them, when compared with the present means of defense in their power. It was exclaimed from old and young, "We will defend." The male citizens, though duly appreciating the humanity of Sir Thomas in not wishing to destroy them, thought proper to defend their wives and their children, and, in many instances, all their property, and we feel a pleasure in saying that a united spirit of defence prevailed, and during the short hour granted us, expresses were sent to Gen. Cushing at New London and to Col. Randall, whose regiment resided nearest to the scene of danger. The detachment stationed here under Lieut. Hough was embodied; Capt. Potter residing within the Borough gave orders to assemble all the officers and men under his command that could be immediately collected. They cheerfully and quickly assembled, animated with the true spirit of patriotism. The ammunition of our two 18-pounders and 4-pounder was collected at the little breastwork erected by ourselves. The citizens of the Borough assisted by two strangers from Massa- chusetts manned the 18-pounders at the breastwork, and also the 4-pounder. One cause of discouragement only seemed to prevail, which was the deficiency of ammunition.
Whatever opinion the majority of the people of Connecticut might have expressed as to the propriety of declaring war with England in 1812, without adequate preparation for the same, when the war was declared, were united in defending their State from invasion of the enemy. But as soon as the British fleet were seen approaching Stonington harbor, Aug. 9th, 1814, then the tar barrel signals of danger were soon ablaze. Col. Randall ever on the alert, though living about five miles away, reached the Borough before dark and issued the following orders, which did not reach but a small number of his regiment, some of whom lived fifteen miles away from the Borough. It was the blazing tar barrels, so erected as to be seen all over the area of his
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regiment, that set the patriotism of his soldiers on fire, who rushed by every possible means of conveyance and on foot to the scene of conflict, eager to meet the enemy who they expected would land and before daylight of the 10th of August, the whole regiment, officers and soldiers, had reached the Borough.
The following is a copy of Col. Randall's order issued as aforesaid :
"To the 30th Regiment Connecticut Militia:
"In consequence of an attack on Stonington Borough, and in pursuance of orders received from the Brigadier, this Regiment is called into active service, and will assemble at the Public House of Oliver York forthwith, and officers and soldiers will attend to this order and warn others and assemble accordingly.
"Given under my hand at Stonington Borough this 9th day of August, 1814. "WILLIAM RANDALL, Lieut. Col. Com."
The public house of Oliver York was situated on the southeast corner of the Wadawanuck Hotel grounds. Col. Randall's reg- iment had been mainly summoned by the tar barrel signals, and without stopping to form as companies went immediately to Stonington Borough, were organized out of reach of the enemy's guns and held in readiness to repel any landing that they might attempt.
The militia of the State of Connecticut at the time of the last war with England were organized with conformity to a law of Congress enacted in 1792, consisting of divisions, brigades, reg- iments, battalions, and companies. The eastern division of the State militia was at that time commanded by Maj. Gen. Wil- liams, assisted by staff officers Maj. Francis Richards, Maj. Thomas Shaw Perkins, aides-de-camp; Lieut. Col. Coddington Billings, inspector; Robert Coit, quartermaster. The Third Brigade of said division was commanded by Brig. Gen. Jirah Isham, assisted by staff-officers Martin Lee, aide-de-camp; George L. Perkins, brigade major; Henry Wheat, quarter- master.
The Thirtieth regiment of said brigade was commanded by Lieut. Col. William Randall, and the following is a correct roll of the field and staff officers of said regiment and their attend- ants at the battle of Stonington, Aug. 10, 1814:
William Randall, lieutenant colonel; Nathan Wheeler, first major; Nathan Pendleton, second major; Henry Chesebro, adjutant; Samuel Chapman, quartermaster; Giles R. Hallam, paymaster; Ira Hart, chaplain; William
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Lord, surgeon; John Billings, surgeon's mate; Nathan Smith, sergeant-major; John P. Williams, second sergeant-major; Augustus L. Babcock, drum-major; Christopher Dewey, fife-major; John Champlain, Henry Newgear, Giles Wheeler, Ira R. Wheeler, Nathan S. Pendleton, John Frink, Charles T. Hart, Thomas Brooks, waiters.
The following roll-copies of the eight companies of said reg- iment show the names of the men who responded to their coun- try's call and marched to Stonington Borough to defend the place when attacked by the British fleet, Aug. 9th and 10th, 1814:
THIRTIETH REGIMENT.
First Company-Denison Noyes, captain; Reuben Palmer, Jr., lieutenant; Ephraim Williams, ensign; William S. Bradford, sergeant; George Sheffield, second sergeant; Joseph Noyes, 3rd sergeant; Isaac Wheeler, third, fourth sergeant; John Yeomans, Eleazer Wheeler, Jr., Perry Barber, Jr., corporals; Privates, John Davis, Charles Palmer, John Noyes, Samuel Holmes, Benjamin F. Stanton, Nathaniel M. Noyes, Peleg West, Constant Taylor, Samuel Chesebrough, 2nd, Thomas B. Stanton, Elihu Robinson, Charles P. Noyes, Elias Stanton, Stephen E. Stanton, Ezra Witter, John Dodge, Nathaniel Robinson, Paul Bradford, William Chesebrough, Ross Austin, Stiles Stanton, Jabez Swan ..
Second Company .- Asa A. Swan, captain; Samuel Prentice, lieutenant; George W. Baldwin, ensign; Ephraim Meech, John Prentice, sergeants; John S. Hewitt, drummer; Elias Wheeler, fifer; Privates, Andrew Baldwin, Edward Coats, Jr., James Wheeler, Stephen P. Stewart, Avery Prentice, Coddington Swan, Samuel W. Prentice, Stephen Main, William Jackson, Christopher Avery 3rd, Joseph Ayer, Jr., Gurdon Chapman, Charles Church, Denison Swan, San- ford Brown, Eldridge Whipple, John Wilkinson, Levi Meech, Gardner Morey, John Stewart, Thomas Davidson.
Third Company .- Jesse Breed, captain; William Frink, lieutenant; Dudley Brown, ensign; Daniel Bentley, Perez Wheeler, Roswell R. Avery, Ralph R. Miner, sergeants; Elias Miner, Isaac Burdick, corporals; Privates, Asa Bald- win, Jr., Prentice Cook, Jonas Breed, Roswell Breed, Samuel Frink, Stephen Babcock, Roswell Breed, Thomas Hinckley, Jr., Simeon Baldwin, Roswell Brown, Oliver Miner, William Crandall, John Davis, Oliver Denison, Peleg L. Barber, James Bliven, John Breed, Oliver Wheeler, William S. Frink, Ben- jamin F. Frink, Christopher Bill, Shepherd Brown, Thomas B. Miner, David Bromley, Peleg Wheeler, Cyrus W. Brown, Samuel Clark (drummer), Charles P. Randall, Jesse Breed, Jr., Pitts D. Frink.
Fourth Company .- John W. Hull, captain; Silas Chesebrough, ensign; Henry Grant, Russell Wheeler, Elias Hewitt, Jr., sergeants; David Coats, Gilbert Miner, John D. Gallup, corporals; Joshua Clark, fifer; Stephen Wilcox, drummer; Privates, John Breed, Ezra Stanton, Denison Miner, William Coggswell, Elijah Kenyon, James Holmes, Jr., Dudley Denison, Gilbert Brown, Luther Miner, Ansel Coates, Moses Palmer, Coddington Brown, John L. Berry, Obadiah Mathewson, William Alexander, Robert Miner, Caleb Green,
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HISTORY OF STONINGTON.
Nathan Stanton, Sanford Brown, Elias Irish, Joseph Tift, Benjamin F. Breed, William Chesebrough.
Fifth Company .- John Hyde, lieutenant; Noyes Palmer, ensign; Joseph D. Mason, Daniel Hobart, William Bailey, sergeants; William Wheeler, Jonathan Wheeler, corporals; Edwin Lewis, drummer; Privates, Amos Miner, Amos Gallup, Jr., Andrew Chesebrough, Amos Chesebrough, Andrew Denison, Cyrus Peckham, Daniel Wheeler, Daniel Mason, Elisha Frink, Elisha Brown, Elam Denison, Edward C. Williams, Frederick Denison, Frederick Denison 2nd, Gilbert Williams, Hazard Holmes, Henry Denison, Henry Lewis, Isaac Morgan, Jeremy Crandall, Jabez Gallup, John Leroy, John Miner, Justin Denison, John Bennet, Jesse Wheeler, Nathaniel Lewis, Noyes Lewis, Paul Miner, Robert Fellows, Samuel Stanton, Jr., Samuel Wheeler, Thomas Leeds, Theophilus Rogers, Gilbert Wheeler, Franklin Chesebrough, Franklin Palmer.
Sixth Company .- Daniel Carr, Gideon Chapman, Nathan Chapman, Henry Babcock, Moses Thompson, Jr., Simeon Pendleton, sergeants; Reuben York, Cyrus Palmer, corporals; Privates, Horace Grant, Henly Grant, Julius Palmer, James York, Jr., Andrew Breed, Charles Chapman, Elias Chapman, Sanford Chapman, Palmer Chapman, Freeman Pierce, Lewis Chapman, Amos Chap- man, Robert Thompson, Jesse Chapman, Reuben Chapman, John Grey, Jr., Luke C. Reynolds, Gershom Breed, Robert Palmer, Jeffrey Chapman, Zebulon York, Amos Thompson, George L. Chapman, Thomas Geer, Ezra Geer, George Geer, Jr., Lyman Wilcox, Noah Wilcox, Elisha Coon, John W. Ecclestone, Rowland Ecclestone, Amos Maine, 2nd, Elijah Perry, Simeon P. Kenyon, Joshua H. Thompson, Israel Palmer, Jr., Joseph Burton, Daniel Palmer, Richard Slocum.
Seventh Company .- Daniel Miner, 2nd, captain; Amos Holmes, lieutenant; Phineas Wheeler, ensign; Thomas Partelo, Chandler Maine, Jesse Maine, sergeants; Joshua Brown, Avery Brown, Prentice Holmes, Benadam Palmer, corporals; Arnold Crumb, drummer; Privates, James Brown, Latham Brown, Sanford Brown, Joshua Brown 3rd, Matthew Brown, Peter Eldredge, Jonathan Allen, Jr., Isaac Partlo, Jonas Partlo, Samuel Maryott, Amos Brown, Cyrus L. Park, Gurdon Ingraham, J. Ross Burdick, Isaac R. Taylor, John Allen, Allen Wheeler, Nathan York, John Main, Daniel Dewey, John Brown, Beriah Lewis, Royal Main, Joseph Kennedy, Nathan Kenyon, James Crandall, Joseph Holmes, Shepard Wheeler, Rufus Wheeler.
Eighth Company .- William Potter, captain; Horatio G. Lewis, lieutenant; Daniel Frink, ensign; Francis Amy, Charles H. Smith, Peleg Hancox, ser- geants; Gurdon Trumbull, Azariah Stanton, Jr., Junius Chesebrough, Joshua Swan, Jr., corporals; Privates, Phineas Wilcox, Hamilton White, Henry Wilcox, Nathan Wilcox, Samuel Burtch, Jonathan Palmer, Andrew P. Stanton, James Stanton, Thomas Breed, Amos Loper, Samuel Bottum, Jr., Benjamin Merritt, Elihu Chesebrough, Jr., Christopher Wheeler, Amos Hancox, Zebediah Palmer, Nathaniel Waldron, Thomas Spencer, Nathaniel M. Pendleton, Simon Carew, Elisha Faxon, Jr., Ebenezer Halpin, Asa Wilcox, Jr., Warren Palmer, Joseph Bailey, Jr., Nathaniel Lewis.
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The day after the battle the following orders were issued by the commanding officer :
"Headquarters, Aug. 11, 1814.
"Sir-By order of the Gen. commanding you will detach one company of (about 30 men) from the regiment under your command to stand guard at or near the bridge during the night, from which a patrolling party will be kept out, and be relieved from time to time. The party will be extended about one mile from the west end of the bridge to give information of the movements of the enemy, and communicate the same to headquarters.
"By order GEORGE L. PERKINS, Brig. Maj. "To Col. William Randall, 30th Regt."
"Headquarters, Stonington, Aug. 12th, 1814.
"Sir-By order of the Gen. commanding, you will please detach Maj. Wheeler, of the 30th Regt., to take command of the guards to be stationed conformable to the enclosed order, which you will please hand to him, at the same time direct that he repair to this place at an early period for the above purpose.
"Major Wheeler will not neglect to station the said detachment before sun-setting, and report from time to time during the night, as is required by the enclosed order directed to Lieut .- Col. Tracy, of the 20th Regiment.
"GEO. L. PERKINS, Maj. Brig. "Lieut .- Col. Wm. Randall, 30th Regt."
"Sir-The General commanding has directed Col. William Belcher to furnish forty men to be put under your command for the purpose of extinguishing fires. You can call on him for the whole or any part of that number of men at any time when they are required.
By order: MARTIN LEE, Aide-de-Camp.
"Capt. William Potter.
"August 12, 1814."
There have been several accounts of the battle of Stonington written and published, none of which gave as an accurate descrip- tion thereof as the letter addressed by the Hon. Amos Palmer of Stonington to the Secretary of War at Washington, D. C., which was as follows :
"Stonington Borough, Aug. 21, 1815. "To the Hon. William H. Crawford, Secretary of War:
"Sir-The former Secretary of War put into my hands as chairman of the committee of defence, the two eighteen-pounders and all the munitions of war that were here belonging to the general government, to be used for the general defence of the town, and I give my receipt for the same. As there is no military officer here, it becomes my duty to inform you of the use we have made of it. That on the 9th of Aug. last (year) the "Ramillies," seventy-four, the "Pactolus" forty-four, the "Terror" bomb-ship, and the "Despatch," gun-brig anchored off the harbor. Com. Hardy sent a boat with a flag, we met him with another from the shore, when the officer of the flag handed me a note from Com. Hardy informing us that one hour was given to the un- offending inhabitants before the town would be destroyed.
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"We returned to the shore, where all the male inhabitants were collected. When I read the note aloud, they all exclaimed they would defend the place to the last extremity, and if it was destroyed they would be buried in the ruins.
"We repaired to the small battery that we had hove up; nailed our colors to the flag-staff. Others lined the shore with their muskets. About seven in the evening they put off five barges and a large launch, carrying from thirty- two to nine-pound carronades in their bows, and opened fire from their ship- ping with bombs, carcasses, rockets, round grape and canister shot, and sent their boats to land under cover of their fire. We let them come within small grape distance, when we opened our fire upon them from our two eighteen-pounders with round and grape shot. They soon retreated out of grape distance and attempted a landing on the east side of the village. We. dragged a six-pounder that we had mounted over and met them with grape, and all our muskets opened fire on them. So they were willing to retreat the second time. They continued their fire till eleven at night. The next morning at seven o'clock, the brig "Despatch" anchored within pistol shot of our battery and they sent five barges and two large launches to land under cover of their whole fire (being joined by the "Nimrod," twenty-gun brig). When the boats approached within grape distance we opened our fire on them with round and grape shot. They retreated and came round the east side of the town. We checked them with our six-pounder and muskets till we dragged over one of our eighteen-pounders. We put in it a round shot and about forty or fifty pounds of grape, and placed it in the center of their boats as they were rowing up in a line and firing on us. We tore one of their boats all in pieces, so that two, one on each side, had to lash her up to keep her from sinking. They retreated out of grape distance, and we turned our fire upon the brig and expended all our cartridges but five, which we reserved for the boats if they made another attempt to land. We then lay four hours, being unable to annoy the enemy in the least, except from muskets on the brig, while the fire from the whole fleet was directed against our buildings. After the third express from New London, some fixed ammunition arrived. We then turned our cannon on the brig, and she soon cut her cable and drifted out. The whole fleet then weighed and anchored nearly out of reach of shot, and continued this and the next day to bom- bard the town. They set the buildings on fire in more than twenty places, and we as often put them out. In the three days' bombardment they sent on shore sixty tons of metal and strange to say, wounded only one man. We . have picked up fifteen tons, including some that was taken up out of the water and the two anchors that we got. We took up and buried four poor fellows that were hove overboard out of the sinking barge.
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