CHAPTER VIII.

TEE EXCHANGE-THE SEA VOYAGE.

IN the beginning of October, intelligence was received that the prisoners had been exchanged, and orders were given for their immediate departure. The announcement was made in the evening at roll call, and they were directed to be ready to go off the next day. Fitch, who had become a man of business, and of fortune, was embarrassed by the order, and he besought more time. The British officers made merry at this, saying, that he was " as rich as Robinson Crusoe, and unwilling to quit his wealth on the desert island." He also requested permission to go with the Vermont people by way of Crown Point, but this favor was denied, and he was ordered to go to an Atlantic port. He therefore made a summary disposition of his effects. His tools he packed in a cedar case, which he took away with him. He had plenty of clothing, and money to buy little luxuries to serve on the voyage, besides having a sum in his pocket.
The prisoners were taken from Coteau du Lac to Montreal. Here Fitch tried to induce some of his companions to desert, and attempt to reach the states by land, but he could get none to undertake so wild a
journey. They continued down the St. Lawrence to Quebec, where he and others were put on board the ship John, bound to Boston. For some unaccountable reason the vessel did not sail, but remained before
Quebec for more than a month, during which time these were heavy snows and rains, and the weather was very cold. All the prisoners suffered much, the only fire on board being in the caboose. Whilst the John was thus moored, another ship, the Baker and Atly, was put under a cartel commission, and ordered to sail to Philadelphia. On board of that vessel, Fitch and seventy others were placed, much to his dissatisfaction, as he wanted to go to Boston. He remonstrated against the change, but in vain, and incurred the displeasure of Colonel Campbell, an American officer, who had been a prisoner; but now, in consequence of his rank, was placed in command of his countrymen. Captain Tung, a king's officer, was put in commission as commander of the Baker and Atly. On the 25th of November they left Quebec, during a violent storm which lasted until they had passed Cape Breton, and was so severe that they had no opportunity of putting the pilot on shore. In this tempest the magnificent ship of the line Ville de Paris, and other fine vessels were cast away. The voyage was very unpleasant, there being continual storms and head-winds. Fitch did not get along harmoniously with his companions, especially Colonel Campbell and Captain Tung, with whom he quarreled. On one occasion it was feared that the ship would go on shore, and our voyager prepared himself in a singular way for the expected

catastrophe. Having dressed himself in costume which he thought suitable for the struggle, he put a biscuit in one pocket, and a shoemaker's nippers in the other. With that instrument he thought that if cast ashore he could catch at the sand, sea plants, or whatever object would offer a purchase, and thus prevent his being world off by a receding wave. The idea was not a bad one, but the wind suddenly changing and blowing off shore as hard as it had blown toward it, these preparations were useless. They were noticed, however, and the next day Captain Tung ridiculed the prudent passenger in the presence of all who were on board, an affront which exasperated Fitch's sensitive nature to great resentment. The succeeding day they were near the capes of Delaware. The slay was clear and a gentle breeze filled the sails. Whilst all were enjoying the contrast between the present pleasure, and past discomforts, the sound of cannon was heard at a distance on the waters. At length a fine man-of-war, with every sail spread, was seen approaching, another frigate following in chase, whilst another was half a mile to windward, and another three miles in the rear. As the leading ship came up, without colors flying, the pursuer fired at her. The Baker and Atly was directly between these combatants, and Captain Tung was scared at his perilous situation, not knowing the relative
nationalities of the combatants. He thought it most prudent to hoist the British flag, and was preparing to
display it, when the nearest ship, which was but a pistol-shot distant, run up the stripes and stars of the

United States. Captain Tung at once saw his danger,
and preferred to remain between the combatants
rather

		
	than peril himself by what would seem to have been a	
	defiance of a foe which could have sank his ship with
	one broadside. The American frigate (it was the	
	South Carolina) had no time to challenge or examine	
	the humble merchant man, and the three British frigates	
	continued the chase. When he was out of danger	
	Captain Tung held up to witness the battle. The	
	South Carolina fired ten or twelve guns during the	
	afternoon, but towards night the Americans on board	
	the Baker and Atly had the misfortune to see the	
	American Rag hauled down, after (as Fitch thought)	
	a badly managed fight.

The Baker and Atly now met with the British fleet, and, instead of continuing the voyage to Philadelphia, was ordered to steer for New York, in company with the three British frigates and the South Carolina. 

During the last part of the voyage the prisoners were treated badly, being locked under hatches, and not more than two being allowed to come upon deck at once. This treatment would scarcely]y have been submitted to, if the ship had been without a convoy. Although a rescue was spoken of among the Americans, it was not attempted. On Christmas, 1782, forty days after leaving Quebec, the Baker and Atly arrived at New York, the prisoners having been ten weeks on the water from the time they left Prison island. When the ship cast anchor, Fitch wrote to William White, brass founder, and Richard Laws, cutler, two persons whom he knew, to come and see him and bring him what articles he wanted. Although they had formerly been great friends of his, they paid no attention to him, but told the commissary to attend to him. He concluded that they were afraid that he would ask them for charity, and that they thought it would be economical for them to stay away. This gave him disgust-White and Laws were leading Methodists, to which sect Fitch then belonged, and the affair, with others which have been related, no doubt had an effect upon his mind, and unsettled religious opinions which never were very firm. The prisoners were sent up the river to Dobbs' 
ferry, where a parole was asked of them. Fitch refused to give one, without a copy, BO that he might know its terms. This act of justice was denied him, and he was finally discharged without it. Sheeting one John Burnett who had been a fellow prisoner, who traveled with him to Warminster, in Bucks county where they arrived on a Saturday night.
" He went directly," says Longstreth, " to the logshop where he met with his bosom friend Cobe Scout, as related to me by an eye-witness, Jonathan Delany. ' It was,' said he, ' a rainy Saturday that Fitch opened the shop door, and he and Cobe rushed into each other's arms, and gave vent to their emotions in a flood of tears." The next day Burnett, who was a Baptist, attended meeting, where thanks were publicly returned to God for his deliverance from captivity. The announcement drew forth the sympathies of the simple congregation, and a collection was taken up to assist him in his need. With twelve dollars in his pocket, the proceeds of this contribution, and with a sum borrowed from Fitch, Burnett went on towards Kentucky.