with Lawrence Hartshorne

, whose object in attempt-
ing this dangerous enterprise was to visit his parents,
whilst mine was to obtain an interview with his
sister. In the evening, we immediately ventured on
shore, and went to his father's, who resided on his
farm at Black Point. The family were all in bed,
and we were thus disappointed in seeing any of
them. Lawrence was advised by his father to return
immediately to Sandy Hook, as there was reason to
suspect that parties of the militia were then near the
premises. We accordingly went to the river side,
and taking a small canoe, pushed off in hopes of
getting safe to the Hook; it was moonlight, and as
we kept off some distance from the shore, we did
not apprehend danger till we should reach the Gut
(as it was called) which separated Sandy Hook from
the Highlands. This was very narrow, so that we
were obliged to pass within a little distance of the
Jersey shore. There were stationed about thirty of
the Jersey militia, and a number of them fired on us.
We laid ourselves on our backs in the bottom of the
canoe, and some of the balls went through the sides,
immediately over our bodies. Finding we could not
escape, we rowed to the shore, and surrendered our-
selves prisoners. At first, they treated us harshly,
searched us, and took from us some articles of small
value. In the morning they marched us to Middle-
town, and then to Monmouth Court-house, where we
were taken before Judge Symmes (the father of
Capt. Symmes) and committed to prison. We were
put in a small room, about six or seven feet square,
in which we found four or five prisoners, some of
whom had been confined there some time. We were
much crowded, and had nothing to lie on but ex-
tremely dirty straw, which I believe had not been
changed since the other prisoners had occupied the
room. On first entering this miserable dungeon, the
stench occasioned by foul and noxious air exceedingly
alarmed me, and it was strongly fixed on my mind