It was near City Island that a daring and successful enterprise was accomj)lished by a few of the Americans in the year 1777, being no less than the capture of a British gun-boat used as a guard-ship, and stationed at the mouth of East Chester Creek. The particulars, as related by one of the party engaged in the capture to an aged citizen of Pelham, now in his ninety-second year, and by him communicated to the writer, are as follows :

"The guardship 'Schuldam' was one of several vessels stationed by tlio British along the shores of the Sound, through whose instrumentality most of tlie hardshijis complained of by the Americans, such as those referred to in tlie petition of Benjamin Palmer, were indicted. The officers and crews of these vessels often treated the inhabitants of the towns and villages along the shore with great Boverity. They were consequently regarded with no friendly feelings by the ojijiressed people, and plans for their capture were frequently discussed.

".\ party of whale-boatmen from Daiien, Connecticut, were fortunate enough to carry such a design into execution. They conveyed their boat by hand across the Neck, and took possession of the market sloop which plied regularly between Kast Chester and Now York. From the master of this slooj) they ascertained that on his weekly passages to the city ho was sonietimea hailed from the guardship, and re quested to sell them fresh jirovisions, such as eggs, chickens, vegetables Ac, for which, to insure their delivery, he was liberally jiaid. These Connecticut whale-boatmen, to the number of ten or twelve, armed concealed themselves in the hold of the sloop. Their leader however remained on deck, and forced the owner to lay his craft alongside the sloop, as if for the purpose of furnishing the usual sujiplies.