Rhode Island African American Data   QUARCO HONYMAN Colonel Barton's successful exploit in capturing General Prescott was made through the daring and foresight of a Newport black, Quarco Honyman by name. An ex-slave, he was serving as waiter to General Prescott, whose headquarters were in the old Bannister House. Thus situated, he easily learned the General's habits as well as his weaknesses. Prescott made frequent trips to Portsmouth, sometimes taking Quarco with him. The information thus obtained was conveyed to Colonel Barton, who was anxious to effect General Prescott's capture. An expedition was hastily organized. Colonel Barton prepared to move at midnight with about forty men. They started from a house about five, miles above the city. Muffing their oars and moving noiselessly, they escaped the ships in the bay and landed near the Inn where Prescott had established temporary headquarters. As Barton advanced he was challenged by the sentry who demanded the password. He threw the sentry off his guard by denouncing rebels and talking about rebel prisoners. Again the password was demanded. By this time he was near the sentinel when, suddenly seizing his gun, he struck it to one side and wrenched it from him. Quarco now seized the soldier in his powerful grip and turned him over to the other men who had come up. The Colonel and Quarco now rushed into the office and demanded of the landlord that he show them General Prescott's room. This he refused. On being threatened with instant death he pointed to the room above. They now rushed to the room above, finding it locked. The powerful Quarco burst it open with his head and seized the General in bed. Seeing that resistance was useless and might mean death, he surrendered to his captors and was soon in the boats and being conveyed to the American lines. He was afterwards exchanged for General Lee, an American of equal rank. Colonel Barton received the thanks of Congress for this exploit Honyman, on account of threats, dared not venture back to Newport He died in Munson, Mass., 1824.   Source: Negroes of Rhode Island, by Charles A. Battle, 1932 - Transcribed by C. Anthony