Jack Sisson was an African-American and escaped slave, who served in the First Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. Sisson was one of the key figures in the July 1777 capture of British General Richard Prescott in a nighttime raid at his quarters.
George Washington’s second-in-command, Major General Charles Lee, had been captured by the British in December 1776. In response, a secret mission to abduct British General Richard Prescott was planned and performed with the hope of trading Prescott for Lee.
On the night of July 6, 1777 mission’s leader, Lieutenant Colonel William Barton’s boats cruised about five miles across Narragansett Bay to Warwick Neck. Barton’s raiding party spent the next two days on last-minute preparations. Rain and fog blanketed Narragansett Bay for most of July 9… Barton postponed the raid until the next night.
Sisson was among about forty troops under the command of Colonel William Barton assigned to capture Prescott. Sisson served both as the pilot for one of the boats and also is alleged to have used his head to break down Prescott’s door. The mission was accomplished without losses and no shots were fired.
The raid party took Prescott to Providence, Rhode Island, he was exchanged for General Charles Lee.