 In September, 1814, Bates was away from the Old Scituate Light station with most of his family when the British landed a warship, the "La Hogue", near the harbor with the intent of sending a raiding party into the town.Soon the ship launched two long boats filled with soldiers.Rebecca and Abigail, then aged 21 and 17, left alone with their mother at the station, realized that there was no time to warn citizens of the impending attack.