Upon another occasion, John of Gordon is said to have partially succeeded in the surprisal of the town of Berwick, although the superiority of the garrison obliged him to relinquish his enterprise.
"Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)"
Walter Scott
Warned by the fate of their comrades, the rest kept together in little squadrons, each attended by one or more armed launches; and thus rowing steadily on, they gained the shipping without so much as another attempt at surprisal being made.
"The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans 1814-1815"
G. R. Gleig
And, by reason of that sudden surprisal, we, knowing ourselves innocent of the crime, were all exceedingly astonished and amazed, and consternated and affrighted even out of our reason.
"Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism"
Allen Putnam