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The prisoners' memoirs, or, Dartmoor prison : $b containing a complete and impartial history of the entire captivity of the Americans in England, from the commencement of the last war between the United States and Great Britain, until all prisoners were released by the treaty of Ghent. Also a particular detail of all occurrences relative to the horrid massacre at Dartmoor, on the fatal evening of the 6th of April, 1815. — John Shaqi

History

The prisoners' memoirs, or, Dartmoor prison : $b containing a complete and impartial history of the entire captivity of the Americans in England, from the commencement of the last war between the United States and Great Britain, until all prisoners were released by the treaty of Ghent. Also a particular detail of all occurrences relative to the horrid massacre at Dartmoor, on the fatal evening of the 6th of April, 1815.

Name: The prisoners' memoirs, or, Dartmoor prison : $b containing a complete and impartial history of the entire captivity of the Americans in England, from the commencement of the last war between the United States and Great Britain, until all prisoners were released by the treaty of Ghent. Also a particular detail of all occurrences relative to the horrid massacre at Dartmoor, on the fatal evening of the 6th of April, 1815.
Author: Andrews, C. (Charles)

Andrews, C. (Charles)

Dartmoor Prison; United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Prisoners and prisons

On the third of July, another draft of prisoners, consisting of
about two hundred and fifty, were taken from the Hector, and sent to
Stapleton, under the usual guard, allowance, and restrictions.

The fourth of July, the birth-day of our nation, had now arrived. The
American prisoners, feeling that fire of patriotism, and that just
pride and honor, which fills the bosom of every American, when that
great day of jubilee arrives, roused all their drooping spirits, and
prepared to celebrate it in a manner becoming their situation. We had
by some means obtained two American standards; and being upward of
six hundred in number, we divided into two columns, and displayed our
flags at each end of the prison. Of the propriety of the proceedings,
I leave the reader to judge. We were, however, resolved to defend them
till the last moment: but Captain Cotgrave, either from a determination
to depress our spirits as much as possible, that we might the more
readily be induced to enter the service of the king, or that an enemy’s
flag should not be hoisted in their country, ordered the turnkeys to
enter the prison-yard, and take the colors from us. We returned him an
answer, that the day was the birth-day of freedom, and the anniversary
of our nation; and that he would confer on us a particular favor, if
he would permit us to enjoy it with a decorum and propriety suited to
our situation as prisoners of war. We added this _arrogant_ condition,
that if he should persist in attempting to take that flag which we
should ever respect, in whatever country we were, he must abide by
the consequences. Captain Cotgrave, being irritated at this haughty
and independent language, ordered the guard into the prison-yard to
take the standards from us. An obstinate resistance was made. After
some time spent in fighting for the flags, the guard obtained one:
the prisoners bore off the other in triumph, and secured it. The
remainder of the day was spent in harmony and quietness. At evening,
when the guards came as usual to turn us into the prison, a dispute
arose upon the pitiful revenge sought for in depriving the prisoners of
their flag. This soon grew into an affray; the guards fired upon the
prisoners, and wounded two, which ended the affray.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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