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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.Andrews, C. (Charles)

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

We were then informed, that the Transport Board had most _graciously_
and _humanely_, for the health and happiness of the prisoners, imposed
on them the following duty; to keep clean the ship’s decks and hold;
to hoist in water, provisions, coal, and every other article expended
or used in the ship; and also to permit the prisoners to cook their
own victuals, which consisted of the following rations allowed by the
English government: To each man one pound and a half of very poor
coarse bread, half a pound of beef, including the bone, one-third of
an ounce of salt, and the same quantity of barley, with one or two
turnips, per man. These were the rations for five days in the week; the
other two were fish days, the rations for which were one pound of salt
fish, the same weight of potatoes, and the usual allowance of bread.

The confinement, and this scanty and meager diet for men who were
brought up in a land of liberty, and ever used to feast on the luscious
fruits of plenty, soon brought on a pale and sickly countenance, a
feeble and dejected spirit, and a lean, half animate body. This bad
state of living, I solemnly believe, has been the serious cause of
inducing many valuable citizens of the United States to enter the
king’s service, to the great injury of their country.

The prisoners are counted every night as they are ordered below by the
guard; and every morning, about sunrise, each prisoner is obliged to
“take up his bed and walk;” for he is ordered to shoulder his hammock
and go on deck, and be counted with it on his shoulder. He then leaves
his hammock on deck all day, and has permission to go below or remain
on deck, as best suits his convenience.

No prisoner is permitted to hold any correspondence, except by unsealed
letters passing through the hands of the Board of Transport. No boat
is permitted to come alongside the ship, unless by permission of the
commanding officer, and then must be strictly examined by the sentry,
to prevent any liquor, newspapers, or candles, from coming among the
prisoners; these being prohibited by the _gracious_ and _humane_ Board
of Transport.

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

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