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.
Andrews, C. (Charles)
Dartmoor Prison; United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Prisoners and prisons
In the midst of this horrid slaughter, one man among the rear
prisoners, with great presence of mind and the most undaunted courage,
turned and advanced to the soldiers, amidst the fire of hundreds, and
while his fellow-prisoners were falling all around him, and in an
humble and suppliant manner, with his hat in his hand, this resolute
soul, in the face of danger and death, implored mercy of Capt.
Shortland to spare his countrymen. “O! spare my countrymen!” he cried,
“O! Captain, forbear, don’t kill us all.” To this supplication, this
cruel, inexorable Shortland replied, “Retire, you dammed rascal; I’ll
hear to nothing.” The soldiers then pricked him with their bayonets,
which compelled him to retreat to the prison door, where he must wait
his doom with the other unfortunate prisoners, till the soldiers, who
had now entered the different prison yards, and were pursuing and
firing should dispatch him with the rest.
To do justice to the merits of this young man, I must inform the public
that his name is Greenlow, of Virginia, and late a midshipman in the
United States navy, but now a prisoner of the crew of the privateer
Prince of Neufchattel.
The soldiers now advanced, making a general massacre of men and
boys, whom accident or impossibility had left without the doors of
the prison; they advanced near to the crowded doors, and instantly
discharged another volley of musketry on the backs of those farthest
out, endeavoring to force their passage into the prison.
This barbarous act was repeated in the presence of this inhuman
monster, Shortland--and the prisoners fell, either dead or severely
wounded, in all directions, before his savage sight.
But his vengeance was not glutted by the cruel murder of the innocent
men and boys that lay weltering and bleeding in the groans and agonies
of death along the prison-doors, but turned and traversed the yard,
and hunted a poor affrighted wretch, that had flew for safety close
under the walls of prison No. 1, and dared not move lest he should be
discovered, and immediate death be his lot.
But, alas! the unhappy man was discovered by these hell-hounds, with
this demon at their head, and with cool and deliberate malice, drew up
their muskets to their shoulders and despatched the unhappy victim,
while in the act of imploring mercy from their hands. His only crime
was not being able to get into the prison without being shot before.
In the yard of No. 7, they found in their hunt another hapless victim,
crouching close along the wall at the far end of the yard, and
fearing to breathe, lest he should share the fate of his unfortunate
countrymen that had already fallen a sacrifice to the rage of this
lawless banditti; when, O! cruel to relate, five of them drew up
the instruments of death, and by the order of this fell murderer,
discharged their contents into the body of this innocent man, while
begging them to spare his life!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account