The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-11-20 00:00:00, page 4

N ARRATIV E of Colonel Ethan Allen's
treatment during bis Captivity.
(Continued.)
• MEAN, time mortality raged to such an intolerable
degree among the prisoners, that the very school boys in
the fireetsknew the mental design of it in some measure;
at least they knew that they were Carved to death. Some
poor women contributed to their necessity, till their
children were almost Itarved, and all persons of com
mon understanding knew that they were devoted to the
cruelest and worst of deaths. It was also proposed by
some to make a written representation of the condition
of the soldiery, and the officers to sign it; and chat it
mould be couched in such terms, as though they were
apprehensive that the General was imposed upon by his
officers, intheir daily returns to him of the date and
condition of the prisoners; and that therefore the offi
cers, moved with compassion, were constrained to com
municate to him the fa&s relative to them, nothing
doubting but that they w&uld meet with a speedy re
dress ; but this proposal was most generally negatived
also, and for much the fame reason offered in the other
cafe'; for it was conjectured that General Howe's indig
nation would be moved against such officers as fliould
attempt to whip him over his officers backs; that he
would difeern that himfelf was really flruck at, and not
the officers who made the daily returns ; and therefore
feff-prefervation deterred the officers from either peti
tioning or remonstrating to Gen. Howe, either verbal
ly or in writing ; as also the consideration that no va
luable purpose to the dihreffed would be obtained.
1 made several rough drafts on the fubje&, one of
which 1 exhibited to the Colonels Magaw, Miles and
Atlee, and they said that they would confider the mat
ter ; soon after 1 called on them, and some of the gen
tl men informed me, that they had wrote to the Gene
ral on the fubje&, and I concluded, that the genie
men thought it bed that they should write without me,
as there was such spirited aversion subsisting between
the British and me.
In the mean time a Col. Huffecker, of the Conti
nental army, (as he then reported) was taken prifonez,
and brought to New-York, who gave out that the
country was most universally Submitting to the King's
authority, and that there would be little or no more
oprofition to Great-Brtain: This at firtt gave the of
ficers a little Shock, but in a few days they recovered
themselves; for this Colonel Huffecker being a Ger
man, was feafting with General De Heister, his coun
tryman, and from his conduct they were apprehensive
he was a knave ; at least he was esteemed so by molt of
the officers ; it was nevertheless a day of trouble. The
enemy blafrhemed, Our little army was retreating
in New-Jersey, and our young men murdered by hun
dreds in New-York : The army of Britain and HHh
land prevailed for a little fe^on, as though it was or
dered by Heaven to Shew to the htelt posterity, what
the British would have done if they could, and what
the general calamity mult have been, inconsequence of
their conquering the country, and to excite ever y honest
manto Hand forth in the defence of liberty, and to eita
blilh the independency of the United States of America
for ever: But this feene of adverse fortune did not dis
courage a Washington : The illusions American hero
remained immovable. In liberty's cause he took up
his (word : This reflation was his conlelation and fop
port in the day of his humiliation, when he retreated
before the enemy, though New Jersey into Pennsylva
nia. Their triumph only roofed his indignation, and
the important cause of his country, which lay near his
heart, moved him to cross the Delaware again, and take
ample fatisfa^ion on his pursuers. No loonr had he
circumvented his haughty foes and appeared in terribly
array, but the boll of Helhland fell. This taught me.
tica the intrinsic worth of perseverance, and the gene
rotis sons of freedom flew to the fiandard of their com
men fafeguard and defence ; from which time the arm
of American liberty hath prevailed.
This furprize and capture of the Hoffians enraged the
enemy, who were bill vaflly more numerous than the
Continental troops: They therefore collected, and
marched from Princeton, to attack General Washington,
who was then at Trenton, having previously left a de.
tachment from ther main body at Princeton, for the
support of that p'a.e. This was a trying time, foro%
worthy General (tho' in possession of a late most afto
niihing vi&ory)was by no means able to withstand the
collective force of the enemy; but his sagacity soon
fuegefted a itratagem to effect that which by force to him
was at that time impracticable : He therefore amused
the enemy with a number offires, and in the night mad e
a forced march, undilcovered by them, and next morn
ing fell in with their rear guard at Princeton, and killed
and took mod of them prisoners. The main body too
late perceiving their rear was attacked, hurried back
with all speed, but to their mortification found they
were out generated, and baffled by Gen. Washington,
who was retired with his little army towards Morris
town, and was out of their power. These repealed
successes, one on the back of the other, chagrined the
enemy prodigiouily, and had an amazing operation in
the scale of American politics, and undoubtedly was
one of ( he corner-Stones, on which the fair flruanre of
independency has been fabricated ; for the country at
no one time has ever been io much dispirited as just be
fore the morning of this glorious success, which in part
dilpelled the gloomy clouds of oppression and slavery,
which lay pending over America, big with the ruin of
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by JOHN DUNLAP, in Market-Greet;
this and future generations, and enlightened and spirited
her sons to redouble their blows on a merciless and
haughty, and (1 may add) perfidious enemy.
Furthermore this success had a mighty effect on Gen.
Howe and his Council, and roued them to a sense of
their own weakness, and convinced them that they were
neither omnifeient or omnipotent. Their obduracy
and death designing malevolence in some measure, abated
or .was suspended. The prisoners who were condemn
ed to the molt wretched and cruelleft of deaths, and
who survived to this period, (though most of them died
before) were immediately ordered to be sent within Gen.
Washington's lines for an exchange, and in con sequence
of it, were taken out of their filthy and poisonous pla
ces of confinement, and sent out of New-York to their
friends in haste ; several of them fell dead in the streets
of New York, as they attempted to walk to the vessels
in the harbour, for their intended embarkation.—What
numbers lived to reach the lines 1 cannotafeertain, but
from concurrent representations which 1 have since re^
ceived from numbers of people who lived in and adja
cent to such parts of the country, where they were re
ceived from the enemy, 1 apprehend that most of them
died in consequence of the vile usage of the enemy.
Some who were eye witnesses of that feene of mortality,
(more especially in that part which continued after the
exchange took place) are of opinion, that it was partly
in consequence of a flow poison; but this I refer to the
Doctors that attended them, who are certainly the best
judges.
Upon the bHI calculation I have been able to make
from personal knowledge, and the many evidences I
have collected in support of the fa&s, 1 learn that of
the prisoners taken on Long-Island, fort Washington,
and some few others, at different times and places, about
two thousand perished with hunger, cold and sickness,
(occafiened by the filth of their prisons) at New York,
and a number more on their passage to the Continental
lines ; most of the residue who reached their friends,
having received their death wound, could not be re
stored by the assistance °f physicians and friends; but
like their brothcr-prifoners, fell a facrifice to the re
lentless and feientific barbarity of Britain. I took as
much pains as my circumfiances would admit of, to
inform myfelf not only of matters of fa&, but likewile
of the very design and aims of General Howe and his
Council : The latter of which I predicated o^ the for
mer, and submit it to the candid public.
And lailly, the aforelaid success of the American arms
had a happy effect on the Continental officers, who were
on parole at New-York : A number of us assembled,
(but not in a public manner) and with full bowls and
glasses, drank General Washington's health, and were
not unmindful of CongteA and our worthy friends on
the continent, and aimoil forgot that we were prisoners.
A few days after this recreation, a British officer of
rank and importance in their army, (whose name 1 shall
not mention in this narrative, for certain reasons, tho'
I have mentioned it to some of my close friends and
confidents) lent for me to his lodgings, and told me,
" That faithfuinefs (though in a wrong cause) had
nevertheless recommended me to General Sir William
Howe, who was minded to make me a Colonel of a re
giment of new levies, (alias tories) in the British ser
vice, and proposed that I should go with him, and some
other officers, to England, who would embark for that
purpose in a few days, and there be introduced to Lord
G. Germaine, and probably to the King; and that pre
vioiily 1 Ihould be eloathed equal to such an intro
du&oi, and instead of paper rags, be paid in hard
guineas ; after this Should embark with Gen. Burgoyne,
and ahi it in the reduction of the country, which infal
libly would be conquered, and when that should be
done, I should have a large trad of land, whether en
the New Hamplhire Grants, or in Connecticut ; it
would make no odds, as the country would be forfeited
to the crown." i then replied, '' That if by faithful
nefs 1 had recommended myfelf to General Howe, I
should be loth, by unfaithfulnefs, to lose the General's
good opinion; besides, that 1 viewed the offer of
land to be similar to that which the Devil offered Jesus
Christ, " To give him all the kingdoms of the world,
if he would fall down and worlhp him ;" <wben at the
Jame time that the damned foul bad not one foot of land
upon e&tb" This ciofed the conversation, and the
gentlemam turned fiom me with an ah of dislike, fay
ing, that I was a bigot; upon which I retired to my
lodgings. #
Near the last of November I was admitted to parole
in New-York, with many other American officers, and
on the 22d day of January, 1777, was With them di
rected by the British Commiflary of prisoners to be
quartered on the westerly part of Long-lfland, and &ur
parole continued. During my imprisonment there, no
occuirences worth observation happened, 1 obtained
the means of living as well as 1 desired, which in gen
measure repaired my constitution, which had been
greatly injured by the fever ties of an inhuman capti
vity. I now began to feel myfelf composed, expecting
either an exchange or continuance in good and hono r.
able treatment; but alas! my visionary expectations
soon vanished. The news of the conquest of Ticon
deroga by Gen. Burgoyne, and the advance of his army
into the country, made the haughty Bri ons again to
feel their importance, and with that their insatiable thirst
for cruelty.
The private prisoners at New-York, and some of
the officers on parole, felt the severity of it.—Burgoyne
was their toast and Demi God : To him they paid ado
ration : In him the tories placed their confidence, “ and
forgot the Lord theiiGod," and served Howe, Burgoyne
and Knyphaufen, {a Htffian Genetal,) " and became
vile in their own imaginations, and their foolifh hearts
were darkened, profeffing" to be great politicians, and
relying on foreign and merciless invaders, and with them
seeking the ruin, bloodshed and dehrudion of their
county, "became fools," expeAing with them to share
a dividend in the confifeated eflatei of their neighbours
and countrymen, who fought for the whole country,
and the religion and liberty thereof : “ Therefore
God gave them over to llrong delations, to believe a
lie, that they all might be damned."
The twenty fifth day of Augufl I was apprehended,
and under pretext of artful, mean and pitiful pretences
(that I had infringed on my parole) taken from a tavern
where there were more than a dozen officers present,
and in the very place where thole officers and myfelf
were directed to be quartered, put under a strong
guard, and tken to New-York, where 1 expelled to
make my defence before the commanding officer; but
contrary to my expectations, and without the least so
lid pretence of justice or a trial, was again encircled
with a strong guard with fi ed b yonets, and conducted
to the Provori-gaol in a lonely apartment, next above
the dungeon, and was denied all manner of subsistence
either by pt rchafe or allowance. The second day I
offered a guinea for a meal of viAuals, but was denied
it, and thud day I offered eight Spanish milled dollars
for a like favour, but was again denied, and all that I
could get out of the fetjeant's mouth, was, that by
God he would obey his orders. I now perceived my
felf to I e again in fubflantial trouble. In this conditi
tion I formed an oblique acquaintance with a Captain
Edward Travis, of Virginia, (who was in the dungeon
below me) through a little hole which was cut with a pen
knife, through the floor of my apartment which com
municated with the dungeon; it was a small crevice,
through which I could difeern but a very small part of
his face at once, when he plied it to the hole ; but from
the discovery of him in the situation which we were
both then tn, I could not have known him, (which I
found to be true by an after acquaintance.—l could ne
vertheless hold a conversation with him, and soon per
ceived him to be a gentleman of high Ipirits, who had
a high sense of honour, and felt as big as though he
had been in a palace, and had treasures of wrath in
fibre against the British. In fine I was charmed with
the spirit of the man; he bad been near or quite four
months in that dungeon, with murderers, thieves, and
every species of criminals, and all for the sole crirae of
unshaken fidelity to his country ; but his Ipirits were
above dejection, and his mind unconquerable. I en
gaged to do him every service in my power, and in a few
weeks afterwards, with the united petitions of the of
ficers in the Provost, procured bis difmiffion from the
dark mansion of fiends to the apartments of his peti
tioners.
And it came to pass on the third day, at the going
dewn of the fun, that I was presented with a piece of
boiled pork, and some bifeuit, which the t'erjeant gave
me to underhand was my allowance, and I fed sweetly
on the fame; but I indulged my appetite by degrees,
and in a few days more, was taken from thet apartment
and conducted to the next loft or story, where there were
above twenty continental and some militia officers who
had been taken and imprisoned there, besides some pri
vate gentlemen who had been dragged from their own
homes to that filthy place, by tories. Several of every
of the denominations mentioned died there, some be
fore, and others after I was put there.
The hillory of the proceedings relative to the Provost
only, was 1 particular, would Iwell a volume larger
than this whole narrative: Shall therefore only notice
Inch of the occurrences which are molt extraordinary.
Capt. Vandyke bore with uncommon fortitude near
twenty months confinement in this place, and in the
mean time was very serviceable to others who were coir
fined with him. The allegation against him, as the
cause of his confinement, was very extraordinary : He
was accused of letting fire to the city of New-York, (at
the time the weft part of it was consumed) when it was
a known sass, that he had been in the Provost a week
before the fire broke out ; and in like manner, frivolous
were the ofienfible accusations against most of those who
were there confined; the case of two militia officers
excepted, who were taken in their attempting to escape
from their parole ; and probably there may be some o
ther instances which might jollify such a confinement.
Mr. William Miller, a Committee, man, from Weft
Chester county, aad State of New-York, was taken
from his bed in the dead of thenight, by his tory neigh
bours, and was ftafved for three days and nights in a
department of the lame gaol; add to this the denial of
fire, and that in a cold season of the year, in which
time he walked day and night, to defend himfelf a
gainii the frofi, and when he complained es such a re
prehensible conduct, the word rebel or committee-man
was deemed by th^ enemy a fufficient atonement for
any inhumanity that they could invent or inflifl. He
was a man of good natural understanding, a close and
sincere friend to the liberties ®f America, and endur
ed fourteen months cruel imprisonment with that mag
nanimity of foul, which reflects honour @n himfelf and
country.
(To be continued.)