Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-28

through the town to his own house, which is
in a part still more distant from the Jail, and
in his way he proclaimed that every thing
was settled, all danger over, and no further
need Of protecting force. BY this means he
dispersed number of citizens who had as
sembled with view of giving their aid
When he reached his own house he shut him
self up, and ordered himself to be denied, or
was out of the way.
The dismissal of the military was instantly
made known to the mob at the Jail, by their
associates stationed for that purpose and
they regarded it., was natural, as the sig
nal of attack. They Immediately made fu-
rious attack upon the outward doors of the
Jail, which being observed by gentleman
who happened at that moment to pass on
horseback, he rode full speed to Gen Strick-
cr's house, to give him the information. lie
was told that Gen. Stricken was not at home
lnquiring where he was, and expressing
strong desire to see him, III order to give him
the information; the gentleman was told
that 8. General Stricken could not be seen !;
and that if he could it would be unavailing
for he had already done all he could or could
do.
The gentleman then went in quest of the
Mayor, who fearing, or being informed of
what had happened had gone to the Jail with
TWO or three men supposed to have influence
with the mob, whom he had engaged to assist
him. With them he attempted to prevent the
doors from being forced open; but his at
tempts were fruitless; and at length his as
| sistants fearing for bis safety and their own,
almost forced him away. The attack then
proceeded without further hindrance or fear
Of interruption and when the violence of at
tack upon the outward door to the east in
creased, voice from within was heard, say
ing" Come round to the other door, (which
they were seen to do by some of the gentle
men in prison.
There can be no doubt that it was in the
power of Gen. Stricken to prevent or easily
repel this attack. Had he put on his uniform
mounted on horseback, put himself at the
head of such of the military as had assembled
called for more force, exhorted the citizens
to volunteer, and marched to the Jail with all
the force which he could thus collect Had
he, as his duty and ptighted honor required,
taken post at or in the Jail, even with the
small body of militia which had assembled,
the mob would unquestionably have been de-
tered or repulsed. But he was blind to all
such considerations, and left the mob to their
course by disrnissing the military, and infas.
ing false and fatal security into the citizens
But above all, after the massacre, when it
was discovered that some of tho persons
thrown into the pile of the supposed slain
were not quite dead, and might be restored,
Intelligence of the fact was carried TO town.
Upon receiving the information, a distinguish
ed gentleman went to gen. Stricker's house
and had him called out of bed He communi
Gated to the gen. the joyful tidngs and added
" the physicians will go out to preserve all
they can, if you will furnish guard or go
with them" The General said he was IA
tigued, had lost his rest the night before, and
it was an improbable tate, that any of the
prisoners acre alice. The gentleman urg-
ed and demonstrated, offering to bring him
horse Immediately, but the General flatly de-
cliDed, and returned to his bed to find repose.
God of Heaven, did he sleep? he who
hath murdered leepn-slaughtered honor,
patriotism and courage, ensnared by treache-
ry betrayed the brave, and handed them
over to the executioner to be tortured in
manner until now unknown in the annals of
all time, to satiate the bloody appetites ofcan-
nibals and tigers in human form. Have not
ages of wickedness and barbarity and guilt,
been crowded into days. An all wise and
good Providence will avenge these horrid e.
normities.
The mob gained possession Of the principal
entrance into the prison, but there was still
two very strong doors to be forced before they
could reach the party within. One of these
doors detained them more than quarter of
an hour. Whether it was finally forced or
unlocked is not known. When they reached
the last door after few slight blows it was
unlocked. Bentley. the gaoler, was the first
man who entered the room, to the best of
these deponent's recollection, and was Instant
ly followed by the mob. He was probably
compelled to unlock the door
From this it appears that very small
military ni1a I'd most ed In tho frat &C