The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-12-23


OF shcse was Known TO be native Of New
: Hum?shirc, by Capt. Hcrrick, Of the New
llimpshirc volunteers, who was also prison
cs, and who had known him from his infancy;
ami several OF the rest were declared by others
ol their acquaintanccs, TO be native eitizens
of the United States. These representations
were upavailing with British officers who
commanded, and they were torn thus from
their companions, to defend themselves a.
gainst the charge Of treason ia England. The
residue were still confined to their prison
ships, 10 situation moro disagrecablc than
can we'll be imagined. Some time after
number Of British vessels were wishing to
proceed TO Halifax, the crews Of which had
mostly been pressed out OF them TO fight the
american forces on the Upper Lakes and
seamen were wanted 10 supply their place.
Governor Provost sent an order to General
GLASGOW, who then commanded three, direct
cd bim 10 proceed on board the prison ship,
and to induce the prisoners 10 voIu1tcoe TO
nan their feet for Halifax, and in case they
refused to comply, 10 force them ON board for
tina, purpose. The application was made,but
the Amesican prisoners, considering the mea-
sure uniustihable towards their own govern
ment, refused 10 volunteer And were ac-
cordingIy forced on board their vessels by a
British press gang, whom this deposcnt un-
dcrstood they had quarters assigned the and
wcrc compelled 10 assist In navigating British
vessels TO Halifax, and afterwards to England,
as this deponent has since been informed
And further, that not one OF the scaIneD who
were prisoners there, were excepted from
this proceeding, and that General Winchester
made request 10 write to our government 10
explain that transaction, but could not obtain
permission.
And this dcponent further saith, that in the
beginning Of the present month OF November
an order was received, in conformity 10 the
Pence Regents order or proclamation, to
seize forty-six American officers and nou-
commission officers, who were not prisoners
OF war, and TO imprison them TO be kept IN
close confinement agrccably to the tenor OF
that proc oclamation.--P Phsoners to that pumber,
most Of whom were officers there on their
parole, many OF them in delicate state OF
hcalth, were Immediately put under arrest,
and marched guarded, 10 the public prison,
and i'm me reed for what fate 70 him unknown.
Among those destined for closo confinement,
are Lieut.. Smith, then in q declining state Of
health and Dir. James w. Wood, citizen
of ChamplaiD, who was taken from his house,
while in the employment OF tho Revenue, but
ss this dcponcnt believes, no way connected
with the army they were Imprisoned ON the
5ih Nov. inst.
This deponsnt further saith, that the enemy
has upifcrmly, at that place, treated Ameri-
can prisoners, both officers and prwateS, with
extreme rigour that sometime since an A.
meyican mdshipman and two masters mates,
merely for having proceeded on party, for
pleasure, about half mile beyond the limits
assigned them, though they immediately re-
turned within them, we're seized anC put into
p,ison, and kept in lions ill the general i'm
prisonmens of officers and commissioned
oliiccrs,as above related, took place ard this
deponcnt further saith, that all that was allow
cd forthe Americans on board the prison-ship,
was daily one pound of old wormy bread,
which the inhabitants declared had been twice
TO the Wcst-Indies, and condemned for spoil
cd bread and one pound of exceedingly bad
mcats (which in almost any situation would te
absolutely not catablc No liquor /; no soap,
10 prevent themselves from becoming lousy;
no candles, and uonc Of the other comforts OF
life And il was the opinion Of all the prison
crs there, that many Of them who had died,
had actually starved to death, not being able
to ear the provisions.
And farthcr,that on the receipt of,hc Prince
Regents Proclamation, Capt. Gardner, the
american Agent there, Who had been occu-
pied in paying the sick and priva,es for their
services, was immediately ordered by Gov.
Provost, to consider himself confined to the
same limits which were assigned for the off,
GERS u, Beaufort; and when this depncnt
left the place, he was still compelled to re-
main with Gen. Winchester aud others, and
svas not permitted to visi, the prisoners, who
were ia distress on board the prison ship, or
To 20 into town to negotiate his bills tor the
relief Of officers. And had already been OBJ
ligcd to share what littlo private money he
had with him. among them for their tempo-
rary relief.
This deponcnt further saith, that he started
from the neighhorhood of Quebec, and came
by tho vav Of Darby in Vermont, and arrived