Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-10

Court Martial. Upon oar replying that va
did not know in what manc-r we were con.
cerned in that Court, he exclaimed = Yo,s
" musf so, and y.force is necessary 10 cont
" fel yoa, am directed 10 rescrt 10 a.
Our hesitation increasing, he went ON deck,
and brought down with him four soldiers
with naked bayonets. himself and Lieut. enant
Ieddes (,he officer of the Guard) accompa-
nymg them with drawn swords. We then
asked Lieut. Dance whether in the event Of
our conserving to go, his soldiers were to cs-
eort US through the streetsI He pledged his
honor they should no., but that ourselycs
should walk on one side of the street and
they on the other. We then consented to
go But imagine what must have been our
|chagrin and disappointment, when ON ar
irving at Kingston, the Lieut.. disregardine
his promise, careless of cur feelings, and
not respecting our characters as officers,
nor rejecting that two Of us have the honor
to belong to the United States Navy, wang
| toniy and ignominlously marched us thro'
the streets of the city, like malefactors, him
self going before and his soldiers following
and walking OH either side of us. In this
disgraceiul manner we were deposited in the
Cnard- House OF the Barracks. I'm the Guard
House we remained fretn half past s O'Clock
a. M. till L. M. without knowing whether
our presence was necessary at the Court
Martial, without knowing for what purpose
we were sent to Kingston, without having
received any sustenance or refreshment of
any Kind, and without being permitted dur
ing our confinement to have any person visit
US Havlng confined us as long as they tho't
proper, they consigned us to the care of
Lieut.. Grant, who marched us to the boat
and brought us OH board the ship AGAIN.
You will perceive. sir, that having eaten no.
thing the night before we were deprived of
every thing TOR the support of nature from
| three O'Clock p. NJ. 29,h inst. till after 3
O'CLOCK +. VI. on the 30th Che time we
were sent on board.) But this is the least
part OF our complaint though we leave Won
| to reflect whether such treatment i. becom-
| ing the officers of a civilized nation at war
with another. We are here for no crime.
Inc fortune OF MAR has placed us in your
power. We have not degraded ourselves
oy any mdecorous conduct since we became
| prisoners. we preserve the same routine
| CT duty here as when OIL board our own yes.
sells. Why then this insult, this wanton a.
ouse Why take the advantage of Defence
! less prisoners for the purpose of venting
your maiignity and contempt for the Anne.
| rlcan nation Your government can ne.
yer approve of such proceedings the A.
| merican, most certainly will not Your pos
vernment. we are induced to believe, ara
aesirous OF preserving those sacred rules of
justice and OF honor with regard to prisons
ers OF War which they require of ours
You will, therefore, confer favor on us bv
submitting the circumstances of our case
to- Wee Admiral Stirling, who, from the
KIND regard he has,ever paid to the petit
lions ana remonstrances of American pri-
soners, Will we trust, use his best endeavors
towards ameliorating our present unhappv
condition, ff'
we are very respe ctfully,
Dir, your most obt servants
WILLIAM WESCOTT,
John M'FATE,
JAMES STEVENS.
JAhEs TURNER, Esq. British Agent for
prisoners at Port Royal.