Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-04-19
From The Weekty Register.
THE VAR OFTHE .lLLTES


As the man who sees serpent III his way
is Startled and surprised; so shall the flu
ture historian regard the body of evidence
and facts it is our melancholy duty this
week to Regiator. We have confirmation
strong-almost
" Asstrong as proofs from holy writ, -
of the most horrid assassination and cold
blooded butchery ever committed, or suffer
ed to be done, by ciuif-ed men. The high
professions of the British in religion their
boasted magnanimity their numerous mo-
raj and humane institutions their advance
ment in the arts, sciences and literature:
and their much extolled love of liberty,
with the excellency of their general polity.
instead of washing out this damned spos"
will tint it with the deeper crimson and
faithful history shall record these murders
of the wounded, without the plea of neces-
sity; the day after the battle, when the heat
of the contest had cooled. AS was eloquent
~ observed by a writer on this subject, I've
cling to the hope of an hereafter as the on
ly adequate means ofpunishing the wretch
es"
The Kentncky volunteers that surren-
dered at Frenchtoqvn (wbose lives were spa
red) were paro!ed on condition that they
shonld not bear arms against "his rnnjesfy
ten. Itwa demanded "who are his ma
jestys allies?" The cold impudence of the
royal officers shrunk from the needful ques-
ton and they contented themselves with
saying, (" his MaieSty'S allies are nell
knOrvn. misunderstanding are known.
The allies Of the head of the English church,
the allies of the defender of the faith, are
el-honnd murderers of the wounded and
prisoners.
The general statement of facts is before
the public but the minutie of the details
are chilling in the extreme. Take single
case, that lieut Baker narrated to the edit
tor of this work few days ago. transacted
| within or PAGES of him, the day after
the battle at the river Raisin, or French
town. a fine young man, a Kentucky vo-
luDteer, was brought in prisoner. While
| expressing his apprehension to lieut.. Baker
| OF general massacre by the savages, one OF
| them, of mere wantonBess, and without the
| least apparent cause, knocked him with a
war club. Stunned by the blow, he lay for a
| few minutes as dead, and then, recovering
a little, groaned dreadtully. After some
| time boy about thirteen years Of age, was
ordered to scalp him; the operation was
| performed with singular butchery, the wri
thing volunteer shelving his sensiblity by the
most piteous means and shrieks of anguish
ascending to heaven for vengeance. When
the horrid trophy had been torn from the
Eead e the victim, he raised himself on his
| hands and knees, andlwith the blood stream
| ing over his face, cast a look upon his COM
| panons, that lieut.. Baker well observed,
could not be described; and we agree with
him, that no tongue can tell or pen depict,
in its true coors, tn f0ut ensemble Of this
scene. After the savages had viewed the
sufferer for some minutes wish Indifference,
the boy was despatched to tomahawk him
This being probably the first essay, he bat
tered the rocking head a considerable time
without bringing death to the victim, who
still groaned weakly, indeed, as if in unut-
terable anguish. An cid Indian then step
ped forward and taught the young savage
where to strike to- kill with a single blow
the ready pupil improved By the lesson, and
| gave the coup de grace.
| Many others were treated in this way 8,
in the immediate presence of "his majeSty's
royal o6icerS
The excuse (What can the British dc
| that some among us will not excuse !loffer
ed for these enormities is weak and pitiful
II is said the British could not restrain tn,
Indians. The assertion is as false in fact
as contemplate in principle for no exer
tons were made to check The qualit,
Of savage warriors is not OF doubtful cha
raeteT. The British we're fully acqaainte,
with ali their propensIties and habits. The,