Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-12-03
UNPARALLELED ATRocITY,

/ s
Extract from letter from Captain Arthur
Sinclair. commanding the u. s. naval
force on the Upper Lakes, to the Score
tary Of the Navy, dated
Erie Roads. :lfh Nov. 1914.
Sailing master Chanplin, who command
ed the Tigress, has arrived here in the car
tel from Mackinac. with some of the wound-
ed. He has his right thigh shattered by a
grape shot, and has not yet been able to
make out a detailed report of his capture.
lie appears not to have been surprised,
out defspSed bis vessel very bravely, killing
and woindUg aEasIber of the cnepy. WIN
overrowered him with $50 sailors and SOL
dlers and $50 Indians, the latter headed by
Dickson. The. Scorpion was oyerpowered
as mentioned in my Letter of the 2Tth ult.--
The conduct of the enemy to our prisoners
thus captured, and the inhuman butchery
OF those who fell into their hands, at the at
tack at Msckinac, has been barbareus be.
You'd parallel. The former have been
plundered of almost every article OF clothing
they posscsscd-the latter had their kearfs
and Hvers taken out, which were actually
cooked and feasted on fand that too in the
quarters of the British officers, sanctioned
by col. M'Dowal) by the savages.
This Cauhibal act. which has capp'd the
Climax OF British atrocity, and must ever be
viewed with indignant horror by the Chris
tan world, will be sworn to by two respect
able ladies, who came down in the cartel
and who were witnesses TO It. / am further
assured by Mr.. Aston, who was detained
there with his cartel for near two months.
that it was not disowned by the garrison at
Mackinac, and that when remonstraucc
was made by some who had not lost all sense
OF feeling and honor, they were treated with
arrest by the colonel, if they checked the
indians IN any of their wishes. One ofthe
prisoners was iDhumanly murdered, by one
OF their militia. to decide dispute between
him and an Indian, of who had the best
claim to the reward of his body or scalp.
and no notice was taken of it by the colonel,
10 relate to you, sir. all the acts of horror
which have been practised upon those un-
fortunate victims who fell into enemy's hands
on the 9TH August, would go far beyond the
limits of a letter.
NAs1AU, ". p. Oct. 2S.
We are much indebted to Capt Jackson
OF II. NJ frigate Lacedemonian, for the use OF
file of American papers. from which we
are enabled to lay before our readers some
interesting details A length OF time has
elapsed without any British accounts of the
nee;s on the Lakes or the armies in their vi
cinity.
The American accounts are not always
to be depended on, in the shape they bear
their prints, yet we are ready to allow, when
they lay claim to a victory. and parsicularize
circumstances, it too often happens to have
grown out of something like truth!
In this manner we were willing, when we
hrst heard Of our Geet on Lake ChampIain
having been defeated and taken, TO nut at
least one hall oft dawn to fabrication. In
our paper to day will be seen the American
account o. that affair, which we are sorry 20
say appears To have been deci sively in their
favor, and our armament on that lake, with
tue exception of the row gaIlies Chat es.
cai.ed) all taken. We shall feel much. anx.
iety until we get the British account, which
we trust will disprove their statement of our
force being superior to theirs in such case
every British heart would feel alarm for the
credit OF their eountrymeu who fought the
battle. II
We are always willing to allow merit
where due, whether to friend or foe The
American Commodore. Macdonough. COM
manded the States ships or lake Cham,
plain. lie had previously made himself
conspicuous IN several enterprises. and Ger
tainjy would do his best on this occasion -
he seems to be an able and spirited officer,