Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-22
EEsraet Of a letter dated orfcrd, " 81

Dss -
Ertraes Of letter dated orfcrd, ". FL.
February 27, 1914.
SIR-The minds OF the people in
this state are al this time extremely a.
gitated, in consequence of the unlawful
and horrid transaction Of the command
ing officer at Forf Plumer in Stewart
Town, IN this state. The circumstances
are as follow -
A captain Hodgson, United States
officer, with between 60 and 70 men,
have been for some time stationed at the
fort. Within fortnight. past, he has
caused seven or eight of the peaceable
inhabitants in the vicinity of the fort,
while they were labsring upon their
farms, and engaged in their ordisary hu-
siness, to be arrested by sergeant and
file Of men, clothed with no authority
but their gun. and bayonsts, and carried
to the Fort, where they have ever since
been confined, in the mostinhnman man.
ner. Some have been kept without any
food twenty-four hours at time. Some
are refused the fire until almost frozen,
and then are force to warn themselves
by having large stick Of wood dashed
to them, and driven around the Fort,
with various other modes of treatment
equally bsrbaross !! Their friends
are not allowed to speak to them. The
captain assigns no reason for arresting
them, and when he is asked by wGas au-
thority he proceeds in such manner,
his answ ! is, that he is orders iron,
his gener to arrest all who are sus-
Pected of being engaged in smuggling,
or knowing to it, and also all who speak
disrespecttully Of government or the
war.
t" You may suppose these things are
Impossible, bat they are all proved, and
more, by the aifidsvits of Judge LOOMS,
Thos. Eames, Jeremiah Eames. Her
man Beach and several other persons
which have seen aud read,--1 have
also seen and conversed with one other
gentleman who has beento the fort since
ttfC. SoHbbS'bCHt "a ShSoo PSisoss, anu
conytFsed with capt. HodgdOn, who
made the same statement to him res.
pecting his orders as above related
He say. the pc pic ere in this greatest
distress lima ginable in that part of the
country.
I" An application in behalf of those
suffering citizens was made to the court
OF Common Pleas the week before last,
then sitting at Lancaster for writ Of
ha6eas cortu., for which purpose the af
fdavits, | have mentioned, were taken.
The court entertained doubts whether
they possessed the power to issue the
writ, and deferred giving their opinion
until last week, when holding their
court a, Hayerhill. On Friday last the
mo ion was again brought before the
court, and after most able and eloquent
arguments from Mr.. P. and Mr.. N. in
favor of the motion which gained great
applause by very foil & crouded court
the court said it was q case in which il
was absolutely necessary, that the writ
should be granted, but ovor-ruled the
motion on the ground that the Court of
Common Peas have not the power to
issue the writ.
You may rely on the truth of all Il
hsgs said, and might state many more
facts, had | time. One Of the sufferers
was taken out of the store Of Mr.. Beach
in Canaan. Another was taken at work
on the farm of Thomas Eames, in Nor
thumkerland. Another was taken out
OF a barn where he was employed thresh.
ing grain. One of Judge Loomis's hir-
ed men was taken. Several respe ctable
people have left their homes and fami.
lies, and dare not return for fear of be.
ing taken, as they understand, they are
prescribed. All these facts appear By
the affidavits ! have mentioned above
III leaon more on this subject, l will
write you again. FED: Republican.
Extract Of another letter from the same,
dated March s, 1914.
SIR-Since my last letter, in which
| wrote respecting the poor unfortunate
citizens conined at Fort Plumer, have
understood that application ha. been
made to Judge Livermore, of the 81.
preme judicial court Of this state for a
writ Of Habeas Corpus, which he granted
Without the least hesiistion. VIVA, the
result will be cannot be determined.
On Friday last saw respectable and
rell-informed gentleman, residing at no |
great distance from the fort, who saw.
hat the fort, and every man in it, will
certainly be destroyed very soon, unless |
he prisoners are given w. IL.