Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-13
AZ. Generate 05Seys Head Qpans1s,
MoS1RlAL, t2tn bee. lSl3. :,
GENERAL ORDER.

A II
His lsxceilcncy tho Governor in Chief ant
/ t:om,nander o. the Forces has 10 Ain,ouncc I,
the troops uneler 3tIs ccSnmand, that he has re-
'csised = conmuhicxti6n from Msjcr Zen. vii
kinson, cofnmalsdp<Ef q division ct the army O
1.-The United States at America. by order OF h
Government, OF which the following is an ex
tract - - ~ q = - q.
!" The Government Of the United States ad,
herring unaiterably to the principle and pur
pose declared in the Communication Of Gene
raj Dearborn TO you. on the subject of the TWEEN
ty.three American Ssidiers, prisoners Of war
sent TO England 10 be stisd as .criImiuais AID
the confinement OF u like number of British sol
diers, prisoners of war. selected to abide the
tate OF the fornie-, has, in cons uucncs &c the
step taken by the British government, as now
communicated, ordered Fojty-six British or
GERS INTO close confinement, aud that they will
not be discharged from their COFFIN. meat unr
Ill II shall be known that the Forty s.x Ameri.
can officers and non-commissialed oii,ccrs ii,
question arc no longer confined"
II WOULD be sApcrhuuus to use any argument
I'd reiute an assumptIonso extravagant, unjust.
and unprecedented, as to deny the right OF a
irce nalioh to bring TO legal trial, in a due
course oil law, her own natural born subjects tn
Ken al the actual commission of the most hei
nous nc offence that man can commit against his
King, ms country ami his God, that OF raising
.
coantrymeii, by Ieagung with tIicir enemies, a
crime hsld IN such adherence by every civiiiz.
e e, nation IN Europe, that summary death by
tis Law martial Is its avowcd reward, and Is
inflicted with unrelenlng severity by France.
the ;isiy OF the Cnited States. This prctenslon
must t appear 10 every unprejudiced and up.
risht mind, as iniquitous and unjust, AS is the
sstai'ation winch the government the United
states has adopted, by placing in close confiue
ment three and twenty British soldiers, as hos
tases Tor an equainu,nber ofinfainous wretch.
e, inc unworthy oifsprings of Great Britain
VINO, when drawn from the ranks of the enemy
sohcited to be suffered TO eApiate their treason
Dy turning their arms against their recent em-
p'oyefs. These rebels have, with the contempt,
.hsy MERIT been consigned TO the inlamy and
Punisnment that await them from the lust laws
VI tAcir oiiehded country while the Govern
mcnt ct The United States does not blush n,
ciaim these out cast traitors as their own. and
outrage ttic e.ist .ns OF x4l.zes war
ems Of honorable meD, by placing them on a
Pas with rebels and dessrtcrs
No alternative remains Il, tie Commander Of
.he forces, in the discharge Of his duty to his
hsng, his country, and his fellow soldiers, but
10 order all the American officers, pris ,ners Of
war, vidiout exception Of rank, to be immedi-
aieiy placed in close confinement, as hostages
'or the forty six British officers so confined,
oy ne eS ress commands of he supreme All
T., sriy in thlrcoun,ry, until the number of for
y SIX he completed, over and above those now
III confinement.
His Exceiiency directs that this general or
der, together with t.lat issued On the 9th Oct
&c read to the troops, til4t the British soldiers,
may be sensible 0fthe terms IN which Ameri-
ca has determined wage tl.is war /; confident,
that he will meet them with proper spirit and
indignation for should he become the prisoner
oil q fos SO regardless of tose laws which Tor
ages have governed civilized nations in war, he
would be doomed to rigorous coafine msnt,
and that perhaps only preparatory 10 a more
savage scene.
(signed)
EDWARD BAYNES,
Adjutan, General . " y.