Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-08
DqRTM0OR.
a. tEe Eait0r II ths .Nia,ional .qdgoeote.


svners OF war at Dsrtmoor, and ON perusal find
ing that though they Confederate each other. as
4 10 the leading facts, yet Il seems the public
are, not IN possession OF all tic particulars ne
cessary TO form a proper Judgment of the
Z same.
While in prison, we having beer members OF
\ TIE connnitte through whom was transacted all
their public business, and through whose hands
passed all the correspondence with their agent in
sendop $50 having il, our possession several do
sacnmen;s rclating TO the beiore-neneioned brutal
hdtobery, we deem K . duty we owe to cur muir
Gered countTymen and fellow citizens in gene al
to have them published, aud accolGDielv recuest
that you would be pleased to lay thenbefore the
! public.
Respecting the conduct Of T. C. Shorthand,
(commander Of the depot Of 1Agyimsor) prior to
the bloody and ever memorable sixth ofhprl,
1t was series OF continued insult, injury and ~
alton 10 The prisoners generally. Incapable of4o-
precatng the beneficial effects of the liberal po-
hey of gentleman, his sole study appeared to be
aeylsng means to render the situation Of the pri-
soilers IS disagreeable as possible. To instance
q few OF his proceedings VIII sufficiently warrant
the foregoing assertion. Ills conduct To- The
Americas officers was marked with peculiar
baseness and ind;gnity. IN the construction of1he
depot OF Dai'tnoof, there was separate prison.
built and inclosed for the more commodious ac-
commodatlon 9fthose officers (prisoners ofwar)
who We're rot considered by them entitled TO n
parole. Instead of Shorthand allowing those Off
GERS TO occupy that prison, they We're turned IN
% he other prisons proIpscuously, with their
raen. lis conduct to the i.rsoners generally ,yas
oF the same stamp. There not beng at any tine
sufficient number to occupy all the prisons. h,
kept the two best, which were built by the
iFSenclimen during their confinement, and more
conveniently fitted for the accommodation of 1,rj-
soners, shut and uHoccupied, while the upper
stories ofthosc prisons IN which the Americans
r.s1 .--4aLg =. -
storm the heors were nearly Inundated The
pernicious effectth had on the health of the
prisoners may be easily Judged of by the ereat
mortality that prevailed among tllem during the
Hast winter season.
Another instance of his nurdcrous disposition
was ms ordering his guards 20 IRE into the pfi-
sons, when, at any tifne LIGHT was seen burning
during thenight. as spee,iied in the general re,
port. White tie Frept nfnen were canhneI 81
THAT depot. it was custom tor the hrrkey with
sentry, to 70 into each prison, and see the lights
extinguished at stated hour although frequent
BY lighted again, thege was no further molesta-
non. Instead OF pursuing this plan wish the AIne-
ricans, Shorthand gave orders for the guards to
fire INTO the prisons wherever there should be
Light burning. Frequently, ON the most trivial
occasions, ne, would prevent the prisoners for ten
days at a time, from purchasing in the market,
Of the country people, snch articles Of comfort
and convene ce as Their scantv mems would all
time previous to the massacre and hi altered req
son for it was, that the prisoners would not deli
yer up to him man that bad made his escape
from the black-hcle e. place Of confinement for
criminals) and had taken refuge amongst the pri-
soners in>general. This man was one OF a DFize
crew, who was confined in that dark and loath-
come cell, a short allowance OF provi-
sions, from June 1914, until the ratification Of
the treaty The circumstances of that humane
transaction shall, at another time be laid before
the public On that man beng demanded, the
prisoners stated to Shorthand that they did not
presume that the English government would ex-
pect them 10 stand sentry over each otler-that
he might send his turkeys and soldiers in and
look for tn man, bat they would not seek him
and deliver him up--upon which he ordered the
military to fire upon the prisoners, but owing to
abe GOODNESS and lehiicrltion of the then com
maudngmiltary officer, training them, this
order WIS not obey ed.
TO sum mp lie whole in few words, his con
duct, Throughout, was marked bv the same iii
beral preiudice ogsrbearing insult, and savage
bmbarity, which characteriees the majority of IN
glish officers when they have Americans IN their
power.
The ipclosed papers, from 70. ], TO 16, inclu.
sYe, aretie dispositions taken by the committee OF
investigation on TIE 9TH. No II, is their pepe-
raj report, founded ON those depositious together
With tleir own personal knowledge Of the cifcunn-
stances "a copy Of which is already before the
public) On The morning Of the 9TH, Col Ayre
arrived from Plymouth, and took command of
the military department. ofthe depot Shorthand
sent in a message TO the committee, reque5t ino
their attendance at his office, to which was re.
turned for answer, that considering him a Tnur-
derer, they were determined to have no further
communicate on with hm--but added, ifthe com
handing officer from Plymouth had any thing to
communicate, hey would wait ON him; and al
his request, they went up to the gate. where
they stated 10 HIN all the particulars Of the at
fair
lie expressed great regret for what had occur
rcd and assured The prisoners that no further VIZ
oience Should be used upon them In the mean.
tme Shorthand made bis appearance Instantly
the indignant cry of murderer, scoundrel, villain,
burst from the lips Of hundreds. The e1Iiltv
wretch stood appalled,, not daring 70 offer sylia-
be in yindicaton Of his conduct; but, with pal
id visaee and trembling step, returned 70 his
guard-house, from whence he was never seen 10
emerge while We remained there. In the course
Of the day rcsr adninTl aud post captain airiy-
ed from Plymouth, sent Dy Sir J. + Duckworth.
commander ~ chief on that station 90 inquire IN
- the transactior 20 whom was likewise Gliy
stated BY The Committee All the pefdculars, toge-
thcr with Sloriland's previous Infamous conduct
= her scantlalous Misrepresentation of tie same
to the admiralty board, as wll be seen IN then
statement No ~, IS trdy characteristics c Bitisi
official accouuts We likewise wrnfe 10 81
Beasey that day, pivsno, hin, n sbcrt I;ste',