Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-07-17

snc prison, c0mpellcu. ia. 0ruer TO reach
their own homes, to pass by the same
spot, and thus that which was merely a
measure of precaution, Id its operation
Increased the eyilitwas intended to pre-
went. 8as
Almost at the same instant that the a.
|larmsbell rang, bat whether before or
|sslbsequentis upon the evidence doubtful,
though captain Shorthand states it posi-
lively as one of his further reasons for
causing it to rins) some one or. more ef
the prisoners broke the iron chain. which
was the only fastening of No. gate,
leading into the market square, by means
of an iron bar; and a very considerable
number of the prisoners Immediately
rushed towards that gate; and many of
them began to press Forwards as fast as
the opening would permit into the square.
There was no direct proof before us of
previous concert or preparation on the
part of the prisoners, and no evidence
of their intention or disposition to effect
their escape on this occasion, excepting
that which arose BY Inference from the
whole ct the ADORE detailed circumstances
connected together.
: The natural and almost irresistible in
ference to be drawn, however, from the
conduct OF the prisoners by Capt. Short
land and the military was, that an inten-
tion on the part ofthe prisoners to escape
was on the point oibeing carried into exc
cation, and it was at least certain that
they were by force passing beyond the
limits prescribed to them at time when
they ought to have been quietly going in
for the night. 1t was also in evidence
that the outer gates of tie market square
were usually opened about this time to
let the bread Wagon pass and repass to
the store, although at the period in ques-
on they were in fact closed. h
Under these circumstances. and wit
these impressions necessarily operating
upon his mind, and knowledge that i
the prisoners once penetrated through the
square, the power of escape was almost
to certainty afforded to them, If they
should be SO disposed. Capt. Shorthand
in the tirsr instance proceeded down the
square towards the prisoners, having or
dered part of the different guards. to
the number of about fifty only at first
Though they were increased afterwards
to ioliow him. For some tine both he 4
DIR. Magrath endeavoured by quiet means
and persuasion, to induce the prisoners
to retire to their own yards, explaining
to them the fatal consequences which
must ensae il they refused, as the mill
tary would in that case be necessarily
compelled to employ force. The guard
was by this time formed in the rear of
Capt. Shorthand, about two thirds Of the
way dewn the sGuare--the latteris about
one hundred feet broad, and the guard
extended nearly all across. Capt. Short
land, finding that persuasion was all in
vain, and that although some were Undue
Ell by 1t to make an eiiiort to retire. Others
pressed on in considerable numbers, at
last ordered about Is file of the guard.
nearly in front Of the gate which had been
forced, to charge the prisoners back TO
their own yards.
The prisoners were in some places so
near the military, that one ofthe soldiers
states that he could not come fairly down
to the charge and the military were un-
willing to act as against an enemy.
ooale OF the prisoners also were unail-
ing and reluctant to retire, ard some
pushing and struggling ensued between
the parties, arising partly from intention,
cut mainly from the pressure Of those
behind preventing those in front from get
ting back. After some little time, how
ever, this charge appears to have been so
Ear effective, and that with little or noin-
iary to the prisoners, as to have driven
them for the most part quite down out of
tae square, with the exception OF small
aulnber who continued their resistance
about No. gate.
A great crowd still remained collected
after this in the passage between the
square and the prisoners yard, and in
the part of these yards in the vicinity OF
the gates. This assembiage still refused
70 withdraw, and according to most 0. the
English witnesses. and some OF the A
nerican, was making noise, hallooing,
and provoking, and daring the
military to fire, and according to the evl-
dence of several of the soldiers, q some
others, was pelting the militia with large
stones. by which some of them were &C
tulIy struck.-This circumstance is how
ever denied by many of the American