Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-07-31

from the confusion OF the moment, they
describe this part of the trans lclioa, is so
different in lis details, that il is very diff
cult to reconcile their testimony. Many OF
the soldiers and other English Witnesses
heard the word given by some one, butno
one Of them can swear ii was by Capt.
Shorthand, or by any one in Particular, and
some amongst whom is The officer comnan-
ding the guard, think, if Capt. Shorthand
had Given such an order that they must
have heard it, which they did not In sddi
ton to this, Capt. Shorthand denies the
fact and from the situation in which he
appears to have been placed at the time.
even according to the American Witnesses
in frcnt ofthe soldiers, it NAV appear some.
what improbable that he should then hayc
given such an order.
Il But, however, il may remain matter OF
doub, whether the firing first began in the
SQUARE by order, or was a spontaneous &C,
Of the soldiers themselves, il seemed clear
ira, IL was continued and renewed both
there and elsewhere without orders ; and
that on the platforms, and IN several places
about the prison, it was certainly commen-
ced without any authority.
The fac, Of an order having been given
at first, provided The firing was under the
existing circumstances l~slifiSble, does not
appear very matesialin any other point OF
view than as showing want OF sell posses.
sion, and discipline in the troops, they
should have fred without order.
,,h al saila rSt INN
sar.t consideration, of whether the firing
was ius,ihabls or not, we are of opinion, un
der all the circumstances of the Case, from
the apprehension which the soldiers might
fairly entertain, owing TO the numbers and
conduct Of the prisoners, that this fling 10
q certain extent was Unsuitable in military
point of view in order 10 in.imidate the pris
oners, and compel them thereby 10 desist
from all acts of violence, and TO retire as
they we're ordered, from situation in
which the responsibility oil the agents, and
the military, could not permit them with
safety 20 remain.
From the fact OF the crowd being SO
close, and the firing q. first being attended
with so very little Injury, ii appears psoba
u
were, as stated by one or TWO OF the Wit
nesses. levelled over the heads OF the prs-
oners circumstance in some respects 10
: be lamen,ed, as IL induced them TO cry out
, "blank cartridges" and merely irritated
and encouraged them TO 'enew their insults
10 the soldie y, which produced repeution
ofthr firing in manner much more dc
s.ructiye.
The firing in the square having con,in-
ued for some time, by WHICH several 9th,
prisoners sustained injuries, the gre%ler
part Of them appear TO have been running
back with The utmost precipitation and con
fusion 10 their respective prisons, and The
csuscfor further firing seems al this period
10 have ceased 1t appears accordingly
that Capt Shorthand was in The market
square exerting himself and giving orders
to that effect, and that Lirul. Forge had
succeeded in stopping the fi:e of his part Of
the guard. III
Under these circumstances il is very
difficult, 10 find any justification for the fur
Their continuance and renewal of the Fl ing
which certainly took place both in The prison
yards and elsewhere though we have some
evidence of subsequent provocalion given to
the military, and resistance to the turnkeys
in shutting the prisons, and Of stones being
thrown out from within the prison doors.
The subssqueni firing rather appears to
have arisen from the state of individual ir-
ritation and transportation on the part of the
soldiers who followed the prisoners into
their yards, and from the absence of neatly
al the officers who might have restrained /
IL as well as from the eat difficulty OF
putting an erd 10 firing when once COM
1ncnced under such circumstances. Cart |
Shorthand was from this time busily occupi- |
ed with the turnkcys in the square, ,ceiv- |
ing and taking care Of the wounded.-En. |
sign White remained With his guard al the
breach, and Lieuts. Ayelyne and Forlye.
the only other subaitetns known TO have
been present. continued in The square viii.
the main bodies oftheir respective guar DIS.
The time of the day, which vas the OIL
c-rs' dinner hour, will in same measure ex
plaiE this, as it caused the absence of every
officer from the prison whose presence was
not Indispensable there. And this circum-
stance which has been urged as an argu
men, to prove The intention ofthe prisoners
to take t!.is opportunity 10 escape, tended
10 increase the confusion, and 10 prevent
those great exertions being made which
might perhaps have obviatcd portion al
least OF the mischief which ensued
At the same time that the firing was go-
-, ~ 10 &C..