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

/ capt. Shorthand denies the fact; and fron
the situation in which he appears to have
| been placed at the time, even according
| to the American witnesses. in front Of the
soldiers. it NAV appear somewhat impfo-
bable that he should then have given such
an order.
But, however, it may remain matter
1ofdonbt whether the firing first began in
| the square by order, orwas spontaneous
act of the soldiers themselves, it seemed
clear that it was caRtinued and renewed
both there and elsewhere without orders !;
and thatgon the platforms. and in several
places about the prison, it was certainly
commenced without any authority.
The fact Of an order having been given
at first, provided the firing was under the
existing circumstances, jastifable, does
t not appear very material in any other
point ofview than as shelving want Of
self possession, and discipline in the
troops, if they should have fred without
order.
With regard to the above most irnpor-
taDt consideration, of whether the firing
was jEsti6able or not, we arc of OPINION
under all the circumstances of the, case,
from the apprehension which the soldiers
might fairly entertain, owing t. the num-
bers and conduct of the prisoners, that
this firing to certain extent was iustiha-
bic in military point Of view,i in order to-
intimidate the prisoners, and compel
them thereby to desist from all acts Of
violence, and to retire as they were or
dered, fram.a situation in which the re-
sponsibiIity of the agents, and the mill
tary. could not permit them with safety
| to remain.
From the fact Of the crowd being so
close, and the firing at first being attended
with very little injury, it appears proba-
BILE that large proportion Of the muskets
were, as stated by one Cir two of the
witnesses, leveleA over the heads of
the prisoners circumstance in some
respects to be lamented, as it induced
them to cry out g blank cartridges" and
merely irritated and encouraged them to
renew their insults to the soldiecy, which
produced repetition Of the firing in
manner mach more destructive.
The firing in the sGuarel having con:
tinued for some tine, By which seve-
raj Of the prisoners sustained injuries,
the greater part of them appear TO have
been running back with the utmost pre-
cipitation and confusion to their respec-I
tive prisons, and the cause for further
firing seems at this period to have ceased
1t appears accordingly that capt. Snort
land vas in the market square ezert!ng
himself aad giving orders to that effect
and that Lieut.. Toltye had succeed I,
in stopping the fire OF his part of the
guard.
Uuler these circumstances it Is very
difficult to find any justification for the
further continuance and renewal of the
firing which certainly took place both IN
the prison yards and elsewhere: though
we have some evidence of subsequent |
provecation given to the military, and
resistance to the turnkeys in shutting)
the prisons, and of stones being thrown
out from within tie prison doors.
The subsequent firing rather appears
to have arisen from the state Of indivi-
dual irritation and evaporation Oh the
part of the soldiers who followed the pri-
soners ipto their yards. ard from the
absence of nearly all the officers who
might have restrained it, as we'll as from
the great difficulty of putting an end
to iring when once commenced, un-
der such c;reurls tancss. apt. Shert:
land was from sliis time busily occupied
with the turkeys in the square, receiv-
ing and taking care of the wounded.--
Ensign White remained with his guard
at the breach, and lieuts: Arelyne and
Fortye, the only otaer suoaiterns known
to have been present. continued in the
SQUARE with the main bodies Of their re-
spective guards.
The time OF the day, which was the
officers dinner hour, will in some mea-
sure explain this, as it caused the abb
senee OF every officer from the prison
whose presence was not Indispensable
there. And this circumstance which has +
been urged as an argument to prove the
intention of the prisoners to take this
opportunity to escape, tended to increase
the confusion; and to prevent those
greet exertions being made which might
perhaps have obvated a portion at least
OF the mischief which ensued.
~