The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-07-25

| AND dlscord only can their spirits please
Such were our yrants; only such as these"
few days before the fourth of July had made suc
preparations circumstances would admit for an obser
vance OF the anniversary of American independence We
procured supplies wherewth make ourselves merr
on the occasions and intended spend the day such
cent pastime and amusement situation would afford
not dreaming that proceedings would give umbrage
keepers was far from intention trouble nsul
them. We thought that although prisoners, had right
that day least sing and be merry AS soon as W,
were permitted to go deck in the morning, thirteen LITTLE
national flags were displayed in upon the booms We
were soon ordered by the guard to take them away and
we neglected to obey the command they riumphanty de-
molished and tramped them under foot.
Unfortunately for guards that time Scotch
men, who next to the Refugees the objects of great
est hatred but their destruction of gs was merely view
ed In silence, with the contempt which it merited.
During the time remained deck several patriotic
were sung and chorses were repeatedly but not word
nevertheless evidently dissatisfied with proceedings
will soon appear Their prelude of what
was to follow. We in short time, forbidden to pass
along the common gangways; and every attempt do So
was repealed by the bayonet Although thus incommoded
our mirth still continued Songs still sung accompani
ed with occasional cheers Things thus proceeded about
tour clock when the guards turned out and
ceved orders to descend between decks where we were i'm
medlately driven, at the point of the bayonet.
After being thus sent below in the greatest confusion
that early and unusual hour and having heard the grangs
closed and fastened above supposed that the barbaous
resentment of guards fully satisfied but were mis-
taken; for they had further vengeance store and merely
waited for an opportunity to make feel its weight
The prisoners continued their singing between the decks;
and of course noisy than but forbore
under their existing temptations to utter any insulting
gayatng expressions At least heard nothing of the kind
unless our patriotic songs could be construed.
In the course ofhe evening" ordered dess from
making any further noise This order being fully
Piled WITH at about nine O'Clock the grangs removed
and the guards descended among with lanterns dra wn
cuasses in their hands, The poor helpless prisoners retreat
ed from the hatchways far their crowded situation would
permit; while their cowardy assaan followed far as they
dared cutting and wounding every within their reac
and then assembled to the upper Deck exung the gat
cation of their revenge.
Many of the prisoners wounded but from the total
darkness neither their number their could be as
ceraned and if this had been possible it not in the
of their companions afford them the least relief
During the whole of the ragcaf night their groans and la
menations dreadful in the Being in the gun
room, at distance from the immediate scene of
this bloody outrage but the distance by no means far
enough to prevent my hearing their continual cries from the
extremity of PAIN their applications for assistance and their
curses upon the heads of their brutal assaians.
had been the usual custom for each prisoner carry be-
lows when he descended at sunset pint water to
his thirst DUNG the night But this occasion we had thus
been driven TO dungeons three hours before the setting
the sun, and without our usual supply of water
OF this night cannot describe the horrors The day had
been very suy, and the heat throughout the
ship The unusual number of hours during which we had been
crowded together between decks the foul atmosphere and
ckenng heat the additional excitement and restessnes
caused by the wanon attack which had been ae above all
he want of water not drop of which could we obtain du
ing the whole night to cool parched tongues the i'm,