Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-06-09
From the Masilon Ohio Gazette.
RETURN OF THE CAPTIVE.


There is a "prde, and pomp, and circumstance
ces" about it, extremely captivating to the young
and ardent, who have only had the opportunity Of
seeing it in holiday dress. Could it always ex-
hibit itself in pageantry and parade, II would be m
deed, glorious If not a useful art but there Is
an under current of misery IN It's action and re-
suits, never seen by the romantic, that strips from
its adventurous tinsel, and presents It naked, the
fruitful parent Of pain and degradation The vic
torious general surrounded by his gaily decorated
staff, with highly disciplined and tasetully uni
formed line Of soldiers in his front, presents DIFF
lcrent aspect from that which must have met the
eve when surveying the carnage on the eve of the
battle of Waterloo,
Our citizens yesterday morning, were mtrodu-
ced 10 the acquaintance Of John Wood, man
whose tale Of sorrow could not fail Of interesting
the, heart, however callous, or however prone TO
Incredibly. A meagre sketch can only be CIV
en- now The ample history Of his mislortunes
may hereafter be presented TO the woodland, if
given by master hand will command the inter-
est, and enlist the sympathy Of the public when
the mawkish productions of fiction, which now
cumber our bookstores and Insult our taste, shall
have become despised and forgotten.
In the war of 1912, John Wood, now fifty wears
old. was a young and industrious farmer in Brac-
ken county, Kentucky. He was the husband Of
young and interesting woman, and the father of
two infant children. He was living in happiness
on farm, which he had earned by his industry
when the gallant Captain Butler, (who afterwards
fell at the capture Of the British batteries at Fort
MeiCs) raised his lag, and solicited the hardy
Kentuckians Of Brackon county, to enroll them
selves among the defenders Of their country.
John Wood was one of the number. He suffer
ed all the privations TO which the chiyarc army
Of the North West was exposed during the dis
asrous campaign which resulted in the defeat Of
Winchester at the River Raisn BY good for
tune lie escaped the tom0hawk Of the savage al
lies Of Great Britain and was sent prisoner Of
war to Quebec.
He was next, with other American Prisoners
despatched in a transport to Plymouth, in Eng
land. From Plymouth, accompanied by a crowd
Of fellow prisoners he was about to be transfer
red to Danmool that we'll remembered scene of
British cruelty and British cowardcc-when he
found an opportunity to eudo his guards and make
his escape. He wandered through tho country
stealing through by-ways, until he found himself
at Bristol Hunger compelled him TO enter a
grocery, the head quarters Of British press gang
| Hero he was pressed, and despite his protesta.
tons that he was a citizen Of the United States,
and fugitive prisoner of war, facts which might
have been easily proven by reference to the mil
tary authorities at Plymouth, he was hurried on
board His Majestys frgale Sea Horse, then the
| flag ship Of the celebrated Sir Peter Parker, and
compelled TO bear arms against his own country
men.
On board the Sea Horse were several other
Americans, who like Wood, had fallen victims
TO the British system Of impressment. They de-
termned on descrt!on; aud, when lying in the
Port Of St. J6hns, succeeded in securing boat,
during an extremely dark night, and attempted TO
reach the eastern coast of The State of Maine.
They we're instantly pursued, and we're obliged to
desert their boats, on the shore Of New Bruins
wick, and seek safety in the woods. After wan
dcring about for two days, exhausted with cold,
and hunger, and fatigue, they were apprehended
by party Of British soldiers, and again transfer
rcd to the Sea Horse. The punishment that fol-
lowed this act of deserton was inflicted with all
that ingonius refinement Of cruelty for which the
British navy is so celebrated.
The Sea Horse attached to the squadron under
Admiral Cockburn, was shortly afterwards order.
cd into the Chesapeake, and took an active part
in the robbing, burning and numbering Of tie de.
lenceess inhabitants Of tie coast. Mr.. Wood
and the impressed Americans were never permit
ted to leave their vessel. lie was on board on
the night when Sir Peter Parker met bis fate on
shore. A few days subsequent to this event, he
in company with seven other impressed Anier-
cans, attempted an escape in broad day light, by
boldly Jumping into boat along side, and pulling
rapidly for the shore. One Of the number were
shot by tho sentinel on daty. The others reached
the beach, but were apprehended, Immediately on
landing by party Of marandors belonging TO the
Sea Horse.
BY order Of Admiral Cockburn, they were sent
in irons to Nova Scotia, where, after undergoing
the Formally Of mock trial, they were sentenced
TO be shot. The sentence, however. was com.
muied 10 service for hfs, in His Britannia Ma
iesty's Army in the East Indies. They were ac-
cordingly shipped 10 England, and thence with
regiment Of newly levied recruits, despatched to
Calcutta. For 81 years, Mr.. Wood served as a
private soldier In the East India service and,
eighteen months since, when broken down IN
spin. and in constitution, be was permitted TO sal
for England. Destitute and heart-broken, he
reached London, stated his case to the United
States Consul, and BY him was furnished with
,he means Of reaching New York. lie left New