North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-22
T ohedient servant.
HENRY ALLEN.

Your ohedient servant
HENRY ALLEN.
We the undersigned, being each sever
ally sworn on the Holy Evangelist Of Al
mighty God, for the investigation oil the
circumstances attending the late horrid
massacre, and having heard the dispositions
OF great number Of witnesses from orr
own personal knowledge, and from the
depositions given in as Aforesaid
Report as follows:
That on the 9th OF April, about six
O'Clock in the evening, when he prisoners
were all quiet in their respective yards, il
being about the usual time Of turning in
for The night, and the greater part OF the
prisoners being then in the prisons, the
alarm bell was rung, and many oil the pri-
soners ran up TO the market-square 10
learn the occasion of the alarm. There
was then drawn up in the square, several
hundred soldiers, with Captain Shorthand
(the agentl at their head; il was likewise
observed at the same time, that additional
numbers oil soldiers were posting them
selves on the walls round the prison yard.
One Of them observed 10 the prisoners,
that they had better 90 into the prisons,
for they would be charged upon directly.
This, of course, occasioned considerable
alarm among them. In this moment of
uncertainty, they were running in differ
ent directions inquiring the cause of the
alarm--some towards their respective pri-
sons, and some towards the market square.
When about one hundred were collected
in the square, Captain Shorthand ordered
the soldiers TO charge upon them, which
order the soldiers were reluctant in obey
ing, as the prisoners were using no vio-
lence; but on the order being repeated,
they made charge, and the prisoners re-
treated out of the square into their prison
yards, and shut the gates after them.
Captain Shorthand, himself opened the |
gates and ordered the soldiers to fire a
mong the prisoners, who were all retreat |
ing in different directions towards their
respective prisons. appears there was
some hesitation in the minds Of the officers,
whether or not it was proper 10 fire upon /
the prisoners in that situation; on which
Shorthand seized musket out the hands
OF a soldier, which he fred. Immediately
after, the fire became general, and many
Of the prisoners were either killed or
wounded. The remainder were endeavor-
ing To get into the prisons, when going
towards the lower doors, the soldiers on
the walls commenced firing at them from
that quarter, which killed some and
wounded others. After much difficulty,
Gall the doors being closed but one in each
prison) the survivors succeeded in gaining
the prison; Immediately after which, par
ties Of soldiers came to the doors OF Nos.
and 4 prisons, and fired several vollies
into them through the windows and doors, !
which killed one man in each prison, and
severely wounded others. |
IL likewise appears, that the preceding bu,che-
~ was followed up with dispOsiiios Of peculiar S
nveteraey and barbari,y. E
one man who was severely wounded in No. 7 t,
wilson yard, and being unable TO make his way
o the prisoh, vas come up with BY the soldiers
~hea he implssea for mercy. but ia vain, Eve Of I
be hardened wre;ehes inmedlaiely leyelied their {
'ieces al him, and sAo; him dead on the spot c
RE sollisrs who were posted the walls, man-
tested equal cruelty. BY keeping up Constant
re On every prisoner they could see in the yard
10 get IN the prison, when their num-
srs we're VERY few and when rot The least sha- a
sw Of resslAnce could be made or expected c
several Of them gOi iato No. prison cook -house,
'hieh was pointed cut By the soldiers the walls, r.
, thsss VIE we're marching 10 fon the SQUARE