North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-04-08

parel:
That two Of them wefe put 10 death
/ that evening, four or five Others, at differ
ent times, afterwards; one ol whom was
Of those who Surrendered on capiGelstion
/ at the CedaFs, and was hlaed on the sth
+ DAY alter that surrender: that one was
| first shot, and while retaining life and SEN
satlon. was roasted, as was related by his
companion, now in possession Of the sava-
/ yes, who himself saw the fact; and that
several others, being worn down BY famine
and cruelty, were left exposed in an is
I land naked, and perishing with cold and
hunger:
That, while mnior Shelburne was in
costody Of the enemy. captain Foster re-
qured of him, ana the other officers, TO
sign a cartel, stipulating the exchange OF
themselves and their men for as many OF
equal condition of the British troops in our
possession farther, that notwithstanding
the exchange, neither themselves nor men
should ever again bear arms against thF
British government; and, for the perform
ance OF this, four hostages were to be de-
livered, which, they being under the alb
soute power Of the enemy, did sign;
That on Sunday the 26th, the prisoners
were carried to Quin2e-Chiens, when it
was discovered that general Arnold was
approaching, and making dispositions to
attack them:
That captain Foster having desired
major Sherburne 10 attend a flag, which
he was about 10 send to general Arnold,
for confirmation Of the cartel, carried him
into the council of Indians, then sitting,
who told him, that it was a mercy never
before shewn in their wars, that they had
put to death so few Of the prisoners hut,
that he must expect, and to inform general
Arnold, that they should certainly Kill
every man, who should fall into their
hands:
That captain Foster joined in desiring
that this bloody message should be deliver
ed to general Arnold and, moreover, that
he should be notified that if he rejected
the cartel and attacked him., every man of
the prisoners would be put to instant
death.
That general Arnold was extremely
averse from entering into any agreement,
and was, at length, induced to do it by no
other motive, than that OF saving the pri-
soncrs from cruel and inhuman death,
threatened in such terms as left no doubt
il was to be perpetrated, and that he did,
at length, conclude it, after several flags
received from captain Foster, and a re-
linqnishment by him Of the unequal article
restraining our soldiers from again bearing
arms.
That the prisoners, 80 stipulated to be
given up to the enemy, were not in the
possession Of general Arnold, por under
his direction; but were, at that time, dis
trbuted in various parts OF the continent,
under the orders Of this house:
That four hostages were accordingly |
delivered 10 captain Foster, who were
plundered and stripped by the
savages; and, on his part, were delivered,
one major, four captains, sixteen suba- |
terms, and three hundred and filty-fve
priyates, as specified in a certificate of
captain james Osgood and Others, OF whom |
no specification by their names or number
has yet been transmitted that he retained
twelve Canadians, alleging, in his justiG-
cation, express orders so To do and that,
living in military government, they were |
10 be considered even 10 worse light than
deserters from his majesty's armies these I
he carried away in irons, but afterwards
released: That he permitted the Indians
to carry into their countries, several other
natives of the United States, for purposes
unknown:
That, during the time OF their captivity,
not half food was allowed the prisoners:
they were continually insulted, bulIetted,
and il! treated by the savages; and, when
the first parties of them were carried off
from the shore to be delivered TO general
Arnold, balls of mud were fred at them,
and, at the last parties, musket-balIs.
The Congress, taking into consideration
the foregoing report, came TO the following
resolutions:
ResoIred, That all acts contrary to
good faith, the laws of nature, or the Gus
toms of civilized nations, done by the Off
GERS or soldiers of his Britannia majesty,
or by foreigners or savages taken into
his service, are TO be considered as done
by his orders, unless indemnifcation be
made, in cases which admit indemnifica-
lion, and in all other cases, unless imme-
Hate and effective measures be taken by
him, or by his officers, for bringing 10 con-
Ign punishment the authors, abetlors and
perpetrators OF the act:
That the plundering the baggage Of the
,a-rtsan AZ the CtdarS SfrinuinU them of