Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-07-21
VOL. $40. 81.
the fnrsn PRISONERS.

Among the prisoners taken BY che British
al Queenstown were about sixty natnraisscd
citizens, large portion Of whom were IRISH
men. The British authorities claimed the
right and expressed the determination to hang
them as traitors, Notwithstanding they had
become citizens Of the United States. These
men were at Quebec, on board vessel with
Scott aud the rest Of the prisoners, all bound
to Boston to be exchanged. The British Of
feer ca.se on board. and began to select the
Irishtnen irhom they intended 70 stad home
to grace the gallons The officers had no
sure means OF detecting the Irish prisoners
but by their broguc. or their confessions
Scott. who was below. hearing shat was GO
ing on. immedidftla fashfd on dtck end
told his afflicted men not 10 ddstcer any qncs-
TONS put TO them. thus putting out Of their
way to single out the objects Of their vcn-
gcanec. Then, turning to the British officers.
he boldly denounced their proceedings and
threatened like retaliation upon British
prisoners. il they dared to execute single
man among his comrades
ihe officers hsaghtily remiuiedlhm that lc
was himself a prisoner, and ordered him into
the cabin. But he was not a man to be In-
timidatel, and refused to GO, again calling
upon his Irish soldiers to answer no more
questions. A high quarrel ensued but the
| result was. that no more Of the prisoners could
be identified as liishmen, for they would no
open their lips The officers. however. had
already selectcd twenty two before Scs 4 made
/ his appearance. These were separated from
their fellow prisoners. put on hoard frigate
and, despatched for England to be hung. But
they did not 60 till Scott had sclemnly war
ned the British authorities that he would
surely asengc the death Of every man they
dared to lay violent hands upon by a terrible
rotribution upon the 6rst English prisoners
that should fall into his hands after his libcr-
alton
Scott was soon exchanged. How faithful
! ly he kept his promise. and how true iriond
he proved to daturnlizcd citizens, we shall
see He proceeded at once to Washington.
and obtained the passage Of = law by Con-
sfess to fetalate upon English fifscners any
such outrage as was threatencf at Quebec.
He again fought aad CONQUERED He had
prisoners In plensy. lie forthwith selected
TWENTY-FIVE Of genuine English descent. (for
re declared he would nos Offset Irish by
Irish and held them as hostages for the
twenty two Irishmen taken home to be exc
cutcd as traitors He thUn communicated
to the British authorities what he had done.
and informed them, if they dared to execute
their threats upon the twenty-five lrishnstn.
the twenty-five EnglisLmen should promptly
pay the penalty by sharing the sane fate -
The consequence was, the Ewes of the Irish
men we're spared. and at the close OF the wtf,
they we're embarked from England, and short
~ after arrived in New York.
| Singularly enough, it SO happened that on
the very day these old comrades o. Genesal
Scott landed on The wharf. them. cotsmansev
and friend. and the man to whose courage
and frnness they we're indebted for their
lives, then stilf suffering from the severe
wounds he had received in tho war Pssfed
along the quay on fcot He was Instantly
recognized by the how liberated prisoners,
who, knowing Att he had accomplished in
their behalf, rushed upon him with cheers.
expressing fervor Of affection. qualification,
and delight, that is impossible to describe
Their joy was unbounded, as the recogns-
| ton was mutual He was seized and shaken
till the mingled pain Of his wounds and the
emotions produced by sucR a heartfelt ezhi.
bition caused even the tear of stalRars man.
hood To- start. upbdden down lis check. it
was with difficulty that he escaped from the
grasp Of these warm hearted Hibernians who
rightly regarded him as their fast friend and
benefactor who had restored them to The land
of their ADOPTION If the Irish have a true
friend, it is Gen Winfield Scott. Life of
| Scott.
4