Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-06-06
THE PRISON SHIPS,
By RICHARD EvEEETT,

"
which she always has treated them, until within
few years. To such an extent was this oharac-
teristc indulged during the American Revolution.
that the British name received q stain which the
folds of mighty flag are not extensive enough
TO cover from the gaze of the student of history.
lie beholds in those manifestations OF barbarism
that inherent disposition to dominecr and pcrsc-
cute the weak and defenselcss. which is so mani
fest in English character II is an Illustration Of
that coarseness and brutality which is great fea-
ture in British disposition. Time. ana the in1u-
ences of civilization have modified England
conduct towards prisoners Of war, but the East
India campaigns furnish US With abundant evl-
dence that the old relentless. intolerant spirit
which fourished on this soil in the days Of our
Revolutionary struggle. yet finds strong hold
in the British heart. The enormites committed
upon the poor East Indians aud the almost de-
fcnseless Chinese, within few years past, re-
qure no recital. Can we forget the crueltes
exercised towards the French troops taken in
Spain the starvation and massacre of Americans
at Dartm0or prison on English soil the murder
and outrage authorized by England during the
war of 1872, when she hired blood thirsty savagcs
to ravage our defenseless frontiers. with iona
hawk, scalping-knifc and the blazing torch put
ing women and children TO death? Can we for
get these hostile episodes in the warlike career
of England? Where is the American citizen
whose spirit does not kindle with Indignation
when be thinks Of the massacre of hundreds Of
his countrymen at the River Rasin-youug men,
the flower OF Kentucky, prisoners If '7qT nur-
dered by England's savage allies. after an honora
bic surrender to greatly superior force? That
is an item of England's dealing with the United
States which is yet to be settled
The Prison Ships! Eighty-two or eighty-tbree
years ago, in that portion Of New York harbor
where the Navy Yard is now located might have
been seen several old hulks. or dismantled ships
Of war tattercd, worm-eaten leaky, and alive
with vermin, they were anchored under the guns
of the battery, and made places of confinement
for American prisoners of war, by the British
authorities. The names Of these vessels were
the jersey Stromboli, Hunter and Scor-
pion.' The Jersey was the largest of the number
aud had generally from eight hundred to one
thousand prisoners on board, all crowded togetG-
er below the hatches, young and old, sick aud
healthy, with no bcrths, ard scarcely sufficient
clothing to cover their bodies They were allowed
10 blankets. and the wounded and diseased were
traalpled underfoot by those Of stronger mould
who sometimes. through suffering AID hunger,
became almost derangcd. Only few small po-t
holes admitted the scanty supply of air. and the
atmosphere was consequently futid aud fatal to
the most robust health. Dysentcry small pox
and ship fever prevailed and every morning
dead bodies were brought on deck from the char
mel house of death and thrown into the sea. But
their places were instantly supplied by drafts
from the prisoners on shore.
The officers and crew placed in charge Of the
hulks, were like demons in their conduct to their
helpless captives. Before going into the hold.
each prisoner was searched and stripped not only
Of every valuable article, but of such clothing
rs inspired the cupidity Of his captors. Then,
loaded with abuse. kicked, insultcd. and often
badly injured by his torment0rs, the wretchcd
captive was showed bcloY decks into the mass Of
pltrcfaction and despair which writhed in horror
between insanity and death. No words Of sym
pathy cheered the captives in the midst OF their
dreadful doom, but instead. the curses, the abuse
and vile eXccratons Of their guard, which with
loaded muskets stood ready to massacre the first
man who showed symptoms Of mutiny. Breeding
in the rotten rtccsses OF the old hulks, swarms OF
Ice. cockroaches ants. flcas rats, and other vCr
min craWled forth 10 riot upon their feast Of mis-
cry, and the suffering from this species of torture
alone caused many deaths. Sometimes the cap
tYcs were allowed TO come on deck in compa-
MES and remain several hours but at sunset the
cry Of Golcf rcjIS, d0,ca from the quad. drove
every prisoner below decks. Their food was
damaged and discarded provisions from the Brit
ish ships OF war, and the army-wormy biscuit
condemned beef and pork, mouldy beans and peas
Gc. &c, all cooked up together in large copper
kettle, nauseating mass, almost poisonous to
the human system, and served out in a most filthy
manner!
Every morning before daylight the hoarsc cry
-'rebls turn om y0Ur dead = rcsounded from
hulk to hulk, and in answer the corpse5 Of those
who had died during the hight were passed uD
through the batches. On board the Jersey as
many as thirty dead bodies were often found on
single morning victims OF the pestilence which
existed among the prisoners During the tore
noon, enough men were drafted from the old
'Sugar-llouse Prison. on shore to keep up the
number on board at one thousand. Although the
shore prisons we're horrible sinks of wretchedncss |
the poor prisoners would often beg TO be shot at
once, rather than be placed on board one of the
huiks 10 starve, and rot, and die by inches
attempted to escape, aud twice set fire to the
jersey, determined TO perish in the flames,
rather than live in constant agony. But the at
tempts were subdued and the flames eXtinguished
All night long. there went up from each hulk
sound of wang and despair. groans curses
prayers, hymns, and howls Of suffering, that were
fearful to hear. 1t sounded said an old writer
of the period as though hell Itself were let loose
upon the bay, 80 dire were their lamentatjons.'
For over two years this state of things con
tinued Washington demonstrated with Lord
Howe and Corvallis and Congress threatened
rrtaliatory measures, but they were never car
Iied out. 1t was estimated that during the peri
cd Of two years, there died from cruelty, starva
il0n aud disease on board the prison ships and in
ihc Sugar House Prison over eyeren thousand
American prisoners Of war Besides hundreds of
Others, @hO miracnlously survived the awful or
deal, were diseased for life and rendered misera
bic and helpless throughout the remainder of
their days. The Sugar House Prison as it was
called, was large stone building, once used as a
sugar refinery, five stories high. with small grated
windows 1t was located on Liberty street in
New York. In this prison, during the Revolution
thousands Of Americans were confined. The
rooms we're crowded so full that the only way in
which the prisoners could prevent sufocatlon,
was by standing at the grated windows 10 turn
each man being allowed about two inmates for
iFefb air This dreadful routine was kept up
night and day in some rooms, until worn out and
full Of despair, the heart broken creatures laid
down upon the damp floor 10 die we are not
.eNaggoratng the picture one iota. The truth can
,ll2t be told 10 language too strong. All the au-
ihorities which we have examined upon the sub
ject concur in stating that the inmates of ibe
prisons and the lnlks, endured the most dreadful
tutterings, and that the dead were *.eallicd
away by cart i0adSP Every now and then
british officer made tour Of the prison and ships,
and offered freedom, good pay, pardon and pro-
motion, to all who would enlist in the English
army and fight against the liberties of their ma.