Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-21
NUMBER III
Retaliation,
From he Richmond Rrauiper


A lesson for that sentimentalisr, os a., o,, a..
would REJECT the policy Of retaliatng unon tbs va
ace Prtsoners III our hands the deeds of outrage and
/ gnoIlny Hhleseo upon our prisoners NAV he
IO1n9 IA 1e Lecorus ol our revolutionary histor,r
and in the distinguished example of W.sL;nrt;;,
! himself HsI'h
The conduct Of General Washipst,,r. N +t,,
tic case of Capt Asgill was perhaDs oDo - -
truest exhibitions Of character at once a., ~
benevOleBt--nOt insenslble to humana ssnti -. -
but recognizing the truest humanity as ira -,
ceeding from the conscientious and un-elsyed a.
charged Of plain and patriotic duty
The fact of this interesting and romantic enisois
in our revolutionary history are as follows
1t was while negotiations we're taking place in
kurope for the recognition Of our independence
after the American successes in the CarOlinas ana
Georgia, and the capitulstiOn Of Yorktown, that
the Tories maddened by the loss of their property
and friends, exhibited the most savage and desper
ate spirit Of vengeance towards the Republicans
On the 3Oth Of March, 1873, Philip White, noto-
rious Tory, was executed by set Of men eall-d
the Monmouth Retaliators.7
Afew days afterwards, Joshua Haddy a captain
IN Washington's army was seized and hanged by
the Tories, label being affixed to his breast stat
ing that he had been hanged as an act Of retrbutOn
for the execution CT White.
Sir Henry Clinton Immediately ordered the mur-
derers Of Huddy to be arrested and Captain Lin
Pneott, their leader, being tried BY eouFs-martial
verdict Of not guilty was returned on the plea
mands of his superors the Directors of the Beard
Of Associated LOyalists."
The application of Washington for the rendition
of the murderer LippincOtt, being refused he i'm
medlataiy resolved upon retaliation. The eircum-
stances OF the case were peculiar. War had been
suspended; yet Washington considered that the
right of retaliation, recognized by civilized code
still continued in existence. The outrage had been
committed BY Tory organization, yet Washington
did not fail to perceive that the murderer bsd bap
ad hvF Pa
He instantly gave notice 70 Sir Henry Clinton. in
response to his refusal to surrender Lippincott.
that he would retaEste-and thai too. uoou The
British prisoners in his hands.
For the purpose of selecting an object of lust
vengeance for the murder Os Captain Huddv lots
were cast among the prisoners. The fatal lot
fell upon Captain Asgil, 4 prisoner taken at York
town. He was a son Of Sir Charles Asgill and onlv
nineteen years Of age. The rank and peculiar cir
cumstances of young Asgill aroused a strong party
to intercede in his behalf Washington was mex
Orable His duty he felt to be painful; but he knew
IFS performance to be indispensable TO check and
destroy the bands Of Tories that under the prOee-
ton of the British Government were threatening
to execute the vengeance Of assassns upon the re-
publicans.
Lady Asgiil, the mother of the unfortunate pris.
OneF, had inteFeeded in vain the British Govern
ment, to whom properly belonged the power to
release her son, BY the performance of an act Of
justice their part n the rendition Of the murderer
of Capt. Huddy She bethOught herself of writing
TO the French Minister, Vergennes, baseeching his
interference, as a friend Of Washington with that
commander. Her affecting letter being read By
Yergeunes to the King and Queen Of France, they
commissioned the Minister to add their desires to
his own, "that the inguIetuie Of an unfortunate
mother might be Gained and her tenderness re-
assured" These letters, being in the nature Of an
official intercessiOn Of friendly Government Wash
ingtOn was prompt to lay before Congress; and the
result was an order frOurthat body 10 set Captain
Asgill at liberty.
That Washington would have hanged young AsgiH
but for this powerful and imposing intercessioa,
and despite Of appeal to his mere sympathies,
where his sense Of duty had been interested, does
not admit of q reasonable doubt. If his action in
this instance all his actions were the dictate OF
Judgment at once severe and humane, aud not
unworthy as an example, what policy other than
that of retaliation, such as his can we recommend
in circumstances so much stronger than those in
which he exercised it. It should be considered that
the present circumstances IN which We recommend
retaliation are those of fagrant war; Of acts Of bar
barity committed directly BY the public enemy HIM
self, and Of outrsges which in themselves, can have
no colour Of retribUtive justice, from anything
have done, to give cause or occasion for them.