Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-01
Life on q Prison Ship.
A "Reminiscences OF the Revolutionary
War.

Jersey" prison ship during the Revo-
lutionary War, is fair sample Of the
life Of the prisoners On board of the
rest for, although the Jersey has
gained bad pre-eminenee as a prison
ship, which would naturally lead many
to suppose that her prisoners alone we're
subjected to suffering and privation, the
testimony Of those confined in the other
vessels prove clearly that their treat
mept wen everywhere the same. The
only difference lay in the fact that the
Jersey was larger than the others, and
continued in the service longer. Of all
the vessels so used as prisons, the jersey
gained the greatest notOriety, her name
striking terror to the heart Of every
American sailsr. Originally q 64.gun
ship, condemned as unfit for service,
she had been stripped of spars and rig
giDg, and anchored at Wallabout as o
store-ship, and for want of other prison
accommodations subsequently convert
ed to a prison-house, as we're also the
Good Hope, Good Intent, Hunter, Fal-
mouth, Bristol, and others. On board
the Jersey the crew consisted of cap
tain, two mates, steward, cook, and O
dozen sailors, with guard of twelve
marines and about thirty soldiers. A
prisoner on being brought on board was
questioned as to his name and rank,
which were registered, after which he
wes searched for weapons and money.
Many were the devices resorted to by
the prisoner in order to retain portion
if not the whole of the money in his
possession, for newell knew that if once
placed in the keeping of his iailers that
was the last of it as far as he was con-
cerned, while small portion saved
might eventually be of great service to
him in obtaining favor from his guards.
Clothing and bedding they were per-
mitted to retain, and however scanty
they might be, 40 more was supplied
while oh board the prison ship.
He would be then ordered down into
the hold, where from thousand TO
! twelve hundred men were tongregated,
covered with ress and filth, and CHASTITY
frem breathing the pestilential air
many sick with typhus fever, dysentery
and smallpox, from which the vessel
was never free. The prisoners were
, divided into messes of six each, who,
, every morning at the ringing of the
stewards bell received their daily al.
t lowanee Of pork or beef, peas and bis.
. euit, to which butter, suet, oatmeal and
I -four were occasionally added, but there
/ being only one fireplace to cook the
q food of such number, the latter deli
b castles were frequently of no avail as
food.
The allowances were frequently de
layed, the steward not beginning t.
8 serve out the rations until II A. NJ, 81
If tkas The whole could not be served unit
l. late in the afternoon. At sunset tn,
n fire was ordered to be quenched, ant
3, those that had not their food dressed
e by that time were obliged either to 90
e it raw or go hungry. Articles suited t.
<. the condition of infirm people wer
ID never allowed to the many sick, al
le though the officers and crew had Their
n in profusion. The prisoners were con
is fined in the two lower maindecks, tn
y lower dungeon being filed with fol-
N eigners, who were treated with eve
If more inhumanity than the Americans
e. Every morning the prisoners wer
K greeted with the cry of Rebels, tur
Id out your dead p The order was obeyet
en- and the bodies of those who had die
ne during the night were brought up upo
* the deck and placed upon the grating
ut Ii the deceased had owned a blanke
ed eny prisoner was at liberty to sew
at around the corpse, after which it VIZ
ar sent on shore to be placed in the con
ly mon ditch with those of the dsy DR.
70 vious.
he The prisoners were allowed tipo
at deck in squads ttntil sunset, when the
sh were salnted with the insulting cry
le, Down, rebels, down T.
he When the order Of "Down, rebel
ng down p had been obeyed, the ma
IS, hatch was closed, leaving e email ira
on door, large enough for one man
Dr. ascend it at q time, over which Sc
M tinel was placed, with orders to perm
ito but one man to come up at time
ng night. These sentinels were oft,
ut. guilty of the most wanton cruelty. o.
rd night while the prisoners were huddl.
about the CRATE of the hatchway to O
tain fresh air, awaiting their turn
IRE 60 on deck, the sentinel thrust
nd bayonet among them, killing twent
cb five of their number, which outrage,
ci- lesser extent, was frequently repeate
nd Prisoners, constantly seeking to esoar
of cherished life that they might one d
he take vengeance for their suffering
a Two young men, brothers, belongi
ker to rife corps" says the author of t
B, Life of Silas Talbot, "were ma
qe. prisoners, and sent on board the Jerse
". The elder took the fever and becal
md delirious. One night, as his end "
is /; fast approaching, he became calm a
SEES sensible, and, lamenting his hard (,
,as- and the absence Of his mother, begg
I'm. for little water. His brother, wi
out tears, entreated the guard to give b
tirs some, but all in vain. The sick Won
rms was soon in his last struggles, when I
ter brother offered the guard guinea
old an inch of candle only that he mig
he have light to see him die. Even i
out was refused. Now said he, dryi
the his tears, if it please God that @
ing regain my liberty, I'll be most bit
ond enemy He regained his liberty,
,ers joined the army, and when the '
an ended, Re had eight large and one hi
me. dred and twenty-seven small motel
on his rife-stock.
But in spite of all their severity
watchfulness, escapes were fredue
and whole mess would sometimes
oav found missing withoutthe slightest in
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