The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-08

90 ~ 80 ~ "a ! 1g r. w csi1luy.
e1ben u tson9 - ~ o. n6HnA $3.50
- ee1ags - 49, - - ~ ~ = M.
esneA eel1eve. W. oaaksrs were not sasuss1
men militia dnty. aad even n 1Ai1aAsiphiaI
Aose ossa sons a them draUDed ~ v1gh ~
troopss bus u ansWessA - oood purpcss. Soe
nothing that sould b done b them would make
them learn The manual exeeoase. much more n.
ducs them 70 heht tits vsry cruel 10 forcs sush
men 70 the nsld." Although. - We have seen.
Il was one Of Biddls's chief motives In enlist
Ing 10 have . shot ct the Hssaisns. he saw
cause later to change his opinion Of
these msrcenarfes. when no came 70 know
many Of them. and considered that they were
cot Of poor wretches. obliged to 90 where
ever they were ordered By their prince" He
records that" many Of them captured with Bur-
Goyno were ct Reading. and were very useful
to the farmers In the nelghborhood. who hired
Thorn and found they were hardworkins.
industrious follows. I know several who have
become men OF property. and behaved we'll.
One Of them has been with me eleven years."
He says whom he first came to America
he and all the Hessians firmly believed that II
they were taken BY the Americans they would
be roasted and eaton" He notes with indlg-
nation the conduct Of an American surgeon
who was employed to attend the wounded Hes
SLAMS taken prisoners after tho attack upon
the fort at Red Bank. This man boasted. II
seems. that whenever he was called to He's
sian wounded In the leg or arm he Immediately
amputated It, whether necessary or not. to pre-
vent their doing any more mischief"
1t IL evident that Capt. Blddle. like many
other patriots. a. their attitude after the close
~ tho vS1ao e. Aou oNeatA HA1k - hntN
far more kindly toward the British. with whom
they wero contcndng. than toward the French.
| who fought upon their side Thus he would
| not take the troubls to call on La Fayette and
De Kalb. when they first landed ut George
town. Col. Morgan. hearing that these officers
| had just arrived. requested me. as I spoke
little French. to 60 with him ana speak to
them: but had seen and heard 30 much OF the
French officers who came over to entor into the
American service that had conceived very
unfavorable opinion Of them. and told him I
supposed they were only BARRIERS or tailors
and would not 60 with him." He adds. yet
without evinoing much enthusiasm. that they
were. however. both officers Of great merit"
| His prejudice against foreigners found vent
also on one Of the Voyages from Philadelphia to
the West Indies. which. after short term
Of service in New Jersey. he continued to mako
during the war. He had at this time a. .
passenger on board his vessel the Hun
earian Count Benyowsky. who frequently
abused Congress and the Board Of War. which,
As he always behaved with great politeness to
me- did not say any thing to him about
although 1t was disagreeable to me to hear him.
But two days before wo arrived at Cape
Francois. after dinner. when he was O little
heated with wine. he spoke disrespectfully Of
Gen. Washington. This was what could not
bear without taking notice OF. told him there
was a great many foreign scoundrels went TO
the army under Gen. Washington. and when
the General found them ignorant and good for
nothing he sent them away. and they then
abused him; that II he said another disrespect-
full word OF the General would put him out Of
the cabin He turned pale with rage; he said
was now on board my own vessel. rs soon as
I arrived at the Cape he would make me
answsrable for insulting him. told him II he
ever spoke unexpectedly OF Gen. Washington
in my presence. be It where 1t would. / would
insult him." Capt. Biddle was Justly reputed
formidable antagonist. afoat or ashore. and
after the ship reached port the Count
reconsidered his warlike intentions. The
writer's admiration for Washington is
apparent from another anecdote Having been
captured on one Of his cruises. and carried a
prisoner to New York he was allowed by his
British captors to 60 on parole to Flatbush.
|
men. Of whom. by the way. he conceived low
opinion. considering these people set Of
| mercenary creatures. who cared for neither
Americans nor British but who would do any
thing for money" While at Flatbush he went
one day to Jamaica to see Mr.. John Potts. one
OF those unfortunate men who. being attached
to the British cause. had left Philadelphia with
them. 1t was at this genteman's table first
heard Of any complaint against Gen. Washing
n.tAt- - N1.t- lkv~ u b.
knew an instance of his acting very improp-
erly. He said that after the surrender Of York.
town number Of the British. American, and
French officers were invited TO dine with Coun,
de Rochambeau. and that Gen. Washington
kept them waiting an hour. and when he came
made no apology. During oil the time OF my
being a prisoner never hoard the name Of
Gen. Washington mentioned but with respect
except by this officer. and he had nothing tc
say. except what have mentioned.
Capt. Biddle was able to confirm from his
own observation much that had been said about
the inhuman treatment OF the American pris
oners In New York. and particularly on board
the Jersey prison ship. He was convinced that
had the prisoners in New York been treated
with the same indulgence that those were who
were taken by Gen. Carleton at Quebec. few
, would have entered into the American service
, after their return home. His kindness had 9
, great effect upon the officers. most OF whom re-
signed as soon as they returned to their fami
, lies" Biddle's personal experience-he wa
, twice made q prisonsr-was. on the whole. q
pleasant ono. Thus. on the occasion just re
ferred to. after coming back from visit to The
, Jersey prison ship. Il Observed" he says
two Hessian officers looking at me very at
tentively. one Of whom at last exclaimed II
, broken English: BY Got! 1t ish Captain Bit
tle.' and. advancing. expressed great pleasure
at seeing me. found tho one who spoke wal
, Capt Baum. and his companion another Of
fcer. who. with him. had been q prisoner II
Reading the year before. and had been latel!
/ exchanged. They begged me to go to thei
r quarters. which did. and was treated will