The Irish standard., 1890-04-19

retreat for near hundred miles,
brought off all our ammunition, all our
field pieces. the greatest part Of our
stores. and had four rivers to pass,
None can say that our retreat was
rrecipitated, for we were three weeks
in perfo1 ming it, that the country might
have time to come in. Twice we
marched back to meet the enemy, and
remained out till dark. The sign OF
fear was not seen ia our camp, and had
not some of the cowardly and disatfect ID
inhabitants spread false alarms through
the country, the Jerseys had never been
ravished.''
When Washington crossed the Del
aware. Howe, the command chief
of the Britishry. returned to New \ ork,
leaving General Donop in command OF
two Hessian Brlgades, some companies
of yagers, and q regiment Of Highland
ers, to hold the line from Trenton to
Burlington in New jersey. The damned
spirit that characterized the Britishry
all through the Revolution began to
show itself afresh at this period. BY
orders committed to DOnOp, the in
habitants who separately or in banks
should fire on the armies, were to be
hanged on the nearest tree without
further process. All provisions. which
exceeded the wants Of an ordinary
family, were to be seized alike from
friend and foe. Life and property were
at the mercy of foreign hirejings. There
were examples where English soldiers
forced women to suffer what was worse
than death, and on one occasion pursued
girls, still children in years, who had
fled to the woods. Attempts to restrain
the Hessians we're given up, under the
apology that the habit of plunder pre-
vented desertiOns.
A British officer reported officially:
'sThey were led to believe before theV
left H esse- Cassel that they were TO come
to America to establish their private
fortunes, and hitherto they have GER
tainlY acted with that principle" "
Hazard, the postmaster, in letter re-
ferring to the Hessians, at this period,
writes: 'sThese rascals plunder all in
discriminatory. If they see anything
they like, they say Rebel, good for
Hesse- mans, and seize uD0n it tor their
own use. They have no idea Of the
distinctions between Whig and Tory
Early in 1777, began negotiations for
the exchange Of prisoners. Washington,
writing to Howe, adverted to the ill
treatment OF American prisoners In
New York. He went on to say:--!''if
you are determined to make captivity
as distressing as possible, let me know
it, that we may be on equal terms for
your conduct shall regulate mine. =
Several, who had been recently re-
lea sed. gave the most shocking account
OF the barbarlties they had experienced
at the hands of the BritishrY. and their
ema ciated countenances but too well
confirmed their words. Among the
cases that came TO notice was that of
Colonel Ethan Allen. He. at his cap.
ture, had been thrown into irons as 9
felon: he was threatened with q halter,
carried to England to be tried for trea-
son; confined for q time in Pendennis
Castle; re-transported to America; ard
was, at the beginning of1777 a prisoner
In New York. II have suffered everY-
thing short Of DEATH writes he to the
assembly OF his native state, Connec-
ticut.
d The barbarons treatme ent Of American
prisoners at the hands Of the Britishry
occupies q very important chapter in
the history Of these United States The
captive Americans who had been ia the
naval service, were said % be confined,
officers and men. ID prison ships, which,
;ftom their loathsome condi dition. and the
horrors and snfferings ofs / all kinds ex
,perienced on board sc them. mad ac--
qnlred the appel ellstion sf doating Rails.