New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
IT..

BoudinOts position Of the most oner-
Gus and annoying that can be conceived. The
treatment Of the prisoners by their English
Jailers was shameful. What is said in these
volumes is a mere sketch of what could be said.
In his letters and "reminiscences so far these
are here published, Boudnot confined himself 10
incidents heard Of at the moment, TO the re-
suits OF his own observation In the face OF all
the misery suffered by the imprisoned patriots,
the measures Of relief were necessarily made
quate. Congress promised hard money and gave
what It could. But the supplies thus obtained
were trifing In comparison with the needs Of
the starving and naked officers and men. Bou-
dinot devoted his own private means and all
that he could borrow to the cause he had at
heart. characteristic example of Howes way
of making given occasion. when
Boudinot had obtained permission to buy blan-
kets in Philadelphia. then held by the British.
and found on trial that every blanket for sale
had been bought up Again, in the winter Of
177S when the American Army lay at Valley
Forge, there n general demand on both
sides for exchange Of prisoners. The first
formal proposition was made by the English
authorities. Congress assented, commissioners
were appointed on both sides. and after days
Of discussion. IT came out that General Howe
never meant to make an exchange, but only 10
secure grievance which would enable him to
say that the Americans were 10 blame for pre-
venting a cartel One OF the freaks Of the Brit
ish officers on this occasion an attempt,
several times repeated, TO outdrnk the Ameri-
cans. The latter detailed Colonel Grayson, the
most valiant topper among them. to meet the
Englishmen at the bottles. His victory was
complete but It had no effect on the exchange
of prisoners. Boudnot extracted a tacit confess
sion Of wrong-doing from the British when he
brought about the removal of Cunningham from
the control of prisoners In Philadelphia But
the man was at once put In charge by General
Howe Of the prisoners in New-York
Warned by so many instances Of Howe's cum
ming methods, and doubtless impressed by the
wariness of Washington. Boudinot was not to
be caught by any articles when he was sent to
see for himself the condition Of the prisoners
in New-York. His mission was undertaken. by
express agreement between the American and
British authorities. He went in the uniform Of
his rank, but he took care to know as little as
possible Of military rules. Any error that he
made was to be set down to his Ignorance. BY
seeking in this way to know just what was the
right thing to do. he forced the British into the
effort to aid instead OF thwarting him. A Brit
ish officer accompanied him in his visit 10 the
prisoners. and thus he returned 10 deheral howe
with an unimpeachable witness to support his
own statements The evidence Of this officer
was particularly valuable in reference to the
case Of one jailer who defantly boasted Of his
cruetieo. But all the measures that Boudinot
could devise only served TO mitigate In part the
Indebtedness which he found. To judge by his
own words. no man in America was more de-
lighted than he by the capture OF Burgoynes
army. That event reacted almost Immediately
on the condition Of American soldiers In Brit
sh prisons. A considerable amount Of treasure
was secured by this victory, to which the care
Of so many prisoners. whose subsistence mad 90
he paid for by the British, added daily very
perceptible sum- BoudnOt fought persistently
and bravely for the cash which was needed for
the comfort of his prisoners and his letters
record his triumphs.