The sun., 1908-11-15
IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMRs.


In the arran gements for the exchange
OF prisoners between Gen. Washington
and the British commanders soldiers were
exchanged for soldiers. private citizens
for private citizens and sailors for sailors.
To the English and the American forces
the soldier was much more valuable than
the sailor. 1t cost the Englishmen far
more to bring over soldiers and keep them
in America than II did sailors, and It was
much more difficult for the American au-
thorities TO secure soldiers Of the line than
1t was TO secure sailors. and especially those
not sailors In the employ Of the Continental
Congress. but merely In private employ
upon vessels engaged as privateersmen
under letters Of mark and reprisal, who
constituted the great majority Of American
sailors in the war.
There was very little OF the American
navy except 90 far as II was constituted
by privateersmen. and IL was much more
easy among an adventurous people 10 se-
cure the employment Of sailors upon pri-
vateersmen who generally shared In the
proceeds Of prizes than II was to obtain
enlisted men in the army: hence almost
all the exchanges were Of British soldiers
soldiers of the Continental line and OF the
State militia.
Men who were detained-on the priso
ships were generally those who had been
captured by British vessels Of war from the
decks OF American 'privateersmen. There
were q great many British sailors captured
by American privateersmen, and had these
captives been turned over to the Con-
Rressional Government for detention they
would have constituted source from which
exchanges might have been regularly
effected and the men detained on the prison
ships have been thus set at liberty. But
the American privateersmen took no pains
In this matter They were frequently
successful In inducing their British prison.
ers TO engage themselves a. American
sailors in new privateering enterprises.
JUsT1FxrNo wAsHINoToN's ACTION.
I stop here to allude TO q charge made
by the British against Washington and the
American authorities in order to relieve
themselves from responsibility for the
huIks They say, as is true. that the Brit
isb authorities offered to exchange the
prisoners detained In the prison hulks for
British soldiers held by the American forces
In American prisons. and that this offer was
declined
It was declined by Warrington FIRST on
the ground that he had no authority over
naval prisoners Later on Il appears that
such an exchange might have been made
by Washington had no deSiroo 70 DO 90,
but his position evidently was that he could
not afford, in the interests Of the cause for
which he was fighting, to aid the British
by giving back 10 them seasoned soldiers
of the line TO reinforce their army In America
in exchange for men who had never had
experience az soldiers at all. and who were
nothing but the sailors Of privateersmen.
1t Is true that by 90 doing he would have
been enabled 10 save the sufferings OF his
own countrymen who wero detained 10 the
prison hulks. and this shows clearly that the
rights OF those whose memory We here recall
with gratitude were sacri1oed to meet
the exiGencies Of the country In the critical
hour OF her birth. But II was balancing
OF Washington's obligations. and he felt
II 70 be the higher duty 10 maintain that
course which would weaken the enemy and
ultimately drive him to peace than TO relieve
the sunerings. however terrible. Of those
OF his unfortunate countrymen detained
upon prison hulks.
We must Justify washin gton in this con-
clusion. Just exactly as we must justify
Grant in refusing the exchange Of prisoners
at time, In August. 1854, when the suffer
ingB OF Andersonville we're held up before
him ~ q reason for maxim 9 suoh IN exchange.
But II vas critical moment In the history