Connecticut western news., 1911-03-02
GILLETTE'S LETTER
Epistle Written by Revolutionary Hero
 in Prison.

The following letter is of considerable historical interest and value, as there are ill existence very few such letters writ ten from the prisons or prison ships of the Revolution. This one was written by Lieutenant Jonathan Gillett, a rela- tive of the Canaan family of Gillettes, to his wife, Elizabeth, while he was u prisoner of war in New York city, after his capture at the battle of Long Island. He died shortly after his release, from the effects of his priYations. AS record ed in the letter published last week, his son Jonathan went through some simi- lar experiences. The "Oo" mentioned was his four years-old daughter Corinna, whose husband, Russell Loomis, lies buried in the old Gillette lot in the Low CT Cemetery i'll Canaan.
 My Friend: No doubt my misfor- tunes have reached you ere this. Itls as true as 1t is sad. I was made prisoner the 27th day of August last by people called the HeSslans, the most ungentle men of all mortals. l cannot give room to picture them here but this much at first resolved not to be taken, but by the lmportuning of the seven taken with ne, and being surrounded on all sides by numbers, unhappily surrended. Would to God never had, then 1 would never have known their unmerciful cruelties. They first disarmed me, then plundered me of all had-money and some cloth 1ng-after which they abused me with the guns. They first knocke d me down; l got up and they kept on beating nae | oil ha fr r got shut of them. The next thing was 1 was almost starved 70 death by them. l was kept there eight days and then was sent on board a ship, where l con- tinued thirty-nine days and lived much worse than when on shore. After l was set on shore ill New York, confined un- der strong guard until the twelfth day of November, after which had my lib- erty to walk over d part of the city be- tween sun and sun. Notwithstanding their generous allowance of provisions, l muse inevitably have perlshed of hun- ger had not some friends in this town relieved my extreme necessity. But I cannot expect that they will always do 1t. What l shall do next l know not, ! being naked of clothes and void of money, and winter present and provisions scarce; fresh meat one shilling per pound, butter three shillings per pound, cheese two shillings, turnips and pota- toes at a shilling half peck, milk fir teen coppers a quart, bread equally as dear, and the General says chat he can not find us fuel for the winter, although 1 at present we receive sea coal. I was after put on board seized with the dy- sentery. It followed me hard upwards of six weeks, after slow fever, but now l am vastly better. l pray these lines may find you and your children in health, and should be glad to hear from you if possible. My sincere love to you and your children; may God preserve you at all times from sin, sickness and death may He feed and clothe you, but above all prepare you all to appear be- fore His righteous bar, that when called you may each of you render up your ac- counts with joy. My business affairs, 1 hope do not hinder your being mindful of your souls welfare, nor my sufferings take your thoughts from your duty to God. Never murmur- or repine at the hand of Providence. What God does, remember it is right. Teach your child ren the paths of virtue and, to walk therein. May they remember theiE Creator in the days of their youth and live to do much good in their day and generation. And may you have the presence of God with you to enable and assist you in this important work. 1 leave you all in the hands of a merciful God, who will have mercy on all who seek Him, and may you be of that num- Der whose God is the Lord, and when you quit this mortal shore may you reach d far better where sorrow and veXations troubles never come. After giving you a small sketch of myself and troubles, I will endeaver to lead you into the poor situation the soldiers are in, especially those taken at Long Island when 1 was. In fact, their cases are deplorable, and tthey are real objects of pity. They are still confined and in houses with no fire, poor mortals with little or no clothing, perishing with hunger, offering eight dollars in paper for one in silver to re- heve their distressing hunger, having want of 1t after their notes are broken and gone. Some almost lose their voices and some their hearing. They are crowded into churches and there quar- tered day and night. l cannot paint the horrible picture they make. It is shock ing to human nature to behold them. Gould draw curtain from before you and there expose to view lean jawed mortal on whom keen hunger has laid his skinny hand and whetted to keenest edge his stomach cravings-surrounded with tattered garments and rotten rags clothes occupied by unwholesome yer min-could do this. say might in some small manner fix your idea with what appearance some hundred of these poor creatures make in houses where people once attempted to implore Gods blessings. But will say no more of these calamit1es. God be merciful to them. can afford them no relief. If l had money I would soon do it, but l have none, for wrote a line to you by Major Willis to try and see if some one would help me to hard money under my present necessity. I conld not write more if had, the General would not allow 1t to go out, and if ever you write to me would have you write very short, or shall never see it. I have going on due six months wages; when completed
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