The Republican ; and Savannah evening ledger. (Savannah, Ga.) 1807-1816, July 29, 1815, Image 2

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jkt ilu wn» tutul thaltfae litm- 1 rang, (bat whether before or subsequent is o the eridenoe doubtful, though captain Portland slates it positively as one ofhiifnr- -ber reaMti for canting it to ring) tome one or bore of the pritonert broke the iron chain, , Which wn the only fattening of Ho. 1 gate, ■Jbadhjg into the market-square, by means of an ,fto» bar ; and a aery contiderable number of Vi prisoners immediately rothed towards that _j prisoners Immediately— fate ; and many of them began to press for- /wards as Cut as the opening would permit into the square. Then was,BO direct proof before ns of previ- baa.it. of. tie fata'aciaj % circais stain 60, in torn* respects to be lamented, as. it induced Ihent lo trj Out *• blank cartridge,* and »ere- S irritated and encouraged' ihepi to renew eir insalts to the soldiery, which produced a repetition of the firing in a manner much more destructive.' - Z 1 rjjfc The firing in the sqnarelavieg continued for soma time, by which several el. the prifoners sustained injories, the greater part of them appear to bate been running baek with the ut most precipitation ahd confusion to their re spective prisons, and the caaCe for farther fir ing seems at this period to have ceased. It ep- fjxn ooncert or preparation on tbe part of the pears accordingly that captain Shortlgnd was orisonert, and no evidence of their intention or in the market-square exerting himself and giv- Stposition to effect their escape on this occa- iog orders to that effect, end that lieutenant jion, excepting that which arose by inference Fortye. had succeeded in stopping the fire ot (tons the whole of the obove detailed circum- bis part of the guard. ' stances connected together. Vot er these circumstances It Is eery difficult The natural and almost irresistible inference to find any justification for the farther continn- .to be drawn, however, from the conduct of the ance and renewal of the firing which certainly prisoners by captain Shortland and the military took place both in the prison yards and elae- was, that an intention on the part of the pris- where: thoogb'we have some evidence ofrab- sners to escape was on the point of being car- sequent provocation given to the military, and tied into execution, and it was at least certain resistance to the turnkeys in shotting tbe prl>- (hat they were by force passing beyond tbo soas, and of atones being thrown oat from witb- £oit* prescribed to them at • time when they in the prison doors, ought to have been quickly going in for the The subsequent firing rather appears to tight. It was also in evidence that the outer have arisen from the state of individual inita- gates of the market square were usually opened lion and exasperation on the part of the sol wbout thia time to let the bread waggon pass diers who followed the prisontra into their and repass to the store, although at the period yards, and frera the absence of nearly all the ,3s question they were in fact closed: officers who might have restrained it; as well • Under these circumstances, and with these as from the great difficulty of patting an nod to Impression* ueceaaarilyoperating upon his a firing when once commenced under ,ueb efr- xaind, and o knowledge that if the prisoaers cumstances. Captain Shortland was from fort more dnjusfifiabie, firing wijch look place I Fori!, pdffirfrfafl o| tic back, into three of the prisons, Nos. 1, 3 and 4, but j punclutedwou-if more particularly into No. 3, after thg prison ers had retired into them,' and there was no Kactbebpllf; J ,hn Gray, Amputated arm. - - j Rr.berl Willct Tawny, amputated thigh. Ihefr emfpe P Unon M^nnn7‘iT, 0 'n Jr Bell, bsronet wound of the thigh, will perceive" bythe rejortf Mr/Lament’and Jhomas Trucly gun shot wound through the myself had no difference of opinion, and I am I toittcice The ball entered the hip f fully pursuaded that my own regret wal not! »nd passed out at the forepart ol tbe U)fgb# tod greater than hit at perceiving how hopeless j through-ihe tesridd. would bo tbe attempt to trace to any individn- j William Leversage, lacerated had end am, alt of tbe military theta outrageans prdcesd- J puttied thumb. "ft_ . \ Joseph Bexack, alias MasicV, gun shot Jgg —"j•» “»“w- r “ to form any satisfactory oninion. thonvh tor. I P*” ea ' m such an order. But bis anxiety and exertions to hips, complicated with a shattered state of the stop it after it had continued for some little- upper jaw. ' . time, are fall? proved, and his general conduct I Janies Esdell, gun shot wound of the hips previous to this occurrence, as far as we could Henry Montcalm, gun shot wound of theJfeft with propriety enter into such details, appears knee ". ilh . S Te * 1 f * irn . eiJ . I Frederick Howard, gun ahet wound of the and even kindness, in the relation in which ha stood towards the prisoners. On the subject of any complaints against i their own government' existing among the pri- 1 toners, it was ihvariably., answered to several leg, through which the ball pasted. . William Ponn, black* gun shot wound of tke thigh. * Robert Fines, gun shot wound cf the po- distinct questions put by me on that heed, that | ois. none whatsoever existed or had been expressed j Cornelius Garrison, gun shot wound of tbo by them, although they confessed themselves to thigh, the ball passed through the limb. “ me “ n .'. rao,i !y ?S ain *‘ Mr ; I Edward Whittlebshks, bayonet wound el ence penetrated through tbe square, the power this time busily occupied with the turnkey in •f escape was almost to a certainty afforded to the square, receiving and taking care of the them, if they should be so disposed. Captain, wounded. Ensign - White remained with -•bertland in the first instance proceeded down : his guard at the breech, and lieutenants the square towards the prisoners, having order- Avely nc and Fortye, the only other subalterns wd. a part of the different guards, to the ! known to have been present, continued ip the »amh*r of about fifty only at first, (tbougb they square with the main bodies of their respective were increased afterwards) to follow faint.— guard. Per some time both he and Dr. Magrath en deavored by qniet means and persuasion, to in duce the prisoners to retire to their otvn yards, explaining to them the fatal consequences Which mast ensae if they refused, as the milita ry would in that case*", necessarily compelled to - employ force. The guard was by this time form ed in the rear of captain Shortland, about two thirds of the way down the square—the latter - is about one hundred feet broad, and the guard Attended nearly all across. Captain Short- land, finding that persuasion was all in vain, end that although some were induced by it to Slake an effort to retire, others pressed on in considerable numbers, at last ordered about 15 file of the guard, nearly in front of the gate which had been forced, to charge tfae prisoners buck to their own yards. Tha prisoners were in some places so near the military, that one of the soldiers states that be could not fairly come down to the charge; find the militery were unwilling to act as against an enemy. Some of the prisoners also ~itn willing end relnctent to retire, and some pushing end struggling ensued between the par- - ues, arising partly from intention, but mainly S im the pressure; of those behind preventing ose in front froin getting back. After some -{lttie time, however, this charge appears to bavo been fo far effective, end that with little dr So injury to the prisoners, is to have driven them for the most part quite down out of the {Uaare, with the exception of a small number ■eflto continued their resistance about No. 1 gate. A great etoud still remaineo ■ /_ ...—i i..fc« pars aitnese yards f -ra the vicinity of the gates. This assemblage Brill refused to. withdraw, and according to _ of the English witnesses, and some of tha American, was making a noise, hallooing, Thralling, and provoking, and daring the mili tary to fire, ana according to the evidence, of several of tha soldiers, and some olhers, was ■pelting the military with large stones, by which some of them were actually struck. This cir cumstance is however denied by many of the Amerieen witnesses and some of the English upon having tbe question pot to them, stated - they saw no stones thrown previously to the fir ing, although their situation at the time was sack as to enable them to aee most of the other proceedings in the square. Under these circumstances the firing com menced, With regard to any order having been given to fire, the evidence is very contra dictory. Several of the Americans swear po sitively, that captain Shortland gave that or der ; but the manner in which, from the con fusion of the moment, they discribe this part of -the transaction, is so different in its details, that it is very difficult to reconcile their testi- ’ Mony. Many of the soldiers and other Eng- i lish witnesses, beard tbe word given by some one, but no one of them can swear it was by captain Shortland, or by any one in particular, end some, amongH whom is the officer com- - winding tha guard, think, if captain Shortland bad given such an order that they must have -beard it, which they did not. In addition to .this, captain Shortland denies the- fact; and 'from .the situation in which he appears to' have guard. The time of the day, which was the officers' dinner boor, will in some measate explain this, as it caused the absence of every officer from the prison whose presence was not indispensa- Me there!. And this circumstance which has been urged as an argument to prove the inten tion of the prisoners to take this opportunity to escape, tended to increase the confusion, and to prevent those great exertions being made which might perhaps have'obviated a portion at leait of the mischief which ensued. At'the same time that the firte g was going on in the square, a cross fire was also kept up from several of the platforms on the walls round the prison where the centries stand, by straggling parties of soldiers who ran np there for that porposc. As far as this lire was direct ed to disperse the men assembled round the breach, for which purpose it was most effectnal, it seems to stand upon the same ground as that in the first instance in the square. But that part which it is positively sworn was directed against straggling parties of prisoners running ab- olthe yards and endeavonng.to enter in t!>e few doors which the turnkeys, according to their usual practice, had left open, does seem, as stated, to have been wholly without object or excuse, and to have been a wanton Attack upon the live* of defenceless, end at that time unoffending, individuals. In the same, or even more severe terras, we must remark upon what was proved as to,the firing into the door ways of the prisons, more particularly into that of No. 3 prison, at a time when tbe men were in crowds at tbe entrance. '* v 3*o tbepositionoftbe prison and of the door, and from the maw. of the b*lf*wt»ieh were pointed out to us, as Well as from the evidence, it was clear this firing must have proceeded from soldiers a very few feet from the door way ; and altho’ it was certainly swern that the prisoners were at the time of part of the firing at least, continuing to insult and occasionally to throw stones at the soldiers, and that they were standing in the way of, arid impeding the turnkey who, was there for the purpose of closing the door, yet still there was nothing stated which could in onr view at all justify snch excessively harsh and severe treatinent of helpless end unarmed prisoners when all idea of escape was at an end. Under these impressions we used every en deavor to ascertain if there was the least pros- >ect of identifying any of the soldiers who had >een guilty of the particular outrages here al luded to, or of. tracing any partjcukr death at that time to the firing of any particular individ ual, but without success ; and all hopes of bringing the offenders to punishment should seem to be at an end. In conclusion, we, the undersigned, have on ly to add, that whilst we lament, as we domost deeply, the u ft fortunate transaction which has been the subject of this inquiry, we find our selves totally unable to suggest any- steps to be taken as to those parts of it which seem most to call for redress and punishment. Charles Ktito, Fras. SsvMoua Laxrerr. better able to judge. J TheyV«<3e no complaint I ,e,S9nl eUmri0 > *««* pawlysia of tbe lowet whatsoever as to the provisions and general j t * ,rern ,|e5 ’^ • ;• gJ mode of living and treatment in the prison. f James Turnbull, amputated ana. cm 1 r>av« tra>i«miuc(l to Mr. Beasley a list oil Stephen Philips, bayonet wounds of the ab- :be killed and wounded oo this melancholy cc 1 dntnen and thigh. casioo, with a request that he wouid forward it Jurats Wells, gun shot fracture of the si- to the United State* for tbfi information of j cr urn and crista iile, and gun shot fracture of their friends at home, and I am pleased to have ! both bones of the left arm. it In my power to a*y, that the wounded re j Ca'sb Codding, gun shot wound of the leg. for the most part doing well.' j EdwaidGradner, gun shot fracture of the left x I have also enclosed to Mr. Beasley the no'es teken by rue of the evidence adduced be { Jacob Dsvts, gun shot wound of the thigh« fore us, With a request that he would have them tairly copied, as also a copy of the de positions tsken before the coroner, and desir ed him to submit them to you when in or der. the ball passed through the thigh. John. Hngabets, gun ain't wound of the hip. Peter Wilson, gun shot fracture of the baud the ball passed the. palm of the band. John Perry, gun shot wound of the shoals. (I cannot conclude, sir, without ex ressir.g jder. my high sense o? the impartiality ar.d manly I John Peach, gun shot wound of the thigh. " ' u? '‘ “ * 1 A Kn!! rCiCOrwl ittunnivk itiaa 1 fairness with which this er T'' r y been corv ducted on the part of Mr. Larpent, nor with out mentioning that every facility was afford ed to us in its prosecution, as well by the mi* litary officers commanding here and at the pri son, as by the magistrates io the -icinttjr. I have the honor to-be, with much respect, your most obedient humble servant. Charles Kino. Hia exttlitncy John Q Mama &c. Z.ifdon, 18 A April, 1815 c ifi— A' 'he request of L">rd Castleresgh, we nave had interviews with him and Mr. Gnolburn on the subject of the transportation •t American prisoners now in this coun:ry, to the United States, and of the late ur>fortuaate event cm be depot at p utnaoer,. On the first subject, wc agreed to advise yuur acceptance of the proposition of lord Cas ieresgh to transport the prisoners as (he joint j -he ball passed through the thigh* f John Roberts, black, gua shot wound of the 'fc'gh. ' ' 4 J hn Ga’r, amputated thigh. Ephraim Lincoln, gun shot wound of the knee, discharged 33d April, t815. John Wilsov, bayonet wound, discharged, cured 13th April, 1815. Thomas Jackson, black, gun shat wound of 'he abdomen. He died early in the mornice of ihe Tth.* “ lenses Campbell, gun shot fracture, with dep e sion of t„e whole of the frontal bone, orbital ridge and nasal bones. He died on the moroitig cf the 8th.* _ ' CBOVOsJVlAeuATH. The nemus are included in tbo list of deaths. Plymouth, 26th Jpril 1815. 8im—In pursuance of instructions received ed from Messrs. Clay and Gallatin, I have new been placed at the time, even according to the t the honor transmit to yon the report prepar- • Amenriil witripsiei. in front, of th#* lo dtpn. St -a u.. m. t - j ir . r t ii - r may appear somewhat improbable that he tkbnid men have given such an order. But, however, it may remain a matter of doubt whether the firing first began in the the soldiers themselves, it. se. med clear that it was continued and renewed both there and elsewhere without orders ; and that on the respective governments, in relation to the un fortunate transactions at Dartmoor prison of war, on the 6th of the present month. Consid ering it of much importance that the report, equare by order, or was a spontaneous act of whatever it might be, should go forth under #ho sAifflars Inuvrveolvoa it vnofi olonv Ihni >1 * . » v m - onr joint signatures, I have forborne to press some of the points which it involves, as far as otherwise 1 might have done, and'(^therefore may not be improper in this letter to enter into some little explanation of sach part* of the re port. Although it does appear that a part of ,the prisoners were on that evening in such a state, and under snch circumstances, as to have ju,tilied, in the view which the commander of the depot could not but take of it, the interven wJatforms, »»d »i* veverat plates about tbo pri son, it was certainly - commenced without any authority. The fact of an order having been given at first, provided the firing wst under the exis^pig circumstances, justifiable, does not appear very material rin any other point of view than as shewing » vent of self possession, and disci pline ia tbo troop*, if they should have fired consideration, ef whether the fUmg* was ju.t.ti- fol alternative of firing upon unarmed vriaZn- ahie o* not, *• of opinion, under all the era might have been avoided. Yet as this ooin- mrcnmstances of the-case, from the appreheu- ion has been the resnlt of subsequent examine- noa whichi the soldiers might fairly entertain, tion, and alter having acquired a knowledge of owing toll* numbers and condnct of the the comparatively harmless state of the nrfson- pmoners, that this finng to a certain extent. era, it may be but fair to consider, whether in was justifiable in a military point of view, in or-! ,nch a moment of confusion and alarm » thLt der to intimidate the V ,i “ ner »» ™d compel appears to Have been, the officer ‘ them .thereby to desist from e» acts of violence could have fairly estimated bh dangeT. cr havf end to retire as they were ordered, from a si- measured out with precision the Extent and turiitm m which the responsib.Ity efthe agents, j nature of the force necessary to gu£dLra end the militaiy, could not permit them with it, 1 K a **™“ safety, to remain. M "**7 ^ thought necessary, aad make to communicate for th.'infn-JT i . C - 0raes . m T tion of the military force, and even in a strict * ,0 ' n ! re P Brt th « f ae's of the case to Jobfr government, the reanlt of the invMHMiin»° 0 f Z!'*J**2*- 84e of fire . ? et I «nnot g* Jdams, eyq Minister Plenfpo.entisry of tbe ™ moor - } *** « copy of the joint7.V- From the feet of the crowd bring so close, end tbcf ring at first being attended with very little injury, it appears probable that a large proportion of the muskets were,; as stated by W or two of tbe witness* levelled over the Bat when the firing became general, as it afterwards appears to have done, and caneht with electric rapidity from tfaesqoare tothe pUt- forma, there is no plea or shadow of excuse for it, except in the personal exasperation ofthp Deatrifttitn of Death Woundt in/Tfed on ■‘ m the evening of the 6th Ajirij, i81i. expence of the. two counirie*, reserving'the l 4 , Haywood—-black, the ball entered a lit* const roc'ion of the arr’cles ot the treaty, which I-,* * >oste r* cr *•. ,he aoromioa of the left shcu t* provides for the mutual restoration of pH*o-or, J abo'ut 'thi mUl&fhe’right ri for future adinsimenr- It was staled by us, J the neck. 6 5 * and was so understood, that the joint expense, } Thomas Jackson—tb ' ball entered the left thus to be tocurred. ls to comprehend as well { side of the belly, nearly in a line with theRa the requisite tonnage at the subsistence ofthe j ve| , and made its egress a little below the prisoners ; and moreover that measures 0 f J ,a ' se ribs •*" the apposite side, a large portion precaution should be adopted relative to the { of the intestinal canal protruded through the health and comfort of the prisoners similar to I , WQUn . , madt by the ingress of the bait. He ibese which had taken place in America. I ‘^ ul * he<1 UOtl1 8 ocIock ® f tbe 7th » when The d -tails of this arrangement, if you con-1 i Q h„ . , cur with us as to the expediency of making i>, | sqiiamore process of the left teniporfal^M^ are left to you to set'le with tbe proper British I and passing through the head, made its ex>» a authority. I little below the croceal ridge of the occipital tra 'he other subject, as a statement ofthe | bone - transac'Son has been receved from the Ante j ^ ane * Msnn«he ball entered at the inferi- rlcan prisoners, differing very materially in fact | * B . R , n,lhe le ^ scepola, and lodged under f ont that which had resulted from an ir.aui.v I ” e ,. lnt ^ ument . ” the pcetoval muscle, routed by the port admiral, Jt hs. been hought advisable that same means should be j Joseph Tokev Johnfnn^h° b h“ V ^ tl j gs * vJe of Th prW!Ur,nS in l! rnn,!i T « 10 real the inferior angle of the fofc reapria?^ stare of the case, in order on tbe one hand, to I ‘rated the heart, and passing throoghbrth shew that there hid not been hop wanton or » luogi, made its egress at the rirhe improper sacrifice of the lites of American j ***”»• . Z citiasns, or. on tbo other, to enable 'he Briilsh f ,u W .,V n “wage—the ball entered about government to punish their civil and m'itta-1 , ,hc h ft arm through which it ry officers, H it should appear that i hey resorted I ra P ene * ra f in g the csorreapoodipg side. I to measures cf extreme ,Verity without nece” thS 1^1^^ ^ ird rias * *i*y, or with too much precipitation. [ LKS *J*T , acdi ^ Lord Castleresgh proposed that the enquiry I twixs the 5th and^th a “ d lodK “ db * should be a joint one, conducted by a commis-1 Campbell—the ball entered at th. stonor selected by each govemmeot, And I ?°* er “S 1 * the right eye, and io its course we have thought such so enquiry most 1 kely .1 fr !l ture 1 d * nd depressed the greater parr to produce an impartial ana satisfactory re I „ . - ntal " 5Be - factored tbe nasal bones, and salt; * “ ade ,ts e g*** above the orbital ridge .rftn* We presume that'your will have too much th e 8ttTwhen he'Skd** 1 UOia tbe mornin S occupation on the fi-st subject and tbe other * ”* n - .. incidental duties of your office, to attend tei tj,E0 * Gl Macbat*. this enquiry in person. On that supposition Lorldnn , we have stated to tba Brnish government that I 8lB-I a m y letfer otSe^fhC’ W- we should recommend to you the selection of formed yon e? the meareres whirh^f.i’ J ,,v a* * 8 P er8on ‘0 cocducl adopted here in consequence of the laufunforo «» ,n T^ Cha * f ° f,he American govemment. Tf »«nato event at Dartmoor Prison f Mr. King will undertake tbe business, hewiH honor to transmit the copy of k forthwith proceed to Dartmoor, end in con- Gril^in rrifri,* 1 * r? e . by MrC1 V *»d P $fr! * junction with the British commissioner, who tron^rt^en of ^. a~2 rreBCe ’ “ n d lb « may be appomied on the occasion, will exam- •ffSSKMJSkidSff'S prii0ner * iq duty to commnnicate for the inform.*;.,- ”, government. The mode of executing this verviee must be left to the discretion of Mr. King and his colleague If they can agree upon a narra- tive ofthe facts after having heard the evidence it will be better than reporting the whole mass of testimony in detail, which they may per haps find it necessary to do, if they cannot come to such an arrangement. We arc, sir, your, ebedtefit humble servants, H. Clax, O a a , Alarxt Gaxaatut. R O. Betutty % tag. s&St '£sx£- StSS&SS* I shall leave to Mr. farlh „ ttep< ,. Ish^n leave to Mr. Adam.'any SroA I«n„Jr en Uf Pr ° per to take thix fil aineiA 1 can net, however, forbe—' the erroneous impresrion'of’thr^mo^r/’toat tbeir deUnnonra loag haa bees owing> ^ You ire aware, sir, of my constant 1 daring the war to effect their lib£itin« ^72* iitt of firUeruwounded, on tfc -y tAe6t*4firil, 1815. Tbem Smith, Awpntate* ihij^ . at Ghent, 1 renewed my instances on thatSuh* jest; proposing as a condition, that all the oris- rai * hl ^ deU?ered owt. ifobtfS- Bnbrit government, should be consider^ «! pruonera of war. and not at liberty Io mmSw SB?*"*. • ♦ •» ■ Jt.