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A's party ^'lowinj in« Number and description of the enemy's troop's, and thoi. uude. 16 20 21 92 23 24 2!L 27 28 29 SO li. SI Retreat <.f Col. A. to avoid being gSrrounded His narrow e-»caj)e of being shot Surrender of himself and party, consisting of 38 Account of a horrid attack on Col. A. by two 8ava<«., nn^ . • B..gul.r mode of escaping their fury ^ ^^^ ravages, andh.s tnZSr*^ between a British officer and on, of the General Prescotfs treatment of him S'clSs"""^^ to save the live, of t"hir.ecn of" his H» conluiement on board the Gaspee schooner of war " * -m Description of his irons . ' - 41 Generous conduct of Bradley, a British officer ' * " . S :Z J:r^ \^1 ^Tl^^y *^t of twisting a ten 'r^.n.r'^ 44 41 34 is. 35 a. s? 3« S9 40 »(a ivt^iu allengesDr. Dace for h"is abuse ■•*- utHis IV CONTENTS. hi* Gtn. ArnoU's detachment apiwars off Quebec " Col A .ets sail forE„sland% a prisS; on board w^e Col tj'"/ Juhnson.Col. CIoss Etc """*«« were l.oi. nisasreable confinement ottboari ship " , . OddSo?Sl'5"rH" ''n^'^S circumstances '. * ^e^:f^^{X^'^^ "^England, and the excite- wlTte?toCo"'''^',^'"^'^'^'""°^ '^' "^^^« of Temple' ^viites to Congress, letter not sent . * -Ih^generous Lieut. Hamilton ." . Bnl/f''r?''f ^''^ g^"t'emen who came 50 mUes to s'ee him Roasts of h,3 being a - full blooded yankee" " * '° '^ **"" J^onvei^ses with two clergymen on Christianity. &c. " . tttirre '^ ''^! ^"'^'"^ ^T'*' *"^ ^'^"^ *-k«» «ff Jan Generous offer of an Irishman,"by name GiUegan '. Liberaldonationsoflrish gentlemen in Cork . * ' >;ccuniaiy offer of Mr. Hays to C ol. Allen »- apt. Symond's malignity 1 iuie of leaving England Jan. 8tb, and Cork Feb. l2tli Another tribute to the generosity of an Irishman A^> nvesat Cape Fear, in North Carolina, May 3d ^^reat annoyance of the enemy from American riflemen rmusLimselfunder a more ungenerous enemy than Cant Sv. inonds ; VIZ. Capt. Montague . ^ ^ Generosity of British midshipmen Anchors oil New-York, beginning of June, and remains there inree days - . ••"cre Viiited by Gey Tiyon, Mr. Kemp, and other royalists Amves at HalifxT, middle of June . ^ Cureof the scurvy by strawberries - . ' Complains to Gov. Arbuthnot, of Halifax, of UI treatment' iKhuman confinement, and remonstrance against it Winner of employ ing the hours of captivity Knidnessof aMrs.lJlacden - Writes to Gen. Massey a bc/ere letter . . '* Leaves HrJiftix about the I2ih October Gentlemaivlike treatment from Capt. Smith Proposal of a Capt. B urk to murder the Captain and his me'n Fmuly opposed bv Col. Allen - A rrives at Nevv-York, about the last of October Bets between Col. A. and the cantain of th» tr,«annv^ c\,\^ *^ Which he was removed 4/ 43 ib. 49- 52 53 55 56 53 59 60 63 i7». 66 6r 69 70 n 73 77 rs 79 82 ib. 83 ib. 85 86 89 90. to. 91 93 93 95 96 9r 99 f> CONTENTS. 1 at New -York, on some of the last days of No. 101 ib. 105 ib, 106 108 Pi'Isoners landed vember Escape of sergeant Ro^er Moore and otherg Allowed to be on his parole in the city Bad quality of provisions " * * Advic«oayoungPennsyIvaman,ln,isonw' ^"th'e^l^e'/r'^^r """»'• " -«- «"« ^"J-<- of *''";e"r„f„Tp\tt*'^'"«^'«'''^ "''■*» "'= orde„ » "' Prisoners' sulFerings made known W r„l «n" „ '. ^'* Magaw, Miles and Atl« ^ *^°'- *"'"' "> Colonels Co,Vec,„re of .he numtTof'^ptSVho'^^^sLS T^^"^'' York, from various causes penshed in New- Proposal of Gen. Sir Wm. Howe, to' Col AlU tl," u ^^® cuzrrsr.?ra™r°"'»''''»'^^^^^^^^^^ Jtr^,::.;^etir4iter'"«°"-'''"'s'^^^ Spirited behavior of C aot Travi« L J ' ' • ib. Col. Allen, allowed a K^p rk anr^-''^'"^'^ ^^r the third day of his confinement ^"'" '^'''"" '° ^*^' <>» Sufferings of Capt. Vandyke. William ii/^n ,, •" ^2$ Capt. Bisscll, &c. &c. ^^ ^'"^'■' Major Wells, Description of the British provost " * ^29 LIlirbtweeTorVS^ " asslt'c'o%';„Vr'' }|» ^^ colondlwafnrr a^n^Fr^^^^^^^^^^ '^"^ ^^^^ -™"^-nded by''^ Ket'aT^fc^f ^rntr':tr^^^^^^^^ ' Gen, Stark, and the battle at B.^^^^ '''"'^"'" Col. Baum andacol Pfest^r kTi"^'^^^^ Herrick,&c. Gen. Stark re-attacked bv « i' i ' °^ '^* ^'"'*^ Col. Warner whh 130 ,«en '''"^°'^«"»^f of HOO ance ^"^ ^^0 men, opporH,na> comes to their assist- The enemy meet wiih a complete defi.,* -T 143 Proclamation of Gen. BurgX'^'*' *. . ,-^. ThTclln:!.--^-/«ur|^n^ " . ' . ,^,^ •Pli- ^^i^i:." ;:'■■;« ''^^sine r rencn ;rovernmMf f *J ib. ib, 141 142 » I f«'o'»n*ii»«fi'si;;r^s"™": i» w R t' '*•* nf^e names of thLubZ^^^^^ "^"^ f^^^^^hed <. ^ei f^rs are only iZZtT' . ^ '^''^ ' '^"^ «* ^^^ ^«- ^^ru.hrJe itZlil ^'^^^^d, though -a^e hear the num^ « ^r^-., i/^WM ryJoi^^A/ i,,,f f, ,^, them ^(togetAer. .•m- m ■M: « IN^announeingthe publication of this lit^ tie, simple, true, and unvarnished narra. rivE, the publishers have complied with the wishes of a number of persons, who had a desire to keep in remembrance the hero of Ticonderoga, and the exploits he performed." It IS believed that there is nota copy for sale m any bookstore in the United States ; and' the style of printing, at the time of its first appearance, which is now near thirty years since, was m so unimproved a condition, that It has never been seen but in the shabby' dress of a large and ragged pamphlet. The events^of those *^ troublous times," in which Gol. Allen took a conspicuous part- tion. The high compliments which he pays to the prowess, uniform perseverance and resolution, manifested by the " Sreen Mountain Boys" of his nativekte, wTh no doubt be an inducement to them, and to his countrymen generally, to read andTeserve this monument of him, and as they con the 'Teft IS, "kittle book" whiJh r £ .Jf5L'ATj ^^ ™^t?te the coolness and """*"b'= -x>i ui€ aeceased veteran. ■M • •• VJJi ADt'fiRTlSEMENT. hm in the course of '4 ^1""'^' ^'^"^ ^'^^ e"age the most severe ,thh^"^^' «J»"- country from whom w/i^ ""P^'^' *<» » vv-hom we are now aTnelce ?S'"''*5d. with « IS our policvtornnf? ' ^"^ ^"^ whom ng ; butVc„rrd rhe^S""^ f-*- should make jrreat alln,t„? f ^^''"§^ ™'nd ?»eled situatifroflT^Trs °f ^^ ""P^'"- Wgs of his handful oT ittie f'?^' '^^ '"«"^'-- whom he felt a father's InH ^^"l'''"'" for fon. These circ.u^L ^ brother's affec- a deep Xri^^rthrLn^-f 'r^'^^" Pourtrayingliisolnanf hi P''"'^'* ^^h'<=h was On the vvhole wrS^v''?"'f ■'''^ ^'•°"gs- be re-perused S'X ^ie td*T' "^^ by the aged, and read w h^muoh j?f 'H^^' and entertainment by the younf f '^*/°." deemed that the very words E' . ^ " " Pect,madeuseofbvthe ril' "] ^^^""y res- "^ore acceptable toCreader""!?' ''°"''' '^^ ficial decoration of su-k 'J 'hl'n'V"^ ^'1''- variably adhere to tSoriJiLl '''"°'* '"' acSfdSetSrf SS? f ° ^^ ry and occasional notes? ^ ' ^^P'^n^to- « >^ JNTRODWCTION. ♦/<^^ I' "^ IN'DUCED by a sense of duty to my countr^\1i^ ^' the afiJiUcaiion of many of my worthy friends j aowe W'^yWn are of the first characters^ I have concluded to pudi^i^lheS6m\^ foUoiving narrative of the extraordinary scenes of my cafi^ tivity, and the discoveries which I made in the course of th€ aamey of the cruel and relentless dis/iosition and behavior of the aiemyy toivards the prisoners in their fioiver ; from which the state fiolitician^ and every gradation of charac- ter among the fieo/ile^ to the worthy tiller of the soil, may deduce such inferences as they^hall think proper to carry into practice. Some men are appointed into office, m these States, who read the history of the cruelties of this war, with the same careless indifference, as they do the page* of the Roman history; nay, some are preferred to places of trust and profit by i^tory infuence. The instances are (I hope) but rare, and it stands all freemen in fiand,to prevent their fhrther influence, which, ofcU other things, vjould be the most baneful to the liberties and happiness of this country; and, so far as such influence :akes place, rob us of the victory we have obtained at the expense of so- nmch blood and treasure.* hl7^^ «^«r /i'^^r/^, which no lover of his countrr pern haps possessed in a superior degree to the writer of ?h^ Narrative, carries the Colonel in this instanTand in S^tr'r'T-!:,^'^ "1^^ ^^^» witness t^h; cot^ bee^ tSl ' "^' '°° ?"• ^^^'^'^^ ^^^^» no doubt, w»T.l / • r"'^"^ "' ^^ ^^^ American cause ; but thi Zi riZ^^^!^^ a .signification that^it woSS 3C J^J^TRODirCTlOAr. r it: • - nave, ho-mner, taken ,1, vj^r t/,e^ Min, ,0 recoUec, the fact. 1 ^ ^''"""' ""■" ""'' "n>ii,e .Hat all ^Ul not ie l^' ''f '""""' ' "^ "' """'"^'"'^""ny invanai now living:, and moved hu ,i,» ""d the despc a e ,uih..T7' ""'"'"^iP'ecl fofSJi'^ "ur large seipom arc^TnLTed "'" J'""'"' »«'' «hom able conectncss in pmino! A^^C / '}'•''"' '"consider- »eres(„,fj occurrences of he ^' '""' P'"'^'^' "^"t the in- he; memory «i.ho„t the u'e ofT™ ="?'''=«.- Axed in '" """stonied to have its oner^iion!". . " ■"'"''» "'"<:h make their transit over it .1 P"' °" P''P'-f as ther ""der the consider" U-nihTit?" ',""'• '"'P'^^ion'^ '=n, again, by a recurrence tn I "" """''■' <^<""n"'nd I' 'a» been ,h„„,.hi by some .""/^r"' "" P^'P"- ^>i inclevunt hert H„, .T ' ''"'"Sh (he remark ma. -'• «"'l perhaps- ^:,;'=;;:">'"7 - «-d„al,y'aCtr i:tL* fJoun o„. .11 •'. ^'' "/ ^ loo Close affrntU«* .. -».*;ii, uniijitresiijig facts. '""" '" '"""*' ■s^., ■■4ik' ^adnoi theur^ ^re urgent Jiub. '^ '^cek3 bef<^^ ^isccr?i, that a written %vhe?i I ^ ^ften search. " ^rote a ayU ^ ^^'H'ht fircdU tmoryfar the 'e9t Care and ' f>ut as they ^^^fh lam relation of 'y invariable • '■patriotism « But justice to anat^n wifh ;t,^"'»™"''a„ '«= ha«. tems, and whose governmlr " "' "'■«= «>" W-^ndlf its edicts have be™ aSZS b^;""'''">': ^''"P' *•>«,; conducted on the firmcstS ''?.'''«""»'« officers, i, of.n,an re^uircs^lt"t e A de" Sw ""f "''•"'^" »(Hnd> tlic asiwrity of some rf the VT ."*("""• '" ''" / I .viae w the Teter«n'3 ebstrraUoM, '<^ lillii* .%* » 'iifeit^fci^^ NARRATIVE OF ^o/. (Stian .Mfe cn't CAPTIVITY, ^.. ■ -:»i E hood and acquainted myself with the ^ener. alh.sto,yof„,ankind.I have felt a fZ. passion for liberty.* The h! . « ^'^certf X' -ine history of nations, «in7oK,raffi^^^^ IrrtH^nS, to the "pru buds mprimrose season," mo« forbWding::,!^;"^^' °f ty'-an«y then assume tt" 14 COL. E. ALLEN'S OBSERVATIOKs ^ doomed to perpetual slave^^, \ consequence of yieldrng up to tyrants their natural-born hbert.es, I read with a sort of philosophical horror;* so that the first systematical and and give it a. correspondent ardour. As th^ • heyday retreats, a more rational \„f> juvenile V!ew is taken of the^ubLt T^^^ ^^ ^T '^"^^^^^^stic remains, but it rests on a .nr. J • ^^"^^ [^"^^ ^f "berty reason TuL • lu i. "^^^ ^^^*^' <*" ^^^e pedestal of reason. This is the chaste dame that Goldsmith in hil Tka VELLEn alludes to, in the following extraS, '"' ^" "And thou, fair Freedom, taught alike to feel 1 he rabble's rage, and tyrant's angiy steel j Thou transitory flower, alike undone By proud Contempt, or Favour's fost'ring sun ; Still may thy blooms the changeful islime endu're s^ I only would repress them to secure; ' ,, "^ • For just experience icils, in every soil, That those who thmk must govern those who teil } And all that Freedom's highest aims can reach, Is but to lay proper tion'd loads on each. Hence, should one order disproportion'd grow,. Its double weight must ruin all below." * It is in the recollection of most of us, how popular, at Its commencement, was the revolution in France. A- mericans, who were then just beginning to enjoy the blessings of« self-government," could feel for those who were deprived of them. They made the cause their own. We have seen in what their professions of liberty and equality have terminated. Setting aside the views of a few ambitious leaders, the love of liberty was as sin- cere among the great body of Frenchmen, as it was, perhaps, among our own countrymen. But that intel- ligence and information, which are diffused in this country, were not to be found in Fmnce. The »niL it !« TIONS, nsequence tural-born losophical atical and as as sin- ) it was, hat intel- :d in this ftniL it la ; DVRtSG HIS CAPTIVIxr. JjS bloody attempt, at Lexington, to enslave A- merica, thoroughly electrified my mind, and ftlly determined me to take part with my country .- And, while I was wishing for an opportunity to signalize myself in its behalf, directions were privately sent to me from the then colony (now state) of Connecticut, to raise the Green Mountain Boys, and, if possi- ble, with them to surprise and take the for- tress, Ticonderoga.* This enterprise I of a despot. No doubt Cn^^Af. <=''"'"^' ""d usurpation tion of the throne of th/n V . ' '^^ lateassump- la, formed byCconfllnce r^'' '"'' "^ P<="'"»"- Lake Georgeinto Lak"cCmplU^ '"t!'- " '^"""S '"'■<'™ ruins, and forms an appeniCe ,„' r ' " T^ ^ '"■*»? "^ the French' c";^%.^"''^;^"e"T'«»'' ^» called b^y CO. Vermont, is about tw„Ti U^ToHt"' " '^''"^°'' from It by the narrow strait ,mX' "' ""'' ^^I'^u-ated Lake George and Soutl ri'eT «o iTTV*"-' T"'''" "^ had all the advantuo... Ih 'I .-!'"° '^''''* ^''a^plain. It *eing defended on three sideriv'"^"!'"'^ ™"''' **''■« *'' I "ee sides by water surrounded by 16 •Ol. i, AttEN's OBSKKTATIONJ ehecrfully undertook ; and, after first gua^. ingall the several passes that led thither, to ^utoffallantelHgence between the garrLn «nd the country, made a forced march from Benmngton, and arrived at the lake opposite to T,conderoga, on the evening of the ninth day of May, 1775, with two hundred and tbrtyvalxant Green Mountain Boys; and it was w,th the utmostdifBcuIty that I procured boats to cross the lake. However, -I landed *".ghty three men near the garrison, and sent the boats back for the rear guard, command- ed by Col. Seth Warner; but the day began to dawn, and I found myself under a Lcefsi. ty to attack the fort, before the rear could cross the lake; and, as it was viewed hazard- pus, I harrangued the officers and soldiers in the manner following : " Friends and fellovr .nt.e rea,- .758 but it was taken the y^^r ti'vll'l!^ -V nvRisG HIS CAprivirr. 17 soldiers, You have, for a number of years past, been a scourge and terror to arbitrary power. Your valor has been femed abroad and acknowledged, as appears by the advice and orders to me, from the General Assembly of Connecticut, to surprise and take the Rar- nson now before us. I now propose to ad- vance before you, and, in person, conduct you through die wicket-gate ; for we must this morning either quit our pretensions tp valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress in afe^ mmutes ; and, inasmuch as it is a des- perate attempt, which none but the bmvest ofmen dare undertake. I do not urge it oa any contrary to his will. You that will un- dertake voluntarily, poise your firelocks.* rangues of crowned conquerors It L^^ '""^'"^ ''="- dmely to thv heart, ancl weTn'in.! . . '.'T""' '"""e- Thus it was that the herTof Th° '' '?'' ^"^ »•"= i^^'"- little band, though tar rffelmth ""'''' f''*'""'''^'' •>" terpnsesj and not unSe to I »"''1-'""= ''"' '=°- Hannibal'saddresstothe CaHh -' "" ~"<='"»ion of to the Roman capita" « B^.ttr ^'""""^ "" ""•"'^ """-rf' die fortune between death a VM""' """'^ " "° ""id- ^ell iixedin yourminf t"ll 'I'^'^y- . Let this be but ueror9.'* ' ^ ""^ ^^*^^ again B 2 say you are 18 COL. 1. ALLEH'S OBSERVATIONS _ The men being, at this time, drawn up in three ranks, each poised his firelock. I or head of the centre-file, marched them imme- iZL the wicket gate aforesaid, where Ifoundasentryposted. who instantly snap. wll '""" I -n immediately to. wnlsh,m,andhe retreated through the cov. eed way mto the parade within the garris^; g-e a halloo, and ran uqder a bomb.proof formed on the parade in such manner as to fece the two barracks which faced each oth- Ilntrie, ^'■"'°" ''''"^ '^'^^P' ^^^^P' the *entr es, we gave three huzzas which greatly -.urpnsedthem. One of the sentries m^d a pass at one of my officers with a charged bay- onet, and slightly wounded him : My fi^t thought was to kill him with my sword ; but .n a^ mstant, I altered the design and fury o^ the blow to a slight cut on the side of the 'f ; "Pon which he dropped his gun, and asked quarter, which I readily granted him.* .•Hereija strikinir utttanr. „r .1,. v_ „ ^ „^ j^,^ uravery of gig UrsilfC HIS CJitTlVlTT. 19 and demanded of him the place where the comman«ng officer kept ; he shewed me a pair of stairs in the front of a barrack, on the west part of the garrison, which led up to a second story in said barrack, to which I im. mediately repaired, and ordered the com- mander, Capt. Delaplace, to come forth in- stantly, or I would sacrifice the whole garri- son ; at which the Capt. came immediately to the door, with his breeches in his hand; when I ordered him to deliver to me the fort instantly ; he asked me by what authori- ty I demanded it : I answered him, « In the •name of the great Jehovah, and the Continen- tal Congress." The authority of the Con gress being very little kno^vn at that time * he began to speak again ; but I interrupted him, and, with my drawn sword over his success to the enterpril"^ consequence in ensuring ve.lj Vn^UtracV'h^. ^"^T'^^ * '""* "^ ^'is usual «! known in » R„!,r.u '"'*'" "wd mentioned were mur.h head, again demanded an iinmeH;,*^ ^er of the garrison ; with ""^te 1""'" plied, and entered his mel t J J °™- P-dedwithoutarms^TShtd :J:t^t r^nson : In the mean f,^^ ^ *® cers . ad given or^e" ::;rr"' "*• thereor.sundr,ofthe;a:::iro::rs: -rrf;l*::';'=;r^'^«^*es^^^ tiller. *"'"' * conductor of ar. Snkandr'r^^^^'^^"*^'-'^^ ^our rank and file j about one hundred pieces * of cannon, one thirteen inch mortar !nT number of swivels TM ' "'^' ^^^ a ried into execS • T '""^"'^ ^«« *=«'-^ in^of hm . "*^'^'""y°f *e mora. Wgofthe tenth day of May, 1775 Th. sun seemed to rise th« ^ • *"* vu 10 rise that moraine with a «ii..» nor lustre • anri t- j ° wmasupe. Hen.- '.,*"'^ Ticonderoga and its depen- clencies smiler? nn i^o "'-ijcii- about th!7 conquerors, who. tossed about the flowmg bowl, and wished success to Congress, and the liberty and freedom of Amenca. Happy it ^,3 for me, at 7l Pffate, which afterwards unfolded a misera ble scene of twoyears and ei^htmonr^: iVRtHh HIS CAPTIVITT. n prisonment, were hid from my view. But to return to my narration : Col. Warner, with the rear guard, crossed the lake, and joined me early in the morning, whom I sent ofiF, without loss of time, with about one hun- dred men, to take possession of Crown Point, •which was garrisoned with a serjeant and twelve raen ; which he took possession of the -same day, as also of upwards of one hundred pieces of cannon. But one thing now remain- ed to be done, to make ourselves complete masters of lake Champlain ; this was to possess ourselves of a sloop of war, whilh was then lying at St. John's ; to effect which « was agreed in a council of war, to arm and man out a certain schooner, which lay at South Bay, and that Capt. (now general) Ar- nold* should command her, and that I should jng fame." Arnold was once a brav. Tffi ^™'"''''*- ing, indefatigable and ,^ady to mfdmake^'r' T^':''" of enterprises. But his hLh s vie nf 1 1"'''?'^ ''"''S •many unavoidable expense !nH ,1 ,^ ""^"cmg thc.-eby occasioned:TCp;i„";1,i'rrl^:^!r!"^ oe was appointed to the command in that place, i. I fi f. ^ cor. E. XLLElf's 0BSE«V^„0WS, . -m.ark that, as soon as^L, ll'Tl ''ecu.^d.the prisoners on ToLf 7^ ^' 'nade preparation for sailing the l.,'?^ buta few hours before wast'h 2 f 2^well served to ean, us t:i;t;:r; fhifted, and came fresh from the north ■ and -about one hour's time, Gen. ^^M'sall Wenced in Ju„, , r^fl' jln^ ^^rtmmti^. u r^.,! w?s sentences to be re'primid ""iT "''' '"'^" ^* of the traitor's conduct r^f. ^^'?'?^^ the cause him,afterwaMs, the command nf^K', "!?""« °«^^^ ^ m> he preferred that Z ,u" i ^ ' 'f ^'"^ "^ "■« ar- tress, to gratify h, !,ate 1h I ' '^'^ ""POMant for- to the enemy.^ *'^ ^'"* "-^sentmem in giving jj ™ BWHIII^ HIS CAPTIVITr. gj. with the prize and schooner for Tkonder*" ga.* When I met him with my party, with- iina few miles of St. John's, he saluted me , With a discharge of cannon, which I returned With a volley of small arms : This being re- peated three times, I went on boani the sloop with mr party, where several loyal Congress healths were drank. We were now masters lof Ia.:e Champlain, and the garrison de- pending thereon. This success I viewed of Iconseqjienceinthe scale of American poll- I tics ; ^or, if a settlemert, between the then colonies and Great-Britain, had soon taken rplace, It would have been easy to have res- tored these acquisitions; but viewing the then future consequences of a cruel war, as it pias really proved to be, and the command of •that lake, garrisons, artillery, &c. it must be newed to be of signal importance to the A. mencan cause, and it is marvellous to me |thatr.u ever lost the command of it. Nothing [foibles „f fK. T"?-^"'^ • As It was not one of th^ r J .«•- «4 cot. t. ALttN't OBSB^VATIOKS, ^t takmg a Burgoyne, with a whole Brit- ish army, could, in my opinion, atone /or it ;. and, notwithstanding such an extraordinary victory, we must be obliged to regain the command of that lake again, be the cost what it will: By doing this, Canada wiU easily be brought into union and confederacy with the United States of America. Such an event would put it out of the power of the western tribes o£ Indians to carry on a war with us, and be a solid and durable bar against any farther inhuman barbmities com- . roittcd on our frontier inhabitants, by cruel and blood-thirsty savages ; for it is impossi- ble for them to carry on a war, except they are supported by the trade and commerce of some civilized nation ; which to them would be impracticable, did Canada compose a part ofthe American empire.* Eaily in the fall of the year, the little arftiy, • Ho^yever pracUcable such a union mii-Mbe, its pol- DURING HIS CAPTlVITy. 25 under the command of the Generals Schuyler*^--, and Montgonierjr, were ordered to advance into Canada^ I was at Ticonderoga^/wh J^^ this order arrived ; and the Genera^ with most of the field officers, requested me to at- tend them in the expedition ; and, though at that time I had no commission from Con- gress, yet Jhey engaged me, that I should be considerc^as an officer, the same as though had a <«||«^8ion ; and shbuld, as occasion might require, command certain detachments of the army This I considered as an honor- able offer, and did not hesitate to comply with «. and advanced with the army to the isle AuxNo,x,*.fromwhenceI was ordered, by the genera , to go i„ company with Major Brown and certain interpreters, through the joodsmto Canada, with letters to the Canl dians, and to let them know, that the desigt of the army was only against the English gar- SG cot. E. AltEN's OBSEHVATIONS, "sons, and not the country, their liberties, or Tehgion: and having, through much danger negociated this business, I returned to the isle Aux Noix the fore part of September, when Oen. Schuyler returned to Albany ; and in consequence the c6mmand devolved upon general Montgomerj whom I assisted in lay. ing a line of circumvallation round the for- tress, St. John's.* After which I was ordered ^ by the general, \o make a second tour into Canada, upon nearly the same design as be- fore ; and withal to observe the disposition, designs and movements of the inhabitants of the country. This reconnoitre I undertook tvith reluctance, choosing lather to assist at the siege of St. John's, which was then close, ly invested ; but my esteem for the general's person, and opinion of him as a politician and brave officer, induced me to proceed. iI,^*„t=ft'''"u'''?i'"™/°.'' *"•"■' '" Lower Canada, on tl c uest bank of Sorrel river, at the north end of lake Uianiplan,, twenty eight miles southward of Montreal. I has been established as the sole port of entry and clearance for all goods imported from the interior of the l/mted States mto Canada, by an ordinance published by the execuuvc council of Lower Canada, the 7th of July, uvb. It was taken by General MontLromoiv ;.. m,,., ITTS. Northlat. 45/9. west long-rsTTs.'""'' "" *"■"' DtTRIilG pis CAPTIVITT. 27 I passed through all the parishes on the river Sorrel,* to a parish at the moath of the same, which is called by the sam; name, preaching politics ;t and went from thence across the Sorrel to the river St. Lawrence, and up the river through the parishes to Lon-' gueil, and so far met with good success as an Itinerant. In this round, my guard wer* Canadians, my interpreter, and some few at- tendants excepted. On the morning of the 24th day of September, I set out with my guard of about eighty men. from Lon^ueil to go to La Prairie 4 from whence I deter-' ■ ■ « river St. Lawrcncenn Lnh7.t /<^\T^'''' '""• «''' 25 .cs., SorrelFoV;brbVtt.'r;eichT' u^- "' tern point of the mouth of this river ' ""-" '''"- his fellow citizens In , , I' ^"'"^^ ^^ ""^ P""'""* of bn.efidal»nclCnIe,s F^rHi^" ""=.°^"'l«tion wa» tl>e preacher of pomics of H,:^,'^'-'''"",' " "^^' "1'>"« of to disorganize ami /,re^' «'"'"' ''='>'• ^" «!'« is ^onn' me n\ tr bi. Laurence, m Canada, eigh- 28 COL. E. ALLEN'S OBSER VATIOWS, mined to go to Gen. Montgomery's camp; but had not advanced two miles before I met with Major Brown, who has since been ad vanced to the rank of a Colonel, who desired me to halt, saying that he had something of . importance to communicate to me and my confidants ; upon which I halted the party and went into an house, and took a private room with him and several of my associates, where Col. Brown proposed that, " Provided I would return to LongueTl, and procure some canoes, so as to cross the river St. Lawrence a little north of Montreal, he would cross it a little to the south of the town, with near two hundred men, as he had boats sufficient ; and that we -would make ourselves masters of Montreal. "-This plan was readily approved by me and those in council ; and in conse- quence of which I returned to Longuetl, col. lected a few canoes, and added abour thirty English Americans to my party, and crossed the river in the night of the 24th, agreeable C,":".r ''°''"' °^ S'- •'°''»'»' >"«• ■"''•«-■ »o"th west of PUKIKG WIS GAPTIVITY. 2& to the before pjQpgsed plan. My whole par- ty, at this time, consisted of about one hun- dred and ten men, near eighty of whom were Canadians. We were the most of the night crossing the river, as we had so few canoes that they had to pass and re-pass three times to carry my party across. Soon after day-break' I set a guard between me and the town, with special orders to let no person, whatever pass or re-pass them, and another guard or, the other end of the road, ,vit), like directions • m the mean time, I rcconnoitered the besi' ground to make a defence, expecting Col. Brown's party was landed on the other side of the town, he having, the day before, agreed to give three huz.as with his men early i„ th. mormngwhich-signallwas to return, that we nu,ht each know that both p.nrties were -dec,, but the sun, by this time, being ner U.0 hours high, and the sign failing, I L^: o conclude myself to be in a pre Jmire, a," knwtr"""''"'"'""^''''^'^^ l:rj~r:-'f^--^--dsuch -i - > >w.^, a3 mere couJd not more C 2 ^ i I I 30 COL. E. alien's obsehvations, than one third part of my troops cross at one time, the other two thiMs would of course fall into their hands. This I could not rec- oncile to my own feelings as a man, mudi less as an officer : I therefore concluded to mamtain the ground, if possible, and all to lare alike. In consequence of this resolution, 1 dispatched two messengers, one to La Prai- ne, to Col. Brown, and the other to L'As- somption, a French settlement, to Mr. Walk. er^ho Avas in our interest, requesting their spe% assistance, giving them, at the same time, to understand my critical situation : In the mean time, sundry persons came to my guards, pretending to be friends, but were by them taken prisoners and brought to me These I ordered to confinement,* 'till their friendship could be farther confirmed ; for I Tvas jealous they were spies, as they proved to be afterwards: One of the principal of them making his escape, exposed the weak- nbce,T!rv ?''J^f,f 7' '' W^a^-.^as commendable and necessary , and had it been carried more riKidlv into ex L^".'.'™. r,"^ have prevented the escape of*" o7e "i^ Z. .>'•-;=, ^iu tr.c iiiiscarriage 01 Uie colencl's inteiuions. ' " -A^^^y A^U*- DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 31 ncss of my parly, which was the final cause of my misfortune/ for I have been since in- formed that Mr. Valker, agreeable to my desire, exerted himself, and had raised a con- siderable number of men for my assistance, which brought him into difficulty afterwards; but, upon hearing of my misfortune, he dis- banded them again. 6, The town of Montreal was in a great tu- mult. Gen. Carlton and the royal party, made every preparation to go on board their vessels of force, as I was afterwards inform- ed, but the spy, escaping from my guard to the town, occasioned an alteration in their policy, and emboldened Gen. Carlson to send the force, which he had there colTected, out against me. I had previously chosen my ground, but when I saw the number of the enemy, as they sallied out of the town, I per- ceived it would be a day of trouble, if not of rebuke ; but I had no chance to flee, as Mon- treal was situated on an island, and the river ^t. Lawrence cut off my communication to "^" " * ged my soldiery to bravely a( 1 encoun defend themselves COl. E. 4H5{r'«0Ba£»yATI0NS, that we should sQon haye help, and that we should be able to keep the ground, if „« more. This, and much more, I affirmed with the greatest seeming assurance, and which in ' /../'m */!-'^''"/^2 *° /' f '^'"'^ d;g^^ proba- cy'- ble. /^iii^^^j^/;^^^;^^^^^^ ^^ - The enemy consisted of not more than for- ty regular troops, together with a mixed mul- Utude, chiefly Canadians, with a number of Enghsh who Uved in the town, and some In- dians ; in all, to the number of near five hun- «red. y The reader will notice that most of my par- ty were Canadians ; indeed it was a motley parcel ofsoldiery which composed both par' ties. However, the enemy began the attack from wood-piles, ditches, buildings, and such iike places, at a considerable distance, and I returned the fire from a situation more than equaUy advantageous. The attack began be- tween two and three of the clock in the after- ^ noon, just before which I ordered a volun- unteer, by the name of Richard Young,* with « 1^1 ^-,«.„„w,„esesttbv 'ATIONS, £, his hellish n ; snakes* son of his ; death, mur- amned spir- lance ; and, esented his present, I f gave my :e ; but he ' to single the officer; ible as he, m that his less than just such the officer for a few a Canadi- red after- savages to my as- DURING HIS CAPTlVltn S7 h, from the ad been w- sistance with afixed bayonet, and drove away the fiends, swearing by Jasus he would Icill them. This tragic scene composed my mind. The escaping from so awful a death, made even imprisonment happy ; the more so as my conquerors on the iield treated me Ivith great civility and politeness. The regular officers said that they were very happy to see Col. Allen: I answered them, that I should rather chose to have seen them at Gen. Montgomery's camp. The gentlemen replied, that they gave full credit to what I said, and, as I walked to thb town ■which was, as I should guess, more than tw6 ■miles, a British officer walking at my right •hand, and one of the French iioblcsse at my left ; the latter of which, in . the action, had fhis eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot, but was nevertheless very merry and face- tious^mid no abuse was offered me 'till I : came to the barrack-yard, at Montreal, where |i met general Prescott, who asked me my -name, which I told him : He then asked me, •/C4^,-^^ 38 COL. E. ALLEN'S OBSEH V ATIO.VS, *» Whether I was that Col. Allen, who took Ti conderoga I told h™ I .as the ve^ „,an : Then he shook his cane over my head, call- mg many hard names, among which he fre quently used the ivord rebel, and put himself in a great rage. I told him he would do well not to cane me, for I was not accustomed to •t, and shook my fist at him, telling him that was the beetle of mortality for him, if he of. fered to strike;* upon which Capt. M'Cloud of the British, pulled him by the skirt, and whispered to him, as he afterwards told me to th.s import ; that it was inconsistent with his honor to strike a prisoner. He then or- dered a sergeant's command with fixed bay. onets to come forward, and kill thirteen Cana- dians, which were included in the treaty afore, said. ^ It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in consequence of their having been true tome ; they were wringing ^r.f h " .?P"7"y ' "<": <=<»"'l»r.iblc, indeed, must have been liis fortune at that riONs, mentioning ling, a lit- s it signifi- postponing resides his to *< grac- y about it eader will ^en. Pres- to take me war, and IS, which as taken, ind three •w not to re killed, few ! if I led ; one imc, was e, at which r. able idea of iiultcr at a )mfort, de- ne at that DtJRIlJG HIS CAPTIVITY. u wounded by a savage with a tomahawk, after he was taken prisoner and disarmed, but was rescued by some of the generous enemy ; and so far recovered of his wounds, that he afterwards went with the other prisoners to England. 9f the enemy were killed, a major Garden, who had been wounded in eleven different battles, and an eminent merchant, Patterson, of Montreal, and some others, but I never knew their whole loss, as their accounts were different. I am apprehensive that it is rare, that so much ammunition was expended, and so little execution done by it ; though such of my party as stood the ground, behaved with great fortitude, much exceeding that of the enemy, but were not the best of marks- men, and I am apprehensive, were all killed or taken ,;^the wounded were all put into the hospital at Montreal, and those that ivere not were put on board of diftbrcnt vessels in the nver, and shackled together by pairs, vi^. two menfastened together by one hand-cu.T, beinp* olr^er'It- f^-^-^A i.^ Q -•^-N,^*^ 4*-l>.VU lU //T^AJgrAV^.. one \vxKt of each of I I: 42 C»L. £. AILEN'S ©BSEJVATIONS, them, and treated with the greatest severity ^ uay as criminals. ^' I now come to the description of the irons, wh,ch were put on me : The hand-cuff wa ofaco^mon size, and form, butmylegirons, I should imagme, would weigh thirty pounds ; he bar was eight feet long, and very .ub. stantial ; the shackles whi^i, . aiirtCKies, Which encompassed - »V ancles, were very tight. I was told by the officer, who put them on. that it was the king's plate, and I heard other of their officers say, that It would weigh forty weight. The irons were so close upon my ancles, that I could not he down in any other manner than on my »>ack. I was put into the lowest and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got the favor of a chest to sit on; the same answer, ed for my bed at night ; and having procur- ed some little blocks of the guard, who day and night, with fixed bayonets, watched over Jne. to lie under each end of the large bar of my leg irons, to preserve my ancles from gall- ing, while I sat on the chest, or lay back on the,same. though most of the time, night and }l day, I sat on it ; but at length, having^ a de- ATIONS, est severity, >f the irons, tid-culF was ly leg irons, "ty pounds; very sub- compassed told by the i the king's fficers say, The irons t I could an on my and most • got the answer- procur- who day hed over 5 bar of 'om gall- 3ack on ight and g; a de. BURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 43 sire to lie down on my side, which the close- ness of the irons forbid, I desired the captain to loosen them for that purpose ; but was de- nied the favor :* The Captain's name was Royal, who did not seem to be an ill-natured man ; but oftentimes said, that his express orders were to treat me with such severity, which was disagreeable to his own feelings ; nor did he ever insult me, though many oth- ers, who came on board, did. One of the offi- cers, by the name of Bradley, was very gener- ous to me ; he would often send me victuals from his own table ; nor did a day fail, but that he sent me a good drink of grog.f The reader is now invited back to the time I was put into irons. I requested the privi- lege to write to Gen. Prescott, which was * The reader will call to mind the merciless manacles and cruel trappings of Tronic. The colonel's suffering however could not be compared, in point of severity, with those ot the unhappy prisoner of Magdeburg. t Tiiis little favour, though scarcely of more valuo than a « cup of water," has "met its reward" in the grateful mention which the hero makes of it in this NARRATIVE Al 1 the retUHi which the obliged could make fop fhi« ttirYiT>i» 1 r .! . . "^ . "^**' i-_ tj^vjjgiiiCiiwii la in convcyiiig the name ot the generous donor to those of posterity who may chance to peruse this effusion of his gratitude. * M cox. Z. ^,LE^,, OBSOVATIO^a, ranted. I reminded him of the kind » A generous manner of my treatm.nr. u ^ -ersItookatTiconCga t-^^/^- and unpentlempn n ^ ^e injustice with frorh-rri'; "'^'' "''^'^ * "^'^ -et ^'•om Him, and demanded e-enfl^m n "sage, but received no answSlT"-'': soon after wrote to Gen rlu *"• ' the same success. In the '''°"' ^^'"^'^ »»« of those who "*''^" ^^"e Jnany inosc who were permitted to see m. very insulting. '"^' ^^""e I was confined in the manner I have related on Wd the Gaspee schooner/I^'S P "^ o^ extravagant ianeua^e which answered ccrf-,;., ""guage, he«...i, "'*'"P"'Poses, at that time better than to grace a history afiToflr"'r*"""P''"'^^'"^--'ted,i„ leeth, which I took to be a f.n Jil; it wentthrough the mortise f^etr of my hand-cufi-, and at the same time I sla! ou r ""Tl'""' ^''^ ""'" ^^ ^h^t I was outlawed by New- York, and deserved dJ tl for several vear« r.,.. . .... , . _ " °"'" , - j i-i j wasai last fully ripen- he kind and t of the pris. ^e injustice '^ I had met itleman-Iike 3ni him. I which met ^hile jnany - me, were ve related, about six obliged to language, that time, suited, in w^ith my •n-penny the bar I swag- particu- I was 1 death r ripcn- BURING HIS CAPTIVITY. cd for the halter, and in a fair way to obtain it : When I challenged him, he excused him- self in consequence, as he said, of my being a criminal ; but I flung such a flood of lan- guage at him that it shocked him and the spectators, for my anger was \ery great. I heard one say, damn him, can he eatiron ? Af- ter that a small padlock was fixed to the hand, cuff; instead of the nail ; and as they were mean-spirited in their treatment to me, so it appeared to me, that they were equally tim- orous and cowardly.* I was after sent with the prisoners taken with me to an armed vessel in the river, which lay off against Quebec, under the com' mandofCapt. M'Cloud,ofthe British, who treated me in a very generous and obliging manner, and according to my rank ; in about twenty.fourhourslbidhimfarewel with re- ♦ The reader may, perhaps, excuse the timiditv r»f cite .s n^^5 / ««« might reasonably be supposed to ex- ute astonishment and terror ; and we may pardon Dr Dace for shewmi? any rehictance to engage with a Dal -riii. I.V u^j ii ji^. cuiiiU *♦ eat iron.'* 46 m' ^^^« £. Allan's ow^n,*. 1, ? "^' generous, and frienri Jy manner. I lived with them i„ the ebb " -d W on the best. „., irons j;t;:; off. contrary to the order he had receiv Ji from the commanding officer -. but Cant. Litde John,,, re, that a brave man shoufd not be" u-d as a raseal, on board his ship. " ihus.I found myselfin possession of han Piness once more, and the evils, I had latl" suffered, eave me an nn. ^ CaDt r J. ! """^oramon relish for it. l-apt. Littlejohn used to go to Quebec .1 --ever,day,inordertopayh?sr;ect to certam gentlemen and ladies; bein.Tr! on a certain day, he happened to meet w^H somed.agree,bletreatmL.asheT:rgin::^ brought on another, 'till the Lieut, challen^ ed him to a duel on th^ i ■ . '««"cng. Cant lin. r ^ """' "^ Abraham. Capt. Littlejohn was a gentleman, who en tertamed a high sense of honor, and could do no^less than accept the challenge. At mne o'clock the next morning they wer. continued ; el I was put vith his oili- j and friend- the cabin, ^eing taken reived from apt. Little- ^Id not be ^nof hap- Iiad lately ish for it. uebec al- i respects ing there ^eet with "lagined, ne word, ^halleng. braham. vho en- 'Ould do ey wer« DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 4i to fight. The Capt. returned in the evening, and acquainted his L= I" ^ngjaiia ; and were insulted by ev- E . » cot. Z. ALLEN'S OBSERVATIONS, ery black-guard sailor and toiy on board, in the cruellest manner j but what is the most surprizing is, that not one of us died in the passage. When I was first ordered to go into the filthy enclosure, through a small sort of door, I positively refused, and endeavour, ed to reason the before named Brook Watson out of a conduct so derogatory to every senti- ment of honor and humanity, but all to rib purpose, my men being forced in the den al- ready ; and the rascal who had the charge of theprisoners commanded me to go immedi- ately in among the rest: He farther added that the place was good enough for a rebel ; that it was impertinent for a capital offender to talk of honor or humanity ; that any thing short of a halter, was too good for me ; and that that would be my portion soon after I landed in England ; for which purpose only I was sent thither. About the same time a ^ Lieut, among the tories, insulted me in a grievous manner, saying that I ought to have been executed for my rebellion against New- York, and snit in mv fun^ • 11»^ri« ^.rT;;«T, though I was hand-cuffed, I sprang at him IONS, board, in the most ed in the •ed to go small sort ideavour- i Watson ery senti- all to rib s den al- :harge of immedi- er added a rebel ; offender my ^hrng He ; and I after I ose only e time a me in a t to have St New- BUftlNG HIS CAPTIVITY. 51 with both hands, and knocked him partly down, but he scrambled along into the cabins and I after him ; there he got under the pro- tection of some men with fixed bayonets, who were ordered to make ready to drive me in- to the place aforementioned. I challenged him to fight, notwithstanding the impedi. ments that were on my hands, and had the exalted pleasure to see the rascal tremble for fear ; his name I have forgot, but Watson ordered his guard to get me into the place with the other prisoners, dead or alive ; and I had almost as lieve die as do it, standing it out till they environed me round with bay. onets; and brutish, prejudiced, abandoned wretches they were, from whom I could ex- pect nothing but death or wounds : Howev- er, I told them, that they were good honest fellows ; that I could not blame them ; I was only in a dispute with a calicoe ml chant, who knew not how to behave towards a^ gentleman of the military establishment. This was spoke rather to appease them for ^ - — ^„^.„-_4 T«,iAvii, ao vvcu ttb lo ireai vvat- at him I ^^^^ with contempt ; but still I found that ^at tnii". 1 -»«r 52 COL. E. allin's observations, they were determined to force me into the wretched circumstances, which their preju- diced, and depraved minds had prepared for me ; Therefore, rather than die, I submitted to their indignities, being drove with bayon- ctsinto the filthy dungeon, with the other prisoners, where we were denied fresh water, except a small allowance, which was very in- adequate to our wants ; and, in consequence of the stench of the place, each of us was boci followed with a diarrhoea and fever, which oc- casioned an intolerable thirst. When we ^sked for water, we were, most commonly, instead of obtaining it, insulted and derided ; imd, to add to all the horrors of the place, it was so dark that we could not see each oth- er, and were overspread with body lice. We had, notwithstanding these severities, full al- lowance of salt provisions, and a gill of rum per day ; the latter of which was of the utmost service to us, and, probably, was the means of saving seveial of our lives. About forty days we existed in this manner, when the land's end of England was discovered from the mast head ; soon after which the prison- ONS, into the ir preju- )afed for ubmitted I bayon- he other 5h water, very in- iequence BURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 5B vas /)C.l ^hich oc- hen we nmonly, lerided ; ilace, it ch oth- 2. We full al- of rum utmost leans of It forty len the [I from prison- ers were taken from their gloomy abode, be- ing permitted to sec the light of the sun, and breathe fresh air, whieh to us was very re- freshing. The day following we landed at Falmouth,* A few days before I was taken prisoner, I shifted my clothes, by which I happened to be taken in a Canadian dress, viz. a short fawn skin jacket, double breasted, an under- vest and breeches of sagathy, worsted stock- ings, a decent pah- of shoes, two plain shirts, and a red worsted cap: This was all the clothing I had, in which I made my appear- ance in England. When the prisoners were landed, multi- tudes of the citizens of Falmouth, excited bv m ♦ This description of the siifferings of Col. Allen in- duces one to execrate the perpetrators. Such crudtiea rlLtr^i' " ''' t'^^^ /crfminals. The brave shiuW respect the brave. But, in all offices, there maybe found mdividuah who dishonor their stations. We are u^- # Willing to believe that such treatment ought to sUgX tize ^ whole nation generally; tuc power of the«e^. cers was al^used ; and we see Mm " DressM in a lirtle brief authority, Ommit mb viie offence a^aintt high Heaven. . n 8 make the angels weep.»» ' . ^ E 2 54 COL. js. Allen's obsekvations, curiosity, crowded together to see us, which was equally gratifying to us. I saw numbers of people on the tops of houses, and the ris- ing adjacent grounds were covered with them of both sexes : The throng was so great, that the King's officers were obliged to draw their swords, and force a passage to Pendennis castle, which was near a mile from the town, where we were closely confined, in conse- quence of orders from Gen. Carlton, who then commanded in Canada. The rascally Brook Watson then set out for London in great haste, expecting the re- ward of his zeal ; but the ministry received him, as I have been since informed, rather coolly ; for the minority in parliament took advantage, arguing that the opposition of A- merica to Great Britain, was not a rebellion : If it is, say they, why do you not execute Col. Allen, according to law ? but the major- ity argued, that I ought to be executed, and that the opposition was really a rebellion, but that policy obliged them not to do it, inas- much as the Congress had then most prison- ers in their power ; so that my being sent to )NS, DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 55 , which lumbers :he ris- th them ?at, that LW their ndennis i town, conse- 11, who set out the re- eceivcd rather It took of A- )ellion : execute major- d, and on, but , inas- prison- sent to England, for the purpose of being executed, and necessity restraining them, was rather a foil on their laws and authority, and they conse- quently disapproved of my being sent thith- er: But I never had heard the least hint of those debates, in parliament, or of the working of their policy, till some time after I left England. Consequently the reader will readily con. ceive I was anxious about my preservation, knowing that I was in the power of a haughty and cruel nation, considered as such. There- fore, the first proposition which I determined in my own mind was, that humanity and moral suasion would not be consulted in the determining of my fate ; and those that dai- ly came in great numbers, out of curiosi- ty, to sec me, both gentle and simple, united in this, that I would be hanged. A gentle- man from America, by the name of Temple,* and who was friendly to me, just whispered • Tiie colonel, we think, would have clone well to have been a little more careful in presei-vin^^ tlie chrisUan names of his occasional benefactors ; as the historian is better nleased !'» iv^r^rnvlitm. «««, -.„t _r — -^u - •._ than twenty instances of abuse. 56 COL. I. ALLEN'S OBSERVATIONS, me in the ear, and told me, that bets were laid in London, that I would be executed ; he likewise privately gave me a guinea, but durst say but little to me. However, agreeable to my first negative proposition, that moral virtue would not in- fluence my destiny, I had recourse to strata- gem, which I was in hopes would move in the circle of their policy. I requested of the commander of the castle the privilege of writ- ing to Congress, who, after consulting with an officer that lived in town, of a superior rank, permitted me to write. I wrote, in the fore part of the letter, a short narrative of my ill treatment ; but withal let them know that, though I was treated as a criminal in Eng- land, and continued in irons, together with those taken with me, yet it was in conse- quence of the orders which the commander of the castle received from General Carlton ; and therefore desired Congress to desist from matters of retaliation, till they should know the result of the government in England, res- pecting their treatment towards me, and the prisoners with me, and govern themselves ^rs, DURING HIS CAPriVITV. 57 ts were ed; he ta, but egative not in- strata- iove ia [ of the )f writ- ig with iperior , in the of my w that, 1 Eng- ;r with conse- nander irhon ; \t from know d, res- nd the Lselves accordingly, with a particular request, that if retaliation should be found necessary, it might be exercised not according to the smailness of my character m America, but in proportion to the importance of the cause for which I suffered — This is, according to my present recollection, the substance of the letter, in- scribed, To the Himtrious Continental Congress. This letter was wrote with a view that it should be sent to the ministry at London, rather than to Congress, with a design to in- timidate the haughty English government, and screen my neck from the halter. The next day the officer, from whom I ob- tained licence to write, caifie to see me, and frowned on me on account of the impudence of the letter, as he phrased it, and farther add- ed, « Do you think that we are fools in Eng- land, and would send your letter to Congress, with instructions to retaliate on our own peo- pie ? I have sent your letter to Lord North/' This gave me inward satisfaction, though I carefully concealed it with a pretended resent- TTient frkf T IVa.,«,1 T 1 1 ^_ -tr i him, and that the letter had gone to the iden* #ft COL. E. Allen's OBSERVATIONS/ ^ical person I designed it for. Nor do I know, to this day, but that it had the desired effect^ though I have not heard any thing of the letter since. My personal treatment by Lieut. Hamilton, who commanded the castle, was very gener- ous. He sent me every day a fine breakfast and dimier from his own table, and a bottle of good win<^. Another aged gentleman, whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a good sup« per : But there was no distinction in public support between me and the privates; we all lodged on a sort of Dutch bunks, in on^ common apartment, and were allowed straw. The privates were well supplied with fresh provision, and with me, took effectual meas- ures to rid ourselves of lice. I could not but feel, inwardly, extremely anxious for my fate. This I however con- cealed from the prisoners, as well as from the enemy, who were perpetually shaking the halter at me. I nevertheless treated them with scorn and contempt : and, having sent my letter to the ministry, could conceive of nothing more in my power but to keep up ^•t%nt r do I desired hing of milton, gener- eakfast ottle of whose kI sup- public ss ; wo in on6 i straw. ii fresh I meas* remely er con- om the ng the 1 them rjg sent eive of ;eepiip jb tril llf G lli S C A P T IV 1 1 Y . Bi my spirits, behave in a daring, so!dier4ik«S ^manner, that I might exhibit a good sample of American fortitude.* Such a conduct, I judged, would hav€ a more probable teiidehi cy to my preservation than concession and timidity. This, therefore, was my deport- ment ; and I had lastly determined, in my own mind, that if a cruel death must inevita- bly be my portion, I would face it undaunti ed ; and, though I greatly rejoice that I have returned to my country and friends, and to Bee the jfower and pride of Great Britain humbled / yet I am confident I could then have died without the least appearance of dismay. I now t^learly recollect that my mind was so resolved, that I would not have trembled or shewn the least fear, as I was sensible it could not alter my fate, nor do more than re- _ * The British must doubtless have had a high idea of the personal prowess of Col. Allen ; and liowever supe- rior their regular discipline might have appeared in their own eyes, yet they could not but respect the cour- ^F^i^^'^'^'^y- '^° ^^>s intrepid spirit, and to the es- ^^ii ii. liiust nave excited, the colonel probably owes ftis complimcntary meals, and his daily bottle of wine. m^ COL. £. ALLEN^S OBSERVATIONS, proaeh my memory, make my la^t act despi- cable to my enemies, and eclipse the other actions of my life. For I reasoned thus, tliat nothing was more common than for men to die with their friends around them, weeping and lamenting over them, but not able to help them, which was in reality not different in the consequence of it from such a death as I was apprehensive of ; and, as death was the natural consequence of animal life to which the laws ^ of nature subject mankind, to be timorous and uneasy as to the event or man- ner of it, was inconsistent with the character of a philosopher or soldier. The cause I was engaged in, I eVer viewed worthy hazarding my life for, nor was I, in the most critical mo- ments of trouble, sorry that I engaged in it; and, as to the world of spirits, though I knew nothing of the mode or manner of it, I ex- pected nevertheless, when I should i rrive at such a world, that I should be as well treated as other gentlemen of my merit. Among the great numbers of people, who came to the castle to see the prisoners, some gentlemen told me, that they had come fifty NS, : despi- e other us, tliat men to i^eeping able to ifferent eath as was the \ which , to be ►r man- ^aracter e I was sarding ;al mo- i in it ; I knew , I ex- 'rive at treated e, who ;, some le fifty BURNING HIS CAPTIVITY. 61 miles on purpose to see me, and desired to ask me a number of questions, and to make free with me in conversation. I gave for an- swer, that I chose freedom in every sense of the word : Then one of them asked me what my occupation in life had been ? I answered him, that in my younger days I had studied divinity, but was a conjurer by profession. He replied, that I conjured wrong at the time that I was taken ; and I was obliged to own, that I mistook a figure at that time, but that' I had conjured them out of Ticonderoga. This was a place of great notoriety in Eng- land, so that the joke seemed to go in my fa- vour. It was a common thing for me to be taken out of close confinement, into a spacious green in the castle, or rather parade, where num- bers of gentlemen and ladies were ready to see and hear me. I often entertained such audiences with harrangues on the impractica- bility of Great Britain's conquering the then colonies of America. At one of these times I aslrf»rl n r«.o »-.+!. he ordered h oovvi of punch, servant to bring it, which he 6S> COL. E. Allen's observations, did, and offered it to me, but I refused to take it from the hand of his servant ; he then gave it to me with his own hand, refusing to drink with me in consequence of my being a state criminal : However, I took the punch and drank it all down at one draught, and handed the gentleman the bowl : This made the spectators as well as myself merry.* I expatiated on American freedom : This gained the resentment of a young beardless gentleman of the company,! who gave him- self Very great airs, and replied, that he ** knew the Americans very well, and was certain that they could not bear the smell of powder. I replied, that I accepted it is a challenge, and was ready to convince him on the spot, that an American could bear the smell of powder ; at which he answered that he shouldnotput himself on a par with me. * Those, who are acquainted with the exhilarating ef- fect of this delicious beverage, can easily give credit to this assertion of our hero. t Probably some London cockney. There are peo- ple of this description in all countries, ready to mock at misfortune, and insult the wretched. Ithei er of answ( sured and, ] left n: laugh came haved same moral seeme quaint underis argum nadian surpris £1 geni and w€ but sue me, it i Englan The few Hni board c )NS, fused to he then ising to being a e punch ht, and is made : This sardless ve him- that he nd was imell of it is a him on ear the ed that th me. Lrating ef- creclit to are peo- mock at DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. i3 I then demanded of him to treat the charact- er of the Americans with due respect. He answered that I was an Irishman ; but I as- sured him, that I was a full blooded Yankee, and, in fine, bantered him so much, that he left me in possession of the ground, and the laugh went against him. Two clergymen came to see me, and, inasmuch as they be- haved with civility, I returned them the same : We discoursed on several parts of moral philosophy and Christianity; and they seemed to be surprised, that I should be ac quainted with such topics, or that I should understand a syllogism, or regular mode of argumentation. I am apprehensive my Ca- nadian dress contributed not a little to the surprise, and excitement of curiosity : to see d gentleman in England, regularly dressed and well behaved, would be no sight at all ; but such a rebel, as they were pleased to call me, it is probable, was never before seen in England. The prisoners were landed at Falmouth a few Hnvo K*if/-i«>o, r^i.„!_^ „„^.^_,^.,^ ^,,-.^^jj^^g^ ^j^^ ordered on board of the Solebay frigate, Capt. Symonds, 64 coL.*E. alien's observations, the eighth day of January, 1776, when our hand irons were taken off. This remove was in consequence, as I have been since in- formed, of a writ of habeas corpus, which had been procured by some gentlemen ha England, in order to obtain me my liberty. The Solebay, with sundry other men of war, and about forty transports, rendezvous- ed at the cove of Cork in Ireland, to take in provision and water. When we were first brought on board, Capt. Symonds ordered all the prisoners, and most of the hands on board, to go on the deck, and caused to be read, m their hearing, a certain code of laws, or rules for the regu- lation and ordering of their behavior ; and then, in a sovereign manner, ordered the pris- oners, me in particular, off the deck, and never to come on it again ; for, said he, tliis is a place for gentlemen to walk. §0 I went off, an officer following me, wht;;^ told me, that he would shew me the place idlotted for me," and took me down to the cable Prior to this I had taken cold, by which I ten our 'emove nee in- which nen in erty. nen of ;zvous- :ake ia board, isoners, ) on the learing, ; regu- ir ; and lie pris- ;k, and he, thjs 3o I \\(/i told sdlotted e cable which I DURING HIS CAPTIVIxf. 65 was in an ill state of health, and did not say much to the officer ; but stayed there that night, consulted my policy, and found I was in an evil case ; that a Capt. of a man of war was more arbitrary than a King, as he could view his territory with a look of his eye, and a movement of his finger commanded obedi'- ence. I felt myself more desponding than I had done at any time before ; for I concluded it to be a governmental scheme, to do that clandestinely which policy forbid to be done under sanction of public justice and law.* However, two days after I shaved and cleansed myself as well as I could, and went on deck. The Capt. spoke to me in a great rage, and said, " Did I not order you not to comeondeck?" I answered him, that at the same time he said, '' That it was the place for gentlemen to walk ; that I was Col. AU len, but had not been properly introduced to him.'' He replied, " G-d damn you, Sir, be careful not to walk the same side of the deck The colonel, smnrtino" iinrloti ei,^U A- A. ^ be excused, m some measure, for wishing to confound the abuse of officers with that of the goyernment. F2 66 COL. ALLEN S OBSERVATIONS. that I do." This gave me encouragement, and ever after that I walked in the manner he had directed, except when he, at certain times afterwards, ordered me off in a passion, and I then w^ould directly afterwards go on again, telling him to command his slaves ; that I was a gentleman, and had a right to walk the deck ; yet when he expressly ordered me off, I obeyed, not out of obedience to him, but to set an example to his ship's crev:, v/ho ought to obey him. ' To walk to the windward side of the deck is, according to custom, the prerogative of the Capt. of the man of war, though he, often- times, nay commonly, walks with his lieuten- ants, when no strangers are by : When a Capt. from some other man of war, comes on board, the Capts. walk to the windward side, and the other gentlemen to the leeward. It was but a few nights I lodged in the ca- ble tire, before I gained an acquaintance with the master of arms ; his name was Gil- legan, an Irishipan, who was a generous and well disposed man, and, in u friendly maniier made me an offer of living with him in a little NS, ;ement, nner he n times )n, and 1 again, that I ^alk the me ofF, but to ► ought le deck e of the often- ieuten- /hen a >mes on d side, d. the ca- Lintance as Gil- US and rnarnicr a little DURING HIS CAFTIV^Y, 67 \ birth, which was allotted him between decks, and enclosed with canvas ; his preferment on board was about equal to that of a sergeant in a regiment. I was comparatively happy in the acceptance of his clemency, and lived with him in friendship, till the frigate an- chored in the harbor of cape Fear, North-Car- olina, in America.* Nothing of material consequence happened till the fleet rendezvoused at the cove of Co.k, except a violent storm which brought old hardy sailors to their prayers. It was soon rumoured in Cork that I was on board the Solebay, with a number of prisoners from A- merica; upon which Messrs. Clark and Hays, merchants in company, and a number of oth- er benevolently disposed gentlemen, contrib. uted largely to the relief and support of the prisoners, who were thirty-four in number, and in very needy circumstances. A suit of clothes from head to foot, including an -ver coat, or surtout, and two shirts, were bestow- ed on each of them. My suit I received in supcifunj broadcloths, sullicient for two jack- ets, and two pair of breeches overplus of a 68 COL. i, Allen's observations, suit throughout, eight fine Holland shirts" and stocks ready made, with a number of pairs of silk and worsted hose, two pair of shoes, two beaver hats, one of which was sent me richly laced with gold, by Mr. James Bonwell. The Irish gentlemen furthermore made a large gratuity of wines of the best sort, old spirits, Geneva, loaf and brown su- gar, coffee, tea and chocolate, with a large round of pickled beef, and a numbeif of fat turkies, with many other articles, for my sea stores, too tedious to mention here. To the privates they bestowed on each man two pounds of tea, and six pounds of brown su- gar. These articles were received on board, at a time when the Capt. and first Lieut, were gone on shore, by permission of the second Lieut, a handsome young gentleman, who was then under twenty years of age ; his name was Douglass, the son of Admiral Douglass, as I was informed. As this munificence was so unexpected and plentiful, I may add needful, it impressed wards my benefactors ; for I was not only thr ffs, DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 69 shirts ber of •air of li was James :rmore i best n su- large of fat y sea ro the I two n su- 3oard, . were econd , who ; his Imiral supplied with the necessaries and convenien- ces of life, but with the grandeurs and super- fluities of it. Mr. Hays, one of the dona- tors before mentioned, came on board, and behaved in the most obliging manner, telling me, that he hoped my troubles were past ; for that the gentlemen of Cork determined to make my sea-stores equal to those of the Capt. of the Solebay's ; he made an offer of live stock and wherewith to support them ; but I knew this would be denied : And to crown all, did send to me by another person fifty guineas, but I could not reconcile receiving the whole to my own feelings, as it might have the appear- ance of avarice ; and therefore received but seven guineas only ; and am confident, not only from the exercise of the present well- timed generosity, but from a large acquaint- ance with gentlemen of this nation, that as a people they excel in liberality and bravery.^Jf tected essed i.^ Lvi- only * This tribute to the p;cncrosity of the Irish charac- ter is well merited. Except among the lowest and most ip:norant, hospitality and generosity are proverbial ; and _ ,_,, ,,vM-_r:iv io vast xjrxsv liiC liuiionai character, by applying to them the commission of most of che buUs which arc current among us, yet the well 70 COL. E. Allen's observations Two days after the receipt of the aforesaid donations, Capt. Symonds came on board, full of envy towards the prisoners, and swore by all that is good, that the damned American rebels should not be feasted at this rate, by the damned rebels of Ireland ; he therefore took away all my liquors before-mentioned, except some of the wine which was secreted, and a two gallon jug of old spirits which was reserved for me, per favour of Lieut. Doug. lass. The taking of my liquors was abomin- able in his sight ; he therefore spoke in my behalf, till the Capt. was angry with him ; and, in consequence, proceeded and took away all the tea and sugar, which had been given to the prisoners, and confiscated it to the use of the ship's crew. Our clothing was not taken away, but the privates were forced to do duty on board. Soon after this there came a boat to the side of the ship, and Capt. Symonds asked a gentleman who was in it, in my hearing, what his business was? who informed of all countries do them iustice by allowine- inut incy do not full siiort of other nations, in literary; philosophical and other attainments. DtTRING HIS CAPTIVlxr. 71 answered that he was sent to deliver some sea-stores to Col. Allen, which, if I remem- ber right, he said were sent from Dublin ; but the Capt. damned him very heartily, ordered him away from the ship, and would not suffer him to deliver the stores. I was farthermore informed, that the gentlemen in Cork re- quested of Capt. Symonds, that I might be allowed to come imo the city, and that they would be responsible I should return to the frigate at a given time, which was denied them. We sailed from England the 8th day of January, and from the cove of Cork the 12th day of February. Just before we sailed, Ac prisoners with me were divided, and put on board three different ships of war. This gave me some uneasiness, for they were to a man zealous in the cause of liberty, and behaved with a becoming fortitude in the various scenes of their captivity ; but those, who were distributed on board other ships of war were much better used than those who tarri-' cu wuii me, as appeared afte. wards. When the fleet, consisting of about forty five sail, in- 72 COL. E. Allen's observations, eluding five men of war, sailed from the cove with a fresh breeze, the appearance was beau- tiful, abstracted from the unjust and bloody- designs they had in view. We had not sail- ed many days, before a mighty storm arose, which lasted near twenty-four. hours without intermission : The wind blew vvdth relentless fury, and no man could remain on deck, ex- cept he was lashed fast, for the waves rolled over the deck by turns, with a forcible rapid- ity and every soul o i board was anxious for thepreservationof the ship, alias their lives. In this storm the Thunder-bomb man of war sprang a leak, and was afterwards floated to some part of the coast of England, and the crew saved. We were then said to be in the bay of Biscay. After the storm abated, I could plainly discern that the prisoners were better used for some considerable time.^ * The eaiisc of the alteration is left to conjecture. Probably, however, it was from compunction for the unwarrantable severity inflicted on the pribuners, and their alarm, durint; the storm, mit^ht have made tin ;h apprehcniiive that this war of the elements was occasivMi- „J K.. 4.U.. Jit 1 _ i» J 1 r-» ?i-_ T ? A ^1 . „ CVl uy lilC vii£iiJiC»,i3Vli"C OI li'-; L/Cit«'. lIIliilinCiiL til -i-yCr ^voldd have a tcndcncv to rciax the Iron hand of r^iv^ncs- )NS, he cove as beau* bloody not sail- 1 arose, without ^lentless sck, ex- s rolled e rapid- ious for ir lives. 1 of war )ated to and the >e ill the bated, I ::rs were ne.^ :onjecturc. Ill for llic jncrs, aiul natle tin ns soccasKr.- DURING HIS CAPTIVITV, 73 Nothing of consequence happened after this, till we had sailed to the island of Ma- deira, except a certain favour which I receiv- ed of Gapt. Symonds, in consequence of an application I made to him, for the privilege of his tailor to make me a suit of clothes of the cloth bestowed on mc in Ireland, which he generously granted. I could then walk the deck with a seeming better grace. When we had reached Madeira, and anchored, sun- dry gentlemen with the Capt. went on shore, who I conclude gave the rumor that I w as in the frigate ; upon which I soon after found Irish generosity was again excited ; for a gentleman of the nation sent his clerk on board, to know of me if I would accept a sea- store from him, particularly of wine. This matter I made known to the generous Lieut. Douglass, who readily granted me the favor,' provided the articles could be brought on board, during the time of his command ; ad- ding that it would be a pleasure to him to serve SilOD- ivlioM 4K^K^ A ?^ .. . trcatieV nr. nZr^^'^'i' f^ *^^"^*i-^^^sc steeled against eft- laaties, or a view of the excess of human suatdng. G 74 COL. E. Allen's observations^ me, notwithstanding the opposition h^ met with before : So I directed the gen^le^man's. clerk to inform him, that I was greatly in ne^d of so signal a charity, and desired th^ young gentleman to make the utmost dispatch, which he'did ; but, in the mean time, Capt. Sy- monds and his officers came on board, and immediately made ready for sailing ; the wind at the same time being fair, set sail when the young gentleman was in f^ir sight; with the aforesaid store.* The reader will doubtless recollect the sev-? en guineas I received at the cove of Cork; These enabled me to purchase of the purser what I wanted, had not the Capt. strictly for^ bidden it, though I made sundry applications! to him for that purpose ; but his answer to me, when I was sick, was, that it was no mat- ter how soon I was dead, and that he was no ways anxious to preserve the lives of reb- els, but wished them all dejid ; and indeed * This will remind tiie classical reader of the story of Tantalus. The deprivation, however, must have been that wiae is moru paljvtablg than water. u, ♦• li^ met eman's in need young , wliiqh pt. Sy. •||, and ;; the ict sail p sight Gork; purser tly for^ catioru^ iwer to 10 naat- le was of reb- indeed e story of lave been 75 n^^ fe&klNG ills CAPTIVlTr. that was the language of most of the shi crew. I expostulated not only with tU^ Capt. but with other gentlemen on board, oii- the unreasonableness of such usage ; infer- ring that, inasmuch as the government in England did not proceed against me as a capital offender, they should . not ; for that they \^^re by no means empowered by any authority, either civil or military, to do so; for the English government had acquitted me by sending me back a 'prisoner of war to A- ferica, and that they should treat me as such. I farther drew an inference of impolicy on them, provided they should, by hard usage, destroy my life ; inasmuch as I might, if liv' ing, redeem^one of their officers ; but the Capt. replied, that he needed no directions of mine how to treat a rebel ; that the British would conquer the American rebels, hang the Congress, and such as promoted the rebel- lion, me in particular, and retake their o^vn prisoners ; so that my life was of no conse. quence in the scale of their policy. I gave him for answer, that if they stayed till they conquered America, before they hanged me. 76 €0L. E. Allen's observations, I should die of old age ^ and desired that till such an event took place, he would at least allow me to purchase of the purser, for my own money, such articles as I greatly need- ed ; but he would not permit it, and when I reminded him of the generous and civil us- age that their prisoners in captivity in Amer^ ica met with, he said that it was not ov/ing to their goodness, but to their timidity ; for, said he, they expect to be conquered, and therefore dare not misuse our prisoners ; and in fact, this was the language of the British officers, till Gen. Burgoyne was taken \* hap- * It was the plan of the British generals, to push a body of troops from New-York, to join general Bur- goyne at Albany, and by establishing a line of British posts on the Hudson, to intercept the intercourse be- tween the New-England and southern states. While general Burgoyne was attempting to advance towards Albany, General Clinton with a force of three thousand men took possession of fort Montgomery, after severe loss. General Vaughan, with a body of troops, on board of armed ships sailed, up the Hudson, as far as Livings- ton's manor, where he landed a party, burnt a large house belonging to one of the family ; then sent a party to the opposite shore and laid in ashes the town of Kings- ton. But general Burgoyne, despairing of the junction, between his army and the division from New-York, sur- sented to capitulate, and on the 1 7th of October, sur- NS, lat till it least for my • need- vhen I vil us- Amer* ir/ing to Y ; for, d, and s ; and Britrsh * hap- push a ral Biir- l British ursc be- While towards thousand r severe on board Livings- a large t a party f Kings- junction )rk, sur- ler, sur- DURINC HIS CAPTIVITV. T7 py event ! and not only of the officers, bat of the whole British army. I appeal to all my brother prisoners, who have been with the British in the southern department, for a confirmation of what I have advanced on this subject. The surgeon of the Solebay whosenameisNortl,, wasa very humane obligmg man, and took the best care of the prisoners who were sick. The third day of May we cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Fear,* 'in North-Caroli na, as did Sir Peter Parker's ship, of fifty guns, a little back of the bar; for there was no depth of water for him to come into the harbour : These two men of war, and four- » P ^ . C Websler's Elements, v^ape Look Out, and remirV^K?^ c " ,"** » ^' W . of caned the Frying pt^romt w' ^',11? .^'^^^ stands at the mouth of the river Tf* i %^r ^''''^^ from the point of the Cane fl? .* •, ''T' ^^- ^- W- this cape Ljohnso^^lpP^' ^^^n^iles distant. Near district of Wilmint^ton'^NnrfifTl'-?'^^^^ *''*''"^>'' ^"d longitude rs, 25. ^ '^^' ^""^3^ ^^> 32-^,vest tr 2 78 COL. E, Allen's observations, teen sail of transports and others, came after, so that most of the fleet rendezvoused at cape Fear, for three weeks. The soldiers on board the transports were sickly, in conse- quence of so long a passage ; add to this, the small pox carried off many of them : They landed on the main, and formed a camp ; but the riflemen annoyed them, and caused them to move to an island in the harbour ; but such cursing of riflemen I never heard. A detachment of regulars was sent up Brunswick river ; as they landed, they were fired on by those marksmen, and they came back next day damning the rebels for their unmanly way of fighting, and swearing that tliey would give no quarter, for they took sight at them, and were behind timber, skulk- ing about. One of the detachments said they lost one man ; but a negro man who was with them, and heard what was said soon after told me that he helped to bury thirty- one of them : This did me some good to find my countrymen giving them battle ; for I never heard such swas-srerine" as among: Gen. Clinton's little army, who commanded at that US. DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 79 after, sed at iers on conse- 3 this, them : camp; caused rbour ; heard, snt up y were came >r their ng that y took skulk- ts said m who id soon thirty- to find for I b: Gen. at that time ; and I am apt to think there were four thousand men, though not two thinis of them fit for duty. I heard 'numbers of them say, that the trees in America should hang well with fruk that campaign for they would give no quarter : This was in the mouths of most who I heard speak on the subject, officer as well as soldier. I wished at that time my eountr} men knew, as well as I did, what a murdering and cruel enemy they had to deal with ; but experience has since taught thjs country, what they are to expect at the hands of Britons when in their power. The prisoners, who had been sent on board different men of war at the cove of Cork were collected together, and the whole of them put on board the Mercury frigate, Capt, James Montague, except one of the Canadi- ans, who died on the passage from Ireland, and Peter Noble, who made his escape from the Sphynx man of war in this harbour, and, by extraordinary swimming, got safe home to New-EngUnd, and gave intelligence of the cury set sail from this port for Halifax, about 80 COL. E. Allen's observations, the 20th of May, and Sir Peter Parker was about to sail with the land forces, under the command of Gen. Clinton, for the reduction of Charleston, the capital of South- Carolina, and when I heard of his defeat in Halifax, it gave me inexpressible satisfaction. I now found myself under a worse Capt. than Symonds ; for Montague was loaded with prejudices against every body, and ev- ery thing that was not stamped with royalty ; and, being by nature underwitted, his wrath was heavier than the others, or at least his mind was in no instance liable to be diverted by good sense, humour or bravery, of which Symonds was by turns susceptible. A Capt. Fmncis Proctor was added to our number of prisoners when we were first put on board this ship : This gentleman had formerly be- longed to the English service. The Capt. and, in fine, all the gentlemen of the ship, were very much incensed against him, and put him in irons without the least provoca- tion, imd he was continued in this miserable situation about three months. In this pas- sage the prisoners were infected with the IONS, irker was nder the reduction Carolina, alifax, it :*se Capt. s loaded and ev- royalty ; is wrath least his diverted f which A Capt. mber of n board 'rly be- le Capt. le ship, im, and rovoca- serable is pas- th the DUR1N^<; HIS CAPTIVITY. 81 scurvy, some more and some less, but most of them severely. The shijp's crew was to a great degree troubled with it, and I conclud- ed that it was catching : Several of the crew died with it on their passage. I was weak and feeble in consequence of so long and cruel a captivity, yet had but little of the scurvy. The purser was again expressly forbid by the Capt. to let me have any thing out of his store ; upon which I went on deck, and, in the handsomest manner requested the favour of purchasing a few necessaries of the purser, which was denied me ; he farther told me, that I should be hanged as soon as I arrived at Halifax. I tried to reason the matter with him, but found him proof against reason ; I also held up his honor to view, and his be- havior to me and the prisoners in general, as being derogatory to it, but found his honor Impenetrable. I then endeavored to touch his humanity, but found he had none ; for his prepossession of bigotry to his own party, iiaci confirmed him in an opinion, that no hu manity was due to unroyalists, but seemed B^ COL. E. AILEn's OSSERVATiOKTS, to think that heaven and earth were md^ merely to gratify the King and his creatures; he uttered considerable unintelligible and grovelling ideas, a little tinctured with Mon- archy, but stood well to his text of hanging tee. He afterv/ards forbade his surgeon to administer any help to the sick prisoners.* I was every night shut down in the cable tire, with the rest of the prisoners, and we all liv- ed miserably while under his power : But I deceived some generosity from several of the midshipmen, who in degree alleviated my misery ; one of their names was Putrass, the names of the others I do not recollect ; but they were obliged to be private in the bestow- ment of their favour, which was sometimes e')od wine bitters, and at others, a generous drink of grog. Some time in the first week of June, we came to anchor at the Hook off New i'ork, * This, if Col. Allen was t^ot imdcr a mistake, must liuve been the acme of inlnimunity. For the honour of human nature, we trust it is. lie must be a monster, indeed, wnnmnlrl wuii«> #^/\t-ntv »i* .^ !.....<.. i _ ^-^ • NS, e madb atures; )le and 1 Mon- langin^ geon to Dners.* ^le tire, all liv- But I I of the ed my iss, the t ; but estow- etimes nerous le, we i'ork, )nour of monster, nVRtM-Q HIS CAPTIVITY. 8S iUilUiC. ^Iiere we remained l)ut three days ; in which time Gpv. Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old attor- ney Gen. of Nt.v\r-^ork, and several other perfidious and over-grown tpries and landr jobbers, came on board. Tryon viewed m^. \^ith a stern countenance, as I was walking on the leeward side of the deck, with the; midshipmen; and he and his companions were walking with the Capt. and Lieut, on the windward side of the same, but never, spoke to me, though it is altogether probable that he thought of the old quarrel between^ liim, the old government of New- York andi the Green Mountain Boys : Then they went with the Capt. into the cabin, and the samc^ afternoon returned on board a vessel whichi lay near the Hook, where at th^t time they took sanctuary from the resentment of their injured country. What passed between the officers of the ship and these visitors I know iiot ; but tins I know, that my treatment %Q?n the, principal officers was more severe afterwards. We arrivprl uf u«i:r„.. ^,^ r. « -.^^ «v xA»*iiiUA iiiji liu irom the middle of June, where the ship's crew, which H COL. K. Allen's observations, was infested with the scurvy, were taken on shore, and shallow trenches dug, into which they were put, and partly covered with earth. Indeed every proper measure was taken for their relief : The prisoners were not per- mitted any sort of medicine, but were put on board a sloop which lay in the harbour, near the town of Halifax, surrounded with several men of war and their tenders, and a guard constantly set over them, night and day. The sloop we had wholly to ourselves, except the guard, who occupied the forecastle ; here we were cruelly pinched with hunger; it seemed to me that we had not more than one third of the common allowance : We were all seized with violent hunger and faintness ; we divided our scanty allowance as exact as possible. I shared the same fate with the rest, and, though they offered me more than an even share, I refused to accept it, as it was a time of substantial distress, which in my opinion I ought to partake equally with the rest, and set an example of virtue and forti- tude to our little rnm m on w/^en 1th. NS, iken on ► which \ earth, ken for 3t per- put on r, near several I guard The except ; here ^er ; it an one e were itness ; [act as ith the e than it was in my th the ; forti- DURING HIS captivity/ 85 I sent letter after letter to Capt. Montague, who still had the care of us, and also to his Lieutenant, whose name I cannot call to mind, but could obtain no answer, much less a redress of grievances ; and, to add to the calamity, near a dozen of the prisoners were dangerously ill of the scurvy. I wrote private letters to the doctors, to procure, if possible, some remedy for the sick, but in vain. The chief physician came by in a boat, so close that the oars touched the sloop we were in, and I uttered my complaint in the genteelest manner to him, but he never so much as turned his head, or made me any answer, though I continued speaking till he got out of hearing. Our cause then bee m. very deplorable. Still I kept writing to the Captain, till he ordered the guards, as they told me, not to bring any more letters from me to him. In the mean time an event hap- pened worth relating : One of the men, al- most dead of the scurvy, ky by the side of the sloop, and, a canoe o£ Indians coming by - iv..-.«aovw iwu tjiiarts of strawberries, and H 86 COL. E. Allen's observations, ate them at once, and it almost cured him. The money he gave for them, was all the money he had in the world. After that we tried every way to procure more of that fruit, reasoning from analogy that thev might have the same effect on others infested with the same disease, but could obtain nbne.* Meanwhile the Doctor's mate of the Mer- cury came privately on board the prison sloop, and presented me with a large vial of smart drops, which proved to be good for the scur- vy, though vegetables and some other ingre- dients were requisite for a cure ; but the drops gave at least a check to the disease : This was a well-timed exertion of humanity, but the doctor's name Yzs slipped my mind, and, in my opinion, it was the means of sav- ing the lives of several men. The guard, which was set over us, was by this time touched with the feelings of com- passion ; and I finally trusted one of them with a letter of complaint to Governor Ar- ■^ The acid of any ullicr Ve^ctnbic, puSavanir.g itlii "" equal degree, and taken in the same quantity, would pgrhaps huve hftd the same curative effect. rs, I him. all the at we t fruit, it have th the t Mer- sloop, smart scur- ingre- iit the sease : nanity, mind, )f sav- ^vas by r com- f them ^r Ar- j It tii «»• fy would DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 87 buthnot, of Halifax, which he found means to communicate, and which had the desired ef- feet ; for the Governor sent an officer and surgeon on board the prison sloop, to know the truth of the complaint. The officer's name was Russel, who held the rank of Lieut, and treated me in a friendly and polite man- ner, and was really angry at the cruel and unmanly usage the prisoners met with ; and, - with the surgeon, made a true report of mat- ters to Gov. Arbu^mot, who, either by his order or influence, took us next day from the prison sloop to Halifax gaol, where I first be- came acquainted with the now Hon. James Lovel, Esq. one of the members of Congress for the State of Massachusetts-Bay. The si !' were taken to the hospital, and the Cana- dians, who were effective, were employed in the King's works ; and when their country. men were recovered from the scurvy and joined them, they all deserted the King's em- ploy, and were not heard of at Halifax, as long as the remainder of the prisoners contin- October. We were on board the prison- 88 COL. E. Allen's observations, sloop about six weeks, and were landed at Halifax near the middle of August. Several of our English American prisoners, who were cured of the scurvy at the hospital, made their escape from thence, and after a long time reached their old habitations. I had now but thirteen with me, of those who were taken in Canada, and remained in gaol with me in Halifax, who, in addition to those that were imprisoned before, made our number about thirty four, who were all lock- ed up in one common large room, without re- gard to rank, education, or any other accom- plishment, where we continued from the set- ting to the rising sun ; and, as sundry of them were infected with the gaol and other distempers, the furniture of this spacious room consisted principally of excrement tubs. We petitioned for a removal of the sick into the hospitals, but were denied. We remon- strated against the ungenerous usage of be- ing confined with the privates, as being con- trary to the laws and customs of nations, and nnrtirnlnrlv nngrnfeful in ihem. in rnnee- quence of the gentleman-like usage which ONS, mded at Several rs, who hospital, [ after a IS. )f those dned in lition to ade our all lock- hout re- • accom- the set- indry of d other jpacious ;nt tubs, lick into ; remon- of be- ing con- >ns, and conse- 2 which JDUHING HIS CAPTIVITY. 89 the British imprisoned officers met with in America ; and thus we wearied ourselves, pe. titioning and remonstrating, but to no pur- pose at all ; for Gen. Massey, who command- ed at Halifax, was as inflexible as the Devil himself, a fine preparative this for Mr. Lovel, member of the Continental Congress. Lieut. Russel, whom I have mentioned be- fore, came to visit me in prison, and assured me that he had done his utmost to procure my parole for enlargement ; at which a Brit- ish Captain, who was then the town-major, expressed compassion for the gentlemen confined in the filthy place, and assured me that he had used his influence to procurq their enlargement ; his name was near like Ramsay. Among the prisoners there were five in number, who had a legal claim to a pa- role, viz. James Lovel, Esq. Capt. Francis Proctor, a Mr. Howland, master of a Conti- nental armed vessel, a Mr, Taylor, his mate and myself. As to the article of provision, we were well served, murh hpH^a*- *U^^ : H2 ' 90 COL. E, alien's observations, captivity ; and, since it was Mr. Level's mis- fortune and mine to be prisoners, and in so wretched circumstances, I was happy that we were together as a mutual support to each other, and to the unfortunate prisoners with us. Our first attention was the preservation of ourselves and injured little republic ; the rest of our time we devoted interchangeably to politics and philosophy, as patience was a needful exercise in so evil a situation, but contentment mean and impracticable. I had not been in this gaol many days, be- fore a worthy and charitable woman, Mrs. Blacden, byname, supplied me with a good dinner of fresh meats every day, with garden fruit, and sometimes with a bottle of wine ; notwithstanding which I had not been more than three weeks in this place, before I lost all appetite to the most delick)us food, by the gaol distemper, as also did sundry of the prisoners, particularly a sergeant Moore, a man of courage and fidelity : I have several times seen him hold the boatswain of the o^i^U.,,, l\.:#Y.r.4£k TirVi^stt 1-1/* attpmntPfl to strLkd i[ NS, DURING HIS CAPTIVITY*, 91 's mis- in so hat we > each rs with rvation c ; the geably was a n, but ^s, be- Mrs. ; good garden wine ; \ more I lost 3d, by of the >ore, a jeveral of the strlka him, and laughed him out of conceit of usins him as a slave. A doctor visited the sick, and did the best, as I suppose, he could for them, to no ap- parent purpose. I grew weaker and weaker, as did the rest. Several of them could not help themselves. At last I reasoned in my own mind, that raw onion would be good : I m^de use of it, and found immediate relief by it, as did the sick in general, particularly sergeant Moore, whom it recovered almost from the shades ; though I had met with a little revival, still I found the malignant hand of Britain had greatly reduced my con- stitution with stroke upon stroke. Esquire Lovel and myself used every argument and entreaty that could be well conceived of, in order to obtain gentlemanlike usage, to no purpose. I then wrote Gen. Massey as se- vere a letter as I possibly could, with my friend LovePs assistance : The contents of it was to give the British, as a r,;;^tion, and him as an individual, their true character. This roused the rascal, for he could not bear to see his and the nation's deformity in that IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I ^ Hi IIIIIM IU& 1.25 1.4 1.6 -^ 6" - ► V] <^ /; 01 /a /^ ^' '"// '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation A <^^ ,V 4 I ^ \\ 33 WEST MAIN STRUT WEBSTER, NY MSSO (716) s/a^soi '.«^;*^. \^''?I<' <^^ ^ s. A. fcl $2 COL. E. ailen's observations, transparent letter,* which I sent him ; he therefore put himself in a great rage abou|; it, and shewed the letter to a number of Brit- ish officers, particularly to Capt. Smith of the Lark frigate, who, instead of joining with him ?n disapprobation, commended the spirit of it; upon wliich Gen. Massey said to him, do you take the part of a rebel against me ? Capt. Smith answered, that he rather spoke his sentiments, and there was a dissension in opinion between them. Some officers took the part of the General, and others of the Captain : This I was informed of by a gentle- man v/ho had it from Capt. Smith. In a few days after this, tlie prisoners were ordered to go on board of a man of war, which was bound for New- York ; but two of them were not able to go on board, and were left at Halifax ; one died, and the other recovered. This was about the 12th of Oc- • We caXi easily excuse, if excuse he necessary, tlus conduct of the oppressed prisoner. After having tried persuasion, entreaty and every mild mean to have his condition ameliorated, the last resource seemingly was r1 tU. %l\*%oj^ t^*\^ ^-> ml All fir '-'-'-J which he had experienced in the most lively colours pos- sible;. During his captivity. 93 )0S- tober, and soon after we had got on board, the Captain sent for me in particular to come on the quarter deck : I went, i.ot knowing that it was Capt. Smith, or his ship at that time, and expected to meet the same rigor- ous usage I had commonly met with, and prepared my mind accordingly ; but when I came on deck, the Captain met me with his hand, welcomed me to his ship, invited me to dine with him that day, and assured me that I should be treated as a gentleman, and that he had given orders, that I should be treated with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unexpected and sudden a transition, that it drew tears from my eyes, which all the ill usage I had before met with, was not able to produce, nor could I at first hardly speak, but soon recovered myself and expressed my gratitude for so unexpected a favour ; and let him know that I felt anxiety of mind in reflecting that his situation and mine was such, that it was not probable that it would ever be in my power to return the favour. Ca*^*" RmifVl ft^r^MaA ♦k«4, K„ 1 1 ^ ^^J in view, but only treated me as a gentleman 94 COL. E. Allen's obsehvations, ought to be treated ; he said this is a muta- ble world, and one gentleman never knows but that it mUy be in his power to help anoth- er. Soon after I found this to be the same Capt. Smith who took my part against Gen. Massey ; but he never mentioned any thing of it to me, and I thought it knpoUte in me to interrogate him, as to any disputes which might have arisen between him and the Gen- eral OR my account, as I was a prisoner, and that it was at his option to make free with me on that subject, if he pleased ; and, if he did not, I might take it for granted that it would be unpleasing for me to query about it, though I had a strong propensity to con- verse with kim on that subject. I dined with the Captain agreeable to his invitation, and oftentimes with the Licuten* ant, in the gun room, but in general ate and , drank with my friend Lovel and the other gentlemen, who were prisoners with me, where I also slept. We had a little birth enclosed with canvas, between decks, where we enioved ourselves very well, in hopes of an exchange ; besides. s, muta- knows anoth- t same t Gen. thing in me which i Gen- ^r, and e with I, if he that it about to con- to his euten* ite and ; other :h me, :anvas, rselves esides, DtrHlNG HIS CAPTIVITT. »s our friends at Halifax had a Ihtle notice of our departure, and supphed us with spirituous liquor, and many articles of provision for the cost. Capt. Burk, having been taken pris- oner, was added to our company, (he had commanded an American armed vessel) and was generously treated by the Captain and all the officers of the ship, as well as myself. We now had in all near thirty prisoners on board, and as we were sailing along the coast, if I recollect right, off Rhode-Island, Capt. Burk, with an under officer of the ship, whose name I do not recollect, came to our litde birth, pro- posed to kill Capt. Smith and the principal officers of the frigate and take it ; adding that there were thirty five thousand pounds sterling in the same. Capt. Burk likewise averred that a' strong party out of the ship's crew was in the conspiracy, and urged me, and the gentleman that was with me, to use our influence with the private prisoners, to execute the design, and take the ship with the cash into one of our own ports. Upon which I replied, that we had been too well used on board to murder the officers ; 96 COL, E. Allen's observations, that I could by no means reconcile it to my conscience, and that in fact it should not be done ; and, while I was yet speaking, my friend Lovel confirmed what I had said, and farther pointed out the ungratefulness of such an act ; that it did not fall short of mur- der, and in fine all the gentlemen in the birth opposed Capt. Burk and his colleague : But they strenuously urged that the conspiracy would be found out, and that it would cost them their lives, provided they did not exe- cute their design. I then interposed spirit- edly, and put an end to farther argument on the subject, and told them that they might de- pend upon it, upon my honor, that I would faithfully guard Capt. Smith's life : If they should attempt the assault, I would assist him, for they desired me to remain neuter, and that the same honor that guarded Capt. Smith's life, would also guard theirs ; and it was agreed by those present not to reveal the conspiracy, to the intent that no man should be put to death, in consequence of what had i' -_-j----i-_--i. J -, ^^^^ ~^--.^- league went to stifle the matter among fs, DURING HIS CxlPTIVITY. 97 to my not be i, and ess of f mur- ; birth t: But jpiracy d cost t exe- spirit- ent on ght de- would [f they assist neuter, Capt. and it '^eal the should at had hi iQ on 1. among their associates. I could not help calling to mind what Capt. Smith said to me, when I first came on board : " This is a mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power to help another."* Captain Smith and his officers still behaved with their usual courtesy, and I never heard any more of the conspiracy. We arrived before New- York, and cast an- chor the latter part of October where we re- mained several days, and where Capt. Smith informed me, that he had recommended me to Adm. Howe and Gen. Sir Wm. Howe, as a gentleman of honor and veracity, and desir- ed that I might be treated as such. Capt. Burk was then ordered on board a prison-ship in the harbor. I took my leave of Capt. Smith, and, with the other prisoners, was * A memorable instance this of the value of a ffener- ous action. Had the conduct of Capt. Smith equalled m atrocity and cruelty that of Capt. Simonds of the Sole- bay, It IS not impossible that Col. Allen, goaded by his repeated abuse, might have consented to the killini; of the ship s crew. In this instance the pious reader will discern the hand of an overruling providence, who. even 111 cms lire, trequently extends to the doer of a Rood ac- tion Us appropriate reward. 98 COL. E-. alien's OBSEHVAflONS, sent on board a transport-ship, which lay in the harbour, commanded by Capt. Craige, who took me into the cabin with him and his Lieut. I fared as they did, and was in eve- ry respect well treated, in consequence of di- rections from Capt. Smith. In a few weeks after this I had the happiness to part with my friend Lovel, for his sake, whom the enemy af- fected to treat as a private ; he was a gentle- man of merit, and liberally educated, but had no commission ; they maligned him on ac- count of his unshaken attachment to the cause Of his country. He was exchanged for a Gov. Phillip Skene of the British. I was continued in this ship till the latter part of November, where I contracted an acquaint- ance with the C**pt. of the British ; his name has slipped my memory. He was what we may call a genteel hearty fellow. I remem- ber an expression of his over a bottle of wine, to this import : " That there is greatness of soul for personal friendship to subsist between you and me, as we are upon opposite sides, 1 . . _ xl J 1-.^ ^Kllnoorl ♦rv far*** ana may ai anotiicr u«^ wc ^un^^-^ '••^- ^ -- each other in the field." I am confident that BITEINC UlS CAPTIVITy. 99 lay in raigCf id his neve- ofdi- wecks th my myaf- rcntle- ut had 3n ac- ; cause for a I was 3art of quaint- 5 name hit we emem- f wine, ness of etween t sides, ♦n fnCC^ :nt that he was as faithful ^s any officer in the Brit- ish army. At another sitting he offered to bet a dozen of wine, that fort Washington would be in the hands of the British in three s days. I stood the bet, and would, had I known that that would have been the case, and the third day afterwards we heard a pro- digious heavy cannonade, and that day the fort was taken sure enough. Some months after, when I was on parole, he called upon me with his usual humour, and mentioned the bet. I acknow ledged I had lost it, but ke said he did not m ean to take it then, as I was a prisoner ; that he would another day call on me, when their army came to Ben- nington. I replied, that he was quite too generous, as I had fairly lost it : besides, the Green Mountain Boys would not suffer them to come to Bennington, This was all in good humour. I should have been glad to have seen him after the defeat at Bennington, but did not. It was customary for a guard to attend the prisoners, which was often chang- necticut, in the vicinity of Fairfield and Green 100 COL. E. Allen's observations, Farms. The sergeant's name was Hoit. They were very full of their invectives a- gainst the country, swaggered of their loyalty to their king, and exclaimed bitterly against the *< cowardly yankies," as they were pleas- ed to term them, but finally contented them- selves with saying that, when the country was overcome, they should be well reward- ed for their loyalty, out of the estates of the whigs, which would be confiscated. This I found to be the general language of tories, after I arrived from England on the Ameri- can coast. I heard sundry of them relate, that the British Generals had engaged them an ample reward for all their losses, disap- pointments and expenditures, out of the for- feited rebels' estates. This language early taught me what to do with tories' estates, as far as my influence can go. For it is really a game of hazard between whig and tory : The whigs must inevitably have lost all, in consequence of the abilities of the tories, and their good friends, the British ; and it is ^1 !«.U4. *U^ f^vl^o clnnnlr! rim the no more umu ligii^' "*^ 4,^*--=^ ..•..-^, same risk, in consequence of the abilities rs, DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 101 Hoit. res a- oyalty gainst pleas- them- Duntry iward- of the This I tories, Vmeri- relate, ithem disap- he for- e early ites, as I really L tory : all, in tories, nd it is run the ibilities of the whigs : But of this more will be ob- served in the sequel of this narrative. Some of the last days of November, the prisoners virere landed at New- York, and I was admitted to parole with the other offi- cers, viz. Procter, Rowland and Taylor. — The privates were put into the filthy church- es in New- York, with the distressed prison- ers that were taken at fort Washington ; and the second night, sergeant Roger Moore, who was bold and enterprizing, found means to make his escape with every of the remain- ing, prisoners that were taken with me, ex- cept three, who were soon after exchanged : So that, out of thirty-one prisoners, who went with me the round exhibited in these sheets, two only died with the enemy, and three on- ly were exchanged ; one of whom died after he came within our lines ; all the rest, at dif- ferent times, made iheir escape from the en- emy.* * The sufferings of our hero, during his captivit)-, though perhaps the consequence of his own rashness, VSfPVf^ hlYkT'lO'Kf nK/-k*il- Kit nn .■%-»tA^yi.4. »»r.! J« .«.I r i?« O ' 12 102 COL. E. Allen's observations, I now fouud myself on parole, and restrict- ed to the limits of the city of New- York, where I soon projected means to live in some measure agreeable to my rank, though I was destitute of cash. My constitution was al- most worn out by such a long and barbar- ous captivity. The enemy gave out that I was crazy, and wholly unmanned, but my vitals held sound, nor was I delirious any more than I have been from youth up ; but my extreme circumstances, at certain times, rendered it political to act in some measure the madman ; and, in consequence of a regu- lar diet and exercise, my blood recruited, and my nerves in a great measure recovered their former tone, strength and usefulness, in the course of six months. I next invite the reader to a retrospective sight and consideration of the doleful scene of inhumanity, exercised by Gen. Sir Will- iam Howe, and the army under his command, erty, which made him willing to mn hazards which cir- cumstances would hardly justify. Had this not been *i ..^ u^ «7«„iri r^iTiKahiv have never been carried a prisoner to England. NS, Strict- York, some I was ^as al- irbar- that I lit my s any ; but times, easure regu- d, and d their in the pectivc 1 scene r Will- imand, hich cir- not been carried a DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 103 towards the prisoners taken on Long-Island, on the 27th day of August, 1776 ; sundry of whom were, in an inhuman and barbarous manner, murdered after they had surrender- ed their arms; particularly a Gen. Odel, or Woodhul, of the militia, who was hacked to pieces with cutlasses, when alive, by the light horsemen, and a Capt. Fellows, of the Conti- nental army, who was thrust through with a bayonet, of which vvound he died instantly. Sundry others were hanged up by the neck till they were dead ; five on .the limb of a white oak tree, and without any reason as- signed, except that they were fighting, in de- fence of the only blessing worth preserving : And indeed those who had the m isfortune to fall into their hands at fort Washington, in the month of Nov. following, met with but very little better usage, except that they were reserved from immediate death to fam- ish and die with hunger ; in fine, the word rebel, applied to any vanquished persons, without regard to rank, who were in the con- tinental service, on the 27th of August afore- said, was thought, by the enem/, sufficient 104 COL. E. Allen's observations, ■% to sanctify whatever cruelties they were pleas- ed to inflict, death itttelf not excepted ; but to pass over particulars which would swell my narrative far beyond my design. The private soldiers, who were brought to New- York, were crowded into churches, and environed with slavish Hessian guards, a peo- ple of ai strange language, who were sent to America for no other design but cruelty and desolation ; and at others, by merciless Brit- ons, whose mode of comniunicating ideas be- ing intelligible in this country served only to tantalize and insult the helpless and perishing ; but, above all, the hellish delight and triumph of the toriesover them, as they were dying by hundreds : This was too much for me to bear as a spectator ; for I saw the tories ex- ulting over the dead bodies of their murder- ed countrymen. I have gone into the church- es, and seen sundry of die prisoners in tlxe agonies of death, in consequence of very hunger, and others speechless, and near death, biting pieces of chips ; others plead* lU!. Ill ^ lui vjruu s Sctiwc, lui auuivvitiiig cv> \^Mti and at the same time, shivering with the rs, DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 105 pleas- ; but swell ght to :s, and a peo- £nt to y and Brit- ;as be- mly to ihing ; Lumph dying me to s ex- Lirder- lurch* in tlie very near )lead- h the cold. Hollow groans saluted my ears, and despair seemed to be imprinted on every of their countenances. The filth in these church- es, in consequence of the fluxes, was almost beyond description. The floors were cover- ed with excrements. I have carefully sought to direct my steps so as to avoid it, but could not. They would beg for God's sake fair one copper, or morsel of bi ead. I have seen in one of these churches seven dead, at the same time, lying among the excremeuts of their bodies. It was a common practice with the enemy, to convey the dead from these filthy places, in carts, to be slightly buried, and I have seeh whole gangs of tories making derision, and exulting over the dead, saying, there goes another load of damned rebels. I have ob- served the British soldiers to be full of thdr black-guard jokes, and vaunting on those oc- casions, but they appeared to me less malig- nant than tories.* ^ However the reader of these enormities may feel exasperated, as undoubtedly he docs, at the conihtct of the British und ulienutcd Americans, it is wrong to ac- 106 COL. E. ajlxen's observations, The provision dealt out to the prisoners was by no means sufficient for the support of life : It was deficient in quantity, and much more so in quality. The prisoners often presented me with a sample of their bread, which I certify was damaged to that degree, % that it was loathsome and unfit to be eaten, Und I am bpld to aver it, as my opinion, that it had been condemned, and was of the very wprsi sort. I have seen and been fed upon ^am^ged bread, in the course of my cap- tivity, and observed the quality of such bread a? has been condemned by the enemy, among which was very little so effectually spoiled as what was dealt out to these prison- ers. Their allowance of meat (as they told me) was quite trifling, and of the basest sort. I never saw any of if, but was informed, bad as it was, it was swallowed almost as quick cwse a body of men, indiscriminately, of the commission of crimes. Amon^ the latter were no doubt many who ■were not sorry for, or mij^ht exult in th<; persecution ; but as probably there were many who acted from what thev deemed nrinc!Dle= A whole sect of any descrip- tion do not merit denunciation in consequence of the perfidy of u part. [ONS, ri&oners pport of I much :s often bread, degree, eaten, >n, that le very d upon ly cap- >f such enemy, ectually prison- ley told est sort, ed, bad s quick mmission iTiany who secutioii ; rom what descHp- ice of the CtrAlWG KIS CAttiVltY* itfr as they got hold of it. I saw some of them sucking bones after they were speechless ; others, who could yet speak, and had the use of their reason, urged me, in the strong, est and most pathetic manner, to use my in- terest in their behalf; for you plainly see, said they, that we are devoted to death and destruction ; and, after I had examined more particularly into their truly deplorable con- dition, and had become more fully apprized of the essential facts, I was persuaded that it was a premeditated and systematical plan of the British council, to destroy the youths of our land, with a view thereby to deter the country, and make it submit to their despot- ism ; but that I could not do them any mate- rial service, and that, by any public attempt for that purpose, I might endanger myself by frequenting places the most nauseous and contagious that could be conceived of. I re- fraincd going into the churches, but frequent- ly conversed with such of the prisoners a^ were admitted to come out into the yard, and found that the systematical usage still contin- ued. The guard would oft'^n drive me 108 COL, E. Allen's observations, •..u' away with their fixed bayonets. A Hessian one day followed me five or six rods, buf by making use of my legs, I got rid of the lub- ber. Sometimes I could obtain a little con- versation, notwithstanding their severities. I was in one of the church yards, and it was . rumoured among those in the church, and sundry of the prisoners came with their usual complaints to me, and among the rest a large boned, tall young man, as he told me, from Pennsylvania, who was reduced to a mere skeleton ; he said he was glad to see me be- fore he died, which he had expected to have / done last night, but was a little revived ; he farthermore informed me, that he and his brother had been urged to enlist into the Brit- ish, but had both resolved to die first ; that his brother had died last night, in conse- quence of that resolution, and that he expect- ed shortly to follow him ; but I made the other prisoners stand a little off, and told him with a low voice to enlist ; he then asked, whether it was right in the sight of God ? I assured him that it was, and that duty to himself obliged him to deceive the British by ONS. f»URING^IS CAPTIvIty. 109 Hessian , but by the lub- ttle gon- Tities. id it was •ch, and sir usual ,t a large le, from a mere 2 me be- to have ived; he and his the Brit- rst ; that 1 conse- ^ expect- made the told him n asked, God? I duty to Jritish by enlisting and deserting the first opportunity ; upon which he answered with transport, that he would enlist. I charged him noli^o men- tion my name as his adviser, lest it should get air, and I should be closely confined, in con- sequence of it. Th^ integrity of these suf- fering prisoners is hardly credible. Many hundreds, I am confident, submitted to death, rather than enlist in the British service, which, I am informed, they most generally were pres- sed to do. I was astonished at the resolution of the two brothers particularly ; it seems that they could not be stimulated to such exer-' tions of heroism from ambition, as they were but obscure soldiers ; strong indeed must the internal principle of virtu*; be, which sup- ported them to brave death, and one of them went through the operation, as did many hundred others. I readily grant that instan- ces of public virtue are no excitement to the sordid and vicious, nor, on the other hand, will all the barbarity of Britain and Hesh- land* awaken them to a sense of iheir duty • Meant for Hesse, in Germany. These troops were K r Hk . I n 4 lib cot. £. ALLAN'S #bSERVATlONS, to the public ; but these things will have their proper effect on the generous and brave.— The olfters on parole were most of them zea- lous, if possible, to afford the miserable sol- diery relief, and often consulted with one another on the subject, iut to no effect, being destitute of the means of subsistence, which they needed ; nor could the officers project any measure, which^hey thought would al- ter their fate, or so much as be a mean of get- ting tliem out of those filthy places to . the privilege of fresh air. Some projected that \ll the officers should go in procession to Gen. Howe, and plead the cause of the per- ishing soldiers ; but this proposal was nega. tived for the fallowing reasons, viz. because that Gen. Howe must needs be well acquaint- ed, and have a thorough knowledge of the state and condition of the prisoners in every of their wretched apartments, and that much more particular and exact than any officer on what were called mercenaries ; being in the pay of a fc.,,«;o.n DQvver. To a free born American, the takmg up of arms in any other cause than the defence or honor o^'his oWn country, appears indescribably degrading. IONS, m DURING" ms CAPTIVITY, lU ive their brave. — • lem zea- ible sol- vith one ct, being e, which 5 project rbuld al- in of get* ;s to. the :ted that ^ssion to the per- /as nega- because acquaint- ^e of the in every bat much officer on le pay of a the taking ice or honor jgrading. parole could be supposed to have, as the Gen- eral had a return of the circumstances of the prisoners, by bis own officers, everjl^ morn- ing, of the number which were alive, as also the number which died every twenty four hours; and consequ^tly the bill of mortality, as collected from the daily returns, lay be- fore him with all the material situations and circumstances of the prisoners ; and provid- ed the officers should go in procession to Gen. Howe, according to the projection, it would give him the greatest aifront, and that he would either retort upon them, that if was no part of their parole to instruct him in his conduct to prisoners; that they were mutinying against his authority; and, by af- fronting him, had forfeited their parole; or that, more probably, instead of saying one word to them, would order them all into as wretched a confinement as the soldiers whom they sought to relieve ; for, at that time, the British, from the General to the private ccn- tinel, were in full confidence, nor did they so mucii as iiCaitate, but that they should con- quer the country. Thus rfie consultation oi I 'I .11 m 112 COL. E. Allen's observations, ■:| •i III \ . - r> I- — the officers was confounded and broken to pieces, in consequence of the dread, which at that time lay on their minds, of offending Gen. Howe ; for they conceived so murder- ous a tyrant would not be too good to des- troy even the officers, off the least pretence of an affiront, as they were equally in his power with the soldiers ; andf as Gen. Howe per- fectly understood the condition of the private soldiers, it was argued that it was exactly such as he and his council had devised, and as he meant to destroy them it would be to no purpose for them to try to dissuade him from it, as they were helpless and liable to the same fate, on giving the least affront ; in- deed anxious apprehensions disturbed them in their then circumstances. Mean time mortality raged to such an in- tolerable degree among the prisoners, that the very school boys in the streets knew the men- tal design of it in some measure ; at least, they knew that they were starved to death. Some poor women contributed to their ne- cessity, tiii their children were almost starv- ed, and all persons of common understand- #■ ms^a^ - JDUEING HIS CAPTIVIXy. 113 oken to which, at fFending murder- to des- tence of is power we per- private exactly led, and i be to ade him iable to ont ; in- ^d them I an in- that the he men- at least, Q death, heir ne- ►st starv- ierstand- ing knew that they were devoted to the cru- elest and worst of deaths. It was also pro- posed by some to make a written representa- tion of the condition of the soldiery, and the officers to sign it, and that it should be couch^ ed in such terms, as though they were appre- hensive that the Genlral was imposed upon by his officers, in their daily returns to him of the state and condition of the prisoners ; and that therefore the officers, moved with compassion, were constrained to communi- cate to him the facts relative to them, nothing doubting but that they would meet with a speedy redress ; but this proposal was most generally negatived also, and for much the same reason offered in the other case ; for it was conjectured that Gen. Howe's indigna- tion would be moved against such officers as should attempt to whip him over his officers' backi^ ; that he would discern that himself was really struck at, and not the officers who m^de the daily returns ; and therefore self preservation deterred the officers from either petitioning pr remonstrating to Gen. Howe, ^2 r 'M'. I; 1 1 ; 114 "J^«I- ALIEN'S (UfSEBVATIONS, either verbailyor in writing, as also the cln. ' «f-at.onthatno valuable pu^ose to the dis- . tressed,would be obtained. I made several rough drafts on the subject • ene of which I exhibited to the Cols. C gaw, Miles, and Atlef> ^r,A *t. •. , would consider the mWr ; soon after I «fomed me, that they had written to the Gen. on the subject, and I concluded that *e gent emen thought it best that they should write without me, as there was such spirited aversion subsisting between the British and me* In the mean tfme a Col. Hussecker, of the eontmental army, as he then reported, was taken prisoner, and brought to New- York who gave out that the country was almost uni- versally submitting to the English king's au- thonty, and that there would be little or no more opposition to Great-Britain : This at first gave the officers a little shock, but in a few days they recovered themselves ; for this Col. Hussecker, being a German, was feast, mg with Gen. De Heister. his ^n..«» TlONSf 3 the con- the dis. ' subject,* )Is. Ma- ;hat they after I ■ntlemen to the ied that ^ should spirited ish and , of the d, was -York, )st uni- g's au- or no rhis at tt in a or this feast- «r*vt check lessia' . secur.- side of iiany of g ; and gener- DURING HIS CAPTIVITY, # 117 more numerous than the continental troops : They therefore collected, and marched from Princetown, to attack Gen. Washington, who was then at Trenton, having previously left a detachment from the# main body at Princei town, for the soppoll: of that place. This was a trying time, for our worthy General, though in pobsession of a late most astonish- ing victory, was by no means able to with- stand the collective force of the enemy ; but his sagacity soon suggested a stratagem to ef- fect that which, by force, to him was at that time impracticable : He therefore amused the enemy with a number of fires, and in the ^ night made a forced march, undiscovered by them, and next morning fell in with their rear guard at Princetown, and killed and took most of them prisoners. The main body too late perceived their rear was attacked, hurried back vvith all speed, but to their nKirtification, blow, to animate the expiring hopes of the country ; and on the night of December 25th, crossed the river, and fell on the enemy by sm-prize, and took the whole body consisting: of about nine, himdrerl mpn. A ff^w vtrt^r':* killed, among whom was colonel Rahl the commander. Ipr(;dsie7-'s Elemcntst ifA 3*s »'H- f m «: 18 COL. E. ALLIn's observations. found they Were out-generalled, and baffled by Gen. Washington, who was retii^d with his little army towards Morristown, and was ^t of their power.* These repeated suc- ^ses, onq on the balk of the other, cha- grined the enemy prodigiously, and had an amazing operation in the scale of American politics, and undoubtedly was one of the corn- er stones, on which their fair structure of In- dependency has been fabricated ; for the f t On the 2d of January 1777, lord Cornwallis appear- misMnl /'r^^?' ^^^^^^ ?t»'«»^ body of troops. Skir- mishing took place, and impeded the march of the Brit- ish army, until the Americans had secured their artiHt- ry and baggage ; when tliey retired to the southward of pass tlie bridge. As general Washington's force was* no sufficient to rneet the enemy, and his situation was criucal, he detcrn^med, with the advdce of a council of war, to attempt a stratagem. He gave orders for the troops to light fires in their camp, [which were irtend- ed to deceive the enemy,] and be prepared to march. Accordingly at twelve o'clock at night the troops left the ground, and by a circuitous march, eluded the vit?i- lanceot the enemy, and early in the morning appeared at Princctown. A smart action ensued, but the liritish troops gave way. A party took refuge in the college, a budding with st.ong stone wails, but were forced to sur- render. The enemy lost m killed, wrunded and piir.. oners, about five hunch-ed men. The Americans lost -JUt icw »ucu i but auiuny; them was a most valuable otH- ccr, general Mercer. [ Wtbatcr's EU mcnta. d baffled ^d with and was ted suc- sr, cha- had an merican he corn- •e of In- fer the IS appear- s. Skir- ihe Brit- ir artiWt- hward of ttempt to force was* at ion was ouncil of i for the 'e intend- ) march, oops left the vi^i- appeared I IJrilish oileg;e, a d to sur- uid piir,. cans lost lublc otfi- Umcnts* DURIl^e HIS CAPTIVITY* Up^ country at no one time has ever been so much dispirited as just before the morning of this glorious success, which in part dispelled the gloomy clouds of oppression and slaverj", Which lay pending o^ America, big wAi the ruin of this and future gene^tions, and Enlightened and spirited her sons to redotjble their blows on a, merciless, and haiightjr, and, I may add, perfidious enemy, Farthermore, this success had a mighty ef- fect on Gen. Howe and his council, and reus- ed them to a sense of their own weakness, and convinced them that they were neither omniscient nor omnipotent. Their obduradjr and death-designing malevolence, in some measure, abated or was suspended. The prisoners, who were condemned to the most wretched and crudest of deaths, and who survived to this period, though most of them died before, were immediately ordered to be sent within Gen. Washington's lines, for an exchange, and, in consequence of it, were taken out of their filthy and poisonous places .-.^riv^iii, aiiu oviii out oi rsew- York to tlieir friends in haste ; several of them fell f" 20 i COL. E. Allen's observations, dead in the streets of New- York, as they at- tempted to walk to the vessels in the harbor, for their intended ^embarkation. What num- |)ers lived to reach the lines I cannot ascer- fjRn, but, from coi^rrent representations which I have since received from numbers of people who lived in a.id adjacent to such parts of the country, where they were re- ceived from the enemy, I apprehend that most of them died in consequence of the vile usage of the enemy. Some, who were eye-witnesses of that scene of mortality, more especially in that part which continued after the exchange took place, are of opinion, that it was partly in consequence of a slow pois- on ;* but this I refer to the doctors that attended them,- who are certainly Jhe best judges. . Upon the best calculation I have been able to make from personal knowledge, and the * This conjecture is not probable ; and, however we may feel for the injuries of our oppressed fellov/ citi- zens, wc need not recur to any thing but facts to prove their severity. If coarse fare, and unwholeaome aii- mtnt vrure meant by iiic cuiouci, loi •• oiu *» |JV4owii, it wasf no doubt, administered to thqim. ONS, they at- i harbor, lat num- ot ascer- mtations mbers of to such vere re- end that ; of the ho were ty, more aed after ion, that 3W pois- tors that the best een able and the 3wcver wc fellow cili- 3 to prove esonie ali- _ ^ _i_ »» »URINC HIS CAPTIVITY. inT many evidences I have collected in support of the facts, I learn that, of the prisoners ta- ken on Long-Island, fort Washington, and some few others, at different times and plac^j about two thousand j^rished with hunj cold and sickness, occasioned b)i the filth of their prisons, at New- York, and a nuniber more on their passage to the contiiicntal lines ; most of the residue, who reached their friends, having received their death wound, could not be restored by the assist- ance of physicians and friends ; but, like their brother prisoners, fell a sacrifice to the relentless and scientific barbarify of Britain. I took as much pains as my circumstances would admit of, to inform myself not only of matteis of fact, but likewise of the very de^ sign and aims of Gen. Howe and his council : The latter of which I predicated on the for- mer, and submit it to the candid public. And lastly, the aforesaid success of the American arms had a happy effect on the continental officers, who were on parole at % * , ■' » ^^122 COL. E. ALLEN'S OBSER VATlOXS, not in a public manner, and, with full bowl* and glasses, drank Gen. Washington's health, and were not unmindful of Congress and our ^rthy friends on the continent, and ahnost forgot that we were prisoners. r A few days after this recreation, a British ' officer of rank and importance in their army, whose name I shall not mention in this nar-' rative, for certain reasons, though I have men- tioned it to some of my close friends and con- fidants, sent for me to his lodgings, and told me, " That faithfulness, though in a wrong cause, had nevertheless recommended me to Gen. Sir William Howe, who was minded to make me a Colonel of a regiment of new lev- ies, alias torics, in the British service ; and j proposed that I should go with him, and some other officers, to England, who would embark lor that purpose in a few days, and there be introduced to Lord G. Germaine, and proba- bly to the King ; and, that previously I should be clothed equal to such an introduc- tion, and, instead of paper rags, be paid in 11 hard cuineas ? afVet* tliic cKrMiii-i ^.-^k^^u .-.:..i- Gen. Burgoyne, and assist in the reduction OKS. DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 12? ill bowls s health, and our i almost I British ir army, his nar- ve men- nd con- md told L wrong i me to nded to ew lev- e ; and d some embark here be proba- usly I roduc- paid in luction 1 ^■■ of the country, which infiillibly would be con- quered, and, when that should be done, I should have a large tract of land, either in the New-Hampshire grants, or in Connecticut, it would make no odds,^as the country woifft^ be forfeited to the crown." I then replied, *' That, if by faithfulness I had recommend- ed myself to Gen. Howe, I should be loth, by unfaithfulness, to lose the GeneraPs* good opinion ; besides, that I viewed the offer of land to be similar to that which the devil of- fered Jesus Christ, " To give him all the kingdoms of the world, if he would fall down and worship him;" wfaen at the same time, that the damned soul had not one foot of land upon earth." This closed the conversation, and the gentleman turned from me with an air of dislike, saying, that I was a bigot ; upon which I retired to my lodgings.* Near the last of November I was admitted to parole in New- York, with many other •This conduct of. colonel Allen, thoui^h spring- ing from duty, ought not to be passed over Without trib- utary pnvjsc. The reuistil of such an offer and in such circumstances, was highly meritorious. Though the !" « * 124 COL. t.. Allen's observations, American officers, and on the 22dday of Jan- uary, 1777, was with them directed by the British commissary of prisoners to be quarter- ^ on the westerly part of Long-Island, and ^er parole continued.. During my imprison, ment there, no occurrences worth observation happened. I obtained the means of living as well as I desired, which in a great measure repaired my constitution, which had been greatly injured by the severities of an inhu- man captivity. I now began to feel mysetf composed, expecting either an exchange, or eontinuance in good and honorable treat- ment; but alas ! my. visionary expectations soon vanished. The news of the conquest of TiconderogabyGen. Burgoyne,^" and the ma.Tof strict honouf, and rigid intej^rity, deems the plaudit of his own conscience an ample reward foi- hU best actions, it is a pleasing employment, to those who Witness such actions, to record them. It is an incentive to others to « go and do likewise." * In June, 1777, the B'itis'i army, amountinr^ to sev- en thousand men, hesides Indians and Canadian-^, com- manded by p^encra! Burgoyne, crossed the lake and laid siege to Ticonderon^a. In a -short time, the enemy guned possession of Sugar Hill, which commanded the -.»iii^;j-v.aii JiiiC5, ui«u gcijcrai SI. Uiiiir, with the advice of a council of war, ordered the posts to be abandoned. lOJTS, r of Jan- l by the quarter- md, and iprison- "rvation iving as neasure id been 1 inhu- myseff ^ge, or treat- itations mquest md the sm3 the for hin ose who .iiccntive ■ to sev- »^, com- iiKl laid enemy led the dvice of iidoned. DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 125 advance of his army into the country, made the haughty Britons again to feel their impor- tance, and with that their insatiable thirst for cruelty.. The private prisoners at New- York, aitd some of the officers on parole, felt the severi- ty of it. Burgoyne was their to a stand demi- god: To him they paid adoration: In him the tories placed their confidence, " and for- got the Lord, their God," and served Howe, 3urgoync, and Knyphausen,* " and became vile in their own imaginations, and their fool- ish hearts were darkened, professing" to be great politicians, and relying on foreign and merciless invaders, and with them seeking the ruin, bloodshed and destruction of their The retreat of the Americans was conducted under ev- ery possible disadvantage — part of their force embarked in batteaux and landed at Skenesborough— a part march- ed by the way of Castletown ; but they were obliged to leave their heavy cannon, and, on their march, lost great part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was harrassed by the British troops. An action took place between colonel Wamef, with a body of Americans and General Frazcr, in which the Americans were de- feated, after a brave resistance, with the loss of a valua- ble officer, colonel Francis. » J Knyphausen, u Hessian General, L 2 r I 126 COI. E, ALLEN'S •BSEEVATI0.V3, country, " became fools," expecting with them to share a dividend in the confiscated estates of their neighbours and countrymen who fought for the whole country, and the re- ngion and liberties thereof: « Therefore God gave them over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they all might be damned." The 25th day of August I was apprehend, ed, and, under pretext of artful, mean and pitiful pretences, that I had infringed on my parole, taken from a tavern, where there were more than a dozen officers present and, in the very place where those officers and myself were directed to be quartered, put under a strong guard, and taken to New- York, where I expected to make my defence before the commanding officer ; but, contrary to my ex- pectations, and without the least solid pre- tence of justice or a trial, was again encircled with a strong guard with fixed bayonets, and conducted to the provost-gaol in a lonely apartment, next above the dungeon, and was denied all manner of subsistence eitherby pur- chase or allowance. The second day I offer. "■•" " 6"«i^ii wr a mcai of victuals, but was de. 1 TIONS, ng with >nfiscated mtrymen id the re. ^herefore sions, to amned." jrehend- lean and i on my -re were i, in the myself mder a , where 3re the my ex- id pre- icircled ts, and lonely nd was )y pur- [ offer- (^as de« DURING HIS CAPTIVIT?. 127 eight nied it, and the third day I c^ered Spanish milled dollars for a like tavo was denied, and all that I could get out of the Serjeant's mouth, was that, by God he would obey his orders. I now perceived myself«ito be again in substantial trouble. In this con- dition I formed an oblique acquaintance with a Capt. Travis, of Virginia, who was in the dungeon below me, .through a little hole which was cut, with a pen-knife, through the floor of my apartment which communicated with the dungeon ; it was a small crevice, through which I could discern but a very small part of his face at once, when he applied it to the hole ; but from the discovery of him in the situation which we were both then in, I could not have known him, which I found to be true by an after acquaintance. I could nev- erthelcss hold a conversation with him, and sopn perceived him to be a gentleman of high spirits, who had a high sense of honor, and felt as big, as though he had been in a palace, and had treasures of wrath in store against the British. In fine I wrao nixn^t^^^i „.uu xi.^ ""-'-' •wiicti iiiv^vi vVlvii viiVo spirit of the man ; he had been near or quite fc' t: 128 ■,\' i '■I COL. I." Allen's obsejivations, four months in that dungeon, with murder- ers thieves, and every species of criminals, and all for the sole crime of unshaken fidelitr to his country; but his spirits were above dejection, and his mind unconquerable. I en- r-iged to do him every service in my power, and, in a few weeks afterwards, with the unit- ed petitions of the officers in the provost, pro- cured his dismission from the dark mansion of fiends to the apartments of his petitioners. And it came to pass on the 3d day, at the going down of the sun, that I was presented with a piece of boiled pork, and some biscuit, which the sergeant gave me to understand, was my allowance, and I fed sweetly on the same; but I indulged my appetite by de- grees, and, in a few days more, was taken from that apartment, and conducted to the next loft or story, where there were above twenty continental, and some militia officers, who had been taken, and imprisoned there' besides some private gentlemen, who h^d been dragged from their own homes to that filthy place, by tories. Several of every de- <» ^ IONS, murder- riminals, I fidelity 'e above le. len- T power, he unit- 3st, pro- nansion tioners, ) at the esented biscuit, rstand, on the by de- taken to the above fficers, there, o h^d ) that y de- :Pt7RING HIS CAPTIVITY, I^p •» ^ nomination mentioned died there, some be- fore, and others after I was put there. The history of the -proceedings relative to the provost only, were I particulars would swell a volume larger than this whole naft-a^ , tive : I shall therefore only notice such of the occurrences which are most extraordinary, Capt. Vandyke bore, with an uncommon fortitude, near twenty months' confinement in this place, and in the mean time was very ser- viceable to others who were confined with him. The allegation agaiiist him, as the cause of his confinement, was very extraor- dinary : He was accused of setting fire to the city of New- York, at the time the west part of it was consumed, when it was a known fact, that he had been in the provost a week before the fire broke out ; and, in like man- ner, frivolous were the ostensible accusations against most of those who were there confin- ed ; the ca$e of two militia officers excepted, who were t^ken in their attempting to escape from their parole ; and probably there mav be some other instances which mltrht ni^tifir cn^K a confinement. % i J ■ 130 COL. E. XtLEK's OBSERVATIONS, Mr William Miller, a committee man. from West Chester county, and state of New- York, was taken from his bed in the dead of night, by his tory neighbours, and was starv- ed for three days and nights in an apartment of the same gaol; add to this the denial of fire, and that in a cold season of the year in which time he walked day and night, to de- fend himself against the frost, and when he complained of such a reprehensible conduct the word rebel or committee man was deem! ed by the enem^' a sufficient atonement for any mhumauity that they could invent or in- flict. He was a man of good natural under, standing, a close and sincere friend to the lib- erties of America, and endured fourteen months' cruel imprisonment with that magna- nimity of soul, which reflects honor on him- self and country. Major Levi Wells, and Capt. Ozias Bissel, were apprehended and taken under guard from their parole on Long- Island, to the pro- vost, on as fallacious pretences as the formi er, and were there continued till their ex. chiuige took place, which was near five noNs, ee man, ; of New- ' dead of as starv- partment ienial of year, in , to de- ivhen he :ionduct, IS deem- lent for t or in- imder- the lib- fourteen magna- )n him- Bissel, • guard he pro- form- sir ex. ar fi\Q DURIITG HIS CAPTIVITT. 1^1 months. Their fidelity and zealous attach- ment to their country's cause, which was more than commonly conspicuous was, un- doubtedly the real cause of their confinement. Major Brinton Payne, Capt. Flahaven, and Capt. Randolph, who had at different times distinguished themselves by their bravery, especially at the several actions, in which they were taken, were all the provocation they gave, for which they suffered about a year's confinement, each in the same filthy gaol.* A few weeks after my confinement, on the like fallacious and wicked pretences, was brought to the same place, from J^Js pa»olsj)n Long-Island, Major Oth^ Holland Willi now a full Col. in the^^qontinental army. In his character are united thp gentleman, offi- cer, soldier, and friend ; he walked through the prison with an air of great disdain ; said be, *< Is this the treatment which gentlemen c, who * T^e sufferings of the prisoners in New- York, remained fauhfiii +^ «.u,.:„ . . ' '' VT'. '^^ "'cii coumry s cause, are stated, on other authoriues, besides that of Col. Allen, to have been severe and excessive. i W 132 oftl« COL. E. ALLE n's OBSEBVATIONS, from continental army are to expect the rascally British, when i„ their power ? Heavens forbid it I" He was continued there *out five months, and then exchanged for a British Major. ^ John Fell, Esq. now a member of Con- gress for the state of New-Jersey, was taken from his ownhouse by a gang of infamous to- r.es, and by order of aBritish Gen. was sent to the provost, where he was continued near one year The stench of the gaol, "which vvas very loathsome and unhealthy, occasion- ed a hoarseness of the lungs, which proved fatal to many who were there confined, and reduced this gentleman near to the point of *eWh ; he was indeed given over by his friends who were aboutj.im, and himself con- eluded he must die. I could not endure the thought that so worthy a friend to America should liave his life stolen from him in such a mean, base, and scandalous manner, and that his family and friends should be bcreav- ed of so great and desirable a blessing, as his farther care, usefulness and example, mieht prove to them. I therefore wrote a lettcr"to flONS, pect from ir power ? ued there iged for a • of Con- vas taken nious to- is sent to led near 1, which ►ccasion- proved ed, and )oint of by his elf con- ure the America in such -r, and )ereav- ) as his mieht o — ttcr to DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 133 Gen. Robertson, who commanded in town, and being touched with the most sensible feelings of humanit)-, which dictated my pen to paint dying distress in such lively colours that it wrought conviction even on the obdu- racy of a British General, and produced his order to remove the now honorable John Fell, esq. out of a gaol, to private lodgings in town ; in consequence of which he slowly recovered his health. There is so extraor- dinary a circumstance which intervened con- cerning this letter, that it is worth noticing-. Previous to sending it, I exhibited the same to the gentleman on whose behalf it was written, for his approbation, and he for- bid me to send it in the most positive and explicit terms ; his reason was, « That the enemy knew, by every morning's report, the condition of all the prisoners, mine in partic- ular, as I have been gradually coming to my end for a considerable time, and they very well knew it, and likewise determined it should be accomplished, as they had served ■ many others ; that, to ask a favor, would give the merciless enemy occasion to triumph ' M ^ ;^3ga 134 COL. E. ALLEN'S OBSERVATIONS, oyer me in my last moments, and therefore I will ask no favors from diem, but resign my- self to my supposed fate/' But the letter I sent without his knowledge, and I confess I had but little expectations from it, yet could not be easy till I had sent it. It may be worth a remark, that this gentleman was an Eng- lishman born, and, from the beginning of the revolution, has invariably asserted, and main- tained the cau^e of liberty. The British have made so extensive an im- provement of the provost during the present revolution till of late, that a very short defi- nition will be sufficient for the dullest appre- hensions. U may be with propriety called the British inquisition, and calculated to sup- port their oppressive measures and designs, by suppressing the spirit of liberty ; as also a place to confine the criminals, and most in- famous wretches of thtir own army, where many gentlemen of the American army, and citizens thereof, were promiscuously confin- ed, with every species of criminals ; but they divided into different apartments, and kept at as great a remove as circumstances permit- 3KS, ©URING HIS CAPTIVITY. 135 refore I ign my. letter I )nfess I t could s worth n Eng- ^ of the I main- an im- >resent t defi- appre- called [> sup- signs, IS. also )st in- ivhere , and Dnfin- t they -pt at rmit- ted ; but it was nevertheless at the option of a villanous serjeant, who had the charge of the provost, to take any gentleman from their room, and put them into the dungeon, which was often the case : At two different times I was taken down stairs for that purpose, by a file cf soldiers with fixed bayonets, and the Serjeant brandishing h?s sword at the same time, and having been brought to the door of the dungeon, I there flattered the vanity of the Serjeant, whose name was Keef, by which means I procured the surprizing favor to re. turn to my companions ; but some of the high mettled young gentlemen could not bear iii5 insolence, and det^l^mined to keep at a distance, and neither please or displease the villain, but none could keep clear of his a. buse; however, mild measures were the best ; he did. not hesitate to call us damned rebels, and use us with the coarsest language. The Capts. Flahaven, Randolph and Mercer, were the objects of his most flagrant and re' peated abuses, who were many times taken vi-si.^v-wii, iiiiu tiicic contmued at his pleasure. Capt. Flahaven took cold in the ^r .-.J I 136 COL. E. alien's observations, dungeon, and was in a declining state of health, but an exchange delivered him, and m all probability saved his life. It was very mortifying to bear with the insolence of such a vicious and ill bred, imperious rascal. Re- monsf ranees against him were preferred to the Commander of the town, but no relief could .be obtained, for his superiors were undoubt- edly well pleased with his abusive conduct to the gentlemen, under die severities of his power ; apd remonstrating against his infer- iial conduct, omy sciVcu tO confirm him in authority ; and for this reason I never made aay remonstrances on the subject, but only stroakedhim, u^r I ^Z t:l tZ '::Z ^'l^i Z cat's paw in the hands of the British oflicers, and that, if he should use us well, he would immediately be put out of that trust, and a worse man appointed to succeed him ; but there was no need of making any new appoint- ment ; for Cunningham,, their provost mar- shal, and Kecf, his deputy, were as great ras- cals as their army could boast of, except one Irwllii'i I r\t^%i-\r— r>»-« • .^ 1*. . .«.% ^v . • ~ ^_^~..- ...1. ._ Commissary of prisoners ; nor can any of ONS, State of m, and as very of such V Re- d to the F could idoubt- duct to of his J infer- him in * made It only i hut" o DURING HIS CAPTIVITY, 137 %.fc ^ Ct. fiicers, would and a I ; but )point- t niar- at ras- pt one 10 was my of these be supposed to be equally criminal with Gen. Sir William Howe and his associates, who prescribed and directed the murders and cruelties, which were by them perpetrated. This Loring is a monster I—There is not his like in human shape. He exhibits a smiling countenance, seems to wear a phiz of humant ity, but has been instrumentally capable of the most consummate acts of wickedness, which were first projected by an abandoned British council, clothed with the authoritv of a Howe, murdering premeditatedly, in cold blood,near or quite two thousand helpless prisoners, and that in the most clandestine, mean and shame- ful manner, at New- York. He is the most mean spirited, cowardly, deceitful, and des- tructive animal in God's creation below, and legions of infernal devils, with all their tre- mendous horrors, are impatiently ready to receive Howe and him, with all their detest- able accomplices, into the most exquisite ag. onies of the hottest region of hell fire.* ^ The publishers >^'DuId suppress some of the ^no-n^^-. ■•■M expression. Col. Allen Z.^o.^; ?.li,; uf of M 2 158 erojivE. Allen's observations, The 6th day of July, 1777, Gen. St. Clair, and the army under his command, evacuated Ticonderoga, and retreated with the main body through Hubbardton into Castleton, which was but six miles distance, when his rear-guard, commanded by Col. Seth War- ner, was attacked at Hubbardton by a body of the enemy of about two thousand, command- ed by General Fraser. Warner's command consisted of his own and two other regiments, viz. Francis's and Hale's, and some scatter- ing and enfeebled soldiers. His whole num- ber, according to information, was near or quite one thousand ; part of which were Green Mountain Boys ; about seven hundred out of the \^liole he brought into action. The ene- my advanced boldly, and the two bodies form- ed within about sixty yards of each other. Col. Warner having formed his own regi- ment, and that of Col. Francis's, did not wait for the enemy, but gave them a heavy fire but, presuming the reader to make all reasonable allow- ance both for the style, and the matte!*, it was thought liiished by the author. . Clair, icuated e main stleton, hen his . War. body of imand- lamand iments, 5catter- 2 num- lear or : Green I out of he ene- s form- other. [1 regi- ot wait ivy fire le allow- thought DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 139 from his whole lifie, and they returned it with great bravery. It was by this time danger- ous for those of both parties, who were not prepared for the world to come ; but Colonel Hale being apprised of the danger, never brought his regiment to the charge, but left Warner and Francis to stand the blowing of it, and fled, but luckily fell in with an incon- siderable number of the enemy, and to hi^ eternal shame, surrendered himself a pris- oner.* The conflict was very bloody. Col. Fran- cis fell in the same, but Col. Warner, and the ofiicers under his command, as also the sol- diery, behaved with great resolution. The enemy broke, and gave way on the right and left, but formed again, and renewed the at- tack ; in the mean time the British grenadiers, in the centre of the enemy's line, maintained the ground, and finally carried it with the point of the bayonet, and Warner retreated with reluctance. Our loss was about thirty men killed, and thai of the enemy amounting • See note in pages 124 and 125. m 110 COL. E. Allen's observations, to three hundred killed, including a Major Grant. The enemy's loss I learnt from the confession of their own officers, when a pris- oner with them. I heard them likewise com- plain, that the Green Mountain Boys took sight. The next movement of the enemy, of any material consequence, was their invest- ing Bennington,* with a design to demolish it, and subject its Mountaineers, to wdiich they had a great aversion, with one hundred and fifty chosen men, including tories, with the highest expectation of success, and having chosen an eminence of strong ground, fortifi- * The Americans had collefcted a quantity of stores at Bennington ; to destroy which as well as to animate the royalists and intimidate the patriots, general Burgoyne detached colonel Baum, with five hundred men and one hundred Indians. Colonel Breyman was sent to rein- force him, but did not arrive in time. On the 16th of August, general vStark, with about eight hundred brave niilitia men, attacked colonel Baum, in his entrenched camp about six miles irom Bennington, and killed or took prisoners nearly the whole detachment. Thenextday colonel Breyman was attacked and defeated. In these actions, the Americans took about seven hundred prison- ers and these successes served to revive the spirits of the i)eople. This success however ivas in part counter- balanced by the advantages gahied on the Mohawk by -,(.1 _i Ci. r ^ . I 1 ^ i_ ? _ _ i>» _ii _i '. /• A. Qi , , "wix, was repelled, and obliged to abf,ndon the attempt. :»l' NS, Major 3m the a pris- e com- s took nemy, nvest- nolish which tndred iththe laving fortifi- itores at .ate the irgoyne id one :> rein- I6th of i brave •enched died or lextday n these pi'ison- )irits of onnter- awk by .J, a i _ „ 'X. OlUii- mpt. DURING HIS CAPTIVITT. 141 Qd it \vith slight oreast works, and two pieces of cannon ; but the government of the young state of Vermont, being previously jealous of ^ such an attempt of the enemy, and in due ' time had procured a number of brave militia from the government of the state of New- Hampshire, who, together with the militia of the north part of Berkshire county, and state of Massachusetts, and the Green Moun- tain Boys, constituted a body of despera- does,* under the command of the intrepid Gen. Stark, who in number were about equal to the enemy. Col. Herrick, who command- ed the Green Mountain Rangers, and who was second in command, being thoroughly acquainted with the ground where the eneV my had fortified, proposed to attack them m then- works upon all parts, at the same time. This plan being adopted by the General and his council of war, the little militia brigade of undisciplined heroes, with their long brown firelocks, the best security of a free people without either cannon or bayonets, was, on 142 COL. E. Allen's observations, the 16th day of August, led on to the attack by their bold commanders, in the face of the enemy's dreadful fire, and to the astonishment of the world, and burlesque o£ discipline, car- ried every part of their lines in less than one quarter of an hour after the attack became general, took their cannon, killed and capti- vated more than two thirds of their number, Avhich immortalized Gen. Stark, and made Bennington famous to posterity. Among the enemy's slain was found Col. Baum, their commander, a Col. Pfester, v/ho headed an infamous gang of tories, and a large part of his command ; and among the prisoners was Major Mcibome, their sec- ond in command, a number of British and Hessian officers, surgeons, &c. and more than one hundred of the aforementioned Pfes- ter's command.* The prisoners being collect- ed together, were sent to the meeting house in the town, by a strong guard, and General Stark not imagining any present danger, the militia scattered from him to rest ar.d refresh themselves ; in this situation he was on a sudden attacked by a reinforcement of on« thoi con pie( and theii retrc grou hean kees. abou gime rived being accou brou^ Stark the s< gener; forced parts i a secoi litia. ers, in than oj our los ONS, attack I of the shment ne, car- lan one Dccamc I capti- umber, il made id Col. tT, v/ho and a >ng the ir sec- sh and I more d Pfes- :ollect- ; house jeneral sr, the refresh ! on a of on« DURING HIS CAPTIVIT7. 143 thousand and one hundred of the enemy commanded by a Gov. Skene, with two field pieces : They advanced m regular order, and kept up an incessant fire, especially from their field pieces, and the remaining militia retreating slowly before them, disputed the ground inch by inch. The enemy were heard to halloo to them, saying, stop Yan- kees. In the mean time. Col. Warner, with about one hundred and thirty men of his re- giment, who were not in the first action ar rived and attacked the enemy with great fury bemg determined to have ample revenge on account of the quarrel at Hubbardton, which brought them to a stand, and soon after Gen Stark and Col. Herrick, brought on more of the scattered militia, and the action became general ; in a few minutes the enemy were forced from their cannon, gave way on all parts and fled, and the shouts of victory were a second time proclaimed in favor of the mi. htia. The enemy's loss in killed and prison- ers, m these two actions, amounted to more than nrtfi^-thr^m^ 1 ■• . .... „,„„^«,u ana two Hundred men, and our loss did not exceed fifty men. This was m 144 COL. E. Allen's observations, a bitter stroke to the enemy, but their pride would not permit them to hesitate but that they could vanquish the country, and as a specimen of their arrogancy, I shall insert General Burgoyne's proclamation. " By John Burgoyne, Esq. Lieutenant- General of his Majesty's armies in America, Colonel of the Queen's regiment of light dragoons, Governor of fort William in North- Britain, one of the Representatives of the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament, and commanding an army and fleet employ- ed on an expedition from Canada, &c. &c. &c. " The forces entrusted to my command are designed to act in concert and upon a common principle, with the numerous armies and fleets which already display in every quarter of America, the power, the justice, and, w^hen properly sought, the mercy of the King. ** The cause, in which the British arms are thus exerted, applies to the most affecting in- terests of the human heart ; and the military servants of the crown, at first called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the • tt r pride Lit that Lid as a insert enant- lerica, • light STorth- 3f the iment, aploy- ;c. &c. imand ipon a irmies ev€ry istice, of the ns are ng iii- ilitary 'th for of the ^irmi^G mt captivity. US constitution, now combine with love of their country, and duty to their sovereign, the oth- er extensive incitements. which spring from a due sense of the general privileges of man- kind. To the eyes and cars of the temper- ate part of the public, and to the breasts of suffering thousands in the provinces, be the melancholy appeal, whether the present unnat- ural rebelliori has not been made a founda- lion for the completest system of tyranny that ever God, in his displeasure, suffered for a time to be exercised over a froward and stubborn generation. " Arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of property, persecution and torture, unprcce- dented in the inquisitions of the Romish church, are among the palpable enormities that verify the affirmative. These are infiict- ^cd by assemblies and committes, who dare to profess themselves friends to liberty, upon the most quiet subjects, without distinction of age or sex, for the sole crime, often for the sole suspicion, of having adhered in prin- ciple to the government under which they were born, and to which, by every tie, divine 146 COL. E. Allen's observations, and human, they owe allegiance. To con- summate these shocking proceedings, the profanation of religion is added to the most profligate prostitution of common reason ; the consciences of men are set at nought ; and multitudes are compelled not only to bear arms, but also to swear subjection to an usurpation they abhor. " Animated by these considerations^ ; at the head of troops in the 'full powers of hc-iLh, discipline, and valor ; determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to spare where possible, I by these presents invite and ex- hort all persons, in all places where the pro- gress of this army may point ; and by the blessing of God I will extend it far, to main- tain such a conduct as may justify me in pro- tecting their lands, habitations and families. The intention of this address is to hold forth security, not depredation to the country. To those whom spirit and principle may induce to partake of the glorious task of redeeming their countrymen from dungeons, and re-es- tablishin/^-^he blessings of legal government, I offer encouragement and employment ; and upon the first intelligence of tlicir associa- ONS, To con- igs, the the most reason ; nought ; only to on to an on&; at fhxr-iLh, ) strike e where and ex- he pro- . by the D main- in pro- imilies. Id forth y. To induce seming I re-es- nments t ; and .ssocia- DURING HIS CAPTIVITT. 147 tions, r will find means to assist their under- takings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and ever, the timid inhabitants, I am desirous to nro.tect, provided they remain qui- etly at their houses ; that they do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor their corn or forage to be secreted or destroyed ; that they do not break up their bridges or roads : nor by any other act, directly or indirectly, en- deavour to obstruct the operations of the • Jting's troops, or supply or assist those of th« enemy.— Every species of provision brought to my camp, will be paid for at an equitabl. rate, and in solid coin. " ^" 'consciousness of Christianity, my royal master's clemency, and the honor of soldier- ship, I have dwelt upon this invitation, and wished for more persuasive terms to give it impression : And let not people be led to disi-egard it, by considering their distance trom the immediate situation of my camp— I have but to give stretch to the Indian force, under my direction, and they amount to thous- nn.s, to overtake the hardened enemies of Great-Bntain and America : I consider them the same wherever they may lurk. 148 COL. E. AJLLEN's. OBSERVATIONS, *' If, notwithstanding these endeavours, and, sincere inclinations to effect them, the phreur s^ of hostility should remain, I trust I shall, stand acquitted in the eyes of God and men, in denouncing and executing the vengeance of the state against the wilful outcasts.— The messengers of justice and of wrath await them in the field ; and devastation, famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluc- tant but indispensible prosecution of military duty must occasion, will bear the way to their return. J. BURGOYNE. ** By order of his excellency the Lieut. General, Robt. Kingston, Secretary. •* Camp near Ticonderoga, AthJuly^ 1777. Gen. Burgoyne was still the toast, and the severities towards the prisoners were in great measure increased or diminished, in propor- tion to the expectation of conqijcst. His-> very ostentatious Proclamation was in thc^ hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, espe- cially the torics, and from it, their faith was raised to assurance. — I wish my countrymen,' in general couW but hayc ajx J4.^a of the a»- ONS, irs, and , phreur I shall: i men, igeance —The . await 'amine, reluc- nilitary :o their NE. Lieut, 'N, . retary. 111. ind the 1 great >ropor- ■' Hisx in thc^ , espe- h was rymen/ he ain DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. 149 suming tyranny, and haughty, malevolent, and insolent behavior of the enemy at that time ; and from thence discern the intolerable calam. ities which this country have extricated them- selves from by their public spiritedness and bravery.— The downfall of Gen. Burgoyne ',^ and surrender of his whole army, dashed the aspiring hopes and expectations of the enemy, and brought low the imperious spirit of an opulent, puissant and haughty nation, and made the torics bite the ground with an. guish, exalting the valor of the free-born sons •General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces -in d iAiodny liutthe American army beint? reinforced dii o^kl "''"'^'''^^' Saratoga. General Gates now took the command, and was aided by the ^enerds An coin and Arnold. On the 1 9th of Sc ntembe^ th. a ii' leans attacked the Bdtish arn.y, and'wS. L^h .^v"^ that the enemy could boast of no advant-n<>-.. IflH' put an end to the action. The loss of hT' ' '''' "*^^'^ about five hundred (ienrrni P '^^"''"'>' ^'^» a narrow pi s^h ,vino^!L ? ^^^^'^^^"y"'^ ^^^^^ confined in passabirr d^l^r^, :^t:; "^f T ^^'^ "^^' ^'^• in his rear— his boats hoh^ ^ \ "V -^"^^'^icans wai could not retreat!2w d Ic nl"''^'''^^^ to ;c burnt, and he men opnos'dl TT r . "t""^^ ""^ ^'"^t«^^" thousand armies cam to .r T' • ^" ''^" ^^'^ ''^ «^tober, tlie Kcneral F^;^n ^^econd action, in which the British lost Fn "'fl..^ '^''^ ^^f^. '^ .^'^eat number of officer, .ZVHf Amerk^.s^the'c^;'';"^ :^^^^'''• '^ ^^e part"of ^uic coin and ArnoIc;::r:::>Zecf"^^^ '"^ '1^?l*i^- N a 15<> COL, ty allin's^bseiivatj^ons, of America, an4 raised their fam^ and that oi; their brave commanders to the clouds, and; immortalized Gen* Gates with laurels o£ eternal duration* — No sooner had the knowU, edge of this interesting and mighty event> reached His Most Christian Majesty^* who in; Europe shines with a superior lustre in good^. ness, policy and arms, but the illustrious potr, entate, auspiciously influenced by Heaven t€k; promote the reciprocal interest and happiness> of the ancient kingdom of France, and th^j new and rising states of America, passed the great and decisive deciee, that the United States of America, should be free and inde- pendent. —Vaunt no more, Old England ! consider you are but an island ! and that your power has been continued longer than the ex. ercise of your humanity. Order your brok- en and vanquished battalions to retire from* America, the scene of your crnelties. Go home and repent in dust and sackcloth for your aggravated crimes. The cries of bfe- * The colonel, it seems, thoup;h professedly a staunch "'Vni^, c^ri, whtii gooti ogtasiuu oiTcrs, spcitk wvU oC Kinf5;a. •l.'iln DirSIIfC KtS- CJirTlVlTY. 151 reaved^arcnts, widows, and orphans, reach, the Heavens, and you are abominated by eve. ry,friendto Atnerica. Take your friends; the. tories with you, and be gonej and drink, deepof the cup of humiliationw Make peace. With the princes of the house of Bourbon,*, for you are in no condition to wage war with, them. Your veteran soldiers are fallen in' America, and your glory is departed. Be qui, '■ et and pay your debts, especially for the hire, of the Hessians. There is no other way for ^ you to get into credit again, but by reiorma- tion and plain honesty, which you have des- pised; for your power is by no means suffi. cjent to support your vanity. I have had op. portunity to see a great deal of it, and felt its- severe effects, and learned lessons of wisdom, and policy, when I wore your heavy irons and bore your bitter revilings and reproach! would be a it is a'^'':^?^''^" '" " "• !'>«« E"eland ho,,seoflin^""'tf,;"'',P''T,'''^" "^''»» after ,hc such api,.";^ 1 . " f '" "f :'"•"' '" ''■•= ••«»'• ""t -parte after ■ ?f Bo- ciiilenfir ''"''"''""'' ^^ ^i^iwacinjr in the .:eiKrous and power- ful ally of these states ; ain fond o: '^. coniiec- tioa with so entcrprizirtg, Tcc-rnc"], poiite, BJJRXNQ HIS CAP^TiyitY. m courteous, and, commercial a nation, and am sure that I express the sentiments and feelings of all,the friends to the present revolution. I begin to learn the French tongue, and rec- ommend it to my countrymen before He- brew, Greek or Latin, (provided but one of them only are to be attended to) for the trade and commerce of these states in future must inevitably shift its channel from England to France, Spain, and Portugal; and therefore the statesman, politician and merchant, need be acquainted with their several languages, particularly the French, which, is. much in vogue in most parts of Europe. Nothing could have served so effectually .to illuminate, polish, and enrich these states as the present revolution, as well as preserve their liberty. Mankind are naturally too national, even to a degree of bigotry, and commercial inter- cmrsc with foreign nations, has a. great and. necessary tendency to improve mankind, an^l erase the superstition of the mind by ac- quainting them that human nature, policy and interest, are the same in all nntJ^nc nr.A ^*. the same time they are bartering commodir ties for the conveniences and happiness of. 154 COL. E. Allen's observations, each nation, they may reciprodally exchange such part of their customs and manners as may be beneficial, and learn to extend chari- ty and good will to the whole world of man, kind. 1 was confined in the provost- gaol at New- York the 26th day of August, and continued there to the third day of May, 1778, when I was taken out under guard, and conducted to a sloop in the harbour at New- York, in which I was guarded to Statcn-Isl- and, to ^Gen. Campbell's quarters, where I was admitted to eat and drink with the Gen. and several other of the British field officers, and treated for two days in a polite manner. As I w^as drinking wine with them one even- ing, I made an observation on my transition from the provost-criminals to the company of gentlemen, adding that I was the same man still, and should give the British credit by him (speaking to the Gen.) for two days good usage. The next day Col. Archibald Campbell, who was exchanged (or me, came to this place, conducted bv Mr. Boudinot. the then American commissary of prisoners, and sa- luted me in a handsome manner, saying that I i|
  • &c. After this ceremony was ended we moved the flowing bowl, and rural felicity, sweeten- ed with friendship, glowed in each counte- nance, and with loyal healths to the rising States of America, concluded that evening, and, with the same loyal spirit, I NOW CONCLUDE MY NARRATIVE. &c. ved en- ate- iiiig