USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892 > Part 21
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
tion among the Englishmen, and your conduct to-day, in demanding a change in your rations, was mutinous; but, in consequence of your be- ing prisoners of war, he has referred your case to me. Now, what have you to say ?" " Well, sir," I replied, " I think I have something to say, not only for myself, but for my countrymen also, and I thank you for the privilege of speaking. You say, sir, that I am not sick, but discon- tented. I can give you a reason for it. I am discontented at being a prisoner of war by the enemies and oppressors of my country, and at be- ing treated in a manner so different from the usage on board American ships; but, perhaps, with regard to my health I may be as good a judge as any one. Sir, in the United States we are all corn fed, and I have no doubt a change from English to American diet would improve the health of all of us. I deny the charge of creating disturbance among the English sailors-it would be hard work to contaminate you. I have never seen dogs used as the men are in this ship." I reminded him of our " bread contract," and that we only were parties to it, and of our contention with Captain Baines, in consequence of which we were be- fore him. To all this the commodore replied, " I have heard your com- plaint ; now do you return and bid your companions from me to return to duty, and tell them if you will be satisfied with the same treatment the English sailors have, I will think no more of your hasty conduct ; but if you fail to do this, you shall all be brought to this ship, put in irons, and confined in the fore lazarette, where you shall be fed on rice and water, with two hours' fresh air, one in the morning and one in the evening." I bowed, thanked the commodore, and asked him if this was a fair specimen of British magnanimity toward defenseless prisoners of war. He made no reply, and beckoned me forward. As I left him I said I had no idea my companions would comply with his directions until our demand was granted, that Americans did not settle affairs in this way. Frank, my companion, was told very much the same. When we returned to our own ship I reported progress to my associates, who were still under arrest, and we agreed to hold out, consoling ourselves with the thought that at some day we might be able to pay them off in their own coin. Soon after this the chief officer came to us with a mes- sage from the captain requesting our return to duty, and promising his influence on our arrival in England to obtaining our liberty. We an-
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DESPERATE STRAITS.
swered that Captain Baines had once deceived us, but would not again ; that our motto was "Bread or the Denmark's lazarette." He left soon, but returned, saying: "Well, my brave fellows, go to your duty, and to- morrow you and all hands shall have bread served out to you," and so it was.
Nothing more of interest occurred till we reached the Bay of Biscay. Our passage was, however, so protracted that for several days before reaching England we were reduced to half allowance of provisions. In the Bay of Biscay, in October, we were visited by a most violent gale ; for three days and nights it raged with unremitted fury. We lost sev- eral spars and sails and a heavy sea broke our rudder. The ship labored excessively ; and her seams opening, the water poured in, and six pumps were in constant use in keeping her from sinking. The heavens were as black as pitch, the storm howled through the rigging, the sea piled up like mountains around us. Thus we were lying deluged, wrecked, affrighted, for seventy-two hours, wrestling with the storm and struggling with the waves. At this frightful juncture we were in- formed by the captain that we had but two days' provision on board, even at half allowance, and that if the storm should continue many days, as very likely it might, we should be driven to an execution in the ship. I never can forget the horrors of that hour. My first thought was that if we were in such an exigency that the American would be the first sacrificed. Amid my musings an old gray-headed Irish sailor who stood near me said, " Well, if we come to that we'll eat the soldiers first." But thanks be to Him who rules the whirlwind and the storm, the wind fell before our provisions were exhausted, the violence of the storm was stayed, and through a broken cloud appeared the sun to lighten, and warm, and cheer the weary mariner. A strange sail had been driven near us by the storm, which proved to be an English trans- port laden with provisions, and our whole fleet, with the exception of a brig that had foundered, replenished its stock. A cheering hope of surviving the voyage beamed in every countenance ; a fair wind sprang up, we repaired our damages, bent new sails, and in a few days reached our desired haven.
On the third day after our arrival at Blackwell, a king's cutter came for us, and took us to the provision ships at Chatham. Again and
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
again did we beg to be paid our wages before leaving our ship. Cap- tain Baines acknowledged he owed us $30 each, and promised to send us the money. So great was our surprise and indignation at this foul treachery, that as we left we poured forth our imprecations upon the captain, his country and his king. After all our sufferings we were robbed at last. My wages I have never received, though I understand a part was sent to Dartmoor Prison after we left. As night approached, and we were sailing down the Thames, my fellow prisoners suggested a plan to rise, take the cutter, throw the guard into the river, and run to France. They fixed on me to command and navigate the vessel. I replied to them that to capture the cutter by surprise would be very easy ; but to sail in the night time clear of the rocks and shoals, with- out chart or pilot, was quite another affair, and to run the gauntlet through the channel fleet in the daytime would be quite impossible. As our chance of success was quite small, I advised that we should not attempt it. Most bitterly did we all afterwards regret our decision, when we learned, by our own sad experience, that the time to escape from an inland English prison is before you get in.
The next day we reached Chatham, where were lying several old line- of battle ships, which had for many years been used as depots for pris- oners of war, but now were entirely deserted, as the American prison- ers had been removed to Dartmoor. When the inhabitants learned of our arrival, they prayed the authorities not to allow our remaining, say- ing that while the last American prisoners were there, they had been in constant fear, sleeping with their swords by their sides, and their pis- tols under their heads; and that they had rather have 1,000 French- men than 100 Americans. When the captain told us this we felt highly flattered. It was pleasant to think we were still of some consequence, and though prisoners, were able to annoy the enemies of our country. We were ordered to Gilliganreach, and put on board the frigate Quebec, a receiving ship. We were greatly amused and inter- ested at finding Englishmen with feelings like our own, and also suffer- ing ; for there were 100 freshly-pressed men, who never before had been on ship-board. They were farmers, tradesmen and mechanics, and told us they had been kidnapped by press gangs and brought there. They had been taken from their workshops and their farms, and with
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INCIDENTS OF PRISON LIFE.
no preparation, hurried on board ship, whence they were destined for ships of war. Strange questions they asked in relation to the treat- ment and usage on board ships of war ; and their dresses of velvet and corduroy, with knee-buckles and shoe- buckles seemed a new rig for sailors.
After a short stay here we were removed to the frigate Clorreud at Spithead. Here we were abused for another month. We were crowded between two guns, and though the weather was intensely cold, the ports near us were kept open, while all others were shut; and every morning as the decks were washed, water was maliciously thrown on us. We almost thought they intended to freeze us. In this frigate we were taken to Portsmouth and put on board the Puissant, an old French frigate. Here we found some 500 of our countrymen, and among them many old friends from the Cape Prison ; and many hours we passed in the narration of what we had seen and suffered since we parted. We remained here some six weeks and were kindly treated, with a plenty of room and of food. Our wash day, or rather washing night, was a sportive time for us. Before night we started some 400 or 500 gallons of water in the cook's coppers. At 4 o'clock in the morning we were turned out to wash our clothes, and the scramble for a tub, a piece of candle or soap, gave us much fun. This ship had been at her present moorings for nineteen years, and several whole families had long been on board. One woman showed me her daughter, a girl of thirteen, who had never been out of the ship. She also told me that she was on board the ship during the great mutiny in the navy, headed by Parker. Ports- mouth was a great naval depot, and for several days, during the trial of the mutineers, the court was held in this ship. I remember one part of her narrative she always gave with great feeling. She said the trials were very short, and many were hung on the smallest evidence of guilt. One day there came on board for trial a crew against whom the only evi- dence was the boatswain's wife, and as fast as she pointed out those impli- cated they were executed. In the crowd and hurry she accused a man who had at hand evidence which proved he had never been on board the ship in question. The woman was charged with perjury, the noose slipped over her head, as she stood on the deck, and she was run up to the yardarm, and then the court adjourned. Such at least was the story. 28
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
One day there came on board our ship a party of American militia- men, Vermonters, taken in Canada, and a motley set of fellows they were, with their high, pointed, woolen caps and their pepper-and- salt clothes. The English made sport of them, and we ourselves were really ashamed of their appearance. Almost daily new recruits joined us, some of recent capture, others brought from other depots. We remained peaceably until the arrival of 150 Americans taken on the lakes. They were said to be sailors, but we could not tell why, as they were very much different from old salts. These fellows were anxious to get on shore or to some inland prison. We remonstrated against being moved, having passed through changes enough to make us contented with our present situation. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to escape by swimming in the night. This led to the removal of some 300 to Plymouth, the nearest seaport to Dartmoor.
On our way to Plymouth an incident occurred which I cannot pass over in silence. It happened one night that a party of Americans, who had been drinking, got into a quarrel; the sentinel interfered, who was knocked down, and the alarm flew that the Americans were going to take the ship. The guard of the ship was called and marched against us to the berth deck, where we had a pitched battle, though at great odds, as we had no arms but those nature had given us, or which chance had thrown in our way. The result was that one American was killed, several badly wounded, who were sent to the hospital, and some five or six pushed into the hold and confined. These prisoners we could com- municate with, and they requested me to procure their release (one of them, by the way, was Frank Rich, my colleague in enforcing the corn law, or bread rather). The officer declined, saying he should transcend his powers in releasing those the captain had confined, and they must wait till he returned. They swore if they were not released to blow up the ship. Soon after, when all was quiet, one of thiem, greatly excited, came to the hatchway, calling out that the fellows were in the magazine. Great was the alarm; down went the captain of the marines, and fol- lowed aft the passage the prisoners had made through several plank bulkheads to the magazine. There sat a drunken fellow, with one hand taking the head from a keg of powder, and holding in the other a lighted candle ; the powder was already in sight and in a moment more the flame
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INTRODUCTION TO DARTMOOR.
would have reached it. The man was dragged on deck, where the first thing he said was, if he had been left alone he would have given us a merry Christmas, for it was Christmas morning. We were told these men were doomed to solitary confinement during the war.
On landing at Plymonth, we were marched a distance of twenty miles, through a deep, melting snow, without food. At nine in the evening the heavy gates were opened, and tired and hungry and disconsolate we were in Dartmoor Prison. We were kept in an open prison through the night; and the next morning after undergoing an examination, were permitted to take up our abode at either of the buildings within the prison walls. I found several relatives among the old prisoners, and joined their mess in prison number five. I was informed there were five thousand prisoners here, many of the most daring and reckless charac- ter ; a dangerous set of men to live with. There were in our prison twelve hundred ; we were arranged in messes of six, and each mess numbered. Our rations were on five days of the week beef soup ; one, salt fish and potatoes ; and one, smoked herring and bread. All these were good in quality, but poor in quantity. The wholesale manner of making the soup is worth describing ; it was all made at one time and in one boiler. First were put in about four hundred gallons of water, then eight or ten quarters of beef, chopped, which was thrown in with large pitchforks ; then a wagon load of turnips; then barley, and a few shovel- fnls of salt. At noon they blew the horn for dinner, and one from each mess went for the allowance of all. Onr employments were various. I attended three schools, one for navigation, one dancing, and one box- ing. There were Frenchmen, Germans, and Italians who gave lessons in music. We had a prison crier, who proclaimed any news that ar- rived, anything that was lost or stolen, or, for a penny, he would show up to ridicule any person-then go to the abused and receive another penny for disclosing the name of his first employer. We suffered so much for want of food that every means was resorted to for money to buy bread of the country people who came to our gate to trade. I have seen men work for hours scouring and coloring an old button to make it pass for sixpence, and at first with good success.
On my arrival the prisoners were digging a passage under the wall, and had made a considerable advance when the news of peace raised
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
hopes of an easier escape. Our keeper, Captain Shortland, a past cap- tain of the navy, was unequivocally a bad man. I never knew or heard of any redeeming trait in his character. He examined all the letters we wrote, and would erase whatever he pleased, and so mutilated those we received we could scarcely read what was left. We had a code of laws in prison for our own government and a president, with a committee of six, to enforce them, as there was no protection of individual rights to be found outside.
In March, 1815,1 was negotiated the treaty of peace. Great was the joy when the tidings reached the prison; but still we lingered on in suspense till the intelligence was communicated to us, in hand-bills, that the war was terminated. We learned this in the evening, and never have I witnessed such a universal jubilee ; one simultaneous expression of joy went up from all hearts in the loud exclamation, " Thank God !" Cheers upon cheers resounded for " Liberty, Free Trade, and Sailors' Rights." Cheers, wild laughter, silence, and tears marked the various emotions. One man, who had long bewailed a captivity which sepa- rated him from a family he had been forced to leave destitute, fell dead upon the floor. Through the livelong night these expressions contin- ued. The morning dawned, and we prepared to honor the day as best we could. We had no cannon ; but we had powder, with which we made ropeyarn guns, by binding the powder in a large ball of the yarn ; and when the word was given, on each prison were hoisted the stars and stripes, and the pealing of the guns, mingled with our loud cheers, rent the air. We remembered our absent friends, the perils we had encoun- tered, the abuse we had suffered ; to be delivered from these and per- mitted again to meet those, oh, it was a fit cause for joy ! Even Short- land affected pleasure, and was seen to smile a devil's smile. We were now hourly expecting to be released, but were doomed, through the heartless delay of the authorities, to six weeks more of captivity and trouble. We had, in this time, another bread revolt, for Shortland at- tempted to feed us on bread he had kept for years, and which was alive with vermin ; we said we would have fresh bread or the walls should come down. Five hundred men were not to be trifled with, and the bread was forthcoming. But I must tell you a bread speculation I had on my own responsibility. I have already alluded to our financial em-
1 This is printed as given in Mr. Mckenzie's relation, and probably refers to the time when the news reached Dartmoor. The treaty was concluded in December, 1814.
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A BARBAROUS ATTACK.
barrassments (our government only allowing us six shillings and eight pence per month) ; and, on one occasion, I was driven into bankruptcy, and it happened in this way: At various places in the prison were small gaming tables, on which, beside money, were cards and bread. Now, I had an English shilling with which I had for several days bought my bread, and never did I esteem a piece of money more; it was with me day and night, lest some one should steal it. But one morning I was unlucky, and, after three trials, had lost my shilling, four pence at a time. But bread I must have, so I seized a loaf and the keeper seized me. We had a short encounter ; I dropped the loaf; he fell upon it, then surrendered at discretion ; picked himself up, while I picked up not exactly the loaf but a pancake, which I bore away in triumph. These little incidents slightly relieved the dull monotony of a life now rendered more miserable by the suspense we were in regarding our de- liverance.
But I must come to the saddest scene of all, one which will forever stamp the name of its chief actor, Thomas George Shortland, with cow- ardice, barbarity, infamy, and disgrace; never can his name be men- tioned by a single American prisoner but with detestation and contempt. Before the time of which I speak, he ordered his soldiers to fire into our prisons because a light was seen. It was because his inhuman plans were thwarted that we were not murdered in our hammocks. On the 6th of April, 1815, as a small party were playing ball in the yard, some one, striking the ball with too much force, sent it over the wall in front of the prison. The sentinel there was requested to throw it back, but refused. Upon this the party threatened to break out and get it them- selves, and immediately began to put their threat into execution. A hole was made in the wall sufficiently large to admit of a man's passing through, but no one attempted it. The alarm bells were now rung and the military called to arms. The prisoners, surprised at hearing the alarm, ran into the passage fronting the market, where appeared Short- land at the head of some 500 men of the military department. He had been heard to say after the hole had been picked, and before the bells rung, "I will fix the rascals directly," and the soldiers on the walls, about the same time, informed the prisoners they would be charged upon directly ; and now, while drunk, the brave captain ordered the
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
front ranks to fire, and, when they hesitated, he seized a musket, fired the first shot, and the bloody drama commenced.
The rear ranks fired with considerable execution and chased the prisoners to the yard. The brutal scenes of this day I shrink from nar- rating ; nine men were killed and thirty-eight wounded. A man named John Washington, having been wounded, was overtaken by the soldiers and begged for his life, but the ruffians standing before him shot him dead. A boy of fourteen was run through by an officer, and many similar scenes were witnessed - all this while scarcely any one knew the cause of the attack. Captain Shortland attempted to justify his conduct by saying the prisoners were trying to break out. So far from any such intention, they were in momentary expectation of being sent home, and had the gates been thrown open they would not have gone out. The secret was Shortland hated the prisoners, and took this mode to get his revenge. One instance more should not be passed over. In the midst of the slaughter and confusion an English lamp- lighter, who had come in a few moments previous, ran into prison No. 3 to escape his own countrymen. He was recognized by the Ameri- cans and a rope fixed for hanging him, nor at such a time was this strange ; but some one representing the cowardice of such an act and the disgrace it would inflict on the American name, the poor wretch was released. "No," said they, " we scorn to copy after your coun- trymen and murder you at this advantage. Go, and we will seek a nobler revenge."
Soon after the massacre, cartels arrived at Plymouth ; these were English ships, destined under charter for Norfolk for tobacco. From 300 to 400 were now put on board and I was among them. I had been a prisoner for twenty-three months, and weary months they had been, and I now heartily rejoiced at the prospect of release. On board this ship, as usual, you will say, we had another rebellion in the matter of provisions, with as usual a satisfactory result. The stores had been prepared by the American agent, Mr. Beasley. Only one meal was cooked for us each day ; the others we must get for ourselves, and great excitement always attended the operation, as so many wished to be served at the same time. We had one law for all cases, one almost as old as man himself, and that was, "might makes right."
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A PARDONABLE MUTINY.
I have but one more incident of our voyage to give you, and that is its termination. It so happened that nearly all of the passengers-had not our captivity ceased ?- belonged in New England, and as we ap- proached the land, it seemed very hard and unreasonable that we should be landed in a southern State in our destitute circumstances. So we held a meeting and sent a letter to the captain on the subject. He re- plied in writing that he was chartered for Norfolk and there he was going ; this ended negotiations. But to land at New York we were determined ; peaceably if we could, but forcibly if we must. We there- fore resolved to take the ship out of the officers' hands and selected a captain, O'Conner of Philadelphia, to take command. He was to pre- tend ignorance of the whole plot, and, when publicly called upon, to re- fuse, on the ground that he was a southern man, when we were to force him to the post on peril of his life. This would clear him if any trouble should arise afterward. In a body we marched aft and again requested the captain to change the destination of the ship ; again he refused ; upon which we informed him the ship was ours, and bound to New York, and he might consider himself prisoner or passenger. He was wise enough to see that resistance was useless, and said he should con- sider himself a passenger. We then called aloud for O'Connor, who was below. He came slowly up, greatly surprised at the appearance of affairs. We informed him of what had been done, and that we wished him now to assume command. He said he should do no such thing, as he would rather go south than north. We told him he was the best navigator we had ; and unless he complied with our wishes we should throw him overboard. He paused a moment and then replied, " Overboard let it be then ; I will never lead a band of mutineers." He was seized, making what resistance he could, and begging for mercy, but was tumbled over the side of the ship, where he was held a moment, and the alternative again laid before him. He cried out, " Take me in and I will command," and he came, walked to the quarter-deck, and in a manly voice ordered the reefs out of the top sails, the studding-sails and royals set, and the course changed, John Bull meanwhile looking on in astonishment. We soon made Long Island, and as the wind was unfavorable for our going in by Sandy Hook, we ran for Montauk, with the view of going to New York through the sound ; but, when off New
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HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.
London, the wind headed us, and we concluded to stop where we were. We ran the ship on the shore, landed in the boats, taking the ensign with us, and bade our English friends good-bye, suggesting at the same time that they could get off at high tide. We were once more in our native land-penniless, but free !
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