American Prisoners of the Revolution

speaks of these dens of misery: "At the fight around Fort Washington," he says, "only one hundred Americans were killed, while the British loss was one thousand, chiefly Hessians, But t

isons and prison ships of New York. Thousands of captives perished m

prisons. The former is the present Hall of Records. Three sugar houses, some dissenting churches, Columbia College, and the Hospital were all used as prisons. The great fire in September; the scarcity of provisions; an

s (or infamous) prison. It stood on the

ps the worst of all the New York prisons was the third Sugar House, which occupi

rhaps as many in the Middle Dutch Church. The Friends' Meeting House on Liberty and

e time they were so crowded into this building, that when they lay down upon the floor to sleep

ue to the criminal indifference of Loring, Sproat

n the gloom of night without trial

oomy abode jail fever was ever present. In the hot weather of July, 1777, companies of twenty at a time would be sent out for ha

es were dragged out and pitched like dead dogs into the ditches and morasses beyond the city. Esca

ships were intended for sailors and seaman taken on the ocean, mostly the crew

there many of the prisoners taken in battle near Brooklyn in August, 1776, were confined, until the British took possession of New York, when they w

by giving individual instances, and wherever this is poss

NATHAN GILLETT

fined in a prison ship, but a Masonic brother named John Archer procured him the liberty of the city on parole. His rank, we believe, was that

"Should you enlist and be taken prisoner as I was, inquire for

prisoners ate mice, rats, and insects. He one day found in the prison yard the dry parings of a turnip which seemed to him a delicious banquet. It is re

in its construction. Four of these survivors were found. Their names were William Clark, Samuel Moulton, Levi Hanford, and Jonatha

Fri

my flesh with the butts of there (guns). They knocked me down; I got up and they (kept on) beating me almost all the way to there (camp) where I got shot of them-the next thing was I was allmost starved to death by them. I was keept here 8 days and then sent on board a ship, where I continued 39 days and by (them was treated) much worse than when on shore-after I was set on (shore) at New York (I was) confined (under) a strong guard till the 20th day of November, after which I have had my liberty to walk part over the City between sun and sun, notwithstanding there generous allowance of food I must inevitably have perished with h

e crouded into churches & there guarded night and day. I cant paint the horable appearance they make-it is shocking to human nature to behold them. Could I draw the curtain from before you; there expose to your view a lean Jawd mortal, hunger laid his skinny hand (upon him) and whet to keenest Edge his stomach cravings, sorounded with tattred garments, Rotten Rags, close beset with unwelcome vermin. Could I do this, I say, possable I might in some (small) manner fix your idea with what appearance sum hundreds of these poor creatures make in houses where once people attempted to Implore God's Blessings, &c, but I must say no more of there calamities. God be merciful to them-I cant afford them no Relief. If I had money I soon would do it, but I have none for myself.-I wrote to you by Mr. Wells to see if so

gs and part of a Thigh, it was his l

o God, for so still I continue to do the same-think less of me but more of your Creator, * * * So in thi

'a G

1776. To Eliza Gil

s. Whether it was because the knowledge that they were thus desecrating buildings dedicated to the worship of God and instruction in the Christian duties of mercy and charity, had a peculiarly hardening effect upon the jailers and guards employed by the British, or whether it was merely because of their unfitness for human habitation, the men confined in these buildings perished fast and miserably. We cannot