From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 185<br />
As winter approached, <strong>the</strong> French fleet, which sailed from Bos<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Indies, appeared off <strong>the</strong><br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn coast, <strong>to</strong> co-operate with General Lincoln, who commanded <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Department. On this<br />
account <strong>the</strong> British commander was compelled <strong>to</strong> operate in that direction.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n, whose headquarters had been at West Point for several months, went in<strong>to</strong> winter quarters at<br />
Morris<strong>to</strong>wn, where <strong>the</strong> experience of Valley Forge was repeated with additional rigor.<br />
The cruel treatment of Americans captured by <strong>the</strong> British had long engaged Washing<strong>to</strong>n's attention, and<br />
reference <strong>to</strong> it here is in point. Many of <strong>the</strong>ir prisoners were confined in old ships, where <strong>the</strong>y suffered all that<br />
hunger, thirst, filth, and abuse could inflict. On account of <strong>the</strong> dreadful sufferings endured by <strong>the</strong> prisoners,<br />
<strong>the</strong>se ships were called "floating hells."<br />
The "Jersey Prison Ship" and <strong>the</strong> old "Sugar <strong>House</strong>," converted in<strong>to</strong> prisons by Lord Howe, are no<strong>to</strong>rious for<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir infamous character in American his<strong>to</strong>ry. Congress appealed in vain <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> commanding British general,<br />
and Washing<strong>to</strong>n wrote <strong>to</strong> him upon <strong>the</strong> subject again and again. In one letter Washing<strong>to</strong>n said:<br />
"<strong>From</strong> <strong>the</strong> opinion I have ever been taught <strong>to</strong> entertain of your lordship's humanity, I will not suppose that you<br />
are privy <strong>to</strong> proceedings of so cruel and unjustifiable a nature; and I hope that, upon making <strong>the</strong> proper<br />
inquiry, you will have <strong>the</strong> matter so regulated that <strong>the</strong> unhappy persons whose lot is captivity may not in <strong>the</strong><br />
future have <strong>the</strong> miseries of cold, disease, and famine added <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir o<strong>the</strong>r misfortunes.... I should not have said<br />
thus much, but my injured countrymen have long called upon me <strong>to</strong> endeavor <strong>to</strong> obtain a redress of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
grievances, and I should think myself as culpable as those who inflict such severities upon <strong>the</strong>m were I <strong>to</strong><br />
continue silent."<br />
A Rev. Mr. Andros of Massachusetts was confined in <strong>the</strong> "Jersey Prison Ship." After his escape and <strong>the</strong> close<br />
of <strong>the</strong> war, he published a small book detailing <strong>the</strong> sufferings of its occupants. One brief paragraph <strong>the</strong>refrom<br />
is all our space will permit.<br />
"Her dark and filthy exterior corresponded with <strong>the</strong> death and despair reigning within. It is supposed that<br />
eleven thousand American seaman perished in her. None came <strong>to</strong> relieve <strong>the</strong>ir woes. Once or twice, by order<br />
of a stranger on <strong>the</strong> quarter-deck a bag of apples was hurled promiscuously in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> midst of hundreds of<br />
prisoners, crowded as thick as <strong>the</strong>y could stand, and life and limb were endangered in <strong>the</strong> struggle. The<br />
prisoners were secured between <strong>the</strong> decks by iron gratings; and when <strong>the</strong> ship was <strong>to</strong> be cleared of watch, an<br />
armed guard forced <strong>the</strong>m up <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> winches, amid a roar of execrations and reproaches, <strong>the</strong> dim light adding <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> horrors of <strong>the</strong> scene. Thousands died whose names have never been known, perishing when no eye could<br />
witness <strong>the</strong>ir fortitude, nor praise <strong>the</strong>ir devotion <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir country."<br />
The brave Lingan, hero of Fort Washing<strong>to</strong>n, was confined in <strong>the</strong> "Jersey;" and it was amid <strong>the</strong> horrors around<br />
him that he exclaimed:<br />
"Sweet, O my country, should be thy liberties, when <strong>the</strong>y are purchased at this monstrous price!"<br />
Custis relates that one day, when a coffin was brought in which proved <strong>to</strong>o short for <strong>the</strong> dead comrade, and it<br />
was proposed <strong>to</strong> cut off his head in order <strong>to</strong> adapt <strong>the</strong> body <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> receptacle, Lingan "sprang from his couch<br />
of pain, and, laying his hand upon <strong>the</strong> lifeless corpse of <strong>the</strong> departed soldier, swore he would destroy <strong>the</strong> first<br />
man who should thus mutilate <strong>the</strong> body of his friend."<br />
XXII.<br />
CLOSE OF THE WAR.