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Domestic News
February 28, 1777
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Letter from a prisoner in New York on Dec. 26, 1776, details horrific conditions: 20-30 daily deaths from cold and hunger, unburied bodies; denounces British clemency and urges retaliation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The following is an extract of a letter from a Gentleman of honour and distinction, a prisoner in New York, dated the 26th of Dec. 1776.
"The distresses of the prisoners cannot be communicated by words; 20 or 30 die every day; they lie in heaps unburied; what numbers of my countrymen have died by cold and hunger, perished for want of the common necessaries of life! I have seen it. This, Sir, is the boasted British clemency (I myself had well nigh perished under it.) The New England people can have no idea of such barbarous policy; nothing can stop such treatment but retaliation. I ever despised private revenge, but that of the public must be in this case just and necessary; it is due to the manes of our murdered countrymen, and that alone can protect the survivors, in the like situation. Rather than experience again their barbarity and insults, may I fall by the sword of the Hessians."
"The distresses of the prisoners cannot be communicated by words; 20 or 30 die every day; they lie in heaps unburied; what numbers of my countrymen have died by cold and hunger, perished for want of the common necessaries of life! I have seen it. This, Sir, is the boasted British clemency (I myself had well nigh perished under it.) The New England people can have no idea of such barbarous policy; nothing can stop such treatment but retaliation. I ever despised private revenge, but that of the public must be in this case just and necessary; it is due to the manes of our murdered countrymen, and that alone can protect the survivors, in the like situation. Rather than experience again their barbarity and insults, may I fall by the sword of the Hessians."
What sub-type of article is it?
Military
Death Or Funeral
What keywords are associated?
Prisoners
New York
British Clemency
Cold Hunger Deaths
Retaliation
What entities or persons were involved?
Gentleman Of Honour And Distinction
Where did it happen?
New York
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New York
Event Date
1776 12 26
Key Persons
Gentleman Of Honour And Distinction
Outcome
20 or 30 die every day; they lie in heaps unburied; numbers of countrymen have died by cold and hunger
Event Details
Extract of a letter describing the distresses of prisoners in New York, including deaths from cold and hunger, unburied bodies, and criticism of British clemency; calls for retaliation to protect survivors