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Domestic News
May 10, 1813
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial condemns the British attack on Havre de Grace as an unjustifiable outrage, involving partial burning and plundering of private property without military necessity, violating laws of civilized warfare and exacerbating anti-British sentiment.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE ATTACK ON HAVRE DE GRACE
Was unquestionably one of the most wanton and unjustifiable outrages ever practised in modern warfare. The town, it now appears, was not wholly destroyed, but partially burnt and generally plundered in a manner that would have disgraced a band of pirates. This destruction of private property was without any possible object. The United States had done no act for which it could be a retaliation; there were no public works at the place inviting assault—on no ground can it be justified: and it can be considered in no other light than as a base and dishonorable violation of the law of nations and of honorable or civilized warfare. Let the object have been what it might, the destruction of the iron works, or the stoppage of the mails, which we allow to have been legitimate objects, neither of these, nor any other pretence can palliate the unnecessary depredations which have taken place. Private property is respected in war unless where retaliation justifies its destruction; or where it is destroyed inevitably in an attack on the fortifications, public or private armaments, or public works; or where its destruction is necessary to the attainment of a great public object. The bombardment and conflagration of towns has long been ranked among the barbarisms of our forefathers and exploded in war as disgraceful and dishonorable. It has remained for the British nation, "the bulwark of our religion," which boasts of its magnanimity and generosity to its foes, to revive the savage war against women and children, and the wanton devastation of private property on our seaboard: and to excite a war of murder and pillage by their Indian allies, "regulars and militia" in the interior.
The effect of these repeated outrages will unquestionably be to aggravate the hostility towards G. Britain already pervading the country; and to throw impediments in the way of the conclusion of an honorable peace. A few more such affairs as the massacre at the river Raisin, The bombardment of Lewistown, and the conflagration of Frenchtown and Havre de Grace, and there will no longer be any difference of sentiment in the Nation.
Was unquestionably one of the most wanton and unjustifiable outrages ever practised in modern warfare. The town, it now appears, was not wholly destroyed, but partially burnt and generally plundered in a manner that would have disgraced a band of pirates. This destruction of private property was without any possible object. The United States had done no act for which it could be a retaliation; there were no public works at the place inviting assault—on no ground can it be justified: and it can be considered in no other light than as a base and dishonorable violation of the law of nations and of honorable or civilized warfare. Let the object have been what it might, the destruction of the iron works, or the stoppage of the mails, which we allow to have been legitimate objects, neither of these, nor any other pretence can palliate the unnecessary depredations which have taken place. Private property is respected in war unless where retaliation justifies its destruction; or where it is destroyed inevitably in an attack on the fortifications, public or private armaments, or public works; or where its destruction is necessary to the attainment of a great public object. The bombardment and conflagration of towns has long been ranked among the barbarisms of our forefathers and exploded in war as disgraceful and dishonorable. It has remained for the British nation, "the bulwark of our religion," which boasts of its magnanimity and generosity to its foes, to revive the savage war against women and children, and the wanton devastation of private property on our seaboard: and to excite a war of murder and pillage by their Indian allies, "regulars and militia" in the interior.
The effect of these repeated outrages will unquestionably be to aggravate the hostility towards G. Britain already pervading the country; and to throw impediments in the way of the conclusion of an honorable peace. A few more such affairs as the massacre at the river Raisin, The bombardment of Lewistown, and the conflagration of Frenchtown and Havre de Grace, and there will no longer be any difference of sentiment in the Nation.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Havre De Grace Attack
British Outrage
War Of 1812
Private Property Destruction
Anti British Sentiment
Where did it happen?
Havre De Grace
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Havre De Grace
Outcome
town partially burnt and generally plundered
Event Details
British forces attacked Havre de Grace, destroying private property without justification, including partial burning and plundering, condemned as a violation of the law of nations and civilized warfare.