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Editorial
April 6, 1813
Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
Editorial endorses Ensign Baker's letter on British Colonel Proctor's role in massacring wounded American prisoners at French Town during the War of 1812, refutes Washington denials, and calls for U.S. presidential retaliation against this barbarity.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ENSIGN BAKER'S LETTER,
Copied into this day's Gazette, cannot fail to interest our readers, who may rely upon the correctness of every statement contained in it. The editor is personally acquainted with its author; and is satisfied that general Winchester could not have selected an officer better qualified to perform the service reposed in him than he was.
This letter will serve one valuable purpose—to convince all but the wilfully blind, that Colonel Proctor and his officers, were the real murderers of the wounded prisoners taken at French Town—and it will serve another, still more valuable, if it but "rouses their friends, relations and countrymen, to take ample vengeance on the murderers."
We hear it was denied at Washington City that the British had any hand in this business or even that a massacre of the wounded had ever taken place!! Can there be a man so hardened in sin, who will now apologise for British barbarity, when he is assured by Ensign Baker, that "Col. Proctor had issued an order, enjoining individuals to purchase no more" prisoners from the Indians? This dooming all prisoners to the tomahawk.
The President of the United States possesses the power of retaliation—does not so flagrant a violation of the laws of civilized warfare, such an outrage on humanity, call for the exercise of that power in the present case?
Copied into this day's Gazette, cannot fail to interest our readers, who may rely upon the correctness of every statement contained in it. The editor is personally acquainted with its author; and is satisfied that general Winchester could not have selected an officer better qualified to perform the service reposed in him than he was.
This letter will serve one valuable purpose—to convince all but the wilfully blind, that Colonel Proctor and his officers, were the real murderers of the wounded prisoners taken at French Town—and it will serve another, still more valuable, if it but "rouses their friends, relations and countrymen, to take ample vengeance on the murderers."
We hear it was denied at Washington City that the British had any hand in this business or even that a massacre of the wounded had ever taken place!! Can there be a man so hardened in sin, who will now apologise for British barbarity, when he is assured by Ensign Baker, that "Col. Proctor had issued an order, enjoining individuals to purchase no more" prisoners from the Indians? This dooming all prisoners to the tomahawk.
The President of the United States possesses the power of retaliation—does not so flagrant a violation of the laws of civilized warfare, such an outrage on humanity, call for the exercise of that power in the present case?
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Military Affairs
What keywords are associated?
French Town Massacre
Ensign Baker
Colonel Proctor
British Barbarity
Prisoner Massacre
Retaliation
War Atrocities
What entities or persons were involved?
Ensign Baker
Colonel Proctor
General Winchester
British
Indians
President Of The United States
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
British Massacre Of Prisoners At French Town And Call For Retaliation
Stance / Tone
Strongly Anti British, Urging Vengeance And Presidential Retaliation
Key Figures
Ensign Baker
Colonel Proctor
General Winchester
British
Indians
President Of The United States
Key Arguments
Ensign Baker's Letter Is Reliable And Correct
Colonel Proctor And Officers Murdered Wounded Prisoners At French Town
Washington Denials Of British Involvement And Massacre Are False
Proctor's Order Not To Purchase Prisoners From Indians Doomed Them To Tomahawk
President Should Exercise Retaliation Power Against This Violation Of Civilized Warfare