[Pg ii.167]

[No. 53.]
NARRATIVE OF LIEUT. JABEZ FITCH[248]
TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.

... "I myself was so happy as to fall at first into y^e hands ... of y^e 57th Reg^t who used me with some degree of Civility, altho, some perticular Offrs were very liberal of their favourite Term (Rebels) & now & then did not forget to Remind me of a halter, &c; they did not Rob or Strip me of any of my Clothing, only took my Arms & Amunition, & after keeping me in y^e Field sometime, in Confinment with several others under a Strong Guard, was sent off to Gen^ll Grants Quarters, at Gowaynes. In this March we passd through y^e Front of several Brigades of Hessians who were peraded on several Emininences in order of Battle; they Indeed made a very Warlike appearance, & as no power appear'd at yt [that] time to oppose them, their whole attention seemed to be fixed on us, nor were they by any means, sparing of their Insults; But their Offrs Esspacially, Represented to y^e life (as far as their Capacitys would admit) y^e conduct of Infernal Spirits, under Certain Restrictions; Having pas'd through those Savage Insults, we at length came to a hill nigh to the place where we at first engaged y^e Enimy y^e morning; we were here met by a number of Insolent Soldiers among whom was one Woman who appeared remarkably Malicious and attempted several times, to throw Stones at us, when one of our Guard Informed me yt her husband had been killed in this Day's Action; we were then conducted down to a barn near y^e water side, where we were drove into a Yard among a great number of Offrs & men who had been taken before us; soon after we came here, Capt. Jewett with a number of others were brought in, & Confin'd with us; Capt.[Pg ii.168] Jewett had Recd two Wounds with a Bayonet after he was taken & Strip'd of his Arms, & part of his Cloths, one in y^e Brest & y^e other in y^e Belly, of wich he Languished with great pain untill y^e Thirdsday following when he Died; Sarg^t Graves was also Stab'd in y^e Thigh with a Bayonet, after he was taken with Cap^t Jewett, of wich wound he recovered altho' he afterward perrish'd in Prison with many hundred others at N. York.... After being some time confined in this Yard, Cap^t Jewett & some others who were wounded were ordered to some other place in order to have their Wounds dress'd, & I see no more of them this Night.... Early next morning Cap^t Jewett came to us in excessive pain with his wounds already dress'd, but yet notwithstanding y^e applications of several of y^e Enimy's Cirgions, Especially one Doc^r Howe (a young Scotch Gen^t) who treated him with great civility & tenderness, he Languished untill y^e Thirdsday following (viz: y^e 29th of Aug^t at about 5 oClock in y^e Morning) when he Expired, & was Buried in an Orchard nigh s^d House, at about 8 ye same morning, with as much Deacence as our present Situation would Admit; I myself [was] Indulg'd by Gn^ll Grant, at y^e application of Maj^r Brown, who Attended us in this place, to Attend y^e Captains Funeral; The aforesaid Maj^r Brown treated us with y^e greatest Civility & Complesance, during our confinment in this place, & Endeavour'd to make our Accomodations, as agreable as possable; Gen^ll Grant also was so good as to send us (with his Compliments,) two Quarters of Mutton well Cook'd, & several Loves of Bread, which were Acceptable to us, as most of us had eat nothing since y^e Monday before."

[From copy of original in possession of Mr. Chas. I. Bushnell, New York.]

[No. 54.]
EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF LIEUT. WILLIAM McPHERSON[249]
TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.

"W^m McPherson, Lieut. was taken Prisoner the 27^th Day of August by the Hathians [Hessians] and was taken to Flatbush, that evening and staid there five days and then they marched us down to[Pg ii.169] the river and sent us aboard of one of their transports. Sept. the 15th. I am as hearty as the time will admit. The Generals who were taken on Long Island are Gen^l Sullivan, Lord Sterling. They were taken the 27th of Augt. 1776. That day there were twenty-three thousand of the King's troops on Long Island and about twenty-six hundred of the Continental troops against them which was suffered very much. Sept. 22^d. We sailed from below the Narrows up near New York and there we —— the 23^d day. There was some firing from the Rowbuck & another small vessel against our work on Paulus Hook which continued about half an hour. Col. Miles got leave to go to Philadelphia this 26th of November 1776, from New York where he was prisoner. The 7th of October we all left the Snow Mentor and were taken into New York and was put into a close house there. All the officers signed their parole this day & got a small bound to walk round to stretch their legs, which we found grateful. Nov. 20, 1776, all the officers got leave to walk in the bounds of the City of New York."

[Original in the possession of Hon. Edward McPherson, Gettysburg, Penn.]

[No. 55.]
DEPOSITION OF PRIVATE FOSTER
TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.

Thomas Foster of full age being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that he was a soldier in the first battalion of the Pennsylvania Riflemen, commanded by Colo. Miles; that he was made a prisoner on Long Island; that immediately after he was made prisoner he was stripped by the Hessians of all his clothes, except his frock and a pair of drawers; that after they had stripped him, they put a cord about his neck and hanged him up to the limb of a tree, where they suffered him to remain until he was almost strangled; that they then cut him down and gave him a little rum to recover his spirits; that they repeated this cruel sport three times successively; that he has frequently heard it said among the British troops that the[Pg ii.170] Hessians hanged several of our prisoners, and further this deponent says not.

examined and sworn in the presence of

Gen^l McDougall
John Sloss Hobart
Nathl. Sacket
William Duer

[Journal of the New York Provincial Congress, Vol. II.]

[No. 56.]
LETTERS FROM CAPT. NATHANIEL FITZ RANDOLPH, OF NEW JERSEY
WRITTEN WHILE PRISONER.[250]

My Dear Spouse—these with my Love to you and Children may informe you of my present situation, which is that I am wounded in the head and arm but not dangerous. Should be glad that you will send me some necessary Clothing as I now remain in close confinement. I would not have you make yourself uneasy about me as I have been[Pg ii.171] treated with the greatest kindness by Col. Prescott who commanded the party of King's Troops whose hands it was my misfortune to fall into. Likewise by most of the officers of the 28th and 35th Ridgements. I have been before Lord Cornwallace, who I believe looks upon my conduct nothing more than becoming a soldier—and Major Generl. Grant has for my conduct in taking his steward and stores kindly sent me word that I may send to him for any necessarys which I may want and shall be wellcome to. I would request to procure some person to bring what necessarys you may send to me and believe they will not be molested or detained if received protection. I now conclude wishing you every happyness these times can afford and remain your ever affectionate Husband,

Nathl. Fitz Randolph.

On board Gaurd House at New Brunswick Jan. 26^th, 1777.

P.S. Joseph Combes is well and hearty, and desires that his brother Stephen may send him some clothes, but in particular to send a pair of Buckskin Breeches.

To Mrs. Experience Fitz Randolph—
to the care of
John Hampton
at
Woodbridge.

I make no doubt but every intelligence you have had concerning me has been favorable and wish it was in my power to send you such intelligence now—But must informe you in as few words as possible that the wound in my head is verry painfull and dangerous and am now close confined in the Provost Goal, By a positive order from Generl. Howe. I would not have you make yourself uneasy about me as it will be of But Little Service to either of us—But wish you every Happyness the world can afford and remain your ever affectionate Husband,

Nath'l. Fitz Randolph.

New York Feb. 25^th 1777.

P.S. Our men who are prisoners here is verry sickly and are Dying Dayly—John Parker an Indian Israel dyed here a few days ago—Please to send enclosed by some safe hand.

To Mrs. Experience Fitz Randolph
in
East Jersey.
[Pg ii.172]

These with my love to you and Children may informe you that I remain close Confined in the Provost Goal but in vain might attempt to discribe in a particular manner the misserys that attend the Poor Prisoners Confined in this Horrid place, they are dying dayly with (what is called here) the Goal fever but may more properly be called the Hungry fever which rages among the prisoners here confined in goals they being deprived of allmost every necessary of Life. As to the treatment I have received since a prisoner has been varrious Sometimes like a Gentleman other times like a Ruffin, have been for a week without a Surgeon to attend me. At other times have been attended by eight or ten different Surgeons in one day, But have for three weeks past had verry regular attendance. My wounds is in a fair way of doing well and am in prety good Health. Being in great haste must conclude, desireing you to make your self as happy as possible in your present Situation and wait with patience until time brings a change. I remain with sincere affection, ever your affectionate Husband,

Nathl. Fitz Randolph.

New York, March 10, 1777.

P.S. David Tappin is confined in a Room where the Small Pox is and Reuben Potter has been unwell for some days past.

[Originals in possession of Captain John Coddington Kinney, Hartford, Conn.]

[No. 57.]
EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF CAPT. JAMES MORRIS, PRISONER AT FLATBUSH, L.I.[251]

"I was put on board with the other prisoners of war [at Philadelphia] and sailed down the river Delaware, and went to New York. We were 12 days on our passage. I was then put on my parole of honour and boarded with a plain Dutch family in Kings County, at[Pg ii.173] the west end of Long Island. We were confined within the limits of said County.

At Flat Bush I became acquainted with a M^r Clarkson a man of science and of a large property, he owned the most extensive private Library that I had ever known in the United States, his wife had a capacious mind and she was remarkably distinguished for her piety. Mr. Clarkson made me a welcome visitor at his house and gave me access to his library. He allowed me to take as many books as I chose and carry them to my lodgings. I there lived two years and six months devoting my time to reading. I read through a course of ancient and modern history. My exercise was hand labour and walking. I tended a garden one summer upon shares and my net profits were about twelve dollars. The next summer I obtained the use of a small piece of Land and planted it with potatoes from which my net profits were 30 dollars. I was treated with great kindness by the family with which I lived. I endeavored to be always on the pleasant side with them and to be sure, not to be wanting in my attentions to my landlady. Here I learned that the little nameless civilities and attentions were worth a great deal more than they cost me. Here I was peculiarily situated to learn the human character: for the inhabitants in this county were all attached to the British Government and said the officers paroled there were all rebels, and that they would finally be hung for their rebellion, so that if any of us received any injury or met with any abuse from the inhabitants we could have no redress we must patiently bear it. The Dutch inhabitants were uncultivated yet many of them possessed strength of mind and were intelligent. They were mostly strangers to the sympathies and tender sensibilities which so much rejoiced the heart of friends with friends and promote the happiness of society. But not[Pg ii.174]withstanding I was thus secluded from my particular friends and acquaintances yet I enjoyed my share of comfort and worldly felicity. I felt no disposition to murmer and repine in my then condition. Every day afforded me its enjoyments excepting a time when I had a pretty severe attack with the ague and fever which reduced me low. The whole term of my Captivity was three years and three months lacking one day. I was exchanged on the 3rd day of Jan^y 1781. I was taken from Flat Bush to New York and from thence conveyed to Elizabethtown in New Jersey and set at liberty."

[Original in possession of Hon. Dwight Morris, Bridgeport, Conn.]

[No. 58.]
BRITISH PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS ON LONG ISLAND

Kings Bridge, August 29, 1776.

Gentlemen: I send to your care and safe keeping the following prisoners of war, taken on Long Island, on the 27^th instant viz: Lieutenant John Ragg, of the Marines, Sergeant David Wallace, Corporal Thomas Pike and Edward Gibbon, William Smith, Isaac Hughs, Thomas Haraman, John Woodard, Edward Cavil, William Williams, William Coortney, Stephen Weber, John Smith, Samuel Morral, Thomas Sarral, Joseph Distant, Benjamin Jones, William Jones, William Pearce, John Hopkins, Henry Weston, Evan Evans, and John Morten, Privates.

You will please to secure them in such manner as to prevent their escape, observing the order of Congress in this respect.

I am, gentlemen, with Esteem,
Your humble Servant
W. Heath, Major General.

To the Committee of the Town of Fairfield [Conn.]

[Force, 5th Series, vol. i, p. 1215.]

[Pg ii.175]

[No. 59.]
A RETURN OF THE PRISONERS TAKEN IN YORK DURING THE CAMPAIGN 1776

Transcriber's Note: In the original book, the following table contains vertical text. In order to make the width of the table manageable, the vertical text has been reduced to abbreviations, as follows (original spellings used):

Gn—Generals
Co—Colonels
LC—Lt. Colonels
Mj—Majors
Ca—Captains
Lt—Lieutenants
En—Ensigns
Ch—Chaplains
QM—Q. Masters
Ad—Adjutants
Su—Surgeons
Cm—Comissaries
Eg—Engineers
WM—Wagon Masters
Vo—Volunteers
Pr—Privates