180. An Investigation of British Military Prisons (1778)
BY COMMISSARY-GENERAL ELIAS BOUDINOT (ABOUT 1800)
Boudinot was sent by New Jersey to the Continental Congress, and later became president of that body. At the time of this episode he was in charge of British prisoners and exchanges. The cruelties of the British prison-ships in New York, and the corresponding cruelties suffered by the loyalists in the Connecticut copper-mine prison at Simsbury, are typical of an age when ordinary criminals were treated with much the same barbarity, both in England and in America. — Bibliography: Jane J. Boudinot, Life of Elias Boudinot; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VII, 87-88.
THE Complaints of the very cruel Treatment our Prisoners met with, in the Enemy's Lines rose to such a Height that in the Fall of this Year 1777 the General wrote to Genl Howe (or Clinton) repeating their Complaints and proposing to send an Officer into New York to examine into the Truth of them — This was agreed to and a regular Passport returned accordingly — The General ordered me on this Service — I accordingly went over on the third of February, 1778 in my own sloop — . . . We arrived at the Wharf of New York a little before Sundown, when I sent the Sergeant to the Commandant of the City (who was General Robertson whom I had formerly known,) to inform him of my Arrival and request to land — . . . The General with great Politeness assured me that tho' Lodgings were prepared, yet I might go where I pleased, on consideration of my breakfasting with him in the Morning — This I promised to do & retired — Taking it for granted that I was to be put under the expected Restrictions in the Morning, I waited on the General at Breakfast . . . The General answered me, that he knew We had heard strange Stories within our Lines of their Conduct to our Prisoners — That he had rejoiced that Genl Washington bad taken the Measure of sending me in to examine for ourselves, for that he was sure that we should find them a parcel of damned Lies — That he had ordered every Place that I should choose to visit to be freely opened to me, and that as I was a Gentleman, all that he expected was, that I should behave as such ; and that I might use my own Pleasure & go where I pleased — I confess I was surprised at this generous Conduct ; and immediately replied, that I could not accept this gentlemanly Offer — That I had come on a fair and open Business — . . . That therefore I should not see a Prisoner or have any Communication with one. but in the Presence of a British Officer, who I hoped he would oblige me by appointing to attend me — The General expressed
