More Prisoners—A Present—Visit from American Gentlemen—Black-hole—Fleet
of Transports for America—Prisoners escape—Death—Prospect of War with
France—First breach in the Prison wall—Fox frigate taken by the
Hancock—A Newspaper—Number of Prisoners—Escape of thirty-two
Prisoners—Bounty—Punishment—Cruelty to the Old—Captain Lee taken in
the Fancy—Hears from Home—Bad News—False Reports—Daniel Cottle died.
JUNE 23. To-day we divided the money which we had got in our
charity-box, and it was only five farthings per man.
24. To-day there were two more prisoners brought in; they were taken in
France. Having been invited on board an English vessel, and not knowing
who they were, went on board, and were immediately seized and confined.
The vessel then weighed anchor and came out of the harbor. The prisoners
proved to be the captain and lieutenant of a Virginia pilot boat. The
captain is now confined in the yard, in a prison by himself, and is not
allowed to speak to us, but the lieutenant is in prison with us.
25. Rainy weather.
26. Continued wet, so that we keep house.
27. To-day another broke out with small-pox.
28. To-day Captain Ross, one of our prize-masters, had a present of some
bread and cheese.
29. Sunday. To-day there have been great numbers to see us, but they
were disappointed; for they kept the outer gate shut, and would not let
the people look at us.
30. We are so confined here that we are out of the way of all news; we
are not allowed a newspaper, and at present no one is allowed to come to
the gate to speak to us. The week past, I have received three shillings
and two pence, for boxes.
JULY 1. Nothing remarkable.
2, 3. Very rainy, so that we are obliged to keep house.
4. Fair weather. This is the only fair day we have had for nearly a
week; and to-day a fleet of transports with troops, bound to America,
put in here for a harbor.
5. To-day several American gentlemen came to see us. They came to
England before the war began; they gave considerable money to some with
whom they were acquainted; to one they gave _two_ guineas, to another
_one_, to another half a guinea, and to three more five shillings
apiece. The week past I have received one shilling and two pence for
boxes.
6. Sunday. A great number of persons came to see us, but the gate was
kept shut, so they could not speak to us, or give us any thing; but some
that were in prison took a small bag and tied a string to it and let it
down at a window at the back side of the prison. About a sixpence was
put into it, but the guard came in and forbid it.
7. They have placed lanterns all round the prison yard, for fear that
some of us should make our escape in the night.
8. Last night the guard became alarmed by our people laughing and
singing, and they came in and took one of the prisoners to the
_Black-hole_, a place of punishment so called, where he is to lay _forty
days_, on half allowance, and nothing to sleep on but the ground. We
were all threatened to be put on half allowance. This afternoon there
sailed from the Sound a fleet of transports of about thirty sail, and
three convoys, bound to America. According to the best accounts, there
are about four thousand troops on board.
9,10,11. Warm and pleasant weather. Nothing remarkable.
12. Last night, four of the prisoners that were in the hospital, one
that was in the Black-hole, and one from a prison where there are a
number using applications for the itch, made their escape through a
drain that leads to the river edge. For this week past I have received
three shillings and sixpence for boxes and ladles.
13. Sunday. Those who remain in the itch apartment are all put on half
allowance, to make them tell which way the man got out who made his
escape from that building; and a sentinel is set before the prison to
keep us from giving them any thing, or speaking to them.
14. The Yarmouth, a ship of seventy-four guns, dropped down into the
Sound, in order for sailing.
15. The prisoners in the itch apartment told the agent which way the man
got out of prison, and were put upon their usual allowance.
16. We hear of the death of Thomas Rines, one of our company, whom I
left sick at the Royal Hospital; he died of the small-pox, and is the
fourth of our company who has died since we were taken.
17. Several in prison have broken out with the small-pox, all of whom
inoculated themselves from the first that were attacked with it.
18. There has been a great deal of talk of a French war ever since we
have been taken, and it appears now to be very near, for the English
vessels are often receiving insults at sea from the French. Three years
ago they would have resented this, but now they appear to be afraid.
19. The remainder of the prisoners who have not had the small pox have
had an offer from the doctor to be inoculated.
20. Last night we made a breech in the prison wall, and began to dig
out, which we expect will take near a fortnight to accomplish, as we
have near eighteen feet to dig under ground to get into a field on the
other side of the wall.
21. For the week past I have received, for boxes and ladles, two
shillings and sixpence.
22. The hole that is now in hand is to be only just large enough for a
man to crowd himself out. The men that dig it have made great progress
since they have been at work; we put all the dirt into our chests, as we
have several of them in prison, and when they leave work they stop up
the hole with the same stones that came out, and daub it over with lime,
so that it appears like the other wall.
23. Last evening transports arrived here from America, with six hundred
wounded marines on board.
24. We had a present sent us of several pounds of leaf tobacco.
25. To-day three of the number who broke out of the sick ward, on the
12th of this month, were brought back again, and put in the Black-hole,
there to lay forty days, on half allowance.
20. We hear that Captain Manley, of the Hancock frigate, has taken the
Fox frigate, of twenty-eight guns.
27. For the week past I have received eighteen-pence for boxes.
29. The remainder of the prisoners who have not had the small-pox,
removed into a seperate building, in order for inoculation.
30. Although we are not allowed newspapers, yet we have them almost
weekly, and we now have one that gives an account of the before
mentioned frigate being taken; also of Captain Giddson, in the “Civil
Usage,” being seen off the Lizzard.
August 1. To-day six more of our people came on shore from the ship; the
occasion of their not being brought to prison sooner was, that they were
detained with small-pox in the Royal Hospital. One of these is yet very
unwell, and has been put in the prison hospital.
2. We learn, by those who came in yesterday, that Captain Adams, who was
taken in a merchantman, was set at liberty last Sunday. The week past I
have received two shillings for boxes.
3. Sunday. The number of prisoners now in these wards, is one hundred
and seventy-three.
4. Some of our people who first broke out with small-pox in prison, are
so far recovered as to be able to come up from the hospital.
5. Pleasant to-day, but stormy last night; during the storm, some of our
people made their escape through the hole which they began to dig on the
nineteenth of last month. This hole is dug eighteen feet under ground,
and comes up in a field the other side of the wall. Thirty-two in number
went out, three of whom have been brought back. We are told that they
have five pounds bounty for taking up any rebel prisoner that attempts
an escape; and when taken, the prisoners are to be put on half
allowance, and placed in the Black-hole for forty days.
6. To-day one more was brought back that went out night before last.
7. Four more were brought in to-day, so that there are eight out of the
thirty-two taken already. The four who were brought back to-day are put
in with us, as the Black-hole is full, but they will be put on half
allowance, the same as if in the Black-hole.
8. The guards are now so very suspicious of us, that they number us two
or three times a day, and visit us as often by night; and once or twice
they will overhaul all our chests to see that there is no dirt in them,
or any tools secreted that we can dig out with. To-day an old man was
put into the Black-hole for only complaining that our meat was not good.
9. To-day there was one more brought back that passed under the wall.
For the week past I have received three shillings for boxes.
10. We hear that an American privateer is taken.
11. To-day nine more prisoners came on shore to the prison from the
Blenheim. Eight of the number were taken in one of Captain Weeks’
prizes, bound to France; the other was one of our company, who has been
sick at the Royal Hospital. They inform us that Captain John Lee is
taken in the brig Fancy, twelve guns, fitted out at Newbury, belonging
to the Traceys, and forty-two of his hands came on board the Blenheim
before they left her. To-day two more were brought back who went out at
the hole.
12. To-day eight more prisoners came to the prison from the Blenheim;
three of the number were taken in the Fancy with Captain Lee. They
inform us that they were chased on shore at Mount Bay, near Land’s-end,
by the Fieutryant, a ship of eighty-four guns. They are only about eight
weeks from America, and had taken four prizes.
13. Ten more of Captain Lee’s men came to prison.
14. Ten more were brought to-day.
15. To-day Captain Lee and his first and second lieutenants came to
prison. From Captain Lee I hear of the health of my friends.
16. A number more of Captain Lee’s men came to prison to-day.
17. Sunday. For the week past I have received six shillings and three
pence for boxes and ladles.
18. Warm and pleasant, so that we carried our hammocks out into the yard
to air. The remainder of Captain Lee’s men were brought to prison. Those
who came to-day were the last who were taken after they got on shore.
They inform us that they are all here now except their doctor, who, in
all probability, has made his escape.
19. To-day three more were brought to prison who belonged to the Literal
Mark, fitted out of Philadelphia.
20. Warm and pleasant weather, so that we can comfortably go barefoot;
but many of us would be obliged to do so if it were in the middle of
winter, for want of stockings and shoes.
21. To-day fourteen of Captain Lee’s men, who have not had the
small-pox, were inoculated. The prisoners who are on half allowance have
had a meal of victuals sent them by some friend.
22. We hear that Ticonderoga is taken by the King’s troops, and also
Philadelphia; that the Hancock, Captain Manley, is taken, and the Fox
retaken; but we cannot tell what to believe by what we hear; for since
we have been taken we have heard, nearly twenty times, that Philadelphia
was taken, and as many times that Washington was killed; that Congress
was divided, that continental money was disgraced, that the Americans
had laid down their arms, and that they were starving to death for want
of provisions, and naked for want of clothing; all these things have
been published in the newspapers, times without number, since we have
been taken.
23. For the week past I have received three shillings for boxes.
24. Sunday. This is the greatest market day for our wooden ware, as most
people come on this day to see us.
25. Yesterday Daniel Cottle died in the prison hospital of the
small-pox; he is the sixth of our company that has died since we have
been in England.
26. It is reported that general Prescott is taken by the Americans.