American Prisoner

July 1st (1812).—After a long and tedious march I with the sick, went on board the Caryaorgo[1] packet at Maume, a little town on the Maume River[2]. Doctor Edwards Surgeon General of the North Wertern Army gave me charge of the Hospital stores and sick to go by water to Detroit. We sailed about 4 p.m. and had a gentle breeze the afternoon. At sunset the wind died away and we ancored for the night[3] and about 4 o'clock in the morning the wind rose and we weighed ancor and with a fair wind entered Lake Erie all in to good spirits to think we should be at Detroit by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. To our surprise just as we were about to enter Detroit River we saw a boat that hailed us and ordered the Captain to lower his sails[4]. Our arms were all in the hole (hold) and the men sick. I thought it improper to make any resistance as I had not been informed that war was declared[5] and had not had orders from the Genl. to make any resistence. Lt. Goodwin and 2nd Master Beatt and Mr. Dent paymaster to the 3rd Regt. Ohio Vlts. and three ladies and two soldiers wifes making in the whole forty-five in number and not more than six well persons among them it must have been imprudent in the highest degree to have attempted to resisted a boat of eight well armed men and a Capt., and another of 5 men who demanded us as prisoners of war and we were nearly under the cover of the guns at Ft. Malden, soever we gave ourselves up and was taken into Malden and our property was all stored in the hole (hold) and hatches nailed immediately and we were taken alongside a prison ship. The next morning about X o'clock our Schooner was[6] taken and all our effects even to a blanket. The Doctor came on board to see some of the sick and I asked him for knapsacks and blankets for the men which were returned immediately and the cloths of the officers and men on board.

3rd.—The day past with Mallone holey (wholly) the men sick and despond, nothing pleasing appeard.

4th.—We were surrounded with Savages singing and dancing their war dances through the town[7]. O heavens what a glory Sun for independence can any person discribe the feeling of a free born subject to see the Savages dancing their war dance and hooting about the town and to be confined when we knew they were preparing (to) murder our fellow creatures and not only the soldiers but the helpless women and children. These horrible and dispicable seens closed the day and Sol returned to his rest.

5th.—Some gentlemen[8] from our (side) came from Detroit with a flag of truce and brought news that our army had arrived their safe and that the men were in tolerable health and spirits but we could not see them without a British being present. We sent some papers to Detroit after having them examined (by) an officer (of) the Part we would expect for prisoners[9].

6th.—We were provided with tolerable rations, and nothing happened through the day.

7th.—Nothing especial happened through the day, but all the (men) were making preparations for war.

9th.—Know news for prisoners.

X.—Nothing extra happened in the course of the day.

10th.—We were moved below town. Dr. Davis attends on our sick daily. The weather verry warm and the men suffer much from the heat.

11th.—We had a very warm day in the afternoon. The officers and Indians were verry busy, however we heard nothing[10]

12th.—Sunday. The American troops crossed the river into Sandwich and divested the people of their arms and sent them to their farms.

13th.—Monday. Pleasant and cool. Nothing extra happened.

14th.—Tuesday. Nothing worthy of notice.

15th.—Wensday, healthy weather. People was moving very much in town and considerable blustor.

16th.—Thursday. Pleasant and cool. Capt. Brown[11] came to town with a flag of truce on and (what) express news we knew not, but could judge by the movements. Two topsail vessels were sent out of the river and the people were moving out of the town at night.

17th.—Friday. The Indians[12] were flocking into town all the morning armed and painted black. A lousifer with their arms and the town was in an uproar. It appeared by ten o'clock that almost every person had left the town. About five o'clock the Savages began to return into town hollowing and barekin and firing all around our vessell, and to crown the whole they had one of our men's scalp stretched on a pole as they past by us to aggrevate us in a helpless state and wound the feelings of prisoners. These Indians[13] were headed by a british subject. Is it possible that their can be so much corruption in the British Government. They are void of feelings and in fact are as bad as the savages themselves for they carry on their intrigues under the pretence that they cannot govern the Indians, and in fact they themselves are personally at their head and give them their instructions. God deliver me from monarch's gag laws and all their subjects[14] for free I was born and free I'll die or by the sword shall we live like bruts and worse, glory in each