Comstoga Creek, and ten miles to the north of the river Susquehannah, and for the Winchester division to move to Little York, a town of the same State ten miles to the south of the same river, and both on the great road leading to Philadelphia.

Nothing very material happened on the march. The weather was intensely cold, and the frost keen. At a small river in Maryland, on the banks of which the division halted in the afternoon of one day, they crossed over on the ice next morning. The officers were badly off for money, and there were not wanting Jews in that part of the world hovering about us, offering money at a most extravagant discount for bills on England; but Major Gordon set his face against this as far as he could, assuring us that a paymaster would soon arrive amongst us. Through the activity of Captain Barclay, paymaster of the 76th, that regiment had been fortunate enough to procure some pairs of shoes for the soldiers; and I was much surprised at an application for a pair from an Irish soldier of the 43d Light Infantry, who had lived with the colonel of militia, in whose house we lodged at Winchester, but to whom none of us ever spoke, as he had quitted his company without giving the requisite notice. I said I was much surprised at his impudence, when he knew our sentiments regarding his conduct; his answer was-" Your honour, ask the Guardsmen, ask your own soldiers, if ever they have been in want of

tobacco since I entered the colonel's store, and your honour knows we have had no money to buy it; no, no, Patt Sullivan is no deserter, but I had my raisins for not telling my officers; and there was no great harm in taking a few more hogsheads of tobacco and giving it to my starving comrades."

At Lancaster the soldiers were kept in a tolerable barrack, surrounded by a high stockade, and strictly guarded. At York they were kept in huts newly constructed, also surrounded by a high stockade, and were also strictly guarded. At a little distance from, but in sight of, our men's huts, upon a rising ground were situated a number of huts occupied by soldiers of General Burgoyne's army, also prisoners of war, but without stockade or guard. Our men named their own camp

66

Security," and the other camp "Indulgence." Major Gordon having been directed to take charge of the prisoners at Camp Indulgence, and having received but indifferent accounts respecting them-most of them having married in the country-generally selected bad weather to visit them, when very few appeared. About this time Herman Ryland arrived from New York to reside with us as paymaster-general, some necessaries for the men were also received, but as some of our fellow-prisoners, who had been long in the country, had enlisted with the enemy and appeared as guards upon their countrymen, wearing the necessaries they had re

E

ceived, it required great circumspection in the distribution of them. The major therefore took every precaution to save the public money, and allowances only were given to such men as resided in the huts. I remained some time at Lancaster with Major Gordon. In March 1782, a Lieutenant Cunningham of the 80th died there. One of his friends applied to Mr. Ottley, commissary of prisoners, for permission to bury him in the churchyard in his ground; at first it was refused, but the commissary afterwards consented, and even implored. "No," said Major Gordon; "you see that spot near the barracks where so many British soldiers have been buried; that is the place where I myself should wish to lie were I to die, and there will we deposit the remains of this British officer; for you know that officers and soldiers should not be separated, and at the last day the soldiers would be greatly surprised if they saw no officer." He was accordingly buried there.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO SIR H. CLINTON.

75

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.

Correspondence relative to the selection of an Officer to be Executed, as a measure of retaliation-Lots drawn.

WHILST hostilities were carried on in America, there was a board at New York styled the Board of Loyalists, who managed all matters relating to that unfortunate class. The warfare carried on betwixt these people and the American republicans has been already alluded to as being almost distinct from that of the two armies. It was also characterised by the exercise of cruelties of many kinds on both sides. The following correspondence took place at this time, arising out of an occurrence in this irregular warfare :—

"To His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, Commander-inChief, etc., etc.

"Sir-The enclosed representation of the inhabitants of Monmouth, with testimonials to the fact (which can be corroborated by other unquestionable evidence), will bring before your excellency the most wanton, cruel, and unprecedented murder that ever disgraced the arms

of a civilized people. I shall not, because I think it altogether unnecessary, trouble your excellency with any animadversions on this transaction. Candour obliges me to be explicit, to save the innocent I demand the guilty. Captain Lippencot, or the officer who commanded at the execution of Captain Huddy, must be given up, or if that officer was of inferior rank to him, so many of the perpetrators as will, according to the tariff of exchange, be an equivalent. To do this will mark the justice of your excellency's character; in failure of it, I shall hold myself justified in the eyes of God and man for the measures to which I shall resort. I beg your excellency to be persuaded that it cannot be more disagreeable to you to be addressed in this language than it is for me to offer it, but the subject requires frankness and decision. I have to request your speedy determination, as my resolution is suspended but for your answer.

(Signed)

"Head-Quarters, 21st April 1782."

(Reply.)

"G. WASHINGTON.

"To His Excellency General Washington.

"Sir-Your letter of the 21st instant, with the enclosed testimonials of Captain Huddy's execution, was delivered to me yesterday; though I am extremely concerned for the cause, I cannot conceal my surprise and