Horrible Tales Told by Prisoners of War

American Prisoners of the Revolutionary War

Liberty Street Sugar House in New York was a tall, narrow building five stories in height, and with dismal underground dungeons where American soldiers were stuffed. During the hot weather of July, 1777, the only relief was to send companies of twenty prisoners into the courtyard for one hour while inside the dungeon, groups of six stood for ten minutes next to the windows gasping for a breath of fresh air.

There were no seats and the filthy straw bedding was never changed. At least a dozen corpses were dragged out every day, and pitched like dead dogs into the ditches and morasses beyond the city.

In 1778 the hulks of decaying ships were moored in the Wallabout. These prison ships were intended for sailors and seaman taken on the ocean, mostly the crews of privateersmen, but some soldiers were also sent to languish in their holds.

The first vessels used were transports in which cattle and other stores had been brought over by the British in 1776. These lay in Gravesend Bay where many of the prisoners taken in battle near Brooklyn in August, 1776, were confined. That is, until the British took possession of New York, when they were moved to that city.

In 1778, the hulks of ships were moored in the Wallabout, a sheltered bay on the Long Island shore.

A Nightmare of Extreme Cruelty and Horror

Lieutenant Jonathan Gillett of West Harford, along with seven others was captured before they could take to their boats on Long Island on August 27, 1776.

Jonathan was first confined in a prison ship, but a Masonic brother named John Archer procured him the liberty of the city on parole. He was a prisoner two years, before being allowed to go home to die. He exhibited every symptom of poison as well as starvation.

The Letter of Jonathan Gillet

The latter’s father during his confinement wrote a letter dated New York, Dec. 2nd, 1776, addressed to Eliza Gillett at West Harford as follows:

“My Friends, No doubt my misfortunes have reached your ears. Sad as it is, it is true as sad. I was made prisoner the 27th day of August past by a people called heshens, and by a party called Yagers the most Inhuman of all Mortals. I can’t give Room to picture them here but thus much — I at first Resolved not to be taken, but by the Impertunity of the Seven taken with me, and being surrounded on all sides I unhapily surendered; would to God I never had — then I should never (have) known there unmerciful cruelties; they first disarmed me, then plundered me of all I had, watch, Buckles, money, and sum Clothing, after which they abused me by bruising my flesh with the butts of their (guns). They knocked me down; I got up and they (kept on) beating me almost all the way to there (camp) where I got shot of them — the next thing was I was almost starved to death by them. I was kept here eight days and then sent on board a ship, where I continued 39 days and by (them was treated) much worse than when on shore — after I was set on (shore) at New York (I was) confined (under) a strong guard till the 20th day of November, after which I have had my liberty to walk part over the City between sun and sun, notwithstanding there generous allowance of food I must inevitably have perished with hunger had not sum friends in this (city) Relieved my extreme necessity, but I can’t expect they can always do it — what I shall do next I know not, being naked for clothes and void of money, and winter present, and provisions very skerce; fresh meat one shilling per pound, Butter three shillings per pound, Cheese two shillings, Turnips and potatoes at a shilling a half peck, milk 15 Coppers per quart, bread equally as dear; and the General says he cant find us fuel thro’ the winter, tho’ at present we receive sum cole. [Footnote: I have made no changes in this letter except to fill up some blanks and to add a few marks of punctuation.]

“I was after put on board siezed violently with the disentarry — it followed me hard upwards of six weeks — after that a slow fever, but now am vastly better my sincere love to you and my children. May God keep and preserve you at all times from sin, sickness, and death

• • I will Endeavor to faintly lead you into the poor cituation the soldiers are in, espechally those taken at Long Island where I was; in fact these cases are deplorable and they are Real objects of pitty — they are still confined and in houses where there is no fire — poor mortals, with little or no clothes — perishing with hunger, offering eight dollars in paper for one in silver to Relieve there distressing hunger; occasioned for want of food — there natures are broke and gone, some almost loose there voices and some there hearing — they are crouded into churches & there guarded night and day. I cant paint the horable appearance they make — it is shocking to human nature to behold them. Could I draw the curtain from before you; there expose to your view a lean Jawd mortal, hunger laid his skinny hand (upon him) and whet to keenest Edge his stomach cravings, sorounded with tattred garments, Rotten Rags, close beset with unwelcome vermin. Could I do this, I say, possible I might in some (small) manner fix your idea with what appearance sum hundreds of these poor creatures make in houses where once people attempted to Implore God’s Blessings, &c, but I must say no more of there calamities. God be merciful to them — I cant afford them no Relief. If I had money I soon would do it, but I have none for myself. — I wrote to you by Mr. Wells to see if some one would help me to hard money under my present necessity I write no more, if I had the General would not allow it to go out, & if ever you write to me write very short or else I will never see it — what the heshens robbed me of that day amounted to the value of seventy two dollars at least. * I will give you as near an exact account of how many prisoners the enemy have taken as I can. They took on Long Island of the Huntingon Regiment 64, and of officers 40, of other Regiments about 60. On Moulogin Island 14, Stratton Island (Staten) 7, at Fort Washington 2200 officers and men. On the Jersey side about 28 officers and men. In all 3135 and how many killed I do not know. Many died of there wounds. Of those that went out with me of sickness occasioned by hunger eight and more lie at the point of death.

“Roger Filer hath lost one of his legs and part of a Thigh, it was his left. John Moody died here a prisoner.

“So now to conclude my little Ragged History I as you know did ever impress on your mind to look to God, for so still I continue to do the same — think less of me but more of your Creator, So in this I wish you well and bid you farewell and subscribe myself your nearest friend and well wisher for Ever.

Jonathan Gillett”

When he was dying he said to his son, Jonathan Gillett, Junior, “Should you enlist and be taken prisoner as I was, inquire for Mr. John Archer, a man with whom I boarded. He will assist you.”

Jonathan Gillett, Jr.

In due course, Jonathan Gillett’s son, Jr. son enlisted in the war, was captured, taken prisoner, and confined in the Old Sugar House on Libert Street. Here he was nearly starved to death. The prisoners ate mice, rats, and insects. One day while in the prison yard, he discovered the dry parings of a turnip which seemed to him a delicious banquet. Jonathan Gillett, Jr., was finally freed from captivity through the efforts of the same John Archer who had aided his father.

In 1852, Jacob Barker offered to present survivors with wooden canes who had been confined in the Old Sugar House, but only four survivors were found; viz: William Clark, Samuel Moulton, Levi Hanford, and Jonathan Gillett, Jr.

Source: American Prisoners of the Revolution by Danske Dandridge.

Genealogy Tips

Discovering data concerning American soldiers and prisoners taken during the Revolutionary War is found as follows. The search

1. In old, out-of-print books. This is where I have discovered information “here and there.”

2. Revolutionary War Pensions found at the National Archives. However, I recommend Abstracts of Pension Records can be found in most regional libraries because one is able to compare persons with the same surnames and possibly locate brothers and other members of the families.

3. British online records may be helpful. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/results?_q=american+revolution

4. Two new books available to members of georgiapioneers.com — (After login, click on the “genealogy books icon”

(a) Biographies of Revolutionary War Soldiers by Jeannette Holland Austin

(b) Hero Imprints by Jeannette Holland Austin

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