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TORBAY PRISON-SHIP, OFF
CHARLESTON
May 19, 1781
Sir:
Yesterday we transmitted to you a letter, enclosing a copy
of yours, with a list of one hundred and twenty-nine prisoners of war, confined
on board this ship, which we hope is forwarded to Major Gen Greene, agreeably
to your promise, and make no doubt but that your feelings as a gentleman will,
upon this occasion, induce you to do everything in your power to liberate, from
a most injurious and disagreeable confinement, those against whom there can
exist no charge of dishonor, and whose only crime, if such it can possibly be
termed by men of liberal ideas, is an
inflexible attachment to what they conceive to be the rights of their country,
and who have scorned to deceive you by unmeaning professions. In justice to
ourselves we must say, that if the Americas have at any time so far as to divested
themselves of that character of humanity and generosity, which ever distinguish
them, we feel ourselves most sensibly mortified, but are induced, from the
generous treatment of Cols. Lechmere, Rugely, Fenwicke and Kelsell, and their
parties, and from a number of other instances which might be easily adduced, to
believe, that the outrages which you complain of, must be the effect of private
resentment (subsisting between British subjects and those who, after having
availed themselves of the royal proclamation, have resumed their arms, in
opposition to that government) and totally unsanctioned by any American
officer, and which we are well convinced they would rather reprobate and would
present punish in the most exemplary manner, could the perpetrators of such horrid
attacks be detected.
In a war, circumstanced as the present, there will be some
instances of enormities on both sides. We would not wish to particularize, but
doubt not there are acts of cruelty frequently committed by the irregulars of
your army, and are convinced, that on your part, as well as our own, they are
generally to be attributed to an ignorance of the rules of warfare, and a want
of discipline; but the idea of detaining in close custody as hostages a number
of men fairly taken in arms, and entitled to the benefits of a solemn
capitulation, is so repugnant to the laws of war, and the usage of civilized
nations, that we apprehend it will rather be the means of increasing its
horrors, than answering those purposes of humanity you expect.
As a most strict adherence to the terms of our paroles, and
a firm reliance on your honor, have been the only reasons of our being in your
power at present, we trust, that upon equitable proposals being made for our exchange
by Gen. Greene, no objections will be raised, but every thing done to bring the
matter to the most speedy issue.
As you have thought proper to publish your reasons for
seizing upon our persons, we request our answer may also be inserted in the
next Gazette. We are, sir,
Your most obedient
servants,
Stephen Moore, and
others.
