British Prison Ships

When talking about the atrocities of the British during the Revolutionary War, many times, one of the worst abuses is never mentioned - the British Prison Ships.

It all started after the Battle of Brooklyn and the capture of Fort Washington by the British in the Fall of 1776. They had so many prisoners, over five thousand by the end of the year, that they didn't know what to do with them all. After filling every available space in the prisons and opening prisons in other buildings, they decided to house many of the prisoners of war on cattle ships and anchored them off the Hudson and East Rivers.

Often more than a thousand on each ship received poor provisions, bad water, and scant food rations. There was no medical care, and disease, starvation, and dysentery claimed the lives of most of the prisoners before the war was over. The overcrowding problem disappeared. The conditions were so bad that the prisoners set fire to one ship even though it meant many of them would burn to death before the fire was contained.

On July 4th, 1782, some of the prisoners tried to celebrate Independence Day by singing patriotic songs, The guards opened the hatch and hacked at them with knives and swords, wounding as many of them as they could reach. They locked the hatch up and left the wounded without food, water or medical attention until the next afternoon. In that time, 10 died of their wounds. Many other wounded survived the attack but were badly wounded.

General Washington complained of the conditions to British General Howe, but Howe couldn't be bothered to investigate and denied the charges. Howe was the same man who, after the execution of Nathan Hale, tore up the letter Hale was permitted to write to his mother before marching to the gallows.

It is estimated the tens of thousands of patriots died on these ships. But the British gave them a way out. Any prisoner who signed an oath of allegiance to Great Brittan and agreed to fight in the British Army was granted a full pardon. Even with the horrible conditions and almost certain death, very few took advantage of that offer.

Our First Martyred American Spy

Long before the days of the CIA and Cold War, even before the spies of the Civil War, our nation had a network of spies that rivaled any spy agency of today. The leader of this spy ring, the Culpeper Ring in New York City, was Benjamin Tallmadge, an officer in the Continental Army. One reason Tallmadge may have been so driven to create this spy ring is because his best friend from college, Nathan Hale, was hung as a spy on his first intelligence gathering mission in New York.

Nathan Hale was born in Connecticut in 1755. Before his fourteenth birthday, he and his brother, Enoch, were sent to Yale University to get an education. Nathan's father was a minister and planned for Nathan to follow in his footsteps.

At Yale, Nathan became close friends with Benjamin Tallmadge and William Hull, a man who worked with Tallmadge. Hale's university days created in him a desire to be free from the rule of the British Crown as it did with most of his contemporaries. When he graduated, instead of becoming a minister, he took a job teaching at a private school in East Haddam.

When war broke out, Hale was reluctant to join the army, but at the urging of Tallmadge in a letter, joined up in 1775. For the next year, he saw no action. It disturbed him because he felt he was doing nothing to further the independence of the American Colonies.

In September, Washington was desperate for intelligence about the British troop movements in Manhattan. That information would determine his next move. He asked for volunteers. At that time, most didn't consider spying a respectable occupation, and nobody was willing to volunteer for such a dangerous mission. Nathan Hale, who was eager to do something to help his country, stepped up and said he would do it.

Hale snuck into Manhattan and got the information he needed. Before heading back, he stopped at a tavern where he was recognized by Robert Rogers, commander of Rogers' Rangers. Earlier, Rogers had attempted to get free passage behind enemy lines, telling Washington he was a patriot. His real intentions were to spy for the British. Washington denied his request, but during that time, he had seen Hale in uniform.

Rogers needed proof Hale was a spy and invited him to his home where he informed Hale that he was a patriot. Hale fell into the trap, and was arrested. After admitting he was a spy, he was sentenced to hang by General William Howe.

When Hale was at the gallows, the last sight he probably saw was New York City burning. A fire had started accidently, but knowing it would help the Americans, many patriot civilians started more fires or did things to slow the British in putting out the fires. Many of these patriots were captured and executed. The fire did stop the British from taking up residence in the city.

Hale's last words were immortalized as the sentiment of American Patriots. "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." This quote is reported by Tallmadge and Hull, Hale's friends who were not present at the execution. The quote is probably a condensed quote of what he really said. Hull and Tallmadge were at the site shortly after the execution to facilitate a prisoner exchange and talked to a British officer, John Montresor about what Hale's last words were. Others reported other things Hale may have said, so his speech was longer than the reported quote.

Frederick MacKensie, a British officer, wrote this diary entry for the day, "He behaved with great composure and resolution, saying he thought it the duty of every good Officer, to obey any orders given him by his Commander-in-Chief; and desired the Spectators to be at all times prepared to meet death in whatever shape it might appear."

Whatever the case, at his death, Hale was a patriot and the first American spy executed for his exploits of bravery.

OUR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

May 2, 2013

This coming Thursday is our National Day of Prayer; a tradition that predates the founding of the United States of America. In 1775, the Continental Congress made a proclamation setting aside a day of prayer.  Later, in 1952, Congress established an annual day of prayer. Then in 1988 the law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.   

The theme for this year’s National Day of Prayer is “Pray for America”. It is taken from Matthew 12:21.

“In His name the nations will put their hope.”

The popular trend to marginalize people of faith is frustrating. In the name of tolerance, many American traditions are being relegated to the trash heap. We are reluctant to mention anything to do with Christmas or Easter in schools, and prayer is often frowned upon or “sanitized” at community functions. Lawsuits are threatened if pictures of Jesus or Scripture are maintained on public grounds. Yet, our founders recognized that freedom came from God Almighty. And as John Adams said, “our Constitution is made for a moral and religious people.”

Our Declaration of Independence appeals “to the Supreme Judge of the world” The language in the document states,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The individuals who signed that Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as well as many others, believed strongly enough in pursuing liberty to mutually pledge to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor."

During the Constitutional Convention of June 1787 where delegates had clashed for five weeks, Benjamin Franklin appealed for prayer.

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?  We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”

The United States of America was founded on Judeo Christian principles. Just as at that initial pivotal period in our nation’s history, we currently face national challenges of every kind.  It is again time to appeal to all people to repent personally, as well as for our national sins, and seek Almighty God’s forgiveness, direction, and healing.

“I exhort you therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 

— 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

― 2 Chronicles 7:14

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

    slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

 ― Psalm 103: 8-12

Please pray for:

~ our nation

~ all who serve in leadership in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government

~ our state Governors and Legislatures

~ all who serve in our armed forces, police, firefighters, medical services, educators

~ for church leaders

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR ~ Part 2

AMERICA’S FIRST CIVIL WAR

Part 2

In last month’s post we saw that America’s first civil war was The Revolutionary War; a war that divided families and neighbors to the Loyalist or the Patriot cause. We also reviewed the motivations which determined their decision.

Throughout the colonies, families and neighbors who once enjoyed amicable relations now found themselves at odds with each other. Families of every station of life were impacted by the severing of ties, but two very prominent families from two very different colonies experienced division in a very public arena.

The Franklin Family

Benjamin Franklin

William Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, born to the son of a candle maker in Boston, Massachusetts, at seventeen moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he proposed to Deborah, the daughter of his landlady, the mother did not allow the union. While Franklin was in London, Deborah married a man who later avoided prosecution for non payment of debts by absconded to Barbados with her dowry. When Franklin returned from England, he and Deborah formed a common-law marriage until they could legally marry.

William Temple Franklin's
portrait by John Trumbull

Franklin was a man of many achievements; a successful newspaper editor, printer, writer, satirist, scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, and diplomat.  He had an illegitimate son, William, possibly by Deborah. Franklin financed William’s education at the Inns of Court in London. Later, William was admitted to the bar and automatically became a member of Britain’s upper class. William made influential friends while in England and returned to become the Royal Governor of New Jersey in 1762. William also fathered an illegitimate son, William Temple Franklin, who embraced the patriot cause and would later work as an aide to his grandfather. William Franklin remained a Loyalist, was imprisoned and later exiled to London.  He was unsuccessful in his attempt to reconcile with his father and at Benjamin Franklin’s death was disowned in favor of the grandson.

The Randolph Family

The Peyton Randolph House
Williamsburg, VA

Peyton Randolph

Peyton and John Randolph, cousins of Thomas Jefferson, were born (1721 & 1727) in Williamsburg, Virginia to Sir John and Lady Susannah Randolph a wealthy, aristocratic, powerful Virginia family. Their father, a prominent attorney and Speaker of the House of Burgesses, died when Peyton was sixteen, leaving their house and other property in trust for the older son. At different times, the brothers were both educated at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg and later studied the law at London’s Inns of Court. Upon his return, Peyton was appointed Virginia’s attorney general and later became Williamsburg’s representative in the House of Burgesses.

John Randolph

Peyton had challenged some of the rights of the Royal Governor he was appointed to defend, but it was not until 1764 with the conflict over the Stamp Act that his conflict with the British crown escalated. In 1766 he was elected Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Meanwhile, Peyton’s younger brother John succeeded him as the Virginia’s attorney general; however, by now the two brothers were politically polarized. Peyton joined the Patriot cause and John left for England in 1775 with most of his family. John’s son, Edmund joined the American army and he served as aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

The Wren Chapel is in the
Wren Building - Williamsburg, VA

The Wren Chapel 

In 1784 John died in England. As a patriot, Peyton had a warrant for his arrest and execution, but would die of a stroke in Philadelphia in 1775. After their deaths, both brothers were returned to Williamsburg where they are buried with their father in the Randolph crypt beneath the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary.

It may seem ironic that in the Franklin family Benjamin and his grandson embraced the Patriot cause while Benjamin’s son, William remained loyal to the crown. And, in the Randolph family, the younger brother, John remained a Loyalist, while his own son Edmund chose to join his uncle in pursuing independence from England.         

Like America’s Civil War of the nineteenth century, families and friends relationships would be tested and strained by their disparate loyalties.     

Pirates fighting in the American Revolution?

When you hear about the American Revolution, you might hear stories like the Boston Tea Party, Washington Crossing the Delaware, Benedict Arnold, The Surrender at Yorktown etc… you might hear how a tiny group of colonies with a ragtag army managed to overthrow the greatest military might in the world. But did you know that without American Privateers, the United States may not have won  the war? The role of privateers and pirates cannot be underestimated. In fact, from the years 1776 to 1782, the total number of privateering ships outnumbered the ships of the Continental Navy by a factor of eleven to one.  

Below is the proclamation issued by The Continental Congress authorizing large-scale privateering against English ships.

 

You may, by Force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all Ships and other Vessels belonging to Subjects of the King of Great-Britain, on the High Seas, or between High-water and Low-water Marks, except… Friends to the American Cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the Commanders thereof permitting a peaceable Search, and giving satisfactory information of the Contents of Ladings, and Definitions of the Voyages.

Comparison of Navy vs. Privateers in Revolutionary War

	Continental Navy	Privateers
Total ships	64	1,697
Total guns on ships	1,242	14,872
Enemy ships captured	196	2,283
Ships captured by enemy	?	1,323

To give you an idea of how important these pirates/privateers were, the total number of men in George Washington’s army in 1777 was 11,000. During that same year there were 11,000 privateers operating at sea to intercept British shipping across the Atlantic.  

Although the documentation is incomplete, about 1,700 Letters of Marque, issued on a per-voyage basis, were granted during the American Revolution. Nearly 800 vessels were commissioned as privateers and are credited with capturing or destroying 600 British ships.

 

In addition the Continental Navy and privateers together captured over 16,000 British prisoners from vessels, compared to the 15,000 taken by the entire army on land before the surrender at Yorktown.

So why didn’t these pirates turned privateers simply join the Continental Navy? Surely it would have been more prestigious and dignified.  Yet these men were typically not the type to join much of anything. For one thing many of them resisted the restricted life of serving in the military. They relished the freedom they had to sail where they wanted and command their own ship.  But I think the real reason was the profit! The crew of the privateers were well paid for their hazardous work, earning as much as $1,000 for one voyage, while average pay at the time was $9 per month.

.

  

Advertisement in Boston newspaper recruiting crew for privateer Deane

An Invitation to all brave Seamen and Marines, who have an inclination to serve their Country and make their Fortunes. The grand Privateer ship DEANE, commanded by ELISHA HINMAN, Esq; and prov'd to be a very capitol Sailor, will Sail on a Cruise against the Enemies of the United States of America, by the 20th instant. The DEANE mounts thirty Carriage Guns, and is excellently well calculated for Attacks, Defense and Pursuit --- This therefore is to invite all those Jolly Fellows, who love their country, and want to make their fortunes at one Stroke, to repair immediately to the Rendezvous at the Head of His Excellency Governor Hancock's Wharf, where they will be received with a hearty Welcome by a Number of Brave Fellows there assembled, and treated with that excellent Liquor call'd GROG which is allow'd by all true Seamen, to be the LIQUOR OF LIFE.

Not only was Privateering highly effective, but fortunes destined to finance the new republic were made. It is believed that the total damage to British shipping by American privateers was about $18 million by the end of the war, or just over $302 million in today's dollars!!!