Journals of the Continental Congress,
FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1777
...The committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of the enemy, brought in a report which was read, as follows:
That, in every place where the enemy has been, there are heavy complaints of oppression, injury, and insult, suffered by the inhabitants, from officers, soldiers, and Americans disaffected to their country's cause. The committee found these complaints so greatly diversified, that, as it was impossible to enumerate them, so it appeared exceedingly difficult to give a distinct and comprehensive view of them, or such an account, as would not, if published, appear extremely defective, when read by the unhappy sufferers, or the country in general.
In order, however, in some degree, to answer the design of their appointment, they determined to divide the object of their enquiry into four parts: First, The wanton and oppressive devastation of the country, and destruction of property: Second, the inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become prisoners: Third, The savage butchery of many who had submitted or were incapable of resistance: Fourth, The lust and brutality of the soldiers in abusing of women.
They will, therefore, now briefly state, what they found to be the truth upon each of these heads separately, and subjoin to the whole, affidavits and other evidence to support their assertions.
1. The wanton and oppressive devastation of the country and destruction of property:
The whole tract of the British army is marked with desolation and a wanton destruction of property, particularly through West Chester county, in the state of New York; the towns of Newark, Elizabeth Town, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Kingston, Princeton and Trenton, in New Jersey. The fences destroyed, houses deserted, pulled in pieces or consumed by fire, and the general face of waste and devastation spread over a rich and once well cultivated and well inhabited country, would affect the most unfeeling with melancholy or compassion for the unhappy sufferers, and with indignation and resentment against the barbarous ravagers. It deserves notice, that though there are many instances of rage and vengeance against particular persons, yet, the destruction was very general and often undistinguished; those who submitted and took protections, and some who were known to favour them, having frequently suffered in the common ruin. Places and things, which, from their public nature and general utility, should have been spared by a civilized people, have been destroyed or plundered, or both. But, above all, places of worship, ministers and religious persons of some particular protestant denominations, seem to have been treated with the most rancorous hatred, and, at the same time, with the highest contempt.
2. The inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become prisoners:
The prisoners, instead of that humane treatment which those taken by the United States experienced, were, in general, treated with the greatest barbarity. Many of them were near four days kept without food altogether: When they received a supply, it was both insufficient in point of quantity and often of the worst kind: They suffered the utmost distress from cold, nakedness and close confinement: Freemen and men of substance suffered all that a generous mind could suffer from the contempt and mockery of British and foreign mercenaries: Multitudes died in prison; when they were sent out, several died in the boats, while carrying ashore, or, upon the road, attempting to go home. The committee, in the course of their enquiry, learned, that sometimes the common soldiers expressed sympathy with the prisoners, and the foreigners more than the English. But, this was seldom or never the case with the officers; nor have they been able to hear of any charitable assistance given them by the inhabitants who remained in, or resorted to the city of New York; which neglect, if universal, they believe was never known to happen in any similar case in a Christian country.
3. The savage butchery of those who had submitted and were incapable of resistance:
The committee found it to be the general opinion of the people in the neighbourhood of Princeton and Trenton, that the enemy, the day before the battle of Princeton, had determined to give no quarter.--They did not, however, obtain any clear proof, that there were any general orders for that purpose; but the treatment of several particular persons at and since that time, has been of the most shocking kind, and gives too much countenance to the supposition. Officers wounded and disabled, some of them of the first rank, were barbarously mangled or put to death. A minister of the gospel in Trenton, who neither was nor had been in arms, was massacred in cold blood, though humbly supplicating for mercy.
4. The lust and brutality of the soldiers in abusing of women.
The committee had authentic information of many instances of the most indecent treatment, and actual ravishment of married and single women; but, such is the nature of that most irreparable injury, that the persons suffering it, and their relations, though perfectly innocent, look upon it as a kind of reproach to have the facts related, and their names known. They have, however, procured some affidavits, which will be published in the appendix. The originals are lodged with the secretary of Congress.
Some complaints were made to the commanding officers upon the subject, and one affidavit made before a justice of peace; but the committee could not learn that any satisfaction was ever given, or punishment inflicted, except, that one soldier, at Pennington, was kept in custody for part of a day.
On the whole, the committee are sorry to say, that the cry of barbarity and cruelty is but too well founded; and as, in conversation, those who are cool to the American cause, have nothing to oppose to the facts, but their being incredible, and not like what they are pleased to stile, the generosity and clemency of the English nation; the committee beg leave to observe, that one of the circumstances most frequently occurring in the enquiry, was, the opprobrious, disdainful names given to the Americans. These do not need any proof, as they occur so frequently in the newspapers printed under their direction, and in the intercepted letters of those who are officers, and call themselves gentlemen. It is easy, therefore, to see what must be the conduct of a soldiery, greedy of prey, towards a people, whom they have been taught to look upon, not as freemen defending their rights on principle, but as desperadoes and profligates, who have risen up against law and order in general, and wish the subversion of society itself. This is the most candid and charitable manner in which the committee can account for the melancholy truths which they have been obliged to report. Indeed, the same deluding principle seems to govern persons and bodies of the highest rank in Britain. For, it is worthy of notice, that not pamphleteers only, but king and parliament constantly call those acts lenity, which, on their first publication, filled this whole Continent with resentment and horror.
Resolved, That the said report be accepted; and
Ordered, That the committee who brought in the report, publish the same with the affidavits....
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