Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency (15 page)
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Authors: Logan Beirne
Tags: #American Revolution, #Founding Fathers, #George Washington, #18th Century
BOOK: Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency
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But in the end, it was Washington’s—and not Congress’s—order that was heeded. The Massachusetts Council moved Campbell to a more comfortable setting, where he was better treated.
50
Washington again wrote to Congress, which then finally backpedaled and formally directed months later that Campbell be treated humanely.
51
After their initial indecisiveness, Congress came to abide by Washington’s case-by-case determinations and eventually acknowledged, “so far as regards the Treatment of Prisoners, and the Conduct of the War many public Exchanges having taken place by agreement of the [American and British] Commanders in Chief.”
52
The commander decided whether to abuse or not, based on what he deemed consistent with the laws of war.
50
Washington again wrote to Congress, which then finally backpedaled and formally directed months later that Campbell be treated humanely.
51
After their initial indecisiveness, Congress came to abide by Washington’s case-by-case determinations and eventually acknowledged, “so far as regards the Treatment of Prisoners, and the Conduct of the War many public Exchanges having taken place by agreement of the [American and British] Commanders in Chief.”
52
The commander decided whether to abuse or not, based on what he deemed consistent with the laws of war.
Lee was eventually freed when Washington exchanged him for Brigadier Prescott (Ethan Allen’s former tormentor). By that point, his British captors were happy to see their irksome prisoner go and even congratulated one another on being rid of him.
53
The episode was over, but not before Washington had flexed his authority on the subject.
53
The episode was over, but not before Washington had flexed his authority on the subject.
While Washington sought better treatment for Campbell in this episode, he did not show the same mercy to all of the British captives. In fact, with reports circulating that the British were inflicting “torture by searing irons and secret scourges,”
54
his arguments for treatment in kind involved gruesome practices.
55
54
his arguments for treatment in kind involved gruesome practices.
55
12
To Defend the Nation
T
he British vehemently protested the “outrages committed by the American troops” against their British and Tory prisoners, and “their violations of all the humaner principles of war.”
1
One British officer decried how his compatriots in captivity were “experiencing every severity, perhaps famishing for want of food, and ready to perish with cold,” adding that these prisoners had “little to expect from the humanity of Americans.”
2
Reports circulated that bands of Americans were “stabbing and knocking out the brains of innocent [men].”
3
Other witnesses lamented the “List of Barbarities which have been committed by Washington & his Savages.”
4
he British vehemently protested the “outrages committed by the American troops” against their British and Tory prisoners, and “their violations of all the humaner principles of war.”
1
One British officer decried how his compatriots in captivity were “experiencing every severity, perhaps famishing for want of food, and ready to perish with cold,” adding that these prisoners had “little to expect from the humanity of Americans.”
2
Reports circulated that bands of Americans were “stabbing and knocking out the brains of innocent [men].”
3
Other witnesses lamented the “List of Barbarities which have been committed by Washington & his Savages.”
4
When General Howe pressed the issue, Washington responded delicately. He admitted, “’tis true, there are some who have been restricted to a closer confinement and severer treatment.”
5
He did not elaborate on those severities, but confirmed that at least some of the British intelligence was accurate.
5
He did not elaborate on those severities, but confirmed that at least some of the British intelligence was accurate.
Potentially signaling the existence of barbarous practices being employed by the Continental Army, Howe learned that musket balls with nails through them had been found at abandoned American encampments. He wrote angrily to Washington, appalled that the Continental Army had evidently been employing the “infamous” practice of “the Ball.”
6
Exactly how these nail-spiked musket balls were used is unclear, but one technique referred to as “the ball,” originally developed in China and later adopted in Europe, involved restraining a person against a wall with ropes or even nails and then repeatedly swinging a small ball, suspended from the ceiling, into the victim’s forehead. Initially this torture was psychological, but after repeated bouncing over days or even weeks it caused blood to rush to the victim’s forehead and eyes, resulting in pain, blindness, and eventually death.
7
Using a ball embedded with a nail would be bloodier faster. Another possibility—perhaps more probable—is that these balls were intended as projectiles. A hurling musket ball with a nail in it would inflict maximum damage on an enemy’s flesh. However the ball was used, the results would be gruesome.
6
Exactly how these nail-spiked musket balls were used is unclear, but one technique referred to as “the ball,” originally developed in China and later adopted in Europe, involved restraining a person against a wall with ropes or even nails and then repeatedly swinging a small ball, suspended from the ceiling, into the victim’s forehead. Initially this torture was psychological, but after repeated bouncing over days or even weeks it caused blood to rush to the victim’s forehead and eyes, resulting in pain, blindness, and eventually death.
7
Using a ball embedded with a nail would be bloodier faster. Another possibility—perhaps more probable—is that these balls were intended as projectiles. A hurling musket ball with a nail in it would inflict maximum damage on an enemy’s flesh. However the ball was used, the results would be gruesome.
Washington responded to Howe’s complaint with a parry, saying, “the contrivance is highly abhorred by me, and every measure shall be taken to prevent so wicked and infamous a practice being adopted in this Army.” But he did not deny that the ball had already been used.
8
And this was not the only abhorrent contrivance employed by the Americans in their efforts to survive the war.
8
And this was not the only abhorrent contrivance employed by the Americans in their efforts to survive the war.
Another documented practice was called “spicketting,” in which the victim was “bound, stood with one foot on a sharpened stake and then whirled around literally screwing the stake into his foot.”
9
This was typically used by angry mobs against Loyalists and often rendered the victim permanently crippled. While Washington expressed his “most earnest wish, that . . . there be every exercise of humanity, which the nature of the case will possibly admit,”
10
he indeed found cases whose nature did not permit humane treatment. Mistreatment indeed occurred—mobs forced some onto hot coals, whipped others, and even cut off some men’s ears
11
—and Washington did not always express a desire to stop it.
12
In fact, behavior of this kind was at times openly condoned and even rewarded.
9
This was typically used by angry mobs against Loyalists and often rendered the victim permanently crippled. While Washington expressed his “most earnest wish, that . . . there be every exercise of humanity, which the nature of the case will possibly admit,”
10
he indeed found cases whose nature did not permit humane treatment. Mistreatment indeed occurred—mobs forced some onto hot coals, whipped others, and even cut off some men’s ears
11
—and Washington did not always express a desire to stop it.
12
In fact, behavior of this kind was at times openly condoned and even rewarded.
In one such incident, an American officer was accused by the British of “the most indecent, violent, vindictive severity” against British prisoners and of “an intentional murder.”
13
Colonel David Henley, an impetuous twenty-nine-year-old patriot from Massachusetts, was a zealous defender of the revolutionary cause, known for being “warm and quick in his natural temper.”
14
He turned that temper on the British, even going so far as setting his hometown aflame because it was occupied by redcoats.
13
Colonel David Henley, an impetuous twenty-nine-year-old patriot from Massachusetts, was a zealous defender of the revolutionary cause, known for being “warm and quick in his natural temper.”
14
He turned that temper on the British, even going so far as setting his hometown aflame because it was occupied by redcoats.
After his brother was killed by the British, Henley’s anger blossomed into searing hatred, which he vented on the British prisoners in his custody. British eyewitnesses alleged that Henley came upon eight prisoners conversing casually one day. Then, for some unknown reason, he purportedly went berserk, charging at them “with a drawn dagger like a maniac, and in an instant mortally wounded two of the group.”
15
Another witness claimed that Henley stabbed a prisoner with a bayonet because the redcoat had defiantly declared he “would stand by King and his country, till he died.”
16
15
Another witness claimed that Henley stabbed a prisoner with a bayonet because the redcoat had defiantly declared he “would stand by King and his country, till he died.”
16
To appease the British for these alleged offenses, the Americans put Henley on trial. But it was a sham inquiry since the Americans were unwilling to condemn one of their own.
17
The tantrum-prone patriot was cleared of wrongdoing, and Washington then appointed Henley as his intelligence officer and commander of prisoners. The commander had placed Henley in charge of screening prisoners and procuring intelligence.
17
The tantrum-prone patriot was cleared of wrongdoing, and Washington then appointed Henley as his intelligence officer and commander of prisoners. The commander had placed Henley in charge of screening prisoners and procuring intelligence.
Washington had shown that he was willing—if absolutely necessary—to use prisoners as pawns in an effort to protect his people. In fact, British intelligence suggested that he may even have used random executions to further the American cause. One episode revolved around a gentleman affectionately known as “Old Huddy.”
Captain Joseph Huddy was an ardent patriot from New Jersey.
18
The state militia had sent him to oversee the defense of Toms River, including its small yet strategic port and its salt warehouses. At the time, Toms River was a busy seaside village that had become a prominent center of activity for patriot privateers, who used small merchant ships jerry-rigged with cannon to seize the lucrative cargoes of Loyalist and British ships. They grew to be quite a threat. One privateer sailed across the Atlantic to assault the British mainland—the first such attack in seven centuries—in the process coining the battle cry “I have not yet begun to fight!”
19
Britain was determined to eradicate the menace and encouraged Loyalist assistance in doing so.
18
The state militia had sent him to oversee the defense of Toms River, including its small yet strategic port and its salt warehouses. At the time, Toms River was a busy seaside village that had become a prominent center of activity for patriot privateers, who used small merchant ships jerry-rigged with cannon to seize the lucrative cargoes of Loyalist and British ships. They grew to be quite a threat. One privateer sailed across the Atlantic to assault the British mainland—the first such attack in seven centuries—in the process coining the battle cry “I have not yet begun to fight!”
19
Britain was determined to eradicate the menace and encouraged Loyalist assistance in doing so.
After a privateer attacked a prominent Loyalist ship off the coast of New Jersey, the outraged Tory’s “Board of Associated Loyalists” launched an offensive.
20
Their heavily armed regiment descended on Toms River in a surprise attack. Old Huddy’s small defensive force was completely outgunned and outnumbered, but refused to surrender without a fight. Stationed in a wooden blockhouse—more akin to just a reinforced house than a true defensive fortification—Huddy bravely defended the town.
21
Despite his heroics, the patriots were overwhelmed. The town rendered defenseless upon Huddy’s defeat, the Tories then went about pillaging, burning down the blockhouse, the salt warehouse, and all but two homes.
22
The privateer port destroyed, the Loyalists next turned their bloodlust back towards their new captive, Old Huddy. They grabbed their defenseless prisoner and “on a gallows made of mere rails he was cruelly treated and then hanged.”
23
20
Their heavily armed regiment descended on Toms River in a surprise attack. Old Huddy’s small defensive force was completely outgunned and outnumbered, but refused to surrender without a fight. Stationed in a wooden blockhouse—more akin to just a reinforced house than a true defensive fortification—Huddy bravely defended the town.
21
Despite his heroics, the patriots were overwhelmed. The town rendered defenseless upon Huddy’s defeat, the Tories then went about pillaging, burning down the blockhouse, the salt warehouse, and all but two homes.
22
The privateer port destroyed, the Loyalists next turned their bloodlust back towards their new captive, Old Huddy. They grabbed their defenseless prisoner and “on a gallows made of mere rails he was cruelly treated and then hanged.”
23
As the shell-shocked townspeople emerged from the rubble, news of the gruesome episode began to spread rapidly throughout the countryside. The inhabitants of the surrounding region “cried out for retaliation.”
24
Referring to the incident as “the most wanton, unprecedented and inhuman Murder that ever disgraced the Arms of a civilized people,” Washington demanded that the Loyalist officer who ordered the execution be handed over.
25
Otherwise, he wrote, “I shall hold myself justifiable in the Eyes of God and Man, for the measure to which I shall resort.”
26
When the British refused to comply, Washington called for blood.
24
Referring to the incident as “the most wanton, unprecedented and inhuman Murder that ever disgraced the Arms of a civilized people,” Washington demanded that the Loyalist officer who ordered the execution be handed over.
25
Otherwise, he wrote, “I shall hold myself justifiable in the Eyes of God and Man, for the measure to which I shall resort.”
26
When the British refused to comply, Washington called for blood.
Terrified British captives reported to their superiors, “Mr. Washington & Congress are going to commit such an act of Cruelty, and Breach of Faith that cannot be equaled in civilized Nations.”
27
One British prisoner explained that the Americans were intent on making “the Innocent suffer for the guilty” by ordering prisoners to draw lots for their lives.
28
Thirteen slips of paper were placed in a hat, “all blank except one, upon which was written the word ‘unfortunate.’”
29
In protest and fear, the British prisoners refused to draw. The Americans were unrelenting, however, and simply drew slips for them. The “unfortunate lot” fell on Captain Charles Asgill, “who was immediately ordered into close Confinement . . . and [was] to be hanged” unless the British surrendered the leader of the party who murdered Old Huddy.
30
27
One British prisoner explained that the Americans were intent on making “the Innocent suffer for the guilty” by ordering prisoners to draw lots for their lives.
28
Thirteen slips of paper were placed in a hat, “all blank except one, upon which was written the word ‘unfortunate.’”
29
In protest and fear, the British prisoners refused to draw. The Americans were unrelenting, however, and simply drew slips for them. The “unfortunate lot” fell on Captain Charles Asgill, “who was immediately ordered into close Confinement . . . and [was] to be hanged” unless the British surrendered the leader of the party who murdered Old Huddy.
30
“An amiable youth,” Asgill was the twenty-year-old son of a prominent English baronet.
31
With his soft, youthful features, arched eyebrows, and pug nose, he certainly looked the part of a lamb being led to the slaughter. His noble family’s only son, he had lived a privileged life, splitting his time between London and his family’s scenic holiday estate along the River Thames. Washington agonized over the quandary before him. He was all too aware that the young man was an innocent victim in all this. However, not only did Huddy’s murder demand retribution as a matter of principle, but to turn a blind eye could endanger future American captives. If Washington did not retaliate, the British side was liable to treat other American prisoners similarly.
31
With his soft, youthful features, arched eyebrows, and pug nose, he certainly looked the part of a lamb being led to the slaughter. His noble family’s only son, he had lived a privileged life, splitting his time between London and his family’s scenic holiday estate along the River Thames. Washington agonized over the quandary before him. He was all too aware that the young man was an innocent victim in all this. However, not only did Huddy’s murder demand retribution as a matter of principle, but to turn a blind eye could endanger future American captives. If Washington did not retaliate, the British side was liable to treat other American prisoners similarly.
Washington needed to send a strong signal to his enemies. While he suffered “anxiety and poignant distress” over the pending execution, he nevertheless remained “firm and inflexible in his determination to obtain satisfaction, or pursue a course, that will tend to deter others from a repetition of crimes so derogatory to the laws of humanity, of war, and of justice.”
32
Supported by Congress and the American public, Washington did not relent. And his resolve set off an international incident.
32
Supported by Congress and the American public, Washington did not relent. And his resolve set off an international incident.
When word of Asgill’s plight reached his family estate, his mother fainted and his sister disintegrated into an emotional wreck. “The extreme grief of his mother, the sort of delirium which clouded the mind of his sister at hearing of the dreadful fate which menaced the life of her brother, interested every feeling mind.”
33
Lady Sarah Asgill, determined to save her son, composed herself and quickly launched an international lobbying campaign.
33
Lady Sarah Asgill, determined to save her son, composed herself and quickly launched an international lobbying campaign.
The valiant woman proved to be a shrewd diplomat. Spreading word of her family’s plight—albeit with the slight misinformation that Charles was only nineteen, a detail that made her “teen” son seem even more sympathetic—she successfully elicited the “attention and solicitude of almost all Europe.”
34
In a time when news generally traveled slowly, this heart-wrenching story spread like wildfire as it found its way to the lips of every town gossip. The far-flung “interest which young Asgill inspired” was so great that “the first question asked of all vessels that arrived from any port in North America, was an inquiry into the fate of this young man.”
35
The world watched the showdown as Britain refused to remit Huddy’s killer and Washington readied the young man to be hanged in retaliation.
34
In a time when news generally traveled slowly, this heart-wrenching story spread like wildfire as it found its way to the lips of every town gossip. The far-flung “interest which young Asgill inspired” was so great that “the first question asked of all vessels that arrived from any port in North America, was an inquiry into the fate of this young man.”
35
The world watched the showdown as Britain refused to remit Huddy’s killer and Washington readied the young man to be hanged in retaliation.
Pulling on Britain’s heartstrings, Lady Asgill threw herself at the feet of George III and pleaded for direct intercession. The British king, eager to have this scandal behind him, ordered his commanders to remit Huddy’s killer to Washington. They disobeyed—whether from shocking insubordination or simple miscommunication is unclear. Since the British proved immalleable, Lady Asgill redirected her efforts to the Americans’ allies. Next, the Dutch implored the Americans to pardon young Asgill, but Washington was unrelenting.
36
Finally, the resolute Lady Asgill approached the United States’ most important ally, France.
36
Finally, the resolute Lady Asgill approached the United States’ most important ally, France.
The Americans desperately needed French money and support for their cause, and Lady Asgill knew it. And luckily for Captain Asgill, she was of French Huguenot origin and held sway in the French court. She wrote a letter to France’s leaders, “the eloquence of which [was] that of all people and all languages, because it derive[d] its power from the first and noblest sentiments of our nature.”
37
It was “enough to move the heart of a savage,” yet Washington refused to back down.
38
Only after months of negotiations and even a direct appeal from Queen Marie Antoinette was Asgill released, but not before Washington had made America’s intent to exact an eye for an eye abundantly clear.
37
It was “enough to move the heart of a savage,” yet Washington refused to back down.
38
Only after months of negotiations and even a direct appeal from Queen Marie Antoinette was Asgill released, but not before Washington had made America’s intent to exact an eye for an eye abundantly clear.
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