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Author: [Madison, James]
Title: Message from the President of the United States Transmitting a report of the Secretary of State in obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the twenty-eighth of February last, of the number of impressed American seamen confined in Dartmoor Prison; the number surrendered, given up, or taken on board British vessels captured during the late war; together with their places of residence
Place Published: Washington
Publisher:Printed by William A. Davis
Date Published: 1816
Description:

79 pp. 34x21.5 cm. (13½x8½"), modern half leather & marbled boards. First Edition.

Dartmoor prison opened in Princeton, Devon, United Kingdom in 1809, housing French prisoners taken during the Napoleonic Wars. They were soon joined by American prisoners captured during the War of 1812. Although the war ended with the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814, many American prisoners of war still remained in Dartmoor.From the spring of 1813 until March 1815 about 6500 American sailors were imprisoned at Dartmoor. These were naval prisoners, and impressed American seamen discharged from British vessels. While the British were in charge of the prison, the prisoners created their own governance and culture. They had courts which meted out punishments, there was an in-prison market, a theatre and a gambling room. About 1,000 of the prisoners were African Americans. After the prisoners had heard of the Peace of Ghent, they expected immediate release, but the British government refused to let them go on parole or take any steps until the treaty was ratified by the United States Senate, 17 February 1815. In April, before arrangements were made for the transfer of the prisoners back to the United States, riots over provisions occurred, and a number of prisoners were killed in the ensuing ruckus.

Some darkening and foxing to contents, last leaf with marginal repair; very good, page edges untrimmed.