ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS



treatment, and shew'd an unshaken firmness in the minute of
impending death, was not afterwards proof to the long confine-
ment he underwent at Williamsburg, the gloominess of his situation
affected his spirits first, the apprehension of suffering an ignomin-
ious death lower'd them still more, till his reason began to be
impair'd-The surgeon, a Man of great humanity, tho' attached
to the cause of Rebellion, wrote to the Governor and Council of
Virginia to solicit a little enlargement for this poor man, as the
only means likely to save him, what the answer was I know not,
but the unfortunate creature put an end to his miseries and his
life, in spight of two persons who watched him and were aware of
his situation.
  Colonel Clarke yet reeking with the blood cf these unhappy
Victims1 came to the Esplanade before the Fort Gate, where I had
agreed to meet him and treat of the surrender of the Garrison-
He spoke with rapture of his late achievement, while he washed
off the blood from his hands stained in this inhuman sacrifice.
  He told me it was in vain to think of persisting in the defence
of the Fort, that his cannon would be up in a few hours, that he
knew to a Man who might be depended on with every other cir-
cumstance of my situation, that if from a spirit of obstinacy I
persisted when there was no probability of relief and should stand
an Assault, not a single Soul should be spared. I replyed that
tho' my numbers were small I could depend on them, He said
he knew I had but 35 or'36 staunch men, that 'twas but folly to
think of a defence with so small numbers so overmatched; that if
I would surrender at discretion and trust to his generosity, I should
have better treatment than if I artcled [sic] for terms-my answer
was, that I would then abide the consequence, and never take
so disgraceful a step while I had ammunition and provision.
  You will be answerable (said he) for the lives lost by your
obstinacy. I said my Men had declared they would die with
Arms in their hands rather than surrender at discretion, that still
I would accept such terms as might consist with my honor and
duty, that knowing what I could pretend to, little time was neces-
sary for drawing up Articles-He said he would think upon it and
return in half-an-hour, he returned accordingly accompanied by
' See Introduction, ante, lxxxiv.



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