fter them. Capt.
Shortland, himself, opened the gates, and ordered the soldiers to
fire in among the prisoners, who were all retreating in different
directions towards their respective prisons. It appears there was
some hesitation in the minds of the officers, whether or not it
was proper to fire upon the prisoners in that situation; on which
Shortland seized a musket out of the hands of a soldier, which he
fired. Immediately after the fire became general, and many of the
prisoners were either killed or wounded. The remainder were
endeavoring to get into the prisons; when going towards the lower
doors, the soldiers on the walls commenced firing on them from
that quarter, which killed some and wounded others. After much
difficulty, (all the doors being closed in the entrance, but one
in each prison) the survivors succeeded in gaining the prisons;
immediately after which, parties of soldiers came to the doors of
Nos. 8 and 4 prisons, and fired several vollies into them through
the windows and doors, which killed one man in each prison, and
severely wounded others.

It likewise appears, that the preceding butchery was followed up
with a disposition of peculiar inveteracy and barbarity.

One man who was severely wounded in No. 7 prison yard, and being
unable to make his way to the prison, was come up with by the
soldiers, whom he implored for mercy, but in vain; five of the
hardened wretches immediately levelled their pieces at him, and
shot him dead on the spot. The soldiers who were on the walls,
manifested equal cruelty, by keeping up a constant fire on every
prisoner they could see in the yards endeavoring to get into the
prisons, when their numbers were very few, and when not the least
shadow of resistance could be made or expected. Several of them
had got into No. 3 prison cook house, which was pointed out by
the soldiers on the walls, to those who were marching in from the
square. They immediately went up and fired into the same, which
wounded several. One of the prisoners ran out, with the intention
of gaining his prison, but was killed before he reached the door.

On an impartial consideration of all circumstances of the case, we
are induced to believe that it was a premeditated scheme in the
mind of Capt. Shortland, for reasons which we will now proceed to
give.--As