BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 267
misfortune, after a sharp combat of an hour and a half, to have expended every
shot that we had of our artillery. Under such circumstances we were of course
compelled to surrender.”
According to his own account, Colonel Campbell at first experienced most
honourable and humane treatment from the authorities at Boston. A sudden
change, however, followed. In a letter addressed to General Howe, and forwarded
to him through the hands of the Council at Boston, Colonel Campbell
thus describes his situation :-
.
I Concord Gaol, February 14, 1777.
* *
“ I am lodged in a dungeon of twelve or thirteen feet square, whose sides are black with the
grease and litter of successive criminals. Two doors, with double locks and bolts, shut me up from
the yard, with an express prohibition to enter it, either for my health or the necessary calls of nature.
“ Two small windows, strongly grated with iron, introduce a gloomy light to the apartment, and
these are at this hour without a single pane of glass, although the season, for frost and snow, is
actually in the extreme. In the corner of the cell, boxed up with the partition, stands a *
which does not seem to have been cleared since its first appropriation to this convenience of malefactors.
A loathsome black-hole, decorated with a pair of fixed chains, is granted me for my inner
apartment, from whence a felon was but the moment before removed, to make way for your humble
servant, and in which his litter to this hour remains. The attendance of a single servant on my
person is also denied me, and every visit from a friend positively refused.”
I . * *
It was in this loathsome dwelling that Colonel Campbell pencilled the sketch
of ‘‘ General Buttons Marching to Saratoga with Plunder.” During the Colonel’s
confinement, a variety of events had occurred unfavourable to the British interest,
-among others, the surrender of General Burgoyne and his small army, at the
heights of Saratoga, on the 17th October 1777. General Buttons is accordingly
represented on his march from the “field of spoil;” and, it must be granted,
he has contrived to make the most of his limited means of conveyance.
The cruel treatment of Colonel Campbell and other British officers by the
Americans originated in the law of retaliation, which they considered themselves
warranted in adopting by the conduct of the British towards Colonel Ethen
Allan and General Lee, in treating them not as prisoners of war but as criminals.
As soon as the Congress was informed of the capture of General Lee, they
offered six field-officers-of whom Colonel Campbell was one-in exchange.
This the British General (Howe) refused. It was contended in Findication of
the British, however, that even waiving the peculiar relation in which the prisoners
stood, as having violated their allegiance, they had proper attendants, and were
comfortably lodged.
The imprisonment of Colonel Campbell continued till the exchange of
prisoners was effected in the month of February following-the capture of General
Burgoyne having led to a speedy and amicable arrangement.
