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Message from the President of the United States Regarding Impressed American Seamen in Dartmoor Pris

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Political Memorabilia Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Message from the President of the United States Regarding Impressed American Seamen in Dartmoor Pris
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Washington, D.C., 1816. Message from the President of the United States (James Madison), Transmitting a Report of the Secretary of State (James Monroe) of the Number of Impressed American Seamen confined in Dartmoor Prison, to be addressed to the House of Representatives on April 29th, 1816. Many pages long, split into three parts (A, B, and C) with comprehensive information such as the number surrendered, given up, or taken on board British vessels captured during the War of 1812, as well as their place of residence in the United States. Part A contains a list of incarcerated sailors that were transferred from British ships of war to Dartmoor and other prisons in Britain; B lists the names of those who were transferred to prisons in the West Indies and Nova Scotia; C contains the names of those who were discharged in England from British ships of war since peacetime. Also includes information regarding the date of release, vessel on which they returned to the United States, as well as the name of the Port and the date in which they arrived. Dartmoor Prison is an English prison located in Princetown, in the English county of Devon. Designed by Daniel Asher Alexander and constructed originally between 1806 and 1809 by local labor, to hold prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars, it was also used to hold American prisoners from 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 6,500 American sailors were imprisoned at Dartmoor. These were either naval prisoners or impressed American seamen discharged from British vessels. Whilst the British were in overall charge of the prison, the prisoners created their own governance and culture. They had courts which meted out punishments, a market, a theatre and a gambling room. About 1,000 of the prisoners were Black. After the prisoners heard of the Treaty of Ghent, signed on 24 December 1814, 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 on February 17th, 1815. It took several weeks afterwards for transportation arrangements to be made, and the last of the American prisoners left in 1816. Fascinating piece that provides a significant record of American seamen involved in the War of 1812. Fine-VF condition.