"The Dartmoor Massacre — Why an 1815 Slaughter of American" Topic

POWs in a British Prison Was All But Forgotten

"BY ANY measure, Dartmoor Prison was a desperate place. Marooned high on a blasted plain, offering no protection from the rain, wind and snow that claimed this part of southwest England for much of the year, the prison became the preeminent POW facility for Americans during the War of 1812.

More than six-and-a-half thousand names were written into the prison register from April 1813 until March 1815, and 268 more were written into the adjoining volume recording deaths in captivity. Dartmoor was the largest war prison for American captives before World War II, but for more than two centuries it's remained in obscurity.

Had they won release in March 1815 – when news of Congress's ratification of the Treaty of Ghent reached Britain – the ordeal of the Dartmoor Americans would have been bad enough. But neither the British nor American governments would allow the prisoners to leave, despite the peace…"

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Armand

"Dartmoor was the largest war prison for American captives before World War II"

Andersonville?

Strange article, how many prisoniers died?

About 9 on the day.Maybe.

Glup!…

Armand

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Thanks Kevin…

Armand

Many thanks to Tango and Brechtel for posting this. I was born and lived in Torquay, Devon and a Sunday trip would often be a drive up to the moors and sometimes to visit ( from a distance!) to Dartmoor prison. I had no idea that Americans had been held there and nothing in the local stories that I heard regarding the killing of prisoners – they obviously kept it quiet . A fascinating piece of history. Thanks again, regards Steve

By the way, the report on the weather is a bit exaggerated. Windy, yes, Rainy, often, Snow only in winter not for much of the year. Mind you, it is bleak, which is why they put a prison- there's no where to run to….

A votre service mon ami Steve…

Armand