The charge was that
Major Paine when taken had no commission, though acknowledged by us as
a Major.
"Most of the cases examined into turned out wholly false or too
trifling to be regarded. It also appeared by the Declaration of some
of the Gentlemen that their water would be sometimes, as the Caprice
of the Provost Martial led him, brought up to them in the tubs they
used in their Rooms, and when the weather was so hot that they must
drink or perish. On hearing a number of these instances of Cruelty, I
asked who was the Author of them--they answered the provost keeper--I
desired the Officer to call him up that we might have him face to
face. He accordingly came in, and on being informed of what had
passed, he was asked if the complaints were true. He, with great
Insolence answered that every word was true--on which the British
Officer, abusing him very much, asked him how he dared to treat
Gentlemen in that cruel Manner. He, insolently putting his hands to
his side, swore that he was as absolute there as General Howe was at
the head of his Army. I observed to the Officer that now there could
be no dispute about Facts, as the fellow had acknowledged every word
to be true. I stated all the Facts in substance and waited again on
General Robertson, who hoped I was quite satisfied with the falsity of
the reports I had heard. I then stated to him the Facts and assured
him that they turned out worse than anything we had heard.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56