protested, and commanded the remaining men to be silent and
answer no questions. This order was obeyed despite the threats of the
British officers, and none others than the twenty-three were separated
from their comrades. He then addressed the party selected, explaining
the laws of allegiance, and assuring them that the United States
Government would protect them by immediate retaliation, and, if
necessary, by an order to give no quarter hereafter in battle. He was
frequently interrupted by the British officers, but they failed to
silence him. The Irishmen were put in irons, placed on board a
frigate, and sent to England. After Colonel Scott landed in Boston he
proceeded to Washington and was duly exchanged. He at once addressed a
letter to the Secretary of War as follows:

"SIR: I think it my duty to lay before the Department that
on the arrival at Quebec of the American prisoners of war
surrendered at Queenstown they were mustered and examined by British
officers appointed to that duty, and every native-born of the United
Kingdom of Great-Britain and Ireland sequestered and sent on board a
ship of war then in the harbor. The vessel in a few days thereafter
sailed for England with these persons on board. Between fifteen and
twenty persons were thus taken from us, natives of Ireland, several
of whom were known by their platoon officers to be naturalized
citizens of the United States, and others to have been long
residents within the same. One in particular, whose name has escaped
me, besides having complied with all the conditions of our
naturalization laws, was represented by his officers to have left a
wife and five children, all of them born within the State of New
York.

"I distinctly understood, as well from the officers who came on
board the prison ship for the above purposes as from others with
whom I remonstrated on this subject, that it was the determination
of the British Government, as expressed through Sir George Prevost,
to punish every man whom it might subject to its power found in arms
against the British king contrary to his native allegiance. I have
the honor to be, sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"WINFIELD SCOTT,

"_Lieutenant Colonel, Second U.S. Artillery_."

This report was forwarded by the Secretary of War to both houses of
Congress, and the immediate result wa