Page:General Washington's Dilemma - Mayo - 1938 - Appendix 2.djvu/4

 Errand, informed us that it was General Washington's order that one Captain should be given up, and that he was to be pitched upon by Lot, we refused to draw — he replied then the lots must be drawn for you — Major Gordon stood up and begged his patience for a few moments — with infinite feeling he expressed his Sorrow and Amazement at so unexpected a transaction taking place, he urged the Injustice of the Innocent suffering for the Guilty. Whatever action, said he, this barbarous and Inhuman method of carrying on the War regains, surely it does not extend to us who, by the 14th Article are expressly under your protection, however, said he, since you must Obey your Orders, I have to request a passport for an Officer to go immediately to Philadelphia with such letters as I shall chuse to write, and I likewise hope he may be allowed to proceed to New York with letters for Sir Guy Carleton. General Hazen whose behaviour throughout the whole affair has been Noble and Generous, immediately granted his request and again appologized for being Obliged to execute his orders, he said he was but a Servant and as such must behave, he then Ordered the Lots to be made, and desired we all would be present at the drawing them. Altho' I have felt many more disagreable sensations upon other occasions than I did upon this, yet I can assure you my mind was in a very uneasy state for above half an hour while they were calling out the Lots, during which time we sat in a Circle, where there was almost a dead silence observed — Judge yourself what all our feelings must have been at that time, I cannot think the most bloody Field of Battle could wear half the terrors this hour did — to keep you no longer in suspense, two hats were brought in, in the one was all our names, in the other twelve blanks and one piece of paper with Unfortunate wrote upon it. eight lots were drawn and as many blanks, there remained our five to