Journal of a young man of Massachusetts

This is a shortened account of the bitter experiences of American prisoners of the British during the war of 1812–14 as seen through the eyes of a young New Englander who kept a diary of events in various prisons on both sides of the Atlantic. Resentment against the delay in release from captivity at Dartmoor prison boiled over in April 1815 and an attempt at mass escape resulted in many casualties. These were admirably dealt with by Surgeon George Magrath (1775–1857) who had been Flag Medical Officer to Nelson in the Mediterranean. His skill and humanity to the American prisoners at Dartmoor earned their deep respect.