Did Any American Soldiers Get Captured by the British During the Revolutionary War? What Happened to Them?

During the Revolutionary War, thousands of American soldiers were captured by the British. These captives faced unimaginable hardships and dangerous conditions, with some holding the harrowing tale of Townsend Rock in Long Island Sound. Townsend Rock, now a lighthouse, has a dark history as a place where captured American revolutionaries were once executed. The island, located in Long Island Sound, served as a grim reminder of the brutality of the conflict.

The Fringe Story: Townsend Rock and the Legend of Chained Prisoners

The legend of Townsend Rock emerged during the Revolutionary War. According to this tale, the British Royal Navy would take captured American revolutionaries, often referred to as smugglers, pirates, or traitors, out to the rock, chaining them flat against the barnacles and mussels. This chilling practice would eventually submerge the prisoners under 8 feet of salt water after six hours. Although this gruesome practice has long ceased, it remains etched in the local lore, serving as a grim warning of the moral and ethical failings of the time.

However, even in the 1850s, when the Coast Guard constructed a lighthouse and living quarters at Townsend Rock, the legend persisted. It is noteworthy that this was the only lighthouse in the U.S. where the assignment was voluntary and where keepers could leave without notice. This was due to the fear that such grim history might return if the United States again allowed the capture and treatment of its soldiers in such a way.

British Captivity of American Soldiers

The British were renowned for capturing thousands of American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Among the captives, many officers were allowed to live under parole conditions, meaning they could stay in rented rooms within the cities where they were held, awaiting exchange for American officers. However, the majority of the enlisted men faced harsh and inhumane conditions, primarily in New York City, which was occupied by the British for nearly the entire duration of the war.

An infamous prison known as the Sugarhouse situated in New York City served as one of the horrifically cramped and dilapidated holding facilities. The British also utilized converted warships, such as the notorious Jersey Prison Ship, as floating prisons. In these ships, prisoners were often held in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions with minimal access to daylight or the opportunity to exercise.

The treatment of prisoners was deplorable. They were forced to relieve themselves on the floors of their cells, leading to a significant stench and the prevalence of disease, particularly rampant in such confined and unsanitary environments. Their diet was meager, and many prisoners tragically starved to death.

Fatal Conditions for American Prisoners of War

The result of such inhumane treatment was that tens of thousands of American soldiers lost their lives to the terrible conditions in captivity. This number greatly exceeded those who died in battle. While a few prisoners were exchanged, the scarcity of such exchanges was notable. The American side was well aware that it was far easier for them to raise a replacement than for the British, aiding in the low frequency of prisoner exchanges.

In some cases, the British sent prisoners home on the brink of death, with illnesses such as smallpox, in hopes that these soldiers would infect their communities. Towards the end of the war, the few survivors were released and permitted to return home. However, their freedom came at a great cost, with many permanently scarred by the inhumanity they witnessed and endured.