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"Rebels! Turn out your Dead!": The Prison Ship Martyrs of the American Revolution | Readex
The modern rush of life in Brooklyn's historic Wallabout neighborhood is a stark contrast to the brutal history beneath the pavement. Just a stone's throw away is Wallabout Bay where, in the winter of 1779, the former hospital ship, HMS Jersey, was converted into a prison ship. This vessel would later become known as "Hell" by all who entered.In an extract of a letter dated 1781, an unnamed prisoner aboard the ship wrote,I am not able to give you even the outlines of my exile; but thus much I will inform you, that we bury 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 prisoners a day: we have 200 more sick & falling sick every day; the sickness is the yellow fever, small pox, and in short every thing else that can be mentioned.I had almost forgot to tell you that our morning's salutation is, 'Rebels! Turn out your dead!'