Journal of an American Prisoner at Fort Malden and Quebec in the War of 1812

A soldier‑medic’s notebook captures a vivid, day‑by‑day account of his sudden capture at Fort Malden in July 1812. The entries begin with the chaotic boarding of the Cuyahoga, the surprise of being seized by the British gunboat Hunter, and the cramped transfer onto prison ships bound for the Canadian interior. The writer’s calm, observant tone turns the turmoil of battle into a series of practical details—what the guards wore, how the sick were tended, and the first impressions of the unfamiliar shoreline.

Once in Quebec, the journal becomes a window onto the cramped quarters of the prison camp, the camaraderie among fellow captives, and the city’s bustling markets that peek through the bars. He records the rhythms of meals, the occasional kindness from local merchants, and the small rituals—writing, sharing stories, and even joking about the “emetic” doses he administered to keep morale afloat. The narrative feels intimate, revealing the human side of wartime captivity without dramatizing the larger conflict.

Toward the end, a note arrives ordering his transfer back toward Boston, hinting at a hopeful release. The manuscript offers a rare, personal perspective on the War of 1812, blending mundane detail with the resilient spirit of those held far from home.