Cartel for the Exchange of Prisoners of War

While the November 1812, provisional agreement on exchange of prisoners did not pass through the US government, this agreement did hold and prisoners were exchanged in Nova Scotia.

The Provisional agreement for the exchange of naval prisoners of war, made and concluded at Halifax in the province of Nova Scotia on the 28th day of November 1812 between the Honourable Richard John Uniacke His Britannic Majestys attorney and advocate General for the province of Nova Scotia and William Miller Esquire Lieutenant in the Royal navy and agent for Prisoners of War at Halifax; and John Mitchell Esquire late consul of the united states at St Jago de Cuba, american agent for Prisoners of war at Halifax, having been transmitted to the Department of state of the United States for approval and John Mason Esquire Commissary General for Prisoners for the United States having been duely authorised to meet Thomas Barclay Esquire his Britanic Majestys agent for Prisoners of war and for carrying on an exchange of Prisoners for the purpose of considering and revising the said provisional agreement and the articles of the said agreement having been by them considered and discussed-it has been agreed by the said Thomas Barclay and John Mason subject to the ratification of both their governments that the said provisional agreement shall be so altered and revised as to stand expressed in the following words.

ARTICLE FIRST

The Prisoners taken at sea or on land on both sides shall be treated with humanity conformable to the usage and practice of the most civilized nations during war; and such prisoners shall without delay, and as speedily as circumstances will admit, be exchanged on the following terms and conditions. That is to say- An admiral or a General commanding in chief shall be exchanged for officers of equal rank or for sixty men each: a vice admiral or a Lieutenant General for officers of equal rank or for forty men each, a Rear Admiral or a Major General, for officers of equal rank, or for thirty men each; a Commodore with a broad pendant and a Captain under him or a Brigadier General for officers of equal rank or for twenty men each; a Captain of a line of Battle ship or a Colonel for officers of equal rank or for fifteen men each; a Captain of a frigate, or Lieutenant Colonel for officers of equal rank or for ten men each; Commanders of sloops of war, Bomb Catches, fire ships, and Packets or a Major for officers of equal rank, or for eight men each; Lieutenants or masters in the navy, or Captains in the army, for officers of equal rank, or for six men each; Masters-Mates, or Lieutenants in the army for officers of equal rank, or for four men each; Midshipmen, warrant officers, Masters of merchant vessels, and Captains of private armed vessels, or sub Lieutenants and Ensigns for officers of equal rank, or for three Men each: Lieutenants and mates of private armed vessels Mates of merchant vessels and all petty officers of ships of war, or all non commissioned officers of the army, for officers of equal rank, or for two men each-seamen and private soldiers one for the other.

SECOND

All non combatants that is to say, surgeons and surgeons mates, Pursers, secretaries Chaplains and Schoolmasters, belonging to the army or men of war; surgeons and surgeons mates of merchant vessels, or Privateers; passengers, and all other men who are not engaged in the naval or Military service of the enemy, not being sea faring persons; all women and girls, and all Boys under twelve years of age; every person of the foregoing description, or of whatever description exempt from capture by the usage and practice of the most civilized nations when at war-if taken shall be immediately released without exchange and shall take their departure at their own charge, agreeably to passports to be granted them, or otherwise shall be put on board the next cartel which sails; persons found on board recaptured ships, whatever situation they may have held in the Capturing ship, shall not be considered as non combatants—non combatants are not to be imprisoned except for improper conduct, and if poor or unprovided with means to support themselves, the government of each nation will allow them a reasonable subsistence, having respect to their rank and situation in life.

THIRD

American prisoners taken and brought within any of the dominions of his Brittanick majesty shall be stationed for exchange at Halifax in Nova Scotia-- Quebec, Bridgetown in Barbadoes, Kingstown in Jamaica-Falmouth and Liverpool in England and at no other posts or places. -and British prisoners taken and brought into the United States shall be stationed at Salem in Massachusets- Schnecteday in the state of New York-Providence in Rhode Island- Wilmington in Delaware, Annapolis in Maryland-Savannah in Georgia-New Orleans in Louisiana and at no other ports or places in the United States. -The Government of Great Brittain will receive and protect an agent to be appointed by the Government of the United States, to reside at or near each of the before mentioned places in the British Dominions for the purpose of inspecting the management and care which is taken of the american prisoners of war at each station: and the Government of the United States will in like manner receive and protect an agent, to be appointed by the British Government to reside at or near each of the stations before mentioned within the dominions of the United States for the like purpose of inspecting the management and care taken of the British prisoners of war at each of the stations-and each Government shall be at liberty to appoint an agent to reside at or near any Depot established for prisoners by the other nation, for the purpose of taking care and inspecting the state and situation of such prisoners-and such agents shall be protected respectively in the same manner as the agents at the stations for exchange.

FOURTH

Whenever a Prisoner is admitted to parole the form of such parole shall be as follows-

Whereas the agent appointed for the care and custody of prisoners of war
at 
 in 
 has been pleased to grant leave to the
undersigned 
 Prisoner of war as described on the back hereof to
reside in 
 upon condition that 
 give 

parole of honor not to withdraw from the bounds prescribed  
 there
without leave for that purpose from the said agent. That 
 will 
behave decently and with due respect to the laws of this country and also 
that 
 will not during 
 continuance in 
either directly or indirectly carry on a correspondence with any of the enemies 
of 
 or receive or write any letter or letters whatever, but through 
the hands of said agent, in order that they may be read and approved by him

 do hereby declare have given 
 parole of
honor accordingly, and that 
 will keep it inviolably, dated at 

Signature    Quality    Ships or Corps    Men of War Privateer or Mercht in which taken

And the agent who shall take such parole shall grant a certificate to each prisoner so paroled, certyfying the limits to which his parole extends, the hours and other rules, to be observed, and granting permission to such person to remain unmolested within such limits and every commissioned officer in the navy or army, when so paroled, if in health shall be paid by the agent that has granted such parole to him during the continuance thereof the sum of three shillings sterling per day each, for subsistence; and all other prisoners so paroled shall be paid each person at the rate of one shilling and six pence per day sterling, at the rate of four shillings and six pence sterling per American milled dollar; which pay in case of actual sickness shall be doubled to each so long as the surgeon shall certify the continuance of such sickness; and each sick prisoner shall also be allowed the attendance of a nurse, in case the surgeon shall certify the person to be so ill as to require such help; all which subsistence and pay is to be paid in advance twice in every week. and prisoners who shall wilfully disobey the rules and regulations established for Prisoners on parole, may be sent to Prison. and all rules and regulations to be observed by prisoners on parole, are to be published and made known to each prisoner-and when any prisoner shall be allowed to depart at his own expence if he has not a sufficiency of money for that purpose lee shall be allowed necessary money not to exceed the parole subsistence, to which he would have been entitled for one month, if he had remained.

FIFTH

And in case any prisoner be permitted to return to his own country on parole, on condition of not serving untill duly exchanged such prisoner shall sign an engagement in the following form-

Whereas 
 Agent for the care and custody of Prisoners of War 
at 
 has granted me the undersigned prisoner, described on the
back hereof, permission to return to 
 upon condition that I give
my parole of honor that I will not enter into any naval military or other service
whatever against the 
 or any of the dominions thereunto 
belonging; or against any powers at peace with 
 untill I shall have 
been regularly exchanged, and that I will surrender myself, if required by the agent of the government at such place and at such time as may be appointed, in case my exchange, shall not be effected; and I will untill exchanged, give notice from time to time of my place of residence. Now in consideration of my enlargement I do hereby declare, that I have given my parole of honour accordingly and that I will keep it inviolably-given under my hand at 

this 
 day 
 in the year of our Lord 

and to the Prisoner so granted his enlargement on parole, shall be given a certificate and passport specifying the terms and conditions of his-enlargement, and a description of his person, & notice of such parole agreement shall be sent to the agent for prisoners of war at the nearest station to the place where such parole shall be granted.

SIXTH

In case any prisoner of war shall become unmindful! of the honourable obligation he lies under, to the nation which shall have granted him his parole, and shall violate the same, he shall be liable to be dealt with according to the usages and customs observed in such cases, by the most civilized nations, when at war; and either nation shall have a right to demand from the other, the surrender and restoration of any prisoner of war who shall violate his parole, and every just & reasonable satisfaction shall be given to the nation demanding the same, to shew that if such prisoner be not returned, it is by reason of its not being in the power of the nation to which he originally belonged.

SEVENTH

NO prisoner shall be struck with the hand, whip, stick or any other weapon whatever, the complaints of the prisoners shall be attended to, and real grievances redressed; and if they behave disorderly, they may be closely confined, and Kept on two thirds allowance for a reasonable time not exceeding ten days. They are to be furnished by the government in whose possession they may be, with a subsistence of sound and wholesome provisions, consisting of, one pound of Beef, or twelve ounces of pork; one pound of wheaten bread, and a a quarter of a pint of pease, or six ounces of rice, or a pound of potatoes, per day to each man; and of salt and vinegar in the proportion of two quarts of salt and four quarts of vinegar to every hundred days subsistence. Or the ration shall consist of such other meats and vegetables (not changeing the proportion of meat to the vegetables, and the quantity of bread salt and vinegar always remaining the same) as may from time to time be agreed on, at the several stations, by the respective agents of the two governments, as of equal nutriment with the ration first described-Both Governments shall be at liberty, by means of their respective agents to supply their prisoners with clothing, and such other small allowances, as may be deemed reasonable, and to inspect at all times the quality and quantity of subsistence provided for the prisoners of their nations respectively as stipulated in this article.

EIGHTH

Every facility shall be given, as far as circumstances will permit, to the exchange of prisoners; and they shall be selected for exchange according to the scale hereby established on both sides, by the respective agents of the country to which they may belong, without any interference whatever of the government in whose possession they may be-and if any prisoner is kept back, when his exchange shall be applied for, good and sufficient cause shall be assigned for such detention.

NINTH

To carry on a regular exchange of prisoners between the two countries, four vessels shall be employed, two of which shall be provided by the British government and two by the government of the United States; and the two vessels of each government shall be as near as possible, of the burthen of five hundred tons together and neither of them less than two hundred tons; and shall be manned, victualled and provided with every necessary and convenience for the safe transportation of prisoners, The expence of the two british vessels is to be defrayed by the British government and of the two american vessels, by the government of the United States; when these vessels are provided, surveyed and approved of, by the proper officers of both governments, they shall be furnished with passports from each government, as flags of truce, and shall carry arms and ammunition sufficient with a guard not exceeding a non commissioned officer and six men, to guard the Prisoners, and keep them in subjection; and shall each carry one signal gun with a few charges of powder, and shall carry a white flag constantly at the fore top-mast head; the British Cartel ships shall carry a British ensign at the gaff end, or ensign staff, and the american ensign at the main top-mast head and the american cartel ships shall carry the american ensign at the gaff end or ensign staff, and the British ensign at the main topmast head. no cartel shall be suffered to proceed to sea with less than 30 days full allowance of water and provisions for the ships company, and the number of Prisoners embarked on board; and when such cartels shall be established, they shall be kept at all times, constantly well provided with sails rigging and every thing proper and necessary to make them staunch, safe and sea worthy; and shall be constantly employed in carrying prisoners to and from the different stations herein before named and appointed for the exchange of prisoners; and when carrying american prisoners from a British port to an american port the american agent at the port of embarkation shall direct the station at which such prisoners shall be delivered: and when carrying British prisoners from an american port the British agent shall direct at which of the british stations such prisoners shall be delivered-and the agents for prisoners of war on both sides, shall by agreement settle and fix the several species of provisions which shall constitute the daily ration to be served out to prisoners while on board cartels, with the value thereof: and a regular account shall be kept of the number of days each prisoner shall have been victualled on board each cartel, and the British government shall pay at that rate the expence and cost of victualling the British prisoners delivered at a British station; and so the american government shall in like manner pay at the same rate the daily charge for victualling the american Prisoners, delivered at an american station; but no charge is to be introduced for the transportation or carriage of Prisoners as each nation is to furnish for that service an equal number of tons of shipping-no cartel shall be permitted to remain in port more than ten days after her arrival, unless delayed by winds or weather, or the order of the Commanding officer of the station at which she may be, whether british or american. and in future cartels shall on no account unless driven by stress of weather or some other unavoidable necessity, put into any british or american port-save the ports herein before appointed for the exchange of Prisoners, unless specially agreed upon by the principal agents of the two governments-and in case the number of vessels now agreed on, to be provided as cartels, shall be found insufficient the number may be encreased, and so in like manner diminished, by agreement, as the occasion may require-each nation always furnishing an equal share of the tonnage necessary.

TENTH

Untill regular Cartels shall be provided as stipulated in the foregoing article, the transportation of prisoners is to be conducted and paid for by each nation, according to the method hitherto observed in the present war; and after regular cartels are established in case a number of prisoners, not less than one hundred may be collected at any British or american port, different from the ports before named a temporary cartel may be fitted out by order of the Commanding officer at such post or Ports, for the purpose of carrying such prisoners, if British to one of the British stations before named, and if american to one of the american stations before named-and to no other port or place, provided always that such cartel shall bring at least one hundred prisoners, and shall receive an equal number in exchange with liberty to return with them to any port of the nation to which she belongs; and the prisoners so delivered in exchange on board such temporary cartel, shall be certified to one of the regular stations of exchange, where they shall be credited to the nation so delivering them in exchange, whether they arrive at the port of destination or not-But should there not be an equal number at such station to exchange for the number brought, the transportation in such temporary Cartel, must be paid for so many prisoners as shall not be exchanged.

ELEVENTH

Commanders of all public ships of war of either of the two nations shall be permitted to send flags of truce into any of the established stations for exchange of prisoners of the other nation, with prisoners to be delivered to the agent for prisoners of war of the nation to which such port belongs, and the agent receiving them, shall give a receipt for them, specifying their names, quality, when and in what ship taken, and the prisoners so delivered shall be placed to the credit of the nation sending them.

TWELFTH

Commanders of ships of war Captains of Privateers and letters of marque of either of the two nations shall be permitted to send prisoners belonging to the other nation, in neutral vessels to any of the stations for exchange aforementioned of the nation to which the prisoners belong: and they shall be delivered to the agent and receipted for in the same manner as is directed and expressed in the eleventh article; and the prisoners when delivered shall be placed to the credit of the nation sending them in the neutral vessel-The expences incurred under this and the eleventh article are to be paid by the nation sending the prisoners-and the prisoners so embarked in neutral vessels shall be permitted to proceed to the port of destination without molestation or other interruption by the subjects or citizens of either of the nations.

THIRTEENTH

Lists shall be exchanged by the agents on both sides, of the prisoners hitherto delivered and after such lists are adjusted and signed agreeably to the rule of exchange hereby established, the persons named therein shall be considered as liberated and free to serve again, as well as those heretofore exchanged, notwithstanding any parole or engagement they may have previously entered into; and in future prisoners embarked in a cartel-belonging to the nation sending such prisoners, shall not be credited to the nation so sending them untill they are delivered at one of the stations of the nation to which such prisoners belong, and a receipt is obtained from the proper agent of such delivery-But where the Prisoners and Cartel both belong to the same nation the delivery shall take place and receipts be given at the port of embarkation; provided that the delivery shall not be considered compleat, untill the cartel is in the act of departing the port, and the nation delivering the prisoners, shall retain the custody of them by maintaining a sufficient guard on board the Cartel untill she is actually under way-when the receipt shall be duely executed and delivered. and when special exchanges are negotiated in discharge of special paroles, a certificate of such exchange must be forwarded to the station where the parole was granted.

FOURTEENTH

If either nation shall at any time have delivered more prisoners than it has received, it is optional with such nation to stop sending any more prisoners on credit, untill a return shall be made equal in number to the balance so in advance.

FIFTEENTH

This cartel is to be submitted for ratification to the secretary of State for and in behalf of the government of the United States and to the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for and in behalf of the Government of Great Britain, and if approved by the Secretary of state of the United States-shall be provisionally executed untill the assent or dissent of the Lords Commissioners of the admiralty of Great Britain be known-and it is further agreed that after the mutual ratification of this cartel, either of the parties on six months notice to the other may declare and render the same null and no longer binding.

In witness whereof, we the undersigned, have hereunto set our hands and Seals, at Washington this twelfth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

[Seal] J. MASON
[Seal] THO BARCLAY