To George Washington from Captain Donald Campbell, 6 April 1779
From Captain Donald Campbell
Princeton [N.J.] 6th Aprile 1779.
This day I had the honour of recieving your Excellencys much esteemed favour of the 28th Ultmo and in compliance with your Excellencys request, send inclosed the amount of the Articles seized by Mr Conway.1
Nothing but a Real Desire of putting it in your power, to shew that such Practices incurred your Excellencys displeasure, would have induced me to make a Report of it; at the same time, am exceedingly sorry that so trivial a Circumstance, should have occasioned your Excellency so much Trouble. I have the Honour to be with the greatest respect Your Excellencys most obt & very hle Servant
D. Campbell Captn 74th Rt & Prisoner of War
ALS, DLC:GW. Although Robert Hanson Harrison docketed the letter in part, “Ansd 11th May,” GW replied to Campbell in a letter of 10 May 1779, which reads: “Mr Conway has got too far beyond my reach to recover you the articles he seized. I have therefore sent you by Mr Beatty commissary general of prisoners their amount in specie, agreeable to the account you transmitted in your letter of the 6th Ultimo.
“I thank you for putting it in my power to render you this justice;... Accnt £4:19 Sterling” (Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
1. Campbell’s enclosed account, which he signed and dated 6 April, is in DLC:GW. It reads:
| 1 pair Shoes | £. 9 | |
| 1 piece fine Callico intended for a Double Nigh[t]gown | 2.14 | |
| 1 piece fine Russia Drill for Breeches | .18 | |
| 1 Lb. Best Green Tea | .18 | |
| at 4/6, Twenty two Dollars or £4.19 | Sterling | |
| .... The amount of the articles seized by Mr Conway of Dutchess County Virginia is £4.19 Sterll. or Twenty two hard Dollars at 4/6 pr Dollars. | ||