From George Washington to Captain William John Darby, 21 December 1779
To Captain William John Darby
Head Quarters Morristown 21st Decr 1779.
Sir
I wish it were in my power to give a satisfactory answer to your letter of the 4th Novr.1 Unfortunately certain obstructions have been thrown in the way of both general and particular exchanges, which must prevent any thing from taking place in your favor. When these are removed It will give me pleasure to concur in measures for your relief or exchange.2 I am Sir.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
William John Darby was commissioned an ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot on 6 May 1762 and became a lieutenant on 24 Nov. 1769. He advanced to captain in the same regiment on 12 Dec. 1774 and was taken prisoner upon the surrender of the British garrison at Stony Point, N.Y., on 16 July 1779 (see 147–54, 167–69). After Darby’s parole in early 1780 and his subsequent exchange, he received a commission as major in the 7th Regiment of Foot on 10 Aug. of that year. He subsequently rose to be lieutenant colonel of the 17th Regiment of Foot.
1. Darby had written GW from Lancaster, Pa., on 4 Nov.: “It is matter of great consolation to a person dubious of success to reflect that he addresses a person of Your Excellency’s sensibility, and convinced that a generous mind will always be unbiased towards individuals I am induced to solicit three months leave to go to New York to arrange my affairs, which are not only of great consequence in some private, but also public business as paymaster to the Regiment.
“I should not presumed to have requested so long a leave, had I not unfortunately lost some very material books & valuable papers, which will take me some very considerable time to adjust anew.
“I further flatter myself Your Excellency will not disapprove if I can accomplish geting an Officer sent out in my lieu.
“I should feel extreemly if I either thought myself guilty of any impropriety in writing, or that Your Excellency would not excuse it though I erred in this particular” (ALS, DLC:GW).
2. Darby replied to GW from Lancaster on 11 Jan. 1780: “I was honoured this morning with Your Excellency’s very polite and obliging favour of the 21st December last; and must break through the bounds of importunity to return you my sincere thanks for it.
“I shall solace myself with the reflections that if at any time hereafter it should be in Your Excellency’s power to acquiesce the indulgence will be granted” (ALS, DLC:GW).
Darby’s letter apparently came to GW through James McHenry, GW’s assistant secretary, whom Benjamin Rush had written from Philadelphia on 19 Jan.: “I am perfectly satisfied with his Excellency’s decision upon the case of Capt: Darby, and am much Obliged to you for your Attention to my letter—you oppress me with your goodness—But your disposition and my connections with the unfortunate Captain encourage & force me to lay myself under new Obligations to you—I beg your care of the enclosed letter to the general. It is from Captain Darby in Answer to a letter he has recd from his Excellency—If it stands in need of a patron, I hope you will not fail of accepting of that office” (DLC: James McHenry Papers). Rush again wrote McHenry from Philadelphia on 3 Feb.: “Captain Darby is now in this city upon parole. He has heard with great pleasure of a general exchange of prisoners about to take place. But as his business in New York is of the most pressing nature, he humbly solicits (thro’ your connection with his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief) that he may be indulged with liberty of going into New York upon parole before he is exchanged. The affairs of the regiment to which he is paymaster are in the greatest confusion. Most of his books and papers were lost at Stoney Point. Every day’s delay increases the distress and difficulties to which that misfortune has exposed him. In New York he expects to meet with some people who can extricate him from some of his difficulties, provided he can get access to them soon. He begs his most respectful comp’ts may be presented to his Excellency, and as wishes not to be troublesome to the General (whose time he knows is precious) he begs to receive his answer to this request thro’ you before he returns from this city to Lancaster, which will be in about ten days.
“Excuse this additional trouble I have given you” ( 361; see also Darby to GW, 22 Feb. 1780, and McHenry to John Beatty, 2 March 1780, both in DLC:GW).