1From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 6 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that in consequence of my directions founded on your favor of the 21st Ulto, Governors Browne & Skeene are arrived within the Neighbourhood of this place and will be conveyed to morrow between the Hours of One & two to one of the ships of War in the North river, when it is hoped that my Lord Stirling will be permitted to return, as also Mr Lovell if he has come from...
2From George Washington to General William Howe, 28 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Letter of the Instant which came to Hand on Wednesday Evening, I am to inform you, that I accede to the proposition contained therein, and have directed measures to be immediately taken for releasing All your Officers upon the condition you mention. At the same time I wish that a more extensive relief had been agreable to you. I have sent Mr Boudinot to examine into the state...
3From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit the Inclosed Letter from Major French, & at the same time to inform you, that his Exchange for Majr Meigs, whose parole I am advised you have, will meet my approbation—I would take the liberty also to propose an Exchange of any Captn you may chuse for Capn Dearborn whose parole I have heard was delivered you with Major Meig’s. Give me leave to assure you Sir,...
4From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 23 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself you have been m[is]inform’d as to the Conduct of the Men under my Command complained of in yours of yesterday. It is what I should highly disapprove & condemn. I have not the least Objection to put a Stop to the Intercouse between the two Camps either totally or partially. It obtained thro. the pressing Sollicitations of Persons cruelly separated from their Friends &...
5From George Washington to General William Howe, 30 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your Letter of the 19th Ulto. It is unnecessary to enter minutely into its contents; since the inclosed Resolutions of Congress will shew you, that the matter is now put upon a footing different from that mentioned by Mr Boudinot, which, at the same time you will be pleased to consider as final and decisive, and to regulate your measures accordingly. I shall be glad as...
6From George Washington to General William Howe, 29 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 27th Instant. I agree with you, that German Town shall be considered a neutral place during the meeting of the Commissioners, and that no Troops shall be permitted to enter it, while they are there, except the guards mutually sent to attend them. With due respect I am Sir Yr Most Obed. servant. DfS , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ;...
7From George Washington to General William Howe, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 10th instant. Inclosed is a copy of a resolution of Congress of the 21st instant; which you will consider as a definitive answer to the propositions, it contains —I shall direct my Commissary of Prisoners in concurrence with yours, to prosecute the exchange, agreeable to that resolve, in the most expeditious and convenient manner. I am With due respect Sir...
8From George Washington to General William Howe, 20 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to propose the Establishmt of an Officer to reside in New York, under parole to transmit no Intelligence but what belongs to his Office; whose business it shall be to provide Necessaries for such Prisoners as fall into yr Hands. Perhaps the Establishmt of such an Officer with proper Credits may put a Stop to the many Complaints which I am daily under the necessity of...
9From George Washington to General William Howe, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed by Lt Colo. Frazer, who is now a prisoner in your possession, that Major Belford, One of your Aids, had assured him, it was your earnest desire, that a general exchange of prisoners should take place on equitable terms; Or if this could not be effected, that the Officers on both sides should be released on parole. This, I have no doubt, was done by your authority, and with...
10From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 17 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I would beg leave to recall your Attention to the proposition for the Exchange of prisoners, to the several Letters I have lately written on that subject, and to inform you that I have not recd such officers in Exchange as were requested by me. I am persuaded Sir, that this Mistake has arisen from Mr Commy Loring’s Zeal to facilitate the Business, but I would at the same time desire, that you...
11From George Washington to General William Howe, 27 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Much time having elapsed since I wrote you on the 22d of March, upon the subject of Captains Robertson and Galt, without receiving an Answer or their being restored to their liberty, I esteem it my duty to transmit you an Extract from the copy of that Letter; so far as it relates to them, and to call your attention again to the requisitions contained in it. I am, Sir, with due respect Your...
12From George Washington to General William Howe, 19 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 16th Inst. Mr Lowry was never a principal Commissary of ours, but only acted occasionally, as a deputy, for purchasing provisions where he lived. I do not know, whether he was employed, at the time of his capture, even in this line. From this state of facts, you will readily agree with me that I can not with propriety accede to your offer. However,...
13From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 18 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
We have just been informed of a Circumstance, which were it not so well Authenticated, I should scarcely think credible; It is that Col. Allan who with his small party was defeated & taken prisoner near Montreal, has been treated without regard to decency, humanity, or the rules of War—That he has been thrown into Irons & Suffers all the hardships inflicted upon common Felons. I think it my...
14From George Washington to General William Howe, 14 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The difficulty of supplying the Troops of General Burgoyn’s Army with Wood and provisions from the Country in the Neighbourhood of Boston, induces me to request, that you will grant passports for Vessels to be employed to bring them from places on the Coast. I cannot ascertain the number of Vessels that may be necessary for this business, or the names of the persons who may be entrusted with...
15From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 29 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of inclosing you a Letter for Genl Lee, which I must beg the favor of you to have forwarded as early as possible, as it contains a draft upon Major Small for a Sum of Money of which I fear the General will be in want. A Division of prisoners of the 7th Regt with Captain Newmarsh, crossed the River at Easton and went in without Mr Moylans Knowledge. From the irregularity of...
16From George Washington to General William Howe, 8 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Board of War to acquaint you, that they have received undoubted information, that a Captain Dick and a number of American Officers are confined in Dungeons in England. It is not known with whom this injurious and unwarrantable treatment originated, nor by what authority it is continued; but it is expected that you will interest yourself to have it redressed. The Board...
17From George Washington to General William Howe, 21 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of this date was received this Evening & agreable to your request have sent Doctor Wilson to take charge of the Wounded Officers & Men of the Army under my command who have fallen into your hands at Howels Tavern & the neighbouring Houses. The Doctor has directions to give a receipt for All that are delivered him, and they will be considered as Your prisoners. I am Sir with due...
18From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 30 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have a Command from the Honble Continental Congress to propose an Exchange of Governor Skene for Mr James Lovel & Family —If the Proposition is agreeable, you will please to signifie as much to me, & Mr Lovel that he may prepare for his Removal, whilst I cause Mr Skene to be brought to this place. I am Sir Your mo[st] humble s[ervan]t Copy, P.R.O. 30/55, Carleton Papers, document 116 (1);...
19From George Washington to General William Howe, 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Washington’s compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . On the draft manuscript Hamilton first wrote “Sir Wm.” He then struck out those words and wrote “General”...
20From George Washington to Major Generals William Howe and John Burgoyne, 15 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have it in charge from Congress to transmit the Inclosed Resolutions to you —and have the honr to be Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt ALS , P.R.O. : Carleton Papers, document 228(1); LB , DLC:GW ; copy, P.R.O. : Carleton Papers, document 228(2); copy, P.R.O. : Colonial Office Papers; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The LB
21From George Washington to General William Howe, 4 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was sorry to learn an objection had been made to the residence of my commissioners at German Town, during the continuance of the negociation, as it served to give interruption to a business which we are mutually interested should proceed without more delay, than the nature of it requires. I had no idea but that the Gentlemen on both sides were to remain constantly at German Town till the...
22From George Washington to General William Howe, 14–15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by the tenor of your Letter of the 6th Instant, that we still unhappily differ in our ideas of those just & reasonable terms upon which a general Exchange of prisoners might take place and that an event so desireable is probably yet at a distance. This being the case, that releif to the unhappy, where it is practicable, may as long be delayed, I am induced to accede to your...
23From George Washington to General William Howe, 5 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to write you on the 16th of July upon the subject of an Exchange of Major Genl Prescot for Majr Genl Lee. As I can only attribute your Silence upon a matter so personally interesting to both those Gentlemen to your not having received my former Letter, I am induced to transmit you a duplicate of it, to which I beg leave to request an Answer. I have the Honor to be with...
24George Washington to Sir William Howe, 9 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] March 9, 1778 . Asks that meeting of commissioners for the exchange of prisoners be delayed until March 31, 1778. Is disturbed that, although Major General Richard Prescott was sent to New York City in exchange for Major General Charles Lee, Lee has not yet been sent out of New York City. Asks that Howe immediately order Lee’s release. Df , in writing of H, George Washington...
25From George Washington to General William Howe, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting you a Copy of a paper addressed to me by Lieut. Colo. Walcot of your Army, which came inclosed in a Letter from Lieut. Genl Lord Cornwallis. It is with peculiar regret, I am constrained to observe, that this illiberal performance of Colo. Walcot, is obviously calculated, to answer a less generous purpose than that of merely effecting an exchange—contains a...
26From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed Lists which I have taken the liberty of transmitting, comprehend the Officers belonging to your Army who were returned on the 4, 7 & 8th Current by Colo. Moylan in pursuance of my direction. I have affixed agt their names such belonging to us as I wish to have released, and who are of the same rank except in the instance of Colo. Allen. His exchange on account of his long...
27From George Washington to General William Howe, 16 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
The fortune of war having thrown Major General Prescot into our hands, I beg leave to propose his exchange for that of Major General Lee. This proposition being agreeable to the Letter and Spirit of the Agreement subsisting between us, will I hope have your approbation. I am the more induced to expect it, as it will not only remove One ground of Controversy between us; but in its consequences...
28George Washington to Sir William Howe, 6 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Near Pennypackers Mill, Pennsylvania ] October 6, 1777 . Returns a lost dog belonging to General Howe. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
29From George Washington to General William Howe, 23 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am compelled by repeated Complaints of the Inhuman treatment still shewn to the Unhappy prisoners in your hands, to call upon you for a clear & explicit Answer to my Letter of the 14th Instant. This I shall expect to receive by Monday Evening next. Their sufferings demand immediate redress; And unless I obtain the most satisfactory assurances on this Head, duty will constrain me to retaliate...
30From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the honor of your favor of the 11th ulto and to thank you for your polite return of my Letter to Mrs Washington. Agreeing to the Proposition you were pleased to make for the exchange of such Prisoners as can be conveniently collected, The Gentn whose names are specified in the inclosed List have permission to proceed immediately to New York. Others as soon as they arrive...
31From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to advise you, that in Consequence of Genl Sullivan’s Information, first by Letter and afterwards verbally, that you were willing to exchange him for Maj. Genl Prescot, and Brig. Genl Lord Stirling for any Brigadier of yours in our possession; I wrote to Congress to send Genl prescot to some convenient place from whence the proposed Exchange might be made. And supposing that...
32From George Washington to General William Howe, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
On the 1st Instt I received the favor of your Letter of the 27th Ulto. I had heard the day before of Lt Colo. Campbell’s confinement and wrote him and the president of the Council of the Massachussets State respecting it, and I trust his situation will be made more agreeable, it being my wish that every reasonable indulgence and act of Humanity should be done to those whom the fortune of War...
33From George Washington to General William Howe, 10 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday the favor of your Letter of the 5th Instant. In answer to what ever it contains concerning General Burgoyn’s Army and the measures adopted relative to it, I have only to inform you, that this is a matter in which I have never had the least direction. It lies wholly with Congress, and the proposals you make, on this head, must be submitted to them; I have accordingly...
34From George Washington to General William Howe, 13 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this Evening honoured with your Letter of the 12th. The attention, which, you are pleased to assure me, has been paid to the Officers & privates of the Army under my command, who were unfortunately wounded in the Action on Thursday last, has a claim to my Acknowledgements. Agreable to the permission, you offer, I have directed the following Gentn—Doctrs Rush, Leiper & Latimer, and Mr...
35From George Washington to General William Howe, 13 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by Congress to propose an Exchange of five of the Hessian Feild Officers taken at Trenton for Major General Lee, or if this proposal should not be acceded to, to demand his Liberty upon Parole, within certain Bounds, as has ever been granted to your Officers in our Custody. I am informed from good Authority that your Reason for keeping him hitherto in stricter confinement than...
36From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 3 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Letter which accompanies this, was designed to have been sent by the Gentlemen whose names are in the List it incloses; but by some Accident or delay of my Messenger they had left Brunswick before it reached them. Since that time I have been informed, that a Number of others both Officers and Soldiers are coming on from the State of Pennsylvania. I have directed Colo. Moylan to meet and to...
37George Washington to Sir William Howe, 4 April 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] April 4, 1778 . Discusses change of meeting place for commissioners from Germantown to Newtown. Df , in writings of Robert Hanson Harrison and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
38From George Washington to General William Howe, 9 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your letters of the 14th and 21 of February and the 2d of March, of all which, due notice shall be taken. Particular circumstances occuring make it inconvenient for my commissioners to meet yours at the time appointed: I must, therefore beg to have the meeting deferred, ’till the 31st of March. Mr Boudinotte, who has lately returned to Camp from New York, informs me, that...
39From George Washington to General William Howe, 6 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I cannot forbear assuring you, that I am somewhat at a loss to understand the design of your Letter of the 3rd Instant. I can hardly believe you to be serious in remonstrating against a procedure fully authorised by the common practice of Armies—countenanced by the conduct of your own Troops at Trentown; And obviously calculated to answer a purpose very different from that of distressing the...
40From George Washington to General William Howe, 10 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 21st of April—22d of May & 5 Instt have been received. Having stated my sentiments in an explicit manner in my Letter of the 9th of April, upon the Subject of your demand and the disagreement between us, I thought it unnecessary to trouble you with a repetition of them. From the complexion of yours of the 21st of April, we appeared to differ so widely, that I could...
41From George Washington to General William Howe, 20 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th Inst. inclosing Lieut. Eyres representation was duly received. I am not at liberty to contradict the facts which he has related; but I am inclined to think from his own state, that his conduct has not been so discreet, as it should have been: and that if he experienced a severer treatment than had been usually imposed upon Officers, prisoners with us, it proceeded in...
42From George Washington to Lieutenant General William Howe, 9 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday Evening I received the favor of your Letter of the 8th Instt. Major Stewart’s servant having never represented himself as a person not inlisted in your Army, he was considered as a prisoner of War and sent as such to Jersey. But upon your information that he was not in the Capacity of a Soldier, I will give immediate directions for him to be brought back that he may return to his...
43From George Washington to General William Howe, 12 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 10th came to hand last night. The meeting of our Commissioners cannot take place ’till the time appointed in my last. I am not able to conceive on what principle it should be imagined, that any distinction, injurious to Lieut. Colo. Campbell and the Hessian Field Officers still exists. That they have not yet been returned on parole is to be ascribed solely to the remoteness...
44From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 23 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday evening received the favor of your letter of the 21st by your Aid de Camp, Capt. Montresor, in consequence of which I this morning dispatch’d an express to Elizabeth town, with orders that Majr Genl Prescott, should be permitted to return in the boat that carried Genl Sullivan over to that place. I most readily concur in the proposition, you are pleased to make for the exchange of...
45From George Washington to General William Howe, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 15th 19th and 21st Inst. have been duly received. You are under a mistake, as to the rank of Mr Ethan Allen, which is only that of Lieutenant Colonel and as such he has been returned & considered by your Commissary, Mr Loring. The fact truly is to the best of my information that at the time of his capture, he had an appointment, as Lieutenant Colonel, from the State...
46From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 30 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Lieutt Colo. Pattison, Adjt Genl of the Army under your command at the Interview between us, having proposed an Exchange of Mr Lovel for Govr Skeene, I am authorized to inform you that the Congress have not only approved of this proposition but Judging that a Genl exchange of prisoners will be attended with mutual convenience and pleasure to both parties, have empowered their Commanders in...
47From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a letter from Majr Genl Sullivan, while on Long Island, & which he acquainted me was wrote by your permission, I was inform’d it would be agreable to exchange that gentleman for Majr Genl Prescott, & Brigadr Lord Stirling for any Brigadr of yours in our possession. In consequence of this intelligence, I have wrote to Congress, requesting that Genl Prescott may be sent here, that this...
48George Washington to Sir William Howe, 22 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] March 22, 1778 . Demands exchange of Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen for Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell and release of Captains Isaiah Robinson and Nathaniel Galt. Informs Howe that Elias Boudinot, Colonel William Grayson, and Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and Robert Hanson Harrison have been appointed as commissioners for negotiating an exchange of prisoners. Df...