To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 9 August 1780
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia August 9. 1780
sir,
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed two Acts of Congress of the 7th & 8th Instant.
By the former you are authorized to effectuate an Exchange of Officers, in the Manner as prescribed in the Act;1 and also to take the necessary Steps for establishing a resident Commissary of Prisoners at New York. How far either of these Measures may be carried into Execution in the present Circumstances of the Armies your Excellency will be best able to determine.
You will also note the Measures Congress are taking to make Provision for the Subsistence & Comfort of Prisoners that remain in Captivity;2 also Encouragements given by this Act for engaging a Number of Light Horse to serve as Volunteers in the southern Department during the Campaign, or at least for four Months, unless sooner discharged.
The other Act of the 8th Instant relates to the Case of General Maxwell.3
Your several Letters of the 26th & 30th Ulto, and 3d Instant have been received and laid before Congress.4 I have the Honor to be with the highest respect your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant
Sam: Huntington President
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15.
1. The act of Congress of 7 Aug., recorded on the enclosed document, specified that GW make the exchange of officers “either on the footing of equal rank or on composition or both as the cases may respectively require, confining the exchange on that of composition for Officers only, and having due regard to the order of captivity; such exchanges to be rendered as extensive as possible in its execution so as not only to include on the part of the Enemy prisoners of war but also the Officers of the Convention troops now on parole at New York” (DLC:GW; see also , 17:704–8).
2. For American prisoners of war, the act directed the Board of War to form and report an estimate of supplies for the subsistence and clothing of officers and to make good the deficiency of rations allowed to privates by the British and provide the privates with clothing.
3. The act of Congress of 8 Aug. recorded on the enclosed document confirmed that Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, recently resigned, was entitled to the same benefits specified for officers serving to the end of war (DLC:GW; see also , 17:710–11).