From George Washington to Brigadier General William Thompson, 11 December 1776
To Brigadier General William Thompson
Trenton Falls Decemr 11th 1776
Dr Sir
Being desirous of effecting an Exchange of Prisoners as far as circumstances will admit of, I shall be much obliged by your transmitting to me by the earliest Opportunity, the Names and Ranks of the Officers who were released on parole by Genl Carleton.1 I presume you have a List in which they are specified, and without which, I cannot point out to Genl Howe, the Officers who should be discharged from their Paroles in lieu of those who have been & will be sent in by us. I am Dr Sir with great respect Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. Your Exchange for Govr Franklyn, has been proposed to Genl Howe, who has returned no Answer as yet.2
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, PHi: James Hamilton Collection; copy, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The cover of the LS is addressed: “To The Honble Brigr Genl Thompson supposed to be in Philadelphia.”
1. For the release of these prisoners, see William Howe to GW, 21 Sept., and note 4.