1. The enclosed copy of a resolution that Congress passed on 13 Nov. reads: “That the Board of War be informed that Major General Philips & Brigr Genl Reidesel with their Families be permitted to proceed to New York on parole And that they take necessary Measures to forward them immediately” (DLC:GW; see also JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1266).

The Board of War also enclosed copies of their letters to major generals William Phillips and Riedesel; to Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr.; and to Abraham Skinner, deputy commissary general of prisoners, all dated 15 Nov. (DLC:GW). The board’s letter to Phillips and Riedesel, docketed “No. 2,” reads: “The Reasons which induced Congress to suspend for a Time your Journey to New York being in some Degree removed and they, not being desirous to interfere with the private wishes of those whom the fortune of War have put under their Power, more than the Circumstances of public affairs render Necessary, have authorized and directed this Board to take the Necessary Measures for enabling you and your Families to proceed to New York under the Permission given you by His Excellency General Washington.

“We have written to Col: Hooper D: C. of Prisoners at Easton to receive from you and the Gentlemen of your Suite a Renewal of the Parole given by you to Col: Bland in Behalf of the United States. On your Signing to Col: Hooper a Declaration that you will consider yourselves under that Parole the temporary Suspension thereof notwithstanding, he has Orders to conduct you & your Families on your way to Elizabeth Town from which place Mr Skinner will be ordered to proceed and meet you. Mr Skinner will on your arrival at Elizabeth Town take the Necessary Steps so far as depend on him to expedite your farther progress and put in Execution the Original Orders of General Washington which were Suspended for reasons the Communication whereof at the Time to the General would have been attended with too much Circuity and delay.” A desire to conceal preparations for potential combined American and French operations had prevented Phillips and Riedesel from going to New York City. This congressional action caused awkwardness for GW because of his prior authorization given these two prominent Convention Army officers (see Phillips to GW, 28 Oct., and n.4; see also John Jay to GW, 26 Sept.; Samuel Huntington to GW, 28 Sept., and n.3; GW to the Board of War, 2 Oct.; and Planning for an Allied Attack on New York, c.3–7 Oct., editorial note).

The board’s letter to Hooper, docketed “No. 3,” reads: “Enclosed you have a Copy of the Board’s Letter to General’s Phillips and Riedesel relative to their going into New York. On their and the Gentlemen of their Families complying with the Terms therein-mentioned you will proceed with them on their way to Elizabeth Town until you are met by Mr Skinner who has orders sent him for the purpose. We have not a Copy of Col: Bland’s Parole but the Declaration mentioned in our Letter will suffice. If there is any thing Necessary as to Names Persons appointed to attend them the Form of the Parole must be altered so as to meet the Circumstances of you and Mr Skinner instead of any persons appointed by Colo. Bland. But as we do not think it Necessary to be inserted in the body of the parole so we have no Reason to believe it to have been done. However the Officers have Copies of their paroles which they will shew you no Doubt. The Intention is to put Matters in the same Situation as if no Suspension of General Washington’s orders had happened and therefore no alteration of the Substance of the Paroles will be admitted and you will govern yourself Accordingly.”

The board’s letter to Skinner, docketed “No. 4,” reads: “The Suspension which for sudden reasons took place with regard to the going in of General’s Phillips & Reidesel & their Families is now removed & the Orders of General Washington relative to this Matter now stand as if no such Suspension had happened. You will therefore on their arrival at Elizabeth Town see that the Commander in Chief’s Orders are carried into execution and that proper Steps are taken for the farther progress of the Prisoners.

“The Board have directed Colo. Hooper at Easton to proceed with the Gentlemen & their Families until he meets you & we beg you will immediately on receipt hereof set out on the Route to Easton & when you meet Colo. Hooper take charge of the Prisoners and see that every thing is properly conducted.”

2. For the subsequent handling and movements of Phillips and Riedesel, see GW to John Beatty and to Hooper, or the officer conducting Phillips and Riedesel, both 22 Nov.; see also Phillips to GW, 21 Nov., and Brown, Baroness von Riedesel, description begins Marvin L. Brown, Jr., ed. Baroness von Riedesel and the American Revolution: Journal and Correspondence of a Tour of Duty, 1776–1783. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1965. description ends 94–107.