1To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter to your Excellency yesterday, I mentioned the situation that the naval prisoners were in at New York and also my inability to afford them that relief they Stood in need of; In addition to that Letter, I beg leave to inform your Excellency, That those Prisoners are chiefly the Sailors Captured on Board of Vessels belonging to the different Ports of the United States, employed by...
2To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 23 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Excellency’s Commands, I have Visited the Posts of Winchester Fort Frederick, and Frederick Town at which places it was intended the Prisoners taken at the Surrender of York and Gloucester should be confined, and have made such arrangements respecting them as I hope will merit your Approbation. There are at Winchester about 2400 and at Frederick Town about 1400 Rank and...
3To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 22 July 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Abraham Skinner, 22 July 1780 . On 24 July , GW wrote Skinner: “I have received Your Letter of the 22d Instant.”
4To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 18 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
At a late meeting with the British Commissary, I have effected the Exchange of Sundry Officers as per the inclosed No. 1 and 2. I proceeded to Negociate this Business agreable to your Excellencys Instructions of the 5th Decembr last “Rank for Rank as far as they woud apply and then by Composition,” but the Enemy Solicitous for the Release of Lord Cornwallis refuse to Exchange the whole of our...
5From Abraham Skinner to Alexander Hamilton, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The 18th instant, I answered His Excellency’s Letter of the 14th in a line addressed to Colo. Tilghman—since which I have received The General’s Letter of the 16th and shall pursue the directions contained in it respecting the Demand of our Privates. As I know of no other Prisoners beside Lieutt General Burgoyne absent from America on Parole. I will dispatch the Letter addressed to Sir Henry...
6To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 27 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
As the Business of my Department at Elizabeth Town, renders it sometimes necessary to send Flags of Truce to New York and receive those coming from thence; I should be much Obliged to your Excellency, for your Instructions on this head for my government, and to prevent in future any impropriety that possibly may result from this business. The Post of Elizabeth Town hitherto, has been chosen...
7To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 3 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Excellency’s commands I have obtain’d the release of all our Privates in the hands of the Enemy—I am this day to confer with the British Commissary on the subject of your Letter of the 28th ulto relative to the Exchange of General Burgoyne for our Officers, and shall immediately report to you my proceedings on my return from Statin Island the place appointed for our...
8To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 29 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellencys direction I arrived here the 12th instt for the purpose of having an Interview with the British Commissary and making the Exchanges agreable to your Letter of the 5th Decr last. I immediately on my Arrival wrote Mr Loring on the Subject and received his Answer & Flag of Truce appointing the place of our Meeting at Deckers Ferry on Staten Island—this I am unable...
9To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 19 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellency’s Commands of the 12th April, I have proposed the Exchange of General Burgoyne and the Ballance of Privates due from the Enemy, for the Officers contained in Mr Loring’s Proposal of the 3d March, which was heretofore transmitted you. This they will not accede to and pointedly refuse to pay the ballance of Privates, notwithstanding their former Engagements. I...
10To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 11 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
When I was last at New York on enquiry, I find the Prisoners in possession of the Enemy (in the Military Line) amount to about forty in number, who are proper Subjects of Exchange and taken in Arms; the greatest part of those Men, were made prisoners by Colo. DeLancey’s Corps, and the Enemy wish to Release them for an equal Number of DeLancey’s Men confined at Fish Kill and West point. The...
11To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 23 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to Your Excellencys Commands Signified the 5th instt, I have been to Elizabeth Town and had an interview with the British Commissary-- I proposed to him, (and endeavoured to effect) the Exchange of such of our Officers as remain unreleased for part of the British and Foreign, lately taken at York in Virginia; but the detention of Lord Cornwallis whose Exchange I am not Authorized...
12To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 4 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting with the British Commissary yesterday, I have made the Exchange of all our Officers Prisoners to the Enemy, (except those taken to the Southard) for those in our possession, as per the inclosed List No. 1, and shall immediately proceed to carry it into effect, agreable to your Excellency’s Commands. I proposed the Exchange of Lt Genl Burgoyne, but the Enemy aware of the proposal...
13To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 31 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter to your Excellency of the 29th inst I have received a Letter and a Pass from Sr Henry Clinton to meet Mr Loring at New York for the purpose of carrying into Effect the Exchanges of our Officers taken to the Southard agreable to your Excellencys Instructions of the 5th Decr. I shall proceed to New York as soon as the Ice will permit me and Report my proceedings to Your...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Abraham Skinner, 21 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Near Elizabethtown [ New Jersey ] April 21, 1781 . Has received Washington’s letter transmitting new orders for exchange of prisoners. ALS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Washington to Abraham Skinner, April 16, 1781 .
15To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Abraham Skinner, [March 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey, March, 1780. ] Sends “Copies of the several Papers you mentioned.” ALS , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Skinner was the assistant commissary of prisoners.
16To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 3 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellency’s last Instructions, I have collected the Accounts of the monies due from our officers, who have lately been in Captivity for their Board &ca a particular State of which I send inclosed. I am sorry that this business has taken up so much time, but the delay has been unavoidable, on account of the great Number of Demands and the remote situation of the Creditors; I...
17To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 5 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Letter to your Excellency in which I informed you of the several Officers Exchanged for those of the Enemy in our hands, I have been able to collect a number more, of whom I had no return, and have enter’d into their exchange for an equal number of our next oldest in Captivity as you will observe by The enclosd List No. 10. Most of the Officers whose exchanges are ratified, have...
18To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 18 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy at New York being desirous to Exchange Military for Naval Prisoners of War. I have taken the Liberty to inclose Copies of the Naval Commissary’s Letters to me on that Subject. to which I have returned no Answer. I am Sir Your Mo. Obt and Mo. Hume Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington. I am directed by His Excellency rear Admiral Digby Commander in Chief &ca to acquaint you, that a...
19To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this day seen Lieutenant General Knyphausen’s Letter of the 25th instant to your Excellency inclosing Extracts of Sundry Letters from Mr Loring some on the Subject of Passports being furnished to certain British and Hessian Officers for the purpose of Visiting their Prisoners and furnishing them with Cloathing &ca. In Answer to which, I have to inform your Excellency, that an...
20To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received His Excellency’s Letter of the 14th countermanding my Instructions respecting the negociation of Exchanges with Mr Loring. I have therefore deferred seeing him, and set out for Philadelphia in the Morning to compleat my Business with the Board of War. As the state of our Prisoners at New York demand an early interview with the British Commissary, I shall be much Obliged by...
21To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 9 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s orders signified to me in your letter of the 24th ulto I have made the proposals to the British Commissary of prisoners for the exchange of Genl du portail taken at Charlestown, and also for the exchange of Genl Burgoyne for our Colonels prisoners with the enemy upon the principles expressed in your Letter—To which proposals I have received Mr Lorings answer, of...
22To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 6 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
At an Interview with the British Commissary of Prisoners a few days since, I have agreable to your Excellency’s Commands demanded of him the Payment of the ballance of Privates due to us, I have inclosed for your perusal Copies of my Letter to him on this Subject, and his answer thereto: from the best information I can procure, the number of Prisoners now in the Enemy’s possession at New York...
23From Abraham Skinner to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 11 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I shall be much obliged by your giving Mr Durie a Line expressive of the Commander in Chiefs wishes relative to my acting as Commissary of Prisoners since the 23d Ulto—You will be pleased to observe that the Resolve of Congress of that date repeals all acts and appointments made in my Department, it is therefore necessary for me to have the Generals order for my continuance in writing. In a...
24To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 10 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Commands of the 17th Ulto I have Exchanged a number of the Convention Officers who were Ordered to Elizabeth Town for the purpose of going into New York, against and for Officers of similar Ranks in possession of the Enemy as ⅌ the inclosed return No. (1). I have also Exchanged Lt Colonel Hamilton and others Claimed by the State of Virginia as their Prisoners for Colo....
25To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 24 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Having received your Excellency’s orders of the 17th instant, I proceeded to Elizabeth Town for the purpose of meeting Mr Loring the British Commissary, to whom, on the 21st instant, I made the proposal of Exchange No. 1 agreeable to your wish, and the next day received his answer thereto. The enemy seem resolved to pursue their determination of not exchanging an Officer without the privates,...
26To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 23 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting with the British Naval Commissary of Prisoners at Elizabeth Town for the settlement of our Accounts on the 18th and 19th inst. I find a Ballance due to the enemy of Six hundred and ninety Eight prisoners in the Naval Line. From the large ballance that is due and the inconsiderable Number of prisoners we now have it is impossible for me to relieve those on board the Prison Ship at...
27To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 11 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellency’s Commands of the 6th Instt I have had an interview with the British Commissary on the Subject of the situation of the American Naval Prisoners at New York, and proposed to him to Exchange those now in our hands, for an equal Number of those on board the Enemy’s prison Ships. This proposal he will not accede to, as appears by his Letter in Answer to one I wrote...
28To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am this day honored with your Letter of the 20th instt that Express with the Dispatches for Congress. The Commissioners, & Sr Henry Clinton; which shall be forwarded without delay, the Commissioners having finished their business and returned to Philadelphia. I know not how Colo. Holmes cou’d assert that he acted under Authority from my Department in the making partial Exchanges—he has no...