George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Howe, Robert" AND Recipient="Washington, George" AND Period="Revolutionary War"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-23-02-0133

To George Washington from Major General Robert Howe, 3 November 1779

From Major General Robert Howe

Fields House [N.Y.] 3d Novr 1779

Dear sir

A Very Prime Agent of —— has been unfortunately taken by a Party of ours as a Tory, Spy, &ca, it is necessary to release him, and it requires address to do it so as not to Excite suspicion on Either side1—I shall go down Tomorrow for that purpose and also to receive the information which I imagine he can give. Also with a View to the Operation which was talk’d of when last I had the honour to converse with you2 I am dear Sir Your Excellency’s Most Obt hum. servt

R. Howe

ALS, DLC:GW.

1For further complications concerning the release of this detained person, presumably an agent of Elijah Hunter, see Howe to GW, 6 Nov., and n.2 to that document; see also Howe to GW, 14 (first letter) and 16 December.

2Howe may be referring to an operation to disrupt enemy woodcutting at Lloyd Neck, N.Y. (see GW to Benjamin Tallmadge, 9 Oct., and to Howe, 24 Oct., and n.3). For an indication that Howe’s most recent conversation with GW occurred in late October, see GW to Tallmadge, 30 October.

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