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.
1. For 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.
2. Howe 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.