To George Washington from John Hancock, 6 June 1777
From John Hancock
Philada June 6th 1777.
Sir,
I do myself the Honour to transmit sundry Resolves, wherein you will perceive the Congress have expressed the most entire Satisfaction of your Conduct relative to the Cartel for the Exchange of Prisoners, and their Approbation of your Principles and Reasoning on that Occasion; insomuch that it is their Desire you will steadily adhere to them for the future.1
You will please to order a List of all the regimental Chaplains to be made out, and transmit it to Congress as soon as possible.
Your Favours of the 1st 3d and 5th Inst. were duely received & immediately laid before Congress.2 I have the Honour to be with the most perfect Esteem and Respect, Sir your most obed. & very hble Servt
John Hancock Presidt
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 12A.
1. The principles and reasoning regarding prisoner exchanges that Congress endorsed on this date are those that GW set forth in his letter to Howe of 9 April. In addition to that action, the enclosed copies of resolutions of this date concern the rank and pay of deputy judge advocate generals, a request for returns of regimental chaplains, Elias Boudinot’s commission as commissary general of prisoners of war, and the appointment of two deputy commissaries of prisoners (DLC:GW; see also , 8:421–22).
2. Hancock apparently is referring to GW’s letter to Hancock of 2 June which Congress read on 5 June and his letters to Hancock of 3 and 5 which Congress read on this date (ibid., 417, 421).