From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 14 October 1779
To Major General Robert Howe
Head Quarters West Point 14th Octobr 1779
Dear Sir
I recd your favr of this date with the two prisoners of War.1 I shall put them into the hands of the Commy of prisoners who makes frequent exchanges of the few privates of ours now of days in the possession of the enemy, by which means Colo. Sheldons Men will probably soon regain their liberty in the regular way. You will be pleased to furnish Capt. Lequaw’s Company with provision and Ammunition while in service.2 I am Dear Sir Yr &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. This letter has not been found.
2. Gabriel Requaw (Requa, Raquaw; 1753–1784), of Philipsburg (now Yonkers), N.Y., had served as an ensign in Lt. Col. James Hamman’s (Hammond’s) regiment of Westchester County militia before becoming a captain in that regiment in June 1778. New York governor George Clinton had called Hamman’s regiment into active service in June 1779 to defend Westchester County against “the Excursions of that Part of the Enemy laying in the vicinity of the White Plains.” Clinton had directed Hammond to cooperate with Col. Elisha Sheldon’s regiment of dragoons, which was under Howe’s command (Clinton to Hamman, 13 June 1779, 5:79–80). In July 1780, Requaw was made captain of a company in Col. Lewis DuBois’s regiment of New York state troops.
On this date, Howe wrote to Clinton that Requaw had arrived at Howe’s head-quarters “two days Since” to ask how he was to furnish his troops with provisions and ammunition. Howe asked for Clinton’s advice on the matter and also requested to know if Requaw’s company was to be subject to his orders (PHi).