From George Washington to Major General William Howe, 6 September 1776
To Major General William Howe
Head Quarters New York, Sepr 6th 1776.
Sir.
By a letter from Majr Genl Sullivan, while on Long Island, & which he acquainted me was wrote by your permission,1 I was inform’d it would be agreable to exchange that gentleman for Majr Genl Prescott, & Brigadr Lord Stirling for any Brigadr of yours in our possession.
In consequence of this intelligence, I have wrote to Congress, requesting that Genl Prescott may be sent here, that this proposal may be carried into execution[.]2 We have no Brigadr of yrs a prisoner with us, except Genl McDonald taken in North Carolina, whom I am willing to exchange for Lord Stirling; & shall be glad to know your pleasure on the subject.3 I have the honor to be Sir Yr Most Obed. Servt
G.W.
LB, in William Grayson’s writing, DLC:GW; two copies, P.R.O., 30/55, Carleton Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. This letter has not been identified.
2. See GW to Hancock, this date. The copies in the P.R.O. read: “that this part of the Proposal may be carried into Execution.”
3. For the defeat and capture of Brig. Gen. Donald McDonald at the Battle of Moore’s Creek on 27 Feb. 1776, see Joseph Reed to GW, 23 Mar. 1776, and note 1.