To George Washington from Peter Scull, 3 August 1779
From Peter Scull
War-Office [Philadelphia] 3d August 1779.
Sir.
In a letter, sometime since transmitted to your Excellency from Colonel Bland, he mentions that Captains Fetherston & Edminston of the convention troops, had obtained permission from the governor of Virginia to come to Philadelphia in order to negociate their exchanges on parole.1
Captain Fetherstone came immediately on, and by application to your Excellency was allowed to go into New York2—Captain Edminston was detained by his private business, but is now arrived, and sollicits a similar indulgence—The board have ordered him to remain at Mount-Holly in Jersey, untill your Excellency’s determination is known; which they will communicate to him as soon as you shall be pleased to favour them with it.3 I am, with the utmost respect Your Excellency’s most hble serv.
P. Scull Secretary
LS, DLC:GW.
1. For the letter of Col. Theodorick Bland, which was addressed to Scull, see Scull to GW, 18–19 June, n.1. For the permission granted to Capt. William Featherstone and Capt. Archibald Edmonstone by Gov. Patrick Henry and Bland to travel to Philadelphia to seek their exchange, see, in addition to Bland’s letter, William Phillips to GW, 6 June and 7 July; see also John Jay to GW, 20 June.
2. For Featherstone’s application, see Peter Scull to GW, 18–19 June; see also 14:744. For GW’s conditional approval of Featherstone’s parole, see GW to the Board of War, 25 June. For GW’s grant of permission for Featherstone to go to New York to await his exchange, see GW to John Jay, 27 June.
3. For GW’s conditional grant of permission for Edmonstone to go into New York on parole, see GW to the Board of War, 10 August.