To George Washington from Major James Valentine Gardner, 10 February 1780
From Major James Valentine Gardner
New York Feby 10th 1780
Sir,
Being informed that a negociation is about to take place upon the subject of an exchange of prisoners and that the preliminaries on both sides are so far setled as to give great hopes that it will be accomplished in a short time.
I therefore take the liberty of requesting Your Excellencys permission to remain here (with that part of my Family who are prisoners of War) untill such time as it shall be determined whether a general exchange is to take place or not.
I must acknowledge Sir that I am quite ashamed of this reiterated request,1 and this appearance of imposing upon your humanity (which I have in so many instance experienced, and shall upon all occasions with pleasure and gratitude acknowledge) I beg leave therefor to give Your Excellency two reasons for it: the first is that Mrs Gardner from ill health has not been five times out of the house since Her arrival here; The second is, that shou’d I be obliged to come out, before it is known whether a general exchange is to take place or not, I shou’d be at a loss whether to arrange my Family affairs for a residence within your Lines of three or four weeks, or during the War. both these reasons I rest satisfied, will have their due weight with General Washington, and plead my excuse for being thus importunate.2 I have the honour to be Sir, with the greates respect, Your Excellencys most obliged humble Servant
V. Gardner Major 16th Regt
ALS, DLC:GW. A note under the docket, in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, reads: “The Commy of prisoners directed to give Major Gardiner liberty to remain at New York.”
1. For Gardner’s first request for an extension of his parole and GW’s approval, see William Phillips to GW, 29 Dec. 1779, and GW to Gardner, 2 January.
2. On 19 Feb., Tilghman informed Abraham Skinner, deputy commissary general of prisoners, that GW had given his permission to extend Gardner’s parole until the result of the prisoner exchange negotiations was known (see Jabez Bowen to GW, 5 Feb., n.2).