From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 26 December 1778
To General Henry Clinton
Philadelphia Decemr 26th 1778
Sir,
Inclosed I send Your Excellency Mr Beatty’s representation of the case of Brower and Lezier, two soldiers in the service of these states,1 who it appears are suffering under a confinement of peculiar severity, without any sufficient cause for so injurious a discrimination—I am persuaded I need only call your attention to the situation of these men to induce you to order them relief and to have them placed precisely on the same footing, with other prisoners of war. This will lead to their immediate exchange. I have the honor to be With due respect Yr Excellys Most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, P.R.O., 30/55, Carleton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The docket indicates that the letter was received on 31 Dec., but Clinton did not reply until 23 Jan. 1779.
1. Abraham Brower and John Lozier (Lezier, Lezear), the former a paymaster and the latter an ensign in the Bergen County, N.J., militia, had been accused of murdering Loyalist Capt. John Richards in January 1778. Congressman John Fell waited on GW in Philadelphia on 29 Dec. concerning the two men, and was told that GW had “allready demanded them of Sr Henry Clinton” (, 11:386). See Clinton’s reply of 23 Jan. 1779.