To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, with Reply, 25 March 1780
From the Board of War, with Reply
Williamsburg, 25 Mch. 1780. Before issuing orders for the privateersmen at King William Courthouse to be delivered to the flag from New York, the Board wish instructions concerning the British prisoners of war. Signed by Innes and Lyne. Reply follows: “In Council Mar. 25th. 1780. The Board are [of] opinion that all the prisoners of War belonging to this State (excepting only Governor Hamilton, Major Hay and those who are now returned by the Mary Anne Flag in exchange for prisoners received) be given up to Congress and ordered as desired in their resolutions. This transfer to Congress is meant to include Governor Rocheblave now in this City. Th: Jefferson.”
Tr in Board of War Letter Book (MiU-C).
rocheblave: Phillippe de Rastel de Rocheblave, an influential resident of Kaskaskia who threw in his lot with the British and was commandant at that post (under the style of “lieutenant governor”) when it was captured by Clark in 1778; he escaped from Virginia in April 1780. See Rocheblave to Haldimand, New York, 9 Sep. 1780, for some account of his adventures (Ill. Hist. Colls., v, 173–80); also TJ to Washington, 26 Sep. 1780, and George Rogers Clark Papers, 1771–1781, p. lxii–lxiv, 203.