From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 16 September 1778
To General Henry Clinton
Head Qrs [White Plains]1 Septr 16th 1778
sir.
I transmit you the inclosed Copies of sundry Resolutions of Congress, by their order, and take the liberty to request your Answer to the last of them, on the subjects of passports by the earliest opportunity.2
I was much concerned to hear, that one of my patroles fired on a Flag coming from your lines on Monday Evening.3 I shall do every thing in my power to prevent the like mistake on any future occasion. With due respect I have the honor to be sir Yr Most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
GW on this date also wrote a brief letter to Clinton and two of his fellow British peace commissioners, the earl of Carlisle and William Eden, which reads: “I am commanded by Congress to transmit to Your Excellencies the Inclosed Resolution” (Copy, P.R.O.: Colonial Office, 5/180, Commissioners to Quiet Disorders in North America; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). The enclosure was a copy of Congress’s resolution of 4 Sept. regarding British ratification of the Saratoga Convention (see Laurens to GW, 12 Sept., and GW to Laurens, 23 Sept.; see also , 12:880).
1. GW’s letter to the British peace commissioners of this date is dated at White Plains (see source note).
2. Harrison wrote in the lower-left corner of the draft: “Inclosed resolve of the 11 of Septr 1778.” For Congress’s resolutions of that date regarding the moving of the Convention Army within Massachusetts and the obtaining of British passports to enable American vessels to bring provisions and fuel to Boston for its use, see Henry Laurens to GW, 12 Sept.; see also , 12:901–2.
3. For a report of this incident, see Charles Scott’s first letter to GW of 15 September.