George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Colonel Beverly Robinson, 25 September 1780

III
From Colonel Beverly Robinson

Vulture Off Sinsink [Sing Sing, N.Y.] Sepr 25th 1780

Sr

I am this moment informed that Major Andree, Adjutant Genr. of His Majestys Army in America is detained as a prisoner, by the Army under your Command. It is therefore incumbant on me to inform you of the manner of his falling into your hands; He went up with a flag at the request of Genr. Arnold on publick bussiness with him and had his permit to return by Land to New York; under these Circumstances Majr Andree cannot be detained by you, without the greates[t] violation of flags, & contrary to the custom and usage of all nations, and as I imagine you will see this matter in the same point of View as I do, I must desire you will Order him to be set at Liberty & allowed to return immediately; every step Majr Andree took was by the advice & direction of Genr. Arnold, even that of taking a fained Name & of Course not lyable to censure for it1—I am Sr not forgeting our former Acquaintan[c]e2 Yr Very H. Sert

Bev: Robinson Colo. Loyl Am[erican]s

ALS, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 152.

1. Maj. John André used “John Anderson” as an alias.

2. GW had socialized with Robinson in winter 1756 while in New York City (see Joseph Chew to GW, 4 March 1756, in Papers, Colonial Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series. 10 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1983–95. description ends 2:322–23; see also Robinson to GW, 23 July and 2 Sept. 1756, in Papers, Colonial Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series. 10 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1983–95. description ends 3:285–89, 385–86, and Robinson to GW, 1 March and 16 April 1758, in Papers, Colonial Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series. 10 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1983–95. description ends 5:98–99, 128–29).

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    Source Project
    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Colonel Beverly Robinson, 25 September 1780
    Author
    Robinson, Beverly
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    25 September 1780

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Colonel Beverly Robinson, 25 September 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-28-02-0182-0004. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 28, 28 August–27 October 1780, ed. William M. Ferraro and Jeffrey L. Zvengrowski. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2020, pp. 283–284.]