1. Board of War secretary Joseph Carleton enclosed a petition from Sgt. Thomas Quartermon to the board written at the “New prison” in Philadelphia on this date: “The Humble Petetion of the British prisoners Most humbly Sheweth unto the Honourable Board The Necessity of Our application; for a Serjeant, to be granted Permission on parole, to New York; to Solliciting Our Commander in Chief for Clothing, Necessaries, Blanqueting, Subsistance.

“As they whole of us here are much disstrest and in a Most Miserable sittuation, & Afflicted with Sickness. With Humility and Obesience We combine and address our selves; to The Honourable Board; for a Serjeant to be permitted on Parole, to Convey a Letter to our Commander in Chief, such Serjeant, having Permission, & Limmitted Time, to Receive Clothing &c. &c. as may be Committed to his care. Shall Depose upon Oath; to be have as Becometh Him, Faithfully, And Honourably Return according to His Limitted Time of Such Parole” (DLC:GW).

Quartermon’s petition covered one from the “British prisoners at Philadephia” kept in “New prison” to Gen. Henry Clinton, dated 14 March, to present their “unhappy sittuation, which at this present is deploreable, having Very brief sickness and deadly fever Arangeing amongest us, which in a Very few days illness, has Carried Off, many A bold, & Youthfull, active, Soldier. Also the Case is Miserable, being in want of Necessaries, Clothing, Blanketing, &c. for want of such, the General part ⟨o⟩f us, Are much distress’d and almost Naked.

“The surgeon, who Visits the Hospital, behaves Very attentively, he being a gentleman of this Town, exerts his utmost duty towards the Sick.

“Several Applications hav been made, to New York to Officers, there, but has never been Answered in Any Measure, for Clothing, &c. &c. nor, supply has been Answered, so; that we, look upon Our selves to be Entirely forgot, which makes our Case the More Unhappy—There are some Soldiers here, has been Captured, betwen four, & five Years and have not Received any Subsistance, This We deschribe, our selves Unto Your Excellency—hoping not to Offend, nor wish your displeasure.

“We Conclude your Excellencys—Most Faithfull, Humble, and Obedient Servants at Command, bold British Soldiers Prisoners of War” (DLC:GW). The petition included a tabular presentation of prisoners that showed 25 from the “Royal Artillery” and 405 from “Marching Regiments &c. … There are also 160 germans present.”