George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 22 March 1781
To Thomas Sim Lee
Head Quarters New Windsor 22d March 1781
Sir
Your Excellency’s favor of the 18th ulto came to Head Quarters during my visit to Count de Rochambeau at Newport, from whence I only returned two days ago1—You may be assured that every attention shall be paid to the Exchange of Colo. Marbury in his due turn, more than that I cannot promise without deviating from a Rule of Conduct which I myself had ever observed, and which has lately been confirmed by an order of Congress2—I have however the pleasure to learn that Colo. Marbury is admitted to parole, and as he is, I beleive, the oldest Officer of his rank unexchanged, I hope his final release will ere long be accomplished—I do not know what Officers were taken at Kings Mountain or in any part of the southern Quarter,3 but should a general exchange take place due consideration will be had to the remaining prisoners at New York.4 I have the Honor to be with very great Respect & Esteem Yr Excellency’s Most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MdAA: Hamilton Lee Horsey Collection; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Lee to GW, 18 February.
For GW’s trip to Newport, see GW to Alexander Hamilton, 7 March, source note; see also GW to Rochambeau, 16 March, and n.1.
2. GW refers to exchanging officers in order of their capture (see Samuel Huntington to GW, 9 Aug. 1780, and n.1 to that document, as well as 12 Nov., and n.3 to that document; see also , 17:705–6, and Huntington to GW, 2 Jan. 1781, and n.1 to that document).
3. For the Battle of Kings Mountain, S.C., on 7 Oct. 1780, see General Orders, 27 Oct., and n.2 to that document.
4. Lee replied to GW from Annapolis on 31 March 1781: “Count Charlus who does me the honor to bear this, gives me an opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s favor of the 22d Instant. Colonel Marbury is, now with his family, on parole; and if I am rightly informed without limitation as to time: in that case, I have no doubt he is perfectly satisfied with the indulgence and will wait with patience & convenience his turn for exchange” (ALS, DLC:GW). GW had introduced Colonel Charlus in a letter to Lee dated 25 Jan. (see GW to Huntington, 24 Jan., n.1). Col. Luke Marbury was exchanged in September.