George Washington to Abraham Skinner, 16 April 1781
To Abraham Skinner
Head Quarters New Windsor April 16th 81
Sir,
By a late resolve of Congress it is become necessary to countermand that part of your last instructions, which directs you to adhere to your proposition concerning General Burgoigne. The enemy having refused to accede to it we are no longer held by our first proposal, and we are not now at liberty to renew it. This is said on the supposition, that my letter to you of the 14th instant arrived in time to prevent your acting upon your last instructions.1
You are now only to demand of the enemy the payment of ballance of privates due to us as there mentioned. I am Sir Yr Most Obed. hum. ser.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Samuel Huntington to GW, 5 April, and n.1, and GW to Skinner, 14 April; see also Skinner to GW, 10 March, and notes 4 and 6.
2. GW enclosed the letter he had written British general Henry Clinton from headquarters at New Windsor on this date: “By the inclosed Act of Congress of the 3d instant you will perceive, I am directed to demand the immediate return of Lieutenant General Burgoyne and all other British or German Officers prisoners of War now absent from America on their Paroles. As the late exchanges have released all those who were under this description except Lt General Burgoyne, I am only to require his return agreeable to the Act—I therefore request your Excellency will take the necessary steps to procure the speediest compliance possible with this requisition” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, P.R.O.: 30/55, Carleton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; copy, P.R.O.: 30/11/6, Cornwallis Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). The enclosure has not been found, but the congressional resolution adopted on 3 April appears on the copy at P.R.O.: 30/11/6, Cornwallis Papers; see also , 19:345. Clinton replied to GW on 21 May (DLC:GW).
3. Skinner wrote GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton from his office near Elizabeth, N.J., on 21 April: “The 18th instant, I answered His Excellency’s Letter of the 14th in a line addressed to Colo. Tilghman—since which I have received The General’s Letter of the 16th and shall pursue the directions contained in it respecting the Demand of our Privates.
“As I know of no other Prisoners beside Lieutt General Burgoyne absent from America on Parole. I will dispatch the Letter addressed to Sir Henry Clinton by a Flag to day.
“I have Omitted going to Phila. until I see or hear from the British Commissy and will take the earliest Opportunity to wait on you with a Report of my Negociations” (DLC:GW; see also notes 1 and 2 above). For renewed efforts to exchange Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne, see GW to Huntington, 16–19 April, and Huntington to GW, 23 April.