Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Jr., to George Washington, 16 May 1781
From Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Jr.
Rockland [N.Y.]
May 16th 1781
May it please Your Excellency
I have just returnd here from the Lines of the Militia at the Liberty Pole, the Enemy (Refugees) occupy the Ground at Fort Lee where they are Errecting a Block House and other works.1 I was Yesterday sent a Flag by the Commanding Officer of the Militia to Capt. Ward Commanding the Refugees respecting some wounded and prisoners I had an opportunity of Conversing very freely with him on the Subject of his desertion (he having been a Serjt in Colo. Malcoms Regt2 and taking Arms against his Countrymen) he assured me he wishd for nothing more than to return to his Countrymen provided Your Excellency would Grant him a full & free pardon and that he should not be Considerd a Soldier in the Army, unless he chose to reingage, on which Condition he would bring off with him 200 of his Men or agree with me on the next Wednesday in what manner, the whole party should be taken,3 I promised him to write your Excellency on the Subject, provided Your Excellency will agree to his proposals I should be happy a flag would be granted to meet him in the English Neighbourhood on that day. I shall make it a point Immediately to Acquaint you of the Conversation and the Terms on which he shall agree. I have the honour to subscribe myself Your Excellencys Mst Obedt Hume Servnt
J. Lawrence Junr Capt. N.Y. State Levies
he has pro⟨mis⟩ed to me that he will retard the Works as much as possible untill he shall see me.4
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. A party from the Loyal Refugee Volunteers had begun constructing a blockhouse at the site of Fort Lee, N.J., which the British had abandoned in 1779. New Jersey state troops and militia unsuccessfully attacked the installation on 14 and 15 May, and then again on 18 May. GW decided to attack with Continental troops, but British general Henry Clinton determined to abandon the fort, which the militia then occupied (see GW to Alexander Scammell, 17 May, and Scammell to GW, 24 and 26 May; see also , 297–98, and , 330–33). For other accounts of the actions and decisions during this period, see The Royal Gazette (New York) for 19 May; entries for 18, 21, and 23 May in , 2:522, 526–28; and entries for 14, 17–18, and 23 May in , 136–38.
2. Lawrence inadvertently wrote a closing parenthesis after this word.
3. The following Wednesday was 23 May.
Thomas Ward, formerly a sergeant, deserted in 1778 from Col. William Malcom’s Additional Continental Regiment and became a captain in the Loyal Refugee Volunteers. He commanded the Loyalists who established the blockhouse at Fort Lee (see n.1 above; see also , 432). Ward remained with the enemy.