1. The board enclosed a letter from Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson, written “In Council” on 23 April, and one from Col. James Wood to the board, written at Frederick, Md., on Thursday, 17 May (both DLC:GW).

Jefferson’s letter reads: “Colo. Wood has applied to us to take measures for furnishing provisions and building Barracks for the Convention prisoners at Winchester. Neither of these can be effected without considerable sums of money either advanced or to be paid within some reasonable time, and I am sorry to be obliged to inform you it is not in our power to do either. … While we were in tolerable quiet and our Neighbours under difficulties we chearfully took on us the support and guard of these Troops: but when we have a war on our Western, Southern and Eastern quarters which keeps our existence in daily question we cannot withdraw from that a single exertion” (see also Jefferson Papers description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds. The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. 45 vols. to date. Princeton, N.J., 1950–. description ends , 5:542–43).

In his letter, Wood explained that illness had delayed his reply and that money issues complicated all aspects of transporting the prisoners in his charge. Inattentive militia guards had allowed fifty-nine British officers to escape from Fort Frederick, “most of whom we have heard are at Work in the Country and expect to retake—I purpose to send off the whole Non Commissioned and Privates for Fort Frederic on Monday next, but am apprehensive as there is no place to secure them and no other than Militia Guards that many of them will escape—The German Troops at Winchester have been pretty well supplied with provisions hitherto and none of them have attempted to escape. … I sent forward immediately on my Return to Philadelphia the unconditional prisoners of War. the Commissary of Prisoners informs me that about 600 were received at Lancaster and that about 70 who escaped on the March have been retaken and are now in Winchester Goal” (DLC:GW; see also n.3 below and the board’s second letter to GW, 26 June).

The enclosed congressional order and resolution dated 23 May reads: “That the Board of War take order to remove the Convention Troops in such manner and to such place, as they think most conducive to the Union in general.

“Resolved, That the States through which they may pass be requested to furnish the necessary Guards, and to supply the said prisoners and Guards with provisions through their respective states, to the place or places to which they are removed” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:530, and Samuel Huntington’s first letter to GW, 28 May).

2. In his reply to the board on 6 June, GW advised that the prisoners be kept in Pennsylvania rather than sent to Massachusetts.

3. The enclosures, all written at Philadelphia on this date, were letters from the Board of War to Wood; to Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases; and to Massachusetts governor John Hancock (all DLC:GW).

Board of War member William Grayson signed the letter to Wood: “The Board have the honour of acknowledging your letter of the 17th and in consequence of that and Governor Jeffersons letter and some other Circumstances Congress have determined on the removal of the Convention Troops from the States of Virginia and Maryland to such places as the Board of War shall direct . … The Board have concluded to send them to Rutland in Massachusetts.” The letter then gave reasons for “this determination” (similar to those provided GW), the route to Massachusetts, and specific instructions regarding provisions and guards. “The Board have the greatest confidence in your prudence on this Occasion and desire you will use your discretion in matters not mentioned as it is impossible to point out every thing necessary to accomplish this Object” (see also n.1 above; JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:598; and Adam Hubley, Jr., to Joseph Reed, 23 June, in Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st Ser., 9:224–25).

Board of War member Richard Peters signed the letter to Blaine: “You will lay up, at the following Posts, Provisions for Three Thousand Men for five Days at each Post, These Provisions are for the use of the Convention Prisoners & their Guards on their Route from Virginia to Rutland in Massachusetts Bay If the Magazines of the United States will not afford the Supplies you will call on the Executives of the several States for Provisions in Part of their Quotas to the Amount required. The Route of these Troops is directed to be thro’ Frederick Town in Maryland, York Town in Pennsylvania, Reading by the Way of Anderson’s Ferry, Bethlehem & Easton in the same State; Sussex Court House in New Jersey, Fishkill, New berg in New York, Springfield in Massachusetts. Rutland being the Place of their Destination two Months Provisions should be laid up at this Place & Supplies kept up from Time to Time during their remaining at the Post. You will take immediate Measures for carrying these Orders into Execution & appoint a proper Person to Superintend the laying up the Provisions at each Post in due Season that no Delays may happen on the March. You will give to the Person so appointed proper Instructions for his Conduct thro’ the whole of the Route & inform Colo. James Wood now at Frederick Town in Maryland, who is appointed to Command the Guards & take charge of the Prisoners, of the Person appointed & the Measures you take for the Supply of the Troops. If any of the Posts on the Route should be found inconvenient you are at Liberty to vary the Route with the Concurrence of Colo. Wood. If live Cattle could be had it will be best to procure a Number to drive on with the Troops to be used in Case of Exigency.” For congressional requisitions upon state governments for provisions, see Huntington to GW, 12 Nov. 1780, n.1.

Peters also signed the letter to Hancock that explained the decision to relocate the Convention Army because military operations in the southern states had made it “impossible to support the prisoners in Virginia and it became dangerous and impolitic to suffer them to remain there on every Account. … We are aware that difficulties will arise let the prisoners be stationed wheresoever they may—They will however be safe in Massachusetts tho in that State there is a Scarcity of flour there are equal difficulties in the Article of Meat in other States—We will on this head desire the Commander in chief to inform the Enemy that unless a free transportation of flour is permitted from the States abounding in this Article their prisoners must learn to live without it—It will be necessary in the meantime that provisions both of Meat flour or Indian Meal equivalent be laid up at Rutland for the Use of the prisoners whose Numbers amount to about two thousand two hundred” (DLC:GW; see also Board of War to Reed, this date, in Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st Ser., 9:167–68).