George Washington to the Board of War, 29 May 1781
To the Board of War
Head Quarters New Windsor 29th May 1781.
Gentlemen
I have been honored with your favors of the 13th 14th and 17th instants.1 My late absence from the Army prevented my acknowledging them sooner.2
If the Uniforms which were fixed upon for the Troops of the States of North and South Carolina have not been ordered from Europe, I do not see that any inconvenience can attend the proposed alteration. I think, however, the Lace ought to be dispensed with as altogether superfluous and very expensive.3
It seems reasonable that a due proportion should be observed between the pay of the deputies and principals in any department, and as Congress were pleased to augment the Salary of Mr Lawrance the Judge Advocate General very considerably by the Resolve of the 10th of Novemr—there can I think be no impropriety in augmenting the salaries of the Deputies also to 60 dollars ⅌ month which is what they request.4
Sir Henry Clinton has informed me that it is not in his power to permit the transportation of Tobacco from Virginia to Charles town—I imagine there are some Commercial Regulations in the way. But he says that he mentioned certain Articles to Colo. Magaw and Colo. Ely which might be sent in and sold for the benefit of our prisoners5—what they were I do not exactly recollect—but I think Lumber and Iron.6 I have the honor to be &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 147; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The draft includes a struck-out postscript: “P.S. Genl Knyphausen has requested permission for a Hessian Surgeon with Medicines and Hospital Stores to proceed to Philada and remain with the prisoners, under any restrictions which may be imposed—If there will be no impropriety in granting his request, be pleased to say under what injunctions the” (see Knyphausen to GW, 17 May). The extract contains only the last paragraph (see GW to the Board of War, 8 June, source note).
3. See Board of War to GW, 14 May.
4. GW approved pay increases for John Strang and Thomas Edwards, who served as assistants to John Laurance, judge advocate general (see Board of War to GW, 17 May). Congress had resolved on 10 Nov. 1780 to increase John Laurance’s compensation to $140 “per month and two rations per day” (, 18:1043–44).
6. GW alludes to when the British rejected an offer from Maryland officials to send iron or lumber to New York for prisoners to sell (see GW to Thomas Jefferson, 29 Aug. 1780, and n.2 to that document; see also Board of War to GW, 2 May 1781, and GW to the Board of War, 16 May, and n.2 to that document).