Board of War to George Washington, 22 June 1781
From the Board of War
War Office [Philadelphia] June 22d 1781.
Sir
The Board have the Honor of transmitting you a Copy of a Letter from Genl Greene, respecting the necessity of a Resolution of Congress, declaring that all Prisoners of War who engage in the Enemy’s Service, from whatever pretence shall be treated as Deserters on which they request you to favor them with your Sentiments.1
The Board are unhappy to inform you, that nothing is yet done in consequence of Genl Knox’s Letter: immediately on the receipt of it they made the necessary Estimates and Applications to Congress, for the following Sums; to the Department of Mility Stores £3794 Specie, and for Transportation £43,747 Specie; but the Money is not yet granted, and nothing can be done without it: the Board have been informed that their Estimates were referred to a Committee who were directed to confer with Mr Morris on the subject.2
The Clothing ordered for the Detachment under the Command of the Marquis, mentioned in your Letter of the 8th of May, have long since arrived here;3 but nothwithstanding the Board have been fully apprized of the necessities of the Troops, they have been hitherto unable to forward them, for want of the Money which they applied for on the 9th of May; they are, however, informed that this difficulty will be removed by the last of this Week.4 The Arms & Cartridge Boxes, only came to hand yesterday;5 as soon as the former are repaired the whole will be forwarded.6 with respect to Lead, the Board beg leave to inform you they have been fortunate enough to purchase, at this place, Twenty one Tons; they have also applied to some of the States for a Loan but without any effect.7
The Board will issue the Commissions agreeable to your Letter of the 8th of June; it appearing to be your opinion that the Resolution of the 25th of May has not a retrospective operation.8
The Board have submitted your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th Inst. to the consideration of Congress, who have determined that the Convention Troops shall be halted in the State of Pennsylvania; except the Officers, who are to proceed to East Windsor in the State of Connecticut: orders for that purpose have accordingly been given.9
The Board have the Honor to inclose a Copy of a Letter from the Post Master General, suggesting the necessity of an Escort between New Windsor and Pumpton, for the security of the Post Riders;10 and have to request that you will be pleased to issue the necessary Orders.11 I have the honor to be with every sentimt of respect Yr Excys Most Obedt ser.
Willm Grayson.
By order of the Board
LS, DLC:GW; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 148. For the arrival of this letter, see GW to Henry Knox, 28 June. The extract contains only the final paragraph.
1. The board enclosed an extract from a letter Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene wrote Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, on 10 May: “Many hundreds of our people taken by the Enemy enlist into their Service; at the Beginning of the War, perhaps, this practice was attended with less Injury than now. the Sufferings of our Soldiers in Captivity led many of our Officers to encourage the Men to enlist to get an Opportunity to make their Escape. But Soldiers being long in Service become more indifferent which Side they serve and having such a plausible pretence to engage in the Enemys Service enter in great Numbers; and are found in Arms against us indeed one third of the force employed in the Southern states if we are to form a Judgment from the prisoners we take are deserters from our Army and prisoners enlisted from our Captives. A Resolution of Congress declaring that all prisoners of War that engage in the Enemies Service from whatever pretence shall be treated as deserters if taken in Arms against us would have a good effect. Should the Soldiers enlist with a View to get away, they will embrace the first Opportunity when they know they are to be treated as Deserters and those that are not willing to run that Hazard to effect their escape will continue patiently in Captivity at least I think it would be some check to the practice which now prevails to the great prejudice of the Continental Interest” (DLC:GW; see also , 8:234–35). Congress read Greene’s letter on 11 June and referred it to the board (, 20:620).
2. The board refers to Maj. Gen. Henry Knox’s ordnance estimate (see Knox to GW, 17 Feb.; see also GW to Huntington, same date, and the source note to that document). Congress referred a board report with estimates on military stores and transportation to a committee on 12 June (see , 20:630). For subsequent action, see Board of War to GW, 3 July, and n.2.
3. See GW to the Board of War, 8 May, postscript.
4. The next Sunday was 24 June. See Board of War to GW, 26 June (second letter), and n.4 to that document.
5. For the transportation of these items, see GW to Steuben, 1 May, and n.2 to that document.
6. Congress on 31 Aug. directed the board to forward repaired arms from Philadelphia (see , 21:922–25).
7. Congress had supplied a warrant on 29 March to assist with the purchase of lead (see , 19:323–24).
8. The board refers to the letter GW wrote them on 9 June (see also the board’s second letter to GW, 3 July).
9. The reference is to a letter GW wrote the board on 6 June (see also GW to Huntington, same date).
Valentine Eckert, county lieutenant for Berks County, Pa., wrote Joseph Reed, president of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, from Reading on 24 June that “about 1050 of the Convention Prisoners of War (63 of whom are Britons, the remainder Germans,)” arrived on 16 June “and encamped on the Banks of Schuylkill, near this Town. A few Days before their arrival Captain Alexander called on me and informed me that they were to proceed to Connecticut, and requested me to provide a Guard to escort them to Eastown. But on their arrival here, Orders arrived from the Board of War that they should remain in Pennsylvania, and those now here were ordered by Colo. Wood to remain here until further Orders. … The Prisoners since their arrival here have behaved themselves very orderly and Peaceably.
“Several more have now joined since the 16th instant, so that their number now amounts to near Eleven hundred” (, 1st Ser., 9:225–26; see also the board’s second letter to GW, 26 June).
10. The enclosed copy of a letter from Richard Bache, postmaster general, to the board, written at Philadelphia on 21 June, reads: “I am directed by Congress to apply to the Board of War for an Escort to guard the Mail on such part of the road, as the postriders are exposed to the interruption of the Enemy—An Escort of four Horsemen well Armed, I apprehend will be sufficient; this Escort to pass and repass between pompton and New Windsor which is about fifty Miles. The sooner the escort is provided the better” (DLC:GW; see also , 20:678). For the recent interception of a postrider, see GW to Lafayette, 4 June, n.1.