To George Washington from Abraham Skinner, 5 January 1781
New Windsor January 5th 1781
Sir
Since my last Letter to your Excellency in which I informed you of the several Officers Exchanged for those of the Enemy in our hands, I have been able to collect a number more, of whom I had no return, and have enter’d into their exchange for an equal number of our next oldest in Captivity as you will observe by The enclosd List No. 10.
Most of the Officers whose exchanges are ratified, have come out, and agreable to the directions of the Board of War, I have become answerable for the payment of their Board upon Long Island to their respective landlords. The Colonels and other Officers remaining Prisoners on Long Island and unexchanged are exceedingly distressed and much in want of many of the necessarys of life, particularly the article of firewood, which their Landlords will not furnish without money, and the Officers have it Not, in consequence of this I promised Colonel Marbury to represent the matter to your Excellency, and to send them a quantity (which is now ready) provided it meets with your approbation.
I enclose a list of several Persons prisoners to the Enemy, whom they claim as holding military rank and to which I have always objected—those persons together with a number of Citizens who are upon Parole on Long Island, and who were taken from their different places of abode are in a very peculiar situation; they receive no public supplies, and I could wish to have your command with respect to them, particularly Captain Willing who was serving as a Captain in the Service of the States when taken, and whom the Enemy have frequently treated in the most cruel manner, refusing to Exchange him unless for the Ratio of a Colonel. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Mo. Obed. Hum. Servt
Abm Skinner
Comy Genl Pris.
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
New York Novr 3d 1780
List of American Officers remaining on Long Island (on Parole) & Elswhere, after the Exchanges of the 25th & 26th Octr 1780 and Admitting the proposed Exchanges to be carried into effect.
Corps | Rank | Names | |||
Pena Mila | Brigr | General Irvine | |||
Germa. Battn | Colonel | Nichs Haussegar | |||
9th Virga | George Mathews | ||||
11th Maryld | Luke Martling | ||||
Cumberld Mila | David Potter | ||||
New York do | Wm Allison | ||||
Chesr do | John Hannam | ||||
2d Connectt | John Ely | ||||
3d Dragoons | Geo. Baylor | ||||
6 Penna | Lieutt | Arnold Grace | |||
Jersey Mila | Henry Jeans | ||||
Proctor’s Arty | James Smith | ||||
do | Willm Martin | ||||
[1] Penna | John Stotesbury | ||||
Jersey Mila | Abm Parsons | ||||
Ditto | John Chatham | ||||
New Jersey Contl | Bateman Lloyd | ||||
Taylors Mila | Saml Mc Farlin | ||||
Jersey Contl | John Hutchins | ||||
do | Abm Stout | ||||
Mass. do | Robt Walker | ||||
Pena Mila | Asher Carter | ||||
Moldiers Arty | Lieutt | John Amriss | |||
Delaware Contl | John Hyatt | ||||
Penna Mila | John Kerr | ||||
Delaware do | Silas Snow | ||||
Colo. Gests | James Lymms | ||||
Jersey Mila | Aaron Chew | ||||
Colo. Gests | Joseph Briton | ||||
4th Virga | Wm Rogers | ||||
3d Dragoons | Robt Randolph | ||||
Meigs Contl | Asa Lay | ||||
5 Massa. | Mason Wattles | ||||
2 N. Carola | Nathl Lawrence | ||||
do | Richd Andrews | ||||
do | James Keeler | ||||
do | Nathl Reynolds | ||||
Jersey Mila | John Craig | ||||
Moylands Dragoons | Erasmus Gile | ||||
West Chesr Mila | Jacob Van Tassell | ||||
10th Massa | William Burly | ||||
3d do | John Maynard | ||||
Penna Contl | Giles Hicks | ||||
6th Penna | James Glentworth | ||||
7th do | Saml Bryson | ||||
2d Jersey | Benajah Ormir | ||||
Aldens Contl | Jonn Maynerd |
The aforegoing List Contains the Officers left unexchanged in the hands of the British whose Ranks is indisputable—admitting the proposal to take place
Abm Skinner
Commissary General prisoners
(Copy)
Enclosure
New York Decr 10th 1780
Copy of a List of Exchange of American and British Officers made between Abm Skinner Esquire American Commissary General of Prisoners and Joshua Loring Esqr. British Commissary General of Prisoners at New York the 10th day Decemr 1780
Corps | Rank and Names | Corps | Rank and Names | ||||
Brunswic | Capt. Dommes | for Cong. Regt Capt. McConnel | |||||
Lt Richrodt | Webbs | Lt John Riley | |||||
No. Carola | Norman McLeod | 6th penna | Arnold Grace | ||||
Nova Scota Volunteers | Cunningham | Jersey Mila | Henry Jeans | ||||
27th | Ensign Parks | N. York Con. | Ens. Swartwout | ||||
Brunswick | Doctr Verbrodt | Webbs | Adjt Elisha Hopkins | ||||
—Mate Dukel | |||||||
Gross | Pens. Mila | Ens. Wm Dempsey | |||||
Agreed to | |||||||
Abm Skinner | |||||||
Commissary Genl Prisoners | |||||||
Josa Loring | |||||||
Brit: Commissary General Prisoners |
(Copy)