To George Washington from Guy Carleton, 11 December 1782
New York December 11th 1782
Sir,
I have been honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 27th November, with the passport for the Ship Amazon inclosed.
When the duties of Captain Armstrong, and the Gentlemen who attend him, are fulfilled, I request your Excellency will be pleased to furnish them and their attendants with the necessary passports for their return by land.
The master of the Ship which will convey the necessary articles for the prisoners to Philadelphia, has my orders to report himself to General Lincoln, and to receive on board such poor families wishing to return to South Carolina as he shall recommend, who will be accomodated and victualled in the same manner as those who have been before conveyed thither.
On this occasion I cannot help suggesting, that your naval prisoners here are in want, as I am informed, of many necessaries to protect them against the inclemency of the winter. If it is not held proper by Congress that any exchange should take place, it seems however necessary that their confinement may be made as comfortable as the nature of the case will admit of. So much I cannot but observe, tho’ this matter does not properly belong to me.
Some intimations Sir, I have received of the ill treatment of our prisoners in the country, attended with strange and incredible circumstances, concerning which I inclose a memorial lately presented me on the subject, tho’ I trust Sir, these informations are ill founded. The circumstances alluded to are of a nature to spread far and carry the passions of the day to the future time, I Therefore could not neglect mentioning a matter likely to be so permanently pernicious to all parties, and to be productive of evil, for which in my opinion no present advantage can possibly atone. I am persuaded your Excellency will inquire into the fact, and if it should be found in any degree true, will employ all your influence to redress so high an injustice. I am Sir, Your Excellency’s, most obedient & most humble Servant
Guy Carleton
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
Wallowbaght the 10th of Decbr 1782
Lieut. Reinking commanding the Brunswic Detachment Humbly Scheweth That on the 25th Novembr & 8th December arrived here One Sergeant & 3 Privates, Prisoners of war, belonging to the Brunswic Troops, who had made their Escape from the Ennemy—These men brought me the desagreeable intelligence of the hard treatment the Prisoners that remain at Reading are made to undergo by the ennemy—They report, that One Part of these unfortunate men are forced to serve 3 Year the Inhabitants for £30. in the quality of Slaves, an other part are forc’d into the Service of the American Troops & the remaining Part of these wretched men being the oldest Sergeants & Soldiers are closely confined in the Goals & Barracks at Reading & Lancaster, where they are supplied with very little provisions, and thereby reduced to great sufferings beyond what I am able to express.
Since I am by the Commander of the Brunswic Troops, Lieut. Colonl De Mengen, ordered to remain here in order to take care of the concerns of those prisoners that still are with the ennemy, & to make report of their situation to the Commander—I think it my duty to represent the same to Your Excellency likewise & to beg most humbly, your Excellency will be pleased to take the situation of those unfortunate men into consideration, and grant them Your Protection, that they may be relieved from their Distresses. most humbly
Carl Reinking
Lieutenant: