From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 November 1780
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters Passaic Falls Novr 20th 1780
Sir
I was duly honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 12th and shall properly attend to its important contents.1
I hope the measures I had previously taken relative to the exchange of prisoners, announced in my letter of the 7th will not be disagreeable to Congress; they were founded on an opinion I had constantly entertained that it was our interest to extend the exchange of officers as far as possible, distinct from all other considerations, and a beleif that this was also consonant to the intentions of Congress.2 In your Excellency’s letter of the 25th of June last, that of General Lincoln of the 22nd on the subject of a general exchange is referred to me; in my answer of the 10th of July, I hold up the idea now mentioned in the clearest terms, and the resolution of the 7th of August in consequence, authorising the exchange then in contemplation, is in the same spirit.3 From these circumstances4 I readily consented to the subsequent propositions communicated in my letter of the 7th Instant.
As the late Act of the 7th for a general exchange revives the question of Accounts, and seems to make a provision for the payment of them requisite prior to an exchange of any part of the Convention Troops, I am induced to take the liberty to offer this explanation of the grounds on which I acted, which I shall be happy may be satisfactory.5
I shall immediately make a proposal to Sir Henry Clinton for a meeting of Commissioners on the terms now prescribed; ’though I really apprehend it will either not take place, or be fruitless, as the Enemy seem fixed in the determination not to come into a settlement of Accounts or the payment of any considerable demand on the score of the Convention Troops.6
Your Excellency may rely that no deviation from the Order of capture shall ever take place in any exchanges made by me,7 where it has heretofore been done in particular cases, it has not originated with me; except in the instance of General Lincolns two Aids, which the respect due to a General Officer, and the outcome of service dictated.8
The Arrangement for a removal of all Horses that can be spared from the Army is conformable to our practice all the past winters; and will be punctually executed the moment we go into Quarters.9
I shall as soon as possible carry into execution the other Matters contained in Your Excellencys dispatches, so far as they depend on me. With the most perfect respect, I have the honor to be Your Excellencys Most Obedient, Humble Servant
Go: Washington
P.S. I omitted acknowledging Your Excellencys favor of the 8th respecting Van Wert, Paulding & Williams—The recompence is ample—it is an evidence of the generosity of Congress, a flattering tribute to the virtue of those Citizens, and must prove a powerful incitement to others to imitate their example.10
Go: W——n
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Congress read GW’s letter on 24 Nov. (, 18:1089). Huntington acknowledged this letter when he wrote GW on 29 Nov., postscript.
2. See GW to Huntington, 7 Nov., and notes 9 and 10 to that document.
3. GW referenced correspondence and a congressional resolution that sought a general prisoner exchange (see Huntington to GW, 25 June, and n.3; GW’s second letter to Huntington, 10 July; and , 17:704–8; see also Huntington to GW, 9 Aug., and n.1 to that document).
4. GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton prepared the draft. At this point, he wrote and then struck out: “which I take the liberty to mention as explanatory of my motives.”
5. See , 18:1028–31; see also Huntington to GW, 12 Nov., n.3.
7. At this point on the draft, Hamilton wrote and then struck out: “it has never been done in a single instance.”
8. GW refers to Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln’s aides-de-camp Hodijah Baylies and William Jackson (see GW to Lincoln, 8 Nov., and n.1 to that document).
10. See Huntington to GW, 8 Nov.; Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding, and David Williams had captured British major John André and triggered the discovery of Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold’s treachery.