To George Washington from William Livingston, 14 September 1778
From William Livingston
Brunswick [N.J.] 14. Sepr 1778
Dear Sir
I just now arrived in this City, & there find Capt. Costigan just arrived on parole—I learn that an express is already gone from him to Collo. Lowrie1—I was almost tempted to send him to your Excellency to prevent any Interview between him & Lowrie, whom I take to be one of the most artful man living—But to take a man Prisoner, & thus to bring him into disgrace, when for any thing I know, he may be innocent, I think would rather be a rash step, and probably exeed my authority—I therefore give your Excellency the earliest notice of his being here, & intend to send this by express to General Maxwell, with request to him to dispatch it to the commanding officer at hackinsack2—I am with the highest esteem Dear Sir your Excellencys most obedient humble Servt
Wil: Livingston
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. 1. Livingston may have been referring to Col. Thomas Lowrey, who was later accused of aiding the British by his son-in-law, the Loyalist Thomas Skelton (see , 189–91).
2. A note on the cover reads, “To be sent by the commanding officer of the light Dragoons at Hackinsack. Governor Livingston.”