From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 19 January 1780
To General Henry Clinton
Head Quarters [Morristown] Januay 19th 1780
Sir
The severity of the weather has occasioned unavoidable delay to the Gentlemen who came out with the propositions concerted between Major General Phillips and themselves which will put it out of their power to complete their business and return in the time limited by their paroles.1 Persuaded that your Excellency will readily excuse their exceeding their permission a few days they have taken the liberty three of them to remain till they have answered the purpose of their errand; Colo. Magaw returns with an apology for the delay. As this will not detain them but a very little time longer than was originally intended, I flatter myself the present step will not be disagreable to you.2 I have the honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedt humbe servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Caleb Gibbs’s writing, P.R.O.: 30/55, Carleton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For these propositions for a general prisoner exchange, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 4 January.
2. Lt. Gen. Wilhelm von Knyphausen, senior officer present at New York, replied for Clinton on 23 January.