From George Washington to Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, 27 March 1780
To Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Head Quarters Morris Town 27th March 1780.
Sir
After the breaking up of the Commission at Amboy,1 Mr pintard continued within our lines for the purpose of settling his Accounts with the present Commissary General of prisoners who is shortly going out of Office.2 He yesterday informed me that previous to his leaving Amboy, a parole had been required of him limiting his stay to the 30th Inst. a period too short to accomplish the purpose above mentioned—I have directed him to remain till the Business is finished, but to satisfy his scruples arising from the limitation of his parole, I have thought proper to inform Your Excellency that his continuance is by my direction—At the same time I am persuaded, on considering the matter you will agree with me in opinion, that there was an irregularity in requiring a parole of this nature from a Gentleman acting in a public capacity for us in your lines. Mr pintard was sent in by me in January 1777 in character of an Agent for prisoners, and though not formally recognized as such, he was permitted to stay in New York and execute the Office in which he has acted ever since. He cannot therefore be properly subject to a restriction of the kind which has been imposed.3 I have the honor to be with great Respect Yr Excellency’s most obt Servt.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
Knyphausen replied to GW from New York on 6 April: “I have had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th Ultimo, respecting Mr Pintard; Any restriction in point of time exacted from him appears to be inconsistent, as his return does not wholly depend upon me: I cannot, however, but be of Opinion, that as far as his parole may have extended to restrain the freedom of Speech, it was a necessary Precaution, as his avowed intention was to return to New-York. It rests with You, Sir, to allow this to take place whenever you please; but if it is expected that Mr Pintard will be allowed to reside here in a public Character, I must again beg leave to acquaint You that a claim of this nature is inadmissible” (LS, DLC:GW; Df, P.R.O., 30/55, Carleton Papers).
1. For the failed prisoner exchange negotiations at Perth Amboy, N.J., see both letters from the Commissioners for the Exchange of Prisoners to GW, 26 March [letter 1, letter 2].
2. For John Beatty’s resignation as commissary general of prisoners, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 15 April, and n.1 to that document; see also GW to Beatty, 4 April, n.5.
3. See Lewis Pintard to GW, 25 March, especially n.6.