To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 23 October 1780
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia October 23. 1780
sir,
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed two Letters from the Chevalier du Buyson (who was one of the Baron de Kalbs Aid’s, made Prisoner with him and now on Parole) desiring Leave to return to Europe, together with the Copy of an Act of Congress of the 21. Instant, referring his request to your Excellency, to act thereon as you shall think proper.1
I have also the Honor to transmit you enclosed the Proceedings of a Board of Gene⟨r⟩al Officers respecting Major André published by Order of Congress.2 And am with every Sentiment of respect your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant
Sam. Huntington President
P.S. Your Excellencys Despatches of the 16. & 17. Instant have been received.3
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15.
Huntington again wrote GW on this date: “I have the Pleasure to transmit your Excellency the enclosed Copies of Despatches this Moment received from Governor Jefferson containing the agreeable Intelligence of the Defeat of Colonel Ferguson with his Party &c” (LS, DLC:GW). The enclosure from Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates in Hillsborough, N.C., to Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson dated 12 Oct. begins: “This instant I received the great and glorious news contained in the inclosed letter from Brigadier General Davidson to General Sumner who directly dispatched it [to] me by express” (DLC:GW; see also , 4:32). For an account of the battle of Kings Mountain and a summary from Brig. Gen. William Lee Davidson to Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner dated 10 Oct., see the general orders for 27 Oct., and n.2 to that document. Other enclosures were two additional letters Davidson wrote Sumner on 10 Oct. about favorable developments in the southern department (both DLC:GW).
1. The enclosure from Lieutenant Colonel Dubuysson to Huntington dated 21 Sept. urged his exchange for another prisoner and closely resembles his letter to GW on the same date (DLC:GW; see also Dubuysson to GW, 2 Sept., n.2).
The other enclosure was Dubuysson’s letter to Huntington written at Philadelphia on 17 Oct. requesting permission to “transact some particular Business in France” for the children of slain Maj. Gen. Johann Kalb while he awaited an exchange (DLC:GW). Huntington also enclosed a congressional order issued on 21 Oct.: “That the letters from the chevalier du Buysson desiring leave to return to Europe be referred to the commander in chief to act thereupon as he shall think proper” (DLC:GW; see also , 18:958).
2. See Document XVI, and n.4, with Major John André’s Capture and Execution, 23 Sept.–7 Oct., editorial note.
3. GW replied to Huntington on 29 Oct. that intractable considerations prevented approval of Dubuysson’s requests (DNA:PCC, item 152).