From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 9 December 1780
To General Henry Clinton
Head Quarters [New Windsor] 9th December 1780
Sir
I have received your favor of the 29th November by Brig. Genl Irvine and the Officers who accompanied him.
As you have proposed that all accounts respecting prisoners of War, from the commencement of the dispute to the present time, as well as the accounts of the troops of Convention, shall be adjusted by the Commissioners when they meet, I have written to Congress upon the subject, and have desired them to give directions, to have the accounts collected and arranged—and as this must take up a considerable length of time, I think it needless to name Commissioners, before a time can be fixed upon, with some degree of certainty, for their meeting.1
Under the powers with which I am at present vested, I am not at liberty to accede to the exchange of a Division of the Convention Troops for the remainder of our Officers upon Long Island, previous to the settlement of Accounts.
I have, by this opportunity, transmitted General Phillips the passports for the Flag Ship General de Reidesel. I only waited for the particular description of the Vessel—Master &ca with which I was furnished by General Phillips in a letter from him of the 30th last Month.2
I have informed Lieut. Morris that he is released from his parole, and your Excellency will be pleased to signify to Governor Burt of Antigua, that Mr Burke is also at liberty. I am Sir Your most obt and humble Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, P.R.O.: 30/35, Carleton Papers; copy (extract), P.R.O.: C.O. 5/101; copy (extract) P.R.O.: C.O. 5/183; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Both extracts contain only the first three paragraphs of GW’s letter. The LS is docketed as received on 15 December.
An enclosure presumably was this letter from GW to Clinton when GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne from New Windsor on this date: “His Excellency requests you to send the enclosed to Elizabeth town to Mr Adams Dy Commy of prisoners at that place, with directions to forward them by the first Flag” (PHi: Wayne Papers; see also n.2 below).
2. See GW to William Phillips, this date, found at Phillips to GW, 30 Nov., n.3.