January 24, 1759: Priest Jacques Girrard to Vicar General Click here (Who was J. Girrard? Click Here)
November 8, 1777: Henry Lee Jr. to George Washington Click Here (Who was H. Lee? Click Here)
November 9, 1777: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here (Who was H. Laurens? Click Here)
January 1, 1778: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here (Who was J. Laurens? Click Here)
January 23, 1778: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here
September 23, 1779: John Beatty to George Washington (see below) Click Here (Who was J. Beatty? Click Here)
November 8, 1777: Henry Lee Jr. to George Washington Click Here (Who was H. Lee? Click Here)
November 9, 1777: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here (Who was H. Laurens? Click Here)
January 1, 1778: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here (Who was J. Laurens? Click Here)
January 23, 1778: Colonel John Laurens to Henry Laurens Click Here
September 23, 1779: John Beatty to George Washington (see below) Click Here (Who was J. Beatty? Click Here)
Extracts From Above-Mentioned Letters
November 8, 1777 Henry Lee to George Washington
Henry Lee
Mr Lindsay is just returned from New castle & has brought with him two prisoners; the one Capt. Nicholas of the Eagle packet, the other, Capt. Fenwick of a sloop in the service of Government. These two gentlemen being fatigued with their ride, will not arrive at Headquarters, ’till tomorrow.
The transports have received orders to furnish themselves with six weeks provision, & make ready for sailing with all dispatch. A french ship laden with arms & ammunition lately taken by some of the enemy’s cruisers, was the other day brought into New-castle-harbour. There prevails a report in the fleet, that a channel has been discovered which avoids the chiveaux-de-frise, & that, the Somerset man of war is ordered up to try her success on the fort, by that route.
One of the enemy’s batteries on the Schuylkill has been launched two days past, & another is near finished. The mode now pursued by the enemy in transporting supplies, to the city, is as follows. They land their provision, above Jone’s wharf, near a branch of Eagle-creek, they are carried from hence by water to Guiers dam, where they again put them in boats & readily convey them down another creek to the Schuylkill. There is no way of interrupting them in this business but by taking possession of Carpenters island.
Mr Lindsay acquaints me, that the enemy obtain large supplies of fresh provision &c. from the inhabitants in the lower Counties; his report of this & several other matters engages me to wish for an excursion for a few days in that country.
There is not the smallest interc<ourse> now subsisting between the Coun<try> & Navy from Wilmington to the Schuylkill. Your Excellency will please favor me by return of the dragoon with your instructions respecting this route. Enclosed is a Letr found; supposed to be wrote by Gen. Grant.I am with the most perfect respect your Excellencys most Obt H. Servt
Heny Lee jr
The transports have received orders to furnish themselves with six weeks provision, & make ready for sailing with all dispatch. A french ship laden with arms & ammunition lately taken by some of the enemy’s cruisers, was the other day brought into New-castle-harbour. There prevails a report in the fleet, that a channel has been discovered which avoids the chiveaux-de-frise, & that, the Somerset man of war is ordered up to try her success on the fort, by that route.
One of the enemy’s batteries on the Schuylkill has been launched two days past, & another is near finished. The mode now pursued by the enemy in transporting supplies, to the city, is as follows. They land their provision, above Jone’s wharf, near a branch of Eagle-creek, they are carried from hence by water to Guiers dam, where they again put them in boats & readily convey them down another creek to the Schuylkill. There is no way of interrupting them in this business but by taking possession of Carpenters island.
Mr Lindsay acquaints me, that the enemy obtain large supplies of fresh provision &c. from the inhabitants in the lower Counties; his report of this & several other matters engages me to wish for an excursion for a few days in that country.
There is not the smallest interc<ourse> now subsisting between the Coun<try> & Navy from Wilmington to the Schuylkill. Your Excellency will please favor me by return of the dragoon with your instructions respecting this route. Enclosed is a Letr found; supposed to be wrote by Gen. Grant.I am with the most perfect respect your Excellencys most Obt H. Servt
Heny Lee jr
September 23, 1779: George Washington to John Beatty
TO JOHN BEATTY
COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
HEAD-QUARTERS, WEST POINT
23 September, 1779.
SIR,
...Col. Webb s exchange by composition we cannot claim as a matter of right, but I wish every method in our power to be taken to induce the enemy to consent to it. The pretext of not being willing to continue partial exchanges is forced and ridiculous; the more, as there are such recent instances in the cases of Edmondston & Featherstone. You must plead the constant practice heretofore; the generous treatment shown to the prisoners taken in the Eagle; the obligation in point of honor and justice, upon the enemy to return an equivalent ; and the proposals, they themselves have made at different times for par ticular exchanges by composition. You will observe to them, that the gentlemen taken in the Eagle are not under a parole, but absolutely released and at liberty to act ; that by an authentic act of their consul at Corunna they have incurred a debt, which they cannot without a flagrant breach of faith refuse to pay ; that the exchange, so far as it depends on us, is already made, and that they have no choice but to make a return. You will demand an explanation of what they mean by "the former principles" ; whether it is, that they are ready to return an equal number, of equal ranks, on the former principle of equality of rank, or whether they refuse to make a return for these, unless the terms of their first proposition are complied with. After you have prepared your answer in the spirit of these instructions, you will let me have a view of it.
I am, &c.
George Washington
TO JOHN BEATTY
COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
HEAD-QUARTERS, WEST POINT
23 September, 1779.
SIR,
...Col. Webb s exchange by composition we cannot claim as a matter of right, but I wish every method in our power to be taken to induce the enemy to consent to it. The pretext of not being willing to continue partial exchanges is forced and ridiculous; the more, as there are such recent instances in the cases of Edmondston & Featherstone. You must plead the constant practice heretofore; the generous treatment shown to the prisoners taken in the Eagle; the obligation in point of honor and justice, upon the enemy to return an equivalent ; and the proposals, they themselves have made at different times for par ticular exchanges by composition. You will observe to them, that the gentlemen taken in the Eagle are not under a parole, but absolutely released and at liberty to act ; that by an authentic act of their consul at Corunna they have incurred a debt, which they cannot without a flagrant breach of faith refuse to pay ; that the exchange, so far as it depends on us, is already made, and that they have no choice but to make a return. You will demand an explanation of what they mean by "the former principles" ; whether it is, that they are ready to return an equal number, of equal ranks, on the former principle of equality of rank, or whether they refuse to make a return for these, unless the terms of their first proposition are complied with. After you have prepared your answer in the spirit of these instructions, you will let me have a view of it.
I am, &c.
George Washington
