|
|
Original
|
[Washington to Gov. Johnson.]
Circular Head Quarters West
Point Augst 26th 1779
Sir
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a list of sundry
Officers belonging to your State who have been in captivity
and are reported by the Commissary of Prisoners as violators
of parole. A conduct of this kind so ignominious to the
individuals themselves so dishonorable to their Country and
to the service in which they have been engaged and so
injurious to those Gentlemen who were associated with them
in misfortune, but preserved their honor, demands that
every measure should be taken to deprive them of the
benefit of their delinquency and to compel their return. We
have pledged ourselves to the enemy to do every thing in our
power for this purpose and in consequence I directed Mr
Beatty Commissary of Prisoners to issue the summons, which
you will probably have seen in the public papers. But as it is
likely to have a very partial operation, I find it necessary in
aid of it to request the interposition of the executive powers of
the different States to enforce a compliance. Most of these
persons never having been and none of them now being in
Continental service, military authority will hardly be sufficient
to oblige them to leave their places of residence and return
to captivity against their inclination: Neither will it be difficult
for them to elude a military search and keep themselves in
concealment. I must therefore intreat that your Excellency
will be pleased to take such measures as shall appear to you
proper and effectual to produce their immediate return. This
will be rendering an essential service to our Officers in general
in captivity, will tend much to remove the difficulties which
now lie in the way of exchanges, and to discourage the practice
of violating paroles in future.
I have the honor to be
With the greatest respect & esteem
Your Excellency's
Most Obet hum. Servt
Go Washington
Capt Richard Davis Maryld
Lieutt William Piles do
James Tool Balt do
Jacob Carsdorp do
|
|
