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March 24
Red Book
No. 7
Letter 205
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You are therefore hereby directed to cause the non commissioned
Officers and soldiers of the British Convention Troops to be forth-
with closely confined and effectually guarded, so as to prevent them
from escaping to the Enemy. It is hoped that none of their Officers
will attempt to hold any correspondence with the Enemy, or take or
conceive of any steps to promote the escape of the non Commissioned
Officers and privates. But should such conduct be discovered the
Officer or Officers so demeaning him or themselves are to be deemed
and treated as having broken their paroles. Untill you are informed
of payment being made for Provisions and transports heretofore
furnished these prisoners, as stipulated in Article 5th of the Conven-
tion, you will issue no more or other provisions to those, than are
usually issued to prisoners of war.
The Officers of the British are to be put on their parole and sent
to Simsbury in Connecticut, where they can be more conveniently
quartered than at present. The non commissioned Officers and pri-
vates, are to remain at Frederick Town in Maryland and be closely
confined But if there are any other places of security in that State
wherein any part of them may be safely kept, you have liberty of
seperating them into such Detachments for this purpose, as you shall
think proper of the Governor and Council of the State of Maryland
(with whom you will consult) should deem any other place or places
proper for the Confinement of the Prisoners within that State, you
will accommodate your orders to their Views and directions. The
German non-commissioned Officers and Privates, are to remain near
the town of Winchester in Virginia and to be confined to the Bar-
racks built there, by order of the State of Virginia, and their Officers
are to be on Parole, within the County of Frederick in that State, and
to be limited to a District, not exceeding ten miles in Circumference.
No transportation at the Expence of the United States, is to be
hereafter allowed these Troops, and you will take care to limit the
number of waggons and Horses to be hired by them, for the purpose
of transporting themselves or their baggage, and also the number of
Horses to be kept by the Officers, and the prices to be by them given,
for forage for their Horses, or Provisions for themselves. It has
been alledged that the best Horses in the Country have been pur-
chased by the Officers, and on their being exchanged, have been car-
ried in to the Enemy, in considerable numbers. This practice has a
dangerous tendency, and you will take every measure in your power,
to discountenance and prevent it.
We rely on your discretion, for anything not particularly directed,
and make no doubt, that you will in concurrence with the Executives
of the States of Virginia and Maryland (to whom we shall write on
the Subject) take the most effectual measures for the Superinten-
dance and safe keeping of the Prisoners committed to your care.
You will also assemble all the Cowpen and other unconditional pris-
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