Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 75,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Back to Collection Search

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles Resolution: instructions to Washington to retaliate for cruelty

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.091 Author/Creator: United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles Place Written: Philadelphia Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 8 November 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 34 x 20 cm.

Summary of Content: Docketed on p.2

Background Information:

Full Transcript: By the United States in Congress Assembled
Novr. 8th 1782.

On motion,
Resolved: That the Commander in Chief be instructed to call in the most pointed Terms on the British Commander ...at New York to fulfill his Engagement contain'd in his Letter of the 13th day of August last to make further Inquisition into the Murder of Captain Huddy and to pursue it with all the Effect which a due Regard to justice will admitt [sic] -
To prevent any misconstruction which may arise from the Resolution: directing Capt. Asgill to be sett [sic] at liberty -
Be it declared and is hereby declared that the Commander in Chief or the Commander of a Separate Army is in virtue of the powers invested in them respectedly [sic] fully authorized and impowered whenever the Enemy shall Committ [sic] any act of Cruelty or Violence contrary to the Laws or Usages of War to demand adequate Satisfaction for the same, and in Case such satisfaction shall not be given in a Reasonable or limited time or shall be referred or Evaded under any pretense whatever to cause Suitable Retaliation to be forthwith made, and the United States in Congress assembled will support them in such measures -

Cha Thomson Secy

See More

People:

Historical Era: American Revolution, 1763-1783

Subjects: Revolutionary WarMilitary HistoryAtrocityPresidentCongressGlobal History and US Foreign PolicyGlobal History and US Foreign Policy

Sub Era: The War for Independence

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.