Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Tench Tilghman
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01658 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Manuscript letter Date: 10 October 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 33.2 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
Written to Colonel Tilghman as an aide-de-camp to General Washington. Says seven prisoners of war who have been confined at West Point have petitioned him for relief. They were taken in the Northern Department and sent to West Point from Albany a year before. Lists their names and the circumstances of their capture. Says that they have families and that most of them have connections in Canada. If they cannot be released, they would like to go to Albany where they might assistance from their acquaintances. Says "their confinement is rather more rigorous than usually falls to the lot of prisoners of war captured under common circumstances." Says there are also 2 Germans who were sent to him 3 or 4 weeks ago "when you sent some tories and a letter for Governor Clinton." Says they were captured by militia when they attempted to depart for Pennsylvania and that the simply wish to go home. Written and signed for Knox in the secretarial hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. See GLC02437.01656 for the petition.
West Point,
Octo 10th 1782.
Dear Sir,
Seven prisoners of war, who have been for a long time past confined in the provost at this place, have petitioned me, praying relief from their present Situation. They were taken in the Northerrn department, and chiefly Sent here from Albany near a year ago, with a view of being exchanged, but were disappointed in their expectations and have remained in confinement ever Since. Annexed is a list of their names with Some circumstances of their capture, &c.
Viza,
Lemuel Carwell - Taken near Fort Edward in Octo 1781
James Parke - Ditto, in Augt 1780
Francis V.D. Bogart - Mowhawk River, March 1782
Ephraim Eyrs - On the Lakes in 1778 and remained on parole at Albany till last Fall.
John Cornelius Canada Creeck, Octo 1781
Christian Shellop
Samuel Wallis - Virginia, Octo 1781, and defected in attempting his escape to his family in Canada
As some of these men have families and most of them connections in Canada, their wish is, if they cannot be exchanged, to be sent back to Albany, where the assistance they might derive from their acquaintance would render their captivity more easy. Perhaps on [2] on application to the Commissary of prisoners something may be done at present their confinement is rather more rigorous than usually falls to the lot of prisoners of war captured under common circumstances -
I wish your answer on these matters as soon as possible and am
D.r Sir
Your most obt Servt
HK
+ Besides the above named, there are two Germans whom you sent here three or four weeks ago, when you sent some tories and a letter for Governor Clinton. These men say they were taken by some militia in the instant of their attempting to [desert] and that they wish to go to Pennsylvania where they have both of them relations. -
Col. Tilghman
A.D. Camp
[docket]
To Col. Tilghman
A. D. Camp
11 Octo 1782.
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