Washington, George (1732-1799) to Moses Rawlings re: moving British POW's to Lancaster & Philadelphia
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 #: GLC04566 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter signed Date: 12 December 1781 Pagination: 1p. + docket Order a Copy
Washington also mentions allowing foreigners to stay in frontier towns.
Notes: Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington, 23: 383-384. Lieutenant Colonel Moses Rawlings was then the Maryland State commissary of prisoners at Frederick Town. Lieutenant Colonel Caleb North was in the Second Pennsylvania Regiment.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Philad[elphi]a 12 Decemb[er] 1781.
Sir
I received your favor of the 2d. inst. by Colo. Thomas.
The Secretary at War, Major Gen. Lincoln, under whose orders the prisoners of War now more immediately fall, convinced that a strict hand will be necessary over the British in particular, is about removing all those to Lancaster and to this City, where they will <be closely confined under Continental Guards. The Foreigners, who are more tractable,> will be left in the Frontier Town.
General Lincoln will write to you by Colo. North on the subject of assisting in the removal of the British prisoners. You will oblige me by giving every aid in your power.
Sir
Your most ob[edien]t Genl.
Go: Washington
Colo. Rawlings
[docket:]
13
Genl. Washington to Col. Rawlings Dec. 1781
calling on him to assist in recovering the
British prisoners to Lancaster, Penn.
Fred[rick] Town
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
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.