Washington, George (1732-1799) to Caesar Rodney
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06484 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Letter signed Date: 26 August 1779 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 30 x 17.7 cm. Order a Copy
Circular letter written by Washington as commander of the Continental Army to Rodney as Governor of Delaware. The two page letter is accompanied by a leaf entitled "List of American Officers Prisoners who have violated their Paroles belonging to the State of Delaware." Says that he needs the help of the executive power of Rodney to recapture prisoners who have violated their paroles because they have served with the state militia and not the Continental Army. Washington claims it is a matter of honor for prisoners on parole to follow the stipulations of that condition. Says it will help facilitate honest exchanges in the future and keep others from violating parole. Says he does not have sufficient power to recapture these men and hopes Rodney can do it properly. The list for Delaware consists of one officer and another that is crossed out. The address leaf and the list of parole violators are each on separate sheets of paper. Washington's red wax seal is mostly intact.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Head Quarters West
Point Augst. 26th. 1779
(Circular)
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 & 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 [inserted: 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 & keep themselves in concealment. - I must therefore intreat that your Excellency will be pleased to take Such measures as Shall appear to you [2] 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
His Excellency
Governor Rodney.
[enclosed:]
List of American Officers Prisoners who have Violated their Paroles belonging to the State of Delaware.
Rank & Names County State
Capt. Lt. Jonathn. Brewer Newcastle Delaware
[struck: Lt. Jonathan Kearny] [struck: do]
[address:]
Wilmington public Service
His Excellency
Caesar Rodney Esqr
Governor of the State
of Delaware.
Letter from
Go: Washington Augt. 1779
[docket on address leaf:]
to be answered
Agst [?]. 26.1779.
West Point
[illegible]
[illegible]
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