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GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

MORRISTOWN, 28 May, 1777.

'SIR, The enclosed is a copy of a letter received yesterday from General Howe. Congress will perceive, by referring to the copy of his letter of the 21st of April, transmitted in mine of the 26th, that he persevered in his demand for an equal number of prisoners to be returned for those sent out by him; which has been the subject of controversy between us. * The dispute, so far as General Lee is concerned, rests at present on their declaring him exchangeable, as other prisoners are, on the principle of equality of rank; to insure which, or his safety, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell and the Hessian field-officers are detained. The other objection to returning their prisoners is, that a great proportion of those sent out by them were not fit subjects of exchange when released, and were made so by the severity of their treatment and confinement; and, therefore, a deduction should be made from the list.

*

'Good faith seems to require, that we should return as many of theirs at least as we received effectives from them; and perhaps sound policy, that the agreement subsisting for exchanges should continue.

*

'I confess, I am under great difficulty in this business.

'Notwithstanding my recommendation, agreeably to what I conceived to be the sense of Congress, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell's treatment continues to be such as cannot be justified either on the principles of generosity or strict retaliation; as I have authentic information, and I doubt not you will have the same, that General Lee's situation is far from being rigorous or uncomfortable. Except his not being permitted to go at large on parole, he has reason to be content with every other circumstance of his

treatment.

I am just moving to yesterday morning. On advanced near that post.

Boundbrook, from whence I returned Monday morning a body of the enemy They retreated, on seeing a detachment march to meet them. There was some firing at long shot, but without any great damage.

Lond. ed. vol. ii. p. 80.

*

I have the honor to be, &c.'

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SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

HEAD-QUARTERS, MIDDLEBROOк, 31 May, 1777. 'SIR, Monsieur Ducoudray is just arrived at camp, and proposes to set out to-morrow for Philadelphia. What his views are I am uncertain, having had no conversation with him upon the subject; but I find an idea prevails that there is an agreement between Mr. Deane and him, that he shall have the chief command

of the artillery. How well founded this opinion may be, I cannot determine; but, if it be true, it may involve the most injurious consequences. General Knox, who has deservedly acquired the character of one of the most valuable officers in the service, and who, combating almost innumerable difficulties in the department he fills, has placed the artillery upon a footing that does him the greatest honor,-he, I am persuaded, would consider himself injured by an appointment superseding his command, and would not think himself at liberty to continue in the service. Should such an event take place in the present state of things, there would be too much reason to apprehend a train of ills, such as might convulse and unhinge this important department.

'Supposing Monsieur Ducoudray to have made such an agreement, the case is of great difficulty, and, in my opinion, is worthy of the consideration of Congress. Yet may not means be still devised to satisfy this gentleman by appointing him to some command not derogatory to his promised rank, and which will be agreeable to him? From the recommendations we have had of him, I am obliged to esteem him of high character, and of great knowledge in what he professes; and, from this consideration and the manner in which he is mentioned to us, it appears that much address and delicacy must be used to conciliate matters. Many reasons, besides those I have noted, might be assigned for continuing General Knox first in command in this department, which, on reflection, will readily occur. I would only observe, without insinuating the most distant shadow of distrust of Monsieur Ducoudray's honor, candor, or integrity, that, on the general maxims of prudence and policy, it may be questioned with much propriety, whether so important a command as that of the artillery should be vested in any but a native, or one attached by the ties of interest to these States. Congress will be pleased to excuse the freedom I have used upon this occasion, and, I trust, will impute it to the importance of the subject which gave rise to it. 'I have the honor to be, &c.'

Lond. ed. vol. ii. p. 84.

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iv. p. 444.

SAME to RICHARD HENRY LEE.

MIDDLEBROOK, 1 June, 1777.

'DEAR SIR,- By your favor of the 22d ultimo, I perceive my letter of the 17th* has been expressed in too strong terms. I did not mean by the words, " to get rid of importunity," to cast the smallest reflection; indeed, the hurry with which I am obliged to write the few private letters I attempt, will not allow me to consider the force and tendency of my words; nor should I have been surprised, if the fact had really been so, if I am to judge of

See that letter of the 17th, p. 460.

their, I mean foreigners', applications to Congress, by those to myself; for it is not one nor twenty explanations that will satisfy the cravings of these people's demands.

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You will, before this can reach you, have seen Monsieur Ducoudray. What his real expectations are, and what his agreements with Mr. Deane, I know not; but I fear, if his appointment is equal to what I have been told is his expectation, it will be attended with unhappy consequences. To say nothing of the policy of entrusting a department (on the due execution of which the salvation of the army depends) to a foreigner, who has no other tie to bind him to the interests of this country than honor, I would beg leave to observe, that, by putting Monsieur Ducoudray at the head of the artillery, you will lose a very valuable officer in General Knox, who is a man of great military reading, sound judg ment, and clear conceptions. He has conducted the affairs of that department with honor to himself, and advantage to the public; and will resign if any one is put over him.

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My last return of the army will give you our strength, and show the state of the recruiting service, which seems to be at an end. The regiments of Pennsylvania, indeed, appear to be grow ing worse. * If some effectual mode is not devised to fill the regiments, it is impossible, at least very unlikely, that any effectual opposition can be given to the British army, with the troops we have, whose numbers diminish more by desertion, than they increase by enlistments.

Wash. Writ.

I am, &c.'
Sparks, vol. iv. p. 446.

GENERAL GREENE to

CAMP AT MIDDLEBROOK, 4 June, 1777.

Pas

'I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you, delivered me by Lieutenant Littlefield. sion and prejudice have too much influence in Administration, to preserve the best and happiest line of conduct.

*

'God knows how long this war may last. The want of union and virtue among the Americans may protract it for some time. The State of Pennsylvania is in great confusion. The Quakers are poisoning every body, - foolish people! The Congress and I do not agree in politics: they are introducing a great many foreigners. I think it dangerous to trust so large a part of the American army to the command of strangers. British gold is of a poisonous quality, and the human heart treacherous to the last degree. There are no less than four general officers of the

nation now in the American service. There is a French gentleman sent over by Mr. Deane to have the command of all the artillery in America. If his appointment is confirmed, it will rob us of one of the best, or, at least, as good an officer as we have in the service General Knox. I tremble for the consequences,

as I fear it will ruin the whole corps; and it is now upon a very respectable footing, and increasing in perfection daily. Wisdom and prudence sometimes forsake the wisest bodies. I am exceedingly distressed at the state of things in the great National Council!

Life of Greene, vol. i. p. 97.

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. MIDDLEBROOK, 5 June, 1777. 'SIR, I this morning had the honor of your letter of the 5th, with its enclosures. The Resolution of the 30th of May, respecting the French gentlemen who came passengers in the Amphitrite, reached camp before your letter, and has excited much uneasiness in the artillery corps. The enclosed copy of a letter from General Knox will convey their anxiety upon the subject; which I think it necessary to transmit, as well from duty, as on account of his request. The difficulties upon this occasion arise from the peculiar circumstances of most of the officers composing the artillery regiments at this time. I do not know, for my own part, what operation Congress precisely meant the Resolution should have; but if the commissions which these gentlemen are to receive should give them rank from the dates of those they had from the King of France, or from their compact with Mr. Deane, there are but few officers now in the artillery who will not be superseded in their command, unless some method is adopted to prevent it. This, I am persuaded, Congress had not in contemplation, because it is opposed to policy and to justice; and I am led to believe the Resolution was come into for want of due information how matters were circumstanced in this instance.

'The officers now in the artillery I am obliged to consider of great merit. Experience has proved them to be most warmly attached to the rights of their country; and their conduct in the line of their profession has been such as does the highest honor to themselves, and the gentleman who immediately commands them. Without derogating in the least from the character of the French officers who are to be commissioned, and whom I wish to receive every countenance they merit, there is strong reason to doubt, laying aside every consideration of policy, whether they have seen as much real service as our own in the course of two campaigns. It would be hard, not to say unjust, that the latter should lose their command, when they have a claim to every mark of favor, and after they have taken great pains to form their companies. The service requires that they should not; and I am convinced the event would be attended with the most fatal consequences.

'But what is to be done? This is a case of difficulty, view it as you will. I am not for rejecting the French gentlemen; far otherwise. I am for employing them; and public faith, and the

encouragements given to bring them over, demand that it should be done. After much thought and consideration upon the subject, two modes occur to me, as the only possible ones by which it can be effected, and by which the inconveniences I have mentioned can be remedied. One is, that a new corps of artillery should be formed, and these gentlemen attached to it. This, we have reason to fear, cannot be done, from the difficulties we have experienced in raising men, and from their having no interest or connections with the people. Their situation in such case, if they are men of sentiment and active dispositions, would be irksome and distressing. The other is, that our present officers now under consideration should have their commissions antedated, to give them precedency of rank; and this may be done with the greater propriety, as most of them were intended to hold the posts they now sustain, before the French gentlemen had any claim upon us. It is true they were not commissioned, because the old corps existed under the first arrangement. Further, it is said, and there is no doubt of the fact, that these gentlemen were promoted by brevet, just before their departure from France, merely to give them rank here; antecedent to which, our officers were superior to them in this point; and these brevets only confer local rank confined to the French-American colonies. This latter mode appears the most eligible. If it is adopted, they will be distributed through the corps, as assistant officers. Their want of a knowledge in our language incapacitates them for command in the first instance; and not only so, but to place them at the head of companies, over officers that have been at great trouble, pains, and expense, in raising the men, would be both unmilitary and unjust.

'I shall now quit the subject; wishing that whatever will best conciliate matters, and advance the public good, may be done; suggesting at the same time with all deference, that, as it is much easier to prevent evils, than to remedy them after they have happened, it will be well, in all cases of foreign and indeed other applications, that the consequences, which granting them will involve, should be maturely weighed and taken in every point of view. In the present case of difficulty, things, I am persuaded, might have been adjusted with the greatest facility, had the Committee of Foreign Applications been fully possessed of all the circumstances respecting the artillery regiments.

Lond. ed. vol. ii. p. 89.

'I have the honor to be, &c.'
Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iv. p. 450.

Below is the Resolution mentioned in this letter as having excited much perplexing doubt and anxiety among the American officers.

IN CONGRESS, May 30. Resolved, That blank commissions be sent to General Washington, for the French officers lately arrived in the Amphitrite, to be filled up agreeable to a list to be forwarded

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