the officers of the Army procure the most accurate Intelligence and every acc't of the Enemy's movement, provided a Stop cannot be put to it, and your Excellencys thinks it adviseable, I should be happy to have a Flag, in order to fetch off their Familys and such Effects as they may have in possession, I would mention their Names to your Excellency, but should the Letter miscarry, I fear it might be their Ruin; nothing should have prevented my writing on your Excellency, had I but Money to bear Expences, but not having rec'd any pay for 23 Months service, puts it out of my power, I shall continue here, untill I hear from or see you, as I have some other things to mention concerning the Villany of our Guides, suffring large Quantitys of provisions going to the Enemy, for large Bribes. I have been Informd the Legislature have passd an act to prevent the officers who were dearranged from receiving notes for the amount of their Depreciation, which must hurt me much as mine is £450. I should not thing so much of it had not many of them that applied early received theirs; and even some of the same Regt. with me; the kindness I have received from your Excellency, induces me think your Excellency will not forget me on this occasion. I have the Honour to be, with Esteem, Your Excellency's most obd. & very Humble Servant

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

J. Lawrence, Jun'r.

[No. 3598.]

Captain Townsend, in Applying for Exchange, Throws Light upon the Treatment of American Prisoners in New York.

Provost, New York, 26th March 1781.

Hon'rd Sir, I am under the Disagreeable Necessity of troubl ing your Excellency, with my present unhappy Situation.

I had the Missfortune to be made prisoner, by a party of Col. Delancey's Horse thieves, att Veals Ford, the 18th of Novem'r last, and by them Strip'd of all my papers, Publick & private. The little Money and Clothing, was also strip'd from me, so that all the Clothing left me was not worth four Dollars. I was Conducted to Delancey's Quarters the next Morning, and was most grossly Insulted by him, and on my asking him whither I might not have my private papers, that could not be any Service to any person excepting myself, he replied along with that Fellow, and in my presence, he told two of the Fellows that took me, viz. Jacob Van Wart, & John Montross, take me along & do what they pleased with me. I was then mounted behind one of them, (Pinioned), carried round to visit all the Hutts in Morrissenia Woods, with shouting & acclamations of joy, and after sporting with me in that way near five Hours, I was conducted to the provost at Fort Washington. I was there used with the greatest Civility by the officer of the guard & was inform'd by him that Coll. Delancey had ordered me to the pro vost att New York, and not to be exchanged without the Consent of the Refugees. The next Morning, the 20th, I was Conducted from guard to guard, and after the usual Method of gallanting prisoners of war round the City, without ever being asked a single Question, by any officer, I was safely lodged in the dungeon in this house, where I lay without seeing fire or Candle Light, untill the 3d of December (13 days) was then ordered into the Congress Room (the first five days all the provisions Rec'd was from the Bounty of friends in town) I continued in the Congress Room, with the other prisoners of war & lived as comfortable as close Confinment would admitt, being supplied with Money & provisions by my Friends in town, untill

the 28th of January last, when I was again ordered into the same dungeon, on two thirds allowance of bread and water only, being debarred from anything further that might be brought in. In this situation I suffered ten days, till the 7th of February, without being asked a single Question, or told the reason of such Treatment. I was then ordered into the Congress Room, where I as yet continue. I was supprised, about three weeks ago to see my name & Maj'r Brush's struck off the provision Roll with the prisoners of war, and annex'd to their own Criminals confined here, and being since Informed by an officer in this room, that Capt. Cunningham* told him that they did not look on Maj'r Brush & myself as prisoners of war, and that if all the prisoners were Exchanged, that Brush & Townsend would not be, and also being informed from good authority that neither of our names were entered on Lowering's Books as prisoners of war. These Circumstances being weighd must fully, convince any person that every cursed art that Hell can devise is bent to prevent our exchange as long as possible. All the prisoners of war in close Confinement in New York, is here fifty seven in number, about one half of them is Inhabitants of West Chester County.

And as your Excellency is well acquainted with my Character both in publick & private, and after being Inform'd with the Ill Treatment Rec'd by the Enemy, which I concieve principally occasioned by Coll. Delancey, & the present unhappy Situation I am in, being debarred from writing a single Line to my friend in publick, I cannot have the least Doubt, but your Excellency

*Captain Cunningham, a wretch fully as malignant as Captain Wirz, Keeper of the Andersonville prison pen during the War of the Rebellion, presided over the jail, which stood at the northeast corner of City Hall Park. For many years it was used, and known, as "The Hall of Records." Its demolition was ordered by the city authorities, July 17, 1902.-STATE HISTORIAN.

will Immediately Interfere in my Behalf, and procure my Exchange as soon as possible, which will much oblige your Excel lency's unfortunate friend & Very Hum'e Serv't

His Exc'cy George Clinton, Esqr.

[No. 3599.]

Saml. Townsend.

Governor Clinton Communicates with Governor Haldemand, of Canada, in Regard to Exchanging Women and Children Captured on the Frontier.

Albany, March 27" 1781.

Sir, While I entertain too high an opinion of your character as a gentlemen to suppose you inclined to add to the miseries. of war by involving in it the Captivity of helpless women and Children, permit me to assure you it has always been my Desire from motives of humanity, to afford them whether connected with friends or enemies, any relief that their situation required and circumstances would admit. Influenced by these considerations I directed Coll: Gansevoort last fall to forward to Major Carlton, who was then in the vicinity of Crown Point, upwards of one hundred women & Children whose husbands and parents were then in Canada.

I now inclose your Excellency a list of the names of sundry women & Children, who at different periods have been taken by parties in the British service in their ravaging incursions on the frontiers of the State over which I have the Honor to preside, and have to request, that your Excellency will order them to be liberated, and furnished with the necessary means to return to their families. It becomes at the same time my duty to inform your Excellency that unless the inhuman & unmilitary practice. of capturing women & Children ceases, I shall be reduced to the

disagreable necessity of detaining & treating the remaining families of those who have gone into the British Lines as objects of Exchange, and thus involuntarily increase the Distresses of many whom the Fate of War have separated from their nearest Connections. I have the Honor to be with Sentiments of personal respect your Excellency's most Obed't Serv't

[G. C.] Since writing the above I have rec'd the original List of the women & Children sent last Fall to Canada a copy of which & of Lieut. McDonald Rec't I have the honor of inclos'g; their No. is 159.

[To Governor Haldemand.]

Within Limits of Colo. Bellinger's Regt., Tryon Ciunty.