[This belongs to document No. 3477-enclosure mentioned.] In Congress Jan'y 5th 1781. The Committee to whom was referred the letter of Abraham Skinner Com'y Genl. of Prisoners delivered in a report as follows: That notwithstanding every effort of Congress to obtain for our people prisoners in the hands of the enemy that treatment which humanity alone should have dictated; the British Commanders unmindful of the tenderness exercised toward their men prisoners in our hands and regardless of the practice of civilized nations, have persisted in treating our people prisoners to them with every species of insult, outrage and cruelty. Officers and men are indiscriminately thrown into the hold of prison ships and into loathsome dungeons and there deprived of fuel and the common necessaries of life, by which means, many of the citizens of these States have been compelled to enter into their service to avoid those distresses which a Conduct so contrary to the law of nations had brought upon them. Our Seamen taken upon the American Coast have been sent to Great Britain and other parts beyond Seas, to prevent their being exchanged or to force them to take arms against their country. That in the opinion of the committee, an exercise of the law of retaliation has become necessary as a justice due to those Citizens of America whom the fortune of war has thrown into the power of our Enemy, whereupon, Resolved, That copies of the letter of Mr. A. Skinner and the other papers referred be transmitted to the commander in Chief and that he be directed to enquire into the manner in which our people who are prisoners are treated by the Enemy and that he give immediate orders to the commanding officers at the differ ent posts to take particular care that the British prisoners receive the same allowance and treatment in every respect as our people who are prisoners receive from the Enemy. Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective Executives to take effectual measures for carrying into execution the act of Congress of the 13th Ja'y 1780, respecting prisoners taken by the Citizens, troops or Ships of particular States. That the board of Admiralty issue orders not to exchange any British sea officer or seeman untill the enemy shall have returned to some of their garrisons in America, such seamen as they have taken upon the American coast and have sent to Great Britain or other parts beyond sea, and that the board of war and board of admiralty give orders for continuing the treatment of prisoners as herein directed until they receive orders to the contrary from Congress or the Commander in Chief. Extract from the minutes. Chas. Thomson, Secy. [No. 3478.] Colonel Blaine Preparing for the Supplies of the Army for 1781. New Windsor 10th January 1781. Sir, I presume your Excellency has rec'd the requisition of Congress some time ago for the supplies of our army this year, and that means is adopted by your legislature to procure them in due time. His Excellency General Washington has pointed out the places of deposit in each state. The quantity of Provisions required from your State is sixteen thousand barrels of Flour; two thousand eight hundred Barrels of beef; one thousand five hundred barrels of Pork; 4413 hundreds weight of stalled beef; and thirteen hundred and twenty hundred weight of Grass beef for next summer's use; all the salt provisions and four thousand Barrels of Flour to be delivered this month, the stalled beef subject to my order as well the grass beef which is to be delivered next summer; wou'd wish the stall'd beef deliv ered in the following proportions viz: one fourth part to be delivered the tenth of February; one other the 10th of March; one the 10th of April; and the residue the 10th of May. Congress have pointed out the periods in which the flour is to be delivered. I need not mention to your Excellency the great punctuallity there ought to be observed by the state agents in procuring and delivering the supplies required, and the uneasiness the want of one day's provisions occasions with the soldiery, to prevent which, I beg that your executive and Legislature may give full and ample powers to your agent to obtain the supplies required, and that your Excellency will give very pressing and pointed Instructions for the execution thereof, without which it will not be in my power to keep up a regular supply for the Army. Sundry applications have been made to me by Inhabitants of this state and persons from others to exchange flour, which if I adopted wou'd undoubtedly be an advantage to the public, but be attended with difficulty to your State, or at least prevent them from furnishing their Quoto of Flour, and not add a single Barrel to our magazine, I should think myself happy if consistant with my duty and the public interest I cou'd render your State any service, but wou'd beg leave to mention, that if persons are admited to exchange or barter flour before the state supply is furnished, it will not be in the power of your agent to comply with his orders; was I to encourage the exchange I could undoubtedly engross all the spare flour in the State in the course of three weeks. If the Quantity required was nearly furnished, I wou'd undertake to Exchange a Considerable Parcel at least a sufficiency for the magazine at West Point, but shall decline any encouragement whatever untill I have your opinion fully upon that subject. The new arrangement of the Quarter Master and Commissary Genl. Departments, orders the receival and forwarding of all Public Stores to and from the places of deposit to be performed by the deputy Quarter Master or his store keeper. I shall beg the favour of an answer by first Oppertunity and have the honor to be, very respectfully, your Excellency's most Obed't and most H'ble Serv't Eph. Blaine, C. G. P. Gov'r Clinton. |