THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President. Letter signed ("G: Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, IN THE HAND OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Washington's Aide-de-Camp, [to the Officer Commanding at Charlottesville, N.C.], New Windsor [near Newburgh, N.Y.], 31 January 1781. 1 page, folio, 340 x 211mm. (13 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.), silked, lightly browned, upper left-hand corner defective (affecting recipient's docket), a few slight losses to clean separations at fold intersections (slightly affecting dateline, one crossing the "G" in Washington's signature), carefully backed with linen at an early date.
Details
WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President. Letter signed ("G: Washington") as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, IN THE HAND OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Washington's Aide-de-Camp, [to the Officer Commanding at Charlottesville, N.C.], New Windsor [near Newburgh, N.Y.], 31 January 1781. 1 page, folio, 340 x 211mm. (13 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.), silked, lightly browned, upper left-hand corner defective (affecting recipient's docket), a few slight losses to clean separations at fold intersections (slightly affecting dateline, one crossing the "G" in Washington's signature), carefully backed with linen at an early date.
WASHINGTON AGREES TO AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS
Washington directs a commanding officer to transport British prisoners of war to New Jersey: "You will permit the gentlemen named in the within list [not present] to proceed to Elizabeth Town, by a route, which you shall prescribe them, not passing through any post of ours or through Philadelphia. When arrived at Elizabeth Town, they are to report themselves to our Commissary of Prisoners there, who will pass them to New York to be exchanged..." Fitzpatrick, 21:165.
General Washington was responding to a letter addressed to him by British General William Phillips on 23 December 1780 (copy supplied with the letter), which requested that 32 British officers be exchanged for an equal number of Continental Army prisoners held on Long Island. The twenty-year-old Alexander Hamilton, in whose hand the letter is written, had already proven himself an able soldier and became Washington's secretary and aide-de-camp in March 1777: "As Secretary and aide, Hamilton held a position of great responsibility, and his duties were by no means confined to giving literary assistance to Washington. He became a trusted advisor..." (DAB).
WASHINGTON AGREES TO AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS
Washington directs a commanding officer to transport British prisoners of war to New Jersey: "You will permit the gentlemen named in the within list [not present] to proceed to Elizabeth Town, by a route, which you shall prescribe them, not passing through any post of ours or through Philadelphia. When arrived at Elizabeth Town, they are to report themselves to our Commissary of Prisoners there, who will pass them to New York to be exchanged..." Fitzpatrick, 21:165.
General Washington was responding to a letter addressed to him by British General William Phillips on 23 December 1780 (copy supplied with the letter), which requested that 32 British officers be exchanged for an equal number of Continental Army prisoners held on Long Island. The twenty-year-old Alexander Hamilton, in whose hand the letter is written, had already proven himself an able soldier and became Washington's secretary and aide-de-camp in March 1777: "As Secretary and aide, Hamilton held a position of great responsibility, and his duties were by no means confined to giving literary assistance to Washington. He became a trusted advisor..." (DAB).