CIass__^^ / Book_ ^ PRISONERS OF WAR (BRITISH AND AMERICAN), 1778. EDITED BY WORTHINGTON CHAUNCEY FORD. PHILADELPHIA 1893. U2. /6 e/x IN EXCHANGE New York~R,bI.ic Library JUN 27 1912 [From "The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography," 1893.] One Hundred Copies Printed. S^O .-: PRISONERS OF WAR (BRITISH AND AMERICAN), 1778. Among a collection of Revolutionary papers — a very small part of the correspondence of Colonel Samnel Blachley Webb, of the Connecticut line — I found two lists of officers, prisoners of war, one prepared at the request of the com- missary-general of prisoners in the Royal army. Colonel Webb, after serving at Bunker' Hill in Colonel Chester's regiment, became an aide to Major-General Putnam, and later entered the military family of Washington. He was an aide to the Commander-in-chief for six months, and re- ceived an appointment to command one of the " additional regiments" authorized in 1777. For a year he was occupied in raising his regiment, and in active service in the High- lands under Putnam, George Clinton, and Parsons; but had the misfortune to be taken prisoner while making a descent upon the British outposts at Setauket, on Long Island. He at once sought to secure his exchange, but unfortunately political questions prevented its consummation. The British general would not enter into a formal cartel, of binding force, as such an act would compromise the claims of Great Britain over the rebellious colonies. He was willing to make an ex- cliange as a personal act, but was forbidden by his instruc- tions from pledging the foith of the King or of Parliament to such a measure. Partial exchanges were discountenanced by the commanders of both armies, and so there was noth- ing for the Colonel to do but keep alive the question of a cartel, until some agreement could be reached, and a regular course of exchanges entered into. In this his connections greatly assisted him. His brother, 3 4 Prisoners of War {British and Ameyncan), 1778. Joscpli Webb, was the Connecticut commissary of prisoners, and passed freelj^ to and from the island. He had thus established relations with many British prisoners in Con- necticut, who remembered his courteous indulgence on their release on parole, and returned it by kindness to Samuel B. Webb. Samuel lived with Miles Sherbrooke, of no little repute in the city, and he appears to have had many privileges not accorded to other prisoners, — such as hunting in the country, — obtained by his connections with the British oflicers. It is noteworthy, too, that he made the comfort of his fellow-prisoners his care, and was easily the most prominent among them. Through him did the British make known their orders and regulations for controlling the prisoners ; and through him did the prisoners seek for new privileges, or for redress of insult or injury. He drafted their petitions, and pleaded their cause before the Continental Congress, Hence much of his correspondence relates to the subject of prisoners of war, and these tables were prepared to govern the exchanges, as the following letters prove. ^ From Major Beatty to Colonel Wehb. Princeton July 30"" 1778. My Dear Collonbll: I have but a Moment to write you, as an Exchange of a Number of the Fort Washington Officers will in a few days take place. I must re- quest you to furnish me with a return of the whole of the officers on the Island — beginning with those oldest in Captivity — ascertaining their Rank & the time of their Captivity — I am obliged to take this Step — both to do Justice to the Prisoners — & to prevent any reflections upon my Character — the utmost Impartiality is meant to take place & if I err in any respect, it must be attributed to the gentlemen there, who do not do Justice to themselves. I have no list to proceed upon, except an In- accurate one from New York — I must beg the gentlemen will rectify this Matter— & if any dispute arises, with those of the same rank & who were taken at the same time, it is Gen' Washington's Opinion, that they either draw Lotts, or it shall be determined by Precedency of Rank. What- ^ There are in press three volumes of the " Correspondence and Jour- nals of Samuel Blachley Webb," published under the direction of his grandson, William Seward Webb, of New York. These tables will not appear in them. Prisoners of War {British and American) ^ 1778. 5 ever return they make me, it shall regulate all future Exchanges — I must request a report from you as speedily as possible. I enclose you two of our latest Papers — it contains as much as I am at Liberty to write. Peruse it & lend it to your Neighbours. Remember me very affectionately to the good Family you live in. My Comp^ to M' Clarkson's & M' Van home's Family — tell them I saw their Friends very lately — Particularly Matt [Clarkson ?] — who are all well — Tell Tommy at the Dominy's, to keep up his Spirits — another Twelve month will put him on fhe List for an Exchange. I dare say, he Enjoys the Sweets of Confinement as fully as any of you — I flatter myself some times with seeing you — but fear I shall not be able to accomplish it. I am w** Comp"* to all the gentlemen D' Sir, your most Obed' Hum. Serv* Jn° Beatty. George Tudor begs to write his name & to say he expected to hear from Col" Webb & Col. Antle [Antill] before this in answer to two letters wrote to them some time past. Adieu & believe him sincerely yours. To Major Beatty. Flat Bush on Long Island, ^ ,. August IS'h 1778. Dear Sir: We have met and made out a return of the oflScers and other Prisoners upon this Island, we have taken up the mode settled in our army with regard to their respective ranks, as the General rule of our conduct in the arrangement, Ave have signed and sent you, by which means you will be possessed of the situation we are in here and enabled the better to do justice and give satisfaction to all parties If you should be acquainted with any circumstances relative to the prisoners that have not come to our knowledge you will make such alterations (wi the roster of exchange) as you shall think proper We have put down the third Lieutenants by themselves tho' we suppose they will rank as Ensigns and be exchanged accordingly. We are further to inform you that we have taken no notice of those in the Provost Guard nor the Marine or Sea officers We remain with Respect you Hbb' Serv'* James Irwine B. Gen' P. S. S. B. Webb, Col" Amer° Ar^y Edd Antill L. Col" D" Jno Bruyne L' Col" D" John Smock L' Col" Jersey Mill. Andrew Gilbrith Maj' Pen" Flying Camp Edward Tillard Maj"^ Conn' Army Tarlton Woodson Maj' Conn' A'^ Levin Joynes Maj' 9*'' Virg* Reg' Sam Logan Maj' Conn' Army 6 Prisoners of War {British and Avierican), 1778. RETURN OF THE OFFICERS ON PAROLE IN THE DISTRICT OF NEW E UTRECHT, THIS IItH DAY OF AUGUST, 1778. William Allison, Colonel N. Y. militia. Commissioned, 15 Sep- tember, 1775. Taken at Fort Clinton, 6 October, 1777. Andrew Gailbraith, Major in Col. Watts' Penns3'lvania regiment (Flying Camp). Commissioned, 18 September, 1776. Taken at Fort Washington, 16 November, 1776. Epwakd Tillaed, Major in Col. Williams' Maryland regiment. Commissioned, 10 April, 1777. Taken on Staten Island, 22 August, 1777. Samuel Logan, Major in Col. Dubois' New York regiment. Com- missioned, 21 November, 1776. Taken at Fort Montgomery, 6 October, 1777. John Smock, Lieut.-Col. in New Jersey militia. Commissioned, 27 March, 1778. Taken in Monmouth County, 27 May, 1778. Stephen Fleming, Captain in third regiment. New Jersey militia. Commissioned, 12 February, 1778. Taken in Monmouth County, 27 January, 1777 [sic). Elijah Smith, Captain in the fourth Connecticut regiment. Com- missioned, 2 December, 1776. Taken at Norwalk, 15 March, 1777. John Mercer, First Lieutenant in the first New Jersey regiment. Commissioned, 14 November, 1775. Taken near Bound Brook, 7 March, 1777. Ephraim Fenno, of Massachusetts, Capt.-Lieut. in Col. Lamb's artil- lery. Commissioned, 1 January, 1777. Taken at Fort Montgomer}-, 6 October, 1777. Jacob Covenhoven, Captain of Light Horse in 1st New Jersey militia. Commissioned, IS May, 1778. Taken in Monmouth County, 27 May, 1778. Thomas Little, Second Lieutenant in 3d New Jersey militia. Com- missioned, 13 February, 1778. Taken in Monmouth County, 27 Janu- ary, 1777 {^ic). Theophilus Little, First Lieutenant in 3d New Jersey militia. Commisj*< Oi »0 00 T-H I-H CO CO >• •s^ap^o ri : : : 1— 1 ■s[9sj8A panuv sa^BH • : c^ : CI ■sui'BjdBo : r-H CO : -* •ja31^ s^Big -puninioo • t-h : : I-H •jC}nnoo s^naii : qng T-H ; • • I-H ■A •sniBid'Biio • r-* • • l-H •snoaSang I— I .— 1 I— 1 • CO •sia^SBH i8}JT?n?) CO : '-' : -anioo i-H : : rH (M •snSisaa 1— 1 >0 I— I— t CO •s^u'Bna^naii iO I-H CO (M 1-H rH Tt< t- •s^utjua^nan ^bo tK : rH • »o ■sniTj^dBO 00 t^ t- : l-H I-H ■apTjStja moCbh I-H o n c P c 0-M li <<- a o ce 2,a So 23 23 3 o El 138 829 967 With the Enemy With us 2 7 6 11 9 c 8 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 G 6 80 800 880 Total 2 13 20 9 1 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 N.B.— There may probably be more OflSicers and Privates prisoners with us than are included in the above return, but having no regular reports from my Deputy's, I cannot exactly ascertain the number. Prisoners of ]Var [British and American), 1778. 25 STATE OF OFFICERS IN CAPTIVITY, EXCLUSIVE OF THOSE OF THE CONVENTION TROOPS.^ fa "a! 3 o o a> a o o o i4 o '5* '3 a a -2 "3 American officers in Captivity per return Noi 3 13 2 14 3 ... 14 5 1 2 42 3 5 13 176 16 10 20 36 4 4 10 Officers included in the above whom we re- fuse to exchiiniije as p lift ^° 2 By the fame lift there appears to be 20 others not enumerated, who are not jirop- erly exchangeable, which may be propor- tioned thus Officers, prifoners with us, who have been fent into the enemy for whom they have not returned others — and thofe f till in our hands, exclufive of the Convention troops — as p Eeturn — N° 3 Total to be deducted from the above 2 3 8 21 46 18 Ballance in favour of the enemy 3 11 11 G 21 130 18 21 Captains 130 Lieutenants 18 Enfigns From the above eftimate, it appears, that the ballance of Prifoners, in officers, in favour of the enemy exclufive of the troops of the Convention, and inferior ftatf officers who are omitted as they do not materially affi;ct the calculation — is 3 Brigadiers 11 Colonels 11 L Colonels 6 Majors The ultimatum of the enemy's propofitions as mentioned in private converfation was to exchange one half of our officers for as many of theirs of the Convention troops and the remainder in private men on this plan. The number to be exchanged for privates will be 1 Brigadier 10 Captains 6 Colonels 65 Lieutenants 6 Lieutenant Colonels 9 Enfigns 3 Majors ^ This table is in the MS. of Alexander Hamilton. 2(j Prisoners of War (BrUlsh and Americaii), 1778. The loweft ratio that can be thoiiicht of between officers which is founded upon the number of grades in each com- m iff ion is — a Colonel ■ as 6 Captain as 3 Lieut. Colonel as 5 Lieutenant as 2 Major as 4 Enfign as 1 This was proposed by the American commilfioners at German town ; but not acceded to — The loweft ratio to which the British Commiffioners would confent, was the following — a Colonel as 13 Capt as 3 L Colonel as 8 Lieu as 2 Major as 5 Enf as 1 The ratio fettled in the cartel between the French and Englifh in 59 was, in the infantry German florins. a Colonel as 600 Lieut Colonel as 300 Major as 120 Captain as 70 Lieutenant as 24 Enfign as 20 Private as 4 Reduced to numbers upon the principle of the two fore- going it would ftand thus — a Colonel as 30 L Colonel as , 15 Major as 6 Capt as 31^ L' as IJ Enfign as 1 The calculation on the firft ratio will ftand thus — 1 Brigadier fay equal to 2 Colonels @ 6 12 6 Colonels @ 6 36 6 L Col" 5 30 3 Majors 4 12 10 Captains 3 30 65 Lieutenants 2 130 9 Enfigns at 9 259 Prisoners of War (^British and American), 1778. '21 Five privates for an Enfigii is as low an eftlmate as can well be made. It is agreeable to the precedent of 59 before mentioned and would be inf isted on, upon the credit of that precedent ; not to fay, that to ujihold the importance of a commiffion it cannot decently be valued lower. Privates. 259 @, 5 will amount to 1295 Calculating on the fecond ratio by the fame procefs the amount will be 1680 On the third ratio it will be 2350 N.B. — In the propofition lately made by the British Adjutant Gen- eral through Mr. Loring to M' Beatty, it was propofed to fettle the equivalent of privates for officers, agreeable to the third plan. The plan moft commonly held out by the enemy for the exchange of the Convention troops is to do it by whole corps. On this plan as thofe troops particularly the German are very thinly officered they would re- ceive a much larger number of privates, than on the calculation here made for exchanging one half our officers for private men. Thefe calculations could not be entirely accurate ; but they are nearly fo; and will ferve to form a judgment upon. They if anything rather fall fhort of than exceed the truth. PRISONERS OF WAR (BRITISH AND AMERICAN), 1778. EDITED BY WORTHINGTON CHAUNCEY FORD. PHILADELPHIA : 1893.