Head Quarters Valley Forge [Pa.] 11th: April 1778
Gentn:
I am favd. with yours of the 31st: ulto.1 All the Articles which you send over are to be directed to the Commy Genl of purchases2 or his deputy in Camp and they will give Receipts upon delivery.
I have never had an answer from General Howe respecting Capt. Robinson and Galt.3 Our Commissioners are now sitting at Newtown to endeavour to procure a general Release of prisoners and to settle a more extensive Cartel than has hitherto subsisted.4 I am in hopes if they agree, that Capt. Galt may be redeemed notwithstanding his indiscretion.5 If Capt. Robinson is detained I shall not fail to make a demand of him in a proper manner.6 I am with great Respect Gent. Your
Df, DLC, George Washington Papers, Series 4. Addressed at bottom of page: "Navy Board at/Bordentown [N.J.]." Docketed on a separate page: “To/Continen' Navy Board/at/Bordentown/11th. April 1778."
1. See Continental Navy Board of the Middle Department to Washington, 31 Mar. 1778, NDAR 11: 845.
2. Jeremiah Wadsworth. His assistant at camp was Royal Flint.
3. Washington had written Gen. Sir William Howe concerning the case of Capt. Isaiah Robinson, Continental Navy, and Capt. Nathaniel Galt, Pennsylvania Navy, on 22 Mar. 1778. NDAR 11: 759.
4. The commissioners: William Grayson, Robert H. Harrison, Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot, met in early Apr, with representatives of Sir William Howe at Newtown, Pa., to negotiate a treaty for the exchange of prisoners of war. They were unable to agree on terms. Commissioners for Prisoner Exchange to George Washington, 15 Apr. 1778, GW Papers, Rev. War Series, 14: 518–23.
5. For more on the "indiscretion" of Galt and Robinson, see Robinson to Washington, 17 Mar. 1778 and Howe to Washington, 19 Mar. 1778. NDAR 11: 674, 711.
6. Washington wrote Howe again on behalf of Robinson and Galt on 27 May, below.
