Written from Head Quarters. Writes, I send you a packet for the officer commanding at Dobb's Ferry which His Excellency wishes may be forwarded on without loss of time - You have likewise the general order of yesterday requesting the return of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Lines. Be good eno' to let Genl. [Jedediah] Huntington know that they are in your hands - he will want them immediately.

Written to Colonel Tilghman as an aide-de-camp to General Washington. Says seven prisoners of war who have been confined at West Point have petitioned him for relief. They were taken in the Northern Department and sent to West Point from Albany a year before. Lists their names and the circumstances of their capture. Says that they have families and that most of them have connections in Canada. If they cannot be released, they would like to go to Albany where they might get assistance from their acquaintances. Says their confinement is rather more rigorous than usually falls to the lot of prisoners of war captured under common circumstances. Says there are also 2 Germans who were sent to him 3 or 4 weeks ago when you sent some tories and a letter for Governor Clinton. Says they were captured by militia when they attempted to depart for Pennsylvania and that the simply wish to go home. Written and signed for Knox in the secretarial hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. See GLC02437.01656 for the petition.

Docketed to Colonel Tilghman, one of George Washington's aides. Reports that a company at West Point has been annexed to Colonel Proctor's regiment. Asks for George Washington's instructions as to whether or not he should order the company to Proctor's regiment immediately. Asks for news regarding General [Nathanael] Greene, Commander of the Southern Department. Remarks that his son Harry is feeling better today.

Written from Head Quarters by Colonel Tilghman to Major General Knox. Says Knox's letters came to hand last evening. Says Washington has gone down to the river and that he cannot answer him until tomorrow. Reports that Vessels have arrived in short passages from Holland to Boston - letters down to the 20th of Augt. say that the French, Dutch and English Fleets had returned safe and sound into port. Says the British have not determined whether to relieve Gibraltar or not. Claims it was in danger and must fall without Speedy relief. Reports that British affairs in the East Indies are bad. On the peace negotiations says Terms of the Belligerent Powers high and hard - Britain as obstinate as the Devil.

Colonel Tilghman, an aide for George Washington, writes His Excellency approves of all but the order to land the Artillery & c at Kings ferry, He thinks it should be sent up to West point, as we have no Horses at kings ferry and few men to cover any thing there should the enemy land.

Indicates that he has received an inaccurate (imprecise) report of the (captured) cannons and mortars at the lines during the siege of Yorktown, which he blames on the confusion there. Thought the report would still be useful, knowing Colonel Tench Tilghman's destination. Has not yet received word of the artillery captured at Gloucester. Tilghman, an aide-de-camp and military secretary to Washington, was on his way to Philadelphia to announce the formal surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which happened that day. See GLC02437.01245 for a related item.

Directed to Tilghman and Humphreys, both of whom are aide-de-camps of General George Washington. Mentions that Congress has recently resolved to reduce the size of the Department of Commissary General of Military Stores. Relays correspondence he had with Minister at War Benjamin Lincoln regarding his opinions on the number of people necessary to work in the ordnance department. Explains that he also suggested to Lincoln that he talk to his Excellency's Lieutenants on the subject [assistants to General George Washington such as Tilghman or Humphreys] which is the reason he is now writing to them. Relates that Mr. [Richard] Frothingham, Field Commissary of Military Stores, will stop by their camp the following Monday on his way to Philadelphia where he is trying to obtain compensation for the conductors. Asks that they provide their opinions as well as the names of any conductors who have served with industry and fidelity during that year. Notes Mr. Frothingham will take their letters to Philadelphia and give them to General Lincoln.