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5th June 1784

My dear Sir

Colo. Hazen's sending
an officer under the capitula
tion of York Town for the purpose
of retaliation has distressed
me exceedingly. Be so good as
to give me your opinion of
the propriety of doing this upon
Capt. Asgill should we be dri
ven to it for want of an
unconditional prisoner.

Presuming that this
matter has been a subject of
much conversation, pray, with
your own, let me know the opi
nions of the most sensible of
these with whom you have
conversed.

Congress, by their resolve,
has unanimously approved
of my determination to retali
ate--the Army have advised
it--and the Country look for
it. But how far it is justifi
able upon an Officer under the faith
of a capitulation, if none other
can be had, is the question?

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Hazen's sending Capt.
Asgill on for this purpose makes
the matter more distressing, as
the whole business will have
the appearance of a farce, if
some person is not sacrificed
to the manes of poor Huddy;
which will be the case if an
unconditional prisoner can
not be found, and Asgill escapes.

I write to you in exceed
ing great haste; but beg your
sentiments may be transmit
ted as soon as possible (by Ex
press) as I may be forced to a
decision in the course of a
few days.

[Subscription (recipient's name at foot of page)]

Maj. Gen. Lincoln