From George Washington to William Lord Stirling Alexander, 9 December 1782

I have been duly favored with your two Letters of the 12th and 23 of Novr.

By a Resolution of Congress of the 27th Ulto I am directed "to take immediate measures for apprehending and securing Lake Knolton of Newfane & Samuel Mills of Brattleborough both of the District commonly called the New Hampshire Grants west of Connecticut River;" Whereupon, I have thought proper to commit the execution of this business to your Lordships discretion, and to desire that you will detach a sufficient party from the Rhode Island Regt for the purpose, giving such private Orders & taking such prudential steps as shall be thought expedient for accomplishing the object with the least hazard, disturbance & inconvenience possible; as you will readily conceive, my Lord, this is a delicate affair, which will require much address & good Management in the conducting of it. I will leave that altogether to your prudence, only suggesting whether it will not be necessary to mask the movement under pretext of sending the party to Coos, or something of that kind, and to secure their return by good arrangements & a rapid march; or perhaps if a few Horses could be procured to mount a small Detachment it would be the most effectual mode for them to arrive at the places without suspicion by different Routes and to retire very expeditiously.

In apprehending the Persons in question, the Officer Commanding should suffer no insults or unnecessary violence to be committed he must also be careful that the Prisoners shall be properly treated, & safely conveyed to Albany, from whence you will be pleased to have them sent in the same manner to this place.

I enclose to your Lordship under a flying seal, a Letter for the Honble Mr Chittenden, which you will be so good as to have sealed & delivered to him, as soon as conveniently may be, after the Persons name’d therein shall be apprehended & conveyed to a place of safety. I am with great esteem.