A Year With George Washington
On March 9, 1779, George Washington wrote to George Bryan, the Vice President of Pennsylvania (equivalent to Lieutenant Governor), to commend him for discretion in not allowing citizens to cross into enemy territory to visit those loyal to the crown.
Washington’s spy network was firmly established to his advantage, and he was wary of anything that might impede or reveal it. Bryan had written to Washington four days before to provide background information on those requesting passes.
Prior to his having received Bryan’s letter, however, Washington had already taken measures to deny the visitations and instead required that any loyalist who wished to meet must come to the patriot side of the lines. Washington, no doubt, wished to use the visits to solicit any intelligence he could gather to buttress his knowledge of the enemy.
Read the letters (to and fro) below:
From George Bryan to George Washington
In Council Philadelphia March 5th 1779
Sir,
It may not be amiss, to acquaint your Excellency, that Council have declined recommending persons desirous of passing into the enemys lines, from this state, and have referred back to Congress, a business, wherein they found others in publick stations interfering, without any reprehension from that Honorable Body, altho the irregularity has been laid before them several months since.
At the same time, this Board, ever watchful of the publick safety and happiness, think it behooves them to communicate to you, their suspicions, that Mr Paul Zantzinger of the borough of Lancaster, in this state, merchant, who is lately gone hence for camp, has a design of getting liberty to pass into New York.
For this purpose, he will probably set forth his desire to visit his father-in-law, the Reverend Mr Thomas Barton, now in that City. When you know the character and conduct of this divine, your Excellency will judge better of such a request. Mr Barton has long been a missionary, stationed a[t] Lancaster, by the society in England, for propogating the Gospel. It is believed, that he has been very instrumental in poisoning the minds of his parishioners, who are generally of very disaffected principles, as to the present contest with Great Britain. His late conduct, in refusing to give the common proofs of allegiance to this state, and abjure the King of Great Britain, and in taking the benefit of the indulgence of our Legislature, which allowed him to sell his lands, and retire, as he said, to Europe; but above all, his acceptance of a chaplaincy in a British regiment at New York, (as is credibly reported here,) and thus actively joining the enemy, confirm the worst ideas, that have been entertained of this Gentleman: I would suggest, that Mr Zantzinger is a trader, who has never manifested much attention to the present contest, and very likely to be drawn by interested views to a market, where European merchandizes are sold at prices, inviting to men, who seek profit merely.
Mr Zantzinger is probably accompanied by a son of Mr Barton, a young Gentlemen, lately returned from England, where he has been weaned of all fond attachment to that corrupted country, and brought to see the happiness and independence of North America in their proper light and connection. Young Mr Barton is a much clearer character with us, than his brother-in-law; and as such I venture to mention him, and I am May it please your Excellency Your most obedient and very humble servant,
Geo. Bryan, Vice-president.
To George Bryan from George Washington
Hd Qrs Middlebrook 9 March 1779
Sir
I had the honor of your favor of the 5th Instant.
I am much obliged to you for that attention you discover to prevent any intercourse with the enemy, which might be attended with doubtful circumstances. I had taken my measures with the gentlemen which are the object of your information before I recieved your letter, and, restricted them to our own lines at Elizabeth Town point where they had liberty to see their friends if they could obtain leave to come over —This I imagined a sufficient security against any consequences which might be apprehended from a more liberal indulgence. I have the honor to be with great respect &c.
