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From the Archives - Prisoner Exchange
On October 4, 1777, George Washington undertook an attack on British Gen. Sir William Howe's army at Germantown, Pennsylvania. His plan, brilliant plan in concept, was to get behind the British by a long flank march. But the plan was flawed in that the troops Washington had were neither trained nor hardened sufficiently to effectively carry it out. As a result, the battle went badly for the Americans. But all was not lost. Washington's troops came away with a most valuable prisoner, to wit, Sir William's dog.
Being a proper eighteenth century officer and gentleman, on October 6th, Washington promptly took pen in hand to write his adversary,
General Washington's compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return to him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the collar appears to belong to General Howe.
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