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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