That he had therefor removed him from the Charge of the
Prisoners and appointed Mr. Henry H. Ferguson in his place. This gave
us great pleasure as we knew Mr. Ferguson to be a Gentleman of
Character and great Humanity, and the issue justified our
expectations. But to our great surprise Mr. Cunningham was only
removed from the Charge of the Prisons in Philadelphia, and sent to
that of New York. Soon after this great complaints being made of our
Prisoners being likely to perish for want of Cloathing and Blankets,
having been mostly stripped and robbed of their Cloaths when taken,
application was made for permission to purchase (with the provisions
which the British wanted,) Blankets and cloathing, which should be
used only by the Prisoners while in Confinement. This was agreed to,
as we were informed by our own Agent as well as by the British
Commissioner. Provisions were accordingly attempted to be sent in,
when General Howe pretending to ignorance in the business, forbid the
provisions to be admitted, or the Blankets to be purchased. On this I
gave notice to the British Commissary that after a certain day they
must provide food for their prisoners south west of New Jersey, and to
be sent in from their lines, as they should no longer be allowed to
purchase provisions with us. The line drawn arose from our being at
liberty to purchase in New York.
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