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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC04386 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1782 |
| Title | George Washington to Matthias Ogden regarding a plan to capture Prince William Henry and Admiral Digby |
| Date | 28 March 1782 |
| Author | Washington, George (1732-1799) |
| Recipient | Ogden, Matthias |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Approving a plan to capture (or kidnap) the future William IV but advising Ogden to treat them with respect and warning him (in a postscript) to avoid touching neutral ground. Boatner's Encyclopedia of the American Revolution notes the plan was compromised and abandoned. A docket on the verso indicates that the letter was shown by Louis W. Lane before 1838 [sic?] to King William who remarked: "I am obliged to General Washington for his humanity, but I'm damn'd glad I didn't give him an opportunity of exercising it towards me." (Also see related GLC 7436, a "Vue d'Optique" print of the arrival of Prince William Henry ("Quillaume [sic] Henry") in New York.) |
| Subjects | President Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Neutrality Prisoner |
| People | Washington, George (1732-1799) Ogden, Matthias (1754-1791) William IV, King of Great Britain (1765-1837) Digby, Robert (1732-1815) |
| Place written | Morristown, New Jersey |
| Theme | The Presidency; The American Revolution; Foreign Affairs |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Notes: Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington. 24: 91. Punctuation has been standardized. Matthias Ogden became Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st New Jersey Continentals in 1776 and assumed command of the regiment in 1777. Ogden proposed a plan in September 1781 for the capture of Prince William Henry, (the future king William IV), when the Prince was in New York City with Admiral Digby. Washington approved the plan, but it was later compromised and abandoned. Signer of the U.S. Constitution. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | L'arrive Du Prince Quillaume [sic] Henry a Nouvelle York en Amerique |
| Transcript | Show/hide |