To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Udny Hay, 6 November 1779
From Lieutenant Colonel Udny Hay
Fish Kill [N.Y.] 6th Novr 1779
Sir
I this day went and saw a number of Canadians in the Provost who I understand have been making application to your Excellency for leave to work in the Country, I believe in lieu of granting that request if you should propose their working under me at the usual pay given to other fatigue men, they would easily be induced to accept the offer, and never had we more occasion for such men than at this moment.
In the Provost there is a little sailor of 14 years of age who is willing to live in my family, he is a prisoner of war taken at Tarry town, and should he be of a good disposition and your Excellency will give an order for his being liberated I doubt not of making him an usefull subject to the united States. I have the Honour to be with the greatest respect Your Excellences most obedt & very humble serv.
Udny Hay
The boys name is William Jenarous.
ALS, DLC:GW.
GW replied to Hay from West Point on 11 Nov.: “I have no objection to your employing the Canadians in the manner you propose, and have given orders to the Commissary of prisoners for their liberation. You will take the proper precautions to prevent their escaping should any of them appear disposed that way. I have also desired the Commissary to release the sailor lad on your application” (Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). GW’s assistant secretary James McHenry wrote John Beatty, commissary general of prisoners, on the same date: “His Excellency has given leave to Col. Hay D.Q.M.G. at Fish kill to employ in his department the Canadian prisoners now in confinement. You will therefore be pleased to take the usual order for their liberation for this purpose. … P.S. You will also release a sailor a prisoner of war in the provost on Col. Hay’s application” (DLC:GW).