Life and Times of Washington, Volume 2

Amid the bleak winter of 1776‑77 at Morristown, General George Washington wrestles with a problem that eclipses battlefield tactics: the brutal treatment of American prisoners by the British. The narrative reveals his growing frustration as British commanders dismiss the rebels as criminals unworthy of humane standards, prompting heated debates in the Continental Congress. Washington's resolve to protect his men leads him to consider retaliation, but he remains keenly aware of the moral stakes involved.

When the capture of British General Charles Lee ignites a diplomatic impasse, Washington proposes an exchange—six Hessian officers for Lee—only to be rebuffed by General Howe, who labels Lee a deserter. Congress then authorizes a mirror‑image retaliation, ordering the detention of comparable British officers, a move that plunges both sides into a cycle of harsh confinement. The chapter lays bare the delicate balance Washington must strike between justice for his own troops and the broader quest for a humane war ethic.