The commander in chief demands an immediate & categorical answer to his second summons of Fort Washington. The garrison must immediately surrender prisoners of war, and give up all their arms, ammunition, & stores of every kind. The general is pleased to allow the garrison to keep possession of their baggage, and the officers to have their swords. Magaw asked for four hours to deliberate; he was given thirty minutes. The Hessian captain later said of the American colonel, “His fate seemed hard to him.” Men wept and cursed and hung out white flags as word of the capitulation spread.
