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�From September 1 on, all the captives from Cornwallis�s army who had worked here and
there in the country had to return to their regiments and enter the Barracks, by an order of the Congress of Philadelphia. Also, all of the captives from Burgoyne�s army who were scattered in the land, were assembled. However, anyone of them who was married to an American woman was released for a fixed sum, and could again part; the same was true of many who had sworn allegiance to America. All of us captives had permission from Congress to swear our allegiance. Also, for thirty pounds, that is, eighty Spanish dollars, it was possible to buy freedom out of captivity, or to allow an inhabitant to buy our freedom, and we could work off the indebtedness. This order was publicly proclaimed, posted and read in the
churches.�26
Negotiations continued for the end of the war and in April of 1783, Congress resolved to arrange for liberation of all prisoners. On May 13, 1783, at noon, the last of the German prisoners left the Frederick Barracks. They had endured fifteen and a half months in confinement before gaining their freedom with the signature of the Treaty of Paris. Those who had not died, deserted, been lost along the way, or who had purchased their freedom departed western Maryland to head north to board ships for their homeland; others, like my ancestor, remained behind to make a new life.
Frederick Barracks after the Revolutionary War
The Frederick Barracks has quite a lengthy history after the close of the
Revolution.
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