31From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
In my letter to you of the 19th instant I mentioned to you that I was sorry to find there would come but 4217 pounds of powder instead of 6 or 8000 I had expectations of—I had taken my information from Governor Cooke’s letter which upon a reperusal I find mentions that weight including the Casks. I have since had it weighed by the Commissary, an exact return of which you have inclosed; by...
32From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
The important Post at Dorchester Hill which has long been the object of our particular attention, and which, for various weighty reasons I had delayed taking possession of, I have the pleasure to inform you is now so well secured, that I flatter myself it will not be in the power of the Enemy to dispossess us. A Detachment of twenty five hundred men under the Command of Brigadier General...
33From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to write you last, the Enemy have embarked their Troops on board a number of Transports, and are now making a shameful retreat from Boston. Various are the conjectures of their destination, though most agree it is either for Halifax or New-York—The latter place seems by much the most probable, be that as it may, New York is a Post of infinite importance both to...
34From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 18th instant, and concur with you in opinion, that their Women and Children with the Tory Families will most probably go to Halifax. This is what I meant and alluded to, having never suspected that they, especially the latter, would go to New York. I am extremely obliged by your friendly hints and shall ever receive them with pleasure, but I do not think that they...
35Circular to Nicholas Cooke, Lord Stirling, Brigadier General William Thompson, and Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I take this earliest opportunity to acquaint you that the Men of War and Transports with the Ministerial Troops sailed this afternoon from Nantasket Harbour. There is only a Man of War and two or three other armed Vessels now remaining there. In consequence of this movement I have ordered a Brigade to march to morrow morning for New York, and shall follow with the remainder of the Army as soon...
36From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been all this day at Boston. On my return your esteemed favor of the 25th was handed to me. I have not time to answer it at present. The next opportunity will convey to you that, and the money for amount of the account you have enclosed. I am with very great respect Sir Your most humble and obedient Servant LB , Ct : Trumbull Papers. “This day,” says a newspaper account of 28 Mar., “the...
37From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
By the returns, just delivered me, of the state of our Ammunition, I find we are greatly deficient in the article of Ball, and as I understand a large quantity of Lead has been manufactured at Middletown in your Government, I must beg the favor of you to forward as much as you can spare to me, as soon as possible. I am very respectfully Sir your most obedient humble Servant P.S. As the...
38From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor of seeing you at Norwich you gave me some encouragements to hope you would spare me a number of Arms, which you said were then repairing—The great deficiency of Arms in the Regiments raised in this Province and the Jerseys (some being totally unprovided) obliges me to request the favor of you to forward all that are finished to me by the first convenient opportunity—I am...
39From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
When you did me the honor of a visit at Norwich in my way to this place, I communicated to you the recommendation I had received from Congress for sending four Battalions from hence to reinforce our Troops in Canada. I now beg leave to inform you that, in compliance therewith, on Saturday and Sunday last, I detached four Regiments thence under the command of Brigadier General Thompson, and by...
40From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 2 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 27th ulto and am sorry to inform you that it is not in my power at this time to refund to your Colony the powder lent the Continent, our Magazines here being very low, and the pressing demands from Canada obliging me immediately to forward sixty barrels thither. Should any inconvenience result to the Colony from not having it, it will give me much uneasiness. You...
41From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Before this I expect you have recieved the Resolve of Congress for augmenting our Army here and in Canada, with their requisition for the Quota of Men to be furnished by your Colony —I must beg leave to add, that from intelligence just recieved, and a variety of circumstances combining to confirm it, General Howe, with the Fleet from Halifax or some other Armament, is hourly expected at the...
42From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 3d and 4th instant and return you my sincere thanks for your kind intention to afford me every assistance in your power at this truly critical and alarming period. The situation of our affairs calls aloud for the most vigorous exertions, and nothing else will be sufficient to avert the impending blow. From four prisoners taken the other day we are...
43From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the inst. is safe to hand. Colo. Seymour arrived yesterday with a few of his men when I sent for and acquainted him it would be impossible for me to have his Horses remain here. Forrage is not to be procured, and if it could, it would only be a great expence without a single advantage arising from it. The men are absolutely necessary till the arrival of the new Levies—Coll Seymour is...
44From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your favor of the 6th instant and return you my best thanks for the attention you have shewn at this Crisis, in preparing the several Regiments of Militia which are nearest this place to be ready for marching when ordered. Some of the Troops have arrived, and I hope the rest will follow without loss of time. In my last letter I wrote you fully relative to the Light Horse, which...
45From George Washington to Nicholas Cooke and Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Two of the Enemies Ships, one of Forty the other twenty Guns, taking advantage of a strong Wind and Tide pass’d Us notwithstanding a warm fire from all our Batteries, they now lie in Taupan Sea between Twenty and thirty Miles up Hudsons-River, where no Batteries from Shore can molest them, their Views no doubt are to cut of all Communication between this and Albany by Water,...
46From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed extracts from the proceedings of Congress which I have the honor to transmit you will discover their anxiety respecting our Army here and their wishes to have it reinforced. I shall only add, that the situation of our affairs demands the most speedy succour, and my request, that you use your good offices for expediting the new Levies as fast as possible. I have also inclosed you a...
47From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
By letter received from five Gentlemen Committee appointed by Provincial Convention of this State to reconnoitre and report the situation of the High Lands and Forts on Hudsons River, I find them in great want of Cannon, two men of war and three tenders being but about ten miles below them, and in daily expectation of their attempting to pass the Forts Montgomery and Constitution, to burn the...
48From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was honored yesterday with your favor of the 17th instant and return you my thanks for your kind attention to and compliance with my request for the Row Galleys. They are not yet arrived that I know of. I wrote to Congress by the return Express that brought your’s, respecting Colo. Ward’s Regiment, and as the Post comes in every day, it is probable I shall soon have their answer. The result...
49From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Congress having been pleased to empower me to order Colo. Ward’s regiment wherever I might think it necessary, I take the liberty of requesting you to direct him to march it immediately to this place, where, I am of opinion, the service requires it, & their aid may be extremely material, especially as the Levies come in but slowly. Since my last nothing of importance has occurred; or that is...
50From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., and Colonel Samuel Elmore, 1 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having just received from Congress a return of Colo. Elmore’s Regiment now in your State, with directions that it shall join this Army, I request the favor of you to order him to march immediately to this place—They have appointed John Brown Esqr. Lieut. Colo. of it, and Robert Cocke Esqr. Major. Commissions for such Officers as appear with their respective Companies I am to fill up. I have...
51From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By two Deserters this day we have the following intelligence (viz.) That General Clinton and Lord Cornwallis with the whole Southern Army have arrived from South Carolina and landed on Staten Island, in number between 3 & 4,000, that the Fleet which came in a few days since are the Hessians and Scotch Highlanders part of 12,000 who were left off Newfoundland, and the whole making about 30,000...
52From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As Capt. Bacon has been here in pursuit of some Duck and other Articles for the Northern Army and is now gone into Connecticut, I take the liberty of forwarding a letter for him to Gov. Cooke under cover to you, by which Capt. Bacon can be furnished with what Duck is wanting provided he does not meet with it in Connecticut. I wrote you particularly last evening by Mr Root of Hartford since...
53From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Necessity Obliges me to trouble your Honour with some more suspected persons whose Characters are such as to make it unsafe for them to remain at their Usual Places of Abode on Long Island—& there is no Retreat in this Province where they may not do some Mischeif or be less secure than our Safety requires, As they are apprehended meerly on Suspicion arrising from a General Line of Conduct,...
54From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been obliged to trouble you with some more disaffected persons whose residence here was dangerous to the American Interest. I trust I have now done with them, at least for the present, and hope you will excuse the disagreeable necessity I have been under of solliciting your care and attention to provide for them and dispose of them. As the case of these differs in no respect from that...
55From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favor of the 13th inst. and at the same time that I think you and your Honble Council of Safety highly deserving of the thanks of the States for the measures you have adopted in order to give the most early and speedy succour to this Army, give me leave to return you mine in a particular manner. When the whole of the reinforcements do arrive, I flatter myself...
56From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
On thursday last the Enemy landed a body of Troops supposed to amount, from the best accounts I have been able to obtain, to eight or nine thousand men at Gravesend Bay on Long Island, ten miles distant from our works on the Island, and immediately marched through the level and open lands to Flat-Bush where they are now incamped. They are distant about three miles from our Lines, and have...
57From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 31st ulto and am extremely obliged by the measures you are taking in consequence of my recommendatory letter. The exertions of Connecticut upon this, as well as every other occasion, do them great honor, and I hope will be attended with successful and happy consequences. In respect to the mode of conduct to be pursued by the Troops that go over to the...
58From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 5th instant and am sorry to say that from the best information we have been able to obtain, the people on Long Island have, since our evacuation, gone generally over to the Enemy, and made such concessions as have been required: some through compulsion I suppose but more from inclination—As a diversion on the Island has been impracticable under these...
59From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Howe, in a letter received from him Yesterday evening by a Flag, having offered to exchange Brigadier General Lord Stirling for Governor Montfort Brown, and also requested that Govr Skeene may be granted his liberty without delay, assuring me that Mr Lovell shall be immediately enlarged upon his arrival from Halifax, and whose exchange for Govr Skeene has been agreed on, I must take...
60From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th instant is Duly received. The several Regiments of Militia from Connecticut lately commanded by General Wolcott being reduced to almost nothing, one having returned under twenty and another short of Thirty effective men—they were yesterday discharged. I am full in opinion with you that some severe examples ought to be made of the late deserters. For a return of their...
61From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having received authentic advice from Long Island, that the Enemy are recruiting a great number of men with much success, and collecting large quantities of Stock, throughout the Island, for their support, I have directed Brigadier General Clinton forth with to repair to Fairfield to meet Genl Lincoln on his march hither with a part of the Troops lately voted by the Massachusetts State to...
62From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1–3 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 27th ulto and note the contents. The Row Galleys belonging to your State together with those the property of the United States and all other vessels, on the approach of the Men of War, ran up the North River under cover of the Battery on Mount Washington, from whence tis now impossable to remove them. As they are now posted they are serviceable to us, by...
63From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 2d instant and beg leave to return you my thanks for the measures you have adopted upon my request for obtaining an account of the prisoners in your State, and for your assurance that I shall be furnished with a return, as soon as it is procured, in order that I may give further directions about them. The proposition respecting the Prisoners...
64From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9–10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request and the promise contained in my letter of yesterday I beg leave to transmit you the enclosed list comprehending the names of such Gentlemen as are recommended by the General Officers from your State, as proper Persons to be promoted in the Regiments you are about to raise, with the ranks which they conceive they ought to hold. Sensible that the very existence, that...
65From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favored with your letter of the 6th instant with the return of Prisoners in your State for which I thank you—It is properly made out —Every day’s intelligence from the Convention of this State informs of Plots and Conspiracies that are in agitation among the disaffected. The enclosed copy of a letter which I received yesterday from Robert R. Livingston Esqr. one of the Members...
66From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your several letters of the 11th and 13th instant with their enclosures. The first I received would have been answered sooner had I been able to have furnished the necessary intelligence respecting the Enemy’s Ships of war in the Sound above Hell Gate. This induced me to detain the Express a day, in expectation of gaining a more certain information of this fact than...
67From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with a Call from the Gentlemen appointed Commissioners from your State to arrange your Officers and to adopt some line of conduct for recruiting the Quota of men which you are to furnish. In discussing this subject the gentlemen informed me that your Assembly, to induce their men to enlist more readily into the service, have passed a vote advancing their pay twenty...
68From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
With much concern I beg leave to inform you of an unfortunate event that has taken place. Yesterday about 12 oClock the Enemy made a Genl Attack upon our Lines on Harlem Heights, which having carried, the Garrison retired within the Fort—Colo. Magaw who commanded finding the works invested on every side by a large part of their Army, and that there was but little or no prospect of effecting a...
69From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago favored with yours of the 30th last month, and this is the first opportunity that afforded me the pleasure of answering it. The Event has shewn, that my opinion of General Howe’s intention to make an excursion into Jersey was not ill founded. Immediately after the reduction of Fort Washington he threw a body of men consisting of about 6,000 over the North River, with an...
70From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favored with yours of the 6th—In a letter which I did myself the pleasure to write to you two days ago, I gave you a full account of my present situation and the occurrences that had happened since I left the neighbourhood of Fort Lee. The want of means of transportation has hitherto hindered the Enemy from making any attempt to cross the Delaware, and I hope, unless the...
71From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have been pleased to appoint Elisha Sheldon Esqr. of your State to be Lieut. Colonel and Commander of a Regiment of Cavalry. For the purpose of raising them he now sets off for Connecticut—Having to pass through an Enemy’s Country on his way there—I cannot think it prudent to advance him the sum necessary for his immediate use. I have to request you will furnish him with what...
72From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor[s] of the 7th and 12th of this inst. The first chiefly relates to your wishes, that the Troops of the State of Connecticut whose time expires on the first of January, may, by intreaties and promises of reward be induced to stay beyond their times. Past experience has repeatedly convinced us, that Troops at the most favorable season of the year, and well supplied...
73From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 23d last month—I hope the Congress have, in consequence of your application, ordered up a supply of money for the bounty to the new-enlisted Troops in your State; but lest they should not have done it, I shall order Colo. Palfrey to send what Cash he can spare to the Deputy Pay Master at Peekskill, to be applied to the use of the recruiting Service to the...
74From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your several favors of the 12th and 14th instant by Lieut. Fellows, to whom I granted a Flag with a letter to General Howe, desiring that his brother Capt. Fellows might be one of the first officers exchanged. I have remonstrated very sharply with General Howe upon his treatment of our prisoners, and I hope it will be attended with good effects—I have repeatedly endeavoured to...
75From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of yours of the 23d Jany by Majr Wyllys and thank you for your congratulations upon our late successes, which have been attended with very happy consequences, as the Enemy have remained very quiet at Brunswic and Amboy since the affair at Princetown. I have wrote to Congress in a very pressing manner not only to send on a present supply of money, but to forward the Cheque...
76From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this evening honored with yours of the 1st inst. and am to thank you for your promise of forwarding the New Levies, which I am sure you will perform to the utmost of your abilities. I have, as I wrote you in my last, pressed Congress to send you forward a supply of money and the proper Books to open your Loan Office. As Mr Mease the Clothier General is now here I shewed him that part of...
77From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will receive herewith sixty thousand Dollars for the use of the recruiting Service in Your State, which I desire you will distribute among the Officers in proportion to their wants. I desire you will not appropriate any part of this money to the reimbursement of the sum advanced to Colo. Sheldon, as I every day expect an order from Congress, which will enable me to give you a draught for...
78From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The impossibility of keeping the Small Pox from spreading through the Army in the natural way, has determined us, upon the most mature deliberation, to innoculate all the new Troops that have not had this disorder—I have wrote to General Parsons to fix upon some proper place, and to superintend the innoculation of the Troops of your State, taking it for granted, that you would have no...
79From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I did my self the pleasure to write you yesterday, and informed you that I had sent you Sixty Thousand Dollars for the recruiting service in your State—After I had sent the money off, I received a letter from Genl Knox, advising me that he was under the most pressing necessity for twenty thousand Dollars for the use of the Ordnance Department, but that he could not get that Sum in the State of...
80From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
A letter from you to General Heath inclosing a Petition from the Officers taken at Princetown, for liberty to send one of the party into New York for their Baggage, was transmitted to me, by Genl McDougall, Genl Heath having gone to Massachusetts. I am so sensible that these People, by remaining any length of time in the Country, not only acquire a knowledge of our affairs, but spread a very...