101From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit you an account of an Action between the American Army and that of the British laying at Germantown upon the morning of the 4th inst. Having obtained information of the situation of the Enemy we determined to endeavour to do something by way of surprize —We accordingly marched all night and reached the Town by break of day. We attacked upon two Quarters, upon both...
102From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was honored a few days ago with your favor of the 14th for which and its enclosure, I return you my thanks. I am happy in congratulating you in turn, on the further success of our Arms at the Northward in the surrender of General Burgoyne—The particulars of this fortunate event will have reached you before this I expect, and therefore shall not add more upon the subject. I have also the...
103From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 2d instant—I am much obliged for the attention you have paid to my requests thro’ General Putnam, and I shall ever acknowledge the readiness with which you have always afforded any assistance from Your State, when demanded immediately by myself. I was never consulted in the least upon the Rhode Island Expedition, and I cannot therefore pretend to say who were...
104From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 14th instant and am much obliged for your promised attention to the compleating of your Regiments, and I hope your exertions will be attended with the desired success. I am also to thank you for your care in providing cloathing for your Troops—If the Coats should not be cut out before this reaches you, instead of the usual Regimental Coat, I would recommend a...
105From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must take the liberty of addressing you on a subject, which, though out of your sphere, I am fully persuaded, will have every possible attention in your power to give—It is the alarming situation of the Army on account of provision—Shall not undertake minutely to investigate the Causes of this, but there is the strongest reason to believe, that its existence cannot be of long duration,...
106From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 31 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is sometime since I have been honored with a Letter from you—The sole reason of my taking up your attention at this time is to lay before you a short State of our present situation—The apparent views of the Enemy—and from thence to shew the absolute necessity which there is for drawing our force together as quick as possible, and being able to take the Field before the Enemy are in a...
107From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last night recieved a Letter from Congress, informing me of the arrival of a French Fleet, on our Coast, extracts of which I have the Honor to enclose. In addition to that information, I have recieved intelligence, of tolerable authenticity, to day, of its arrival off the Hook. Every thing we can do to aid and cooperate with this Fleet is of the greatest importance. Accounts from New-York...
108From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor to transmit you, a few days ago, the accounts which I had then received of the arrival of a French Fleet upon the Coast. I soon after had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from the Admiral Count D’Estaing, dated off Sandy Hook, where he now lies with twelve sail of the Line and four Frigates. The British Fleet are within the Hook. I am so fully convinced of the...
109From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your’s of the 18th and thank you for the Steps you have taken to carry my requests into execution. I must make an apology for not informing you in particular, of our Success at Monmouth, on the 28th last month. The multiplicity of affairs, then upon my hands, prevented me from writing but to the Congress and General Gates, and I expected, that the intelligence...
110From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with yours of the 25th. I think you need be under no apprehensions for the safety of your Coast, while the Count D’Estaings Squadron lays off the harbour of New port, as the Enemy will have sufficient upon their hands to prevent their carrying on a predatory War—I took the Liberty of suggesting to the Count, the advantage of sending a Ship of force down the Sound, to...
111From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the satisfaction of your two favors, both of the 27th ulto. The Battalions of Colo. Enos [&] McClellan, I am informed by Colonel Malcom, who commands where they were stationed, were to be discharged, and I suppose they are now on their way home. The violent gale which dissipated the two Fleets when on the point of engaging, and the withdrawing of the Count D’Estaing to Boston, may appear...
112From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 9th—inclosing a resolution of your legislature—directing two Companies of Colo. Enos’s Regiment to be stationed at Greenwich. I cannot but express my fears that they will be in danger, except they act as a kind of Patroll. The Light Corps of the Army under General Scott affords as much cover to that part of the Country as it is possible for me to give in our...
113From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the inclosed Resolution you will find the determination of Congress to remove the Troops of the Convention from the State of Massachusetts to Charlottville in Virginia, should not the conditions therein required have been complied with. I have directed Genl Heath, should it be found necessary, to put those troops in motion as quick as possible, as the Season is already far advanced, and the...
114From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored by yours of the 28th. I had, previous to the receipt of it, determined upon such a disposition of the Troops for the winter, as will serve the purposes you mention. As soon as the intentions of the Enemy are more clearly known I shall fix upon the places of cantonment, and assign the Troops to their respective Stations. A Fleet of upwards of one hundred sail left the Hook on the...
115From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with Your Excellency’s favour of the 12th instant; inclosing the copies of two letters relative to the disposition of the troops on the East side of the North River and the quartering of Col. Sheldon’s regiment of dragoons. There is nothing I have more at heart, than the ease and security of every part of the Country and its inhabitants; and I wish Your Excellency to believe, that...
116From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 May 1779. Robert Hanson Harrison docketed Trumbull’s letter to GW of 27 April as “recd 8 May[,] ansd—13.”
117From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mr Starr, an agent for the Board of War in a factory at Middletown, has represented to me, that the public service is like to suffer very materially from the workmen employed with him being called out to serve in the militia. The business under Mr Starr’s direction is of so much importance, that I could wish if possible, it might meet with no interruption. I am therefore induced to request the...
118From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency that I have received intelligence of an embarkation of the enemy the 4th instant at Frogs Neck, which proceeded up the Sound and probably have in view a sudden incursion into your State—perhaps New London may be the object. I should have communicated the intelligence sooner; but it arrived during my absence from Head Quarters, from which place I have been...
119From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am just honored with Your Excellency’s letter of the 7th. I had the pleasure of writing to you the same day inclosing a letter for General Glover, or Officer commanding his brigade, in which I was so happy as to have anticipated your wishes. In addition to that, Genl Parsons set out yesterday for Connecticut at my request —I was induced to this from a supposition that his knowlege of The...
120From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inform your Excellency, that on hearing the enemy were moving through Marryneck in considerable force, I put General Heath and the two Connecticut brigades under marching orders towards the Sound. They I believe began their march yesterday morning; but the weather probably prevented their going far. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Yr Excellency’s Most...
121From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am just honored with your letter of the 10th—Mine of this morning which will probably reach you before this, will inform you that on hearing of the enemy’s movement from below, I had detached a body of troops under Major General Heath to counteract them. It gives me pain that I have it not in my power to afford more effectual succour to the country; but the smallness of our force obliges me...
122From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Favor of the 2d Instant. As circumstances indicated an intention on the part of the Enemy to pursue their ravages—I approve the conduct of Captain Frothingham in offering his services while it appeared they might be material. With respect to the Six Field pieces left at Middletown—which your Excellency seems desirous of retaining while there...
123From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 31 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 27th instant. previous to the receipt of it I had granted a Repreive to Case, not from any thing that could possibly be urged in extenuation of his guilt, but out of compassion to his connections, who were represented to me as numerous and reputable. I am the more happy that the matter turned out as it has done, as your Excellency...
124From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was honored yesterday with your Excellency’s Letter of the 30th Ulto—and am much obliged for the information transmitted—altho I had received it several days before from Colo. Mead. I am happy to inform your Excellency, that I believe the intelligence obtained by Major Genl Wolcott with respect to the Enemy’s reinforcements, is highly exaggerated. None of my late accounts place the Troops...
125From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Several concurring reports lead so strongly to a supposition that a French Squadron may be approaching our coast, that I think we cannot with propriety altogether neglect them. If this event should take place, it will be incumbent upon us to exert our utmost resources in a cooperation; and I shall be under a necessity of applying to the adjacent states for a very considerable aid of men and...
126From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 30 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had yesterday afternoon the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 24th—inclosing the Memorial of Peter Griffing and Jonathan Veal. Whenever it is in my power, I shall be happy to comply with Your Excellency’s wishes and recommendation; but in the present instance it is not. The irregularities and injuries which have been committed against the Inhabitants of Long Island and of...
127From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing your Excellency on the 4th instant upon the subject of an expected cooperation with the Count D’Estaing against the common Enemy. I find upon a consultation with Brigadier General Knox, that the probable expenditure of ammunition, should such an event take place, will be more than our Continental Magazines are likely to afford—You must be so fully sensible of the...
128From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I find, upon recurring to my letter of the 7th to your Excellency, that I was not sufficiently explicit in answering that part of yours of the 2d instant, in which you desire to know, whether, in my opinion, the Militia at present on duty on the Coast may be safely withdrawn from thence in case of the expected operations, and be considered as part of the 4000 demanded of the State. They...
129From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your Excellency’s letter of yesterdays date, and thank you for your ready attention to my requisitions. The moment I receive the intelligence from the Count which is to determine our operations or how far the assistance of the Country will be necessary to carry them into execution, I shall do myself the honor to give you the earliest advice. I wait anxiously for...
130From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have yet recd no official Accounts from the southward—The inclosed was brought the day before yesterday from Philada. The Gentleman who transmits the account from thence and Colo. Patton who brought the intelligence from North Carolina, are both so worthy of credibility that I flatter myself it will prove substantially true—altho’ it is difficult to account for its not having arrived...
131From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your Excellency’s favor of the 30th of last month relative to the case of Lt Sylvanus Meade. I am induced to beleive on considering the peculiarity of the circumstances attending Mr Meade’s coming out of New-York, that he acted without design of violating any engagement which the indulgence he received from the enemy implied. And I shall direct the commissary of prisoners...
132From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 5th. The operations to the Southward have been of so much longer duration, than was at first apprehended, and no certain accounts being yet received, that have come to my knowlege, induces me to think, that the probability of an attempt against the enemy in this quarter, more especially considering the advanced state of the season, is a...
133From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my letter of the 12th I mentioned to your Excellency that the operations to the Southward had taken up more time than was at first apprehended, and that this, with the advanced season of the year, made the expected co-operation a matter of the utmost uncertainty. I am sorry to inform you that by dispatches received last night, there has been an alteration of circumstances in that quarter,...
134From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your Excellency’s Letter of the 16th. I assure you Sir, I should esteem myself happy if it were in my power to comply with your request, with respect to the Troops ordered from Rhode Island—but it is really not. I have no alternative in the matter; or at least I could not consent to their remaining with you, without departing from such an Arrangement, as a regard to...
135From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 23d ulto. It gives me great pleasure to find your intention of laying the state of the troops of your line before your Assembly at as early a period as possible. I have directed the Returns which you call for to be made out, and I hope they will be transmitted in time to meet the Assembly at the opening of the Session. I had, previous to...
136From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency the copy of a letter I have just received from the late Commissary General, by which you will see upon how ill a footing our future prospects of supplies are; particularly with respect to meat. This corresponds with representations from every quarter, and with what we actually feel. The army has been near three months on a short allowance of Bread;...
137From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 27th ultimo. It gives me pleasure to hear that the legislature of your State have fallen upon so effectual measures to put a stop to all illicit intercourse between its inhabitants and the enemy in New-York and upon Long Island. The practice I am convinced has been extremely beneficial to our enemy and detrimental to us. I have ever...
138From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing Your Excellency on the 20th Instant —It has been found, that there was an Error in the Return then transmitted, with respect to the number of Men belonging to the State in the artillery. Instead of 4 there are 77 in Lamb’s Battallion, 76 of which are for the War—and 7 in Captain Walker’s company for the same time. I have the Honor to be with the most perfect...
139From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege two favors from your Excellency, both of the 10th of this month. I flatter myself that the measures of the Assembly for recruiting the quota of troops, and bringing them into the field, will fully answer your Excellency’s expectations. I am persuaded, that for such an essential purpose, nothing will be left undone. That part of your Excellency’s letter which relates to the...
140From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
Immediately upon the Rect of your Excellency’s favor of the 22d ulto, I desired Brigadier General Huntington to send as many Officers, as could possibly be spared from the Connecticut line, to take your instructions relative to the Business of recruiting. The number, from our circumstances at this time, will fall infinitely short of your Excellency’s requisition, but you may be assured that...
141From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by Lt Colo. Stevens, at present the commanding Officer of Colonel Lambs Regiment of Artillery, that there are four Companies in that Regiment, which were raised in Connecticut, and have been adopted and supplied by the State, for which reason, he has desired liberty to send an Officer from each Company on the recruiting service, not doubting but they will be allowed the same...
142From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to forward you by Express, Two packets which have just been transmitted to my care by His Excellency the Minister—& the Consul of France. according to the Letters which accompanied these dispatches, they will announce to your Excellency the very generous and affectionate resolution of His Most Christian Majesty to send a Land & Naval armament to cooperate with us—and that...
143From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is with infinite pain I inform You, that we are reduced to a situation of extremity for want of meat. On several days of late the Troops have been entirely destitute of Any—and for a considerable time past they have been at best, at a half—a quarter—an Eighth allowance of this essential Article of provision. The men have borne their distress with a firmness and patience never exceeded—and...
144From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
We have just received a hand Bill from New York, published by Authority, containing an account of the surrender of Charles town the 12th instant, said to have come by the Iris, which left that place the 17th: The particulars are not given; some leading matters are mentioned, but they are probably either false, or exaggerated. There are circumstances of suspicion attending this account, but as...
145From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 6th conveying the very agreeable intelligence that a quantity of salted provision is on the way to West Point—It gives me much pleasure to hear that vigorous measures are pursuing by your State to draw forth its resources of Men and supplies, and I am not without hope that the same good disposition will pervade the whole. I am persuaded that the...
146From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just received authentic advice, that a large fleet appeared off Sandy Hook yesterday afternoon and entered as fast as they came up. From every circumstance this can be no other than Sir Henry Clinton. If the enemy push directly up the North River, much is to be apprehended for West Point. It requires all our exertions to put it in a state of defence. I some days since directed General...
147From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have thought proper to send Brigr Genl Parsons to your State to receive arrange and forward to the army the Drafts and recruits which may be furnished for the Continental Battalions in consequence of the late requisitions of the Committee of Congress. Your Excellency will be pleased to give him such information and advice as will be requisite for his government. So important is the present...
148From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
By a letter from Your Excellency to Major General Howe, which he communicated to me, it appeared, that you were ordering a body of two thousand Militia to his assistance. This measure at the time was a very eligible one; but as, by the removal of our stores most exposed, we have had it in our power to detach a reinforcement of Continental Troops to West Point, and to remove the rest of the...
149From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed, that the State of Connecticut have in possession a very considerable quantity of Salt petre, which they are unable to manufacture into Gun powder, for want of Sulphur—The Continent, on the contrary, have a quantity of Sulphur at Springfeild which lies idle for want of the other necessary ingredients. I have therefore to propose to Your Excellency, that the Sulphur, or as...
150From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am informed there are two Regiments of State Troops, amounting to six hundred men posted at Stanford, under the Command of Colo. Willis; to which place Major Murnon has been sent, for the purpose of cutting fascines, and will stand in need of every assistance, which can be afforded him: If Your Excellency will give directions that such of these Troops, and of the Militia which may be...