To George Washington from Daniel Morgan, 24 September 1794
From Daniel Morgan
Winchester [Va.] the 24th Septr 1794
Sir
I am sorry to understand the Dificulty in the state of Pensylvania to Raise their quota of men to suppress that Horrid insurecton on their frontiers1—The state of virga seem to be unanimous and Determond to suppress it and it is my opinion that we shall in a very few Days have men Enough at this post to Do that business.2 for my own part I wish I was at Morgan Town at this time with 2000 men; which would be as Many as I would ask, with what would join me at that place to Bring them people into order, they are very much alarm’d at this time—this I have from the best Intilligance—we have been greatly Disappointed with Respect to arms, only 400 stand have yet arrived, and them come from Phila. we have been Expecting 1500 stand from New london we have applyd to the Executive of virga for 3000 stand3 those and the arm from New London will I Expect arrive Near the same time which Will be about the last of this month—I wish an accomodation may Not be patch’d up with them Rioters under an apprehenton of Not geting troop to suppress them, virga could and would furnish an army sufficient for that purpose—a young man a Brother to colo. Heth gave me the best account of them people that I have had, he was at Bradocks field—he says thare was Not four thousand men, of all Descriptions, that thare was Not More then one thousand guns among them, and if the amunition Had been Divided among them he Dose Not suppose thare would be more than on[e] round a man for my own part I think it a very Easy Matter to bring them people in to order—I Dont wish to spill the Blood of a citizen but I wish to March against them people, to show them our Determonation to bring to order and to support the Laws—I took the liberty to write you this, least your Intelligance might Not be so good, or that this might th[r]ough some light (or be of some service[)]. I have the Honor to be with very great Esteem your obedt Hble servt
Danl Morgan
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. An account of Governor Thomas Mifflin’s tour to Chester and Delaware counties to "enforce . . . an immediate compliance with the President’s" call for militia, stated that he "found the three following difficulties—1. That the Brigade Inspectors had mistaken the extent of their orders, for although they were required to draft their quotas from the classes most convenient to the citizens . . . not a man had been drafted . . . 2. That the pay was so very inadequate to the service that no citizen could bear his own additional expences, much less provide for the support of his family during his absence. And 3. That there was a general want of information respecting the circumstances which have produced the present crisis, and the necessity imposed on the government to arm for its own preservation" (Dunlap’s American Advertiser [Philadelphia], 18 Sept.).
From Carlisle, Pa., came a report that "every artifice has been used to prevent the militia of this county from turning out on this service, and even threats have been thrown out against those who shew an inclination to go" (Gazette of the United States [Philadelphia], 20 Sept.).
2. Militia quotas from Henrico County and Richmond that gathered at the capital on 16 Sept. "were furnished with readiness," and the troops marched westward "with alacrity" (Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, 25 Sept). A resident of Petersburg described the march of several militia companies through the town on 23 Sept. and claimed, "we have flattering expectations that at the general rendezvous at Winchester the Virginians will be fully equal to the number required from this state" (Gazette of the United States [Philadelphia], 30 Sept.).
3. See Morgan to Henry Lee, 16 Sept. (Calendar of Virginia State Papers, 7:315-16).