To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 October 1780
From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Hartford 27th Octo. 1780
My Dear Sir
The late Misfortune of the Seizeure of our Mail by the Enemy at Stratford1—I conjecture, from what I can collect, has deprived this State of sundry important Communications from Congress—particularly their Regulations relati[ve] to the formg a new Establishment of the Army, which we have Reasson to believe were contained in the Mail, & Comg forward.2 The inclosed Letters to Congress respect that Subject—which I take the Liberty to inclose to your Excellency—by an Express going no farther than your Head Quarters—begg Your Excuse for this Trouble—I wish your particular Attention, that they may have a speedy Conveyance to Phila3—With the highest Sentiments of Respect & Esteem I am Dear Sir Your most Obedt huml. Servant
Jonth; Trumbull
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The Norwich Packet; and the Weekly Advertiser (Conn.) for 24 Oct. reported that “a party of men from Long-Island” came in a boat at night on 20 Oct. to Stratford, Conn., and seized the mail from Isaac Peet (Pete). The mail “contained all the western papers, letters, &c.” For intercepted items, see the New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury for 6 and 13 Nov. (see also William Gordon to GW, 26 Oct., n.4).
2. See Samuel Huntington to the state governments, 6 Oct., in , 16:153; see also Huntington to GW, 26 Oct., n.1, and Huntington to Trumbull, 9 Nov., in , 16:317–18.
3. The enclosed letters have not been identified, but Trumbull probably sent resolutions the legislature had adopted on 12 Oct. regarding pay for Connecticut’s Continental soldiers (see DNA:PCC, item 66; see also , 3:178–79).
GW replied to Trumbull from headquarters near Passaic Falls on 1 Nov.: “I was yesterday honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 27th ulto. The letters inclosed for the president of Congress were immediately forwarded by Express.
“I am happy in beleiving that the despatches for which you are apprehensive were not in the Mail lately lost at Stratford, as the new Regulations for the Army were not compleated when that post left Philadelphia. They were finished the 21st ulto and I hope will reach most of the Legislatures during their Fall Session. … P.S. I transmitted Your Excellency some very important despatches on the 18th ulto. I hope they have got safe to hand” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, Ct: Trumbull Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also Circular to the States, 18 Oct.).