To George Washington from the Continental Congress Committee on the Pennsylvania Line, 9 January 1781
From the Continental Congress
Committee on the Pennsylvania Line
Trenton Jany 9th 1781
Dear General
I have the Honor to Inclose Your Excy by Directions of the Committee a Copy of a Letter from Govr Read with Copy of the proposals made by the Committee to the Mutineers of the Pensylvania Line by which first it appears that they are Determined to Accept of the Terms offered1 & we flatter ourselves That this unhappy Dispute will Soon be brought to a favorable Issue. I have the Honor to be Most Respectfully yr Excys most obedt Servt
Jno. Sullivan
ALS, DLC:GW.
Joseph Reed wrote the committee on 8 Jan. describing his honorable reception by the mutineers, detailing his negotiations with their committee of sergeants, and enclosing the proposals he made to the sergeants to settle the mutineers’ grievances (see , 327–29; see also Anthony Wayne to GW, 8 Jan., n.1). After receiving Reed’s letter, the committee wrote him the same date to “Send you herewith the Result of their Deliberations upon the Terms which they are of opinion ought to be held out to the Soldiers of the Pensylvania Line … P.S. It is the Desire of the Committee that you make use of the … Resolutions only as you Shall find them necessary to answer the purpose in view” (, 16:559; see also n.1 below). For the proposals presented to Reed by the mutineers’ board of sergeants at their first meeting on 7 Jan., asking for the immediate discharge of men enlisted in 1776 and 1777 and for the payment of arrears of pay and clothing to those so discharged, see , 2d ser., 11:649–50.
On 8 Jan. at 2:30 P.M., Reed wrote the committee that “from the straggling soldiers and indirect intelligence, I understand that my proposal has been generally acceptable … and that it now seems agreed to march to Trenton to-morrow morning, if ordered, which I think will not be withheld under all the circumstances” (, 2:326–27).
1. The enclosed proposals of the committee to the mutineers, dated at Trenton on 8 Jan., read: “Resolved That all Soldiers who have voluntarily enlisted for the War or have received the hundred Dollars Bounty ordered by Congress shall be held during the War and entitled to receive the same Bounty as the New Recruits from the respective States only deducting therefrom the hundred Dollars at the real Value when received; But as it may so happen that Some Soldiers may be detained in the Service who have received the hundred Dollars contrary to their Inclinations all such who can make it clearly appear to Persons appointed for that Purpose as herein after mentioned that they have been so detained shall be immediately discharged.
“Resolved That all Soldiers who are now held by Inlistments expressing the Term of Service to be for three Years or during the War and have not voluntarily reinlisted and received the hundred Dollars bounty shall be immediately discharged.
“The Committee trusting in the Sincerity and Attachment of the Pennsylvania Line to the american Cause and (notwithstanding the unwarrantable Steps they have taken) from the Moderation and Conduct in the Discipline and good order they have observed and being convinced that their Assembly was for the Redress of Grievances have further resolved that on producing Lists regimentally of those non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers who fall within the different Classes of Grievances complained of with Regard to the Terms of Enlistment, Pay Bounty & Clothing that they will imm⟨edia⟩tely appoint Commissioners to examine and report thereon that full & ample Justice shall be done to the Claimants by discharging such as are entitled to their Discharge giving Certificates of Pay & Clothing due to such as have Claims.
“The foregoing Terms being accepted the Committee resolved that upon the Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line delive[r]ing up the british Emissar⟨ies⟩ sent to corrupt them and submitting to their proper Officers they will publish a free and general Pardon for all Offences committed by the non commissioned Officers & Soldiers of the said Line from the 31st of Decr last to this Time” (DLC:GW).
Reed made use of only the final resolve. On 8 Jan. at 7:00 P.M., he wrote the committee in part: “I have written to General Wayne, confirming their proposals of last evening, but rejecting that now made, of the sergeants sitting with the commissioners. I have also, agreeably to your proposal, insisted upon the spies being delivered up. This I have mentioned as a requisition from you, not choosing to add or alter the terms I offered. I have also, in addition, directed them to march to Trenton tomorrow morning” (, 2:327). For the propositions of the sergeants of 8 Jan., essentially agreeing to Reed’s proposals of 7 Jan. but asking that soldiers sit on the commission overseeing the discharges, see , 2d ser., 11:657–58. For Reed’s desire to preserve the authority of Congress by keeping the committee out of the negotiations, see Reed and James Potter to GW, 19 February.
Sullivan also enclosed an “Extract from Prest Reed’s letter dated Jany 9th 81” that reads: “I wrote you last evening by Mr Davies, informing you of the proposals made by the Sergeants, & my orders to the troops to march this morning to Trenton—being resolved to open no further negociation with them, but to take steps of a contrary kind, in which I am of opinion we had a good chance of success. But on my letter going in to Genl Wayne orders were given to march this morning. & having also communicated the requisition of the Committee respecting the spies, there seemed to be a better disposition on that head—I am in momentary expectation of hearing that they are set out, and hope the Commissaries and Qr Masters will be prepared Quarters must be provided for at least 1500 men tho’ I will endeavour to detach 1000 at least to Borden town & Burlington tomorrow—At Trenton I expect they will receive their Officers, & that is my greatest concern at present, as they appear so deeply to resent the conduct of the troops to them personally. Had Genl Wayne not given a promise of general pardon the 2d Jany & confirmed it on the 7th I should have excepted the men who shot their officers if they could have been discovered. I was somewhat apprehensive that the delivering up the spies, being an annexed condition to the pardon would have had some difficulties, but I now rather think it had a good effect.
“I now wait here for intelligence of the movement. … P.S. I have no account yet from the Messenger sent to South Amboy.
“10 oClock—I am just informed that the troops have paraded, & are set out” (DLC:GW).