George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0155

From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 August 1775

To Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.

Camp at Cambridge August 4th 1775

Sir

I am favoured [with]1 yours of the 31st July informing me that the new Levies were coming forward with all Expedition; As the Enemy has lain longer inactive than I expected I hope they will arrive in Time to give us their Assistance.2

My Last Letter from the Honble Continental Congress recommends my procuring from the Colonies of Rode Island & Connecticut a Quantity of Tow Cloth for the Purpose of making Indian or Hunting Shirts for the Men, many of whom are very destitute [of] Cloathing,3 A Pattern is herewith sent you and I must request you4 to give the necessary Directions throughout your Government that all the Cloath of the above kind may be bought up for this Use & suitable Persons set to work to make it up, As soon as any Number is made worth the Conveyance you will please to direct them to be forwarded, It is designed as a Species of Uniform—both cheap & convenient.

We have had no Transactions of any Consequence in the Camp since my last, but what are in the public Papers, & are related with tolerable Accuracy.

I am now sir, in strict Confidence to Acquaint you that our Necessaties in the Articles of Powder, Lead & Flints are so great as to require an immediate Supply—I must earnestly intreat you will fall upon some Measures to forward to us every Ounce in the Province that can possibly be spared, It is not within the Propriety or Safety of such a Correspondence to say what I might upon the Subject. It is sufficient that the Cause5 loudly calls for the most strenuous Exertions6 of every Friend to his Country and does not admit of the least Delay. No Quantity however small is beneath Notice & should any arrive I beg it may be forwarded to us as fast as possible.

This Express having left his horse at Hartford is under a Necessity of going that way. I am Sir, with much Regard Your Most Obedt Humble Servt

Go: Washington

LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers; Df, NHi: Joseph Reed Papers; LB, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The letter book in DLC:GW includes the notation “Sent ⅌ Alexander the Express.”

1The word within the square brackets appears in both the draft and the letter-book copy in DLC:GW.

2For the arrival of the two new Connecticut regiments, see General Orders, 9 Aug. 1775, and Trumbull to GW, 15 Sept. 1775.

3See Hancock to GW, 24 July 1775. The word within the square brackets appears in both the draft and the letter-book copy in DLC:GW.

4GW “sent a sample, with a cape ruffled” (Journal of the Connecticut council, 7 Aug. 1775, in Hinman, Historical Collection description begins Royal R. Hinman, comp. A Historical Collection, from Official Records, Files &c., of the Part Sustained by Connecticut, during the War of the Revolution. Hartford, 1842. description ends , 329).

5Both the draft and the letter-book copy in DLC:GW read “the Case.”

6Both the draft and the letter-book copy in DLC:GW read “the warmest & most strenuous Exertions.”

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