From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 April 1776
To Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
New York 20th April 1776
Sir
By the returns, just delivered me, of the state of our Ammunition, I find we are greatly deficient in the article of Ball, and as I understand a large quantity of Lead has been manufactured at Middletown in your Government, I must beg the favor of you to forward as much as you can spare to me, as soon as possible. I am very respectfully Sir your most obedient humble Servant
G. Washington
P.S. As the quantity of powder here is much smaller than I expected, and the demand from Canada greater, I should be obliged to you if you would inform me how that has been disposed of which was said to be imported lately into your Government on Continental Account.1
LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers; LB, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The letter-book copy in DLC:GW and the Varick transcript do not include the postscript.
1. GW is probably referring to the gunpowder recently imported in two vessels belonging to Thomas Mumford, a merchant in Groton, Conn., who was under contract to the Continental Congress’s secret committee (Secret Committee to Mumford, 1 May 1776, in , 3:617–18). One of Mumford’s vessels commanded by Capt. Samuel Champlin arrived at New London on 6 April “from St. Eustatius, with a Quantity of Powder and Warlike Stores” (Connecticut Gazette; and the Universal Intelligencer [New London], 12 April 1776).