51From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By two Deserters this day we have the following intelligence (viz.) That General Clinton and Lord Cornwallis with the whole Southern Army have arrived from South Carolina and landed on Staten Island, in number between 3 & 4,000, that the Fleet which came in a few days since are the Hessians and Scotch Highlanders part of 12,000 who were left off Newfoundland, and the whole making about 30,000...
52From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
As Capt. Bacon has been here in pursuit of some Duck and other Articles for the Northern Army and is now gone into Connecticut, I take the liberty of forwarding a letter for him to Gov. Cooke under cover to you, by which Capt. Bacon can be furnished with what Duck is wanting provided he does not meet with it in Connecticut. I wrote you particularly last evening by Mr Root of Hartford since...
53From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Necessity Obliges me to trouble your Honour with some more suspected persons whose Characters are such as to make it unsafe for them to remain at their Usual Places of Abode on Long Island—& there is no Retreat in this Province where they may not do some Mischeif or be less secure than our Safety requires, As they are apprehended meerly on Suspicion arrising from a General Line of Conduct,...
54From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been obliged to trouble you with some more disaffected persons whose residence here was dangerous to the American Interest. I trust I have now done with them, at least for the present, and hope you will excuse the disagreeable necessity I have been under of solliciting your care and attention to provide for them and dispose of them. As the case of these differs in no respect from that...
55From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favor of the 13th inst. and at the same time that I think you and your Honble Council of Safety highly deserving of the thanks of the States for the measures you have adopted in order to give the most early and speedy succour to this Army, give me leave to return you mine in a particular manner. When the whole of the reinforcements do arrive, I flatter myself...
56From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
On thursday last the Enemy landed a body of Troops supposed to amount, from the best accounts I have been able to obtain, to eight or nine thousand men at Gravesend Bay on Long Island, ten miles distant from our works on the Island, and immediately marched through the level and open lands to Flat-Bush where they are now incamped. They are distant about three miles from our Lines, and have...
57From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 31st ulto and am extremely obliged by the measures you are taking in consequence of my recommendatory letter. The exertions of Connecticut upon this, as well as every other occasion, do them great honor, and I hope will be attended with successful and happy consequences. In respect to the mode of conduct to be pursued by the Troops that go over to the...
58From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 5th instant and am sorry to say that from the best information we have been able to obtain, the people on Long Island have, since our evacuation, gone generally over to the Enemy, and made such concessions as have been required: some through compulsion I suppose but more from inclination—As a diversion on the Island has been impracticable under these...
59From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Howe, in a letter received from him Yesterday evening by a Flag, having offered to exchange Brigadier General Lord Stirling for Governor Montfort Brown, and also requested that Govr Skeene may be granted his liberty without delay, assuring me that Mr Lovell shall be immediately enlarged upon his arrival from Halifax, and whose exchange for Govr Skeene has been agreed on, I must take...
60From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th instant is Duly received. The several Regiments of Militia from Connecticut lately commanded by General Wolcott being reduced to almost nothing, one having returned under twenty and another short of Thirty effective men—they were yesterday discharged. I am full in opinion with you that some severe examples ought to be made of the late deserters. For a return of their...
61From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Having received authentic advice from Long Island, that the Enemy are recruiting a great number of men with much success, and collecting large quantities of Stock, throughout the Island, for their support, I have directed Brigadier General Clinton forth with to repair to Fairfield to meet Genl Lincoln on his march hither with a part of the Troops lately voted by the Massachusetts State to...
62From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1–3 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 27th ulto and note the contents. The Row Galleys belonging to your State together with those the property of the United States and all other vessels, on the approach of the Men of War, ran up the North River under cover of the Battery on Mount Washington, from whence tis now impossable to remove them. As they are now posted they are serviceable to us, by...
63From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your favor of the 2d instant and beg leave to return you my thanks for the measures you have adopted upon my request for obtaining an account of the prisoners in your State, and for your assurance that I shall be furnished with a return, as soon as it is procured, in order that I may give further directions about them. The proposition respecting the Prisoners...
64From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9–10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your request and the promise contained in my letter of yesterday I beg leave to transmit you the enclosed list comprehending the names of such Gentlemen as are recommended by the General Officers from your State, as proper Persons to be promoted in the Regiments you are about to raise, with the ranks which they conceive they ought to hold. Sensible that the very existence, that...
65From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 15 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favored with your letter of the 6th instant with the return of Prisoners in your State for which I thank you—It is properly made out —Every day’s intelligence from the Convention of this State informs of Plots and Conspiracies that are in agitation among the disaffected. The enclosed copy of a letter which I received yesterday from Robert R. Livingston Esqr. one of the Members...
66From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your several letters of the 11th and 13th instant with their enclosures. The first I received would have been answered sooner had I been able to have furnished the necessary intelligence respecting the Enemy’s Ships of war in the Sound above Hell Gate. This induced me to detain the Express a day, in expectation of gaining a more certain information of this fact than...
67From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with a Call from the Gentlemen appointed Commissioners from your State to arrange your Officers and to adopt some line of conduct for recruiting the Quota of men which you are to furnish. In discussing this subject the gentlemen informed me that your Assembly, to induce their men to enlist more readily into the service, have passed a vote advancing their pay twenty...
68From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
With much concern I beg leave to inform you of an unfortunate event that has taken place. Yesterday about 12 oClock the Enemy made a Genl Attack upon our Lines on Harlem Heights, which having carried, the Garrison retired within the Fort—Colo. Magaw who commanded finding the works invested on every side by a large part of their Army, and that there was but little or no prospect of effecting a...
69From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago favored with yours of the 30th last month, and this is the first opportunity that afforded me the pleasure of answering it. The Event has shewn, that my opinion of General Howe’s intention to make an excursion into Jersey was not ill founded. Immediately after the reduction of Fort Washington he threw a body of men consisting of about 6,000 over the North River, with an...
70From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I was last night favored with yours of the 6th—In a letter which I did myself the pleasure to write to you two days ago, I gave you a full account of my present situation and the occurrences that had happened since I left the neighbourhood of Fort Lee. The want of means of transportation has hitherto hindered the Enemy from making any attempt to cross the Delaware, and I hope, unless the...
71From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have been pleased to appoint Elisha Sheldon Esqr. of your State to be Lieut. Colonel and Commander of a Regiment of Cavalry. For the purpose of raising them he now sets off for Connecticut—Having to pass through an Enemy’s Country on his way there—I cannot think it prudent to advance him the sum necessary for his immediate use. I have to request you will furnish him with what...
72From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor[s] of the 7th and 12th of this inst. The first chiefly relates to your wishes, that the Troops of the State of Connecticut whose time expires on the first of January, may, by intreaties and promises of reward be induced to stay beyond their times. Past experience has repeatedly convinced us, that Troops at the most favorable season of the year, and well supplied...
73From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 23d last month—I hope the Congress have, in consequence of your application, ordered up a supply of money for the bounty to the new-enlisted Troops in your State; but lest they should not have done it, I shall order Colo. Palfrey to send what Cash he can spare to the Deputy Pay Master at Peekskill, to be applied to the use of the recruiting Service to the...
74From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your several favors of the 12th and 14th instant by Lieut. Fellows, to whom I granted a Flag with a letter to General Howe, desiring that his brother Capt. Fellows might be one of the first officers exchanged. I have remonstrated very sharply with General Howe upon his treatment of our prisoners, and I hope it will be attended with good effects—I have repeatedly endeavoured to...
75From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of yours of the 23d Jany by Majr Wyllys and thank you for your congratulations upon our late successes, which have been attended with very happy consequences, as the Enemy have remained very quiet at Brunswic and Amboy since the affair at Princetown. I have wrote to Congress in a very pressing manner not only to send on a present supply of money, but to forward the Cheque...
76From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this evening honored with yours of the 1st inst. and am to thank you for your promise of forwarding the New Levies, which I am sure you will perform to the utmost of your abilities. I have, as I wrote you in my last, pressed Congress to send you forward a supply of money and the proper Books to open your Loan Office. As Mr Mease the Clothier General is now here I shewed him that part of...
77From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will receive herewith sixty thousand Dollars for the use of the recruiting Service in Your State, which I desire you will distribute among the Officers in proportion to their wants. I desire you will not appropriate any part of this money to the reimbursement of the sum advanced to Colo. Sheldon, as I every day expect an order from Congress, which will enable me to give you a draught for...
78From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The impossibility of keeping the Small Pox from spreading through the Army in the natural way, has determined us, upon the most mature deliberation, to innoculate all the new Troops that have not had this disorder—I have wrote to General Parsons to fix upon some proper place, and to superintend the innoculation of the Troops of your State, taking it for granted, that you would have no...
79From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I did my self the pleasure to write you yesterday, and informed you that I had sent you Sixty Thousand Dollars for the recruiting service in your State—After I had sent the money off, I received a letter from Genl Knox, advising me that he was under the most pressing necessity for twenty thousand Dollars for the use of the Ordnance Department, but that he could not get that Sum in the State of...
80From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
A letter from you to General Heath inclosing a Petition from the Officers taken at Princetown, for liberty to send one of the party into New York for their Baggage, was transmitted to me, by Genl McDougall, Genl Heath having gone to Massachusetts. I am so sensible that these People, by remaining any length of time in the Country, not only acquire a knowledge of our affairs, but spread a very...
81From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your several favors of the 21st 24th 25th and 26th February which came to hand yesterday—It gives me pleasure to hear that your State has come to the resolution of granting the Colonial Bounty to Colo. Webbs additional Regiment; and if the other States will do the same, it will in a great measure obviate the objection which I made to their granting a higher...
82From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I flattered myself that I should never again be under the necessity of trespassing upon the public spirit of your State by calling for another supply of Militia; but such has been the unaccountable delay in the recruiting of the Continental Battalions, chiefly owing to the long time that unhappily elapsed before the Officers were appointed, that I see no prospect of keeping the Field, till the...
83From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 8th and 10th instant the first accompanying an account of the Committee of Simsbury against prisoners who were sent there by my order—There is no part of the charge to be objected against, but that of £9.6.0. said to be for the expence and trouble of the Committee themselves—I cannot see how either could have been incurred in so trivial a matter, or if any, that...
84From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 21st by Express, and return you my most sincere thanks for your ready compliance with my request for two thousand Militia—A late Maneuvre of the Enemy convinces us of the necessity that there is for an immediate march of this body of men to Peekskill. I imagine upon information of our weakness at that Post (the Eastern Militia having just left it) and that there...
85From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 31 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the pleasure to write to you yesterday, I have received information, that the Enemy have embarked three thousand men, some said, with an intent to go to Chesapeak Bay, others, to go up the North River again. As this last is the most probable, I beg you will hasten your Militia to Peekskill with the utmost expedition, and also what Continental Troops are ready. Should the...
86From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The pay Abstract of the 10th Regiment of Connecticut Militia from October to January last, was this day presented to me for payment. The very unreasonable disproportion of Officers induced me to decline giving Orders for the payment. I must beg the favour of You to have some Mode adopted by which the Public Treasury may be eased of such extraordinary Demands—Impositions of this nature are...
87From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Mr Fornandez an Officer just released from Captivity by an exchange, informs me, that large and weekly supplies of fresh provision are brought into York, which, he was informed by a Friend of ours, came from Connecticut, but whether by Water or by Land he does not know—This information I have thought proper to transmit to your Honor by the earliest opportunity, that you may adopt such...
88From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 21 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received the favor of your Honor’s letter of the 16th with its inclosures, for which and your attention to the publishing of my Proclamation, I am greatly obliged—I fear all the Militia intended for General Wolcotts Command have not arrived at Peeks kill yet, as not more than eight hundred were there by my last advices from that quarter, and which are of a later date than your...
89From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday evening honored with your letter of the 4th inst. I regret our loss of Stores at Danbury and the misfortunes of our brave men who fell, and of those who were wounded. However, from these latter events, we derive this consolation, that the sentiments of the People are still powerfully directed to Liberty, and that no impression of the Enemy, be it never so sudden and unexpected;...
90From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 18th inst. As I could only repeat the observations contained in my letter of the 11th upon your request for two Regiments to remain in Connecticut, I must beg leave to refer your attention to them, and to a few more which I shall now subjoin—If the several Battalions designed to compose the Army, were compleat, I should then hope, a few Troops...
91From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday evening honored with your letter of the 22d instant—It is certainly of importance that I should have the earliest intelligence of the Enemy’s Movements, and I beg leave to thank you for the information you have been pleased to transmit on that head. Your anxiety for Troops to remain in Connecticut and my inability to grant them, when I examine matters upon a large, and I...
92From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
General Howe has suddenly quitted his new Post between Somerset and Brunswic, and has returned to his old situation. The whole design of his making his late movement this way may possibly have been to induce us to draw off our Troops from Peekskill; though I think it most probable, that he was disappointed in his expectations of the manner in which we should act, and that finding the People...
93From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 12th instant—Permit me to assure you Sir, that it would give me pleasure to comply with your request for Field Pieces, were it in my power—but it is not. We have not sufficient for the Army. General Schuyler applied for twelve, by a late Letter, for his Department, which cannot be furnished. Our number is so small that we do not think it...
94From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 2–4 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had last night the honor of your letter of the 27th of June. The proposition for the exchange of the Gentlemen you mention is entirely agreeable to me, as they are now entitled to a releasement, from the time of their Captivity; and fall within the right of Exchange I have prescribed to myself. I am sorry it is not in my power to comply with your request for Arms. Nothwithstanding the many...
95From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you the 2nd instant with a Post Script of the 4th I there informed you of the Enemy having evacuated the Jerseys and of the intelligence received from Ticonderoga, which induced me to suppose it highly probable the next operation of General Howe would be up the North River. But as I have received no information since the first of the 26th Ulto to confirm the...
96From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of yours of the 14th with its enclosures. I had some time before received the account of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, but upon what Ground, or for what reasons, this sudden resolution was taken, I have not yet learnt—I have not heard from General Schuyler since the 10th—He was then at Fort Edward, and expected that General St Clair who was at Bedford with the Troops that he...
97From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 31 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was just now honored with your Letter of the 25th inst. The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence is an event so interesting and so unexpected that I do not wonder it should produce in the minds of the people—at least—the well attached—the effects you mention—I am fully in sentiment with you, that the cause leading to this unhappy measure should be fully and minutely...
98From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 4 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 28th ulto—I confess the conduct of the Enemy is distressing beyond measure, and past our comprehension—On thursday and friday last their Fleet consisting of two hundred and twenty eight Sail, were beating off the Capes of Delaware, as if they intended to come in. From this circumstance, nobody doubted but that Philadelphia was the immediate object of...
99From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with yours of the 1st instant—you have my thanks for your ready compliance with my requisition, thro’ Genl Putnam, for a Reinforcement to the important [posts] at Peeks kill, and it is an additional pleasure to me to find that you have also sent a Reinforcement to the Army. Since General Howe’s debarkation at the head of Chesapeak Bay he has made very little progress,...
100From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with yours of the 24th ulto with its enclosures. The prosperous complexion of our Northern affairs is a very pleasing and important circumstance—It is much to be wished they may continue in the same train and have as favorable an issue, as they seem now to promise—If they have, besides the more immediate advantages that will accrue from disappointing the views of the...