To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 24 April 1780
From Colonel Stephen Moylan
Hartford 24th April 1780
Dear Sir
I came to this place in order to apply to the General Assembly to1 advance a Sum of money to purchass Forage for the Light Dragoons as what has been Collected at Colchester will be Consumed in this week, and the inhabitants there, allso those in the different towns where the 2d Regiment are placed, absolutely refuse to furnish any, upon the Credit of the United States. I have expectation that money will be lodged in the hands of the Depy Qr Mr General for this purpose.2
Your Excellencys Letters of the 27th Ultmo3 and 5th instant are Come to hand, I shall pay due attention to what you mention, in drawing no more of the necessaries provided for the Cavalry, than what are realy wanting I coud wish that Lt Col. Temple was to join the Regiment before my departure for Morristown in order to attend Doctor Shippens trial, which I find is adjourned to the 15th May, at which time I hope personally to pay my respects to your Excellency.
I will leave this place to morrow, in order to visit the different Troops of the 2d Regiment and will report the State of that and of the 4th Regt to your Excellency when I have the honour to See you any Commands you may henceforwards have, for the Cavalry you will please to direct for Colonel Sheldon at Windsor.
Captain Hoogland of the 2d Regiment is put under Arrest by Brigr General Parsons, for propogateing reports injurious to his Character, &a—the General told him he woud apply to Major General Howe for a Courtmartial. Captain Hoogland has wrote to me informing me therof, and as there has been no precedent to the Contrary, he demands a trial by the officers of the Cavalry, being in the Line to which he belongs. Your Excellency will be pleased to order in this matter as to you may Seem proper.4
Mrs Moylan hopes Soon to thank you & Mrs Washington in person, for your Kind Concern on her late misfortune we propose Setting out, the 5th of Next Month at which time I will be bearer of the Returns for the month of april. I have the honour to be Dear Sir Your most obliged H. Servt
Stephen Moylan
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Moylan wrote “for” preceding this word and inadvertently left it in his letter.
2. The Connecticut legislature subsequently passed a resolution to direct “two hundred pounds of the bills of publick credit lately emitted by this State” to Nehemiah Hubbard, deputy quartermaster general, “to enable him to furnish the troop of light dragoons under the command of Colo. Sheldon with forage for their present necessity” (, 3:41).
3. For GW’s letter to Moylan dated 27 March, see GW to Nehemiah Hubbard, same date, n.3.
4. GW answered this question when he wrote Col. Elisha Sheldon from Morristown on 8 May: “By a letter from Colo. Moylan of the 24th ulto I am informed that Mr Hoogland of your Regt having been arrested by Brig. Genl parsons ‘for propagating reports injurious to his character &ca’ claims a right of being tried by Officers of the Cavalry only—He cannot be indulged in this, as the 9th Article of the 14th section of the Rules and Articles of War directs in what manner the Court Martial shall be composed, where a dispute arises between Officers of different Corps” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also Robert Howe’s second letter to GW, 6 May, and GW to Howe, 9 May). The ninth article of the fourteenth section of the articles of war reads: “For the more equitable decision of disputes which may arise between officers and soldiers belonging to different corps, it is hereby directed, that the courts-martial shall be equally composed of officers belonging to the corps in which the parties in question do then serve; and that the presidents shall be taken by turns, beginning with that corps which shall be eldest in rank” (, 5:802).