1From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am grieved to find, that instead of six or eight thousand weight of Powder which I fondly expected to receive from Providence (agreeable to your letter) that I am likely to get only 4217 lbs. including the 3,000 wt belonging to this Province, if to be had —My Situation, in respect to this article, is really distressing; and while common prudence obliges me to keep my want of it concealed, to...
2From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am informed by Lt Colo. Stevens, at present the commanding Officer of Colonel Lambs Regiment of Artillery, that there are four Companies in that Regiment, which were raised in Connecticut, and have been adopted and supplied by the State, for which reason, he has desired liberty to send an Officer from each Company on the recruiting service, not doubting but they will be allowed the same...
3From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to suggest to Your Excellency that it is a matter of great importance for me to be acquainted with our several Harbours—their depth of Water within and leading to them and all the difficulties & circumstances attending their navigation. at present this knowledge is more peculiarly essential with respect to the Eastern Ports & particularly in the instance of New London. In the...
4From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received Advice from Boston that a Number of Transports, have sailed on a second Expidition for fresh Provisions: As they meet with such Success before, it is probable they may pursue the same Course only advancing further—We think Montague Point on Long Island a very probable Place of their Landing: I have therefore thought it best to give you the earliest Intelligence; But I do...
5From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
The important Post at Dorchester Hill which has long been the object of our particular attention, and which, for various weighty reasons I had delayed taking possession of, I have the pleasure to inform you is now so well secured, that I flatter myself it will not be in the power of the Enemy to dispossess us. A Detachment of twenty five hundred men under the Command of Brigadier General...
6From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 5 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 24th of febry. Circumstanced as our affairs are, it is impracticable for me, to comply with your request, for a Body of Continental Troops to be stationed at Stamford: some Aid, however, may be given to your State Troops, by the Countenance & Increase of our marching parties, who are patroling on the Lines, & may extend as far as the...
7From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with Your Excellency’s favour of the 12th instant; inclosing the copies of two letters relative to the disposition of the troops on the East side of the North River and the quartering of Col. Sheldon’s regiment of dragoons. There is nothing I have more at heart, than the ease and security of every part of the Country and its inhabitants; and I wish Your Excellency to believe, that...
8From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with yours of the 25th. I think you need be under no apprehensions for the safety of your Coast, while the Count D’Estaings Squadron lays off the harbour of New port, as the Enemy will have sufficient upon their hands to prevent their carrying on a predatory War—I took the Liberty of suggesting to the Count, the advantage of sending a Ship of force down the Sound, to...
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From 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...
12From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 May 1779. Robert Hanson Harrison docketed Trumbull’s letter to GW of 27 April as “recd 8 May[,] ansd—13.”
13From 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...
14From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was a few days ago honored with yours of the 9th: since the receipt of it, I have seen Commissary Cheever, and have had an opportunity of making particular enquiry into the state of the Arms at Springfield. He tells me, that the repair, of such of the old Muskets as are worth the trouble and expence, is going on as fast as the circumstances of want of hands and want of money will admit. The...
15From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 11 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 6th conveying the very agreeable intelligence that a quantity of salted provision is on the way to West Point—It gives me much pleasure to hear that vigorous measures are pursuing by your State to draw forth its resources of Men and supplies, and I am not without hope that the same good disposition will pervade the whole. I am persuaded that the...
16From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday received the inclosed information from several persons, who lately came out of Boston, which, I thought it my duty, to transmit to you —Whether these Troops are embarked I cannot undertake to say; but if they are it is more than probable, that their destination may be very different from what they gave out in Boston, and that that was only used as a feint—It is certain that several...
17From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 8 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with Your Excellency’s favor of the 4th Inst. I am sorry that any disputes and differences should have happened between Major Murnan and the Inhabitants and Militia—As it is difficult to reconcile matters after they have been carried to such a height as appears by Capt. Greens deposition I have thought it best to recall Major Murnan—You will be pleased to forward the inclosed to...
18From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed extracts from the proceedings of Congress which I have the honor to transmit you will discover their anxiety respecting our Army here and their wishes to have it reinforced. I shall only add, that the situation of our affairs demands the most speedy succour, and my request, that you use your good offices for expediting the new Levies as fast as possible. I have also inclosed you a...
19From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed, that the State of Connecticut have in possession a very considerable quantity of Salt petre, which they are unable to manufacture into Gun powder, for want of Sulphur—The Continent, on the contrary, have a quantity of Sulphur at Springfeild which lies idle for want of the other necessary ingredients. I have therefore to propose to Your Excellency, that the Sulphur, or as...
20From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 6 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I must take the liberty of addressing you on a subject, which, though out of your sphere, I am fully persuaded, will have every possible attention in your power to give—It is the alarming situation of the Army on account of provision—Shall not undertake minutely to investigate the Causes of this, but there is the strongest reason to believe, that its existence cannot be of long duration,...
21From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 20 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th inst. I received this day, for which I return you my thanks. Upon receiving the melancholy intelligence of the Fall of the Brave Montgomery and the repulse of our Troops in their attempt against the City of Quebec, I called a Council of Genl Officers to determine upon the necessary steps to be taken upon the alarming Occasion—Of their determination I wrote you yesterday,...
22From 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...
23From 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...
24From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 12 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 5th. The operations to the Southward have been of so much longer duration, than was at first apprehended, and no certain accounts being yet received, that have come to my knowlege, induces me to think, that the probability of an attempt against the enemy in this quarter, more especially considering the advanced state of the season, is a...
25From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege two favors from your Excellency, both of the 10th of this month. I flatter myself that the measures of the Assembly for recruiting the quota of troops, and bringing them into the field, will fully answer your Excellency’s expectations. I am persuaded, that for such an essential purpose, nothing will be left undone. That part of your Excellency’s letter which relates to the...
26From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
It is with no small Concern that I find the Arrangement of General Officers made by the Honourable Continental Congress has produced Dissatisfaction. As the Army is upon a general Establishment, their Right to controul & supersede a Provincial one must be unquestionable: and in such a Cause I should hope every Post would be deemed honourable which gave a Man Opportunity to serve his Country. A...
27From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have yet recd no official Accounts from the southward—The inclosed was brought the day before yesterday from Philada. The Gentleman who transmits the account from thence and Colo. Patton who brought the intelligence from North Carolina, are both so worthy of credibility that I flatter myself it will prove substantially true—altho’ it is difficult to account for its not having arrived...
28From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 26 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is with infinite pain I inform You, that we are reduced to a situation of extremity for want of meat. On several days of late the Troops have been entirely destitute of Any—and for a considerable time past they have been at best, at a half—a quarter—an Eighth allowance of this essential Article of provision. The men have borne their distress with a firmness and patience never exceeded—and...
29From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor to transmit you, a few days ago, the accounts which I had then received of the arrival of a French Fleet upon the Coast. I soon after had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from the Admiral Count D’Estaing, dated off Sandy Hook, where he now lies with twelve sail of the Line and four Frigates. The British Fleet are within the Hook. I am so fully convinced of the...
30From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 16 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The alarming and almost defenceless state of our Lines, occasioned by the slow progress in raising men for the New Army and the departure of a great number of the Militia which had been called in for their support, till the 15th inst. from this and New-Hampshire Governments, rendered it necessary for me to summon the General Officers in Council, to determine on proper measures to be adopted...