To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 20 November 1778
From Jeremiah Wadsworth1
Camp Fredg [New York] Novr 20th: 1778
Sir.
I will be at Hd. Quarters tomorrow morning & take his Excys directions—have no doubt, I shall be able to prevent any very great evil from the misconception you believe to have happened. I cannot believe as Colo Bland doth that the officer commanding the Connecticut Militia has been honestly engaged to bring them on; and am satisfyed my Countrymen have too much pride not to follow when they are led by an honest man.
I am Sir Your most obed.
Jere Wadsworth CGP.
Colo Hamilton
Hd Quarters
LC, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
1. Wadsworth was commissary general of purchases and a resident of Connecticut.
This letter is concerned with the plans for the transfer of the Convention troops (i.e., the British troops who surrendered under General John Burgoyne at Saratoga) from Massachusetts to Virginia. Colonel Theodorick Bland was the officer in charge of the transfer of these troops. Under the proposed plans the Convention troops were to be escorted across each state by the respective state militias. Bland apparently feared that during the march across Connecticut the state’s militia would not be reliable and would not (or could not) prevent the Convention troops from deserting. Bland was also disturbed by the very real possibility that the Connecticut Militia would not cross the state line and would abandon their responsibilities at Sharon, Connecticut, before being relieved by other troops.