To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 October 1775
From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Lebanon [Conn.] 9th October 1775
Sir
Pursuant to request from the Continental Congress this day received have given orders to Capt. Giles Hall Commander of the Brigantine Minerva to sail with all possible dispatch on a cruize to the River St Lawrence or there abouts in quest of two vessels from England bound to Quebec with Arms &c. as I presume you will be fully advised of before this reaches you by the same express from the Continental Congress, and it is supposed sundry armed vessels will be dispatched from the Colonies of Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island for the same purpose—This enterprize, as yet, remains a profound secret with us and the orders are given to Capt. Hall not to be opened untill he is out of sight of land. The Minerva will sail in a very few days.1 I am most respectfully Sir your obedient humble Servant
J. T——l
LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers.
1. For Congress’s orders to intercept these vessels, see Hancock to GW, 5 Oct. 1775 (first letter). The Minerva did not sail to the St. Lawrence because most of the crew refused to go. See the Minutes of the Connecticut Council of Safety, 2 Nov. 1775, in Clark, , 2:861. Giles Hall, who was appointed captain of the Minerva on 3 Aug., later commanded Connecticut privateers.