George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 April 1776

From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.

Lebanon [Conn.] 27th April 1776

Sir

I am favoured with your two Letters of 20th & 22d Instant. Of the Lead Ore which is raising at Middletown in this Colony but small Quantity is yet smelted—the Work is going on & hope you1 may be supplied with Lead from thence e’er long—We are not furnished with experienced Workmen as we could Wish—the only Workman whose Experience may be depended on is at present unfit for Duty.

Some Arms are wanted to furnish our Troops at N. London[.] We have nearly sufficient for that Purpose—When these are supplied hope we shall be able to furnish some for Continental Service—Our Assembly is near sitting—shall consult them on the Subject of your Requests.2

The Quantity of Powder arrived in this Colony on Continental Account is not so large as was represented—this Colony have Powder arrived in Philadelphia, which is proposed to be exchanged for what is here—whether this will take Place am not yet acquainted—I promise myself that this Colony will be refunded the Quantity mentioned in mine of 16th feby last— which was lent for Continental Service—the Security of this Colony renders it absolutely necessary.3

The Acco. I mentioned to you at Norwich I have desired the Comissary General to receive the Money for—the Vouchers are already transmitted & I suppose are in your Hands. I am with great Esteem & Respect Sir Your most Obedient humble Servant

Jonth. Trumbull

LS, DLC:GW; LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers.

1Trumbull’s secretary inadvertently wrote “your” in the LS. The letterbook copy reads “you.”

2The Connecticut general assembly met from 9 May to 8 June. During that session it authorized a premium of 2s. and 6d. for each good gunlock made in the colony between 10 June and 20 Oct. 1776. Finding that a committee appointed a year earlier to procure 3,000 stands of arms had been unable to supply that number and that the army was “in great want of them,” the assembly extended the privileges and premiums previously offered for arms and urged the committee members “to use their utmost vigilance to provide the number of arms directed” (Hinman, Historical Collection description begins Royal R. Hinman, comp. A Historical Collection, from Official Records, Files &c., of the Part Sustained by Connecticut, during the War of the Revolution. Hartford, 1842. description ends , 211, 213).

3For an account of the powder recently imported into Connecticut, see GW to Trumbull, 20 April 1776, n.1. On 26 April the Continental Congress directed its secret committee “to settle and repay to the colony of Connecticut, the powder lent . . . to General Washington, for the use of the continent, and to do what in their judgment is best for the public Interest, and the benefit of Connecticut, in exchanging the powder which said colony has in the city of Philadelphia, for powder in the eastern ports belonging to the continent” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 4:310). The secret committee instructed Thomas Mumford on 26 July 1776 to reimburse Connecticut for the loaned gunpowder (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 4:549; see also GW to Mumford, 13 Feb. 1776, source note).

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