1. Moylan enclosed a copy of a letter from Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to Moylan, dated at Hartford on 5 Feb., accompanied by an undated copy of a resolution of the state’s legislature. The resolution reads: “Whereas two Regiments of American Light Dragoons are now in this State, in order to be quarterd Wherefore that the Same may be distributed in the Several towns with the least disadvantage to the Inhabitants &c. Resolved by this Assembly that the fourth Regiment shall remain at Colchester, where it now is—and the other or 2d Regt calld Sheldons Shall be Cantond, in the Several towns, of Farmington symsbury, Windsor, Suffield, East Windsor & Enfield, in equal proportions as near as may be, and to be distributed and placed in Such parts of Said Several towns as the Civil Authority & Select men of Such towns Shall order & direct.” Farmington, Simsbury, Windsor, Suffield, East Windsor, and Enfield were all located in the north-central part of Connecticut. All except Farmington were situated along the Connecticut River north of Hartford (see Map 6).

The letter from Trumbull reads: “Enclosed is a Resolve of the General Assembly of this State relative to Said two Regiments.

“please to give the necessary orders for the Removal of the 2d Regiment calld Sheldons, from Colchester to the Several towns mentiond in the Resolve, to be Cantond in the proportions and manner therein mentiond” (DLC:GW).

Moylan also enclosed a copy of his reply to Trumbull. The letter, dated at Colchester, Conn., on 7 Feb., reads: “Major [Elias] Worthington handed me a Resolve of the General Assembly of this State relative to the two Regiments of Light Dragoons under my Command with your Excellencys order for the removal of the 2d Regiment from Colchester to the Severall towns mentiond in the resolve for their Cantonment—I now Send the necessary orders to the Officer Commanding that Regt that the Same may be put in execution as Soon as possible.

“I am very Sorry Sir, that your orders are to have the Regiment So very much dispersed it will put it out of the power of the Officers to pay that Attention, which is So essentialy necessary for Keeping up a proper discipline and will render it impossible for me to fulfil the instructions, which I have received from His Excellency the Commander in Chief—from them Sir I take the Liberty to give you the following extracts ‘In the Cantonment of the Regiments, you will preserve as much Compactness as the Nature of the place will admit that by having them all under your own eye, you may be able to Keep up good discipline, and prevent dissipation & irregularity—You will direct the utmost Attention to the Horse, that they may come into the field in the best possible condition for Service.[’]

“I must plead your Excellencys orders for my not being able to Comply with these instructions—had the Regiment been Stationd at any one place I woud endeavour to fulfill them.” The postscript of the letter reads: “the dismounted men of the 2d Regt are now quarterd in Weathersfield I will be obligd to your Excellency to Let me Know by the earliest oppertunity, whether it is your intention that they Shoud move with the Regiment” (DLC:GW, with Trumbull’s letter to Moylan of 5 Feb.).

2. GW replied on 16 February.