George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 17 July 1775

From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.

Lebanon [Conn.] 17th July 1775

Sir

On the first Instant I met the Honble Assembly of this Colony, to deliberate on the Request & pressing Reasons sent us from the Massachusetts for an imediate Augmentation of Troops from this Colony—our Assembly agreed to augment with two Regiments of 700 Men each, who are now raising to join the Continental Army—It was wished that we could have had the Advice & Direction of the Congress or your Excellency before we took this Step—but thought the present critical Scituation of our affairs would not admit the Delay of obtaining it—Since your Arrival at Camps before Boston, View and Consideration, of their Scituation & Circumstances, shall gladly be advised—& shall attend your Request for the hastening and Marching the Men.1

There are 1391 Barrels of Flour come to the Care of Colo. Jedh Huntington at Norwich2 for the Use of the Army which I have ordered forward—the busy Season with the Farmers renders its speedy Transportation difficult—please to advise of the Need of Hurry, & where it shall be ordered to be delivered.

Our Assembly supplied Majr General Schuyler with £15,000—in Cash—and 40 half Bbs. of another Necessary Article3—Accounts from the Northward are favourable—the Brig Nancy, Thomas Daviss Master, which arrived at Stonington with Molasses is removed to Norwich—she hath on Board 18, or 19,000 Galls.—the Committee of Inspection & Correspondence, I trust, will take proper Care respecting both Vessell & Cargoe.4

The Road by my Door being the nearest for Post Riding from Cambridge to Philadelphia, shall be obliged, whenever your Excellency has Occasion to send to that City, if the Rider may be directed this Way & to call on me, for the Convenience of any Dispatches I may have Occasion to forward by him—Fessenden has passed this Way more than once. I am, with great Esteem and Regard Sir Your obedient, and most humble Servant

Jonth. Trumbull

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers; copy, DNA:PCC, item 66; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169.

1The members of the Massachusetts provincial congress wrote Governor Trumbull on 24 June that in view of the incomplete state of the American army and the arrival of British reinforcements, “we cannot, a moment longer, forbear addressing your honor, and most earnestly suggesting to the immediate consideration of your general assembly, not only the expediency, but indispensable necessity, of an immediate augmentation of the troops from your colony, for the more effectual strengthening of the army. . . . We need not express to your honor, the indispensable necessity of despatch in making reenforcements, nor the propriety and advantage of marching any new levies, which your assembly may order, with all possible speed, without the first raised companies waiting for the completing of others; inasmuch as your colony has here, on the spot, all the proper officers to make the necessary disposition for their reception, and as the season of their being of any advantage for the support of our army, may be irrevocably lapsed before their arrival, if the least unnecessary delay should be indulged” (Mass. Prov. Congress Journals description begins William Lincoln, ed. The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety. Boston, 1838. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 387–89). The two new regiments authorized by the Connecticut general assembly in its special session of 1 July 1775 were commanded by colonels Charles Webb and Jedediah Huntington (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 185–86). Huntington joined the American army with part of his men by 9 Aug., but Webb’s regiment apparently did not arrive until sometime in September (General Orders, 9 Aug. 1775; Trumbull to GW, 15 Sept. 1775).

2Jedediah Huntington (1743–1818), a merchant in Norwich and son-in |law of Governor Trumbull, had been active in the Sons of Liberty and had served as an officer in the Connecticut militia since 1769. In April 1775 he was a colonel in the Lexington alarm, and during the next two years he commanded one or another of Connecticut’s regiments in the Continental army. He became a Continental brigadier general in May 1777 and served until the end of the war.

3The Connecticut general assembly resolved on 1 July that Governor Trumbull should immediately send £15,000 in bills of credit to Schuyler and such quantity of ammunition as Trumbull and his council “should judge proper and necessary” (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 , 187).

4For a discussion of the brigantine Nancy and her cargo, see John Thomas to GW, 10 July 1775, n.1.

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