From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 April 1777
To Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Head quarters Morris Town. 7th April 1777.
Sir,
The pay Abstract of the 10th Regiment of Connecticut Militia from October to January last, was this day presented to me for payment. The very unreasonable disproportion of Officers induced me to decline giving Orders for the payment. I must beg the favour of You to have some Mode adopted by which the Public Treasury may be eased of such extraordinary Demands—Impositions of this nature are provided for in future by Congress;1 but how We are to remedy those that have happen’d I am at a Loss to determine—I can only say that nothing shall pass thro’ my hands that may be construed into the slightest approbation of such Impositions—I have inclosed the Abstract for your Consideration2—& have the honour to be Yr most Obdt Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. Should Colo. Sheldon want a farther supply of Money to finish the equipping his Regiment, I must request you would advance it.
LS, in George Johnston’s writing, Ct: Connecticut Archives, Revolutionary War, 1st ser., vol. 7; copy, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The addressed cover of the LS is docketed in part: “recd 12th May 1777” (see also note 2). For Trumbull’s reply to this letter, see his second letter to GW of 9 June 1777.
1. See Congress’s resolution of 21 Mar. regarding this subject in , 7:190–91.
2. This enclosure has not been identified. The 10th Regiment of Connecticut militia, which served with the Continental forces in New York from August 1776 to January 1777, was commanded in the field by Lt. Col. Jonathan Baldwin instead of its colonel, James Wadsworth. GW on this date gave Baldwin a warrant for $5,259 8/72 to pay the 10th Regiment for August and September (warrant book no. 2, DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 18). The docket on the LS says, however, that the enclosure was “Colo. Cooke’s Abstract of his Regt at Saw Pitts.” GW on this date also issued a warrant for $14,695 62/72 “to Colo. Thaddeus Cook for Pay of a Connecticut Regt under his Command, for Novr Decemr Jany Feby & March” (warrant book no. 2, DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 18).