To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 27 November 1780
From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Hartford 27th Novemr 1780
My Dear Sir
I have to trouble your Excellency with a Request that this State may be, as early as possible, furnished with ⟨a⟩ Return of all the Men from the State engaged to serve during the War, including every Corps, not only in the Line of the Army but of every dependant Attatchment to the Army, the Artillery, the Cavalry, the Artificers, the Sappers & Miners—or any other not within my present Recollection—distinguishg the Places of Abode of each Individual. Upon the Plan at present adopted in this State for reinstating their Quota of the Army this Return is necessary—and on this Ground your Excellency will excuse this Trouble.1
The Requisitions from Congress respecting the Army & its future Supplies, have been delayed to so late a Period, that I very much fear a Possiblility at this Time to make a Compliance equal to Expectation—especially in the Article of Salted Provisions—the Time for makeg this Provision being in a great Measure elapsed.2
I foresee a very great Improbability that our Men for the New Establishment can be got on to your Army by the 1st of Jany3—in Failure of this Fulfilment, I beg to know from your Excellency what Substitute will probably be necessary—is it not possible & probable to obtain two or three Thousand of the French Troops to join you during the Interval of your havg a Small Army & being again reinstated by the renewed Exertions of the States—an humiliating Idea this (I confess) for the Honor of America—but better this Expedient, than to suffer worse.
Our last Assembly, despairg almost of any Requisition from Congress on the Subject, had taken their own Measures for recruitg the Army & makg their Supplies—inclosed you have Copies of their two Acts thereon4—The Assembly are now again called on this Communication from Congress.5 I am with much Respect & Esteem Your most Obedient Servant
Jonth; Trumbull
P.S. as soon as the new Arrangement of Officers takes Place I will be obliged by havg a List of their Names & Ranks.6
ALS, DLC:GW. GW replied to Trumbull on 8 December.
1. At its session begun on 12 Oct., the Connecticut legislature had adopted “An Act for filling up and completing this State’s Quota of the Continental Army” (, 3:174–76; see also General Orders, 8 Dec.).
2. For these requisitions, see Circular to the States, 2 June, and n.1 to that document; see also “An Act for collecting and storing a Quantity of Provisions for the Use of the Continental Army and the Forces raised for the Defense of this State” in , 3:176–77.
3. For the new arrangement of the Continental army, see General Orders, 1 November.
4. The enclosures have not been identified, but see notes 1 and 2 above.
5. The Connecticut legislature opened a special session on 29 Nov., during which it passed “An Act for Collecting and storing a Quantity of Provisions for the Use of the Continental Army and the Forces raised for the Defence of this State” (, 3:231, 238–39; see also Samuel Huntington to GW, 12 Nov., and n.1 to that document).
6. For the eventual arrangement of the Connecticut officers in the Continental army, see GW to Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 Feb. 1781, and Parsons to GW, 16 Feb. 1781 (both DLC:GW); see also William Colfax to GW, 10 Feb. 1781 (DLC:GW).