Circular to the New England States, 10 May 1781
Circular to the New England States
Head Quarters New Windsor May 10th 1781
Dear Sir
Major General Heath, second in Command, and an Officer whose high rank1 and consideration entitle him to very particular notice & attention, is prevailed upon to proceed to the several Eastern States, to represent the distresses of the Army for want of Provision, & the consequences which must inevitably ensue, unless a more regular system & more vigorous measures, for affording supplies, are speedily adopted.2
From the Post of Saratoga to that of Dobbs’ Ferry inclusive, I beleive, there is not (by the Returns & Reports made to me3) at this Moment, one day’s supply of meat for the Army on hand. Our whole dependence for this Article is on the Eastern States—their resources of it, I am persuaded, are ample: to request and urge that they may be drawn forth regularly; and to be informed with precision and certainty, what may absolutely be depended upon thro’ the Campaign, are the objects of this application.
I have already made representations to the States of the want of Provisions, the distress of the Army, and the innumerable embarrassments we have suffered in consequence, not merely once or twice, but have reiterated them over & over again.4 I have struggled to the utmost of my ability to keep the Army together—but all will be in vain, without the effectual assistance of the States—I have now only to repeat the alternative which has been so often urged—that supplies, particularly of Beef Cattle, must be speedily & regularly provided, or our Posts cannot be maintained, nor the Army kept in the feild much longer.
I entreat, your Excellency, that this representation may be received in the serious light it is meant & deserves; or that I may stand exculpated from the dreadful consequences which must otherwise inevitably follow in a very short time.5
I enter not into the detail of matters, as General Heath, will be able to give your Excellency6 every necessary information, & lay the proper Estimates of supplies for the Campaign before you. I have the honor to be With great esteem & respect Your Excellencys Most Obedient Hble Servant
Go: Washington
P.S. I have received Your Excellencys Letter of the 27th of April.7
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, addressed to Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., Ct: Trumbull Papers; LS, in Humphreys’s writing, addressed to Rhode Island governor William Greene, NN: Washington Collection; LS, in Humphreys’s writing, addressed to Massachusetts governor John Hancock, M-Ar; LS, in Humphreys’s writing, addressed to New Hampshire council president Meshech Weare, Nh-Ar; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Trumbull docketed the LS at Ct: “recd ⅌ M. Genl Heath, 14th inst.” (see also William Heath to GW, 15 May, and n.1 to that document). The docket of the LS addressed to Greene reads: “received 18th Instant” (see also Heath to GW, 29 May, and n.3 to that document). The docket of the LS addressed to Weare reads: “Recd May 24th” (see also Heath to GW, 29 May, and n.6 to that document). Only the LS at Ct contains the postscript. Humphreys wrote the draft, which he docketed: “Circular to the Governors of Connecticut Rhode Island Massachusetts, & Prest New Hampshire (pr General Heath).”
1. GW wrote over a struck-out portion of the draft: “second in Command & an Officer of high rank.”
2. See GW to William Heath, 8 and 9 May, especially n.9 to that latter document.
3. Only the LS addressed to Trumbull includes the three preceding words, which read “I have received” on the other versions.
4. For examples of these representations, see Circular to the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, 19 Jan., and Circular to the States, 22 January.
5. GW wrote this paragraph on the draft in the left margin of the second page and marked its placement with an asterisk. Humphreys added “your Excellency,” two words not in the LS addressed to Greene or Weare.
6. On the LS addressed to Weare, “you” replaces the preceding two words.
7. Trumbull had promised to present the Connecticut legislature with GW’s appeal for camp equipage (see Circular to New England State Executives, 17 April).