Samuel Huntington to George Washington, 28 May 1781
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia May 28. 1781
Sir,
By the enclosed Resolve your Excellency will be informed that the Convention Troops are to be removed from their present Stations.
In Consequence of this Resolve the Board of War have ordered them, the Commissioned Officers to East Windsor in Connecticut, the non commissioned Officers and Privates to Rutland in Massachusetts.1
Would it not be preferable to have them exchanged if it could be effected on reasonable Terms, rather than to continually increase the enormous Expence incurred by supporting, marching, countermarching & guarding such of them as have not escaped.
You will also receive enclosed, a resolve of the 21st Instant respecting Major General Gates. It may not be improper to inform your Excellency, that in Consequence of this Resolve, the General in a very decent Letter to Congress informed them that he could not be useful in the Field or think of going into Service in his present Circumstances.2 It were to be wished some Mode might be devised to relieve him from his present anxious though inactive Situation.3 I have the Honor to be, with the highest Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient & very humble servant
Sam. Huntington President
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 16.
1. See the Board of War to GW, 25 May, and n.1. The enclosed congressional resolution adopted on 23 May is in DLC:GW.
2. The enclosed resolution that Congress adopted on 21 May clarified that Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates could command in the field while awaiting a court of inquiry (DLC:GW). For the full resolution and a letter Gates wrote Huntington on 22 May, see Gates to GW, same date, and n.3 to that document.
3. GW replied to Huntington on 6 June; see also GW to Huntington, 8 May, and notes 2–5.