George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 28 June 1781
To Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
Head Quarters Peekskill 28th June 1781
Dear sir
Inclosed your Excellency will receive Copy of a Letter addressed to me from General Parsons, representg the Scituation of the Troops of your Line of the Armey.1
I feel myself so distressed at this Representation, not only as it affects the Troops themselves, but from the Apprehension I have of the Consequences which may, from their feelings, be produced to the general Service; that, altho it is not within my Province to interfere with the Internal Resolutions or Determinations of the States, I did not think it amiss to transmitt this Letter to your Excellency, & to beg the most serious Attention of the State to its Subject.2
Permitt me Sir! to add, that Policy alone in our present Circumstances, seem to demand that every Satisfaction which can reasonably be requested, should be given to those Veteran Troops who, ’thro almost every Distress, have been so long & so faithfully serving the States—as from every Representation, I have but too much Reason to suppose, that the most fatal Cons[e]quences to your Line will ensue upon the total Loss of any further Expectations than they at present have, of Relief from the State; & how serious will be the Consequences to our present meditated Operations, should any Disturbance arise in so respectable a Body of the Troops composing this Army, as that from the State of Connecticut, I leave the State to reflect—for myself, I lament the Prospect, in its most distant Idea.3
If your Legislature should not be sitting, (as I suppose they are not), I leave it to your Excellency to determine whether it is necessary immediately to convene them on this Subject.4 I have only to wish, that it may have as early a Consideration as may be found convenient—or consistent with other Circumstances, which must be best known to your Excellency.5 I have the Honor to be—with most perfect Esteem & Regard sir Your Excellency’s most Obedient Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, Ct: Trumbull Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A note on the LS indicates that Trumbull received this letter on 4 July.
2. Struck-out material follows on the draft, which Trumbull, Jr., also penned: “the Subject is so fully displayed therein, that it is needless for me to be particular—How far the State[s] have complied to the strict Rules of Justice, in their Resolutions, is not for me to determine.”
Trumbull, Jr., wrote his father from headquarters on 13 July about the Continental soldiers from Connecticut: “Their distresses have so far operated upon their spirits as to render them impatient beyond further sufference; what will be the consequence I am afraid almost to think, unless they are very soon relieved. This impatience is hightened by the reflection that Connecticut is the only State who has not provided some pay for their troops, & when they consider that no State scarcely in the union have so much ability as theirs, the troops can construe the omission into no other reason than absolute neglect, which galls them beyond expression” (, 3:247–48).
3. For the intended operations, see The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note.
4. The Connecticut legislature was not in session (see Trumbull to GW, 20 June, n.4).
5. In his reply to GW on 9 July, Trumbull promised that the legislature would address the concern (DLC:GW).