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Lebanon, July 4, 1776.
SIR: The retreat of the northern Army, and its present
situation, have spread a general alarm. By intelligence
from Major General Schuyler, received last evening, I have
reason to conclude that they are now at Crown Point and
Ticonderoga, in a weak state, and under the necessity of
an immediate reinforcement to enable them to make a stand,
and preventing the enemy from passing the lake and penetrating into the country. The prevalence of the small pox
among them is every way unhappy; our people in general
have not had that distemper. Fear of the infection operates
strongly to prevent soldiers from engaging in the service;
and the battalions ordered to be raised in this Colony fill up
slowly. Are there no measures may be taken to remove
the impediment? May not the Army soon be freed from
that infection? Can the reinforcements be kept separate
from the infected? Or may not a detachment be made from
the troops under your command, and the Militia raising in
the several Colonies and ordered to New York of such men
as have had the small pox, to be replaced by the troops
raising for the Northern Department? Could any expedient
be fallen upon that would afford probable hopes that this
infection may be avoided, I believe our battalions would
soon join the northern Army. I shall omit nothing in my
power to expedite them.
The retreat of the Army from Canada exposes the northern frontiers of New York and New Hampshire to the
ravages of the Indians, who will doubtless be spirited up to
fall upon them. Some of the settlements on Onion River,
I am informed, are breaking up and removing, and the whole
filled with the most disquieting apprehensions. Some powder and lead, upon application, has been supplied them from
this Colony; but the settlers there, from their infant state,
If these settlers are driven back, besides the loss of their
property, a much heavier expense will fall upon some of the
Colonies for the support of their families than the charge
arising from the raising and maintaining a battalion of Continental troops, and we shall still have a frontier to defend.
The anxiety of the friends and relations of many, if not most
of those settlers who emigrated from this Colony, and the
importance of the matter, will, I trust, be my sufficient
apology for wishing to engage your influence with Congress
to support the motion I judge advisable, and shall make, to
have a battalion raised out of and stationed on these frontiers.
By a letter from General Schuyler of the 1st instant, received last evening, I am advised that Generals Schuyler,
Gates, and Arnold, were to set out on Tuesday morning.
I trust they are by this time at the end of their journey, and
hope their presence may have a happy effect towards affairs
in that quarter.
I am, with great truth and regard, sir, your most obedient
humble servant,
To His Excellency General Washington.
Letter from Governour Trumbull, of July 4, to General Washington
v1:190
v1:191
and consequent poverty, are unable to devote themselves to
the defence of their frontiers, unless they should be enabled
to hire labourers to carry on the business of their farms in
their absence. I could therefore wish that your Excellency
might think proper to recommend it to the Continental Congress to order a battalion to be raised and stationed there for
the defence of those settlements. It would, I trust, be
immediately filled up with a hardy race of men in that quarter, to repel the attacks of the savages, and be ready to join
and support the northern Army upon occasion, and who at
all times may scour the woods, and furnish intelligence of the
enemy' s motions.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL.