Letter from Governour Trumbull to General Washington

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New-Haven, October 31, 1776.

SIR: Am to acquaint you that this State, considering the near approach of the enemy, and the critical situation of the Continental army, and the danger of having the communication cut off, have thought proper to send a reinforcement from our Militia, including all the able-bodied effective men that can be raised out of four of our Militia regiments, which probably will amount to about four hundred, exclusive of a part of the Ninth Regiment of this State, ordered to be stationed at Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich, together with about one hundred and fifty of our Troops-of-Horse, to be under the command of Major-General Wooster, especially appointed for that purpose, who is ordered and directed to repair with said forces, to cooperate with you, and to obey such orders as you shall give therein.

Am likewise desired by the Assembly of this State, to request your Excellency to discharge, as soon as may be, all the sick in the Militia now in service who shall be judged incapable of further service, and that some way might be devised to provide blankets and clothing for those of the Militia who have been so unfortunate as to lose them in retreating from the enemy; or that some suitable persons might be permitted, On furlough, to repair to the various parts of this State as may be convenient to procure those articles of the friends of those soldiers who are thus deprived of them; and would also observe that we are in hopes, upon the arrival of our troop of Horse, that those now in service may be relieved, and they supply their place.

We have been amused for several days with various accounts of your situation and the movements of our enemies, but have had no direct intelligence, which makes us very anxious to hear from you.

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And am, with esteem and regard, sir, your humble servant,

JONTH˙ TRUMBULL,

To His Excellency General Washington.