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J˙ TRUMBULL, JR˙, TO HIS BROTHER.
Hartford, May 29, 1775.
DEAR BROTHER: I have received your letter per Bacon. A little of politicks before I answer that. In consequence of our last letters from Colonel Arnold (copies of which you will see before you have this,) we have sent off five
Our Assembly have agreed to a bounty of ten Pounds per hundred weight on saltpetre, and five Pounds per hundred weight on sulphur, for any quantity of either that may be procured and made within the Colony for one year. Have also agreed to a bounty of five Shillings each on all fire-arms made within the Colony, and one Shilling and Six Pence for each gun-lock so made, to continue till the 20th of October next, and have promised to take on Government account all the arms that can be made in this Colony and offered to them for sale, till the said 20th October. You will see by this we are not entirely wanting in our duty. Colonel Parsons, I believe, will soon come your way. He is very desirous of going to Boston; has the same ideas you have of being stationed on his own ground. I delivered your letter for Captain Wadsworth. He was gone to Middletown. You will receive no answer from him per this post, and I am unable to say what they have done; I believe they intend you shall purchase at least for all the Troops coming your way, which, I imagine, must be three thousand or upwards, though, in the present incertitude of events, there are not so many under orders for Boston. John Mumford has done wrong to raise in your mind such ideas as your letter intimates. The matter of purchasing beef is not yet adopted, and don' t know if it will; also the method of paying. These matters you must leave till you see us. You will then, perhaps, understand our trim better than by writing. The pay table is composed of William Pitkin, Thomas Seymour, Oliver Ellsworth, and Esekiel Williams, Esquires. Our caution and fears respecting Ticonderoga, &c˙, are fully removed. A Committee is appointed to take care of, and dispose of the officers, soldiers, &c˙, belonging to those posts who are prisoners; they are all here. Albany would not receive them. I don' t imagine you will very soon see the Troops out of Boston. In what way can they make an impression upon your camp? They seem to be attended by some fatality in all their attempts hitherto; however, hope their ill success will not beget a security in our people. I was in hopes there would be but little business for sutlers.
I am glad to find per our letters from New-York, that their Congress do not construe the resolution of Grand Congress to intend an evacuation of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, but only a removal of such artillery, stores, &c˙, as necessary, to Fort George, and keep possession above. For this purpose it is they desire our assistance. We have been in great agitation lest they should immediately order an abandoning those forts. New-York have sent a Committee to superintend the removal, &c˙, with a number of men for the purpose, and materials, &c˙, for ship or sloop building on the lakes. The Provincial Congress of New-York seem much pleased with our delegation to them, so
J˙ TRUMBULL, JR.
J. Trumbull, Jr., To his Brother
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hundred pounds of powder for Colonel Easton, with two hundred Pounds in cash, and have given orders to four companies to march immediately to the relief and support of our people at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and have sent express to New-York and Philadelphia of our proceedings, that no jealousies may arise from our zeal and forwardness in this matter, which, without explanation, might seem to militate with a resolution of Continental Congress. Since these proceedings, have received a letter per express from New-York Provincial Convention, desiring our assistance for the support of those northern posts, until they can be in readiness to defend them with their own Troops, which, I understand, they are like to set on foot (this was without any knowledge of what we have done) for relief of Crown Point. They intimate their hopes that we will not be concerned lest they take umbrage at our doing any thing which we judge necessary for the general safety respecting those fortresses; seem very cordial, and we hear are well united. This intelligence I imagine will occasion our ordering Colonel Hinman, with his whole Regiment that way. The Deputy-Governour was consulting with the Governour on the necessity of sending more assistance to the support of our northern brethren, when Mr˙ Brown arrived with the above letter from New-York. Intelligence that way begins to brighten the prospect from that from quarter. Our gentlemen give us accounts of their having full and free conferences with Committee of New-York Convention, and give us favourable report from them. However, must not please ourselves too much.
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also do the people of the City, &c. Mr˙ Low has failed of the presidentship, which is given to Mr˙ Peter V˙ B˙ Livingston, who, it is said, is a warm friend. They are also much pleased with a full and free representation of people, (for first time.) Their number consists of more than one hundred. Your affectionate brother.