Governour Trumbull to General Washington

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GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Lebanon, February 2, 1776.

SIR: In compliance with the requisition of the honourable Continental Congress and of your Excellency, we are, with the greatest cheerfulness, making our utmost exertions to raise and despatch one battalion to Canada and three to your camp; and have much satisfaction to inform you, that there appears a great freedom in our men to engage in each of those important services; and the regiments are filling up very fast; and sonic companies have marched for your camp about two days since; but am just informed of a very material difficulty, which must greatly retard the march of both, unless it can be removed, viz: that our Treasury is entirely exhausted of money; without which it will be impossible to persuade the men to set forward to Canada, nor can it be reasonable to expect it. In this exigency we know not what to do, and the cause must greatly suffer unless your Excellency can relieve us; and have, therefore, by advice of my Council, sent one of the Committee of our Pay-Table to wait on, and request of your Excellency, the replacing the sum which they lately paid some of our troops in your camp, with no other view than to quiet and induce them more freely to re-engage in your service; in doing which, I trust, they had your approbation. The same bills they made use of for that purpose, were just before brought, at our instance and expense from the Continental Treasury, towards reimbursing our expenses in the great cause; and, judging it could not be better used, we improved it for that purpose. But I need use no arguments with your Excellency; your own truly publick spirit and zeal for promoting this unspeakably important cause, will be abundantly sufficient to induce you to comply with our request, founded only on principles of general good, if it be in your power.

I am, sir, with the highest esteem and regard, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

To His Excellency General Washington.