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GOVERNOR ORDERSTROOPSTO ASSISTWASHINGTON

IN NY ON EVE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY

9

(AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) TRUMBULL, JONATHAN. Autograph

Document Signed, “Jon’th Trumbull,” as Colonial Governor of Connecticut, ordering Lt.

Col. Thomas Seymour to march his three regiments of light horse to New York and

adding, in a postscript, to send the equipped units without waiting for others to be

equipped. Additionally Signed, in full, in third person within the text. 1

1

/

2

pages, folio, with

integral blank; some chipping at right edge with minor loss to text, few short closed sepa-

rations at folds, minor staining along left edge, remnants of prior mounting along center

vertical fold on terminal page. (MRS)

Lebanon, 3 July 1776

[3,000/4,000]

. . . The pressing demands from General

Washington for a speedy reinforcement of the

Army at New York on which the preserva-

tion of the Country (under God) seems at

present so much to depend, require our

utmost Exertions on this Occasion . . . .

I do thereupon, by and with the Advice of

the Committee of Safety present order and

direct that the three Regiments of light

Horse in this Colony west of Connecticut

River immediately and without delay march

forward, well equipped . . . to New York

under your Command . . . and when arrived

. . . to be under the Command and Direction

of his Excellency GeneralWashington . . . .”

The postscript: “If it is impracticable to have

the whole of eachTroop properly equipped you

will forward such part as are furnished, as the

Urgency of the Case will admit of no delay.”

After the departure of the British from

Boston in March of 1776, General

Washington sought cavalry troops to patrol

for a new British landing, which was antici-

pated to be near New York City. Governor

Trumbull ordered a detachment of over 400

cavalry under Lt. Col. Seymour to reinforce

Washington’s positions in NY. Many of the

regiments of light Horse that greeted

Washington were undersupplied, so

Washington suggested sending back the horses. The officers’ offer to pay for their own animals was

accepted. When Washington ordered the cavalry units to do service that separated them from their

horses, or to help fortify NewYork harbor, or to do guard duty, this unglamorous work was rejected by

the light horse units, whereuponWashington sent them all home—horse and rider together.