GOVERNOR ORDERSTROOPSTO ASSISTWASHINGTON
IN NY ON EVE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY
9
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(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.