The magazine of history with notes and queries, Vol. II, No. 4, October 1905

by Various

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

LETTER FROM COL. HENRY GLEN, OF SCHENECTADY, N. Y., TO COL. MARINUS WILLETT.

[The writer was distinguished during the Revolution, and his correspondent even more so. The letter is interesting as covering a variety of subjects, including the failure of the Oswego expedition, local politics, etc., and for its phonetic spelling.]

Schenectady, 13th March, 1783.

My worthy Friend

Colo M. Willett

Sir:

Your letter with the disgreeable Titings of that unhappy day I have Before me and any delay of not answering you sooner was in an exspatation of sending you the Grat & Gloriss news of peace. But out of my power as yet, But momently exspected, when I shall loss no time of sending that Longwished pease of newes. NO MEN Felt moor unhappy Then I hearing the Miscariges of the Expedition & that through the conduct of the dam Savage(s). I cannot but condol on the ocasion & that Sincerely.

However as its the change of war for Fourthen (fortune), & Miss Fourthen to authir (other) Generals, dukes Lords & the first Generals of the Earth Let’s Go back to Jullis Cisier’s time Al’xd the Grat, Malberg (Marlborough) Charles the 12 of Sweden, Prince Ugen (Eugene), Cumberland & the King of prusia, what has befallen them in a moment, a woeful amangumercy (emergency) who both fell in Pursuitt of that thing called Glory & Honour which promised the fairest of every thing in the world, for you to be crowned with, for I blieve by your own acc’t Major (Van Courtland?) & several other Gentlemen who was with you that not a soul of the garrison new ware you came from—you might as well been Tropt (dropped) out of the moon—for what they new—the only way is to make your self happy, its well known your activity Bravery & Courage in the case, that you are not Blamed—a few of your Enemies may say the men had no business there, But what for....

I am last Evening from Albany—saw all the Polititians not a word of newes but you had in the last papers. Major Hale Just from head-Quarters, no aRivals momently Exspected—the Assembly ware to Brack (break) up on Saturday next, Mr Morris[38] whants to resign—he has some Enemies in Philadelphia who Excuse him for making Parde (part) payment—Congress won’t Suffer him to Resign, wether they have it in their power to prevent him I am not able to Judge, I am sorrow for it.

The Shrief (sheriff) has a letter for Publican (publication?) the day of aLection for a Governer, Lieut Governer, one Senator for the northen district in the Room of Genl Tenbroeck & the Reprecentatives, which is to be on the 3rd Thursday in April next—no talk of any body for to apose Governor Clinton—the Barroom talk is Judge R. Yates (a pair?)—and Thomas Pallmer—neither of the three will answer, tho the one has abbility enough but their is something wanting Palame (Palmer?) I thing had the better ... various are the Congecturs who are the persons for Rang of Goverment.

My opinion, George Clinton, Esq, Governer, for thre years moor, Pier(re) V(an) Cortland Lieut Gov’r some Considerable Alteration in the Lower House....

Civil List either John M. Scott,[39] or James Duane for Mayir for the city of N. York. Recorder, I am at the last I believe, Marrinus Willet, High Shreff, tho you have been misforthen’d you have still friends at Court. So much for a little Pollitics. Calling yesterday at the post office I found a letter to you from His Excellency, which accompanies mine & Rest assured in a few days you will have one wether the war is to continue or pease to take place—there is no telling till a packet which had not come in within these fiew days

I am & Remain with Sentiments of Regard, &c.,

H. Glen.

Addressed on back, “Col^o Marinus Willett, Commanding the Troops westward, Tryon County.”

LETTER OF WASHINGTON PARTLY IN REFERENCE TO UNIFORMS

[A valuable historical letter in reference to the uniform of the Army.]

Head Quarters, near New Windsor, (N. Y.,) 29th May, 1781.

To the Board of War:

Gentlemen.—I have been honored with your favors of the 13th 14th and 17th instants. My late absence from the Army prevented my acknowledging them sooner.

If the Uniforms which were fixed upon for the Troops of North and South Carolina have not been ordered from Europe, I do not see that any inconvenience can attend the proposed alteration. I think, however, the Lace ought to be dispensed with as altogether superfluous and very expensive.

It seems reasonable that a due proportion should be observed between the pay of the Deputies and the principal in any department, and as Congress were pleased to augment the Salary of Mr Laurance the Judge Advocate General very considerably by the Resolve of the 10th of November there can I think be no impropriety in augmenting the Salaries of the Deputies also to 60 dolls p. month, which is what they request.

Sir Henry Clinton has informed me that it is not in his power to permit the transportation of Tobacco from Virginia to Charlestown. I imagine there are some commercial Regulations in the way. But he says that he mentioned certain Articles to Colo Magaw and Colo Ely which might be sent in and sold for the benefit of our prisoners. What they were I do not exactly recollect, but I think Lumber and Iron.

I have the Honor to be

with great Respect

Gentlemen

Your most obt. Servt.

Go Washington.

Honble Board of War.

LETTER OF JOHN DICKINSON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

[Letter of John Dickinson, member of the Continental Congress, to the President of Congress, in reference to the mutiny of the army, when the soldiers had surrounded and threatened Congress. It was written under the influence of strong excitement, as is evinced by the many erasures and additions in the original. The troops had surrounded the Congress building, demanding their arrears of pay, and honorable discharge from service, under dire threats of violence. It relates to one of the most trying periods of the Revolution, and one which threatened the country with internal troubles.]

Philadelphia, July 27, 1783.

Sir:

Yesterday evening the Soldiers from Lancaster began their March for that Place Under the Command of their officers.—Those in the barracks behave very quietly, & are desirous of being dismist.—Colonel Hampton informs me that Letters were sent by the principal Authors of the late Disturbance, to excite General Armand’s Legion & Colonel Moylan’s Regiment, to join in the Mutiny. The general Disposition of those Troops I know not; But I expect to receive immediate Advice of any Movements of Importance among them, which I shall communicate to Congress.

I am, Sir

Your very obt. Serv’t.

John Dickinson.

Mr. Thomson[40] who does me the Honor of charging himself with this Letter, will deliver to Congress a copy of the last proposals of the Soldiers to Councils, & the Act of Council thereon.

His Excellency

The President of Congress.

[Congress had adjourned from Philadelphia to Princeton, N. J.—Ed.]