I am informed by Captain Bevier (who arrived at this place from Albany, this ev'ning) that he saw the arrangement of the Line, which was nearly compleat & that I was not appointed, but on the supernumerary List. If that is the case, I wish another Officer was sent on this service in my stead, & I am not willing since I have undertaken it to retire before I am regularly relieved, as perhaps the Service might by that means be injured. I am, with respect yr. Excellencies most Obed't & very h'ble Ser't His Excellency Geo. Clinton, Esqr. [No. 3472.] T. V. Wagenen. MUTINY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LINE. Washington's Letter to Clinton-The Governor Promptly Joins the Commander-in-Chief. Head Quarters New Windsor 4" Jan'y 1781. Dear Sir, I am extremely sorry to acquaint your Excellency that an event of a most alarming nature, but which I have long apprehended would happen in some part of the army, has at length taken place in the Pennsylvania line* cantoned near Morris Town. General Wayne informs me that on the night of the 1st instant a mutiny was excited among the non Commis The Pennsylvania line, by the new arrangement of the army, had been reduced from -eleven to six regiments. These were stationed for the winter in the huts near Morristown, which had been occupied by the army as winter quarters the preceding year. The regiments were under the immediate command of General Wayne, who wrote as follows in the letter of which Major Fishbourn was the bearer: "A most general and unhappy mutiny suddenly took place in the Pennsylvania line about nine o'clock last night. A great proportion of the troops, with some artillery, are marching towards Philadelphia. Every exertion has been made by the officers to divide them in their determination to revolt. It has succeeded in a temporary manner with near one half. How long it will last, God knows. "I have ordered the Jersey brigade to Chatham, where the militia are also assembling, lest the enemy should take advantage of this alarming crisis. Indeed, the alarmguns have been fired, and the beacons kindled towards Elizabethtown; perhaps occasioned by our unhappy affair. I am this moment, with Colonels Butler and Stewart, taking horse to try to halt them on their march towards Princeton. As a last resort, I am advised to collect them, and move slowly towards Pennsylvania. What their temper may be, I cannot tell. We had an escape last night. Perhaps we may be equally sioned officers and privates-several officers were killed and wounded in endeavouring to quell it in the first instance, but resistance was soon found vain. The troops paraded with their arms, seized the Artillery of the division, and marched off in a Body towards Philad'a, declaring their resolution to proceed to that City and lay their grievances before Congress. Wayne, Colo. Butler and Colo. Stewart will endeavour to refortunate to-day. Captain Billings is killed; Captain Talbot mortally wounded: some others are also hurt."-January 2d, nine o'clock A. M. General General Wayne overtook the mutineers the same day on their march towards Princeton. He was advised not to go among them; but, when they halted for the night, he sent to them and requested that one sergeant or more from each regiment should be delegated to meet at his quarters, and make known their grievances. This was done, and among the others came a sergeant, one Williams, a "poor creature or fond of liquor," and a deserter from the British, having been taken prisoner at Princeton, enlisted in DeLancey's battalion, and deserted at Kingsbridge, whom the mutineers had chosen to be their commander. Their complaints were, that many soldiers had been detained beyond the term of their enlistment; that the arrearages of pay and the depreciation had not been made up; and that they were suffering every privation for A mode of redress was pointed out by General Wayne and want of money and clothes. the Colonels, which seemed to satisfy the delegated sergeants, and they agreed to use their efforts to bring over the minds of the others. But the attempt was ineffectual, and they all marched the next day, January 4th to Princeton. Those who were well disposed, and willing to separate from the mutineers, were requested by the officers to march in the same body, as it was hoped their presence and influence might serve to moderate the violence of the leaders, and check the contagion of their example.Sparks. From headquarters New Windsor under date of 5 January 1781, Washington forwarded by general Knox the following circular to the New England States: Sir, It is with extreme anxiety and pain of mind, I find myself-constrained to inform you, that the event I have long apprehended would be the consequence of the complicated distresses of the Army, has at length taken place.-On the night of the 1st instant, a mutiny was excited by the non-commissioned officers and privates of the to defy all opposition. In Pennsylvania line, which soon became so universal as attempting to quell this tumult in the first instance, some officers were killed, others common soldiers lost. Deaf to the arguments, wounded, and the lives of several entreaties, and utmost efforts of all their officers, to stop them, the men moved off from Morristown, the place of their cantonment, with their arms, and six pieces of Artillery: and from accounts just received by General Wayne's Aid de Camp, they were still in a body, on their march to Philadelphia, to demand a redress of their grievances. At what point this defection will stop, or how extensive it may prove, God only knows; at present the troops at the important posts in this vicinity remain quiet, not being acquainted with this unhappy and alarming affair. How long they will continue so. cannot be ascertained, as they labor under some of the pressing hardships with the troops who have revolted. The aggravated calamities and distresses that have resulted from the total want of pay, for nearly twelve months, the want of cloathing at a severe season, and not unfrequently the want of provisions, are beyond description. The circumstances will now point out much more forcibly what ought to be done, than any thing that can possibly be said by me, on the subject. It is not within the sphere of my duty to make requisitions without the authority of Congress from individual states; but at such a crisis as this, and circumstanced as we are, my own heart will acquit me, and Congress and the States (eastward of this) whom, for the sake of despatch, I address, I am persuaded will excuse me when once for all I give it decidedly as my opinion, that it is vain to think an army can be kept together much longer, under such a variety of sufferings as ours has experienced; and that main with them, to keep them from committing excesses upon the Country, and in hopes that some favorable opening may be found to bring them to reason. What will be the event of this affair I do not know, or whether the spirit of defection will be confined to that line. The officers have been apprehensive of something of a like nature among the troops at these posts, who have the same causes of complaint. Should this unfortu unless some immediate and spirited measures are adopted to furnish at least three months pay to the troops, in money which will be of some value to them-and at the same time ways and means are devised to clothe and feed them better (more regularly I mean), than they have been-the worst that can befall us may be expected. I have transmitted Congress a copy of this letter, and have in the most pressing terms requested them to adopt the measure which I have above recommended, or something similar to it, and as I will not doubt of their compliance, I have thought it proper to give you this previous notice, that you may be prepared to answer the requisition. As I have used every endeavor in my power to avert the evil that has come upon us, so will I continue to exert every mean I am possessed of, to prevent an extension of the mischief, but I can neither foretell or be answerable for the issue. That you may have every information that an officer of rank and abilities can give, of the true situation of our affairs, and the condition and temper of the troops, I have prevailed upon Brigadier General Knox to be the bearer of this letter; to him I beg leave to refer you, for many matters, which would be too tedious for a letter.* When the news of the revolt reached Philadelphia, a committee was appointed by Congress, at six o'clock on January 3rd, consisting of General Sullivan, Mr. Witherspoon, and Mr. Mathews, who were instructed to confer with the executive of Pennsylvania on the subject. This committee, and Governor Reed on the part of the Council of Pennsylvania, set off to meet the troops. On the 5th Mr. Bland and Mr. Atlee were added to the committee of Congress. Meantime Gen. Wayne remained with the troops at Princeton. It was ascertained that overtures were about to be made to the insurgents by the enemy, to which it was feared they would listen, and for two or three "You will proceed with the despatches, with which you are charged, to the governors of the States of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and to the president of New Hampshire. You are acquainted with the subject of those despatches, in which the Gentlemen to whom they are addressed are referred to you for more particular account of the situation of the Army, the causes of discontent in it, and the probable means of giving satisfaction to the Soldiery. Upon the first two heads, you have no need of any instructions. What seems to me most essentially necessary to answer the end of the third, is an immediate supply of Money and Cloathing; of the first a sum equal to three months' pay at least of the new emission, or some other of equal value; of the last a compleat Suit of Clothes, not only for the men now in service, but for the number of Recruits who are to join. "That you may be able to speak fully upon the Article of Cloathing, I will inform you minutely of our present supply and future prospects. The few Men who remain in service, will with difficulty find a sufficiency of shirts, Vests, Breeches, and Stockings to carry them thro' the winter. Of Coates we are very deficient. When those which are in the hands of the Agents are brought forward, there will not be more than one third of what are wanting. Thus you perceive, that the old Soldiers will have occasion for a full supply of Cloathing when they take the field, and that the Recruits, except they are furnished by their respective States, must be absolutely destitute. We may obtain some supplies from France between this time and the Spring, but we have been so often disappointed from that quarter, that prudence dictates the impolicy of placing dependence upon it. "I have been speaking of the Northern Army only. General Greene represents the southern as literally naked, and therefore, should there be an arrival from Europe, a great part must be applied to that Army, as the southern States have not resources within them. I have hitherto only spoken of a sum of money equal to three months' pay; but it is possible that a further sum may be necessary, and that of specie, to give new Bounties to those Soldiers, who were early enlisted for the War upon very low terms. There can no ill result from securing such a fund; for, if it should not be wanted for that purpose, it may be applied usefully to a thousand others."-Instructions to Brigadier-General Knox, 7 January, 1781. nately be the case, we have no resources left for the security of the posts, but the militia, who would with difficulty be got in, in sufficient numbers, before the enemy might take advantage of the Revolt, for I have not the least doubt but they will hope to see the same spirit prevail among the troops here as among those at Morris Town, and will be prepared for such an event. The River is entirely open, and so far favorable. Under these circumstances, I think it indispensably necessary that your Excellency should be as near the posts as possible.* Your influence with the militia would give a spring to their exertions, and your advice upon such an occasion would be of infinite service to me. If the Session can be carried on by the Lieutenant Governor, I shall be glad to see your Excellency as soon as possible. But should any favorable accounts from below, or an assurance of the affection of the troops here make your presence unnecessary, days the officers were in a state of extreme anxiety. They were somewhat relieved by an incident, which is thus related in a letter from General Wayne: "About four o'clock yesterday morning we were waked by two sergeants, who produced a letter from the enemy, enclosed in a small piece of tea-lead. They also brought under guard two caitiffs who undertook to deliver it to the leader of the malcontents. One of these culprits says he is a sergeant in Odell's newly raised corps, and was promised a considerable reward on bringing back an answer. The soldiers in general affect to spurn at the idea of turnings Arnolds, as they express it. We have used every address to inflame their minds against wretches, who would dare to insult them by imagining them traitors; for, had they thought them virtuous, they would not have carried those overtures."-Princeton, January 8th. The "two caitiffs " were John Mason and James Ogden (of South River). Clinton's message addressed to "the person appointed by the Pennsylvania Line to lead them in their present struggle for their liberty and rights", offered the protection of the British Government, a free pardon for all former offences, and the pay that was due them by Congress, without expectation of military service. Governor Reed arrived at Princeton, and the committee of Congress at Trenton. The following proposals were offered to the mutineers: "1. To discharge all those, who had enlisted indefinitely for three years, or during the war; the fact to be inquired into by three commissioners to be appointed by the executive, and to be ascertained, where the original enlistment could not be produced by the oath of the soldier. 2. To give immediate certificates for the depreciation on their pay, and to settle averages as soon as circumstances would admit. 3. To furnish them immediately with certain specified articles of clothing, which were greatly wanted." These terms were accepted, and resulted in the disbanding of a very large portion of the troops, and a temporary dissolution of the line. The British emmissaries, or spies, were given up, tried by a court-martial and executed on the 11th of January. From headquarters under date 6th January 1781 Washington wrote to the President of Congress: "His Excelly Gov'r Clinton is here and will remain in the neighborhood, ready to call in his Militia should there be any defection in the Continental Troops." I shall dispatch an Express to you by the Road on the East side of the River. I imagine the foregoing will have reached Albany, but not perhaps circumstantially. Your Excellency will, therefore, communicate so much of it as you may think expedient. I have the Honor to be, with the greatest Respect and Esteem yr. Excellency's most obt. Servant His Excellency Gov. Clinton. Go. Washington.* 5th Jan'y 1780 [1781]. 2 O'Clock P. M. Dear Sir, I have this Moment received your Excellency's Letter of yesterday, and will do myself the Honor of waiting upon you immediately. I did intend to set out for Albany the Beginning of next Week, but my Presence there can be dispensed with for two Days or longer without any material Inconvenience & I shall be happy in the present alarming & disagreable Situation of Affairs to render your Excellency every assistance in my Power. I am, with the highest Respect & Esteem, your most Obed't Serv't [To General Washington.] Geo. C. [No. 3473.] See document 3477-page 556. [No. 3474.] Colonel Samuel Clyde's Regiment in a Demoralized Condition. Courish Bush, Jan'y ye 6th 1781. Dear Sir, I Rec'd an act of the Legislature for Raising of men during the war for this State and your Ordars for Puting • See also document 3475, page 553; document 3481, page 564; document 3488, page 571, and document 3493, page 578 |