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Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 3
Contents:
U.S. History
From Governor Chittenden.
Arlington, State of Vermont, 15 January, 1781.
SIR,
I am exceedingly unhappy when I view the critical situation of the interest of the United States, and the great evils which attend the people in this quarter by the unhappy internal broils and contentions, caused by the disputes between them and the several adjacent States, which prevent that line of correspondence with your Excellency necessary to make the common interest become mutual, and which, I am not insensible, puts it out of your Excellency’s power to hold such correspondence as, I presume, from your known humanity and warm attachment to the liberties of mankind, would be otherwise granted with pleasure.
Notwithstanding I esteem it my duty to inform your Excellency of the perseverance of the inhabitants of this State in the grand cause of liberty in which they have embarked, and of the high estimation they entertain of your Excellency’s eminent services as Commander-in-chief of the American arms (not to flatter), I am wanting in language to express their feelings. I can only assure your Excellency that nothing impedes their willingness to support your Excellency in the important trust of Commander-in-chief, at the risk of every thing dear to them, but a want of being assured, at the end, of sharing equal privileges with the United States.
It gives me pain to give your Excellency any intelligence which may, in the least, add to your burden. But duty to my country, and self-preservation, make it become necessary to present an official account of our situation in this quarter, so far as respects the interest of the common cause; for which I refer your Excellency to the inclosed letters, which are copies of those sent, as therein specified, and will give a particular relation of the subject.
I can only mention further to your Excellency, that many prisoners, inhabitants of this State, are in the custody of the enemy in Canada; and that, notwithstanding we have taken more than three times the number from them, it is at present out of our power to return equal numbers, having delivered prisoners so taken, from time to time, to the United
States. We are about settling a cartel for the redemption of our men in Canada, as before mentioned. I must, therefore, beg your Excellency’s indulgence with a sufficient number of prisoners to answer such an exchange, should the Commissioners, appointed for that purpose, agree. Should this proposal meet your Excellency’s approbation, a return of the number shall be immediately transmitted, and a compliance with any reasonable requisition that may be necessary to complete a matter so earnestly wished for by, Sir, your Excellency’s most respectful
And most obedient, humble servant,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN.
Contents:
Chicago: Thomas Chittenden, "From Governor Chittenden.," Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 3 in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, ed. Jared Sparks (Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1853), 209–211. Original Sources, accessed September 17, 2024, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9R5T4J7QEH1KUE6.
MLA: Chittenden, Thomas. "From Governor Chittenden." Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 3, in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, edited by Jared Sparks, Vol. 3, Freeport, NY, Books for Libraries Press, 1853, pp. 209–211. Original Sources. 17 Sep. 2024. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9R5T4J7QEH1KUE6.
Harvard: Chittenden, T, 'From Governor Chittenden.' in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 3. cited in 1853, Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, ed. , Books for Libraries Press, Freeport, NY, pp.209–211. Original Sources, retrieved 17 September 2024, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9R5T4J7QEH1KUE6.
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