The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Newburgh, 24th June, 1783, from his Excellency General Washington to the President of Congress.

SIR,

IT was not until 9 o'clock this afternoon, that I had the first information of the infamous and outrageous mutiny of part of the Pennsylvania troops; it was then I received your Excellency's letter of the 21st, by express, and agreeable to the request contained in it. I instantly ordered three complete regiments of infantry and a detachment of Artillery to be put in motion as soon as possible; this corps will consist of upwards of 2000 effectives. At all the troops who composed this gallant army, as well those who were furloughed as those who remain in service, are men of tried fidelity. I could not have occasion to make any choice of corps.; and I have only to regret that there existed a necessity they should be employed on so disagreeable a service. I dare say, however, they will, on this and all other occasions, perform their duty, as brave and faithful soldiers.

While I suffer the poignant distress in observing that a handful of men, contemptible in numbers and equally so in point of service, if the veteran troops from the southward have not been seduced by their example, and who are not worthy to be called soldiers, should disgrace themselves as the Pennsylvania mutineers have done, by insulting the sovereign authority of the United States, and that of their own. I feel an inexpressible satisfaction, that this behaviour cannot stain the name of the American soldier, that it cannot be imputable to, or reflect dishonor on the army at large; but on the contrary, it will, by the striking contrast it exhibits hold up to public view the other troops, in the most advantageous point of light. Upon taking all the circumstances into consideration, I cannot sufficiently express my surprise and indignation, at the arrogance, the folly and the wickedness of the mutineers; nor can I sufficiently admire the fidelity, the bravery and the patriotism, which must forever signalize the unsullied character of the other troops of our army; when we consider that these Pennsylvania levies, who mutinied, are recruits and soldiers of a day, who have not borne the heat and burthen of the war, and who can have, in reality, but few hardships to complain of: and when we at the same time recollect, that those soldiers who have lately been furloughed from this army, are the veterans who have patiently endured hunger, nakedness and cold, who have suffered and bled without a murmur, and who, with perfect good order, have retired to their homes, without a settlement of their accounts, or a farthing of money in their pockets; we shall be as much astonished at the virtues of the latter, as we are struck with horror and detestation at the vices of the former: and every candid mind, without indulging ill-grounded prejudices, will undoubtedly make the proper discrimination.

G. WASHINGTON