Washington, George | Autograph letter signed welcoming Jonathan Trumbull to his “family” as an aide-de-camp, 1781

Washington, George

Autograph letter signed (“Go: Washington”), one page (329 x 203 mm) on a leaf of laid paper, New Windsor, [New York], 14 May 1781, to Jonathan Trumbull; lightly soiled, some short, closed marginal tears, tipped to a mat board.

Shortly before his historic conference with General Rochambeau at the Joseph Webb House in Wethersfield, Connecticut—where the Franco-American strategy for the siege of Yorktown was planned—Washington warmly welcomes Jonathan Trumbull as his military secretary, replacing Robert Hanson Harrison, who had been appointed chief judge of the Maryland General Court: “In answer to your favor of the 10th, which came to my hands last night, I have to assure you, that your joining my family in the first part of June will be very convenient for me, and that I shall be happy in the event.” The commander-in-chief concludes the letter “With very great esteem & regard.”

The General acceded to Trumbull’s request for a brief delay, and his general orders for 8 June record that “Jonathan Trumbull Esqr. Junior is appointed Secretary to the Commander in Chief and to be respected accordingly” (Papers, p. 389).

Washington initially proffered the position to Trumbull on 16 April, and on 10 May Trumbull replied, “I have now the Honor to inform that I have determined to accept the Offer—provided your Excellency can dispense with a Delay which unavoidable Appointments of Public Business will occasion—these Appointments, made previous to your Excellencys Call with the necessary Preperations for joining—will take my Time to the first Part of June.” (Papers, pp. 75–76).

At Washington’s headquarters, Trumbull joined a “family” that included Tench Tilghman and David Humphreys. Trumbull remained in office through Yorktown and until the end of the war, and his name is most frequently met with as the countersignature on the discharges of Continental soldiers being paroled from active service.

“[T]hree of Washington’s most experienced aides-de-camp departed his family during 1781: Harrison, Hamilton, and Meade. The general moved quickly to fill the vacancies with Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Dr. David Cobb, and William Stephens Smith. … When Washington lost the valuable services of Robert Hanson Harrison, he cast about for an outstanding writer to replace him. As he had done sometimes in the past when he needed help, Washington turned for assistance to the talented Trumbull family of Connecticut. That state’s governor, Jonathan Trumbull, was the patriarch of the family and one of Washington’s staunchest allies. When the general was desperate for men or food during the war, his best hope was to turn to Governor Trumbull, whom he purportedly called, ‘Brother Jonathan.’ … Governor Trumbull had four sons, all of whom played an active role in the Revolution. … It was Governor Trumbull’s namesake, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., … replaced Harrison as Washington’s military secretary” (Lefkowitz, p. 232).

REFERENCES

The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, ed. Ferraro, vol. 32, pp. 75–76 (footnote 3 to Trumbull’s letter of 10 May); cf. Arthur S. Lefkowitz, George Washington’s Indispensable Men: The 32 Aides-de-Camp Who Helped Win American Independence (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2003)

PROVENANCE

Christie’s New York, 5 December 2006, lot 325 (undesignated consignor; “The Property of a Gentleman”)