Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

This circumstance, "of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed "enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be " sufficiently disagreeable ; but, when their example has infected another "part of the Army, when their want of discipline and refusal of almost "every kind of restraint or government have produced a like conduct "but too common to the whule and an entire disregard of that order " and subordination necessary to the well-being of an Army, and which "had been inculcated before, as well as the nature of our military es- " tablishment would admit of, our condition becomes still more alarm- "ing; and, with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want "of confidence in the generality of the troops." (General Washington to the President of ttw Congress, " New-York, September 2, 1770.")

"Before I conclude, I must take the liberty of mentioning to Congress "the great distress we are in for want of money. Two months' pay (and " more to some Battalions) is uow due to the troops, here, without any- " thing in the Military chest to satisfy it. This occasions much dissatisfaction and almost a general uneasiness. Not a day passes without "complaints and the most importunate and urgent demands, on this "head. As it may injure the service greatly, and the want of a reg- " ular supply of Cash produces consequences of the most fatal tendency, " I entreat the attention of Congress to this subject, and that we may "be provided, as soon as can be, with a sum equal to every present "claim." (General Washington to the President of the Congress, "New- "York, 6 September, 1776.")