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Washington discharges all troops in Pennsylvania & the South...
Washington discharges all troops in Pennsylvania & the South...
Item # 700845
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December 30, 1783
THE YORK COURANT, England, Dec. 30, 1783
* General George Washington
* Continental Army of Pennsylvania
* Closing events of the Revolutionary War
Page 2 has reports concerning America including: "His Excellency Gen. Washington, by Proclamation... in compliance with a Resolve of Congress...has discharged all the troops in the service of the United States that are now in Pennsylvania, or to the Southward thereof, except the garrison of Fort Pitt."
Also a letter from Montreal mentions: "The situation of this numerous colony is at the moment very precarious. The Americans do not seek to unite themselves with us, to barter their commodities with ours. From their disaffection springs through ardent desire of independence on the borders of the River St. Lawrence..." with more on this.
Four pages, red tax stamp on the front page, good condition.
AI notes: In June 1783, as the Revolutionary War drew to a close and the Continental Army awaited final demobilization, General George Washington moved to discharge many of the war-weary Pennsylvania troops who had served long enlistments and were increasingly restless over unpaid wages. After a group of disgruntled Pennsylvania soldiers marched on Philadelphia on June 21 demanding compensation, Washington—deeply concerned about maintaining civilian control and preventing the tenuous peace from unraveling—intervened decisively by ordering reliable units to restore order and by relocating the Continental Congress to Princeton for safety. In the days that followed, Washington arranged for the orderly discharge of the Pennsylvania Line, emphasizing gratitude for their service while insisting that grievances be resolved through lawful channels. The disbanding of these troops became an important early test of the new nation’s commitment to civil authority and helped set the stage for the broader demobilization of the Continental Army later in 1783, culminating in Washington’s own resignation that December.
Category: Revolutionary War
No Longer Available
