The winter encampment at Redding, Connecticut, has never received the attention of other encampments, but it was strategically important. Soldiers of all races, ethnicities, ranks, and occupations served and lived together in harsh conditions over the winter of 1778-1779. Little correspondence exists in print form, but the papers of George Washington and the Huntington papers both contain letters important to understanding conditions at the encampment. Jedediah Huntington set up huts for his brigade “at a place called Umpowaugh on the Line between Danbury and Reading” (Dec. 2, 1778, 422). He noted the locations: “Genl Parsons is about 2 Miles east of me and Genl Poor less than two Miles east of Parsons.” The men built huts in the rain (Dec. 23, 1778, 424). After winter began to subside in March, the men were desperately hungry and he had to seize grain ((March, 1779, 427).

LISTEN to Governor Trumbull’s letters about the encampment.

You can also LISTEN to some of the Connecticut General Assembly’s resolutions at CrisAccess’s govenrment documents page.

“Jedediah Huntington to Andrew Huntington, 23 September 1777,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 371.

“Jedediah Huntington to Andrew Huntington, 2 December 1778,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 422.

In December, Jedediah Huntington documented conditions at the Encampment in Redding. “Jedediah Huntington to Andrew Huntington, 9 December 1778,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 423.

“Jedediah Huntington to Jabez Huntington, 23 December 1778,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution. (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 424.

“To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 23 December 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, . [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 18, 1 November 1778 – 14 January 1779, ed. Edward G. Lengel. (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008), 494–496.

This is a letter from Washington to Putnam about the absence of Parsons and Huntington. “From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 10 February 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, . [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 19, 15 January–7 April 1779, ed. Philander D. Chase and William M. Ferraro. (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009), 166–168.

On December 23, 1778, as Huntington described building huts, General Israel Putnam wrote to General George Washington a letter containing the following description of the soldiers’ condition:

“Notwithstanding the large supplies of Cloathing which have been procured by the Continent; I am sorry to find verry many of the Connecticut Troops are now destitute of some of the most necessary Articles, at this Rigorous season of the year—The Quantity of Blankets, Shirts, stockings and Shoes which have been Receiv’d by them; your Excellency will see by adverting, to the Returns of Cloathing made, while they were station’d at Fredericksburgh; sinse which their wants have been verry little diminished. Their Cloaths are all made without Lining, and of a much inferior quality to those drawn by the Troops of other States. This would have been somewhat alleviated if a proportion of the Blankets and Shirts (the things most wanted,) could have been obtain’d from Major Bigelows Store, which was originally design’d for them—But this Store I understand, is now all orderd to Fish Kill; and I am unhappy to observe so much concern and uneasiness prevail, that the Troops which were not permitted to draw their dividend of complete Uniforms, with the rest of the Army; on account of this supply; are now not likely to be benefitted in the least by it—And that the Exertions of their own State, and of their Officers in their favor, instead of being advantageous, are in danger of being prejudicial to them. Every little Jealousy of that kind, I heartily wish might be removed, and if it is consistant with the good of the whole; that part or all of this Cloathing, might be orderd for their use, or that some other method for relieving their wants, might be pointed out.

“For intelligence, I refer you to Brigadier General Parsons’s from whom you will receive a Letter by this conveyance.” (Dec. 23, 1778, IP to GW)

Washington responded, “It has been represented to me that the troops of Connecticut are in great want of Shirts, Stockings and Shoes. This leads me to inquire of you whether they have not received their proportion of these Articles in common with the rest of the Army. The troops in general have obtained orders for a Shirt and pair of Stockings per man and a pair of Shoes to each that wanted. If the Connecticut Troops have not been furnished … you will on receiving proper Returns for that purpose supply them in conformity to this Rule.” (George Washington to Deputy Clothier Gen. George Measam, Jan. 8, 1779)

Camp Reading, Dec. 1778, American Revolution Collection: Third Regiment, Connecticut Line: Commissary records of clothing, CHS, Box 5, Folder H. (CTDA)

Written on his birthday, Washington sent a letter to Israel Putnam ordering a court-martial. “From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 22 February 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 19, 15 January–7 April 1779, ed. Philander D. Chase and William M. Ferraro. (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009), 244–245.

“Jedediah Huntington to Jabez Huntington, 11 March 1779,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 426.

“Jedediah Huntington to Jabez Huntington, 28 March 1779,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 426.

“To Jabez Huntington from Jedediah Huntington, 28 March 1779,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 428.

“Joshua Huntington to Silas Goodell, 16 May 1779,” Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821, and Jedediah Huntington. Huntington Papers: Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua And Jedediah Huntington, During the Period of the American Revolution (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1923), 139.