1782 Lauzun’s Legion–Related Revolutionary War Supply Account — Hay Delivered to the “Legion Camp” and an Express Sent to Governor Trumbull
An unusually descriptive Revolutionary War manuscript recording the transportation of hay to a military “Legion Camp” and the dispatch of an express wagon to Connecticut’s governor.
Receipted at “Camp near New London” on October 22, 1782, the account lists payments to Daniel Wooley, Elijah Drake, William Cole, and Israel Post for hiring their teams to cart hay to the Legion camp. An additional eight pounds was allowed to William Dean for conveying an express wagon to the governor, including his expenses and compensation for six days during which he was “detained on the business.”
Dean, identified as a constable, acknowledges receiving the full £12. The receipt is witnessed by Jacob Carpenter.
The reference to the “Legion Camp” is very likely associated with Lauzun’s Legion, the celebrated French cavalry and light-infantry corps that served under Rochambeau and fought in the decisive Yorktown campaign. Because the Legion included a substantial mounted contingent, its horses required an extensive and continuous supply of hay and forage furnished through American civilian teamsters.
The document dates from the period when French forces were moving through the northern states following Yorktown. Lauzun had returned from France and rejoined his command in September 1782. The combination of its date, southeastern Connecticut location, and explicit reference to hay for a “Legion Camp” provides persuasive—although not yet conclusive—evidence of a connection to his celebrated corps.
The express mentioned in the account was sent to Connecticut’s governor, Jonathan Trumbull Sr., a crucial supporter of Washington and the Continental Army. The manuscript therefore preserves a revealing glimpse into the network of teamsters, local officials, military camps, forage supplies, and express communications that supported the allied armies during the Revolution.
Date: October 22, 1782
Place: Camp near New London, Connecticut
Signed: William Dean, Constable
Witnessed: Jacob Carpenter
Content: Hay transported to the “Legion Camp”; express wagon sent to Governor Jonathan Trumbull
Lauzun attribution: Probable but not conclusively documented
Condition: Original folds, toning, stains, minor edge wear and fading; principal text remains legible.
More info ...
The expenditures were:
- Daniel Wooley, hire of his team carting hay to the Legion Camp — £1
- Elijah Drake, for the same — £1
- William Cole, for the same — £1
- Israel Post, for the same — £1
- William Dean, conveying an express wagon to the governor, including expenses and six days detained on the business — £8
- Total: £12
Below, William Dean, identified as a constable, acknowledges receiving the full amount. Jacob Carpenter signs as witness.
Connection to Lauzun’s Legion
The entry explicitly reads:
“Carting Hay to the Legion Camp”
Lauzun’s Legion—formally the Volontaires-étrangers de Lauzun—was the cavalry and light-infantry component of Rochambeau’s French expeditionary army. Its large mounted contingent required extraordinary quantities of hay and other forage, making the transportation recorded here exactly the type of service associated with the Legion.
The date is also significant. During the latter part of 1782, the French army was returning north after the Yorktown campaign. Lauzun had rejoined his Legion at Peekskill in September, while French forces subsequently moved through the region toward their final northern quarters. The document’s references to a “Legion Camp,” an encampment near New London, teamsters hauling hay, and an express wagon to the governor place it squarely within the military transportation network supporting forces in southeastern Connecticut.
Transcription
Jethro Starr Dr.
To Daniel Wooley for the hire of his Team (carting
Hay to the Legion Camp) — £1:0:0To Elijah Drake for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To Wm. Cole for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To Israel Post for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To William Deane for conveying a Waggon going
Express to the Governor, his Expences &c Six Days
being Detained on the Business — £8:0:0£12:0:0
Receiv’d in Camp near New London Oct. 22d 1782 of Jethro Starr
Twelve Pounds in full for the above Team Hire, my
Time Trouble & Expence & all Demands to
Whatsoever to this Day.Wm. Dean, Constable
Witness
Jacob Carpenter
The creditor’s surname appears to be Starr, although additional comparison with associated records would be desirable.
Historical importance
This is considerably better than a routine Revolutionary War pay receipt because it documents several interconnected military activities:
- Civilian teams carrying hay to a specifically named Legion camp
- The logistical needs of mounted troops
- An express wagon traveling to Connecticut’s governor
- Six days of wartime travel and detention
- Payment made inside a military camp near New London
- Four named teamsters, a constable, and a witness
The reference to an express sent to “the Governor” would mean Jonathan Trumbull Sr., Connecticut’s wartime governor and one of Washington’s most important civilian supporters. Trumbull was the only colonial governor who remained in office on the Patriot side throughout the Revolution.
Condition
One-page manuscript on laid paper with deckled edges. Original horizontal and vertical folds, moderate toning, minor marginal wear, a small loss or separation along the upper edge, scattered stains, and some fading. The principal text remains legible, with the important phrases “Legion Camp,” “Express to the Governor,” “Camp near New London,” and the date clearly visible. Overall, good Revolutionary War condition.
An unusually descriptive Revolutionary War manuscript recording the transportation of hay to a military “Legion Camp” and the dispatch of an express wagon to Connecticut’s governor.
Receipted at “Camp near New London” on October 22, 1782, the account lists payments to Daniel Wooley, Elijah Drake, William Cole, and Israel Post for hiring their teams to cart hay to the Legion camp. An additional eight pounds was allowed to William Dean for conveying an express wagon to the governor, including his expenses and compensation for six days during which he was “detained on the business.”
Dean, identified as a constable, acknowledges receiving the full £12. The receipt is witnessed by Jacob Carpenter.
The reference to the “Legion Camp” is very likely associated with Lauzun’s Legion, the celebrated French cavalry and light-infantry corps that served under Rochambeau and fought in the decisive Yorktown campaign. Because the Legion included a substantial mounted contingent, its horses required an extensive and continuous supply of hay and forage furnished through American civilian teamsters.
The document dates from the period when French forces were moving through the northern states following Yorktown. Lauzun had returned from France and rejoined his command in September 1782. The combination of its date, southeastern Connecticut location, and explicit reference to hay for a “Legion Camp” provides persuasive—although not yet conclusive—evidence of a connection to his celebrated corps.
The express mentioned in the account was sent to Connecticut’s governor, Jonathan Trumbull Sr., a crucial supporter of Washington and the Continental Army. The manuscript therefore preserves a revealing glimpse into the network of teamsters, local officials, military camps, forage supplies, and express communications that supported the allied armies during the Revolution.
Date: October 22, 1782
Place: Camp near New London, Connecticut
Signed: William Dean, Constable
Witnessed: Jacob Carpenter
Content: Hay transported to the “Legion Camp”; express wagon sent to Governor Jonathan Trumbull
Lauzun attribution: Probable but not conclusively documented
Condition: Original folds, toning, stains, minor edge wear and fading; principal text remains legible.
More info ...
The expenditures were:
- Daniel Wooley, hire of his team carting hay to the Legion Camp — £1
- Elijah Drake, for the same — £1
- William Cole, for the same — £1
- Israel Post, for the same — £1
- William Dean, conveying an express wagon to the governor, including expenses and six days detained on the business — £8
- Total: £12
Below, William Dean, identified as a constable, acknowledges receiving the full amount. Jacob Carpenter signs as witness.
Connection to Lauzun’s Legion
The entry explicitly reads:
“Carting Hay to the Legion Camp”
Lauzun’s Legion—formally the Volontaires-étrangers de Lauzun—was the cavalry and light-infantry component of Rochambeau’s French expeditionary army. Its large mounted contingent required extraordinary quantities of hay and other forage, making the transportation recorded here exactly the type of service associated with the Legion.
The date is also significant. During the latter part of 1782, the French army was returning north after the Yorktown campaign. Lauzun had rejoined his Legion at Peekskill in September, while French forces subsequently moved through the region toward their final northern quarters. The document’s references to a “Legion Camp,” an encampment near New London, teamsters hauling hay, and an express wagon to the governor place it squarely within the military transportation network supporting forces in southeastern Connecticut.
Transcription
Jethro Starr Dr.
To Daniel Wooley for the hire of his Team (carting
Hay to the Legion Camp) — £1:0:0To Elijah Drake for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To Wm. Cole for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To Israel Post for Ditto — Ditto — £1:0:0
To William Deane for conveying a Waggon going
Express to the Governor, his Expences &c Six Days
being Detained on the Business — £8:0:0£12:0:0
Receiv’d in Camp near New London Oct. 22d 1782 of Jethro Starr
Twelve Pounds in full for the above Team Hire, my
Time Trouble & Expence & all Demands to
Whatsoever to this Day.Wm. Dean, Constable
Witness
Jacob Carpenter
The creditor’s surname appears to be Starr, although additional comparison with associated records would be desirable.
Historical importance
This is considerably better than a routine Revolutionary War pay receipt because it documents several interconnected military activities:
- Civilian teams carrying hay to a specifically named Legion camp
- The logistical needs of mounted troops
- An express wagon traveling to Connecticut’s governor
- Six days of wartime travel and detention
- Payment made inside a military camp near New London
- Four named teamsters, a constable, and a witness
The reference to an express sent to “the Governor” would mean Jonathan Trumbull Sr., Connecticut’s wartime governor and one of Washington’s most important civilian supporters. Trumbull was the only colonial governor who remained in office on the Patriot side throughout the Revolution.
Condition
One-page manuscript on laid paper with deckled edges. Original horizontal and vertical folds, moderate toning, minor marginal wear, a small loss or separation along the upper edge, scattered stains, and some fading. The principal text remains legible, with the important phrases “Legion Camp,” “Express to the Governor,” “Camp near New London,” and the date clearly visible. Overall, good Revolutionary War condition.
