Letter to Alexander Hamilton, April 4, 1783

Newburgh, April 4, 1783.
Dear Sir: The same Post which gave me your two letters of the 25th of March, handed me one from Colo. Bland on the same point. Observing that both have been written at the desire of a Committee, of which you are both Members, I have made a very full reply to their subject in my letter which is addressed to Colo. Bland; and Supposing it unnecessary to enter into a complete detail to both, I must beg leave to refer you to Colo. Bland’s (a sight of which I have desired him to give you) for a full explanation of my ideas and sentiments.
I read your private letter of the 25th. with pain, and contemplated the picture it had drawn with astonishment and horror; but I will yet hope for the best. The idea of redress by force, is too chimerical to have had a place in the imagination of any serious Mind in this Army; but there is no telling what unhappy disturbances might result from distress, and distrust of justice. and as the fears and jealousies of this Army are all alive, I hope no resolution will be come to for disbanding or seperating the Lines till the accts. are liquidated. you may rely upon it, Sir, that unhappy consequences would follow the attempt. The suspicions of the Officers are afloat, notwithstanding the resolutions which have passed on both sides; any act therefore which can be construed into an attempt to seperate them before the Accts. are settled will convey the most unfavourable ideas of the rectitude of Congress; whether well or ill founded matters not, the consequences will be the same.
I will now, in strict confidence mention a matter which may be useful for you to be informed of, It is that some Men (and leading ones too) in this Army, are beginning to entertain suspicions that Congress, or some Members of it, regardless of the past suiterings and present distresses, maugre the justice which is due to them, and the returns which a grateful people should make to Men who certainly have contributed more than any other class to the establishment of Independency, are to be made use of as mere Puppets to establish Continental funds; and that rather than not succeed in this measure, or weaken their ground, they would make a sacrifice of the Army and all its interests. I have two reasons for mentioning this matter to you: the one is, that the Army (considering the irritable state it is in, its sufferings and composition) is a dangerous instrument to play with. the other, that every possible means consistent with their own views (which certainly are moderate) should be essayed to get it disbanded without delay. I might add a third: it is that the Financier is suspected to be at the bottom of this Scheme. If sentiments of this sort should become general, their operation would be opposed to this plan; at the same time that it will encrease the present discontents. upon the whole, disband the Army as soon as possible, but consult the wishes of it; which really are moderate, in the mode, and perfectly compatible with the honor, dignity, and justice which is due from the Country. I am &c.